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Clinical Times: Cancer

All entries for Cancer

Long waits linked to breast cancer recurrences

09 March 2010

The longer women wait for radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery, the more chance there is of local recurrence, concludes a study published in the British Medical Journal. The authors suggest that starting radiotherapy as soon as possible will minimise this... Read more

Improved outcomes for patients with oesophageal cancer

Prof John Reynolds | 24 February 2010

Prof John Reynolds, of St James's Hospital, Dublin and TCD, examines the causes of oesophageal cancer and the enormous advances which have taken place in the management of the disease in recent years... Read more

E-learning tool to help breakthrough cancer pain

18 February 2010

A new software package aims to provide medical professionals and patients with information on breakthrough cancer pain and how to treat it... Read more

When to suspect a diagnosis of lymphoma

Dr Philip Murphy | 05 November 2009

Classifying lyphoma types is only the first difficulty for physicians working in the area. Dr Philip Murphy outlines the aetiology of lymphomas and the differences in various types... Read more

Clinical Conversations: Renal Cell Carcinoma

Rory Hafford | 29 October 2009

Rory Hafford talks to Dr John McCaffrey about improvements in the management of RCC, the rise in presenting cases and his long-lost fondness for jogging... Read more

Radiotherapy in breast cancer: your patients' questions answered

Dr Jennifer Gilmore and Dr Ian Fraser | 25 September 2009

Dr Jennifer Gilmore and Dr Ian Fraser look at the issue of using radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer and examine ways to make optimum use of the treatment... Read more

Outcomes improving for management of prostate cancer

23 September 2009

A comparison of outcomes of different eras of conservative treatment for localised prostate cancer indicates that overall and prostate cancer-specific survival rates are higher for men diagnosed from 1992 through 2002, when compared to men diagnosed in the 1970s and... Read more

Hormone therapy risk for some prostate patients

16 September 2009

Men with coronary artery disease-induced congestive heart failure or heart attack who receive hormone therapy before or along with radiation therapy for treatment of prostate cancer have an associated increased risk of death, according to a new study. Doctors assessed... Read more

High-intensity exercise reduces male cancer mortality

09 September 2009

Men who are more active and exercise harder are less likely to develop cancer and die, new research has shown. Researchers from the universities of Kuopio and Oulu in Finland studied 2,560 men aged between 42 and 61 years from... Read more

High intensity exercise can reduce the likelihood of death from cancer

19 August 2009

People who are more active and exercise harder are less likely to develop cancer and die, according to new research. Researchers from the universities of Kuopio and Oulu in Finland studied 2,560 men aged between 42 and 61 from eastern... Read more

Adult cancer survivors have risk of psychological distress

11 August 2009

Long-term survivors of cancer that developed in adulthood are at increased risk of experiencing serious psychological distress, according to a new American report. The report followed a study in which doctors reviewed a cross-sectional in-person survey conducted annually by the... Read more

Cervical screening in some ages may have little impact

06 August 2009

Cervical screening for women aged 20 to 24 years has little or no impact on rates of invasive cervical cancer up to age 30, a new study has found. Researchers studied the impact of screening on risk of cervical cancer... Read more

‘Virtual’ colonoscopy effective alternative to traditional colonoscopy

JAMA | 26 June 2009

Computed tomographic (CT) colonography may offer patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer an alternative to colonoscopy that is less invasive, is better-tolerated and has good diagnostic accuracy, according to a new study led by Italian doctors. In the study,... Read more

Wealth and ethnicity linked to screening

BMJ Online | 26 June 2009

White British women are more likely to have had a cervical screening and there is more chance that women who own a car and/or home have had a mammogram, according to new research. The researchers investigated the rates of take... Read more

Topical use of colon cancer agent may improve appearance of aging skin

Archives of Dermatology | 26 June 2009

Topical application of the chemotherapy medication fluorouracil appears to reduce potentially precancerous skin patches and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin, according to a new study. According to background information supplied by the study’s authors, fluorouracil stops the body from... Read more

Smoking costs higher than thought

Online edition of Tobacco Control | 26 June 2009

The cost of smoking to the Irish health services for respiratory illnesses and other smoking-related conditions could be much higher than previously believed. That study found that the cost of smoking to the British NHS was about five times higher... Read more

Bevacizumab significantly increases risk of gastrointestinal perforation

The Lancet Oncology | 15 June 2009

The addition of bevacizumab to cancer therapy significantly increases the risk of gastrointestinal perforation, according to a new study. Gastrointestinal perforation is a serious adverse event associated with bevacizumab, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), according to background... Read more

Overall prognosis for gall-bladder cancer improving

Archives of Surgery | 26 May 2009

Overall prognosis for gallbladder cancer appears to be improving, although many patients still have incurable disease and poor survival rates, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors identified 402 patients with gallbladder cancer at... Read more

Breaking through to cancer pain

26 May 2009

At a recent Palliative Care Symposium, a number of experts in the field elaborated on the issue of breakthrough cancer pain and looked at definitions of and ways to treat it. The recent Cephalon Pharma (Ireland) Ltd Palliative Care Symposium... Read more

Diet and exercise can help older, overweight cancer survivors

JAMA | 19 May 2009

A home-based diet and exercise programme reduced the rate of functional decline among older, overweight long-term survivors of colorectal, breast and prostate cancer, according to a new study. Researchers conducted a randomised, controlled trial that tested a home-based diet and... Read more

Proteins in prostate cancer

Greg Baxter | 18 May 2009

Greg Baxter reports on new research into prostate cancer, which has shown that a protein present in prostate cancer cells can inhibit the growth of tumours New research published in the American Journal of Pathology has shown that a protein... Read more

Drop in breast cancer risk follows change in hormone therapy

NEJM | 18 May 2009

The increased risk of breast cancer associated with the use of estrogen plus progestin declined markedly soon after discontinuation of combined hormone therapy — and was unrelated to changes in frequency of mammography, American researchers have found. According to background... Read more

Inconsistent to stop cervical screening at the age of 50

BMJ Online | 06 May 2009

t is not consistent to stop screening women after the age of 50 years because the risk of cervical cancer – even after several negative smear results – is similar to that at younger ages, a new study has concluded.... Read more

Radiation exposure linked to more aggressive thyroid cancer

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery | 29 April 2009

Patients with thyroid cancer who have previously been exposed to radiation appear to have more aggressive disease and tend to have worse outcomes in the long term, according to a new report from Canada. The report followed a study in... Read more

Review process for prostate cancer

Gary Culliton | 21 April 2009

Gary Culliton examines the lessons to be learned regarding the diagnosis of prostate cancer from the HSE's review of Dr E at University Hospital Galway. The practice of histopathology and cytopathology is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on... Read more

USS axilla found to be a useful adjunct

Drs K. U. Iwuji, Y. Gohary, A. Martin and S. Shah | 21 April 2009

The use of ultrasound scanning (USS) in the assessment of metastatic spread of breast cancer to the axilla is well established. It has been the practice in our centre since July 2006 to evaluate most patients with a suspicious breast... Read more

Some sticking points in oesophageal cancer

Dr Heidi Furlong and Prof Thomas N. Walsh | 14 April 2009

Dr Heidi Furlong and Prof Thomas N. Walsh write about the importance of early diagnosis when it comes to oesophageal cancer and the challenges of treating it. The three most striking things about oesophageal cancer are the rapidly increasing incidence,... Read more

Drinking very hot tea can increase the risk of throat cancer

BMJ Online | 09 April 2009

Drinking very hot tea can increase the risk of throat cancer Drinking very hot tea – 70°C or more – can increase the risk of cancer of the oesophagus, a new study in the BMJ has found. The study was... Read more

Calcium linked to lower risk of cancer in women

Archives of Internal Medicine | 03 March 2009

Women with higher calcium intakes appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system, according to a new... Read more

Oesophageal cancer — a time for renewed hope?

Mr RC Stuart | 24 February 2009

This year's Lollipop Days take place on February 27-28. Mr RC Stuart looks at treatment options for oesophageal cancer and stresses the need for early diagnosis. Oesophageal cancer is one of the few cancers with a rapidly rising incidence. This... Read more

Smokers would rather give up for their dog’s health than their own

Online First Tobacco Control | 20 February 2009

Smokers are more likely to quit smoking for the sake of their pets’ health than they are for their own, a new study has found. In the study, researchers set up an online survey for pet owners resident in the... Read more

Genetic variations linked to leukaemia

JAMA | 09 February 2009

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with certain genetic variations can have a different response to anti-cancer treatment than other patients, says a new study. Doctors led by researchers at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the US conducted a... Read more

Deaths from lung cancer could be reduced by better radon policies

BMJ Online | 20 January 2009

Deaths from radon-induced lung cancer could be reduced by better policies to control indoor radon, according to UK researchers. The researchers also found that six out of seven radon-related lung cancers occurred in people who smoked or who had smoked... Read more

Smoking associated with risk of colorectal cancer

JAMA | 13 January 2009

An analysis of previous studies indicates that smoking is significantly associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer and death from the disease. Italian researchers conducted a meta-analysis to review and summarise published data examining the link between smoking and... Read more

Lung cancer needs to be identified early

June Shannon | 02 December 2008

June Shannon talks to Mr Vincent Young, Consultant in Cardiothoracic surgery at St James’s Hospital about lung cancer treatment and the need to diagnose lung cancer at an early stage. The latest figures from the National Cancer Registry, ‘Cancer in... Read more

Dealing with the psychological effects of cancer

Dr Shawn Steggles | 30 November 2008

Dr Shawn Steggles writes that the psychological effects of cancer on patients and their families cannot be overlooked and that 'getting better' includes both mental as well as physical health. The psychological effects of cancer on patients and their families... Read more

Cancer drug linked to increased blood clot risk

JAMA | 21 November 2008

An analysis of randomised controlled trials indicates that use of the cancer drug bevacizumab is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, according to a new meta-analysis of existing studies. To determine the risk of venous thromboembolism associated with... Read more

Growing optimism in advanced kidney cancer

Dr John McCaffrey | 20 November 2008

There have been many changes in advanced kidney cancer over the past decades. Until recent times, this had not included any improvement in survival. During these years, a greater understanding of the genetic basis and potential molecular targets has yielded... Read more

Management of rectal cancer

Dr Julian Tsang and Mr Eadhbhard Mulligan | 17 November 2008

Dr Julian Tsang and Mr Eadhbhard Mulligan, of the Hermitage Medical Clinic, writes about the challenges of treating rectal cancer, which accounts for 30 per cent of all colorectal cancers. Surgical resection is the principal treatment modality in rectal cancer.... Read more

Turning a spotlight on lung cancer

Norma Cronin | 13 November 2008

Norma Cronin, Health Promotion Manager, Irish Cancer Society, emphasises the need for both healthcare professionals and the public to be more aware of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer. A collaborative effort is needed to fight lung cancer. Every... Read more

Early diagnosis saves lives

Dr Barbara O'Beirne | 08 November 2008

Dr Barbara O'Beirne, GP, writes that the burden of lung cancer can be lessened if general practitioners take the steps to ensure that the disease is diagnosed as early as possible. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers... Read more

Colorectal cancer: achievements, challenges and opportunities

Dr Gavin Harewood | 31 October 2008

Dr Gavin Harewood on the major developments in colon cancer treatment in recent decades and how challenges might be met in the future. When the past fifty years of gastroenterology are reviewed, perhaps the greatest achievement of specialists in this... Read more

Apply now for the 2008 cancer bursary

30 October 2008

Entries are now being accepted for the 2008 Roche/Irish Medical Times lung cancer bursary, which is open to physicians and nurses working in the field of lung cancer. In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, Roche Products (Ireland)... Read more

Tracking growth of little mulberry

Laurence O'Dwyer | 22 October 2008

In the third article of Irish Medical Times' monthly series on general science, Laurence O'Dwyer writes that research in developmental biology is helping us to understand how and why certain cells develop into different parts of the body. Developmental biology... Read more

Doctors miss their chance to empathise

Archives of Internal Medicine | 11 October 2008

A small study has found that doctors seldom respond empathetically to concerns raised by patients with lung cancer. In the study, doctors analysed 20 recorded and transcribed consultations between lung cancer patients and nine doctors. Each visit contained an average... Read more

Targeted therapy is the way forward for NSCLC

Rory Hafford | 29 August 2008

Rory Hafford talks to Prof Thomas Lynch about his research into one of the world’s leading causes of cancer mortality and he finds that a new approach is having a positive impact on survival rates in non-small cell lung cancer.... Read more

Barrett's oesophagus and the battle of the bulge

Gary Culliton | 20 August 2008

Gary Culliton reports on recently published research carried out in Trinity College Dublin, which investigated the links between 'beer belly' fat and the development of cancer Breakthrough research at Trinity College Dublin has described one of the mechanisms through which... Read more

Loss of cannabinoid receptor accelerates tumour growth

Cancer Res 2008 68(15):6468–76 | 16 August 2008

A cannabinoid receptor lying on the surface of cells may help suppress colorectal cancer, say US researchers. When the receptor is turned off, tumour growth is switched on. Cannabinoids are compounds related to the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in the cannabis... Read more

New trials offer hope to Irish patients

Derbhile Dromey | 16 August 2008

Derbhile Dromey reports on the clinical trials carried out by ICORG, which give Irish patients access to the very latest in drug treatments The treatment of stage four cancer patients with drugs at the Phase I stage has evolved significantly... Read more

Androgen deprivation does not improve survival in elderly

JAMA | 20 July 2008

Androgen deprivation therapy is not associated with improved survival for elderly men with localised prostate cancer, compared to conservative management of the disease, according to a new study. Doctors assessed the association between primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) and disease-specific... Read more

Variations found in appropriateness of surgery in rectal cancer patients

Gut Online First, available at: http://press.psprings.co.uk/gut/june/gt137877.pdf | 21 June 2008

A substantial proportion of rectal cancer patients are receiving inappropriate surgical care because of wide variations in practice, according to a new UK study. The variation was not associated with how far the disease had advanced or how old the... Read more

Small proportion of low-risk prostate cancers become life-threatening

31 May 2008

The disparity between reported incidence and mortality rates leads to the probable conclusion that only a small proportion of diagnosed low-risk prostate cancers will progress to life-threatening disease during the lifetime of the patient, according to leading experts. The experts,... Read more

Physical activity more likely to prevent breast cancer in certain groups

First British Journal of Sports Medicine | 20 May 2008

Physically active women are 25 per cent less likely to get breast cancer, but certain groups are more likely to see these benefits than others, new research has found. The type of activity undertaken, at what time in life, and... Read more

Education on diet and smoking could improve indigenous cancer rates

The Lancet Oncology 2008;9:473-484 | 16 May 2008

Education on screening programmes, diet and smoking could tackle higher mortality rates among indigenous peoples, researchers have claimed. That claim follows revelations that native residents of Hawaii and New Zealand have much higher mortality rates for many cancers than the... Read more

Risk of death from smoking reduces within several years after quitting

JAMA 2008;299:2037-2047 | 16 May 2008

Women who quit smoking have about a 20 per cent lower risk of death from smoking-related cancers within five years of quitting, according to a new study. In the study, American researchers assessed the relationship between cigarette smoking and smoking... Read more

7 in 10 girls to get cervical cancer shot

BMJ Online First: http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/april/HPV.pdf | 15 May 2008

Seven in ten girls are likely to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) when the UK’s vaccination programme comes into effect in the autumn, according to researchers there. The Manchester-based pilot study is the first to look at whether... Read more

Patients with homozygosity may have a greater predisposition to cancer

JAMA 2008;299:1437-1445 | 09 May 2008

Persons with a certain type of homozygosity may have a greater predisposition to cancer, according to a new study. In the study, doctors investigated the frequency of germline homozygosity in a large series of patients with three different types of... Read more

Limited benefit from adding gemcitabine

JAMA 2008;299:1019-1026 | 09 May 2008

The addition of the drug gemcitabine with chemoradiation for the treatment of patients who had surgery for pancreatic cancer was associated with a survival benefit, although this improvement was not statistically significant, according to a new study. Doctors investigated if... Read more

Limited benefit from adding gemcitabine

JAMA 2008;299:1019-1026 | 09 May 2008

The addition of the drug gemcitabine with chemoradiation for the treatment of patients who had surgery for pancreatic cancer was associated with a survival benefit, although this improvement was not statistically significant, according to a new study. Doctors investigated if... Read more

Non-polypoid colon neoplasms linked to colorectal cancer

JAMA 2008;299:1027-1035 | 09 May 2008

Flat, non-polypoid colorectal neoplasms (NP-CRNs), which may be difficult to detect, appear to be relatively common and may have a greater association with cancer compared with the more routinely diagnosed type of colorectal polyps, according to a new study. In... Read more

Survival rates appear lower for scalp and neck melanoma than other sites

Archives of Dermatology 2008;144:515-521 | 09 May 2008

Individuals with melanoma on their scalp or neck appear less likely to survive for five or 10 years than those with melanoma at other sites, according to a new report. In the study, doctors analysed data from US cancer registries... Read more

Lung cancer: the role of the nurse

Ms Rita Luddy | 09 May 2008

Ms Rita Luddy, winner of the 2007 Roche/Irish Medical Times Lung Cancer Bursary (nurse or other healthcare professional category), on the challenges facing clinical nurse specialists Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide (Silvestri GA, 2002).... Read more

Lung cancer: the role of the nurse

Ms Rita Luddy | 09 May 2008

Ms Rita Luddy, winner of the 2007 Roche/Irish Medical Times Lung Cancer Bursary (nurse or other healthcare professional category), on the challenges facing clinical nurse specialists Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide (Silvestri GA, 2002).... Read more

Anaemia treatments can cause blood clots

JAMA 2008;299:914-924 | 09 May 2008

Treating anaemia with such erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) as erythropoietin and darbepoetin is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism and death among patients with cancer, according to a new study.... Read more

Time to consider lung cancer care

Dr Lizzy Smith | 04 May 2008

Dr Lizzy Smyth, winner of the 2007 Roche/Irish Medical Times Lung Cancer Medical Bursary, examines lung cancer care in Ireland today and future treatment options. Lung cancer is not the most common cancer Ireland, but it is responsible for the... Read more

Follow-up unnecessary for all child survivors

01 May 2008

Many child cancer patients will benefit from ongoing follow-up, but others should be allowed to move on and put the experience of cancer behind them, according to leading UK-based experts in paediatric oncology. Most adults who survive cancer are discharged... Read more

Increased liver cancer survival with combination treatment

30 April 2008

Combining a type of chemotherapy with radiothermal therapy resulted in longer survival time for patients with advanced liver cancer, compared to receiving the therapies alone, according to a new study. The incidence of liver cancer is increasing worldwide. Most liver... Read more

Refining estimates of breast cancer prognosis

29 April 2008

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. In the study, US-based doctors attempted... Read more

Surgeons play crucial role in treating cancer

Natalya Brown | 12 April 2008

Natalya Brown writes that surgeons must keep up-to-date with breast cancer treatments as they become more integrated with their colleagues in medicine and radiation oncology. Breast surgeons should continue to ensure they have up-to-date and in-depth understanding of the advantages... Read more

Three years of follow-up care not enough for breast cancer

BMJ , 2008;335:107-108 | 20 March 2008

A leading expert in treating breast cancer has warned that three years of follow-up care after breast cancer surgery is not enough. Those comments contradict guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England and... Read more

Controversies in breast cancer treatment

Author requested to remain anonymous | 05 February 2008

A Dublin-based surgeon expresses his opinion on the history of surgeons treating breast cancer, and details what many do not know about mammograms. We have all read about breast-screening failures over the last few months. The health authorities used a... Read more

Does the Pill protect against cancer?

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2008

Gary Culliton reports on a study in The Lancet, which says that oral contraceptives offer long-term protection against ovarian cancer Oral contraceptives offer long-term protection against ovarian cancer, with the reduction in risk persisting for more than 30 years, a... Read more

Combination therapy improves survival in prostate cancer

JAMA 2008;299:289-295 | 01 February 2008

Men with localised prostate cancer who were treated with male hormone suppression therapy and radiation treatment had longer survival, but those with moderate to high levels of other illnesses did not experience this effect, according to a new study. Several... Read more

Detection of cancer: general practitioners needs’ assessment

Helena Daly & Claire Collins | 25 January 2008

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) and Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) have collaborated in a study to assess the needs of general practitioners for the early detection of cancer in primary care. The aim of the study was to... Read more

Gene mutation divide on breast cancer risk

JAMA 2008;299:194-201 | 25 January 2008

There is a broad variation in the risk of developing breast cancer among people who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation, according to a new study. The risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers has been... Read more

Obesity linked to lower PSA levels in prostate cancer

JAMA 2007;298:2275-2280 | 07 December 2007

A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with higher plasma volume, which may be related to lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels among obese men, according to a new study. Recent evidence has suggested that prostate cancer screening may be... Read more

Examination of lymph nodes after surgery not linked to survival

JAMA 2007;298:2149-2154 | 30 November 2007

Examining a specific number of lymph nodes after colon cancer surgery, recommended as a quality indicator for hospitals, is not associated with length of patient survival, according to a study. Several studies suggested improved survival among patients in whom a... Read more

Women still face cancer risk 25 years after treatment

BMJ | 16 November 2007

Women are still at risk of developing invasive cancer of the cervix or vagina 25 years after being treated for pre-cancerous lesions, according to a new study. Researchers in Sweden studied data from the National Swedish Cancer Register, which included... Read more

Presence of immune protein could foretell lung cancer

Thorax | 09 November 2007

An immune system protein could act as an early warning system for lung cancer, new research has revealed. The research team analysed blood samples from 50 healthy volunteers and 104 people with different types of lung cancer. The researchers tested... Read more

Nipping cancer in the bud

Prof Desmond N Carney & Dr Grzegorz Korpanty | 09 November 2007

The most recent report from the National Cancer Registry in Ireland issued in September 2007, shows a steady increase in the number of patients diagnosed with cancer in years 1994-2005. One of the explanations for this trend is the ageing... Read more

Unravelling ulcerative colitis

Dr Richard J Farrell, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown | 02 November 2007

Optimising the dose or combining oral and topical aminosalicylates is the key to successful management of most patients with active ulcerative (UC) colitis, says Dr Richard Farrell. UC is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the rectum and colon which... Read more

Weight gain is related to an increased breast cancer risk

Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:2091-2102 | 02 November 2007

Women who gain weight throughout adulthood rather than maintaining a stable weight may have an increased risk for breast cancer, according to a new study. In the study, researchers analysed data from 99,039 postmenopausal women who reported their current body... Read more

Colorectal neoplasms and advanced lesions were more prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease

JAMA 2007;298:1412-1419 | 12 October 2007

Patients in Hong Kong who were newly diagnosed with coronary artery disease had nearly twice the prevalence of colorectal tumors and cancers, with this association stronger in persons who had smoked or have the metabolic syndrome, according to a new... Read more

Pill could reduce risk of cancers

BMJ | 28 September 2007

Taking the contraceptive pill does not increase a woman’s chances of developing cancer and may reduce the risk, according to a study. However, there was an increased risk for women who used it for more than eight years. Researchers from... Read more

Knee arthritis link to lung cancer

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases | 14 September 2007

Arthritis of the knee may be the first sign of non-small cell lung cancer in heavy smokers, novel research from Italy has found. The researchers reviewed the case notes of all patients with rheumatic disorders, diagnosed at one tertiary referral... Read more

Childhood leukaemia– medicine is now moving towards a total cure

Prof Owen Patrick Smith | 31 August 2007

Fifty years ago childhood leukaemia was fatal within six months in the majority of children. In 1957 less than one per cent of children with leukaemia were expected to be long-term survivors. Today approximately 85 per cent of children and... Read more

Risk of colorectal tumours not reduced by taking folic acid

JAMA 2007;297:2351-2359 | 22 June 2007

Research indicates that folic acid does not decrease the risk of benign colorectal tumors, but may possibly increase the risk for some types of colorectal tumours, according to a new study. In the study, doctors evaluated the effect of folate... Read more

Radium-223 may be an alternative treatment for prostate cancer

Lancet Oncology | 15 June 2007

The bone-targeting radioisotope radium-223 has delivered promising results in a randomised trial to test its efficacy in treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). According to background information supplied by the UK-led researchers, patients who have HRPC often have involvement of... Read more

Chronic gum disease linked to tongue cancer

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2007:133:450-454 | 01 June 2007

Men with chronic gum disease may have an increased risk of tongue cancer, regardless of whether they smoke, according to a new report. In the study, doctors compared 51 white men with tongue cancer to 54 white men without tongue... Read more

Breast MRI may be beneficial for surgical management of cancer

Archives of Surgery 2007:142:441-447 | 01 June 2007

Among women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast appears helpful in determining surgical treatment, according to a new report. In the study, doctors assessed 155 women with breast cancer newly diagnosed by... Read more

Major innovations in cancer research

01 June 2007

Professor John O’Leary, who is leading major research in the development of a number of new cancer treatments recently delivered his Inaugural Lecture as Chair of Pathology at TCD on Cancer: Genes, Proteins and Stemness’. “Irish scientists will make a... Read more

Long-term aspirin use for colorectal cancer

The Lancet 2007:369;1577,1603-1613 | 25 May 2007

Long-term use of at least 300mg of aspirin a day for five years can prevent colorectal cancer, a new study has found. Despite such findings, the authors of the study and an accompanying comment article commented that the potential risks... Read more

Study shows genetic markers are linked to breast cancer tumour

JAMA 2007;297:2103-2111 | 25 May 2007

Researchers have identified genetic markers on several chromosomes in the tissue surrounding tumour cells associated with breast cancer tumour grade and the presence of lymph node metastases. A high degree of variability is observed in biological behaviour and clinical outcome... Read more

More clothes and less sun are better than sunscreen

The Lancet | 18 May 2007

Avoiding direct sunlight and wearing clothes to stop UV rays from reaching the skin, rather than sunscreen, are the best ways of avoiding skin cancer and the aging effects of the sun, according to a new review. Dr Stephan Lautenschlager,... Read more

Hepatitis C increases risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

JAMA 2007;297:2010-2017 | 18 May 2007

Hepatitis C infection is associated with an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of 20 per cent to 30 per cent, according to a new study. In the study, American doctors investigated the hypothesis that HCV infection is associated with increased... Read more

Patients with meningioma may have genetic predisposition

The Lancet Oncology 2007;8:369,403-410 | 11 May 2007

Genetic susceptibility markedly increases the risk of developing radiation-associated meningioma, according to a new study. Ionising radiation is the only known, clearly established, risk factor for the development of meningioma. In the 1950s, in Israel and other countries, radiation was... Read more

Abortion and miscarriage not linked to breast cancer risk

Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:814-820 | 11 May 2007

Neither induced nor spontaneous abortions appear to be associated with breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, according to a new report. In the study, researchers examined the association between abortion and breast cancer in 105,716 women who were part of... Read more

No increased risk of cancer from electromagnetic fields

Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 11 May 2007

Electromagnetic fields do not pose a health hazard to workers in the electrical energy supply industry, according to a large study of 28,000 people in Denmark. Exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields of 50Hz to 60Hz has been implicated in... Read more

Large number of Irish women could have died from ovarian cancer linked to HRT

The Lancet | 04 May 2007

Dozens of Irish women may have died from ovarian cancer over the last 15 years because they were taking hormone replacement therapy, if new UK figures are any indication. That possibility arises out of a landmark UK study that found... Read more

Melanoma diagnoses made by a dermatologist may help survival rates

Archives of Dermatology 2007;143:488-494 | 27 April 2007

Individuals whose melanoma is diagnosed by a dermatologist may be more likely to have early-stage cancer and to survive five years than those with melanoma diagnosed by a non-dermatologist, according to a new report. Doctors linked records from two databases... Read more

CML is now a very treatable disease

Colin Kerr | 20 April 2007

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) had a survival rate of four to five years in the late 1990s. The treatment has now radically changed and there are now new treatment options available for CML. CML is a slowly progressing cancer of... Read more

Attitudes to lung cancer and its treatment make advances, part two

Dr Linda Coate | 13 April 2007

Erlotinib is useful both in the setting of patients who either progressed on or poorly tolerated traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. It is also worth consideration in patients whose baseline performance status precludes treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Its side effect profile is... Read more

Attitudes to lung cancer and its treatment make advances, part one

Dr Linda Coate | 06 April 2007

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the Western World. Some 160,000 people die of this disease in the US and 1,500 lives every year are lost to this disease in Ireland. The overall survival rate among... Read more

Oestrogen gene affects risk of breast cancer

Circulation 2007;115 861-871 | 16 March 2007

A large Danish study rebuts the accepted idea that differences in an estrogen gene affect the risk of heart attack and stroke in response to hormone replacement therapy. However, the study found that the gene may be associated with an... Read more

Group exercise recommended after breast cancer

BMJ | 02 March 2007

Group exercise sessions can help to improve the physical and psychological wellbeing of people diagnosed with breast cancer, a new study has found. Researchers from Scotland set out to determine if group exercise programmes could prove beneficial to women who... Read more

Chemotherapy can delay post-operative pancreatic cancer recurrence

JAMA 2007;297:267-277 | 26 January 2007

Use of the drug gemcitabine for chemotherapy significantly delays the recurrence of cancer for patients following pancreatic cancer surgery, according to a new study from Germany and Austria. In the study, doctors at 88 oncology centres in Germany and Austria... Read more

Clear guidelines on oral chemotherapy needed

BMJ | 26 January 2007

Current practices around the use of oral chemotherapy need to be improved, according to US doctors. In the study, researchers from Boston set out to analyse the guidelines and practices used by 42 comprehensive cancer centres for the provision of... Read more

Once-off melanoma screening of elderly cost-effective

Archives of Dermatology 2007;143:21-28 | 26 January 2007

Once-off melanoma screening of adults aged 50 years or older appears to be as cost-effective as other recommended cancer screening programmes, according to a new study. In the study, researchers constructed a mathematical model to simulate the melanoma events that... Read more

Learning with partner improves skin cancer self-examination

Archives of Dermatology 2007;143:37-41 | 26 January 2007

Individuals who received instruction on skin self-examination with their partners may be more likely to engage in this cancer prevention behaviour, according to a new report. In the study, doctors performed a trial of a skin self-examination instruction programme with... Read more

Women need not wait to conceive after breast cancer

BMJ | 12 January 2007

Young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer need not wait the recommended two years after treatment before attempting to conceive, researchers have found. Women of child-bearing age who are diagnosed with breast cancer are currently advised to wait at... Read more

Vaccination combined with screening could prevent up to 95 per cent of cervical cancers

Colin Kerr | 12 January 2007

Vaccination in combination with a screening programme could prevent up to 95 per cent of cervical cancers and eventually could virtually eradicate the disease, which kills a quarter of a million people worldwide every year. That is the view of... Read more

Quit smoking to avoid lung cancer

Norma Cronin | 15 December 2006

The National Cancer Registry reports that there are approximately 1,576 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year, with 563 of these are in females and 1,014 in males. The Registry also estimates that there are approximately 1,499... Read more

'Fight fire with fire' in the battle against lung cancer

Colin Kerr | 08 December 2006

Dr Oscar Breathnach tells Colin Kerr that there is a need to get the message across that when young people begin smoking, it is often the start of the ‘cancer curve’ The smoking ban in public places has been a... Read more

Oncologist calls for patient protection against alternative medicines industry

BMJ 2006;333:1129 | 08 December 2006

It is time to protect patients from “vile and cynical exploitation” by the alternative medicines industry, according to a leading UK oncologist. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of all patients with cancer take a complementary treatment... Read more

Marathon runners may be at more risk from skin cancer

Archives of Dermatology 2006;142:1471-1474 | 01 December 2006

In an Austrian study, marathon runners had more atypical moles and other skin lesions suggestive of a risk for skin cancer, according to a new report. The report was based on a study by doctors of 210 marathon runners, 166... Read more