'Incredible Colon' to march across the state in Colon Cancer Awareness Month; more than a dozen stops scheduled

A special tour throughout the state of the Incredible Colon — an inflatable model of a human colon, large enough for visitors to walk through it — will promote education about risks and preventive measures of colon cancer during March, National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in Kentucky and nationwide, and it affects men and women of all ethnicities. Kentuckians have a higher than average risk of colon cancer due to higher rates of obesity, diets high in fat, and lack of regular exercise.

As many as 60 percent of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented if everyone age 50 and older were screened regularly, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screenings detect any abnormalities or early signs of cancer, like polyps in the colon, and when detected early, polyps can be easily removed during a colonoscopy before they develop into cancer. When colon cancer is found early and treated, the five-year relative survival rate is 90 percent, underscoring the need for preventive health exams.

However, only 63 percent of Kentuckians who should have screening tests have had them, according to Kentucky data from the federal Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing national survey.

The colon tour is a coordinated promotion by the Kentucky Cancer Program, local cancer councils and the Kentucky Colon Cancer Prevention Project. It is free and open to the public and will take place in 13 Kentucky communities March 4-28:

• March 4: Fleming County Hospital, Flemingsburg (10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)
• March 5: Walmart, Manchester (Noon - 4 p.m.)
• March 6: Hazard ARH Medical Mall, Hazard (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• March 7: Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, Morehead (members
  only, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• March 8: Frankfort Regional Hospital, Frankfort (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
• March 19: Lexmark, Lexington, (Employees only, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• March 20: Lawrence County High School, Louisa (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• March 21: Lady of Bellefonte Health Center, Grayson (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• March 23: Phillip Sharp Middle School, Butler (8-11 a.m. )
• March 25: Town Center Mall, Ashland (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• March 26: Walmart, Georgetown (3-6 p.m.)
• March 27: Adron Doran University Center, Morehead (9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
• March 28: Walmart, Somerset (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)

Attendees are invited to dress in blue, the color of colon cancer awareness, and there will be door prizes, giveaways (while supplies last), refreshments and educational information about colon cancer screening, prevention and early detection. (Read more)

Avoid virus-linked cancers, including cervical cancer, with shots

With a simple vaccine, you can avoid HPV-linked cancer, including cervical cancer and many cancers of the mouth, throat, anus and genitals, which constitute more than 3 percent of all U.S. cancer diagnoses. Vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV) thwarts the virus’s spread, wrecks its ability to jump between people and inhibits a virus that in 2009 led to a cancer diagnosis for 30,000 people in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Insititue. 

HPV infection is common. More than half of women between 14 and 59 catch a genital HPV. Many of these infections are low-risk, but when the body does not sweep out HPV intruders, high-risk HPV infected cells may lead to the unchecked growth of cancerous cells, according to Newswise, a research-reporting service.

HPV is actually a family of more than 150 viruses that infect human skin and mucosa, the moist membranes lining the nostrils, mouth and genital cavities. Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, prevent people from getting HPV infections by helping the body stockpile a medley of cellular defenses. Gardasil and Cervarix target HPV types 16 and 18, the two responsible for most cervical, anal, genital, and oropharynx cancer.  Blocking infection by types 16 and 18 also fights off other cancers, and the vaccines’ protection could last a lifetime. Gardasil also targets types 6 and 11.

It is important to complete the three-dose series for the vaccines; series completion rates are low for people in the Southern states, especially those that are poor and without private insurance, according to Newswise. Scientists are working to make a single vaccine that blocks infection by all HPV types, but today’s vaccines can prevent infection by two of the most common high-risk HPVs and may be the first step toward preventing HPV-linked cancers. (Read more)

Passive smoking causes dementia

While scientists from Moscow State University named after Lomonosov studied the presence of nanotechnology in everyday life, researchers from the University of Melbourne in the state, investigated the effects of passive smoking on people. Despite the fact that the matter was in principle long understood, they were able to make the discovery.

It turns out that passive smoking can cause the development of severe dementia. This study was the first that was able to point out the relationship between passive smoking and neurological diseases.

Previously, passive smoking could cause the development of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, which include lung cancer and coronary heart disease. But until now, no one knew that passive smoking can cause dementia.

Consider the matter lasted more than 11 years. during the survey polled more than 7,000 respondents, who were more than 60 years. teaching a group of volunteers involved in the survey on the subject of dementia in three time periods: 2001-2003, the 2007-2008, and 2011-2012. They also conducted a survey, which was such a sense of "you are subjected to tobacco smoke?". As it turned out, 10% of respondents had symptoms of severe dementia. It is worth noting that most of the people who had seen the signs of the disease, smoking or quit smoking. Therefore, smokers should think, and come to grips with their health.

Understanding Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis and Stages

Being told that you have prostate cancer can be a frightening experience. When you are told of your condition, it's common to be so overwhelmed that you neglect to ask important questions, only to think of them once you've gotten home. Understanding your illness is often the first step on the road to recovery. Here's what you need to know about your diagnosis and how the cancer is staged:

1.Diagnosing Stages

Once a man has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his physician will perform one or more additional tests to determine the stage of cancer. These tests may include a digital rectal examination, a blood test, an MRI of the prostate or skeleton, a CT of the pelvis and abdomen, or a surgical procedure to examine lymph nodes. While not all men will need each test, most men will undergo at least one of these tests in order for their physician to better stage the cancer.

2.Stage I

If you are diagnosed with stage I prostate cancer, this means that your cancer is microscopic and only located in the prostate. Your cancer will not be large enough for your doctor to manipulate digitally. Additionally, the cancer will not be able to be detected on any digital imaging of the prostate gland. Stage I cancer of the prostate will be discovered by a needle biopsy or in tissue that is removed during other surgical procedures.

3.Stage II

In stage II prostate cancer, the cancer is still located solely in the prostate. The cancer may be found in one-half or less of one lobe of the prostate, in more than one-half of one lobe or in opposite sides of the prostate gland. As in stage I prostate cancer, stage II cancers cannot be felt during digital rectal exams, nor will the cancer be visible on any type of imaging.

4.Stage III

In stage III prostate cancer, the cancer has spread outside of the prostate to nearby tissues. The prostate specific antigen, or PSA, score can be at any level and the Gleason score will range between two and ten. Your doctor may choose to treat you with external-beam radiation therapy, hormone therapy or suggest you for a clinical trial of new therapies. Alternatively, your doctor may suggest no treatment at all and, instead, adopt a watch and see approach to your cancer.

5.Stage IV

When your prostate cancer has metastasized, or spread, to other areas of your body, you are diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Your cancer may be found in your bones, liver, lungs or lymph nodes. Stage IV prostate cancer, like other cancers that have reached the fourth stage, is considered to be the most serious. Without immediate treatment, this type of cancer will likely prove fatal. Your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or a radical prostatectomy combined with other therapies.

The better you understand your diagnosis and the stage of prostate cancer that has been discovered, the better equipped you will be to partner with your oncologist to aggressively tackle your disease. If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, do not hesitate to approach your doctor with any questions that you may have. Your gained knowledge may just save your life.

John Martin writes articles for several health testing sites and recommends having your prostate test in Dallas Tx done at one of these centers.

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

With another name of intracranial growth, brain cancer truly includes the first growth originates from brain parenchyma and secondary brain cancer, the metastases from different components of body. Its symptoms vary as individual condition changes.

What Cause Brain Cancer?

1. The radiation and electrical waves from portable and laptop will promote the canceration of cells.

2. The prevalence of brain cancer is expounded to the contact of insect powder, solvent, dyes and gas in keeping with studies. to boot, a pregnant girl takes alcohol or hair coloring before delivery would increase the danger for babies to develop metastatic tumor.

3.A growth might develop in brain simply because of environmental trauma irritating brain and scar tissues of brain. This traumatic growth principally happens on a base of damages in cerebral meninges and arachnoid. External injure of brain will stimulate the expansion speed of existing brain cancer besides.

4. Radiation. The semipermanent exposure to radiation is another reason behind brain cancer.

What ar the Common Symptoms of Brain Cancer?

1. Headache is one amongst the foremost obvious symptoms of brain cancer. It unremarkably happens in four or five am once the patients ar in deep sleep. Patients typically rouse owing to headache, with sleep deeper, headache additional server.. The headache disappears bit by bit at eight or nine o'clock once obtaining up.

2.Spraying unconditioned reflex. Compared to vomits that ar caused by stomachal diseases, the vomit happens on brain cancer unremarkably shows no symptoms like abdomen soberness and distension, nausea and abdominal pain or symptom. Moreover, the vomit isn't associated with foodintake, it's simply a unexpected spraying vomit shortly once headache, that is due to magnified intracranial pressure stimulating the unconditioned reflex centre of medulla.

Besides, abrupt twitch, single symptom, hearing impairment in one ear, hemiplegia, lowered eye vision, diplopia, issue in swallow and sustaining body balance, dizziness, are the symptoms of brain cancer.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

In early stage of Prostate Cancer, there's no special clinical manifestation, whereas as time goes by, Prostate Cancer shall manifest several varieties of symptoms and these symptoms would exacerbate step by step. To sum up, there area unit in the main 3 aspects as follows:

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Urination obstruction: as a result of the tumor's volume will increase step by step therefore on squeeze duct, therefore patients with Prostate Cancercan suffer from more and more getting-worse symptoms like upset, frequent voiding or voiding urgency, or different stimulation symptoms like odynuria. a part of advanced stage Prostate Cancer patients would suffer from retention as a result of they're utterly unable to urinate.

Other tissues to be concerned in: once Prostate Cancer invades adjacent or encircled tissues or organs, a series of native infiltration symptoms shall be caused, for instance, neoplasm offensive nerve and cavitas pelvis would cause pain in lower abdomen likewise as in area or perhaps in male reproductive gland, or bearing-down pain in pocket or lumgago; neoplasm offensive vesica, vesicle, would cause these symptoms like bloody voiding, hemospemia; neoplasm offensive canal would cause hydronephrosis; if duct is invaded, corresponding symptoms like piddle retention or enuresis then on area unit caused.

Tumor metastasis: it's simple for Prostate Cancer to unfold to skeleton, before skeleton being destroyed, Prostate Cancer patients shall suffer from nice pain, and meantime bear the additional risk of bone fracture. If bone marrow is broken, the immunity degrade or anaemia would appear; neoplasm spreading to blood vessels or lymph gland close, circulation of blood or humor fluid would be blocked or blocked so the limbs or area of patients shall suffer from edema; neoplasm spreading to respiratory organ, would cause hurting, pulmonic infection, respiration problem, ejection blood then on; neoplasm spreading to liver, would cause discomforts to liver space, jaundice then on; neoplasm spreading to brain, would cause headache, dizziness, vomiting, cognitive state then on; advanced stage Prostate Cancer patients could suffer from serosa fluid, ascites, swollen everywhere the body then on.

Symptoms of Lymphoma

Lymphoma may be a malignancy of system will develop in any a part of body. it always seems as a solid neoplasm within the organs made in body fluid tissues and tends to encroach on body fluid nodes, tonsil, spleen and bone marrow. it's simply unnoticed due to insidious symptoms. however the survival rate will extremely improved if its symptoms ar noted in early stage and take treatments in time. Therefore, it's necessary for North American country to grasp some symptoms of Lymphoma.

1. the foremost typical symptoms of Lymphoma ar painless superficial body fluid nodes, that grow bit by bit with sleek surface and within the hardness like nasal tip. Swelling body fluid nodes ar most ordinarily occurring in neck and supraclavicular regions, at that time ar in armpits and inguens. Some cases would chiefly gift the symptom of swelling body fluid nodes deep in body, for instance, swelling body fluid nodes in cavity, abdomen and pelvis. Those cases associate with associate insidious onset that once the patients ar diagnosed Lymphoma, the swelling body fluid nodes deep in body unremarkably ar each obvious to notice.

2. Progressive swelling body fluid nodes might have an effect on or continue tissues or organs around and cause correspondent symptoms. for instance, once superior vena is ironed by the swelling body fluid nodes in cavity would block blood backflowing to cause swollen face and neck, chest distress, hurting or troublesome breath then on. If the swelling body fluid nodes of pelvis and abdomen continue alimentary tract, duct or gall ducts etc. would cause blockage, pathology, jaundice, which can additionally associate with abdominal pain and distention.

3. Expect systema lymphaticum, Lymphoma can even encroach on different organs and gift correspondent symptoms. as an example, duct Lymphoma would show the symptoms like abdominal pain, duct lesion, harm and oppression etc., that ar same as abdomen diseases and viscus cancer do. Lymphocytoma body covering is generally mistaken as skin disease, skin disorder and eczema. If the neoplasm develops in brain, headache, blurring vision, disturbance of speech, cognitive state, and alter in disposition, nervous disorder of limbs or whole body, and even dysfunction in severe cases. once neoplasm invades bones will cause pain or fracture of bones, and if in bodily cavity might develop symptoms like nose obstruction, running nose, nasal harm, that ar like those of cavum cancer.

4. cancer may be a general disease, except the higher than symptoms, fever, night sweat, acratia, emaciation, loss of appetency, rash, itching, anemia and different systematic symptoms might develop in additional than five hundredth patients. From this, superficial Lymphoma comes with obvious symptoms that ar straightforward to search out early. except for the Lymphoma develops deep in body, it's troublesome to notice as a result of regarding symptoms would occur once the neoplasm is giant enough.

Squeezing Can Prevent Breast Cancer?

Women laid low with breast cancer could take pleasure in giving their breasts an additional squeeze virtually.

According to researchers from the University of American state at Berkeley and therefore the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, inserting mechanical force on malignant exocrine gland cells will really reverse their irregular growth method and place them back on target for a traditional growth pattern.

We area unit showing that tissue organization is sensitive to mechanical inputs from the surroundings at the start stages of growth and development, aforesaid Daniel John Fletcher, academician of applied science at Berkeley and college human at the Berkeley laboratory, furthermore because the study's lead investigator.

Breast tissue grows, shrinks and shifts throughout the course of a woman's life during a structured pattern and ultimately stops growing at some purpose. breast cancer is usually characterised by a breakdown during this traditional growth pattern, inflicting breast cancer cells to grow on an irregular basis.

Through a previous experiment at the Berkeley laboratory, researchers showed it had been attainable to stop these malignant cells from remodeling into a neoplasm by manipulating the cells' close surroundings through the employment of organic chemistry inhibitors. Ultimately the encircling healthy cells may persuade the cancerous cells to grow unremarkably once more.

The most recent work from the Berkeley laboratory utilizes an equivalent construct, however introduces mechanical inhibitors instead of chemical inhibitors. The researchers grew malignant breast animal tissue cells during a gelatin-like substance, that was injected into versatile Si chambers. They then applied force to the Si over time, and ultimately witnessed the malignant cells grow into additional healthy-looking cells. Time-lapse research showed the modification within the compressed breast cells over time.

While their analysis is compelling, the researchers don't advocate for compression bras or force alone to treat breast cancer.

Compression, in and of itself, isn't seemingly to be a medical care, John Fletcher aforesaid. But, this will provide North American country new clues to trace down the molecules and structures that might eventually be targeted for therapies.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

The number of individuals with lung cancer is increasing per annum, therefore to spot the symptoms of lung cancer is contributory to its treatment. Currently, lung cancer is one in all the foremost common primary malignant tumors of respiratory organ, that principally originates in cartilaginous tube animal tissue, therefore lung cancer may be referred to as cartilaginous tube lung cancer.

Early Stages Symptoms

There ar typically no symptoms or warning signs within the early stages, so it's simply unheeded, leading to delay of treatment.

Common Symptoms of lung cancer

1. Cough: there ar regarding 2 thirds of patients have cough, that is that the commonest symptom of early lung cancer. It is manifested as gentle dry cough, severe cough, cough with high frequency or cough at the hours of darkness.
2. haemoptysis (Coughing up blood): it's conjointly an indication of early lung cancer and it's additional obvious in male smokers. it's manifested as forcing out phlegm with blood or intermittent bloody mucous secretion, and having continual infections somewhere within the region of lungs.
3. Chest pain: it's an indication in regarding thirty p.c of individuals with lung cancer. If the growth is near respiratory organ membrane, the pain is boring or obscure and cough intensifies once respiratory or coughing. If cancer has invaded respiratory organ membrane, persistent pain is caused.
4. Fever: fever because of lung cancer may be a quite cancerous heat that is generally caused by inflammation that growth blocks bronchial tube of respiratory organ, inflicting inadequate voidance. The fever is usually below thirty eight degree, ineffective to antibiotic treatment, and tends to develop repeatedly.
5. Chest distress and shortness of breath: they're commonest symptoms of early lung cancer. they typically result from a blockage to the flow of air partly of the respiratory organ, assortment of fluid round the respiratory organ (pleural effusion), or the unfold of growth throughout the lungs.
6. Clubbed finger: referred to as drum hammer finger, it's manifested as enlargement of the primary joint of fingers and toes, protruded and recurved of nails, and pain. If you discover yourself having those signs, you would like to listen to stop lung cancer.
7. Arthritis: it's manifested as wandering and burning pain of the joint of elbow, knee, ankle, wrist, and finger, inability to use the hand or walk.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Early Symptoms of Breast Cancer

The symptoms that are listed conjure the bulk of the first symptoms of Breast Cancer. the primary factor that's typically noticeable is that the lump or mass within the breast. this can be one amongst the main indicators of Breast Cancer that is found within the early stage. it's attainable that a lump can type within the bodily cavity space still. alternative skin and tit connected symptoms conjointly|also are|are} common within the development of the Breast Cancer also however they will not be therefore noticeable within the early stages. detain mind that the first symptoms of Breast Cancer can also be tough as a results of alternative health issues therefore you must not assume the designation supported these symptoms occurring.

It is an honest plan for all girls to try to to breast exams a minimum of once a year. you'll get this done by your doctor or try it on your own. make certain that you just recognize specifically what you're yearning for. Early symptoms of Breast Cancer could go unremarked however once examining the world they're comparatively straightforward to Early. The lump ought to be noticeable and distinguished from the surface of the skin. If there's any modification within the texture and look of your breast skin or nipples then this could even be straightforward to note. If you retain examining your breasts on a daily basis then it'll be easier to spot once there has been any modification to that.
Regular breast examination will facilitate to find early symptoms of Breast Cancer and achievebetter treatment results.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer in girls

Symptoms of Breast Cancer in girls vary slightly . If you're a girl you will expect to expertise breast lump and changes of the skin and nipples in your breast space. There could also be alternative symptoms that would be tough except for this still although. you'll hunt for a full list of Breast Cancer symptoms however this has coated the bulk of the common symptoms that area unit probably to be detected by feminine patients with this kind of cancer.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Men

There area unit some similarities within the symptoms of Breast Cancer in men and girls however there area unit many variations that area unit additional probably to be detected by male patients. In several cases In several cases, it's unremarkably to visualize firm patches underneath the tit space of the skin. this might be a significant symptom that's tough by the male and totally different from females. it's attainable that symptoms of Breast Cancer in men can embody numerous forms of changes to the skin and nipples still. In most instances of Breast Cancer the symptoms area unit solely sometimes detected during a single tit. Also, if the Breast Cancer has unfold then you will expertise alternative symptoms like bone pain, weight loss, and general weakness.

The symptoms of Breast Cancer area unit largely to try to to with the breast skin and nipples. If the cancer spreads then symptoms could also be detected throughout the body still. once the cancer is in its early stages the symptoms area unit generally restricted to the breast space although.Even though these symptoms might not be able to realize at the primary look they're still comparatively straightforward to be detected if you examine the world. Ultimately, there area unit various symptoms of Breast Cancer and it's vital if you'll get timely examinations and effective treatments. So, visit a doctor timely once any abnormal symptoms area unit found.

Fat men die of prostate cancer

Adipose tissue surrounding the prostate gland of men with obesity, creates favorable conditions for the progression of prostate cancer.

What is the prostate gland
The prostate gland - is musculo-glandular organ located below the bladder and surrounding the initial portion of the urethra. The main function of the prostate is to produce secretions, which is part of semen. Ducts of the prostate glands open into the urethra.

Prostate cancer
In the early stages of prostate cancer does not manifest itself. Complaints are associated with tumor spread and metastasis. At the stage the only manifestation of the lack of symptoms, allowing the disease to suspect, is to increase blood levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). As prevention of prostate cancer for all men should conduct an annual PSA test beginning at age 45.

By increasing the size of the tumor shows the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Difficulty urinating
• Urinary incontinence
• urge to urinate.

The essence of the study

Scientists have received samples of adipose tissue surrounding the prostate gland in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer and prostate cancer. Regardless of prostate disease in men with obesity , there is increased activity of genes in fat cells. These genes encode proteins involved in the immune response, inflammation, growth, reproduction, and cell death.

Increase in the activity of genes leads to inhibition of the immune response and stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, which creates favorable conditions for the progression of prostate cancer. The study's authors hope that the findings will more carefully selected treatments for patients with obesity.

Lung cancer and stigma: The USA's biggest cancer

The USA's biggest cancer killer gets a disproportionately small share of public attention and research dollars. One big reason is that lung cancer is seen largely as a self-inflicted "smoker's disease," says a new report from FairWarning, a nonprofit online publication. The fact that many people with the disease die too quickly to become advocates for their own cause also plays a role. With many dying within a few months, "there's not much time to fit a walkathon in," one expert says.

Lice treatment: A new prescription lotion for head lice called ivermectin left 75% of kids pest-free two weeks after one treatment in a new study, meaning it may work better than older remedies. But it wasn't tested directly against other treatments and lacks long-term safety data. So some experts say it's still a last resort. (HealthDay)

Mumps outbreak: A mumps outbreak that hit Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey in 2009-2010 spread largely through religious schools that used intense face-to-face teaching -- enabling the virus to spread even among people who had been vaccinated, researchers say. (Reuters)

Today's talker: Will your child share Halloween candy today? Or share toys at playtime? It may depend on whether anyone is watching, a new study suggests. The study found five-year-old children were more generous with a stash of stickers when they could see and be seen by the child on the receiving end and when their offerings were put in see-through boxes, rather than opaque containers. It seems children are like adults, a researcher says: "The more others know about their actions, the more likely they are to act generously." (NBC News)

Kim Painter, @USA TODAY

Breast cancer awareness: Testing urged, guidelines explained, misconceptions explored

Women with BRCA1 and BRCA2, the
genes most commonly involved in breast
cancer, have up to an 80 percent chance
of getting the disease.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although Kentucky's breast cancer rate is slightly lower than the nationwide rate, almost 600 women die every year from breast cancer in the Commonwealth. The American Cancer Society predicts approximately 3,160 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in Kentucky this year. Early detection and prompt treatment can significantly reduce suffering and death from the disease.

According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, all health plans serving Kentuckians must, by law, cover mammograms. Medical guidelines strongly recommend that women older than 40 have annual mammograms and women younger than 40 with a family history of breast cancer should also have regular screenings. Through local health departments, the Kentucky Women's Cancer Screening Program provides breast cancer screenings, mammograms and Pap tests to eligible women in every county. During the 2011 fiscal year, KWCSP provided breast cancer screenings to 14,212 women. Services are provided to low-income women through the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Those women must be uninsured with incomes less than 250 percent of federal poverty guidelines.  For more information about breast cancer or screening services, call your local health department.

There are many misconceptions about the risks of developing breast cancer. Genetics, of course, is a well-documented factor but lifestyle issues have gotten a lot of talk. So what's true? Wendy Chen, MD, MPH, a breast cancer expert at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard University, tackles some of the more common questions here:

1) Soy may increase the risk of breast cancer returning.
False. Chen, who was part of a study that looked at over 9,500 American and Chinese breast cancer survivors who ate soy every day, says that eating soy may be linked to a lower risk of recurrence of breast cancer.

2) Alcohol consumption can increase the risk of breast cancer.
True. Dana-Farber researchers found that women who consume one alcoholic drink a day may increase their risk for breast cancer.  Chen and her colleagues analyzed data from over 105,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study. Those who consumed three to six glasses of wine a week were 15 percent more likely to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer. Those who drank fewer than three drinks a week had no increased risk.

3) Fertility treatments increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
False. According to a recent study from the National Institutes of Health, ovulation-inducing fertility treatments like Clomid and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) do not significantly increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

4) Wearing deodorant can increase the risk of breast cancer.
False. According to the National Cancer Institute, there is no conclusive research linking underarm deodorants to breast cancer.

5) The bigger the baby the bigger the risk of getting breast cancer.
Possibly true. “This is a tough one because the research is still evolving,” says Chen. "But the latest research shows that women who have larger babies have more than twice the risk of developing breast cancer than mothers who give birth to smaller infants. Researchers say that having a heavier baby may create a hormonal environment in pregnancy that could lead to the future development of breast cancer. They found that during pregnancy in women who have heavier babies, the ratio of estrogen to anti-estrogen is unusually high. The greater the level of estrogen, the higher the risk of breast cancer. However, Chen emphasizes, women who have larger babies should not panic. There is definitely a need for further research.” (Read more)

Cancer has become the leading cause of death among U.S. Latinos

Nosing past heart disease in 2009, researchers at the American Cancer Society reported Monday.

For most demographic groups and for the country as a whole heart disease is the top killer, claiming a total of 599,413 American lives in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That same year, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 567,628 Americans died of cancer.

Among Latinos that year, the rankings were reversed: 29,935 died of cancer and 29,611 of heart disease, according to a study in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

The change may be due to demographics, said Rebecca Siegel, an epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta and lead author of the study.

The average age of Latinos in the United States is 27 and of non-Hispanic whites is 42. In the overall population, cancer is the leading cause of death in people under 85 years of age.

"This is primarily driven by the young age distribution," Siegel said.

Cancer incidence and cancer deaths among Latinos remain lower than in non-Hispanic whites, and rates of both continue to fall due to improvements in lifestyle, early detection and treatment.

At the same time, advances in the treatment of heart disease have caused death rates to fall even faster, Siegel said.

"The overall message is positive," said Dr. Paulo Pinheiro, an epidemiologist at the University of Nevada who wasn't involved with the cancer society's report.

The American Cancer Society undertakes its analysis of cancer in Latinos every three years, compiling data from the National Cancer Institute, the CDC and other government sources.

Latinos are the fastest-growing demographic group in the U.S., the organization said, numbering 50.5 million in 2010 and making up 16.3% of the population.

Siegel and her colleagues estimated that 112,800 new cases of cancer would be diagnosed in Latinos in 2012, and that 33,200 Latinos would die this year from various forms of the disease.

They also examined incidence and mortality of the various cancer subtypes. Latinos are less likely than non-Hispanic white Americans to have the most common forms of cancer in the U.S.: breast, prostate, lung and colorectal.

But they are far more likely to develop forms of cancer that result from infection, including liver cancer (caused by the hepatitis B virus), stomach cancer (associated with the H. Pylori bacterium) and cervical cancer (caused by the human papilloma virus).

Incidence and death rates for cervical cancer, for example, are 50% to 70% higher among Latinas than among non-Hispanic white women, the report noted.

Siegel said the high rates of cervical cancer were a result of lower screening rates among Latinas.

"There's an opportunity there to reduce the risk," she said, adding that the cancer society wants to promote culturally appropriate interventions for Spanish-speaking people.

The longer Latinos are in the U.S., she said, the more they acculturate and the more their cancer risk should resemble that of non-Hispanic whites.

Pinheiro noted that U.S. residents from Mexico have lower cancer rates than people from Cuba or Puerto Rico, in part because they haven't been in the country as long.

He said he would like to see a cancer survey that compared like with like, matching Latinos who were born in the U.S. with their non-Hispanic white counterparts. However, birthplace data currently don't support such analysis.

By Eryn Brown

Liver Cancer Screening, Study Doubts Value

Screening people with alcoholic liver damage for signs of cancer may not be worth the expense or other downsides, a new report says.

Alcoholism can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver. People with cirrhosis have a higher-than-average risk of developing liver cancer, but it is not clear whether screening people with cirrhosis for the cancer extends lives.

In the new study, Danish researchers found that for alcoholic cirrhosis patients in their country, the risk of liver cancer is so low that screening may not be justified.

Of nearly 8,500 Danish adults hospitalized for alcoholic cirrhosis, the chance of developing liver cancer in the next five years was 1 percent, the study found.

That's well below the risk that justifies cancer screening, based on U.S. guidelines for cost-effectiveness.

In the U.S., an abdominal ultrasound would typically cost a few hundred dollars. Follow-up tests, if needed, could cost much more. But there are more than costs to consider when it comes to widespread cancer screening, said the lead researcher on the new study, Dr. Peter Jepsen of Aarhus University Hospital.

Screening always carries some risk of falsely suggesting a person has cancer. And that leads to unnecessary further testing, which may be invasive.

Ultrasound is the method of choice for liver cancer screening, Jepsen told Reuters Health in an email. If that test suggests there is a tumor, the next step is usually a CT scan, which exposes the patient to radiation (at a much higher dose than with standard x-rays).

So the benefits of liver screening would need to outweigh the risks in order to recommend routinely screening people with alcoholic cirrhosis.

The current findings suggest they do not, Jepsen's team reports in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

SPECIALIST GROUPS ALONE

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-backed independent expert panel, has no recommendation on liver cancer screening.

Right now, screening is recommended by two specialist groups the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver.

Both groups suggest that cirrhosis patients be screened every six months, Jepsen noted.

"But whether clinicians are actually offering this to their patients, and whether patients are compliant with (screening) if given the offer are unknown," Jepsen said.

The American liver diseases group could not be reached for comment.

The recommendations from the specialist groups are based on the common belief that alcoholic cirrhosis patients have a liver cancer risk that tops 1.5 percent per year. (That's the level at which screening is considered cost-effective.)

But Jepsen's team says the risk may actually be much lower a 1 percent chance over five years, based on their findings.

What's more, the researchers found, less than 2 percent of deaths in their study group were due to liver cancer.

Some past studies in various countries have suggested that liver cancer is a bigger risk for alcoholic cirrhosis patients than the current study implies. (A study in France, for example, found that cirrhosis patients developed cancer at a rate of over 5 percent per year.)

But Jepsen said the bigger numbers are based on "clinic-based" studies, which look at select groups of patients being treated at medical centers.

His team's study, in contrast, was population-based. They had information on all 8,482 Danish citizens who had a first-time hospitalization for alcoholic cirrhosis between 1993 and 2005.

Population-based studies give a clearer idea of the liver cancer risk for the typical alcoholic cirrhosis patient.

Jepsen said he thinks his team's findings are likely to be relevant to countries other than Denmark. The higher rates that have been in some other countries, he noted, are probably because of study design, rather than actual geographic variation.

By: updatednews

Federal panel says PSA screening for prostate cancer does more harm than good, but no better test is available

Prostate cancer cells. Getty Images photo by Abbey Michael.

An influential federal panel says testing healthy men's prostate-specific antigen levels to detect prostate cancer does more harm than good.

The PSA test can lead to unnecessary biopsies for men who turn out to be cancer-free. Those biopsies can also lead to men being treated for cancers that are so slow-growing (a characteristic of most prostate cancers) that they didn't need to be detected.

An estimated 1,000 to 1,300 men die annually from complications associated with treatments that are initiated because of PSA screening, reports Alice Park for Time magazine. Moreover, treating harmless prostate tumors increases the chances of making men impotent or incontinent.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force published the recommendation in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In 2009, the panel also recommended that women delay routine mammograms until the age of 50. That was controversial, and "The task force's recommendation goes against two decades of widespread use of the PSA test, a $35 blood test," Park reports.

"The recommendation is not just counter to what the lay public has been taught about cancer prevention but what physicians have been taught as well," said Dr. Michael LeFevre, co-vice chair of the USPSTF and a professor of family and community medicine at University of Missouri. "We've been told for decades to be afraid of cancer and that the only hope is early detection and treatment. So it's hard for physicians and patients alike to accept that not all cancers need to be detected or need to be treated and that there are harms associated with screening, not just benefits."

Through PSA testing, physicians "were finding the cancer earlier, so the time from diagnosis to death was longer, but the patient wasn't actually living longer," explained Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.

But there isn't a better test to replace the PSA, and Ian Thompson, chairman of urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, said to reject it completely is unwise. He said U.S. death rates from prostate cancer dropped between 30 and 50 percent since the screening became commonplace in the early 1990s, though those numbers could also have been influenced by more effective treatments. Thompson said he didn't want to go back to the "bad old days" when doctors only found prostate cancer when it was already unable to be cured, reports Liz Szabo for USA Today.  (Read more)