cancer

Chronic Anxiety Could Lead To Higher Cancer Risk

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on May 4, 2012 - 7:10am

A new study from Stanford University School of Medicine suggests that chronic anxiety could lead to a higher risk of developing cancer. The research took hairless mice and exposed them to both stressful situations and UV rays meant to mimic the effect of getting too much sun. Though all the mice developed skin cancer, the anxious mice, determined by their response to being placed under stress, had more tumors and also developed invasive forms of cancer. The research suggests that consistent anxiety can wear down the immune system leaving it more vulnerable to disease. The study was the first of its kind to find a biological link between high anxiety and cancer threat. More here. Read more »

shadow

Quality Of Life Important When Deciding On Cancer Care

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on April 30, 2012 - 9:34am

New research from the Moffitt Cancer Center aims to place more emphasis on quality of life in cancer care. Treatment options are mostly measured by how long they can help patients survive cancer with less focus on how well they survive cancer. The researchers at Moffitt hope to, not only assess the quality of life associated with many cancer treatments, but also develop better measurements for determining the level of quality offered by a particular treatment. The authors of the study said that quality of life includes everything from the physical to the social and should be factored into which treatments are prescribed to patients. If two treatments are found to work equally, the one that provides a higher quality of life should be chosen. Read more »

shadow

Foods, Herbs, And Spices To Boost Your Immune System

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on April 20, 2012 - 5:32am

Like any other part of your body, your immune system is dependent on a healthy and nutritious diet to function at its best. Fortunately, there are many foods and spices that can naturally boost your body’s ability to fight off disease. Among them, garlic has been shown to have cardiovascular and anti-microbial benefits. Diets rich in garlic have also been associated with lower rates of many cancers. Additionally, turmeric has been shown to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. It’s associated with settling the stomach and protecting the liver. Ginger, Ginseng, and Gingko Biloba also are commonly thought to have immune-boosting properties. And finally, bell peppers contain high levels of lycopene which is linked to a lowered risk of cancer. Read more »

shadow

Americans Pay More For Cancer Treatment, Have Better Survival Rates

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on April 13, 2012 - 5:58am

Americans spend more on healthcare than people in other developed countries but, according to new analysis published in Health Affairs, they also get better results. The study focused on cancer treatments and survival rates, comparing the U.S. with 10 European countries including France, Germany, Norway, Scotland, and Finland. The results found that, between 1983 and 1999, cancer care in the U.S. rose in price by 49 percent while it grew only 16 percent in Europe. When looking at cancer survival rates, however, the research revealed that Americans lived an average of 11.1 years after diagnosis while European patients survived an average of 9.3 years. Read more »

shadow

Cruciferous Vegetables May Help Halt Cancer

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on April 9, 2012 - 8:51am

Green leaf vegetables such as cabbage, bok choy, and broccoli are known as cruciferous vegetables and have been found to have anti-cancer properties due to high levels of compounds called glucosinolates. In a recent study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, 5,000 Chinese breast cancer survivors were studied over a 36 month period and asked to fill out questionnaires about their diet. The study found the women who consumed the most cruciferous vegetables were 42 percent less likely to have died from breast cancer and 19 percent less likely to have had their cancer return. The research suggests eating as little as 150 grams of the vegetables could lower the risk of cancer and boost overall health. Read more »

shadow

Obesity, Inactivity Contribute To Cancer Risk

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 29, 2012 - 6:46am

Inactivity and obesity can increase the chances of developing colorectal, breast, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, and uterine cancers, according to a new report issued jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a number of leading cancer groups. The report which reviewed more than 7,000 studies highlights the link between obesity and cancer. Marcus Plescia, director of the CDC’s cancer division, said it is well known that obesity and inactivity can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases but the link to cancer is not as well documented. Despite highlighting the dangers of inactivity, however, the report found the overall cancer death rate in the U.S. Read more »

shadow

Daily Aspirin May Reduce Risk Of Cancer

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 23, 2012 - 6:45am

Two recently released studies suggest that taking a daily aspirin may help reduce the risk of developing cancer and also prevent the spread of already developed tumors. In a study from the University of Oxford, the risk of developing cancer was 25 percent lower in people who took aspirin daily compared to those who took no aspirin. The research found a 37 percent reduction in the risk of cancer after five years of daily aspirin. Another study found aspirin reduced the risk of metastatic cancer by 36 percent and the risk of adenocarcinomas by 46 percent. Read more »

shadow

New Study Finds Red Meat May Shorten Lifespan

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on March 15, 2012 - 8:35am

After following 120,000 men and women over 20 years, researchers at Harvard found that the individuals that ate the most red meat and processed foods such as bacon, sausage, and hot dogs were more likely to die than the people who ate less. And, while processed foods appeared to be worse than fresh or unprocessed red meat, a daily 3-ounce serving of red meat was found to raise the risk of dying of heart disease by 18 percent and increased the risk of cancer by 10 percent. The study found substituting chicken, fish, or nuts and beans for red meat may lower the risk of early death by 7 to 19 percent. At the beginning of the study, the participating men were in their early 50s and the women were in their mid-40s. Read more »

shadow

CDC Says More Americans Need Cancer Screening

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on January 27, 2012 - 8:46am

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of Americans being screened for cancer continues to fall below recommended national targets. Sallyann Coleman King of the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control said screening for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancers can help find the disease at an earlier stage when it can be treated more effectively. Still, the report found that breast cancer screening rates were 72.4 percent, short of the national goal of 81 percent. Screening for cervical cancer was 10 percent below the target and colorectal cancer screening rates were 12 percent short of the goal. The report based its findings on data gathered during the CDC’s 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Read more »

shadow

Studies Show Drinking Tea May Benefit Health

Submitted by Maryglenn Boals on December 13, 2011 - 9:21am

The health benefits associated with drinking tea include reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. But, though the antioxidant-rich beverage shows promise, more study is needed in order to prove the staggering number of claimed benefits, which include everything from reducing cavities to curing depression. David L. Katz, MD, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center, told health.com that the science is promising but the hype surrounding tea’s numerous health benefits tends to make promises that the science can’t yet deliver. Read more »

shadow