Friday Cancer News, April 4, 2008

Cancer News:

The Arizona Republic, April 4, 2008–Cancer Fighters Give Grants. “The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Wednesday gave out more than $2.3 million to help fight breast cancer.”

The Toronto Star, April 3, 2008– Lung Cancer Trigger Discovered. “Researchers say genetic variations can increase a person’s chance of getting disease by up to 80%.
Three independent teams of researchers have discovered genes that may explain why some smokers develop lung cancer rather quickly while others smoke heavily their entire life and never have it.”

Reuters Health, April 3, 2008-Increase in Throat Cancer Parallels Obesity Rate. “The rising incidence of throat cancer, also referred to as cancer of the esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma, may be related to Americans’ increasing intake of total and refined carbohydrates and subsequent rise in obesity rates.”

The Belfast Telegram, April 2, 2008.–Skip Breakfast Risk Cancer. “A new survey commissioned by the leading charity found that 25% of people in Northern Ireland miss breakfast at least twice a week. It found that nearly half of respondents (48%) admitted to snacking on fatty and sugary foods such as crisps, biscuits, cakes and sweets to keep morning hunger at bay. Experts estimate that about a quarter of all cancer deaths are caused by unhealthy diets and obesity.”

Guardian, April 2, 2008–Campaigners Urge Ban on Cancer-Link Chemicals. “Health campaigners today called for a Europe-wide ban on man made chemicals found in cosmetics and pesticides to help cut rising rates of breast cancer.”

New Scientist, April 2, 2008-Bugs Provoke the Immune System Into Fighting Cancer. “Disease-causing bugs could play a valuable role in the treatment of cancer. Deliberately infecting people with the bacteria that cause listeriosis could increase their ability to destroy tumours.

Reuters Health, April 1, 2008-Gene Expression Profiles May Improve Cancer Prognosis. “Integrating genomic information with traditional clinical risk factors can refine the prognosis and help optimize treatment strategies for women with early breast cancer, a research team at Duke University reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.”

ScienceDaily, April 1, 2008- Integrating Genetic Information with Breast Cancer Risk Factors May Help Refine Prognosis. “Incorporating genetic information known as gene expression signatures with clinical and other risk factors for breast cancer may help refine estimates of relapse-free survival and predicted response to chemotherapy, according to a new study.”

Battling Books:

Pretty is What Changes:Impossible Choices, The Breast Cancer Gene and How I Defied My Destiny by Jessica Queller (April 1, 2008, memoir)

Hope’s Wish: How One Girl’s Dream Made Others Come True by Stuart Stout (March 18, 2008, memoir)

A Dyslexic Doc’s Memoirs: Encompassing Breast and Prostate cancer detection, Adultery, Apartheid, Alcoholism, anti-Semitism, ED, Drug Addiction, Suicide, Schizophrenia, a Zulu murder, and more! by Ian Whyte, M.D (January 14, 2008, memoir)