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Oncology
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...
Regular mammograms from 40, US experts now say
Alarmed by an increase in breast cancer diagnoses among younger women and persistently high death rates among black women in particular, US health experts...
Vital early signs of colon cancer in young adults – US study
Prolonged bouts of diarrhoea, stomach aches and blood during bowel movements may be signs of early-onset colorectal cancer, according to recent research, which pinpointed...
Small pancreatic cancer vaccine trial shows promise
Using mRNA tailored to each patient’s tumour, a novel vaccine may have staved off the return of one of the deadliest forms of cancer...
New breast cancer risks flagged by Washington researchers
Scientists have long known that dense breast tissue is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in women, but a recent study adds...
ADHD, autism in men raises testicular cancer risks – Swedish study
Men suffering from neurodevelopmental disorders are 54% more likely to develop seminoma, a tumour in the testicles, say Swedish scientists, who although unsure what...
Growing risk of throat cancer from oral sex
An increase in oropharyngeal cancer (the area of the tonsils and back of the throat) over the past 20 years is being directly attributed...
Ageing population contributes to high cancer deaths in SA
Early detection remains critical to reducing cancer rates in South Africa, with a recent report revealing that deaths from the disease rose from 5.6%...
Prostate cancer risk higher for black men – US study
Not only do black men have more chance of contracting and dying of prostate cancer but they also face longer delays between diagnosis and...
Nine-year study reveals cancer’s ‘infinite’ ability to evolve
An unprecedented analysis of how cancers grow has revealed an “almost infinite” ability of tumours to evolve and survive, say scientists, who, after tracking...
Local anaesthesia before breast cancer surgery improves survival – Mumbai trial
An inexpensive peritumoral injection of a local anaesthetic before breast cancer surgery significantly increased disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in women with...
Merck, Eisai skin cancer drug trial fails to achieve goals
Drug companies Merck and Eisai are discontinuing a late-stage study of Keytruda plus Lenvima for people with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, as they showed no...
Hiccups and their curious connection to cancer
Because hiccups can seem innocuous, they remain mysterious and surprisingly understudied, and yet, they’re one of the most common bodily experiences humans (and rats,...
Cancer deaths in South Africa on the rise
Deaths due to cancer are increasing in South Africa, with the black and coloured population seeing the most alarming climbs, according to a report...
Breast cancer risk upped by contraceptive pill use – UK meta-analysis
Any type of hormonal contraceptive could increase the risk of developing breast cancer, with progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives, compared with the oestrogen-progestogen only pill, resulting in a 20%-30%...
FDA sets new rules for dense breasts cancer warning
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced new standards, making it compulsory for mammogram providers to tell women with dense breast tissue,...
Melanoma rates climb among white South Africans – SA study
Researchers have called for urgent intervention after their recent study found melanoma rates, now among the top 10 cancers in South Africa annually, alarmingly...
Dense breasts a high risk of cancer – US study
Dense breast tissue poses up to four times higher risk of developing breast cancer, yet a recent study found that many women are unaware...
Older breast cancer patients’ survival unaffected by no radiation – UK study
Scientists have found that radiation therapy, often a follow-up after breast cancer surgery and which has unpleasant side-effects, may not be needed by older...
Cost of key cancer drug drops after generics victory
Lenalidomide is an important medicine in the treatment of multiple myeloma but it’s probably most infamous for its high price tag, notes MedicalBrief.
So high...