Cancer

The Sun's Blood Pressure Benefits

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:06:00 +0000

For years, fear of skin cancer has had us slathering 50+ SPF sunscreen, donning hats or avoiding prolonged sun exposure under umbrellas or shade. Some unexpected research recently out of Edinburgh University could shift the perception of sun as unrelenting enemy. In the study, UV rays were found to release a compound that lowers blood pressure. On the line to explain how we might weigh the sun’s benefits and drawbacks is Doctor Richard Weller, Senior Lecturer of Dermatology at Edinburgh University.

Avoiding Environmental Cancer Triggers

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I know that some of us are genetically predisposed to get cancer, but what are some ways we can avoid known environmental triggers for it?-- B. Northrup, Westport, MA

Soothing Cancer With The Arts

Liz Faiella — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

A creative arts program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon is helping cancer patients and their families deal with life-changing illness.

A Lesson in Dying

Virginia Prescott — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:49:40 +0000

Abby Goodnough, writer for The New York Times, talks about the incredible opportunity that Martha Keochareon afforded medical students at Holyoke Community College. Martha, a nurse, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and offered herself for instruction in caring.

Wider Use Of Breast Cancer Radiation Technique Raises Concern

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:34:00 +0000

When Lisa Galloway was trying to decide what kind of radiation treatment to undergo after surgery for early breast cancer, she jumped at the chance to get a newer, quicker approach.

Instead of dragging on for weeks, the newer form of radiation, called brachytherapy, only takes five days.

"Five days compared to 33 days, I was like, 'Yay!' " says Galloway, 53, of Silver Spring, Md. "So I wanted it so badly.

Lifestyle, As a Cancer Preventative

Virginia Prescott — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:30:14 +0000

How alternative cancer therapies and life style changes can not only treat cancer, but also prevent it, Dr. Lorenzo Cohen presents “The Anti-Cancer Way of Life” tonight at 7pm at the Concord City Auditorium.

Komen Struggles To Regain Footing, And Funding

Ted Robbins — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:02:00 +0000

It's Race for the Cure season in many parts of the U.S. The signature fundraisers of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation draw crowds of men, women and children dressed in pink to city streets around the nation each year.

The national breast cancer charity's decision to cut — and then restore — funding to Planned Parenthood created a firestorm early this year. The decision generated heated debate and led to the resignation of a number of the organization's top leaders.

Now, some local affiliates are feeling the impact of the controversy as well.

Doctors Revamp Guidelines For Pap Smears

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:01:00 +0000

Women should get screened for cervical cancer far less frequently than doctors have long recommended, according to new guidelines released Wednesday.

More than 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the United States, and more than 4,000 die from the disease.

For years, doctors have recommended that women start getting Pap smears every year or two to try to catch signs of cancer early, when it's easiest to prevent and treat.

"Previously we had said s

Death By Bacon? Study Finds Eating Meat Is Risky

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Bacon has been called the gateway meat, luring vegetarians back to meat.

Coca-Cola Modifies Caramel Color To Avoid Cancer Warning Label

Allison Aubrey — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:01:00 +0000

When the state of California added the compound 4-methylimidazole, also known as 4-MI or 4-MEI, to its list of known carcinogens in 2011, it created a problem for the soda industry.

The caramel color they used to give colas that distinctive, brown hue contained levels of 4-MI that would have warranted a cancer warning label on every can sold in the state.

And this wasn't the industry's only challenge. The Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban ammonia-sulfite caramel color.

'Life Is Really Good,' Says Cancer Survivor, 12

NPR Staff — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:41:00 +0000

When Grant Coursey was a toddler, he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer often found in young children. A tumor had wrapped itself around Grant's spinal cord and had grown so that it pushed against his lungs.

Now 12, Grant is cancer-free; he received his first "clean" scan 10 years ago in March 2002.

Specialty Hospitals Get A Favorable Vote

Rachel Gotbaum — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:15:15 +0000

The House Health and Human Services Committee has sent an amended bill allowing not just Cancer Specialty Hospitals but all specialty hospitals to bypass the Certificate of Need process. All other hospitals in the state must go in front of the CON board to gain approval for new or expanded services.

Rep. Lynn Blakenbeker, Republican of Concord, voted in favor of the bill.

"We as a state should be encouraging businesses all kinds to come into the state especially when it comes to specialty healthcare treatment we should be offering all options," she says.

What's The Cure In The Race Against Breast Cancer?

NPR Staff — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Tracy Grant was just 39 when she got the diagnosis.

"They asked me to stay a little bit longer because they saw something a little weird," she remembers. "In my mind I was saying, ... 'Here we go, this doesn't look good.' "

It was breast cancer. As devastating as the news was, it wasn't a surprise. Her mother, Catherine Grant, was diagnosed at age 51.

Breast cancer runs in the family. Three of Catherine's sisters also had it. They have all survived, but that's three generations of Grant women, including Tracy.

Komen Hopes Walkers Won't Walk Out On Event

Shannon Mullen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Over the weekend, the Susan G. Komen foundation held meetings in 15 cities around the country for people who have registered for this summer's 3-Day walks.

The annual events are key fundraisers for the breast cancer research and treatment organization.