Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology.
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Doubling Time on Tamoxifen Cuts Odds for Breast Cancer’s Return: Study
SUNDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) — When it comes to using the drug tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer’s return, longer may be better for some patients, a new study finds.Women combating estrogen-sensitive breast tumors fared better when treated with 10 years of tamoxifen compared to those given the current standard of five years, researchers found.However, longer tamoxifen regimens were associated with a greater risk for side effects from the cancer-suppressing drug, such as night sweats, hot flashes, blood clots, strokes and a heightened risk for cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer). Still, the investigation found that 10 years of treatment gave patients better protection against the recurrence of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers and/or death than did treatments offered for half as long.Assessing the findings in conjunction with the results of another recently completed study called the ATLAS trial, the team concluded that the benefits of prolonged therapy still outweigh any risks.The study was scheduled for presentation Sunday in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).Five years of tamoxifen “is already an excellent treatment but we thought that longer treatment might be even better because women with ER-positive breast cancer can have recurrences long after treatment is completed,” study lead author Richard Gray, professor of medical statistics at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, said in an ASCO news release. “Until now, though, there have been doubts whether continuing tamoxifen beyond five years is worthwhile,” he added
Sex is doctor’s life’s work
He put sexual healing on the map He put sexual healing on the map He put sexual healing on the map He put sexual healing on the map He put sexual healing on the map He put sexual healing on the map He put sexual healing on the map STORY HIGHLIGHTS Dr.
Study Claims Marijuana Tied to Lower Bladder Cancer Risk
By Kathleen DohenyHealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) — New research says smoking pot may be less likely to cause bladder cancer than smoking cigarettes.The finding is potentially valuable, the study authors said, given the ongoing debate over legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.But one urologist not involved with the study was skeptical of the finding, and noted that nonsmokers weren’t among the men included in the study.For the study, the researchers compared the risk of bladder cancer in more than 83,000 men who smoked cigarettes only, marijuana (cannabis) only, or both substances.
Mammograms save lives
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Disease-In-A-Dish Models Show Promise For Treating Ataxia Telangiectasia
Main Category: Neurology / NeuroscienceAlso Included In: Genetics; Stem Cell ResearchArticle Date: 14 May 2013 – 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:Disease-In-A-Dish Models Show Promise For Treating Ataxia Telangiectasia Led by Dr. Peiyee Lee and Dr. Richard Gatti, researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have used induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to advance disease-in-a-dish modeling of a rare genetic disorder, ataxia telangiectasia (A-T).
For Pregnant Smokers, Vitamin C Might Help Babies’ Lungs
TUESDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin C may help prevent lung problems in babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy, according to a small new study.Pregnant women are advised not to smoke because it can harm the baby’s lungs and lead to problems such as wheezing and asthma.
At-Home Drug Errors Common for Kids With Cancer, Research Shows
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, May 3 (HealthDay News) — Children with cancer often have complex medication regimens — sometimes as many as 20 drugs a day — that they take at home, and mistakes are common, a new study finds.Errors often occur when parents don’t understand how to give the drugs, but mislabeled bottles and wrong prescriptions are also to blame, researchers say.”Parents of children with cancer make many mistakes giving their children critical medicines, including chemotherapy at home,” said lead researcher Dr. Kathleen Walsh, of the departments of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine in Worcester.Injuries were often related to under-dosing pain medication, which was causing pain for the children, she said. “Sometimes parents wouldn’t fill prescriptions, or give the proper dose,” Walsh said.”One thing that was surprising was the high rate of errors that go on,” she added.
Patients’ Health May Be Jeopardized By High Leukemia Treatment Costs
Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia / MyelomaArticle Date: 29 Apr 2013 – 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:Patients’ Health May Be Jeopardized By High Leukemia Treatment Costs The increasing cost of treatments for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the United States has reached unsustainably high levels and may be leaving many patients under – or untreated because they cannot afford care, according to a Blood Forum article supported by nearly 120 CML experts from more than 15 countries on five continents and published online in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Blood Forum articles are a new feature in the journal that present well documented opinions on controversial topics and provide a sounding board for current subjects of importance to the science and practice of hematology.
Baseball champ survives abuse
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Joe Torre managed the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2007 Every year, millions of children are affected by domestic violence The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation provides education and safe rooms Editor’s note: In the Human Factor, we profile survivors who have overcome the odds. Confronting a life obstacle — injury, illness or other hardship — they tapped their inner strength and found resilience they didn’t know they possessed. This week one of the most successful managers in baseball, Joe Torre, opens up about growing up in an abusive home
