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.
Prostate cancer: A change in circulating tumor cells detection has high potential in the prediction – A new study reveals that in the prediction of treatment outcome for castration-resistant prostate cancer, a change in circulating tumour cells detection might be more accurate than the change in prostate-specific antigen levels.
CA-125 change over time shows promise as screening tool for early detection of ovarian cancer — Blood test used to find recurrence uncovers invasive, high-grade disease at curable stage – CA-125, the protein recognized for predicting ovarian cancer recurrence, now shows promise as a screening tool for early-stage disease of ovarian cancer. The simple blood test could offer a much-needed screening tool to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages – even in the most aggressive forms.
Major Changes Urged for Cancer Screening and Treatment — Scientific Panel Recommends New Personalized Strategies to Reduce Cancer Overtreatment – To address the growing problem of people being overdiagnosed and overtreated for cancer, a group of scientists convened by the National Cancer Institute and chaired by a UC San Francisco breast cancer expert is proposing a major update of the way the nation approaches diseases now classified as “cancer.”
Use of ADT For Treatment of Prostate Cancer Linked With Increased Risk of Kidney Injury – Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer was associated with a significantly increased risk of acute kidney injury, according to a study that included more than 10,000 men published in JAMA.
Study confirms link between omega-3 fatty acids and increased prostate cancer risk — Consumption of fatty fish and fish-oil supplements linked to 71 percent higher risk – A second large, prospective study by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has confirmed the link between high blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Observation is safe, cost-saving in low-risk prostate cancer — Study suggests low-risk patients can forego immediate treatment – Many men with low-risk, localized prostate cancers can safely choose active surveillance or “watchful waiting” instead of undergoing immediate treatment and have better quality of life while reducing health care costs, according to a study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Cancer diagnosis puts people at greater risk for bankruptcy — Study also shows younger cancer patients are most vulnerable to financial stress – People diagnosed with cancer are more than two-and-a-half times more likely to declare bankruptcy than those without cancer. Younger cancer patients had two- to five-fold higher bankruptcy rates compared to older patients, and that overall bankruptcy filings increased as time passed following diagnosis.
New prostate cancer test improves risk assessment — Tool tested by UC San Francisco helps identify those best suited for active surveillance – A new genomic test for prostate cancer can help predict whether men are more likely to harbor an aggressive form of the disease, according to a new UC San Francisco study. The test, which improves risk assessment when patients are first diagnosed, can also aid in determining which men are suitable for active surveillance – a way of managing the disease without direct treatment.
Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer — Kaiser Permanente study among the first to examine how social relationships influence quality of life in breast cancer patients – Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have “positive social interactions” with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms. This study provides research-based evidence that social support helps with physical symptoms.
UCLA researchers find nanodiamonds could improve effectiveness of breast cancer treatment – Recently, doctors have begun to categorize breast cancers into four main groups according to the genetic makeup of the cancer cells. Which category a cancer falls into generally determines the best method of treatment.
