Most cancer patients have a good immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, new research shows. Two of the three approved vaccines in the United States — Pfizer and Moderna — are mRNA vaccines. Researchers assessed 131 cancer patients and found that 94% developed antibodies to the new coronavirus three to four weeks after their second… read on > read on >
All Lifestyle:
Too Little Sunlight, Vitamin D May Raise Colon Cancer Risk
New research finds that countries with more cloudy days tend to have higher colon cancer rates. Lower levels of vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin,” may be to blame. So, boosting your vitamin D levels through exposure to sunlight could help reduce your risk of colon cancer, according to researchers at the University of California, San… read on > read on >
Telehealth: Tips for Helping Kids With Autism Take Part
Telehealth is increasing in popularity in the United States, partly due to the pandemic. But some children with autism have difficulty sitting through these virtual appointments. Yet those visits can be a helpful part of a child’s ongoing medical care, and their convenience may help limit time away from work and school, according to the… read on > read on >
Shining a Light on Sunscreens
Sunscreen isn’t just for pool gatherings and beach outings: Using sunscreen every day could reduce your risk of skin cancer, experts say. Daily use of at least an SPF 15 sunscreen can lower your risk of melanoma — the deadliest type of skin cancer — by 50%, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. If you… read on > read on >
Masks at the Gym: Uncomfortable But Not Unsafe, Study Finds
Wearing a mask while you exercise may be uncomfortable, but a new study should reassure gym-goers that it poses no actual health risks. “What we found was, that it is safe to run at peak exercise in both an N95 mask and a cloth face mask,” said researcher Dr. Matthew Kampert, of the Cleveland Clinic.… read on > read on >
Gap in Breast Cancer Survival for Black, White Patients Shrinks, But Not by Enough
Racial disparities in breast cancer survival have narrowed in recent years, but Black women with the disease still have double the death rate of white women. That’s according to a study that tracked breast cancer trends in Florida between 1990 and 2015. Overall, deaths from the disease declined among Black, Hispanic and white women alike… read on > read on >
J&J Vaccine Guards Against Delta Variant, Company Says
Johnson & Johnson announced Thursday that its coronavirus vaccine is effective against the highly contagious Delta variant that brought India to its knees this past spring. The finding will no doubt reassure the 11 million Americans who have gotten the J&J shot, as the company also noted the protection lasted eight months after inoculation. Although… read on > read on >
How Much Should the Delta Variant Worry You?
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is upending any return to normalcy in some parts of the United States, with locales like Los Angeles County urging vaccinated folks to once again don masks indoors. Infectious disease experts said these places are acting with an abundance of appropriate caution, given that the Delta variant is more transmissible… read on > read on >
Cost a Barrier to Cervical Cancer Screening for Many U.S. Women
Many women in the United States aren’t screened for cervical cancer because they can’t afford it, a new study finds. Screening helps reduce cervical cancer cases and deaths, but disparities in screening rates exist based on income, insurance status, race and ethnicity. “Low-income women need greater access to insurance coverage options, Medicaid eligibility, or free… read on > read on >
Pets Often Catch COVID From Owners, Study Finds
Can pets get COVID-19 from their beloved owners? Yes, they can. In fact, a pair of new studies suggest that COVID-19 is quite common among cats and dogs in households where someone has contracted the virus. But at a virtual meeting of the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology slated for next week, both research teams… read on > read on >