The cost of treatment for early stage breast cancer can be devastating for many patients, but they get little guidance or help from their doctors, a new study suggests. “We have made a lot of progress in breast cancer treatment, which is wonderful. But this study shows we are only part of the way to…  read on >

Your age doesn’t determine how long you’ll live after a dementia diagnosis, new research contends. “These findings suggest that, despite all efforts, and despite being younger and perhaps physically ‘healthier’ than older people, survival time in people with young-onset dementia has not improved since 2000,” said study author Dr. Hanneke Rhodius-Meester, from VU University Medical…  read on >

Dementia strikes about one in 13 lesbian, gay or bisexual seniors in the United States, a new study finds. “Current estimates suggest that more than 200,000 sexual minorities in the U.S. are living with dementia, but — before our study — almost nothing was known about the prevalence of dementia among people in this group…  read on >

One low-dose aspirin a day could help women avoid ovarian cancer or boost their survival should it develop, two new studies suggest. In fact, daily low-dose aspirin — the type many older women already take to help their hearts — was tied to a 10 percent reduction in developing ovarian cancer. It was also tied…  read on >

A broken bone in older age may increase your risk of death for the next 10 years, researchers say. “A fracture is the starting point for much wider health issues that persist long after the fracture has healed, and can ultimately result in earlier death,” said study author Jacqueline Center, who’s with the Garvan Institute…  read on >

The increased risk of cancer in people with diabetes is higher for women than men, a new study finds. Previous research identified the link between diabetes and cancer risk, but this study looked at whether that risk differs between men and women. The takeaway: Among people with diabetes, women have a 6 percent higher risk…  read on >

A modified type of botulinum toxin — botox — gave mice long-term pain relief and may someday be a safer alternative to opioids as a treatment for chronic pain, according to British researchers. They “deconstructed” the botulinum molecule and reassembled it with an opioid called dermorphin. The resulting compound — called Derm-BOT — silenced pain…  read on >

Most spider bites do not fully penetrate human skin, so they tend to only cause a mild reaction. But if the bite is from a brown recluse spider or a black widow, it will cause a much more serious reaction that requires immediate care, the Nemours Foundation says. If you suspect a spider bite, wash…  read on >

The Great Recession continues to take a grim toll: Since 2009, a growing number of Americans have died from liver disease and liver cancer. The increase among 25- to 34-year-olds is especially troubling because the deaths are due to cirrhosis, a disease caused by excessive drinking, the authors of a new study said. The researchers…  read on >

Using any form of nicotine during pregnancy or while nursing may raise a baby’s risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), new animal research suggests. The findings indicate that nicotine patches or electronic cigarettes may not be a safe alternative to cigarettes during pregnancy, the study authors said. The findings appear in the July 18…  read on >