Swedish massage in hospitalized oncology patients enhances their course of treatment, according to researchers at the Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia. Continue reading Massage reduces distress in cancer patients
Category Archives: Cancer
More on soy intake and breast cancer risk
Eating lots of soy might lower breast cancer risk.
Researchers at the National Cancer Center, in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, report the effects of soy on breast cancer risk based on menopausal and hormone receptor status. Continue reading More on soy intake and breast cancer risk
Predictors of yoga use among patients with breast cancer
Research suggests that yoga may reduce symptoms and improve quality of life among breast cancer patients.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, in Philadelphia, identified their characteristics. Continue reading Predictors of yoga use among patients with breast cancer
Herbals and the risk of an interaction with tamoxifen
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota have listed drugs to avoid when taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex) to treat breast cancer, but they omit reference to herbal supplements.
A study from the University of Arkansas helps correct their oversight. Continue reading Herbals and the risk of an interaction with tamoxifen
Cannabis alters DNA and might increase cancer risk
These are the results of a laboratory study by researchers at the University of Leicester, in the UK. Continue reading Cannabis alters DNA and might increase cancer risk
Consumer Alert: Rising Sun Health
The FDA is taking action to prevent Rising Sun Health and The Center for Complimentary and Alternative Health of Livingston, Montana, from manufacturing and selling unapproved new drugs and adulterated or misbranded dietary supplements in violation of the law.
Rising Sun manufactured and distributed a variety of unapproved new drugs under names such as Black Salve, Cancema, and Can-Support. Continue reading Consumer Alert: Rising Sun Health
Do religion and spirituality protect against heart disease?
It might not be sufficient on its own to prevent heart disease, but Dr. Desiree Lie, writing on Medscape, discusses the benefits. Continue reading Do religion and spirituality protect against heart disease?
Yoga for pediatric oncology patients and their patients
More than half of oncologists think that yoga might be beneficial, but research is scant.
Now, researchers at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, take a first baby step to fill that void. Continue reading Yoga for pediatric oncology patients and their patients
Combining soy isoflaones plus radiation for prostate cancer
Soy isoflavones sensitize prostate cancer cells to radiation. They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which might help prevent the side effects of radiation.
Researchers at Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan, studied the effects of soy isoflavone supplementation on the toxicity of external beam radiation therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer. Continue reading Combining soy isoflaones plus radiation for prostate cancer
Searching for a connection between fish consumption and prostate cancer
The risk of prostate cancer varies 60-fold depending on where in the world you are. This suggests a role for lifestyle and dietary factors in its cause.
Researchers at McGill University Health Centre, in Montreal, Quebec looked for evidence of an association with diet. Continue reading Searching for a connection between fish consumption and prostate cancer
Acupuncturists treating cancer patients need extra education
That’s the recommendation from Dr. Barrie Cassileth, who is chief of the integrative medicine service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Highlights from the Medscape interview are listed below. Continue reading Acupuncturists treating cancer patients need extra education
Effects of eating more fruits and veggies on cancer risk
It’s widely believed that cancer can be prevented by eating lots of fruits and vegetables.
Here’s what we really know. Continue reading Effects of eating more fruits and veggies on cancer risk
Selenium and skin cancer risk
Researchers from Australia and the Netherlands conducted an 8-year follow-up study. Continue reading Selenium and skin cancer risk
Vitamin D to reduce joint pain with aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors (listed below) are a class of drugs used to treat breast cancer and ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women. Joint pain (arthralgia) is the main reason women stop taking this drug.
Researchers at the University of Barcelona, in Spain, used vitamin D to lower the risk of arthralgia. Continue reading Vitamin D to reduce joint pain with aromatase inhibitors
Indoor tanning and the risk of melanoma
Researchers at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, report the risk.
And the tanning industry disputes the findings. Continue reading Indoor tanning and the risk of melanoma
TENS for cancer pain
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices produce electrical currents to stimulate nerves through unbroken skin.
Here’s the Cochrane review. Continue reading TENS for cancer pain
Preventing prostate cancer progression with green tea
Men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a reduction in test results that predict prostate cancer progression, according to researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, in Louisiana. Continue reading Preventing prostate cancer progression with green tea
CAM for children undergoing stem cell transplants
Researchers in the US and Canada evaluated massage, humor therapy, and relaxation/imagery for reducing distress associated with pediatric stem cell transplantation. Continue reading CAM for children undergoing stem cell transplants
Green tea and the bortezomib interaction
During the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, scientists from the University of Southern California reported that green tea might reduce the effect of bortezomib (Velcade), which is used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Continue reading Green tea and the bortezomib interaction
Is there a role for milk thistle treatment of liver toxicity in leukemia?
Milk thistle is often used to treat chemotherapy-associated liver toxicity.
Researchers from the US studied it in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Continue reading Is there a role for milk thistle treatment of liver toxicity in leukemia?