News

NEW FRONTIERS IN PANCREATIC CANCER TREATMENT

By Emily Honaker

     According to the American Cancer Society roughly 43,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the US each year, and less than 1 in 5 of these cancers are caught early enough to surgically be removed. Yet even after the tumor is removed, the cancer reappears about 80% of the time. Post-surgery treatment to try to reduce the risk of recurrence is critical, but the options have been historically limited.

     Pancreatic cancer’s danger usually lurks inside the body undetected until it's reached an advanced stage, and when finally caught, rejects just about any treatment. Only about 5% of patients live five years past diagnosis. But two new treatment theories can help patients live up to four months longer.     

     One of the cures is rooted in genetics, and the other aims to crack the cancers

life-sustaining armor. Along with targeted approaches like these, researchers are also actively pursuing new ways of using existing drugs. Some early warning signs may also come from looking inside peoples genes. Eileen O’Reilly, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist with a major focus on treating pancreatic, said 5% to 7% of patients with pancreatic cancer may harbor mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which are known for increasing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

SURPRISE VISIT

By Mckenzie Moya

     Greenbrier East students recently received a surprise visit from newly-elected Senator Joe Manchin. Manchin requested an informal opportunity to mingle with students within the commons. After shaking a few hands and an interview with News Channel 6, he toured the school and visited several classrooms. Senator Manchin gave AP American Government students a behind-the-scenes view of what his job consist of at the nation's capitol.

     Manchin was born in Farmington, West Virginia and graduated from Farmington High School. Manchin entered West Virginia University on a football scholarship and later graduated in 1970 with a degree in information management. In 1982 Manchin was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates and moved to the West Virginia Senate in 1986 where he served until 1996. In 2000 he was elected Secretary of State. He continued to advance his politcal career and became Governor in 2004. Manchin’s senate seat used to belong to the late Senator Robert C. Byrd.

     Students wasted little time and asked Senator Manchin questions about improving the education system and what he plans to do as senator. Manchin stressed that advancing education is the most important factor for West Virginia.

     "Education is extremely important to West Virginia and to the nation, and to let them [students] know how important it is for them to get an education but also to advance their education to the next level," Manchin said. He then presented the class with statistics relating to the drop-out rate, reporting that 30 percent of high school students will drop out, less than 50 percent will graduate college, and only 16 percent will earn a college degree.

     Manchin later expressed how frustrated he was because our goals in education are not being reached. He also conveyed that we as Americans don't take advantage of our free primary education, while students in other countries struggle to make it to the ninth grade. When he questioned students about how many felt challenged and obliged to do something by their teachers, less than 5 students raised their hands. He then stressed the importance of staying involved. "If we can't fix it, shame on us," Manchin said. Voting, determination, and asking questions, were three of his focused topics. Manchin ended his discussion by urging students to "Find something that will fire you up, start voting, talk, ask questions, stay involved!"

ANTIMATTER TRAP!

By Robert Bordelon

     International physicists at the European organization for nuclear research, or CERN, recently captured elusive anti-matter atoms in a magnetic trap. Though the atoms were only held for one-tenth of a second, this major breakthrough allowed physicists to study antimatter for the first time.

     Antimatter and matter react instantly after they touch, becoming pure energy, and as any container made on earth would be made of matter, no container could hold the anti-atoms.

     According to the team’s spokesperson, Jeffrey Hangst, the antimatter atoms have been held longer than the one-tenth of a second. He said, “…it’s much, much longer than a tenth of a second, within human comprehension on a real clock.” The 38 trapped atoms were “anti-hydrogen” atoms, and were the only antimatter atoms to survive out of a million.

     For those of you worried antimatter might become harnessed as a weapon, Hangst also said, “It would take longer than the age of the universe to produce one gram of antimatter.”

Opinion/Editorial

ADULT CONVERSATIONS

Opinion/Editorial By Maggie Hower

     As the changing of Congress takes place this new year, there is much debate in Washington concerning the renewal of tax cuts, budgets issues, etc…. As usual, the two political parties in charge can’t seem to agree on anything, and it’s time for some “adult conversations” to take place, as said by various Republican representatives.

     Now what, exactly, are these “adult conversations,” and why have they not been happening all along? I’ll tell you what they are. They’re the Republicans telling the Democrats, who, by the way, want to compromise and figure something out that will please everyone, that “No, that’s just not possible.”

     Jon Stewart put it rightly when he compared the government to a family. “The Republicans are the parents telling the kids ‘No, you can’t have the car,’” which would make the citizens the children and the Democrats the step-parents “who will do anything just so the kids call [them] dad.”

     Hmm…. I wonder why it takes our government so long to do anything. Perhaps it’s because everyone’s trying to make themselves look perfect so that the people in their districts will re-elect them. I wish our politicians would grow up just a tad bit faster and have some more “adult conversations” that might actually accomplish something.

   THE MEANING OF IT ALL

Opinion/Editorial By Arlene Thompson

      Oh, the Christmas season is over. The frantic shopping, the overwhelming debt is over for now. The real thing that people should consider is the meaning of Christmas.

     In truth, Christmas is not about gifts and when you can get the next best deal on that toy. No, it's more than that. Christmas is about rejoicing with your family, being thankful that you can come together another year with each other, and spending time with your loved ones. At least be thankful you’re off that day.

     People, in all reality, Christmas is celebrating Jesus' birthday. Even though he wasn't born around this time, who cares? You surely don't.

     Most of the things that signify Christmas is the tree, the candy cane, the star and candles. Now the tree, Christians took that over from pagan religion. Pagans used the trees in festivals to show eternal life. No wonder they took that over. The star symbolizes the promise that God made to his people when Jesus was born. The candles represent the guidance of Jesus. The candle lights the way, therefore He does too. I'm not going to go through all of them, but maybe you get the point.

     If you’re wondering, “Well, that's messed up that we would take over someone's idea for a holiday,” just look around. This is America buddy; that's all of what we're based on. The only holiday that's not taken over from another religion or another country is Thanksgiving.

     So just know why you celebrate Christmas, and if not, then just chill and enjoy your day off.