Tamoxifen Offers Cost-Effective Breast Cancer Prophylaxis
March 30th 2011Tamoxifen chemoprophylaxis is a cost-effective therapy that successfully reduces breast cancer incidence among women younger than 55 years, even after the drug is discontinued, according to a study published online March 14 in Cancer.
Number of Cancer Survivors in U.S. Reaches 11.7 Million
March 29th 2011The number of cancer survivors in the United States had increased to nearly 12 million by 2007, according to a report in the March 11 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Impact of Adiposity Measures on Heart Disease Risk Alike
March 29th 2011Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio all have a similar strength of association with cardiovascular disease, but do not significantly improve risk prediction when information on blood pressure, diabetes, and lipid levels is available, according to a study published online March 11 in The Lancet.
Blacks, Hispanics Face Breast Cancer Treatment Delays
March 28th 2011Black and Hispanic women newly diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely than white women to experience treatment delays of over a month, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.
Cerebral Palsy Incidence Down in Preterm Survivors
March 28th 2011The incidence and severity of cerebral palsy (CP) among preterm survivors decreased significantly from 1990 to 1993 onward, possibly because of a reduction in severe cystic periventricular leukomalacia (c-PVL), according to a study published online March 3 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Medical Organizations Fear Women Aren’t Pursuing Colorectal Screenings
March 26th 2011It’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and two medical organizations are taking a stand to emphasize the importance of colorectal screening in women in hopes of further improving early detection and reducing deaths from the disease. Both the American College of Gastroenterology and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have released statements to increase the use of colorectal screening options in women.
Sexual Behavior in U.S. Adults Little Changed Since 2002
March 24th 2011Most adults in the United States have experienced vaginal sex, but the number of younger adults reporting no sexual contact has increased since 2002, according to the March issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Statistics Report.
Obesity Rate in Canada Not As High As in United States
March 24th 2011More North Americans are obese today than were 20 years ago, and the prevalence of obesity in Canada is about 10 percentage points lower than it is in the United States, according to a data report issued March 2 by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics.
Obesity Associated With Risk of Dissimilar Breast Cancers
March 24th 2011High body mass index (BMI) and low levels of physical activity are associated with increased risk of triple-negative and estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online March 1 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Mediterranean Diet Tied to Lower Metabolic Syndrome Risk
March 22nd 2011Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and has beneficial effects on its individual components, according to a meta-analysis published in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
U.S. Breast Cancer Incidence Rates Stabilized After 2003
March 21st 2011Breast cancer incidence rates among non-Hispanic (NH) white women in the United States stabilized between 2003 and 2007 after a sharp decline between 2002 and 2003 that followed a drop in the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy, according to a study published online Feb. 28 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Women Underrepresented in Cardiovascular Device Trials
March 21st 2011There is a lack of sex-specific data relating to the safety and effectiveness of high-risk cardiovascular devices prior to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, according to a review published online March 1 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Doctors, NPs Equally Effective in Helping Patients Lose Weight
March 18th 2011Health care professionals can play a big role in helping overweight patients lose weight and maintain weight loss, starting with acknowledging their overweight status in the first place, according to two studies published in the Feb. 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Is Medicare Dangerous to Your Patient’s Health? If They Have Ovarian Cancer, Yes
March 15th 2011According to government estimates, the incidence of ovarian cancer is almost 13 per 100,000 women per year, and most cases are diagnosed in an advanced stage. As such, proper treatment is critical to ensure survival. However, Dr Melissa M. Thrall, fellow in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington, found that less than 40% of women reliant on Medicare receive standard care.
Understanding Referral Patterns for Ovarian Cancer
March 14th 2011Primary care physicians are the entry point for care for many patients. They are often responsible for determining when additional expertise is needed and to which specialist a patient should go for additional care. Although studies have shown that gynecologic oncologists can improve surgical and survival outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer, the referral rate from primary care physicians to gynecologic oncologists remains relatively low.
Breast-Feeding May Boost Health of Cancer Survivors
March 14th 2011Female childhood cancer survivors should be encouraged to breast-feed as a health behavior that is protective against many late effects of cancer treatment, according to a review published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
Timing of Hormone Therapy Influences Breast Cancer Risk
March 14th 2011For women taking postmenopausal hormone therapy, breast cancer risk is greater among users of estrogen-progestin formulations, and those who begin treatment earlier, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
CDC: U.S. Teenage Birth Rate Declines, Reaches Low
March 14th 2011The U.S. teenage birth rate has resumed its decline, reaching a historic low in 2009, according to a report published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) February Data Brief.