Diabetes drug may reduce the incidence of cancer among postmenopausal women

Elderly women with type 2 diabetes who take metformin may be at lower risk of developing some types of cancer, according to a new large study from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and the University at Buffalo (UB). Researchers also suggest that women with diabetes are more prone to develop cancer than women without the disease.

Metformin is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes alone or combined with other medications such as insulin, to control the amount of sugar in the blood, said MedlinePlus from the U.S. National Library of Medicine. At the same time, it enhances the body’s response to insulin.

Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes who take metformin may be at lower risk for developing certain types of cancer. Credit: Healthimpactnews.com

Researchers analyzed data from more than 145,826 postmenopausal women between 50 and 79 years old, who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative from 1993 to 1998. Findings were published in April in the International Journal of Cancer.

The impact of metformin in women with diabetes

Results from the study show that women with diabetes had a 45 percent higher risk of death from invasive cancer overall, in comparison with women without diabetes. On the other hand, the risk of death “differed significantly” among women with diabetes taking metformin.

A theory proposes that a decreased risk of cancer death is related to an increase in consumption of metformin use, said the RPCI in a press release issued on April 7. Women with diabetes had also a 13 percent major risk of developing invasive cancer.

In comparison with women without diabetes, women with the disease face a 20 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cancer in the colon, liver, pancreas, and endometrium, added the RPCI.

Patients with diabetes taking metformin showed better survival rates when diagnosed with ovarian, colorectal and breast cancer.

Lead-author of the study Zhihong Gong, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Oncology in the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control at Roswell Park, said that researchers wanted to understand the association of diabetes and medications and its relationship with the development of cancer.

“Our findings suggest that diabetes remains a risk factor for cancer overall and increases the risk of certain cancers. But we also found a lower cancer risk for certain cancers among those patients who have used metformin for many years,” added Gong in a press release.

Results should be taken cautiously

Researchers explained that further investigation is needed to better understand the long-term impact of metformin on cancer risk and survival, Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, said to UPI that new studies are already in progress.

“We still don’t understand the exact mechanism of action of this old drug used in diabetes. It may have positive effects in decreasing cancer mortality and or increasing longevity as shown in this paper,” Zonszein said to UPI.

According to the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report, there are 29.1 million Americans with diabetes, which can be translated as one out of every 11 people. Nonetheless, one out of four people do not know they have diabetes, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Additionally, there are 86 million pre-diabetics in the country, of which 15-30 percent will develop type two diabetes within the next 5 years, if they do not change their lifestyle, and dieting habits.

Source: Roswell Park Press Release

Diabetes drug may reduce the incidence of cancer among postmenopausal women

The feds say screening for testicular cancer isn't necessary. This health advocate is out to prove ...

The official advice on whether men should regularly check their testicles for signs of cancer is: no, don’t do it.

But ever since he discovered a lump at the age of 17, health policy researcher Michael Rovito has been on a one-man mission to change the minds of the medical establishment.

He began when he was in graduate school by studying how best to communicate with men about the risks and signs of testicular cancer. He’s since published a series of papers arguing how and why doctors should tell their patients to check their testicles regularly. And he’s even started a nonprofit — the Men’s Health Initiative — to push his message.

Yet, Rovito, now 35 and an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida, has a formidable adversary in his path: the US Preventative Services Task Force, which advises the federal government on health issues.

For more than a decade, the USPTF has recommended against routine testicular cancer screening, either by self-inspection or clinical examination. The reason? There’s no proof it saves lives. “Screening lacks benefits,” task force chair Dr. Albert Siu, a geriatrician at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, told STAT.

Because treatment is so effective, it’s not crucial to find testicular cancer right when it emerges. Accidental discovery when a lump is big enough to be obvious is often good enough, according to leading physician groups.

Read More

Screening healthy women for ovarian cancer shows first success

Without some gold rush of funding, it’s highly unlikely that clinical trials of the kind the USPTF wants to see will be run anytime soon. But Rovito argues that the benefits of self-exams extend to finding testicular problems other than cancer, and that regular screening should not cause men too much anxiety — an often-cited risk of the practice (although the harms haven’t been systematically studied).

“Let’s just think about this from a different perspective from quantitative numbers and mortality rates, please,” he said.

Rovito is also going on the offensive against the USPTF with a paper now under review that directly calls on the task force to change its stance on testicular screening from a “D” grade, the strongest recommendation against a practice, to an “I,” the rating for insufficient information.

Michelle Bruzzese for STAT

Rovito advocates for more testicular cancer screening.

Some experts already practice what Rovito is preaching.

Dr. Joseph Alukal, a urologist at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, said that he’s treated patients who tried to ignore a lump in their testicles. Some waited until the mass was grapefruit-sized to come in.

“What’s the harm,” he said, “in asking [men] to just say, ‘Look, there’s nothing wrong with checking yourself once in the shower a month. Here’s what you should be feeling for.’”

Alukal said he routinely disregards the USPTF’s recommendations and examines all of his patients for signs of testicular cancer; he also tells most of his patients to check themselves.

But critics say there are downsides, too.

“Why would we just do something if we don’t know there’s evidence for it?”

Elizabeth Platz, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. John Tipton, of the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, said that family medicine doctors like himself typically only have a few minutes with each patient, and doing a testicular examination for each one would take precious time away from other services.

“Everything that you add on detracts from something important,” Tipton said.

And for such a rare and treatable disease — only about 9,000 American men will develop testicular cancer this year, and fewer than 400 will die from the disease — Elizabeth Platz, a cancer epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, questions whether encouraging screening is a good use of public health resources.

“Why would we just do something if we don’t know there’s evidence for it?” she said.

Michelle Bruzzese for STAT

Together with his students at the University of Central Florida, Rovito, left, is pushing the message that testicular self-exams are helpful.

Platz said she remembers when breast self-exams were thought to help women detect tumors early and was encouraged even in college-aged women. Then, a randomized controlled trial came out showing no benefit on breast cancer mortality.

“Women got very upset about that,” she said. “The evidence changed, so the guideline changed.”

She said the same principle applies to testicular cancer. While it may seem intuitively smart to have men check themselves, the evidence remains elusive.

Read More

Self-exams aren’t helpful, and other surprising facts about breast cancer

Still, Rovito thinks educating men about risks to their health is worthwhile.

He recalled a time in sixth grade when the girls in his class were pulled out to learn about menstruation. The boys “had to stay there and play tic-tac-toe,” he said, while the girls “went and learned about their bodies, which I’m kind of jealous about.”

When he discovered a lump on his testicle in high school, he didn’t know what to do. He waited for it to go away, but it didn’t. “I sat there for a couple months thinking, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to die.’”

When Rovito finally went to the doctor, it turned out he didn’t have cancer. Instead, the lump was an enlarged vein in the scrotum.

Rovito now wants other men to be spared the ignorance and fear he felt at the time.

“If I ever have a chance to educate other guys on not just testicular health but other issues, just to get them more comfortable with bringing up the issues,” he said, “then I’ll consider that a happy life for me.”

The feds say screening for testicular cancer isn"t necessary. This health advocate is out to prove ...

ASGE and Kathy Ireland Urge People 50 And Over To Embrace Colorectal Cancer Screening For ...

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., March 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Society  for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) is partnering with Kathy Ireland to ask people age 50 and older to embrace colorectal cancer screening.  ASGE represents the doctors who specialize in endoscopy and colon cancer screening.  The Public Service Ad (PSA) featuring Kathy, “Staying Healthy for Family,” is a part of ASGE’s public outreach initiatives for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness  Month (NCRCAM) in March. The PSA can be found on ASGE’s YouTube channel.

Colon cancer kills approximately 50,000 people each year, but it doesn’t have to. Many of those deaths could be prevented with earlier detection. Women are at equal risk as men for colon cancer. Colonoscopy screening for colon (or colorectal) cancer is particularly valuable because it allows the doctor to find polyps – growths in the colon or rectum that may become cancer – and remove them before the polyps have the opportunity to turn into cancer.

ASGE members know that people often find the prospect of a colonoscopy daunting, particularly the first time. But with a little preparation and support, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. So this year, ASGE’s message for NCRCAM is simply: “Prep, Scope, Live.”

“We want people to know that colonoscopy is worth the effort,” said ASGE president Douglas O. Faigel, MD, FASGE.  “We see patients every day who’ve been putting off getting the test because it doesn’t sound like much fun. But once they make the effort, they tell us they are glad they had it done, and they don’t know why they didn’t do it sooner.  Getting checked can actually prevent cancer, if you get screened early and regularly.  So make your appointment, do your prep, get your colonoscopy, and then go enjoy life.”

The PSA featuring Kathy directs viewers to ASGE’s colon cancer awareness website, www.screen4coloncancer.org. The site offers visitors a wealth of information including facts about colon cancer and screening options, what to expect during a colonoscopy, answers to frequently asked questions, links to patient support and advocacy groups, informational videos, and how to find a qualified gastrointestinal endoscopist.  It also includes brochures and a fun “Prep, Scope, Live” poster and  bookmark.

Colon cancer is considered a silent killer because often there are no symptoms until it is too late to treat. Age is the single most important risk factor for the disease, so even people who lead a healthy lifestyle can still develop polyps and cancer.  While colonoscopy is the most thorough test, and the only one that can prevent cancer by allowing for removal of polyps, there are other screening methods, including fecal occult blood test and flexible sigmoidoscopy.  All men and women age 50 or over should talk with their doctor about the colon cancer screening method that is best for them. Colon cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable!

Kathy Ireland, who has been named by UCLA as one of the Top 10 Women’s Health Advocates, is celebrated for her philanthropic activism and funding, working vigorously for the care and treatment of Downes disease, ADL, and in the war against HIV/AIDS. In addition to her service as Chair Person for the March of Dimes and work on numerous other health issues including her mother’s annual 30 mile walk to fund breast cancer research. Kathy is, as well, a powerful activist for veterans, global poverty eradication, education and family issues, with a specific focus on women, children and families. She has been working with ASGE on the campaign for colorectal cancer screening and prevention since 2014.

About the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with more than 14,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. Visit www.asge.org and www.screen4coloncancer.org for more information and to find a qualified doctor in your area.

About Endoscopy
Endoscopy is performed by specially-trained physicians called endoscopists using the most current technology to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Using flexible, thin tubes called endoscopes, endoscopists are able to access the human digestive tract without incisions via natural orifices. Endoscopes are designed with high-intensity lighting and fitted with precision devices that allow viewing and treatment of the gastrointestinal system.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141124/160552LOGO

 

ASGE and Kathy Ireland Urge People 50 And Over To Embrace Colorectal Cancer Screening For ...

8 Things Younger Men Should Know About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is known as a disease of older men, and that’s largely true. The average age of prostate cancer diagnosis is 66, and about 60 percent of new cases occur in men 65 and older, according to the National Cancer Institute. Even so, rates are rising in men 55 and younger, who face different long-term risks. If you’re a man in your mid-50s or younger, here’s what to consider about prostate cancer, screening, treatment choices and prevention.

1. It Can Be More Aggressive

Cancer of the prostate gland – which produces fluid contained in semen – is the second-most common type of cancer in men. About 14 percent of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some time in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute, and about 2.8 million U.S. men are prostate cancer survivors. Fortunately, survival rates are very high, at 90 percent and above for all stages of cancer combined.

“There’s very good data that most men die with prostate cancer rather than of prostate cancer,” says Dr. Scott Tomlins, an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Michigan Medical School.

However, men diagnosed with prostate cancer at 55 or younger are more likely than others to eventually die from the disease itself, according to a May 2014 study in Nature Reviews: Urology, which found other differences in this age group.

Most men with early-onset prostate cancer are diagnosed with low-risk disease, the University of Michigan study found. But among certain types that strike at a younger age, tumors appear to grow more quickly and be more lethal.

​2. Early Detection Recommended

Prostate cancer diagnosed in younger men “has a strong genetic component,” the researchers found; and men with a family history of prostate cancer are known to be at higher risk of developing the disease.

“Certain genetic variants have been shown to be associated with high risk of prostate cancer,” Tomlins says. “Variants in genes like BRCA2 or BRCA1 ­– some of the same genes that put you at risk for breast cancer.”

For men with average risk, discussions with doctors about prostate cancer screening should take place at age 50, according to the American Cancer Society. But men at high risk should consider screening at age 45. High-risk men include African-Americans or any man with a father, brother or son who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age.

Men at even higher risk – those with more than one close relative who had prostate cancer at an early age – should consider screening when they turn 40.

3. Screening Tests Are Simple

You can be screened for prostate cancer in your doctor’s office with a simple blood test for prostate-specific antigen. While a PSA level at or below 4.0 ng/mL has traditionally been considered normal, the American Cancer Society recommends yearly testing for men with a PSA of 2.5 or higher. A digital rectal exam, to detect abnormal areas or lumps in the prostate, may also be part of screening.​

Similar to guidelines for breast cancer screening, there’s some controversy around prostate cancer screening guidelines – how often screening is needed, at what age to begin and whether routine screening is helpful for men at low risk. Ultimately, it’s an individual decision – and discussion – between you and your health care provider.

“No one recommends that a man should be screened without understanding the benefits and​ drawbacks of screening,” says Dr. Richard Wender, ​chief cancer control officer for the American Cancer Society. “Everyone agrees that routine screening without a discussion is not right and should not be done.”

4. Symptoms to Notice

Usually, early prostate cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms. With more advanced cancers, urinary problems such as a weak or slow stream, or the need to urinate more often, particularly at night, may be signs. Blood in the urine is another symptom, as is erectile dysfunction. However, there could be a variety of other causes of these problems, like benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, a noncancerous condition that’s common in older men​.​​ ​

Bone pain in the hips, back, ribs and other areas can indicate prostate cancer that has spread. Numbness or weakness in the legs and feet are also possible symptoms. Talk to your health care provider if any of these issues arise.

5. Baldness Tied to Risk?

Men with male-pattern baldness may have a slightly higher risk of developing fatal prostate cancer compared to men with a full head of hair, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The increased risk was 56 percent for men with any degree of balding, although the most conservative estimate from the study would be a 2-percent increased risk, according to study author Dr. Michael Cook, an investigator in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute.

While that study did not make any age-related conclusions, Cook points to a previous study, published last year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, in which men recalled how bald they were at age 45. Male-pattern baldness was associated with about a 40 percent increase in the relative risk of aggressive prostate cancer, compared to men with no balding at 45 years old.

Much more follow-up research is needed to better understand the possible overlap between hair loss, male-hormone levels and disease risk, Cook emphasized in an email. “Men of any age and any balding status need not be additionally concerned about their individual risk of prostate cancer,” he concluded.

6. Treatment Now May Help Later

Finding prostate cancer at a younger age, even slow-growing varieties, could tip the balance in making treatment choices. “If you diagnose the type of cancer that appears to be non-aggressive in a 50-year-old man, it’s likely that that particular cancer, as it appears at that moment, does not need to be treated,” Tomlins says. “We know from the behavior of those tumors that that sort of tumor has almost no chance of spreading outside the prostate. However, if you take those men and follow them over 20 years, the men that get treated do better than the men that don’t.”

Surgery and radiation, either external or internal, are treatment mainstays for prostate cancer. Other standard treatments include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biologic therapy.

7. Watchful Waiting Can Work

With the latest medical technology, called multiparametric MRI, doctors can follow patients with early-onset prostate cancer with much more precision. “It allow a urologist to visualize lesions in the prostate when they do a biopsy,” Tomlins says. “It also allows them to track where the biopsy went. And if they go back a year later, to try and biopsy that same area.”

Such medical advances have opened up options for patients with less-aggressive cancer, Wender says, including the option for active surveillance, also known as watching and waiting. “Ten years ago, the thought that you could get a cancer and watch it closely just seemed outrageous,” he says. “It’s not outrageous today. We actually know that for many men, active surveillance – close monitoring with technologies like the new MRI that make it more accurate to know whether it’s progressing – is a very good choice for many men with early prostate cancer.”

Shared decision making – with patients getting the information they need to consider and discuss screening and treatment choices that incorporate their personal values – is part of the process.

8. Lifestyle Is Key

In terms of prevention, Wender says, “The more important lesson is for all of us to be concentrating on the things that we know reduce overall cancer risks – being physically active, trying to maintain a healthy weight and choosing healthy foods.”

Unlike heart disease, in which a specific type of diet has been identified as preventive, Wender says, less is known about exactly which foods matter most for avoiding prostate cancer. “The good news is all the things that are good for preventing heart disease are good for preventing cancer, too,” he says. That, he adds, includes eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. “Whether we know the perfect diet for preventing prostate cancer, we know it’s the best diet for reducing overall cancer risk.”

Updated on March 2, 2016: This story has been updated to include a range in the risk statistics associated with balding.

8 Things Younger Men Should Know About Prostate Cancer

Sexual Health: Men Could Be At A Greater Risk Of Oral Cancer Than Women

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Maintaining a good sexual health is one of the foremost concerns of individuals who actively participate in a sexual activity. However, a latest study suggests that men could face a bit more challenges when it comes to sexually-transmitted infections.

One of the greatest risk in terms of sexual health is developing throat and mouth cancer linked to oral sex. According to a research team at the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, oral sex increases the risk of head, neck, throat and mouth cancer through human papillomavirus (HPV).

It is estimated that HPV affects nearly 70 to 80 percent of sexually active men and women and is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. The researchers claim that men are twice likely to contract HPV-related cancers than women. The risk is particularly higher in middle-aged white men, as compared to men belonging to other races.

In case of men, the researchers found that the risk of oral HPV increases with the number of oral sex partners that men have had. However, the effect is opposite in the case of women. That is, the number of sexual partners does not seem to increase the risk of oral HPV in women. Women with greater number of vaginal sex partners had a lower risk of contracting HPV-related cancer as compared to men.

The researchers say that the difference lies in the robustness of the immune response in men and women. Men do not seem to have a robust immune system, however, women develop an immune response that prevents them against an oral HPV infection as soon as they encounter HPV vaginally, reports MedicalXpress.

According to researcher Gypsyamber D’Souza, two of three cases of oral cancer in the US can be can be attributed to the HPV 16 strain infection, reports The Tech Times.

The complete details of the study have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Photo Source: Flickr

Tags:HPV, Mouth Cancer, oral sex, oral sex effects, sexual health, sexually transmitted infection, Throat cancer

Sexual Health: Men Could Be At A Greater Risk Of Oral Cancer Than Women

Eat more fruits in adolescence to lower breast cancer risk

IANS Monday 1st February, 2016

New York, Feb 1 (IANS) Girls who eat more high-fibre foods during adolescence – especially lots of fruits and vegetables – may have significantly lower breast cancer risk than those who eat less dietary fibre when young, new research has found.

For each additional 10 grams of fibre intake daily – for example, about one apple and two slices of whole wheat bread, or about half a cup each of cooked kidney beans and cooked cauliflower or squash – during early adulthood, breast cancer risk drops by 13 percent, the findings of this large scale study showed.

“From many other studies we know that breast tissue is particularly influenced by carcinogens and anticarcinogens during childhood and adolescence,” said senior author of the study Walter Willett, professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“We now have evidence that what we feed our children during this period of life is also an important factor in future cancer risk,” Willett noted.

The researchers believe that eating more fibre-rich foods may lessen breast cancer risk partly by helping to reduce high estrogen levels in the blood, which are strongly linked with breast cancer development.

The study was be published online in the journal Pediatrics.

“This work on the role of nutrition in early life and breast cancer incidence suggests one of the very few potentially modifiable risk factors for premenopausal breast cancer,” lead author of the study Maryam Farvid from Harvard Chan School noted.

The researchers looked at a group of 90,534 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II, a large long-running investigation of factors that influence women’s health.

Breast cancer risk was 12-19 percent lower among women who ate more dietary fibre in early adulthood, depending on how much more they ate, the study said.

The greatest apparent benefit came from fruit and vegetable fibre.

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Eat more fruits in adolescence to lower breast cancer risk

Disney Princesses Are Being Used For Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

We all know how important it is to keep an eye on your sexual health, and yet 1 in 4 women did not attend their tests last year. With numbers of women actually attending their smear test dwindling every year, writer Danielle Sepulveres and illustrator Maritza Lugo came up with the idea of drawing Disney Princesses visiting the clinic for a variety of reasons in an attempt to portray that the topic of sexual health should not be embarrassing or taboo, but is a necessary part of staying healthy (so much so that even Princesses have to take the trip from time to time!)

Maritza told HuffPost UK: “I think it’s extremely important to advocate for women’s health issues and self care. By illustrating images with incredibly familiar characters, I was able to help drive home Danielle’s point and cause for concern.”

Danielle said: “Preventative care is essential and comprehensive sex education is seriously lacking in so many places, we wanted people everywhere to really start having a discussion about it.”

Check out the pictures here…

What do you think about Disney Princesses being used in this campaign? Tweet us @sofeminineUK!

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Aspirin doesn't improve breast cancer outcomes but may decrease density

The anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet salicylate medication known to chemists as acetylsalicylic acid—yes, that’s aspirin—doesn’t fight breast cancer but may make dense breast tissue less dense, aiding early detection in women with that characteristic.

Researchers from Penn Medicine presented two studies leading to these conclusions at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December.

In one study, the team, led by Julia Tchou, MD, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania, scrutinized the medical records of 26,000 women who were routinely screened by mammography within a recent two-year window and saw a doctor who recorded their medication use.

Compared to women with extremely dense breasts, women with fatty or less dense breasts were more likely to be aspirin users, according to a Penn Medicine news release.

Additionally, the researchers found a lower likelihood of having extremely dense breasts with increasing aspirin dose.

This association was especially strong among women under age 60 and among African-American women.

In another study, the Tchou team examined the pattern of aspirin use, cancer pathology and overall survival in 1,000 patients treated for breast cancers, including receptor positive, HER2- positive and triple negative cancers.

A history of aspirin use for at least 30 days prior to diagnosis was reported in 14 percent of the participants.

The team found that a history of taking aspirin was not associated with improved survival, regardless of receptor status, according to the release.

Indeed, to the contrary, at five-year follow up, low-dose aspirin was significantly associated with worse overall survival compared to patients who didn’t take it before their cancer diagnosis.

“Past studies have found that aspirin may hold anti-cancer benefits,” Tchou said in prepared remarks. “Our data did not support the notion that this century-old pill has protective qualities and down-the-road benefits for breast cancer patients.”

Study co-author Despina Kontos, PhD, stressed that the breast density findings “highlight the potential value for a randomized controlled trial of aspirin as an agent in early detection of breast cancer, particularly for women with naturally dense tissues who may be at an increased risk for certain cancers.” 

Aspirin doesn"t improve breast cancer outcomes but may decrease density

Cancer Research Classic tips off

Saturday, January 2nd 2016 —

OHIO COUNTY, WV – The 9th annual Cancer Research Classic is a win-win for the Ohio Valley. Not only is it good for the health of the people and the economy, it also provides pure entertainment.

The CRC is the nation’s premiere catholic high school basketball tournament held at Wheeling Jesuit University in the McDonough center, in conjunction with Wheeling Hospital. Dr. Gregory Merrick is the director of the tournament, and uses the “celebrity” of basketball to draw in a big crowd, all to benefit men’s health. Thousands passed vendors line up offering health care screenings, and information as they went to their seats to watch some of the nation’s top teams battle it out on the court. “Our vendors out there are doing a great job; our residents are doing a great job. We as men live 7-8 years less than women because we don’t get preventative care,” said Merrick.

Troy Aleman was one of those vendors at Saturday’s tournament providing information on a new way to test for colon cancer without the hassle of getting a colonoscopy. Aleman said how great it was to have an event like the CRC tournament as a way to reach out to residents. “Not a lot of organizations hold systems like this to open a gateway to patients in this type of setting and format, so I think it’s going to be a phenomenal system to have in the future.”

Citizens benefit from the tournament, but so does the economy. Merrick says the flow of traffic to the Wheeling area is something that continues well after the tournament is over. “Last year we had fans from 16-17 states, 2 foreign countries – so we have people coming in, seeing what we have to offer here at Jesuit, the city of Wheeling, the upper Ohio Valley, Oglebay to come back in the summer and play golf. It’s just great for all of us.”

The tournament is a nationally known event that is broadcasted on ESPN3. Merrick says he and his team are proud of the reputation the tournament is receiving. In reference to the tournament shirts many of the players and volunteers wear, Merrick said, “When I see these shirts at the U.S. Olympic trials, and I see these shirts on the west coast – it really makes you proud of what our whole team has been able to accomplish.”

All proceeds from the tournament go to cancer research and men’s health awareness, as well as undergraduate scholarships at Wheeling Jesuit University.

Cancer Research Classic tips off

Women's Health: What happens after treatment for breast cancer?

I have noticed that while we are mostly concerned with diagnosis and treatment in medical discussions regarding breast cancer, not much interest is placed on what happens after treatment.

For many women, breast cancer treatment will remove or destroy the cancer; and while the completion of treatment can be exciting, it can also be very stressful.

Yes, there is the obvious expected relief of finishing treatment, but there is also worry about the cancer coming back (recurrence), and this is a very common cause of concern and anxiety for women who have had cancer. Other areas of concern are the long-term effects of the treatment, body image concerns, sexuality, and pregnancy after breast cancer.

It will take a while before your fears and anxiety lessen; but it may also help to know that many cancer survivors have learned to live with this uncertainty and are leading full lives.

However, here are a few things that may help speed along the process.

FOLLOW-UP CARE

When your treatment ends, your doctor will want to see you at intervals to ensure all is still well. It is very important to go to ALL of your follow-up appointments, irrespective of how good you may be feeling.

Your initial follow-up appointments are usually scheduled for every three to six months. The longer you have been free of cancer, the less often the appointments will be. After five years, they will be once a year.

If you had breast-conserving surgery (only removed tumour from the breast and not the entire breast), you will require a mammogram approximately six months after surgery and radiation treatment are completed, and then every year after that. Women who had a mastectomy (removed the breast) should continue to have their yearly mammograms on the remaining breast.

At your follow-up visits, the doctor may do particular exams, and request certain lab tests or x-rays and scans to look for signs of cancer recurrence, or side effects.

Some side effects of breast cancer treatment are short-lived (lasts only a few weeks or months), while others are more long-standing. These follow-up visits are the best time to discuss these and any other concerns with your doctor.

If you are taking tamoxifen, you should, in addition to the above, have pelvic exams (done at your gynae visit) every year. This is because these drugs can increase your risk of uterine cancer. This risk is highest in women who have already gone through menopause. Be sure to tell your doctor right away about any abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding or spotting after menopause, bleeding or spotting between periods, or a change in your periods. Although this is usually caused by a non-cancerous condition, it can also be the first sign of uterine cancer.

These follow-up visits not only serve the purpose of ensuring that you are well medically and physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well.

EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF BREAST CANCER

During the time of your cancer treatment, you may have been going through so much that you were only focusing on getting through your treatment, and getting better.

Now you might find that you think about the possibility of the cancer returning, and the possibility of your own death, or the effect of your cancer on your family, friends, and career. You may also begin to re-evaluate your relationship with your spouse or partner.

All of this can be a source of anxiety for many.

If you find that this is occurring, you will need people you can turn to for strength and comfort, and this would be an ideal time to ensure you have adequate emotional and social support.

Support can come in many forms: family, friends, cancer support groups, church or spiritual groups, online support communities, individual counsellors or books.

Almost everyone who has been through cancer will benefit from getting some type of support. However, it is not a “one size fits all” remedy. What will be best for you, will be dependent upon your situation and personality. Some people will feel most comfortable in a peer-support group, others would prefer a more informal setting, such as church, while some will feel more at ease talking one-on-one with a trusted friend or counsellor. I was even told by a cancer survivor that nothing helped her, despite trying all of the above, until she was given some cancer support books to read.

Whatever you choose your source of strength or comfort to be, just ensure you have a place to go with your concerns.

It is common to feel alone on your cancer journey, but it is not necessary or realistic to go through it all by yourself. Before long, you will realise that you too will become the source of strength for somebody just starting out on their journey, and that will be further encouragement for you to see how far along you have come.

BODY IMAGE AFTER BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

In addition to having to cope with the emotional stress that accompanies cancer and its treatment, patients with breast cancer will also find themselves dealing with changes in their appearance as a result of their treatments.

Some changes are short-term, such as the hair loss associated with chemotherapy; but even this short-term change can have a significant negative effect on how a woman feels about herself. But in these days of wigs, weaves and hair pieces being fashionable, there are numerous options available to help women cope with hair loss.

Alternatively, some women choose to wear their baldness proudly, and use it as a way to identify themselves as breast cancer survivors.

Other more permanent changes, like the loss of part or all of a breast, or even both breasts after surgical treatment, are obviously more traumatic and less of a simple fix. Some women choose to have breast reconstructive surgery after mastectomy to address this issue, while others may opt for a breast form.

If you are considering breast reconstructive surgery, it should be discussed with your doctor before surgery to treat the cancer. Decisions about the type of reconstruction and when it should be done will depend on each woman’s medical situation and personal preferences, as well of the type of reconstruction desired, as there are several types of reconstructive surgery available.

A breast form is a prosthesis (artificial body part) worn either inside a bra or attached to the body to simulate the appearance and feel of a natural breast. Breast forms can be an important alternative to breast reconstruction for women who have had a mastectomy, especially if they do not want further surgery, because breast reconstruction can sometimes require several procedures to complete.

Regardless of what your preference may be, speaking with your doctor or other members of your health-care team is a good starting point.

SEXUALITY AFTER BREAST CANCER

It is common for women to have concerns about sexuality after breast cancer. Physical changes which occur during and after treatment will make most women less comfortable with their bodies. Also, some treatments, such as chemotherapy, can change your hormone levels and may negatively affect a woman’s sexual interest and/or response. Additionally, for women in their 20s or 30s who are seeking to choose a partner or have children, a diagnosis of breast cancer can be especially difficult.

Surgical treatment for breast cancer, particularly removal of the breast, can damage a woman’s feeling of attractiveness. Our culture has taught us to view breasts as a fundamental part of beauty and femininity. If a breast has been removed, a woman may worry about whether or not her partner will still find her attractive. She may also be worried about not being able to enjoy sexual stimulation in the affected breast.

However, even after having a breast removed, some women still enjoy being stroked around the area of the healed scar – whereas other women may actually dislike being touched there and may no longer even enjoy being touched on the remaining breast and nipple. Some women who have had a mastectomy may also feel self-conscious in certain sexual positions where the area of the missing breast is more visible.

PLEASE NOTE: Although there may be emotional and self-esteem effects, breast surgery does not decrease a woman’s sexual desire, nor does it decrease her ability to have an orgasm. According to recent research, most women with early-stage breast cancer will have good sexual satisfaction and emotional adjustment within a year after their surgery, and can boast a similar quality of life to women who never had cancer.

But we cannot forget the partner in all this, because the cancer diagnosis can be very distressing for the partner, as well. Partners are usually concerned about how to express their love physically and emotionally after treatment, especially surgery. But breast cancer can be a growth experience for couples, especially when partners take part in decision making, and go along to treatments.

PREGNANCY AFTER BREAST CANCER

Some treatments for breast cancer, such as certain chemotherapy drugs, may affect a woman’s ability to have a baby (fertility). Still, many women are able to become pregnant after treatment. The best time to talk with your doctor about future fertility desires is before starting breast cancer treatment.

The concern about pregnancy after breast cancer is due to the fact that many breast cancers are sensitive to estrogen. Due to the high level of this hormone during pregnancy, there has been concern that if a woman has been treated for breast cancer, this might increase the chance of the cancer coming back. However, studies have shown that pregnancy does not increase the risk of the cancer coming back after successful treatment.

Still, it is advised that breast cancer survivors wait at least two years after all treatments are finished before trying to get pregnant. The best length of time to wait is not clear, and in some patients, breast cancer can come back after the two-year mark, so each case is different.

Each woman’s decision to wait should be based on things such as her age, fertility, desire for more pregnancies, type of breast cancer, risk of an early relapse, and the potential effect estrogen may have on her risk of a breast cancer coming back.

Women taking chemotherapy, or hormone therapy, should talk with their doctors before trying to become pregnant. These drugs can affect a growing foetus, so it isn’t safe to get pregnant until all treatments are complete.

Stopping treatment early can increase the risk of the cancer growing or coming back.

Another important thing to know is that chemotherapy for breast cancer can also damage the ovaries, sometimes causing immediate or delayed infertility. Cancer treatment can also cause women to delay trying to get pregnant. These factors together often mean that a woman has less chance of getting pregnant after breast cancer treatment.

All women who have or have had breast cancer, and are thinking about having children should talk with their doctors about how treatment could affect their chances for pregnancy. This discussion should also cover the risk of the cancer coming back. In many cases, counselling can help women sort through the choices that come with surviving breast cancer and planning a pregnancy.

The best time to have this discussion is before treatment.

So many times, women with breast cancer focus only on treating the cancer that they forget about other possible aspects and future implications of their treatment, like pregnancy. Many times, just slowing down, writing down your concerns and expectations, and discussing them with your doctor before starting treatment, can help in choosing the best-suited treatment option for you, in order to achieve your desired outcome.

And, always remember all is not lost. I once had a patient referred to me, after surgical treatment for breast cancer; and she was in a panic. She had a positive pregnancy test, and was supposed to be starting chemotherapy and radiation treatment. It was recommended that she do not continue with the pregnancy, but she was determined to have her baby, and made it clear from day one. We honoured her request and we delivered for her a healthy baby boy at 36 weeks’ pregnancy (pregnancy is 40 weeks). She returned to her treatment shortly after, and is happy every day with her beautiful baby boy, and making clear to us her desires and expectations early on.

– Dr Rhonda Reeves is the obstetrician/gynaecologist at Southdale Medical & Gynae Centre, Shop 6, Southdale Plaza. Email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com

Women"s Health: What happens after treatment for breast cancer?

Behavioral Weight Loss Program Assists Breast Cancer Survivors

For overweight/obese survivors of breast cancer, a behavioral weight loss intervention can lead to clinically meaningful weight loss, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For overweight/obese survivors of breast cancer, a behavioral weight loss intervention can lead to clinically meaningful weight loss, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Cheryl L. Rock, Ph.D., R.D., from the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues conducted a multicenter trial involving 692 overweight/obese women who were, on average, two years past primary treatment for breast cancer. Participants were randomized to a group-based behavioral intervention, supplemented with telephone counseling and tailored newsletters, or a less intensive program.

The researchers found that the mean weight loss at 12 months was 6 percent of initial weight in the intervention group versus 1.5 percent in the control group. Mean weight loss in the intervention and control groups was 3.7 and 1.3 percent, respectively, at 24 months. The intervention had favorable effects on physical activity and blood pressure. Compared with younger women, the intervention was more effective among women older than 55 years.

“These findings support the need to conduct additional studies to test methods that support sustained weight loss and to examine the potential benefit of intentional weight loss on breast cancer recurrence and survival,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

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Behavioral Weight Loss Program Assists Breast Cancer Survivors

Video: Brave Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath opens up about testicular cancer battle

Cancer battler and Tipp hurler Noel McGrath has become an ambassador for Movember.

The 24-year-old former All-Star recorded a video for the cancer awareness fundraising campaign.

The hurler needed surgery and had to undergo chemotherapy but battled back to make an emotional return for Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final four months later.

In the film, McGrath admits he did nothing for three weeks after developing a lump on his testicle.

INPHO/James Crombie

Tipperary’s Noel McGrath

The 24-year-old needed surgery and a bout of chemotherapy, but battled back to make an emotional return for Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final with Galway, just four months later.

McGrath was given a standing ovation when he appeared as a second-half substitute.

After overcoming Testicular cancer, McGrath has become an Ambassador for the Movember foundation, which encourages men to be more open about Men’s Health issues, and fundraisers for research.

In a video addressing young men about the issue, McGrath admits he did nothing for two or three weeks after developing a lump on his testicle. But once he went to his doctor he got tremendous support, and he stresses the importance of early detection and treatment.

©INPHO/James Crombie

GAA Hurling All Ireland Championship Semi-Final, Croke Park, Dublin 17/8/2014 Cork vs Tipperary TipperaryÕs Padraic Maher celebrates with Noel McGrath of Tipperary

After Tipperary were beaten by Galway, tribemen’s boss Anthony Cunningham spoke to Noel.

Noel added: “In fairness to Anthony, he came and he shook my hand.

“He just wished me well and said it was great to see me back.

“He didn’t need to do what he did, but he did.

“It just goes to show the spirit that’s in the GAA.

“We’re lucky to have a sport that’s so community based.”

Video: Brave Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath opens up about testicular cancer battle

Men more likely to get skin cancer urged to use suncreen

Discussions about sun damage and skin cancer often draw up images of young women and tanning beds, but it turns out men are actually more likely to get skin cancer, and less likely to slap on the sunscreen.

The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 57 Canadian men is expected to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In comparison, it says 1 in 74 women is expected to develop the disease.

According to Toronto dermatologist Dr. Sam Hanna, men put on sunscreen half as often as women. Their excuses vary, he said.

“The things I hear from my male patients are they don’t like to put it on, it’s inconvenient, it’s messy,” Hanna told Daybreak Kamloops.

“They may do other things in terms of sun avoidance or sun protection, like wearing long sleeves or hats, which certainly are part of it. But unfortunately, sunscreen is still something we need to figure out how to get men to use because we’re not doing very well in terms of skin cancer rates, and deaths from skin cancer rates specifically.”

Hanna says roughly two-thirds of deaths from melanoma are men. To get men to put on sunscreen, here are some of Hanna’s tricks.

Take baby steps

“I don’t expect somebody who’s not used sunscreen for 65 years to suddenly get up every morning and start putting it on,” Hanna said.

“I’d love that, but I’ll tell them, ‘Fine. Let’s take the next time you go golfing, or the next time you go to the beach.’ Let’s use something like that and just make sure you’re applying appropriately and we can build from there.”

The health argument

“[I tell] somebody who’s health-conscious and eats right and exercises, this is a component of health, and that sometimes has some traction,” Hanna said.

Gather allies

“I’ll often be sneaky and involve their partners in that, and get them to be my people on the inside to bug them a little bit about keeping their sunscreen on,” Hanna said.

Listen to the interview: Men urged to use sunscreen

Men more likely to get skin cancer urged to use suncreen

womenshealth.gov on Twitter: "Please RT. Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecological #cancer to ...

Please RT. Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecological #cancer to prevent. Get screened. Get vaccinated. http://go.usa.gov/3PJdH 

womenshealth.gov on Twitter: "Please RT. Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecological #cancer to ...

Lethal prostate cancer less common in men with asthma

Researchers behind a new study published in the International Journal of Cancer were surprised when their analysis showed that men with asthma appear to have a lower risk of developing lethal prostate cancer. Previous studies have suggested the kind of inflammation associated with asthma is also associated with prostate cancer.

Researchers who found men with asthma appear to have a lower chance of developing lethal prostate cancer caution that this does not prove asthma caused the reduced risk.

However, the authors, led by Elizabeth A. Platz, a professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD, caution that their findings can only show a link – they cannot prove cause and effect.

For their study, the team analyzed data from questionnaire responses and medical records belonging to 47,880 men aged 40-75 taking part in the Health Professional Follow-Up Study (HPFS) run by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

None of the men had been diagnosed with cancer when they joined HPFS in 1986, and they were followed until 2012. The participants filled in questionnaires every two years, so the data set contained ongoing information about their background, demographics, use of medications, medical history, and lifestyle.

If participants mentioned being diagnosed with prostate cancer, the researchers consulted their medical records and pathology reports.

The analysis showed that having a history of asthma was linked to a 29% lower likelihood of being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that has spread from the original tumor) or dying of the disease.

Overall, the analysis revealed that men with asthma were 36% less likely to die of prostate cancer. Even when they took into account factors such as whether the men were taking asthma medication or whether the condition was diagnosed early or later in life, the researchers found the association was the same.

Men with hay fever were more likely to be diagnosed with lethal prostate cancer

Prof. Platz warns that their study cannot prove that having asthma reduces the risk of lethal prostate cancer – being an observational study, it could only explore associations between factors and say how strong they were.

The team also found a link between lethal prostate cancer and hay fever, but in this case the link was weaker and in the other direction. Men with hay fever were 10-12% more likely to be diagnosed with lethal prostate cancer and to die of it.

The researchers undertook the study because of previous research in mice that had shown immune cells that infiltrate prostate tumors trigger an immune response known as Th2 inflammation.

Their thinking was they would find a higher rate of lethal prostate cancer in men with asthma because asthma is often considered to be a disease of chronic inflammation and Th2 inflammation in particular. Cancer is also thought of as a disease involving Th2 inflammation.

Instead, their analysis showed the opposite – men with asthma appear to have a relatively lower risk of lethal prostate cancer.

Researchers now want to investigate immune cells in the prostate to explain the findings

Prof. Platz says their study is the first to analyze the link between asthma and prostate cancer – with a focus on lethal prostate cancer – in such a large group.

Speculating on the reasons behind the surprising findings, the authors suggest perhaps the Th2 inflammation that drives asthma is not the same as the Th2 inflammation that drives cancer. Alternatively, people with asthma may have higher levels of other immune cells that might attack cancer cells.

Prof. Platz says they are going to carry on with their work in the laboratory and try to find out more about the immune cells in the prostate. She explains:

“We want to see what it is about a particular immune profile or immune environment that might be related to prostate cancer, especially aggressive prostate cancer.”

Funds for the study came from the National Cancer Institute and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Meanwhile, Medical News Today recently reported another surprising discovery of a previously unidentified potential biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer.

Writing in the journal Oncogene, a team from the University of Michigan suggests that a protein called Runx2 whose function is to produce bone may also control the growth of prostate cells. If this proves to be so, it could be a potential biomarker to distinguish between fast- and slow-growing tumors.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Lethal prostate cancer less common in men with asthma