Health News
Cancer in America
Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society released the latest figures on the state of the nation's battle against the world's most dreaded disease.
The good news is that cancer death rates are down across the board. The not-so-good news is that less educated Americans are dying prematurely in greater numbers.
Stemming the Tide
Stem cells are like chameleons - they can turn into a number of different types of cells. Scientists are now learning that stem cells may hold the key to treating ovarian cancer.
The Protective Effects of Estrogen
Estrogen has been getting a bad name lately. The female hormone drives the most common form of breast cancer, but a new study suggests it also protects women from other types of cancer.
FDA Drug Safety Communication: TNF blockers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that it continues to receive reports of a rare cancer of white blood cells (known as h epatosplenic T-Cell lymphoma or HSTCL ), primarily in adolescents and young adults being treated for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis with medicines known as tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) blockers, as well as with azathioprine , and/or mercaptopurine .
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis cause inflammation of the digestive system. Common symptoms are pain in the abdomen, cramps, and diarrhea. Bleeding from the rectum, wei...
Spikes in Male Oral Cancer
The human papillomavirus (HPV) has long been recognized as the cause of cervical cancer in women. This virus is now causing more oral cancers in men.
Male Hormones Drive Some Female Breast Cancers
Most breast cancers are fueled by the female hormone estrogen. In an interesting twist, scientists have discovered that a male hormone ignites breast tumor growth in some women.
Preserving Fertility
A radical hysterectomy used to be the only way to treat cervical cancer. The surgery left a woman with no chance of having children. Today, women have gentler choices that preserve fertility.
Gene That Drives Lung Cancer Discovered
Magical mystery tour. That's what the painstaking process of locating genetic mutations could be called, and biologists may have landed at a critically important new destination.
Treating it at the Source
While the incidence of many cancers has been declining in recent years, the same can't be said for melanoma. The disease is rising dramatically among young people. Now, scientists may have a way to nip this cancer at its source.
Tell Tall Risks
According to a number of studies, tall people tend to be leaders, better athletes, earn more, and be more attractive. Yet tall people come up short when it comes to cancer risks.