Cancer Archives

Melanoma skin cancer rising in Victoria

Number of Victorians affected by melanoma is at the highest level ever. Melanoma overtook lung cancer and is now the fourth most common cause of cancer in Victorians. – New figures from The Cancer Council Victoria show that the number of Victorians affected by melanoma is at the highest level ever. Latest figures from the Victorian Cancer Registry show that in 2005, melanoma overtook lung cancer and is now the fourth most common cause of cancer in Victorians.

Novartis’ Femara protects against breast cancer return

Results from this analysis affirm the safety and efficacy of Novartis’ Femara as extended adjuvant therapy (i.e. following the completion of five years of tamoxifen). – Women may reduce the risk of their breast cancer returning by starting treatment with Femara (letrozole) anywhere from one to seven years after finishing tamoxifen therapy, according to a new analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Lower heart effects from Herceptin breast cancer treatment with chemotherapy

Cardiac effects associated with breast cancer treatment appear lower with dose-dense delivery of conventional chemotherapy – A new pilot study by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) found that breast cancer patients can be treated safely with a “dose-dense” regimen of standard chemotherapy agents and the antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin), a drug that has previously been shown to cause cardiac toxicity.

Aspirin may reduce breast cancer by 20%

Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin may reduce breast cancer by up to 20 per cent, according to an extensive review carried out by experts at London?s Guy?s Hospital – Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin may reduce breast cancer by up to 20 per cent, according to an extensive review carried out by experts at London’s Guy’s Hospital and published in the March issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

Colorectal cancer screening guidelines update

New guidelines update recommendations on colorectal cancer screening, strong preference for tests that can prevent colon cancer, including colonoscopy. – A new guideline on colorectal cancer screening released by an expert group representing a broad spectrum of health care organizations, including the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the American Cancer Society (ACS), offers recommendations for various alternatives for colorectal cancer detection and states a strong preference for screening tests that can prevent colorectal cancer.

Red meat consumption linked to colorectal cancer

Consuming more than 18 ounces, or a little over a pound, of red meat (pork, beef, lamb and goat) each week can significantly increase a person?s risks for developing colorectal cancer. – For most Americans, meals tend to center around meat. To significantly decrease a person’s risks of developing colorectal cancer, experts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center suggest a new approach to meal planning that focuses more on fruit and vegetable dishes.

Researchers identify protein that fuels ovarian cancer

Researchers identify protein that fuels ovarian cancer, but its production can be stifled by a tiny bit of RNA wrapped in a fatty nanoparticle. – A protein that stimulates blood vessel growth worsens ovarian cancer, but its production can be stifled by a tiny bit of RNA wrapped in a fatty nanoparticle, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reports in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Vitamin supplements may increase lung cancer risk

Supplemental multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate are unlikely to decrease the risk of developing lung cancer. Use of supplemental vitamin E at high doses for a prolonged period of time may slightly increase this risk. – Vitamin supplements do not protect against lung cancer, according to a study of more than 77,000 vitamin users. In fact, some supplements may even increase the risk of developing it. The findings were published in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Bowel cancer rising in Australia, reports AIHW

The report shows that bowel cancer incidence rates have risen in the last decade, to the point where it is the second most common cancer in Australians-but survival rates have been improving. – A new Australian report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) presents a mixed bag on favourable and unfavourable trends in chronic diseases over time. The report, Indicators for chronic disease and their determinants, 2008, focuses on the 12 chronic conditions that represent a large burden of disease in Australia.

Combined hormone therapy makes breast cancer detection difficult

LA BioMed study finds hormone therapy increases frequency of abnormal mammograms, breast biopsies; may reduce effectiveness of both methods for detecting cancer. – Combined hormone therapy appears to increase the risk that women will have abnormal mammograms and breast biopsies, and it may decrease the effectiveness of both methods for detecting breast cancer, according to a report in the Feb. 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Genentech’s Avastin with chemotherapy approved for advanced breast cancer

FDA grants accelerated approval of Avastin in combination with Paclitaxel Chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced HER2-negative breast cancer. – Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for Avastin (bevacizumab), in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy, for the treatment of patients who have not received chemotherapy for their metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer.

Gene changes after smoking affects lung cancer

Smoking?s effects on genes may play a role in lung cancer development and survival; changes in gene expression persisted in people who had quit smoking many years earlier. – Smoking plays a role in lung cancer development, and now scientists have shown that smoking also affects the way genes are expressed, leading to alterations in cell division and regulation of immune response. Notably, some of the changes in gene expression persisted in people who had quit smoking many years earlier.