Roche Melanoma Drug Gets European Green Light
12/16/2011
The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced today its recommendation that Zelboraf (vemurafenib), an innovative protein-kinase inhibitor, used to treat metastatic or unresectable melanoma (where it cannot be surgically removed or has spread to other parts of the body) with BRAF V600 mutations, be granted marketing authorization...
Body Absorbs Breast Implant During Pilates Session
12/16/2011
A breast cancer survivor's breast implant was swallowed up by her own body during a Pilates session, resulting in surgical intervention to retrieve it and place it back into the breast, according to an article by doctors at Johns Hopkins' University and published in NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine). The 59-year-old female had undergone a double mastectomy, followed by breast implants...
Detecting Cervical Cancer - HPV DNA Test Is Best
12/16/2011
Final results of the POBASCAM trial reveal that for women aged 30+, the human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test is the optimum cervical cancer screening option. The HPV DNA test prevents more cervical cancers than cytology alone, and detects lesions which cause cervical cancer earlier. Study results provide the strongest evidence to date in favor of using this test in national screening programs...
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma In Phase II Trial - Bevacizumab Reduced Spread
12/16/2011
A new phase II trial published Online First in The Lancet Oncology, reveals that the combination of standard chemoradiation therapy with the popular cancer drug bevacizumab is safe and may lengthen survival in individuals with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma...
Breast Cancer - How Advantageous Or Detrimental Is Brachytherapy?
12/16/2011
An investigation published December 16th in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that over the last several years in the U.S., accelerated partial breast irradiation using brachytherapy (APBIb) for treating breast cancer has increased rapidly as an alternative treatment to conventional whole-breast irradiation (WBI)...
Detecting Cervical Cancer - HPV DNA Test Is Best
12/16/2011
Final results of the POBASCAM trial reveal that for women aged 30+, the human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test is the optimum cervical cancer screening option. The HPV DNA test prevents more cervical cancers than cytology alone, and detects lesions which cause cervical cancer earlier. Study results provide the strongest evidence to date in favor of using this test in national screening programs...
Pink Bibles Recalled, Linked To Planned Parenthood Funding
12/16/2011
Some pink Bibles, which were for sale in retail outlets since October 2011, have been recalled because it was discovered that part of their sales money went towards breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood, a US family planning organization which also provides abortions. The Southern Baptist Convention's publishing arm says it is recalling the Bibles...
RTOG Activates Study To Determine Best Treatment Strategies For Patients With Glioma Brain Tumors
12/16/2011
Treatment remains controversial for patients diagnosed with a low-risk, low-grade glioma (LGG) brain tumor. These patients have significantly better prognosis than patients diagnosed with more aggressive high-grade glioma, and their clinical care often involves ongoing observation for tumor changes with imaging studies...
Less Blood Needed Post-Surgery
12/16/2011
Patients need less blood after surgery than is widely thought. A new study comparing two plans for giving blood transfusions following surgery showed no ill effects from postponing transfusion until patients develop signs of anemia or their hemoglobin concentration falls below 8 g/dL...
Social Disparities Exist In Relation To Childhood Leukemia Survival
12/16/2011
A study conducted by researchers from the Epidemiology & Genetics Unit in the Department of Health Sciences at University of York that was published online in the European Journal of Cancer revealed that children with leukemia from less-affluent backgrounds or areas are more likely to die. Each year 450 children are diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)...