Cancer
Scientists Identify Genetic Contributor to Colorectal Cancer Risk (American Cancer Society)
American Cancer Society - Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and Northwestern University's Cancer Genetics Program have found a definitive link between an inherited genetic variation and colorectal cancer risk. The variation, which occurs on a gene known as TGFBR1, significantly increases a person's lifetime risk of getting the disease. More »
A Gene Test To Assess Lung Cancer
U.S. and Canadian researchers have taken steps toward developing a gene test to determine whether a patient's lung cancer is especially aggressive or whether radical treatment can be avoided. The researchers reported Sunday that they had analyzed lung cancer tissue from 442 people to confirm that measuring the activity of certain genes could help predict early on which cases may be the most deadly and which had a better prognosis. Knowing whether a person has an aggressive tumor - one likely to spread quickly and uncontrollably beyond the lungs - is critical in determining the type of treatment needed. The researchers said tracking gene activity, along with taking into account clinical factors like the patient's age... More »
U.S. Hits Weight Marker: 1 In 4 Officially Obese
Americans, who have been getting fatter for decades, reached an unwelcome milestone in a report released Thursday: More than one in four of us are obese. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of adults who say they are obese jumped 2 percent between 2005 and 2007--from 23.9 percent in 2005 to 25.6 percent in 2007. That doesn't include people who are overweight. A different CDC survey--a gold-standard project in which researchers actually weigh and measure survey respondents--put the adult obesity rate at 33 percent for adult men and 35 percent for adult women in 2005 and 2006. "It's alarming," said Dr. Robert Kushner, professor of medicine at Northwestern University... More »
Research Results Update Understanding Of Cervical Cancer Quality Of Care
Current study results from the report, 'Stress, immunity, and cervical cancer: biobehavioral outcomes of a randomized clinical trial,' have been published. According to recent research from the United States, "Cancer diagnosis and treatment imparts chronic stressors affecting quality of life (QOL) and basic physiology. However, the capacity to increase survival by improving QOL is controversial." "Patients with cervical cancer, in particular, have severely compromised QOL, providing a population well-suited for the evaluation of novel psychosocial interventions and the exploration of mechanisms by which modulation of the psychoneuroimmune axis might result in improved clinical outcomes. A randomized clinical trial was conducted in cervic... More »
Public Service Announcements Not Getting Message Across
Breast cancer specialists were alarmed last year when research from the National Cancer Institute revealed mammography use had dropped so sharply that doctors feared a rise in invasive cancers. Clearly, some women were not getting the message that mammograms save lives. They had not been reached by all the walkathons and pink awareness bows affixed on everything from T-shirts to cans of soup. The answer? Perhaps more messages. "We're talking about doing some public service announcements," said Dr. Clare Bradley, executive vice president of IPRO, a health quality organization in Lake Success and chair of a "strike force" on mammography for the American Cancer Society. Awareness about breast cancer screening may not be th... More »
Moisturisers cause skin cancer in mice: study (AFP)
AFP - Moisturisers used by millions of people induced skin cancer in experiments on mice, a study released Thursday said, as experts expressed strong doubts over any possible risk to humans from creams. More »
Fruit, veggies lower men's cancer risk: Japan study (AFP)
AFP - Men who eat more fruit and vegetables have less risk of developing a type of cancer of the esophagus, a study by a Japanese medical team said Thursday. More »
Radiation can zap cancer that has spread: study (Reuters)
Reuters - Precisely targeted radiation therapy can eradicate tumors that have spread to other parts of the body, offering more months or years of life to patients who have no other options, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday. More »
Low risk of breast cancer return if treated: US study (AFP)
AFP - The risk of patients treated for breast cancer seeing a recurrence of the disease within five years remains low, according to a new study by American scientists. More »
Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Face Joint Issues (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women with breast cancer who are receiving endocrine treatment may be at increased risk of joint issues, including arthritis, a new study finds. More »