vital signs: Drugs and driving

Drugs and driving

Cancer patients who are on powerful pain-killing drugs should still be allowed to drive, according to Finnish doctors writing in the Lancet. A study carried out at Helsinki University Central Hospital to assess the effect of morphine on driving ability found that patients who are taking the drug long-term were able to perform just as well as those in a control group.

The cancer information service Bacup, meanwhile, has updated four of its key booklets about coping with hair loss, bone marrow transplants and pancreatic cancer. For details call freephone 0800 181199.

CHERRILL HICKS