During the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, Dr. David Pfister from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City reported that following surgery, acupuncture reduced pain, dysfunction, and dry mouth in head and neck cancer patients. Continue reading Acupuncture in head and neck cancer
Category Archives: Cancer
Survival in cancer patients receiving Kampo therapy
Researchers from The University of Tokushima in Japan initially used Kampo to reduce the side effects and improve the quality of life of patients with uterine cervical cancer being treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Continue reading Survival in cancer patients receiving Kampo therapy
Is there a role for reiki in medicine?
Professor Ernst finds that “The value of reiki remains unproven.” Continue reading Is there a role for reiki in medicine?
First annual Yoga Week
On May 19th, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) premiered its first annual Yoga Week.
Others have held yoga weeks in the past. What’s different is the involvement of the NIH. Continue reading First annual Yoga Week
Fish oil and colorectal cancer risk
Over 22 years, men who ate fish had a lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to the latest findings from the Physicians’ Health Study. Continue reading Fish oil and colorectal cancer risk
CAM use during the phases of cancer care
Musculoskeletal complaints top the list of reasons people with cancer seek CAM care, according to researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle. Continue reading CAM use during the phases of cancer care
Palliative care for heart disease patients
People living with heart failure have similar symptoms and levels of depression and spiritual well-being as patients with advanced lung and pancreatic cancer.
Dr. David Bekelman from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine thinks, “Perhaps we can do more to reduce [this] burden for heart failure patients.” Continue reading Palliative care for heart disease patients
Acupuncture in women after breast cancer surgery
“Acupuncture reduced by half the hot flushes caused by tamoxifen in 59 breast cancer patients after surgery,” according to this study presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) in Berlin. Continue reading Acupuncture in women after breast cancer surgery
Diet and cancer prevention: What we know
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is designed to investigate the relationship between diet and cancer. It’s a multicenter study of more than 500,000 adults in 23 centers from 10 European countries.
Here’s what we now know. Continue reading Diet and cancer prevention: What we know
Getting “enough” exercise
It’s the eternal argument: How do we get the benefits while minimizing the risks?
For those of us in middle age, I think this article at USNews.com by Helen Hobson brings reason to the debate. Continue reading Getting “enough” exercise
Highlights from CAIM
The autumn 2007 session of the American College for Advancement in Medicine’s International Educational Conference on Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) took place in November 2007.
Here are some highlights. Continue reading Highlights from CAIM
Dietary soy and breast cancer risk
Soy food intake in the amount consumed by Asian populations may have protective effects against breast cancer, according to researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Continue reading Dietary soy and breast cancer risk
Reconsidering the effect of folate on breast cancer risk
A published (and widely circulated in the lay press) study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden reported that high folate intake by women 50 years and older was associated with a lower incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer.
Of greater interest is an editorial by Dr. Cornelia Ulrich from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Continue reading Reconsidering the effect of folate on breast cancer risk
Lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking
“Long-term cannabis use increases the risk of lung cancer in young adults,” according to this study from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand in Wellington. Continue reading Lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking
Psychological treatments reduce back pain
When psychologists began developing treatments for chronic pain several decades ago, the goal was to help patients live with their pain more successfully.
Now we find it can reduce their level of pain.
Debating the effects of vitamin E on cancer risk
In a recent study of more than 77,000 adults, there was no evidence that vitamin E could protect from getting cancer. The details were summarized here.
But the food industry takes a different view. Continue reading Debating the effects of vitamin E on cancer risk
Flaxseed for menopausal symptoms and more
One study reports on flax and flaxseed oil in menopausal women, the second conducts a general review of the literature.
One study is positive; the other is not. Continue reading Flaxseed for menopausal symptoms and more
The pros and cons of folic acid fortification of foods
Fortifying food, such as wheat and corn flour, with folic acid reduces the risk of spina bifida in babies.
This public health practice was introduced 10 years ago in North America. Now, that practice is being debated in the UK and worldwide. “Are the benefits to the few outweighed by possible harm to some of the many exposed? Continue reading The pros and cons of folic acid fortification of foods
The value of hypnosis for breast cancer surgery
Is it possible that brief hypnosis might decrease anesthesia and pain medicine use, as well as side effects associated with breast cancer surgery? Continue reading The value of hypnosis for breast cancer surgery
Vitamin E supplements and the risk of lung cancer
A recent review of the medical literature revealed that except for prostate cancer, there was no evidence that vitamin E could protect from getting lung, stomach, esophageal, pancreatic, breast, or thyroid cancer.
Now, this study by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle reports negative news for the vitamin E supplements and lung cancer. Continue reading Vitamin E supplements and the risk of lung cancer