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July 18, 2008
Bone drug has benefits in cancer patients
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid not only reduces fracture risk in patients with cancer that has spread to the bones, it also improves overall survival, according to the results of a retrospective analysis of three large studies.
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July 18, 2008
Antidepressants linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Long-term users of so-called tricyclic antidepressants are at increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), new research confirms.
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July 18, 2008
Thickness of Squamous Cell Cancer Associated with Risk of Recurrences
The thickness of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is directly related to the risk of recurrences. These results were recently published in Lancet Oncology.
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July 18, 2008
Many widowers not told wife's illness is terminal
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men whose wives have terminal cancer are often not informed that their spouse's illness is incurable, or are only told within a week of her death, according to the largest study to date to investigate this issue.
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July 18, 2008
Racial disparity seen in prostate cancer treatment
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Black men with early prostate cancer may be less likely to receive aggressive treatment than their white counterparts, a small study has found.
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July 18, 2008
"Emotional" writing may help ease cancer pain
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Some cancer patients may find that putting their emotions down in writing helps improve their pain and general well-being, a study suggests.
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July 18, 2008
Anal HPV infection common in heterosexual men
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Roughly one in four heterosexual men have anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and, in many cases, a cancer-causing type of the sexually transmitted wart virus is present, a study shows.
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July 18, 2008
Home radon may have tie to childhood leukemia
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children who live in homes with high radon levels may be at increased risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia during childhood, but not other childhood cancers, research from Denmark suggests.
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July 18, 2008
Choosing Glaxo's Cervarix saves UK money: study
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's decision to choose GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Cervarix cervical cancer vaccine over Merck and Co's Gardasil could save the government 20 million pounds ($40 million) annually, researchers said on Friday.
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July 17, 2008
More Americans obese, government finds
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than a quarter of all Americans are now obese, the latest U.S. government figures show.
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July 17, 2008
Analgesic drugs don't reduce ovarian cancer risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The regular use of over-the-counter analgesic drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, does not appear to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, according to findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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July 16, 2008
Surgery may be option for advanced liver cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Surgical removal of liver cancer may be a useful treatment and should at least be considered in patients with multiple tumors or vascular complications, according to a report in the journal Gastroenterology.
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July 16, 2008
Radiofrequency Ablation Effective for Lung Tumors
The use of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer, or pulmonary metastases (cancer that has spread from site of origin to the lung) provides an effective and safe therapeutic option for some patients. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.
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July 16, 2008
Obesity with Depleted Muscle Mass Affects Mortality in Cancer Patients
Sarcopenic obesity, or obesity with depleted muscle mass, affects distribution of chemotherapy and ultimately may significantly affect mortality among obese patients with cancer. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.
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July 16, 2008
Breast self-exams do not cut breast cancer deaths
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Regular breast self-examination does not reduce death from breast cancer and may actually have a harmful effect by increasing the number of biopsies performed for benign disease, suggests an analysis of data from two large studies.
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July 16, 2008
US colorectal cancer screening rates still too low
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Just half of Americans who should be screened for colorectal cancer are actually getting tested, and lack of health insurance appears to be a major reason why, new research suggests.
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July 16, 2008
Obesity ups a woman's pancreatic cancer risk: study
LONDON (Reuters) - Obese women who carry most of their extra weight around the stomach are 70 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, an international team of researchers reported on Tuesday.
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July 16, 2008
Patients to get more choice over where they die
LONDON (Reuters) - More people will be able to choose to die at home under a 300 million pound investment in extra community services and nurses, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said on Wednesday.
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July 15, 2008
Ulcer bacteria may protect from asthma
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bacterium that is a major cause of ulcers and stomach cancer may help protect children from developing asthma, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
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July 15, 2008
Treanda® plus Rituxan® Effective for Recurrent Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The treatment combination consisting of Treanda® (bendamustine) plus Rituxan® (rituximab) provides effective therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that has stopped responding to prior treatment. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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July 15, 2008
Higher Vitamin D Levels Result in Better Survival Among Colorectal Cancer Patients
Among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, those with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood prior to diagnosis have an improved survival compared with those with lower levels. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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July 15, 2008
Smoking linked to decrease in uterine cancer risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Cigarette smoking appears to be associated with a decreased risk of cancer of the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus, research from China suggests.
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July 14, 2008
Denosumab Improves Bone Density in Prostate Cancer Patients
In a Phase III clinical trial among men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer, treatment with investigational drug denosumab improved bone density and reduced the risk of vertebral fractures.
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July 14, 2008
Holiday-makers urged to be safe in the sun
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's health and consumer chiefs urged holiday-makers on Monday to take extra measures to protect themselves from the sun this summer in a bid to curb rising levels of skin cancer, notably among children.
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July 14, 2008
Drug prevents bone loss in prostate cancer - Amgen
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Amgen Inc on Monday said that a trial of its experimental drug denosumab showed that it can prevent osteoporosis in men being treated with prostate cancer drugs that can cause bone loss.
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July 11, 2008
Virus helps flush cancer cells out of hiding
CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - A genetically engineered version of the cold virus helped flush dangerous prostate cancer cells out of hiding in mice, making them easier to see on imaging equipment, U.S. researchers said on Friday.
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July 11, 2008
High CRP predicts poor outcome in prostate cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - High blood levels of a protein linked to inflammation known as CRP is associated with poor survival and a lower probability of response to treatment in men with "hormone-independent" prostate cancer.
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July 11, 2008
Vitamin D levels tied to colorectal cancer survival
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood prior to diagnosis were less likely to die during a follow-up period than those who were deficient in the vitamin, researchers report.
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July 11, 2008
Olympic swimmer Shanteau has testicular cancer
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - American swimmer Eric Shanteau has been diagnosised with testicular cancer but still plans to race at the Beijing Olympics, U.S. Swimming said on Friday.
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July 11, 2008
Melanoma Rates Increasing in Young Women
Rates of melanoma—the most deadly form of skin cancer—continue to increase among young women in the United States. These results were published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
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July 11, 2008
ED from prostate cancer hormone therapy treatable
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study shows that a substantial minority of men receiving so-called androgen deprivation therapy, or ADT, for prostate cancer experience erectile dysfunction (ED). However, many respond well to ED therapy, doctors from Memphis have found.
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July 11, 2008
Hep C drug cuts melanoma return risk: study
LONDON (Reuters) - Schering-Plough Corp's hepatitis C drug Pegintron helps stop the return of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, after surgery, Dutch researchers reported on Friday.
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July 10, 2008
FDA Approves New Test to Detect HER2 Status in Breast Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new laboratory test to help identify patients with breast cancer who may benefit from treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab).
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July 10, 2008
Immediate Hormone Therapy May Not Improve Outcomes in Elderly Men with Prostate Cancer
Treatment with immediate hormone therapy may not improve outcomes compared with conservative management among elderly men with prostate cancer. These results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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July 10, 2008
Vision vitamins may be harmful for smokers
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Based on new research, smokers may want to check the beta-carotene content of any multivitamin supplements they are taking, especially if these supplements are promoted as being beneficial for eye health.
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July 10, 2008
Active lifestyle may prevent cancer: Japan study
TOKYO (Reuters) - Physically active people are less likely than sedentary types to develop cancer, a research group led by the Japanese health ministry announced on Thursday.
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July 9, 2008
Demographic variations in liver cancer seen in US
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The rate of liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, in the United States differs significantly by sex, ethnic group, race and age at diagnosis, according to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Medicine.
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July 9, 2008
Osteoporosis drug linked to fractures
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Prolonged use of Fosamax, also referred to by the generic name bisphosphonate alendronate, may increase the risk of fractures of the femur, the large thigh bone that connects the leg to the hip, according to physicians at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
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July 9, 2008
Decline in cancer deaths in US tied to education levels
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Declines in death rates from the four leading types of cancer in the United States since the early 1990s have been driven largely by progress among college-educated men and women, researchers said on Tuesday.
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July 9, 2008
Obesity levels in China rising fast, study finds
BEIJING (Reuters) - Obesity levels in China are rising fast, with more than a quarter of the population overweight or obese. As people add more meat and dairy products to their diet, serious health problems can develop, a new study says.
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July 9, 2008
Taking a Shot at Cervical Cancer
Each year in the United States, more than 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and close to 4,000 die of the disease. Worldwide an estimated 310,000 women die of cervical cancer each year. More than 80 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries, where cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women.
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July 8, 2008
Little benefit to common prostate cancer treatment
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In elderly men with localized or "organ-confined" prostate cancer, a therapy that involves depriving the prostate gland the male hormone androgen, which is known to promote prostate cancer growth, does not appear to improve survival, compared to a conservative "wait and see" management strategy, a study shows.
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July 8, 2008
US Medicare changes don't affect cancer care: study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation that cut fees doctors receive for giving chemotherapy to Medicare patients has not affected care so far, researchers reported on Tuesday.
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July 8, 2008
Lower iron levels may cut cancer risk in some men
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The occurrence of cancer and death in older men may be reduced by repeated phlebotomy (blood removal) to lower iron levels in the body, according to a new study.
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July 8, 2008
Nurse-delivered Therapy Improves Depression Among Cancer Patients
Therapy delivered to cancer patients by oncology nurses improves cancer-related depression compared with standard therapies. These results were recently published in the Lancet.
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July 8, 2008
FDA OKs Invitrogen genetic test for breast cancer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Invitrogen Corp's genetic test for determining whether patients with breast cancer are good candidates for treatment with the drug Herceptin.
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July 7, 2008
Heart disease prevention tips save US lives - study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Prevention efforts such as losing weight, kicking the smoking habit, lowering cholesterol and taking an aspirin a day could cut heart attacks in the United States by 36 percent and strokes by 20 percent in the next three decades, U.S. researchers said on Monday.
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July 7, 2008
ODAC Recommends Approval of Nplate
The Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC), which provides recommendations to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has recommended the approval of Nplate™ (romiplostim) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in adult patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
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July 7, 2008
Teen girl behavior not linked to later HPV risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sexual activity and other behaviors during early adolescence do not predict which women are likely to become infected with cervical cancer-related human papillomavirus (HPV) in young adulthood, new research indicates. Therefore, teen behaviors don't identify who would benefit most from HPV vaccination.
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July 7, 2008
Measuring EGFR from Cancer Cells in Blood Can Monitor Treatment Effectiveness in Lung Cancer
Measuring changes in cancer cells through a microchip from blood samples may provide a way to monitor treatment effectiveness among patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.