Cancer is not just one disease, but a large group of almost one hundred diseases. Its two main characteristics are uncontrolled growth of the cells in the human body and the ability of these cells to migrate from the original site and spread to distant sites. If the spread is not controlled, cancer can result in death.
Study shows chemotherapy improves survival among older breast cancer patients – The average age of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer is 63, so it is critical to have effective proven, therapies for an older patient population.
Home-based Diet and Exercise Intervention Can Improve Physical Function in Older Cancer Survivors. – A home-based program aimed at improving exercise and diet can lead to meaningful improvements in physical function among older long-term cancer survivors, according to the results of a study led by researchers from Duke University Medical Center and The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Surgery improves survival for prostate cancer patients younger than 50 – For men younger than 50 with prostate cancer, undergoing a radical prostatectomy can greatly increase their chances for long-term survival, according to a new study from Henry Ford Hospital.
UNC study identifies genetic cause of most common form of breast cancer – Defects in the p18 gene have been observed in different types of human cancer. – The discovery of tumor-suppressor genes has been key to unlocking the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation ? the hallmark of cancer.
Sun Awareness Week survey reveals lack of knowledge of skin cancer risk – Pale skinned people who are most at risk of skin cancer are ignoring sun safety advice, according to research released to launch Sun Awareness Week 2009.
Junghans named PI in $5.9 million breast cancer grant – Richard Junghans, MD, associate professor of surgery at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Chief of Surgical Research was named principal investigator of a grant to research how breast cancer patients’ own cells can be modified to fight their disease.
New early detection studies of lung cancer in nonsmokers launched today – Government and private sector cancer scientists today launched a research partnership to find biomarkers for lung cancer that develops in people who have never smoked.
Genes found to play a role in breast cancer’s spread to the brain – New research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) identifies three genes that specifically mediate the metastasis, or spread, of breast cancer to the brain and illuminates the mechanisms by which this spread occurs.
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval of Avastin for Brain Cancer (Glioblastoma) That Has Progressed Following Prior Therapy. – Genentech, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval of Avastin (bevacizumab) for people with glioblastoma with progressive disease following prior therapy.
African-American Women Still Have Poorer Breast Cancer Outcomes. New Study in Journal of the American College of Surgeons Finds Large Disparities in Care, Treatment Compared with Caucasian Women. – New research published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that dramatic disparities in breast cancer outcomes continue to exist for African-American women, regardless of the age at which they are diagnosed, extent of the cancer, type of treatment or socioeconomic status.
Early Detection Of Melanoma Plus Regular Skin Exams Is Vital For Beating Disease. Dermatologists Offer Advice for Reaching Five-Year Survival Mark. – On television’s popular “Grey’s Anatomy,” Dr. Izzie Stevens faces a grim diagnosis: stage IV metastatic melanoma. As the drama unfolds, viewers get a glimpse at why patients with the deadliest form of skin cancer ? in the most advanced stage of diagnosis ? face a mere 10-month median survival rate.
Mother-daughter breast density study points way to earlier cancer risk assessment – A unique mother-daughter study that used magnetic resonance to measure breast density in younger women shows that percent of breast water could be linked to the risk of breast cancer in middle age and older.
