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Cancer takes a health toll on spouses too
Spouses who have a husband or wife dealing with cancer may see their own physical and psychological health deteriorate over time, a new study suggests. Swedish researchers found that among more than 11,000 spouses of cancer patients, the overall rate of healthcare use increased in the two years following the cancer diagnosis, particularly when a spouse was suffering from colon or lung cancer.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58G4R220090917

New drug 'can treat more cancers'
A promising new drug may be able to treat more types of cancer than first thought. PARP inhibitors have shown early promise for treating cancers linked to BRCA gene mutations, including some breast and ovarian cancers.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8256494.stm

Itching to stop smoking? Scientists may know why
Scientists think they have discovered why people trying to quit smoking often find they are itching to stop. Belgian researchers studying the effect of nicotine in mice found that it activates a molecular pathway in membranes in the skin, nose and mouth known to play a role in inflammation. The findings of this study could help in developing treatments to help people quit smoking with fewer irritating side effects.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE58C1FN20090913

Younger Americans overexposed to radiation risk
Younger Americans are being exposed to worrisome amounts of radiation from medical scans that increase their risk of cancer.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57P59Z20090827

Parents important in teens' smoking risk
Friends have a strong influence over whether teenagers move from experimenting with cigarettes to becoming full-fledged smokers -- but so do parents, a new study finds.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57P3OF20090826

Colorectal cancer attitudes vary by ethnicity
Men and people of South Asian descent are more likely to have unfavorable perceptions of colon cancer screening,research from the UK shows.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57P3PQ20090826

Riding with smoker may be hazardous to your health
Riding shotgun with a smoker is just as bad as hanging out in a smoky bar when it comes to being exposed to second-hand smoke, Johns Hopkins researchers report.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57O63U20090825

Could smoking pot cut risk of head, neck cancer?
What if smoking marijuana for 10 to 20 years could actually protect against certain tumors?
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57O5DC20090825

Ovarian cancer 'is being missed'
Women with ovarian cancer may not be diagnosed as early as they could be because their symptoms are not being recognised, a study suggests.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8221059.stm

Tamoxifen link to second tumours
Long-term use of a common breast cancer drug may increase the risk of developing a deadly second tumour.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8220767.stm

'Better' test for asbestos cancer
Asbestos exposure is linked to most cases of mesothelioma. Scientists claim they have developed a more sensitive test for the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8214847.stm

Smokers seen twice as likely to develop active TB
A study in Taiwan has found that smokers are twice as likely to develop active tuberculosis compared to people who have never smoked, prompting calls for policymakers to be tougher on smoking.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57N1X220090824

Virus blamed for half of penile cancers
A sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer is also to blame for half of all cases of cancer of the penis, Spanish researchers state.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57N5MD20090824

Daily drinking may raise risk of several cancers
Men who drink beer or liquor on a regular basis may face a heightened risk of several different types of cancer, a new study suggests.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57K3UM20090821

Lung cancer genetics unravelled
The genetics underpinning a smoker's risk of developing lung cancer have been further unpicked by UK scientists.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8212658.stm

Cannabis chemicals may help fight prostate cancer
Chemicals in cannabis have been found to stop prostate cancer cells from growing in the laboratory, suggesting that cannabis-based medicines could one day help fight the disease.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE57I02Z20090819

U.S. researchers see few serious reactions to HPV vaccine
Adverse events like fainting or nausea remain rare among young women and girls given Merck and Co's Gardasil vaccine against cervical cancer.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57H5UZ20090819

Digital mammography finds more breast cancers
The switch from film mammography to digital mammography has led to an increase in breast cancer detection rates, researchers from California report.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57H50Q20090818

Tall men at risk of early prostate cancer
Although being tall does not appear to influence the overall risk of prostate cancer, it may have a role in certain manifestations of the disease, US and German researchers have found.
>> http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE57H45N20090818

'Magnetic' stem cells for hearts
Heart attacks and other vascular injuries could eventually be treated using regular injections of magnetised stem cells, experts say.
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8204835.stm