Cancer mortality declined in Europe

New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations — Large variations in mortality exist between countries and between men and women – New figures on deaths from cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality between the periods 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. Deaths from all cancers in the European Union (EU) between these two periods fell by nine percent in men and eight percent in women, with a large drop among the middle-aged population.

Prostate biopsy is not always necessary after raised PSA levels

New finding suggests prostate biopsy is not always necessary – Elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in men may be caused by a hormone normally occurring in the body, and are not necessarily a predictor of the need for a prostate biopsy, revealed by researchers.

XMRV retrovirus linked to chronic fatigue syndrome

Consortium of Researchers Discover Retroviral Link to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – A retrovirus named XMRV is frequently present in the blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), revealed by researchers. This discovery could be a major step in the discovery of vital treatment options for millions of patients.

Prostate cancer test age lowered to 40

Prostate cancer test age lowered to 40 — men should first undergo a simple physical examination and blood test at or beyond the age of 40. – The age at which men are recommended to first have a test to help identify prostate cancer has been reduced from 50 to 40 years of age.

4 new risk factors for prostate cancer – deCODE genetics

deCODE Discovers Four New Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer – deCODE genetics (Nasdaq:DCGN) announced that a team of its scientists and academic colleagues from Finland, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States have published the discovery of four novel single-letter variations in the sequence of the human genome (SNPs) conferring increased risk of prostate cancer.

STD increases prostate cancer risk

JNCI news brief: STD confirmed to be associated with increased risk of prostate cancer – Researchers confirmed previous findings that the sexual transmitted infection known as Trichomonas vaginalis is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in a study published online September 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

XMRV virus may cause prostate cancer in people

Researchers find first evidence of virus in malignant prostate cells in prostate cancer — XMRV retrovirus is associated with more aggressive tumors of prostate gland. – XMRV (Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) — a type of virus known to cause leukemia and sarcomas in animals has been found for the first time in malignant human prostate cancer cells.

High insulin level increases prostate cancer risk

JNCI news brief: High serum insulin levels and risk of prostate cancer – Elevated insulin levels in the normal range appear to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, revealed by researchers in a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Prostatectomy effective in men with aggressive prostate cancer

In the modern post-PSA era, prostate cancer surgery may not be necessary for some patients — Study finds few patients die from prostate cancer within 15 years of radical prostatectomy. – Prostate surgery prostatectomy is found very effective in preventing death in men with aggressive prostate cancers, revealed by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Cleveland Clinic and the University of Michigan.

Health Newstrack