Study Reveals Breast Cancer Patients Don’t Understand the Details of the Disease

A new study published in the journal Cancer reveals that many women with breast cancer don’t understand their disease — with only 20 to 58 percent of women identifying characteristics correctly.

Lead researchers examined breast cancer patient’s answers to specific questions about the grade, stage and subtype of their tumor. The findings have resulted in a concerning gap in patient education.


Read More... Study Reveals Breast Cancer Patients Don’t Understand the Details of the Disease

Study Finds Eating Whole Grains May Help You Live Longer

In a recent study published online in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the findings may just surprise you. Eating whole grains such as popcorn, oats and quinoa may help you live a longer, healthier life.

"If you are really looking into whole-grain consumption with other diseases, stroke, heart disease and colorectal cancer, whole grains are consistently associated with [a] lower risk of those diseases," Dr. Qi Sun stated. “However, a higher intake of whole grains did not appear to reduce the risk of dying from cancer, the researchers found. It's possible that the two studies didn't have enough cases of specific kinds of cancer to show whether eating whole grains is helpful for cancer-related longevity.”

Read More...  Study Finds Eating Whole Grains May Help You Live Longer

Breast Cancer Death Rate Lowered by Reducing Dietary Fat

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the breast. The damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue — with research, early detection and treatment, many individuals continue a normal life.

Findings from a 2014 Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) study on breast cancer were presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium conference. Results included data that had previously been used to test whether dietary intervention can improve the clinical outcome of women with breast cancer, and death rates after 15 years of follow-up.

Read More...  Breast Cancer Death Rate Lowered by Reducing Dietary Fat

Smoking Linked to Loss of Y Chromosomes in Males

A new study has revealed the link between smoking and loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells that increases the risk of developing cancer in males.

While smoking is extensively documented as the biggest risk factors for cancer, a new study indicates that smoking is connected with the loss of the Y chromosome in blood cells.

Does this gasping discovery explain why smoking is more of a risk factor for cancer among men?

Read More... Smoking Linked to Loss of Y Chromosomes in Males

FDA Strongly Warns Gynecologic Device Spreads Cancer

The US Food and Drug Administration puts out urgent warning against a gynecologic device that has spread cancer in women who believed they had remediable uterine fibroids.

In the last year, two-dozen women have reported that after use of the device — the power morcellator — it turned a treatable condition into a life-threatening disease.

Read More...  FDA Strongly Warns Gynecologic Device Spreads Cancer

New Research Shows Advanced Signs of Fighting Brain Cancer

Brain cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain — which can be benign or malignant.

Scientists from Harvard Medical School have discovered a way of turning lab created stem cells into high-tech carnage machines to contest cancer of the brain.

Lead Author and Director of the Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Khalid Shah, stated, “The results were very positive. We do see the toxins kill the cancer cells.”

Learn More... New Research Shows Advanced Signs of Fighting Brain Cancer

Promising New Treatment Rates High for Bladder Cancer

According to the Urology Care Foundation, bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States. In 2014, an estimated 15,000 individuals will die from this devastating disease.

 Vice President of Oncology at Merck Research Lab, Dr. Alise Reicin, encouragingly spoke out in a recent statement, “Although at this stage the dataset is small, we are encouraged by the response rate, complete response rate, and the durability of the response in patients suffering from advanced bladder cancer.” She continued, “As communicated previously, based on these data Merck will initiate a Phase 3 study this year to better understand the potential of KEYTRUDA in advanced bladder cancer.”

Read More...  Promising New Treatment Rates High for Bladder Cancer

Kidney and Thyroid Cancer Rates Up Among U.S. Children

In 2014, it is estimated that 15,780 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 years will be diagnosed with cancer and 1,960 will die of the disease in the United States.

Families, caregivers, charities and research groups across the United States observe September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

A new study reports that the rates of thyroid cancer and kidney cancer in children are...

Read More...  Kidney and Thyroid Cancer Rates Up Among U.S. Children

Skin Cancer Declared Major Public Health Problem by Surgeon General

The U.S. Surgeon General has starkly publicized for Americans to better protect their skin. Incidents of melanoma are rising — in fact — tripling over the last 30 years.

The surgeon general and many other health experts around the globe and advocating for all individuals to understand the importance of protecting their skin, and to apply basic advice — stop going to tanning salons, and wear sunscreen and a hat.

Learn More ...  Skin Cancer Declared Major Public Health Problem by Surgeon General

Study Finds Childhood Obesity Rates Holding Steady

According to the latest study published in the journal Pediatrics, the proportion of kids aged 2–18 who are considered obese, based on their waist size, held steady at nearly 18 percent from 2003–2012.

While the rate of obesity has stabilized, it is important to remember the full health consequences of childhood obesity — including type 2 diabetes and heart disease, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Read More... Study Finds Childhood Obesity Rates Holding Steady

New Immunotherapy Drug Giving Hope to Skin Cancer Patients

Innovative immunotherapy drugs designed to fight the body's own immune system against cancer are significantly prolonging the lives of many individuals.

Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, cancer doctors are showing progression and an eagerness that immunotherapy could prove to be major breakthrough in treatment for an extensive range of cancers including skin, lung, bladder and kidney.

Read the Entire Article —  New Immunotherapy Drug Giving Hope to Skin Cancer Patients

Bedtime TV Severely Affecting Kids' Sleep

Do you find yourself struggling to get your child to sleep? Bedtime can be the most difficult time of the day for parents.

Besides the over-stimulation that watching television can cause, the type of programming can also make falling asleep difficult.

 A recent study has established that kids who watch more television sleep for a smaller duration of the night — nearly seven fewer minutes of sleep.

Read More ...  Bedtime TV Severely Affecting Kids' Sleep

Blood Test Could Detect Cancer in Its Early Stages

A group of Stanford scientists have reached new heights with the development in which a blood test can possibly detect and track cancer.

The Stanford School of Medicine discovered that by scanning patients’ blood for tumor DNA, they were able to define whether a patient had cancerous cells in their bodies.

Dr. Maximillian Diehn, co-senior author of the study — published in Nature Medicine — has devoted his studies to detecting DNA that originates from cancer tumors and eventually intervenes into the bloodstream.

Read More —  Blood Test Could Detect Cancer in Its Early Stages

March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Amongst the horrendous cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Every year, nearly 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with it — and more than 50,000 individuals die from it.

If you're 50 years old or older — get screened. It’s that simple — and can merely save your life. You can lower your risks by...

Read More:  March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The Deep Rooted Channels of Obesity

For many obese adults, obesity was a predisposition at the age of 5 years old.

A recent study of more than 7,000 children has found that a third of children who were overweight in kindergarten were obese by eighth grade.

“What is striking is the relative decrease in incidence after that initial blast of obesity that occurs by age 5. It is almost as if, if you can make it to kindergarten without the weight, your chances are immensely better.”  — Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, Vice President of the Emory Global Health Institute in Atlanta

Overweight and obesity are chief risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and cancer.

Learn More: The Deep Rooted Channels of Obesity

Live, Laugh, and Eat Nuts

Nuts prove to be a good source of protein, heart-healthy fat, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and several antioxidants.

The results of a recent study are simply nuts — are nuts truly beneficial?

Find Out The Best Nuts for Your Heart, Brain, and Disease Prevention.

Read the entire story -- Live, Laugh, and Eat Nuts

Movember Madness

The moustache movement is raising awareness for prostate and testicular cancer research, and mental health. 

From Fuzz to Buzz —

The fuzz behind Movember stimulates conversations among families, friends, and co-workers — even complete strangers. These significant exchanges ultimately educate individuals on the health issues men face.

Read the entire story -- Movember Madness — Cancer Awareness

Dogs Can Detect Ovarian Cancer

Dogs can save lives. But can they sniff out ovarian cancer?

Canine animals are important in many ways that aren’t always obvious.  In the medical sphere, some dogs are trained to warn of epileptic seizures, low blood sugar and heart attacks, whether by detecting changes in smell or physical behavior.   

According to Medical News Today, a group of researchers took part in investigating a study to use canine olfaction and chemical and nanotechnology analysis as a means of detecting early-stage ovarian cancer.

Doctors are presently using the senses of light, sound and touch to help diagnose ovarian cancer in women.

Although researchers say that there has not been an effective screening strategy for the detection of ovarian cancer, any advancement in detection of ovarian cancer will help early diagnosis and will have a significant impact on overall survival from the disease.

Cynthia Otto, director of the Working Dog Center, says: "These odorants remain a relatively untapped source for cancer detection information.

By utilizing the acute sense of smell in detection dogs in conjunction with chemical and nanotechnology methods, we hope to develop a new system of screening for ovarian cancer using analysis of odorants to facilitate early detection and help decrease future cancer deaths."

Read full story here: Dog Can Sniff Out Ovarian Cancer

Image credit: cbc.ca

10 Years of High-Tech Health Care

Technology breakthroughs have brought the most dramatic and impactful changes in our lives, environments and societies. The rapid growth of medical technology revolutionized our modern society, improving quality of life, prolonging lifespan and promoting well being. 

 

It is easy to see how health care advancements have touched the lives of almost every person on the plant.

The past 10 years has seen the most remarkable medicines and innovative medical technologies that continued to transform health care delivery and save our lives. 

 

From targeted cancer therapies to stem cell research, here are life-changing medical technologies that helped us survive the most deliberating of diseases during the past 10 years. 

Targeted Cancer Care: According to the National Cancer Institute, targeted cancer therapies are drugs that function by either interfering with the spread of cancer by blocking cells involved in tumor growth, or identify and kill the deadly cancer cells. 

There are more than 15 targeted cancer therapies approved the FDA during the last decade. Targeted cancer therapies can be more effective than other types of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and less harmful to healthy cells.

Read the rest of the story here: 10 Years of Medical Advancements

Exercise to Live

Don't be a Couch Potato!

Studies show that laziness is deadly to your health.

A persons physical inactivity is linked to dangers like obesity and increased smoking habits.

Inactivity can lead to health issues like cancer, and diabetes.

These resent results have health officials treating this like a national pandemic... the 'lazy' disease.

Read the whole story here:  Laziness Can Kill