Stories about cancer
Cells from patients’ own blood spur cancer remissions
By Elizabeth Lopatto, Bloomberg News on Dec. 10, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.
Nine leukemia patients are cancer-free after being treated with genetically-altered versions of their own immune cells, giving strength to a promising new approach for treating the blood cancer. The trial of 12 patients, two of them children, bolsters findings from 2011. Then, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia ...
Rumford dietitian debunks myths about food and cancer
By Matthew Daigle, Lewiston Sun Journal on Nov. 15, 2012, at 8:54 a.m.
RUMFORD, Maine — A hospital dietitian on Wednesday debunked myths about avoiding cancer by eating certain foods and vitamins. Justin Bakaian led a nutrition workshop at Rumford Hospital as part of a series sponsored by the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing in Lewiston. Speaking to a small ...
Life-saving DNA test for cancer languishes due to ignorance
By Robert Langreth and John Lauerman, Bloomberg News on Oct. 29, 2012, at 9:32 a.m.
BOSTON — Genetic testing is becoming cheaper and more widespread, promising to usher in a revolution in cancer treatment. Yet, long-standing DNA tests are often overlooked for reasons including doctors’ ignorance and financial incentives discouraging companies from marketing them. Fifty years ago, Henry T. Lynch, then a medical resident in ...
Multivitamins may lower cancer risk in men
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Chief Medical Writer on Oct. 18, 2012, at 9:13 a.m.
America’s favorite dietary supplements, multivitamins, modestly lowered the risk for cancer in healthy male doctors who took them for more than a decade, the first large study to test these pills has found. The result is a surprise because many studies of individual vitamins have found they don’t help prevent ...
Five-cent diabetes pill from 1958 may be new cancer drug
By Jason Gale and Andrea Gerlin, Bloomberg News on Sept. 27, 2012, at 8:57 a.m.
The next new treatment for breast, colon and prostate cancers, among others, may be a diabetes drug first approved in 1958. Metformin, the most commonly used medicine to lower blood- sugar, is the subject of about 50 cancer studies globally, according to U.S. government clinical trial information compiled by Bloomberg. ...
Smoking marijuana may increase risk of testicular cancer
By Jon Bardin, Los Angeles Times (MCT) on Sept. 11, 2012, at 8:40 a.m.
LOS ANGELES — Male pot smokers beware: Your seemingly harmless habit may be increasing your risk of developing the most dangerous forms of testicular cancer. A new study, published Monday on the website of the medical journal Cancer, reports that men who have testicular cancer are twice as likely to ...
Women advised to skip routine ovarian cancer screenings
By Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post on Sept. 11, 2012, at 8:37 a.m.
WASHINGTON — A federal government task force recommended Monday that women not get routinely screened for ovarian cancer because doing so can put them at increased risk for unnecessary harm, such as major surgery. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group of national experts, said it continues to ...
Is your doctor increasing your risk of cancer?
By Anna Reisman, Slate on Aug. 02, 2012, at 9:04 a.m.
A couple of years ago, my doctor recommended a CT scan of my abdomen to follow up on a minor abnormality. Dutifully, I made the appointment, grimaced as I chugged a liter of the chalky contrast liquid, and lay still as the white machine clicked a couple hundred cross-sectional slices ...
Researchers enlist dogs in battling human cancers
By Faye Flam, The Philadelphia Inquirer on July 23, 2012, at 8:45 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA — Sasha is still spunky at 12 — a white dog with a smattering of black, floppy ears and a sweet face. Even after she lost her right foreleg to bone cancer, her owners said, she could jump and catch a Frisbee. Unfortunately, in nearly all cases like Sasha’s, ...
Cancer treatments go high-tech with “smart bomb” drugs
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Chief Medical Writer on June 04, 2012, at 8:59 a.m.
CHICAGO — New research shows a sharp escalation in the weapons race against cancer, with several high-tech approaches long dreamed of but not possible or successful until now. At a weekend conference of more than 30,000 cancer specialists, scientists reported: —New “smart” drugs that deliver powerful poisons directly to cancer ...
An aspirin a day may keep cancer away
By Simeon Bennett, Bloomberg News on March 21, 2012, at 8:58 a.m.
Aspirin, the 3-cent painkiller whose origins can be traced to Hippocrates, reduces the chances of developing or dying from cancer earlier than previously thought and also prevents tumors from spreading, studies show. People who took a daily dose of aspirin had a 24 percent lower rate of developing cancer after ...
Studies: Avastin slows ovarian cancer but fails to prolong life
By Brian Vastag, The Washington Post on Dec. 29, 2011, at 9:17 a.m.
Two large studies of the top-selling cancer drug Avastin released Wednesday show that the drug can slow the growth of ovarian cancer when added to chemotherapy. But in a disappointment for patients, neither study found that the expensive drug extends life expectancy. “The amount of improvement seems to be relatively ...
Vitamin E raises risk of prostate cancer, study finds
By Rob Stein The Washington Post on Oct. 12, 2011, at 6:16 a.m.
The findings are the latest in a series of carefully designed experiments that have found that vitamins and other dietary supplements are useless or possibly dangerous.
Oral sex virus may surpass smoking as cause of throat cancer
By Robert Langreth, Bloomberg News on Oct. 05, 2011, at 5:38 a.m.
Researchers examined 271 throat-tumor samples and found and increase to 72 percent from about 16 percent
Maine Cancer Foundation awards more than $1 million in grants
on Aug. 02, 2011, at 7:32 p.m.
FALMOUTH, Maine — Maine Cancer Foundation, an independent statewide nonprofit, has distributed more than $1 million in grants to organizations throughout the state during the past year. Ten grants totaling $830,300 were awarded to cancer research projects in Maine. After a competitive, peer-review process, 10 proposals were selected from the ...
Penobscot Relay for Life tops fundraising hopes with $192,000
on May 23, 2011, at 10:15 p.m.
ORONO — The Relay For Life of Penobscot County surpassed fundraising expectations this year, with more than $192,000 in donations confirmed as of May 21. The annual event had set a net goal of $176,000, but with a record number of teams and participants, the 2011 Relay for Life of Penobscot ...
HEALTH NEWS
Beacon Health News, May 19, 2011
on May 13, 2011, at 10:32 p.m.
Tick Talk CAMDEN — May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, as declared by the Maine Legislature and the Maine Center for Disease Control. The Camden Public Library will host a “Tick Talk” with Dr. Beatrice M. Szantyr at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24. Szantyr will present an illustrated talk on the ...
Perennial bill would require health warnings on cell phones
By Glenn Adams, The Associated Press on April 23, 2011, at 10:25 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — A year after Maine lawmakers rejected a bill requiring warnings about mobile phone use, a legislative committee will hold a hearing on a new version of a cell phone safety bill. Rep. Andrea Boland’s bill would require warnings on cell phones, and notices posted by cell phone ...
Weight affects smokers’ breast cancer risk
The Associated Press on April 03, 2011, at 9:31 p.m.
Smoking raises the risk of breast cancer for healthy-weight and overweight women but not for those who are obese, new research suggests. It’s a first-of-its-kind finding, and even if other studies confirm it, it doesn’t mean that smoking is safe for women who weigh way too much, researchers say. “Smoking ...
Cyclists put mettle to the pedal for cancer fund
BANGOR, Maine — There are three reasons that about 75 local residents got onto stationary bikes in the center of the Bangor Mall on Saturday: to raise awareness of cancer, to raise funds to fight the deadly disease, and to promote health and wellness, organizers said. Among the pack of ...
Man accused of killing Glenburn teen denied bail, has received death threats, attorney says
Nichole Cable’s friends, family attend accused killer’s emotionally charged court appearance
Lincoln’s Coffee Pot Cafe shuts its doors
Maine Sports Hall of Fame member pleads no contest to possessing child pornography
Guest Post: “I’m about ready to name my daughter Revolution.”
How to humble a wing nut
Rep. Diane Russell’s fool’s errand
Help Maine charter schools succeed before adding more
Bucksport’s Wood enjoying the professional cage in MMA bouts
Tommy Lawrence pitches UMaine baseball to victory in first America East tournament game
Garcia sorry after ‘stupid’ Woods fried chicken jibe
Live updates: UMaine baseball vs. Stony Brook at America East Championship
Messalonskee’s Dexter, South Portland’s Richards key first-year contributors for USM baseball team
Federal agencies eye return to restored historic Custom House in Portland
It’s hard to keep secrets from a friend who is clairvoyant
New York City rumble showcases Maine’s lobster roll dominance
