Cancer Medicine Advances on Many Fronts

The war against cancer gathered steam in 2008, as new drugs tackled the toughest cancers with some success, and advances were made in both disease prevention and risk factor identification. A new report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) details 12 “major” advances and 19 “notable advances” across the gamut of cancer prevention, screening, treatment and survival... Read more

Gene Variant Tied to Smokers’ Risk of Lung Cancer

People may face an increased risk of lung cancer if they have a gene variant that metabolizes the most potent of cigarette smoke carcinogens, a new study says. The ABCB1 and ABCC1 genes normally help protect the lungs by removing inhaled toxins. Specifically, they act on tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) — a cigarette smoke component shown to cause... Read more

Gleevec Approved for Use After Cancer Surgery

Gleevec, a “miracle drug” in curing certain types of adult leukemia, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to stop cancer growth after gastrointestinal cancer surgery. According to an FDA news release, Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) can be used after removal of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). While this is a fairly rare form of cancer (5,000 – 6,000 new cases... Read more

Your Diet After Cancer Treatment

Once you’ve completed treatment for cancer, it’s not the time to stop planning healthy meals. The American Cancer Society offers these suggestions for maintaining a healthy diet after cancer treatment: Ask you doctor if there are any foods that you should avoid. Work with a dietitian to develop a healthy and nutritious meal plan. Continue to eat at least five to seven servings of fruits... Read more

Lung cancer deadliest tumor for Australia women

Lung cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the biggest killer of Australian women with cancer, as females who started smoking in the 1970s and 1980s as they gained equal rights with men are diagnosed with the deadly disease. More than 50 Australian women lost their battle with lung cancer every week in 2005 and the number will rise to almost 65 female deaths a week in 2010, said a report released on... Read more

Fruits, veggies slash breast cancer risk

Certain breast cancer survivors who load up on fruits and vegetables, eating far more than current U.S. guidelines, can slash their risk the tumors will come back by nearly a third, according to a U.S. study released on Monday. The finding only held for women who did not have hot flashes after their cancer therapy, the researchers said — a finding that suggests fruits and vegetables act on estrogen. Their... Read more

Pancreatic Cancer May Have a New Foe

Proteins produced by a particular gene may provide a new target for treating deadly pancreatic cancer, researchers say. Experiments at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Minnesota show the “Seven-In-Absentia-Homolog” (SIAH) protein can shut down a key pathway in another gene that, in a mutated form, has been previously linked to excessive growth of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer... Read more

Vitamins Do Not Prevent Prostate Cancer, Study Finds

Wouldn’t it be great if preventing cancer were as easy as taking vitamins every day? It certainly makes sense; cancer results from oxidative damage to the DNA of cells, and many vitamins are powerful antioxidants that can curb that dangerous process. That’s the theory that two groups of researchers decided to test with respect to prostate cancer. But after more than 13 years of combined... Read more

When a Loved One Has Cancer

If you have a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer, you may be puzzled about how you can help. The American Cancer Society offers these suggestions: Prepare meals to keep on hand, or deliver meals each day at certain times, so the person doesn’t have to worry about what to eat. Help out with the kids by driving them to and from school, practices and other activities. Drive... Read more

Screening for Colorectal Cancer Saves Lives

The use of fecal occult blood testing to screen for colorectal cancer reduces the number of deaths caused by the disease, according to an Italian study. Researchers at the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Cancer in Florence examined colon cancer incidence and deaths in two regions of Italy that introduced colorectal screening at two different times. The Empolese-Mugello district introduced... Read more

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