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Oncology
Chemicals from sea sponge might kill cancer cells – Mauritius study
In findings that suggest a significant first step, scientists led by the University of Mauritius have found that chemicals produced by a sea sponge...
Fear-mongering threatens benefits of radiation oncology
Since a 1913 New York Times headline read: “Marvellous cures of cancer attributed to radium”, the field of radiation oncology has developed countless innovations to...
Slashing radiotherapy doses safe for prostate cancer treatment – UK trial
Men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer could be safely given far less radiotherapy, a major trial has found, the results also showing that after...
Childhood cancer survivors face serious health hurdles later in life – US review
Researchers have warned that people who’ve had childhood cancer are highly likely to face physical and mental health challenges later in life, with 95%...
Early cancer diagnosis critical for children, say SA experts
With about 1 000 children diagnosed with cancer in South Africa every year, there is a critical need to focus on early diagnosis.
According to...
Woman who shunned chemotherapy for natural remedies dies
A US woman who fiercely resisted chemotherapy for her colon cancer died after trying to cure the disease naturally, and after releasing a string of...
Large study knocks reflux disease link to cancer
Reflux disease, which manifests as acid regurgitation and heartburn, has been known as a risk factor for oesophageal cancer, but a recent study now...
Experts urge more caution before needless mastectomies
Screening for breast cancer genes could be leading women to undergo needless mastectomies, experts have warned, recommending that detailed family histories be taken into...
SA bone-healing research offers hope for malignant cancer
The Wits Bone Research Laboratory is the the only unit of its kind to show that a bone-forming protein can block growth of human...
Antioxidants may encourage tumour growth – Swedish study
Vitamin or mineral supplements could feed tumours and allow them to grow, suggests recent research, with common antioxidants like vitamins A, C, selenium and...
Vitamin D cuts relapse in digestive tract cancer – Japanese study
A recently analysis led by scientists in Tokyo, Japan, found that daily vitamin D supplementation appeared to significantly reduce – by 75% – the...
Promising therapy for some stomach cancers – US trials
Recent research offers hope to certain patients with previously untreated advanced gastric or oesophageal junction cancer, after a phase three clinical trial collaboration suggested...
The retreat of radiation, mainstay of cancer treatment
With more advanced tools being designed to fight cancers – and with better engineered cancer-killing cells, immunotherapies and targeted drugs helping clinicians cure more...
Global meta-analysis finds one in five men possibly has cancerous HPV
One in five men worldwide is infected with a “high risk” potentially cancerous form of HPV, researchers have found, with their analysis, which pooled...
Male joggers, cyclists, less likely to get cancer – Swedish cohort study
Researchers in Sweden say that fitter men – joggers, swimmers and cyclists – could reduce their risk of nine cancers, but slightly raise their risk...
MRI scans ‘revolutionise’ prostate cancer diagnosis – UK study
A study by British researchers has found that a 10-minute MRI scan to screen men for prostate cancer was far more accurate at diagnosing...
Analysis challenges theory that depression, anxiety boost cancer risk
It has long been thought that depression and anxiety increase the risk of developing cancer – although results have been inconclusive – but a...
Long term remission for most UK cancer patients with latest treatment
Experimental work into blood cancers like myeloma has produced some “impressive results”, say British researchers, whose trials show seriously ill people going into remission...
Experts call for comprehensive, large-scale response to slash Africa's cancer burden
Cancer mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa – one of the top three causes of premature deaths in most countries in the region – are...
Updated US guidelines for colorectal cancer screenings
Asymptomatic, average-risk adults are encouraged to start screening at 50 for colorectal cancer, and to stop screening after 75, according to updated guidelines from the American College of...
‘Targeted chemo’ pill kills solid tumours – US study
After two decades of development, a new pill has shown to be effective in treating multiple cancers, including breast and prostate, with the scientists...
Short bursts of activity can cut cancer risks – Australian cohort study
Researchers in Australia, who tracked 22 000 people over seven years, have suggested that everyday activities, like carrying heavy shopping, or energetic housework –...
New biomarkers may help ID, treat prostate cancer – Australian study
A breakthrough from researchers led by the University of South Australia scientists has identified three new biomarkers for prostate cancer to help detect and...
Rare cause of hereditary cancer being missed, say US scientists
A team of investigators from the US has found that some cases of Lynch syndrome, the most common hereditary cancer condition, are missed in...
HPV link to breast, oesophageal cancers in Pretoria study
The findings of multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) co‑infections in patients with breast and oesophageal cancers in a local retrospective study have highlighted the need...
Beauticians and barbers have higher ovarian cancer – Canadian study
A recent study examining links between various occupations and ovarian cancer risk suggested that people working in the sales, retail, clothing and construction industries...
Century-old cancer chromosome puzzle solved by CRISPR
Biologists using modern gene-editing tools have discovered that the intuition of scientists from more than 100 years ago was right: cells with unusual numbers...
Aspartame to join WHO's cancer risk list, but industry calls for evidence
After 40 years of widespread global use, aspartame is to be declared as a possible carcinogen by the WHO but some experts disagree with...
Scientists at ‘turning point’ with cancer vaccines
Scientists say their cancer research has reached a turning point, with many predicting more vaccines will be out in five years – specifically those...
Cancer more survivable than ever before
Experts predict that even some of the most fearsome cancers today are increasingly survivable if they’re addressed with care and vigilance.
“We’re moving closer to...
Dealing with the real issue of 'chemo brain’
Treating a debilitating medical condition characterised by loss of word retrieval, memory and executive function, and an inability to concentrate – often called “chemo...
Rectal cancer patients could skip radiation: US trial
After taking a new look at the treatments traditionally offered to rectal cancer patients, scientists say their “de-escalation” trial suggests these people can do...
Significant drop in breast cancer death risk – Oxford study
The proportion of women who survive breast cancer has improved dramatically since the 1990s, say researchers, who found, in the largest study of its...
Regular aspirin could lower colorectal cancer risk – US study
The regular use of aspirin and NSAIDs has been linked to a lower risk for early-onset adenomas, especially those with advanced histology, according to...
Indefinite immunotherapy no benefit in lung cancer survival – US cohort study
The approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionised treatment for patients with advanced lung cancer, helping many live longer lives and improving overall survival...
Blood test spotting 50 cancers shows promise – NHS trial
A trial involving a blood test that can detect more than 50 different cancers has shown promising results among thousands of NHS patients in...
Israeli treatment has 90% success rate for multiple myeloma
In an oncological milestone, an Israeli cancer treatment is en-route to becoming the world’s first and only out-patient CAR-T for multiple myeloma, AL amyloidosis...
Heftier youth linked to fatal prostate cancer – Swedish study
Men who gain around 12kg before turning 30 have a 27% greater risk of dying from prostate cancer in old age than those who...
Cancer mortality may drop by 12% with daily vitamin D – Germany study
Researchers from the German Cancer Research Centre say they have uncovered new evidence that daily intake of vitamin D could help reduce the cancer...
Monitoring, not treatment, better for low-risk prostate cancer – US study
While the diagnosis of low-risk prostate cancer used to lead directly to aggressive treatment, increasing numbers of men are opting for active surveillance, with...