The increasing elderly population will pose significant challenges in cancer care, including inadequate training of healthcare professionals and inappropriate ageist attitudes. Improved technology may help address some issues, but a digital divide and escalating costs threaten the accessibility of cancer treatment.
A report reveals a significant decline in US Veteran Affairs (VA) reporting of new cancer cases to California registries, starting from 2004. This omission could introduce 'uncorrectable bias' in epidemiological studies and hamper efforts to identify quality-of-care issues for VA patients with cancer.
Cancer is a major cause of disease and mortality worldwide, requiring a strong political signal for alliance and concerted actions. The Round Table on Health Strategies in the European Union will focus on creating capacity building for effective policies and programs to address cancer.
Researchers discovered patterns of cellular activity that confer poorer prognoses in younger women with breast cancer, highlighting the need for age-appropriate targeted therapies. The study aims to identify effective treatments targeting these tumor cell activities in premenopausal women.
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is launching a new magazine, CR, to address the public's need for understandable information about cancer research and policy. The magazine aims to put a human face on cancer research by sharing stories of survivors and their experiences.
A study of nearly 60,000 French women found that beta-carotene intake was inversely associated with tobacco-related cancer risk in never-smokers, but increased the risk in former and current smokers. The researchers also calculated that the absolute rates of tobacco-related cancers over 10 years varied significantly between nonsmoking ...
A new study finds that tobacco smoke exposure is responsible for most premature cancer deaths among African-American males, with Southern and Midwestern states showing greater burdens due to weaker tobacco control policies. The study suggests that strengthening tobacco control measures can help reduce these deaths.
Most cancer survivors can return to work after treatment, but a minority face ongoing problems requiring comprehensive support services. The study found that similar numbers of men and women stop working during treatment, with the lowest rates among those with certain types of cancer.
A recent study found that Medicaid patients diagnosed with late-stage cancer have significantly poorer survival rates than those diagnosed earlier. The median survival was 18 months for late enrollers compared to 38 months for early enrollers and non-Medicaid patients.
A study found that state-mandated reimbursement policies were associated with an increase in phase II clinical trial enrollment, but not overall or phase III enrollment. The authors suggest that knowledge and attitudes about trials held by physicians and patients play a greater role in participation than state mandates.
A South African doctor is criticizing the government's prioritization of arms deals over women's health, citing a lack of investment in breast cancer care. The doctor urges developed countries to apply political pressure to help build better breast cancer care in Africa.
A study found that delaying chemotherapy until disease progression was equivalent to immediate treatment in overall survival and specific survival rates. Patients aged over 70 had a higher chance of not requiring chemotherapy after 10 years.
A state-by-state analysis found that states with more extensive tobacco control policies had significantly lower youth smoking rates. Desirable legislation included enforcement of smoking age restrictions and photo ID requirements.
A study by Westwood Squibb Center for Dermatology Research found that Medicare policies contradict medical practice for treating actinic keratoses, which can develop into squamous cell carcinoma. In most cases, doctors prefer to remove lesions immediately, but Medicare won't reimburse doctors who do so on the first visit.