http://medicineworld.org/cancer/cancer-blog.html Cancer blog from medicineworld.org adds a personal touch to the stories related to cancer. This cancer blog brings you stories of hope, stories of survivors and latest news and research related to cancer. Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT en-us http://medicineworld.org/images/blogs/cancer-cells.jpg http://medicineworld.org/cancer/cancer-blog.html 82 90 http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/7-2011/trastuzumab-and-chemotherapy-improves-survival.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/7-2011/trastuzumab-and-chemotherapy-improves-survival.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT The use of trastuzumab, chemotherapy and surgery among women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer significantly improved survival from the time central nervous system metastases were diagnosed. Based on these study results, lead researcher Adam Brufsky, M.D., Ph.D., said, "We clearly now know that these women should get trastuzumab and potentially chemotherapy, even if cancer spreads to the brain."....... ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/7-2011/genetic-mutations-that-lead-to-colon-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/7-2011/genetic-mutations-that-lead-to-colon-cancer.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center say there are at least 70 genetic mutations involved in the formation of colon cancer, far more than researchers previously thought. Based on the study, reported in the July 2011 Cancer Research (Priority Reports), scientists are suggesting a new approach to colon cancer therapys targeting multiple genes and pathways simultaneously. Current cancer therapys target just one or two known cancer-driver genes believing this would be beneficial to patients. While patients may get transient tumor burden reduction, almost universally tumor growth returns........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/7-2011/folate-colorectal-cancer-risk.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/7-2011/folate-colorectal-cancer-risk.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT A newly released study finds high folate intake is linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, a finding consistent with the findings of most prior epidemiologic studies. The study is reassuring, as prior recent evidence has suggested that consumption of very high levels of folate through supplements and from folate-fortified diet may increase risk of some cancers. Nonetheless, the potential importance of folate in colorectal cancer prevention remains in question because at least one other study found folate supplementation had no effect on recurrence of colorectal adenomas, precursors to colorectal cancer........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/marriage-improves-odds-of-surviving-colon-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/marriage-improves-odds-of-surviving-colon-cancer.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT A newly released study shows that being married boosts survival odds for both men and women with colon cancer at every stage of the disease. Married patients had a 14 percent lower risk of death as per scientists at Penn State's College of Medicine and Brigham Young University. That estimate is based on analysis of 127,753 patient records........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/finding-genetic-mistakes-that-fuel-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/finding-genetic-mistakes-that-fuel-cancer.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT A dramatically better computer tool for finding the genetic missteps that fuel cancer has been developed by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital � Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project investigators. Scientists are using the new algorithm to help identify the chromosomal rearrangements and DNA insertions or deletions unique to cancer........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/head-and-neck-cancer-and-second-round-of-treatment.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/head-and-neck-cancer-and-second-round-of-treatment.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT A newly released study has determined predictors that can better identify patients who will benefit from a potentially toxic second course of therapy, which offers a small but real chance of cure in select patients with head and neck cancer. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-evaluated journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings could help guide therapy decisions for head and neck cancer patients........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/flaxseed-no-benefit-for-hot-flashes.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/6-2011/flaxseed-no-benefit-for-hot-flashes.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT Flaxseed provides no benefit in easing hot flashes among patients with breast cancer and postmenopausal women, as per a Mayo Clinic and North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) study. The randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 188 women between October and December 2009 and found no statistically significant difference in mean hot flash scores between women taking flaxseed and those taking a placebo. Preliminary data published in 2007 by Mayo Clinic researchers suggested consuming 40 grams of crushed flaxseed daily might help manage hot flashes........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/recurring-breast-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/recurring-breast-cancer.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT When women with a history of breast cancer learn they have breast cancer again, one of the first questions they and their doctors ask is: Has my cancer come back, or is this a new case? Now, new data from Fox Chase Cancer Center suggest that both new and recurring cancers will differ significantly from the original tumors, regardless of how a number of months or years women spent cancer-free, and doctors should tailor therapy to the specific qualities of the second tumor, regardless of whether it's old or new........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/prevent-the-spread-of-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/prevent-the-spread-of-cancer.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT A protein capable of halting the spread of breast cancer cells could lead to a treatment for preventing or limiting the spread of the disease. "Cancer scientists want to design new therapeutic strategies in which the metastasis or spreading stage of cancer can be blocked," explains Andrew Craig, lead researcher and a professor in Queen's Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Research Institute. "Patients stand a much better chance of survival if the primary tumor is the only tumor that needs to be treated"........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/to-help-end-dry-mouth-in-cancer-patients.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/to-help-end-dry-mouth-in-cancer-patients.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT (Edmonton) For patients suffering from cancer in the mouth or throat, a recent study shows that a therapy called submandibular gland transfer will assist in preventing a radiation-induced condition called xerostomia. Also known as dry mouth, xerostomia occurs when salivary glands stop working. University of Alberta researcher Jana Rieger likens the feeling of xerostomia to the experience of the after-effects of having surgery and anesthetic�but the feeling is permanent........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/hitting-target-in-cancer-fight.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/5-2011/hitting-target-in-cancer-fight.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT The ability to use nanoparticles to deliver payloads of cancer-fighting drugs to tumors in the body could herald a fundamental change in chemotherapy therapy. But researchers are still at a relatively early stage in the implementation of this technology. Eventhough developing nanoparticles that work as "magic bullets" � selectively targeting tumors while sparing normal, healthy tissues � is still the goal, the reality is that most of these nanocarriers are removed through the liver and spleen before ever reaching their intended target. And a number of of the encapsulated drugs can be lost while the carriers circulate in the blood or degraded on the way to tumors........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/mri-locates-prostate-cancer-recurrence.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/mri-locates-prostate-cancer-recurrence.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT A pelvic MRI scan with IV contrast and rectal balloon is highly effective in identifying local recurrence even at low PSA values in patients with prostate cancer with a rising or persistently elevated PSA after prostatectomy, as per a research studypresented April 29, 2011, at the Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium in Atlanta. The symposium is co-sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/interval-post-treatment-mammogram-not-needed.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/interval-post-treatment-mammogram-not-needed.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT An annual mammogram is sufficient follow-up after breast conserving treatment (BCT) for patients with breast cancer, as per a research studypresented today, at the Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium in Atlanta. This symposium is co-sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/parkinsons-disease-and-prostate-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/parkinsons-disease-and-prostate-cancer.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT University of Utah School of Medicine scientists have found compelling evidence that Parkinson's disease is linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma, and that this increased cancer risk also extends to close and distant relatives of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Eventhough a link between Parkinson's disease and melanoma has been suspected before, this is the first time that an increased risk of prostate cancer has been reported in Parkinson's disease........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/for-breast-cancer-patients-fatigue-is-real.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/for-breast-cancer-patients-fatigue-is-real.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT The persistent fatigue that plagues one out of every three breast cancer survivors appears to be caused by one part of the autonomic nervous system running in overdrive, while the other part fails to slow it down. That imbalance of a natural system in the body appears associated with the tiredness and exhaustion that can burden cancer patients as much as a decade after their successful therapy........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/utilization-of-virtual-colonoscopy-triples.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/utilization-of-virtual-colonoscopy-triples.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT Medicare coverage and nationwide utilization of computed tomographic colonography (CTC), usually referred to as virtual colonoscopy, has tripled in recent years, as per a research studyin the recent issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (www.jacr.org). CTC employs virtual reality technology to produce a three-dimensional visualization that permits a thorough and minimally invasive assessment of the entire colon and rectum. CT colonography is an alternative to conventional optical colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/target-for-lung-cancer-chemoprevention.html http://medicineworld.org/stories/lead/4-2011/target-for-lung-cancer-chemoprevention.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:21:40 GMT Researchers have identified a biomarker for measuring the success of lung cancer chemoprevention, an emerging frontier in the fight against this disease that has long been stymied by a lack of measureable outcomes. These study results were presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6........ ]]>