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Cancers--other than breast

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2006 Jun. ~ 2006 Dec.: Health Center (ARCHIVES): Cancers--other than breast users admin

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Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 1:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported November 10, 2006


Cancer Risk Higher for Firefighters


(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- They risk their lives to save others everyday, but a new study finds firefighters may be risking more than they think.

Researchers report firefighters are at a greater risk for several types of cancers compared to workers in other fields. Furthermore, the protective equipment firefighters use is not doing a good enough job of protecting them from harmful chemicals.

Firefighters are exposed to many cancer-causing compounds, including benzene, diesel engine exhaust, chloroform, soot, styrene and formaldehyde. These substances can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Researchers say this latest study is the largest study investigating cancer and firefighters to date, and the authors conclude the evidence shows a direct correlation between chemical exposure and increased cancer risk.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati compiled data on 110,000 firefighters from 32 published studies. The risk levels of 20 cancers were classified as either probably, possible or not likely.

Investigators report half of the studied cancers were associated with varying levels of an increased risk. Specifically, firefighters are twice as likely to develop testicular cancer and have higher rates of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma when compared to non-firefighters.

"Firefighters work in an inherently dangerous occupation on a daily basis," reports Grace LeMasters, Ph.D. "As public servants they need and deserve additional protective measures that will ensure they aren't at an increased cancer risk."


SOURCE: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2006;48:1189-1202

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 2:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported November 9, 2006

Folate Deficit Linked to Colorectal Cancer



(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A diet low in folate may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to a new study. This latest research not only connects the two, but also gives further insight into the mechanisms of the disease.

Earlier research by this same team from McGill University Health Centre at Montreal Children's Hospital found high folate diets may protect against heart disease. For the research on colorectal cancer, study authors report this is the first study to directly connect diets low in folate to colorectal cancer.

The research was done in mice. Investigators report none of the mice fed a control diet developed cancer, but one in four mice on the folate-deficient diet developed tumors. The study reveals this may happen because a low level of folate may cause an increase in DNA damage. Study authors caution that while these results are encouraging, more research is needed in humans to know for sure the protective effect of folate for colorectal cancer.

Researchers point out they don't think it's necessary to eat excessive amount of folate, but they do recommend using diet or supplements to meet the recommended daily amount of folate.


SOURCE: Cancer Research, 2006;66:10349-10356

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 3:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported November 6, 2006


Smokers Suffer More Side Effects
From Cancer Treatment


(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Radiation treatment for prostate cancer can go a lot smoother if the patient doesn't smoke.

According to researchers from the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, smokers end up with significantly worse side effects from the treatment than nonsmokers.

The study was conducted among nearly 1,200 men being treated with 3-D conformal radiation therapy. Investigators collected information on smoking habits and history and then monitored the men for gastrointestinal and genitourinary side effects.

"Our patients who smoked during treatment reported having more acute gastrointestinal side-effects such as diarrhea," reports lead study author Niraj Pahlajani, M.D.

The finding adds to growing scientific evidence showing smoking increases unwanted side effects from cancer treatment. Previous studies linked the habit to increased side effects from treatment for cancers of the head and neck, cervix, lung and breast.

In the current study, the side effects didn't appear to lead to long term problems, but the investigators believe the results point out yet another reason why people should not smoke.


SOURCE: Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Philadelphia, Nov. 5-9, 2006

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 8:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported May 22, 2006


Easier Colon Cancer Test




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SEATTLE (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- A new screening may be the easiest way to find colorectal cancer sooner, when there is a better chance of surviving. And researchers say it's the most promising blood test yet.

Ten years ago, Linda Echternkamp had a large mass in her colon -- a cancer that was growing fast.

"It wasn't an easy road for me, but lucky enough, I'm here," she says.

Now, Echternkamp hopes new advances can help others beat the odds, too. She says, "If there's any testing that can help patients get in and be checked easier by a simple blood test, I think that's really marvelous."

Now there is ... A new blood test detects an altered gene linked to colon cancer.

Gastroenterologist William Grady, M.D., of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, says, "I think this test shows a lot of promise."


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Doctors say right now only about half of people who should get screened for colon cancer do. Since the new test doesn't require a stool sample, Dr. Grady says more people are likely to get screened to determine if they need a colonoscopy.

Having an effective blood test would be a big advantage because there would be much better compliance. Big advances in molecular technology could mean perfecting this test will come soon. But Dr. Grady says the new test doesn't compare to the gold standard just yet.

"The blood-based test is better than older blood-based tests but still is only about half as good as colonoscopy," Dr. Grady tells Ivanhoe.

For Echternkamp, any advance is good against a disease that runs deep in her family. Her father died of colon cancer. Her son and daughter are at high risk and get regular colonoscopies. As for her grandchildren...


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"They have a 50/50 chance of being positive," she says. As technology improves, she hopes all they will need is a simple blood test.


If you would like more information, please contact:

Glen Wortman
Epigenomics Inc
1000 Seneca Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98101
glenwo@us.epigenomics.com

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Sunday, November 19, 2006 - 9:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Source: Ivanhoe.com
Reported June 19, 2006


Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine



BALTIMORE (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- More than 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, and about the same number die. Chances of surviving more than five years with this disease are low. But researchers hope to reverse that trend with a new vaccine.

When Ron Windle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he never imagined he'd be alive and still walking hand-in-hand with his wife three years later. "I was afraid," Windle says. "I still have many things to do in life."

He had surgery, chemo and radiation. Still, he only had a 20-percent chance of surviving five years based on statistics. That was until he enrolled in a clinical trial testing a new vaccine.

During the study, doctors at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore give patients the vaccine after surgery and again after chemo and radiation.

"I think we're very encouraged. What makes it exciting is the science behind the vaccine," says Daniel Laheru, M.D., an oncologist at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University.

The vaccine uses genetically altered cells to create a molecule. The molecule lures immune cells and retrains them to recognize the tumor as cancer and fight it.

Dr. Laheru tells Ivanhoe, "Essentially, it teaches the immune system to recognize those pancreas cancer cells as being foreign and attack them specifically."

So far, he says the results have been encouraging. With the vaccine, 76 percent of patients are alive after two years, compared to 42 percent of patients who only received chemo and radiation.

Windle is one of the lucky ones. Today, he's cancer-free! "I'm sure it's why I'm here today. I've had many MRIs and cat scans, and there's no sign of cancer. None," he says, and he hopes to continue beating the odds.

The vaccine is injected about eight weeks after surgery and again after chemo and radiation treatment. Researchers at Johns Hopkins will conduct another study to refine the vaccine's targets. That study will start next year. If results come back as expected, they will apply for FDA approval.


If you would like more information, please contact:

Vanessa Wasta
Assistant Director, Media and Web Projects
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
901 S. Bond Street, Suite 573
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 955-1287
http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org