Cancer awareness: Assessing (and lowering) your risk

3:28 PM EDT, May 15, 2013

Creative arts may ease cancer-related anxiety, pain

Music, art and dance therapy may relieve anxiety and similar symptoms among people with cancer, according to a new analysis of past studies.

6:57 PM EDT, May 15, 2013

New cancer tools allow patients to reconsider chemo

After decades of using one-size-fits-all therapies to combat cancer, doctors are using new tools to help decide when their patients can skip chemotherapy or other harsh treatments.

5:39 PM EDT, May 15, 2013

HPV-related throat cancers multiplying

It is well known that HPV (human papillomavirus) can lead to deadly cervical cancer in women, but the virus is causing cancer in men as well. Throat cancers caused by HPV are showing up typically in men with little or no history of smoking, said Dr. Kevin J. Cullen, an oncologist who specializes in treating head and neck cancers. Cullen, the director of the University of Maryland's Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, talks about the growing cases of HPV-related throat cancers.

May 15, 2013

Technology may find ovarian cancer cells at an earlier stage

New technology for identifying early stage ovarian cancer in uterine and cervical cells could have the potential to one day stem this often deadly disease, according to a recent study in the International Journal of Cancer.

8:34 AM EDT, May 8, 2013

Disrupted sleep linked to higher prostate cancer risk

The links between sleep and cancer are now so many, you could build a chain. A new study has found that for men who suffer insomnia and unwelcome wakefulness, the risk of prostate cancer is greater than for those whose sleep is undisrupted.

12:17 AM EDT, May 7, 2013

Doctors to older, heavy smokers: Get CT screening for lung cancer

Stepping into the debate over who should be screened for lung cancer, a leading medical specialty group issued new guidelines on Tuesday recommending that doctors offer annual low-dose CT (computed tomography) scanning to people whose age and smoking history puts them at significant risk of lung cancer.

7:08 PM EDT, May 6, 2013

FDA proposes warnings to young people on tanning beds and devices

The nearly 3 in 10 white girls of high school age who use indoor tanning beds likely will soon come face-to-face with a new and stiffer warning aimed at young people eager to get that sun-kissed glow in a hurry: Don't.

7:14 PM EDT, May 3, 2013

Urologists say most men may skip PSA test for prostate cancer

A man with no risk factors for prostate cancer can go his whole life without ever taking a PSA test, according to the American Urological Assn.

2:45 PM EDT, April 30, 2013

Do school programs keep kids from smoking?

Certain school-based programs that aim to keep kids from smoking cigarettes seem to work, according to a fresh look at some past research.

4:04 PM EDT, April 29, 2013

Should old, sick patients get skin cancer surgery?

More than two-thirds of people with non-melanoma skin cancer underwent surgery to treat the condition, according to a new study - including patients who were at least 85 years old or had multiple other chronic diseases.

1:52 PM EDT, April 25, 2013

Heavy use of herbicide Roundup linked to health dangers: study

Heavy use of the world's most popular herbicide, Roundup, could be linked to a range of health problems and diseases, including Parkinson's, infertility and cancers, according to a new study.

5:05 PM EDT, April 19, 2013

Study: Hookah no safer than cigarettes, just differently dangerous

Cigarette smoking may have earned a reputation as an unhealthy, cancer-causing pastime, but water pipes seem to have largely evaded the stigma. Now, new research shows that water pipes may simply be dangerous in slightly different ways, according to a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

April 16, 2013

How to enroll

For information, and to enroll in the study, you can go to cancer.org/cps3 or call 888-604-5888. Organizers suggest scheduling an appointment to avoid waiting but said that walk-ins are possible.

April 16, 2013

Study seeks key to staying cancer-free

When Alpa Patel's grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, he seemed healthy: The 64-year-old had been training for a triathlon when doctors found a lemon-size tumor in his brain. He died almost a year to the day from when he was diagnosed.

1:55 PM EDT, April 8, 2013

Even after melanoma, some people keep on using tanning beds

You would think that people who were diagnosed with melanoma -- the most deadly form of skin cancer -- would be meticulously careful about using sunscreen, avoiding tanning salons and generally protecting their skin.

4:29 PM EDT, April 4, 2013

E-cigarettes primarily used to quit tobacco: study

Although the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes are unknown, a new survey finds people who use the devices think of them as a safer alternative to tobacco and a means to break the smoking habit.

9:58 PM EDT, April 1, 2013

After 'Tan Mom,' New Jersey bans children from tanning beds

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law on Monday banning children under 17 from using commercial tanning beds, a move stemming from the case of a local woman accused of taking her 5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth.

4:31 PM EDT, March 28, 2013

Cigarette labels may educate about bladder cancer

Graphic warning labels on packs of cigarettes may convince some people that smoking ups the risk of bladder cancer, says a new study from Canada.

8:30 AM EDT, March 28, 2013

Do companies that refuse to hire smokers help them or harm them?

The Cleveland Clinic is a world-famous medical center that is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the country. It goes without saying that the health professionals who work there don’t condone smoking. In fact, since 2007, the clinic has refused to hire anyone who smokes.

4:58 PM EDT, March 27, 2013

Nearly 18 million Americans will be cancer survivors in 2022

Better cancer treatments and an aging population will push the number of cancer survivors in the U.S. to nearly 18 million by 2022, according to a new report from researchers at the National Cancer Institute.

2:36 AM EDT, March 27, 2013

Adding fiber to your food

According to the National Fiber Council, fiber is the go-to item to lower cholesterol, feel full longer, lowers the risk of certain diseases (heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and certain cancers) and helps with intestinal regularity. Click this photo gallery for food fiber shopping ideas and NFC's infographic to find out more about how fiber works in your body.

1:24 PM EDT, March 26, 2013

Soy tied to better lung cancer survival among women

Women with lung cancer who ate the most soy before their diagnosis might live a little longer than those who ate the least, according to a new study.

8:39 PM EDT, March 19, 2013

Government changes course on graphic cigarette warnings

The government has dropped its push for cigarette labels to carry images of diseased lungs and other graphic health warnings, and will craft new anti-smoking ads that do not run afoul of free speech rights.

March 13, 2013

CDC: Smoking more common among people with mental illness

Adults with mental illnesses are more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit than people without mental illnesses, said a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2:19 PM EST, March 6, 2013

Fight tobacco marketing, boost vaccinations to curb cancer, says report

Fighting the tobacco industry's tactics in the world's poorest countries and ensuring the best vaccines get to those most in need are key to cutting the number of cancer deaths worldwide.

12:22 AM EST, February 25, 2013

Tanning parlors may misinform clients about risks

Tanning facilities often given inconsistent or incorrect information about the risks associated with indoor tanning and may let kids as young as 10 or 12 tan, according to a new study from Missouri.

4:14 PM EST, March 4, 2013

Doctors don't often tell patients of CT scan risks

Only about a third of patients surveyed at one U.S. medical center said their doctors told them about the possible risks of a CT scan, such as radiation exposure, a new study finds.

5:09 PM EST, March 4, 2013

Colonoscopy tied to lower risk of advanced cancer

People who have had a colonoscopy in the past decade are less likely to be diagnosed with advanced colon cancer than those who haven't been screened recently, according to a new study.

4:00 PM EST, February 28, 2013

Is enrolling in a clinical trial tied to survival?

People with certain cancers enrolled in clinical trials survive longer, not necessarily from the treatment itself but potentially because those enrolled are better off to begin with, according to new research.

7:13 PM EST, February 28, 2013

Facebook, Google tech gurus to design cancer research game

Scientists from a British cancer charity are teaming up with technology gurus from the likes of Amazon, Facebook and Google to design and develop a mobile game aimed at speeding the search for new cancer drugs.

8:58 PM EST, February 27, 2013

Personalized risk info helps with screening decision

Personalized evaluations take into account factors such as age, race, gender, weight, lifestyle and family history to determine an individual's chances of developing a certain type of cancer.

8:00 AM EST, February 20, 2013

Cooking up toxic air pollution

When UC Davis scientists collected air pollution particles in Fresno and then exposed laboratory mice to them, they found that one of the most toxic sources was the backyard grill.

4:48 PM EST, February 19, 2013

Almost one-third of chemotherapy used 'off-label'

About one-third of chemotherapies are used to fight cancers that drug regulators never approved them to treat, says a new study.

February 20, 2013

Nanoparticle could kill cancerous lymphoma cells, study says

Northwestern University researchers said they have discovered a nanoparticle that could be the basis for a nontoxic way to eliminate cancerous lymphoma from the body.

6:39 PM EST, February 14, 2013

Study links smoking bans to fewer pre-term births

Banning smoking in enclosed public places can lead to lower rates of preterm birth, according to Belgian researchers who say the findings point to health benefits of smoke-free laws even in very early life.

4:46 PM EST, February 5, 2013

Racial gaps remain in cancer rates

Cancer death rates among African American men declined faster than those of white men in the last decade, even though overall survival rates for black men and women remained the lowest of all racial groups for most types of cancer, according to a recent report.

8:28 PM EST, January 23, 2013

There's a chip for that?

As the number of cellphone users has increased, so has concern over the potential health effects related to the release of microwave radiation emitted by the phones. Though studies have not shown a consistent link between cellphone use and cancer of the brain, nerves and other tissues of the head or neck, the market for protective devices is growing.

10:00 AM EST, January 18, 2013

National cancer forecast: 1.66 million new cases in 2013

More than 1.66 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2013, while more than 580,000 Americans are expected to die of the disease, according to the annual statistics report of the American Cancer Society.

1:55 PM EST, January 17, 2013

Segregation tied to more lung cancer deaths: study

Black lung cancer patients seem more likely to die of the disease than white cancer patients in the U.S., especially those living in segregated counties, according to a new study.

5:04 AM EST, January 16, 2013

U.S. states need to do more to reduce smoking: study

Many U.S. state governments use little of the money they receive each year from tobacco taxes or legal settlements with cigarette makers to fund programs that could help people kick the habit or prevent them from becoming smokers, according to a new report released on Wednesday.

4:13 PM EST, January 16, 2013

Skin cancer phone apps aren't very accurate: study

Smartphone applications that use algorithms to analyze skin lesions may not be very good at determining which ones are cancerous, a new study suggests.

7:42 PM EST, January 9, 2013

Pap smears can detect ovarian and endometrial cancers, Hopkins scientists find

Johns Hopkins scientists have found a way to screen for hard-to-detect endometrial and ovarian cancers in women using a routine Pap smear, a discovery they hope eventually could reduce the number of deaths caused by the deadly malignancies.

2:35 PM EST, January 9, 2013

Reality TV viewers more likely to tan

College students who watch reality television beauty shows are at least twice as likely as non-viewers to use tanning lamps or tan outdoors for hours at a time, a new study suggests.

9:00 AM EST, January 4, 2013

Pancreatic, other dire cancers get a legislative nudge

Deep in the fine print of a $633-billion defense bill signed by President Obama on Wednesday, a provision aimed at the National Cancer Institute may hasten the development of earlier detection and treatment methods for deadly malignancies such as pancreatic cancer.

12:18 PM EST, January 4, 2013

Racial gaps in access to robotic prostate surgery

Minority and Medicaid cancer patients are less likely to have their prostates removed at hospitals that use robot-assisted surgery, according to a new study that stops short of suggesting the robotic technique represents better care.

4:34 PM EST, January 3, 2013

Many people unaware of radiation risk from CT scans

One-third of people getting a CT scan didn't know the test exposed their body to radiation, in a new study from a single U.S. medical center.

8:59 PM EST, January 3, 2013

Email reminders encourage end-of-life talks

Email alerts may encourage cancer doctors to talk with terminally ill patients about their end-of-life wishes and to record those preferences in their medical records, according to a U.S. study.

11:09 AM EST, December 26, 2012

Daniel Vasquez: Local deodorant company spreads cancer awareness

The next time you spray, rub or roll on deodorant, take a moment to think about breast cancer and the millions of women who have beaten the deadly disease, as well as those still fighting the battle of a lifetime.

11:27 AM EST, January 1, 2013

Mood drug no help for smoking cessation in prison study

The addition of the antidepressant nortriptyline to conventional smoking cessation therapy didn't improve the chances of longterm success among male prisoners, Australian researchers have found.

2:54 PM EST, December 26, 2012

Web-based info may not increase cancer screening

Offering women information on colon cancer screening via the web does not get them to take up screening any more effectively than printed materials, according to a new study.

2:12 PM EST, December 26, 2012

Study finds spiritual care still rare at end of life

Physicians and nurses at four Boston medical centers cited a lack of training to explain why they rarely provide spiritual care for terminally ill cancer patients - although most considered it an important part of treatment at the end of life.

4:19 PM EST, December 26, 2012

Some cancer docs say their income tied to treatments

A survey of cancer doctors finds that some believe they get paid more when they administer their patients' chemotherapy and other drugs, raising concerns about conflict of interest and the potential for overtreatment.

December 26, 2012

Diabetic cancer patients do better when they fight both ailments

Type 2 diabetics who are diagnosed with cancer often wind up ignoring their diabetes in favor of treating the cancer, which can increase the risk of premature death, a study partly led by a Northwestern University professor found.

8:40 AM EST, December 18, 2012

A single day of overindulgence: Hours off your life?

The risks of bad behaviors are well known but not necessarily well understood. Most people are aware that binging on red meat, cigarettes and whiskey on a regular basis isn't good for us -- but how to make sense of the severity of the risk?  When a study reports that adults who ate an extra portion of red meat had a 13% greater chance of dying over the course of a study that spanned more than 20 years, what does that really mean? And what is a sensible person to do about it?

5:31 PM EST, December 18, 2012

No overall increased cancer risk for those exposed to WTC site

A new study has some good news for people who lived or worked in lower Manhattan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center – exposure to dust and debris from the fallen twin towers has not resulted in an overall increased incidence of cancer.

2:19 PM EST, December 17, 2012

Inherited colon cancer risk tied to certain foods

Among people who have a genetic susceptibility to colon cancer, those whose diets are heavy in junk food have an even higher risk, according to a new study.

4:56 PM EST, December 13, 2012

More pressure to justify cost of cancer drugs versus benefits

Medical providers have begun to think more about cost, as well as safety and effectiveness, when they decide on cancer treatments.

5:04 PM EST, December 10, 2012

Docs should counsel youth about not smoking: panel

Doctors should talk to school-aged kids and teens about the consequences of smoking and how to avoid pressure to start using cigarettes, a government-backed panel said today.

December 12, 2012

Cancer patients learn to cope with 'chemo brain'

Kristin Froehlich knew something was wrong with her mental abilities the moment she pulled into the parking lot of a sporting goods store last spring.

8:37 PM EST, December 7, 2012

Cut back on the cigarettes to get a break on tomorrow's hangover

If you're one of the 1 in 5 American adults who still smokes, here's another reason to quit -- or at least scale back on days that are likely to end with several drinks: A new study finds that the likelihood of experiencing a hangover after a bout of heavy drinking is greater for those who smoke heavily on the day of their alcohol consumption. Worse still, the new research found that when a day of heavy cigarette smoking leads to a night of heavy drinking, the misery of the resulting hangover is intensified.

8:19 AM EST, December 3, 2012

Teens may buy less tobacco when displays are hidden

A new study conducted using a virtual reality game suggests teens may be less likely to try to buy cigarettes at convenience stories if they aren't sold in plain sight behind the counter.

11:27 AM EST, November 14, 2012

Cell phone messages may help smokers quit

Text and video messages designed to help people quit smoking nearly doubled the success rate for attempted quitters, compared to people who didn't have such assistance, in a new review of several studies.

10:03 PM EST, November 14, 2012

An easier way to go

The most dreaded part of a colonoscopy is prepping for it. The day before the exam, patients often drink large amounts of a vile-tasting liquid, then it's off to the throne for the better part of the day and night.

7:01 PM EST, November 15, 2012

Walking, cycling may ease cancer-related fatigue: study

People who have been treated for cancer often have lingering fatigue, but regular walking or cycling might help boost their energy, according to a UK study that looked at more than two thousand people.

8:44 PM EST, November 13, 2012

Black patients fare worse with kidney cancer: study

White patients with the most common form of kidney cancer, called renal cell carcinoma, are slightly more likely to survive the disease than black patients, according to a large new study.

4:29 PM EST, November 5, 2012

One in five smokers lights up while hospitalized

The number of smokers lighting up on hospital grounds has fallen about seven percentage points since 1995, according to a new study.

4:23 PM EDT, October 29, 2012

Do secondhand smoke laws prevent heart attacks?

Heart attacks dropped by one-third in one county in Minnesota after two smoke-free workplace ordinances went into place, a new study shows.

3:14 PM EDT, October 25, 2012

Web info on prostate cancer tough to understand

There's no shortage of websites with information on prostate cancer treatment, but they may be well beyond the average person's comprehension, a new study finds.

8:42 AM EDT, October 24, 2012

Acupuncture may ease dry mouth after cancer

People with chronic dry mouth related to cancer treatment reported some improvement in symptoms like sticky saliva and dry lips after eight weeks of group acupuncture, in a new study from the UK.

5:12 PM EDT, October 24, 2012

Are cancer patients' hopes for chemo too high?

At least two thirds of people with advanced cancer in a new survey believed the chemotherapy they're receiving might cure them, even though the treatment is only being given to buy some time or make them comfortable.

5:00 PM EDT, October 23, 2012

Green tea drinkers show lower cancer risks

Older women who regularly drink green tea may have slightly lower risks of colon, stomach and throat cancers than women who make no time for tea, a large study suggests.

4:34 PM EDT, October 17, 2012

Some parents misunderstand kids' cancer studies

Children with incurable cancer can take part in early trials of a new drug's safety, but many parents may misunderstand the goals of those studies, new research finds.

October 17, 2012

Men need to talk about prostate cancer and its effects

Treatment for certain cancers can affect your sex life, causing a range of symptoms that can make sex with your partner more difficult — or nonexistent. But that doesn't mean you can't have a healthy sex life, says Jeffrey Albaugh, a urology clinical nurse specialist who runs the new Ross Clinic for Sexual Health at NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital, which treats both male and female sexual dysfunction.

12:03 AM EDT, October 16, 2012

California city bans smoking in multi-family homes

A San Francisco suburb on Monday banned smoking in duplexes, condominiums and other multi-family homes, with city leaders saying they hoped to lead a wave of such regulations across California and ultimately the country.

3:11 PM EDT, October 11, 2012

With lung cancer, quitters do better than smokers

Younger people with advanced lung cancer who quit smoking more than a year before their diagnosis survive longer than those who continue smoking, according to a new study.

7:04 PM EDT, October 8, 2012

Scientists find blood signatures for aggressive prostate cancer

Scientists have found two distinct genetic "signatures" for prostate cancer that may help doctors predict which patients have aggressive tumors, and designed experimental blood tests to read those genetic signs like barcodes.

5:03 PM EDT, October 5, 2012

Getting paid to quit may work for some smokers

During a single year when the Dutch government covered the costs of counseling and drugs to help smokers quit, calls to a national smoking-cessation hotline rose 10-fold, and the number of smokers in the country dropped significantly, according to a new study.

4:26 PM EDT, October 3, 2012

L.A.'s richest man ups the ante for city, cancer fight

As owner of 5 percent of the Los Angeles Lakers, Patrick Soon-Shiong could walk into the locker room of the storied basketball franchise any time for a chat with stars like Kobe Bryant. But the richest man in Los Angeles chooses to sit with the rest of his team's fans.

7:04 PM EDT, October 2, 2012

Cancer treatment speeded by genome superhighway: creator

A new supercomputer-based network will allow doctors to use genomic sequencing to speed cancer treatment and could increase survival chances for patients, its creator, billionaire healthcare businessman Dr. Patrick Soon Shiong, said on Tuesday.

September 26, 2012

Loyola University Hospital works toward 'Baby Friendly' designation

For the baby, breast-feeding reduces the risks of childhood obesity, diabetes, respiratory and ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome. For the mom, it lowers the risks of breast and ovarian cancer, and of postpartum bleeding.

6:12 PM EDT, September 25, 2012

ACLU asks Supreme Court to reconsider gene patenting case

The American Civil Liberties Union has asked for a second time that the Supreme Court invalidate Myriad Genetics Inc.'s patents on two genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, the latest salvo in a case with broad consequences for the future of gene-based medicine.

2:16 PM EDT, September 20, 2012

Second-hand smoke tied to memory problems: study

Smokers and people who regularly breathe others' cigarette fumes are worse at remembering things on their to-do lists than are people with no tobacco exposure, a small study says.

4:20 PM EDT, September 17, 2012

People with shingles show no higher cancer risk

People who come down with shingles seem to have no higher-than-normal risk of developing cancer later on, a study published Monday confirms.

12:43 PM EDT, September 19, 2012

Cancers on the rise in pregnant women: study

The number of pregnant women diagnosed with cancer has increased over the past couple of decades, a new study from Australia suggests.

3:32 PM EDT, September 18, 2012

Smoking, drinking tied to earlier pancreatic cancer

People who smoke or drink heavily may develop pancreatic cancer at an earlier age than folks who avoid those habits, a new study suggests.

8:04 PM EDT, September 13, 2012

Smokers may have more sleep problems: study

Smokers may get fewer hours of sleep and have less restful slumber than non-smokers, according to a German study that looked at more than two thousand people.

10:36 PM EDT, September 10, 2012

Marijuana smoking tied to testicular cancer: study

Young men who had smoked marijuana recreationally were twice as likely to be diagnosed with testicular cancer than men who have never used marijuana, according to a U.S. study.

6:29 PM EDT, September 10, 2012

U.S. to cover cancer treatment for 9/11 responders

The 70,000 surviving firefighters, police officers and other first responders who raced to the World Trade Center after the attacks of September 11, 2001 will be entitled to free monitoring and treatment for some 50 forms of cancer.

8:43 PM EDT, September 4, 2012

Trying to quit smoking? Patches, drugs help: study

Trying to stop smoking? Smokers have considerably more success when they use nicotine patches or prescription medications than when they try to go it alone, an international study found.

September 5, 2012

Study finds evidence that statins can lower the risk of some cancers

That statin pill you take each day to keep your cholesterol in check may reduce your risk of cancer, too, according to a study in Israel.

9:51 AM EDT, August 25, 2012

Greek study finds e-cigarettes no threat to heart

Electronic cigarettes, an increasingly popular option among smokers trying to quit, do not appear to pose a threat to the heart, according to results of a clinical study presented on Saturday.

8:41 PM EDT, August 29, 2012

A new type of prostate cancer is identified

Prostate cancer is generally treated as if it's a single disease. But researchers have discovered a new type of the cancer that appears to affect 15 percent of patients, a finding that paves the way for better diagnosis and more targeted therapies down the road.

8:38 PM EDT, August 29, 2012

Still having PSA tests?

Experts say that a blood test commonly used to screen for prostate cancer can cause more harm than good and leads healthy men to receive useless and sometimes dangerous treatments.

August 29, 2012

Researcher believes there's an art to his science

Regan Thomson reached for pieces of red and black plastic and began snapping them together into a form that would seem abstract to the untrained eye. As he worked, he spoke about his philosophy, drawing heavily on the principle that restraint leads to creative breakthrough.

August 15, 2012

As we age, chronic conditions come in pairs

Hypertension plus diabetes is the most common combination for people 45 to 64, but those 65 or older are more likely to have hypertension plus heart disease. Hypertension plus cancer is the third most common duo for both age groups.