February 22, 2012
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced steps to stem the shortage of some cancer drugs. The FDA will allow imports of an alternative to the drug Doxil, and approved a new company to manufacture preservative-free methotrexate. Doxil, which is used to treat ovarian cancer and multiple-myeloma, has been in short supply since problems arose at one of the manufacturing plants last year. Although around 7,000 patients...
February 22, 2012
Cold water baths may help to prevent muscle soreness after exercise, but little is known about risks or details such as length of time. Researchers at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland reviewed 17 existing studies. Most of the studies looked only at small numbers of athletes, and were poorly designed. The researchers were only able to draw a meaningful conclusion from 14 of the studies. In the studies, participants were...
February 11, 2012
Advanced cancer patients experiencing extreme fatigue often suffer from cachexia, or body-wasting syndrome. Researchers from Concordia University and the McGill University Health Centre found that patients with severe cancer-related fatigue had less muscle mass and strength compared with less fatigued patients. The study compared fatigue levels, muscle mass, and strength of 84 newly diagnosed but advanced...
January 28, 2012
According to a National Cancer Institute's report, ethnic disparities are found in cancer screening in the U.S. Overall cancer screening rates fell well below targeted levels, but levels were particularly low among Asian and Hispanic populations. In 2010, the rate of breast cancer screening was only 72.4%; the target level set by the NCI and CDC was 81%. The cervical cancer rate was 83%, compared with a target of 93%. And screening...
January 27, 2012
Regular workouts may improve the mood for people suffering chronic health problems like cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), fibromyalgia, and other conditions. Researchers from the University of Alabama looked at 90 previous studies on exercise and some chronic disease. Those studies included over 100,000 people with a chronic condition who did not have a clinical diagnosis of depression, but might...
December 02, 2011
Premenopausal breast cancer patients had a 60% greater risk of bone fracture, and most of the fractures occurred in younger women with normal bone density, according to new research presented at the International Conference on Cancer-Induced Bone Disease. The fractures occured on average less than 4 years after initial chemotherapy. Over half of the women with fractures had bone density above the threshold for treatment. All of the patients...
November 27, 2011
People who get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week have been shown to sleep better and be more alert during the day. Researcher carried out at Oregon State University found that 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous exercise resulted in a 65% improvement in quality of sleep. Exercisers in the study also said they felt less sleepy during the day compared with less active participants. The study looked at a nationally...
November 19, 2011
Women who survive breast cancer may suffer increased risk of neurological problems, particularly women who were treated with chemotherapy, according to researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine. Researchers studied profiles of brain activation among 25 breast cancer (BC) survivors treated with chemotherapy, 19 women with BC who did not receive chemotherapy, and 18 healthy women, all matched for age and other demographic...
October 14, 2011
People faced with a cancer diagnosis may suffer from stress symptoms similar to those caused by war. Researchers from the Duke Cancer Center found that 1 out of 10 cancer survivors exhibited signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for a decade or more after their diagnosis. Their symptoms included feeling jumpy, having disturbing thoughts about their cancer, or feeling emotionally distant from friends and family. One in 10...
October 03, 2011
Thailand is using a low-cost, single-visit method to fight cervical cancer. Vinegar is brushed on a woman's cervix, which makes pre-cancerous spots turn white. Those white spots can then be frozen off with a metal probe cooled by a tank of carbon dioxide, available at any soda bottling plant. The procedure is known as VIA/cryo for visualization of the cervix with acetic acid (vinegar) and treatment with cryotherapy, and can be...