Cancer
Millions to die in China from lung disease: report (Reuters)
Reuters - Tens of millions of people will die from respiratory illness and lung cancer over the next 25 years in China if nothing is done to reduce smoking and fuel burning indoors, scientists warned. More »
PET Scans Lead To Treatment Changes In Majority Of Colorectal Cancer Patients
In the largest multi-institutional study to date examining the impact of positron emission tomography (PET) in changing disease management of individuals with suspected recurrent colorectal cancer, researchers found that treatment plans were changed for more than half of patients, according to an article in the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The study was conducted at four sites throughout Australia and comprised 191 patients who were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of symptomatic patients who had residual structural lesions suspicious for recurrent tumor after initial therapy. Group B comprised patients with pulmonary or hepatic metastases that were potentially operable. These results were compared with f... More »
Study Confirms Colorectal Cancer Screening Should Start At Age 50
Colorectal adenomas, the precursor polyps in virtually all colorectal cancers, occur infrequently in younger adults, but the rate sharply increases after age 50. Additionally, African Americans have a higher rate of proximal, or right-sided, polyps, and may have a worse prognosis for survival if the polyps become cancerous. Therefore, the results of this study further emphasize the importance of colonoscopies, which view the entire colon, for the prevention of colorectal cancer beginning at age 50. The results of this study, which represents the largest investigation, by several-fold, of this kind, were published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute... More »
Vitamin C Megadoses Hamper Cancer Treatments in Mice (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Large doses of vitamin C could reduce the effectiveness of anticancer drugs, according to a new study that focused on laboratory cancer cells and mice. More »
Gene Could Link Obesity, Colon Cancer (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have uncovered a genetic link between obesity and the risk for colon cancer. The discovery could lead to greater accuracy in predicting who is at risk for the disease, experts say. More »
Computers help docs spot breast cancer on X-rays (AP)
AP - A computer is as good as a second pair of eyes for helping a radiologist spot breast cancer on a mammogram, one of the largest and most rigorous tests of computer-aided detection found. More »
Genetic link found to colon cancer in study (Reuters)
Reuters - A gene related to a hormone secreted by the body's fat cells may lower the risk of colon cancer, a discovery that could reassure people with a family history of the disease, researchers said on Tuesday. More »
Spit proteins could lead to oral cancer test: study (Reuters)
Reuters - A simple screen of proteins in human saliva was able to accurately detect a common type of oral cancer, a finding that may lead to a painless new diagnostic test, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. More »
Vitamin C may blunt effect of chemotherapy: study (Reuters)
Reuters - Vitamin C supplements may undercut the effectiveness of cancer drugs including Novartis' Gleevec, a U.S. study published on Wednesday showed. More »
Birth Size Linked to Breast Cancer Risk (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Women who are heavier and longer at birth are at increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life, British researchers report. More »