A cancer drug that boosts the immune system outperforms chemotherapy in fighting advanced lung cancer, a new trial shows. Keytruda (pembrolizumab) extended life four to eight months longer than chemotherapy in lung cancer patients whose immune systems had been duped by their cancer cells. “This trial shows that pembrolizumab used alone improves survival as opposed… read on >
Children suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the muscle tissue, may have better chances for a cure if they have extended chemotherapy, a new study finds. In a phase 3 clinical trial, adding six months of low-dose maintenance chemotherapy after initial treatment extended the five-year survival rate from 74 percent to 87 percent, researchers… read on >
A new and highly targeted drug slowed the growth of advanced breast cancers by about an average of two months, researchers report. “The findings in this study show a modest benefit to a subgroup of women with estrogen receptor-positive tumors,” said Dr. Stephanie Bernik, a breast cancer specialist who wasn’t involved in the research. Estrogen… read on >
Genetic blood testing is showing potential as a means of catching some early stage cancers, researchers are reporting. For example, a panel of three different genetic tests was able to detect early stage lung cancer about half of the time in people who’d already been diagnosed with the disease. The tests also detected late-stage lung… read on >
You might want to pick up the pace when you head out for a stroll, suggests a new study that found that doing so may lengthen your life. In fact, compared with a slow pace, walking at an average pace appeared to reduce the risk of dying early 20 percent, while a faster pace seemed… read on >
Pot is increasingly replacing cigarettes and alcohol as the first drug of choice among young Americans, researchers have found. Boys, black Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics and multi-racial Americans were the most likely to turn to marijuana before other recreational drugs, the new report suggests. For the study, the investigators analyzed nationwide surveys done between 2004… read on >
If mindless eating can put on the pounds, it stands to reason that mindful eating can help with diet success. In fact, studies show that “eating-focused” mindfulness can bring significant changes in weight, in how you approach food, and even in psychological well-being. This makes it especially helpful for binge eaters, but it’s also good… read on >
Eating lots of cruciferous vegetables — such as kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower — could lower your risk of developing heart disease, Australian researchers say. Study results published in the Journal of the American Heart Association explored whether there was a link between the thickness of the neck arteries, the severity of plaque… read on >
Someone who is unsteady, weak and maybe a bit confused is a prime candidate for a dangerous fall. The American Cancer Society says caregivers can help prevent falls by: Sitting the person on the side of the bed for a minute, just after the person wakes. This will help if changing positions too quickly makes… read on >
Obese women who have been healthy for decades may still be on the path to heart problems, a new study suggests. “If you are obese, but free of disease like diabetes or hypertension, it does not mean you are free of the risk for cardiovascular disease,” said lead researcher Matthias Schulze. “You are still at… read on >
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