European origin may up Latinas’ breast cancer risk
Among United States Latinas, a greater degree of European genetic ancestry is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, the results of a new study indicate. This could be due to environmental factors, genetic factors, or the interplay of the two, the study team suggests. Latina women generally have a lower risk of breast cancer compared with European, African-American or non-Latina white... Read more
Radioactive ‘Seed’ Rx Helps Women With Implants Fight Breast Cancer
Women who have had their breasts augmented with implants and are later diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer may be treated successfully with a partial-breast radiation treatment known as brachytherapy, according to an Arizona physician and researcher. “It’s such a challenge to take care of these augmented women,” said Dr. Robert Kuske Jr., a Scottsdale radiation oncologist and... Read more
Transfusing Anemic Cancer Patients Boosts Clot Risk
Giving blood transfusions to treat anemia in cancer patients increases the risk of potentially lethal blood clots, say University of Rochester, N.Y., researchers. But this risk is no greater than other treatments for cancer treatment-related anemia, the scientists said, after having analyzed data on more than 70,500 cancer patients who received transfusions at 60 medical centers from 1995 to 2003. Of... Read more
Women Smokers Lose 14.5 Years Off Life Span
During Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, female smokers should take advantage of available resources, pick a quit day, and start taking steps toward kicking the habit, urges The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Even though smoking takes an average of 14.5 years off women’s lives, almost one in five American women age 18 and older smokes. “The damaging effects... Read more
Scientists track genetic changes in leukemia
Distinctive genetic changes occur in the cancer cells that trigger relapse in patients with the most common type of childhood cancer, according to a study that may offer new hope for beating the disease. Writing in the journal Science on Thursday, the scientists described key genetic differences in cancer cells of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, when they were first diagnosed compared... Read more
Some Breast Cancers May Regress on Their Own
Some breast cancers may naturally disappear without treatment, a study of women undergoing mammography suggests. The Norwegian study found that more cases of breast cancer were diagnosed after a regular screening program was put in place than before. That has led specialists to suspect that some of the diagnosed tumors would have spontaneously regressed had they not been detected and treated as the... Read more
Rate of new U.S. cancer cases drops for first time
Cancer rates have dropped for the first time in the United States and previous declines in cancer deaths are accelerating, a report released on Tuesday showed as cancer-fighting efforts produced solid results. Regular screening for breast and colorectal cancer, declining smoking rates and improved treatments helped lead to the improvements described in a comprehensive study of cancer in the United... Read more
Some breast cancers may spontaneously disappear
The results of a mammographic screening study suggest that some invasive breast cancers may spontaneously regress over time. These findings “provide new insight on what is arguably the major harm associated with mammographic screening, namely, the detection and treatment of cancers that would otherwise regress,” Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, from the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center,... Read more
‘Fresh’ Transfusions Improve Odds for Cancer Patients After Surgery
A transfusion of fresh red blood cells — emphasis on the word “fresh” — may help cancer patients better avoid cancer recurrence and improve their odds of long-term survival, a new report suggests. The study, presented in the December issue of Anesthesiology, is based on research into the mystery of why blood transfusions during certain cancer surgeries appeared to have the opposite... Read more
Home interventions benefit older cancer survivors
A home-based diet and exercise program may improve physical functioning in elderly, long-term cancer survivors, results of a controlled study indicate. “Today, two thirds of individuals diagnosed with cancer survive their cancer,” Dr. Wendy Demark-Wahnefried noted a conference sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research. “That’s good news. However, the dark side... Read more