A study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) to analyze popular personal care and household products has detected the presence of a known carcinogen in almost half the items inspected. The OCA utilized a third-party laboratory to test dozens of shampoos, soaps, body washes/gels, moisturizers, deodorants, sunscreens, and household cleansers labeled as “organic” or [...]

Some cancer patients in South Korea are relieving their depression by participating in hospital-run therapy programs that teach them how to laugh. Individuals raised in traditional Korean cultures are often taught to maintain a solemn demeanor, especially when they’re outside their own home. Smiling is considered appropriate, but public displays of stronger emotions like laughing [...]

Cancer patients, oncologists and others involved in the cancer experience often struggle to find the compassion and emotional strength they need to continue battling the difficult disease. An article published by American Medical Association reports more and more medical colleges are trying to raise the level of compassion in healthcare settings by mandating spiritually-based courses [...]

Two volcanoes in central Mexico have been added to the impressive list of international peaks being scaled to raise money for breast cancer research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC). The 2008 Climb to Fight Breast Cancer® includes peaks at elevations ranging from 10,781 feet to 19,340 feet located in in Mexico, Oregon, [...]

The National Science Foundation (NSF), Google Incorporated (NASDAQ: GOOG), and the IBM Corporation (NYSE: IBM) have formed a partnership to create the Cluster Exploratory (CluE), an innovative tool designed to help the academic community conduct research projects that would otherwise be too expensive to explore. CluE is a new distributed computing resource consisting of approximately [...]

A study released by drug manufacturer GTx, Inc (NASDAQ: GTXI) indicates a new version of an old drug called toremifene helps reduce some of the side effects experienced by prostate cancer patients being treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). ADT, also known as androgen suppression therapy or AST, is a hormone therapy designed to block the [...]

Most cancer patients undergo at least one CT scan during the diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up phases of their disease. A new study conducted by the University of Michigan Health System indicates many of those patients should be taking an inexpensive prescription tablet called N-Acetylcysteine before their scan to protect their kidneys from potentially serious damage. [...]

Eight outstanding cancer care providers will receive the Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS) in a ceremony on Friday, May 9, 2008. This year’s ACS honors will go to: Karen Allison, CPNP Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York Karleen Habin, RN Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts [...]

A study of 3,450 colorectal cancer patients conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests smokers should start getting screened for colon cancer 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts. The American Cancer Society and other cancer experts currently recommend most people begin getting colonoscopies at age 50. However, Rochester’s investigation indicates age 50 [...]

Who says an innovation has to be high-tech to have a big impact on medicine? A modest 8½ x 11 sheet of paper is helping physicians in the Chicago area reduce the amount of time they spend keeping track of complicated insurance rules and paperwork requirements so they can devote more time to caring for [...]