September 10, 2018

Understanding the Links Between Inflammation, Lifestyle and Cancer

Experts have long suspected inflammation may play some role in cancer’s development. In 1863, German scientist and physician Rudolf Virchow was the first to make the connection, observing that cancer often develops at sites of chronic inflammation. But researchers have only recently pinpointed chronic inflammation as a primary risk factor for cancer and other serious health conditions. […]

September 10, 2018

When Tumor Growth May Be a Good Thing

When you get sick, the lymph nodes in your neck may swell as your body amps up its production of white blood cells to fight the infection. The swelling is usually temporary, and once the threat has passed and the infection heals, the lymph nodes return to their normal, bean-shaped size. In a similar way, […]

August 10, 2018

Using Viruses to Attack Cancer May Help Stimulate the Immune System

New studies are finding a surprising potential ally in the fight against cancer: certain deadly viruses. In fact, since the late 1800s, doctors have observed that some cancer patients with viral infections have gone into remission, even though the reprieve was mostly temporary. The relationship may seem counterintuitive, but today researchers believe the cause and effect may […]

June 6, 2018

Think You Know Your Age? Tiny Chromosome Tips May Say Otherwise

We all know how old we are chronologically. But do we know how old we are biologically? Everyone ages at a different pace. Lifestyle, genetics, stress and other factors contribute to keeping us younger than we look or aging us beyond our years. One telltale sign of the inner aging process may be found deep […]

April 3, 2018

Matchmaking for Transplants

Each year, thousands of people diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, including blood cancers, myelodysplastic syndrome, sickle cell disease and many others, require bone marrow or stem cell transplants to give them the best chance at beating their diseases. These patients require finding a matching donor, and while some find a match from a family member, nearly […]

December 10, 2017

A Blood Test That Can Tell You About Your Cancer

At the root of most cancer diagnoses is a biopsy, the surgical procedure used to remove a tumor so it can be examined for the presence of cancer cells. Doctors often rely on biopsies to help make an assessment of a cancer’s malignancy, stage, origin and DNA mutations that may be targeted with treatments. Some biopsies are minimally invasive; others may be […]

November 12, 2017

Using Viruses to Help Fight Cancer

Most often when you think of a virus, you may think of a cold or the flu, illnesses you try to avoid. New research may change that perspective because recent studies show that certain viruses can actually be a powerful weapon in the body’s fight against cancer. The class of viruses, called oncolytic viruses, attack […]

July 7, 2017

Is a Clinical Trial Right for You?

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, are a cancer survivor or are a caregiver or family member of someone with cancer, you may be eligible to take part in a clinical trial. In deciding whether or not to enroll, it’s important to know the risks and benefits as well as the right questions to ask […]

January 11, 2017

Five Viruses that Cause Cancer

Five viruses have been added to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 14th Report on Carcinogens, released in November 2016. The report identifies environmental factors, including infectious agents, known (or reasonably anticipated) to cause cancer. It’s estimated that 12 percent of human cancers worldwide are caused by viruses, which are made up of […]

October 10, 2016

Who Should Be Screened for the Breast Cancer Gene?

After Mary-Claire King, the woman who discovered BRCA1, recently recommended broader genetic testing for breast cancer, some women may be wondering: “Should I be screened for the breast cancer gene?” This recommendation is based on new research suggesting that all women, regardless of their risk factors, should be screened for the breast cancer gene. Previously, […]