People who are at high risk of cancer as a result of their family history may be advised to undergo earlier or more intensive cancer screening. Because family history of cancer can change over time, it’s important to update this information periodically... Continue Reading

For women with HER2-positive breast cancer that worsens in spite of treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), treatment with a combination of Herceptin and Afinitor® (everolimus) may provide a benefit. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical... Continue Reading

Estimates of lung tumor size based on computed tomography (CT) scans can vary from scan to scan even when the actual size of the tumor remains the same. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. CT scans are used for imaging body... Continue Reading

Rather than applying a single set of breast cancer screening guidelines to most women, a more individualized approach that considers risk factors such as breast density may help to balance the benefits and costs of screening. These results were published... Continue Reading

Children who survive cancer have an increased risk of developing cancer later in life. These findings were recently reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The good news about childhood cancer is that increasingly more children are surviving. These... Continue Reading

Barrett’s esophagus—a condition characterized by abnormal cells in the lower part of the esophagus—may carry a lower risk of esophageal cancer than previously reported. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The... Continue Reading

Among people with a history of heavy smoking, screening with low-dose helical computed tomography (spiral CT) scans reduced lung cancer mortality by 20%. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Lung cancer is the leading cause... Continue Reading

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that Medicare will cover Provenge® (sipuleucel-T) for the uses approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): the treatment of metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer that... Continue Reading

Men who smoke at the time they’re diagnosed with prostate cancer have an increased risk of recurrence and death compared with never smokers. Odds for men who quit smoking at least 10 years previously, on the other hand, are similar to those of never... Continue Reading

Exercise is linked with longer survival for patients with advanced glioma, a form of brain cancer. These findings were recently reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Gliomas are brain tumors that arise from glial cells (cells that provide a supportive... Continue Reading

Among women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma), vitamin D and calcium supplements may reduce the risk of melanoma. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Of the... Continue Reading

Although post-mastectomy radiation therapy is generally recommended for women with more advanced breast cancers, many of these women do not receive radiation therapy. These results were published in Cancer. For women who undergo mastectomy (surgical removal... Continue Reading