As we honor Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important to be cognizant of the realities of these deadly diseases. All women with reproductive organs are susceptible to developing one of the seven gynecologic cancers, with the exception of women who have received a full hysterectomy and are at a lower risk. Know your body, know the facts, know your risk. #1. Gynecologic cancer is an umbrella term for seven different cancers that occur in women’s reproductive organs. Types of gynecologic cancers include… Cervical cancer. This occurs when the cells inside and outside the cervix mutate. This is the move preventable cancer through annual…
Author: Brett Johnson
Some women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are able to choose between different types of surgery to remove their tumors. Because these surgical options are equally effective, the decision often comes down to the woman’s preference about factors such as recovery time, potential complications, and effect on appearance. But a new study shows that some women also take another factor into consideration: cost. The cost of care is particularly important for women with lower incomes, the study found. However, the researchers found that very few women reported discussing costs with their medical team, despite their desire to do so. “Doctors discuss many variables with women facing…
Many cancer studies focus on the genetic changes in a tumor that may influence its development or identify potential targets for new treatments. But a growing number of researchers have been looking into a different factor that might affect how tumors behave: bacteria. Several studies have suggested that the mix of bacteria in the gut of people with cancer—their gut microbiome—can affect their immune system’s ability to recognize and attack tumors or the effectiveness of some cancer treatments. Now, results from a new study suggest that, in the case of people with pancreatic cancer, the makeup of bacteria that populate their tumors could predict how long…
Finding new ways to help people quit smoking continues to be a challenge. In a recent study, researchers tried a unique approach: training pediatricians’ offices to provide smoking cessation treatment to parents during visits with their child’s doctor. The approach increased the number of people who got treatment and modestly improved smoking quit rates. The study tested the effectiveness of a program called CEASE, which aims to reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke—and thereby improve their health—by helping parents to quit. Results of the trial were published August 12 in JAMA Pediatrics. “We’ve made a lot of progress [in reducing secondhand smoke…
Findings from a study of patients who received radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism show an association between the dose of treatment and long-term risk of death from solid cancers, including breast cancer. The study, led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, was published July 1, 2019 in JAMA Internal Medicine. “We identified a clear dose–response relationship between this widely used treatment and long-term risk of death from solid cancer, including breast cancer, in the largest cohort study to date of patients treated for hyperthyroidism,” said Cari Kitahara, Ph.D., of NCI’s Division…
For many, working a night shift is a regular part of life. While most of the world operates on a 9-5 business model, a surprising number of businesses and services operate outside of “normal” hours. Hospitals need medical professionals, buildings need security and scores of drivers and workers need 24-hour gas stations and diners. Working during the night and sleeping during the day has become the norm in many professions. Working an overnight shift can be mentally fatiguing, psychologically isolating and physically exhausting. Night shift work can even cause depressive episodes for some individuals. In a 2017 study, night shift…
Cancer is anything but a straightforward disease; one tumor type can be entirely different from another not only in location, but causal agent and origin. There is differentiation even within the same type of cancer. Take sarcoma, which is in fact an umbrella term for nearly 100 cancers originating in the skeleton or the soft parts of the body. Some affect the young, others the elderly. But now a study out of Sweden is bringing the starting points of some sarcomas into focus by identifying for the first time an interaction between specific proteins. “We now know which mechanisms to shine the…
It is undisputed that diet and nutrition are linked to the cause and perpetuation of cancer. Today, America faces an increasingly prevalent medical issue that affects more than 30% of its citizens: obesity. The number of obese Americans has dramatically increased in the past several decades, and if current trends continue over the next 20 years, it is estimated that obesity will lead to more than 500,000 additional cases of cancer each year. Many Americans remain unaware that obesity is a risk factor for cancer. New findings display powerful information on how we can approach diet to prevent and manage a cancer…