Combining existing drug therapies has long been an area of interest for cancer researchers. If one therapy works well, could adding another drug work even better? Just such a study involving advanced colon cancer found that additions don't always add up to better results. Following surgery, the standard chemotherapy regimen for Stage III colon cancer involves  Leucovorin , fluorouracil , and oxaliplatin , or what's commonly called FOLFOX for short. Adding another drug -  Erbitux ( cetuximab } - did not extend life. Make sure you know exactly which drugs work for you. The r...

Researchers are competitive types. They have to be to compete for funding for their salaries, lab equipment, even pencils they use. Two researchers have vastly different views about a recently published study on breast cancer radiation therapy. En garde...Fence!

After a lumpectomy you can choose - 1) 5-7 weeks of 5-day-a-week radiation treatments, or 2) surgical implanting of a radiation tube ( brachytherapy ) that stays in place for 5-7 days - and you're done. Easy choice, right? Not so fast. Women with early breast cancer who choose to have brachytherapy following a lumpectomy are far more likely to need a later mastectomy than women who had so-called whole breast irradiation. Those who received brachytherapy are also more likely to have more post-surgical complications and radiation toxicity.  Ask you doctor the risks and benefits o...

Bone cancer is a relatively rare type of malignancy, with just under 3,000 Americans expected to be diagnosed with it in 2012. Osteosarcoma is the technical name for the most common form of the disease. A recent study examined if and how age impacts prognosis (outlook). After analyzing patient data, the Children's Oncology Group has found that young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 with osteosarcoma have a poorer outcome than other age groups. Experiencing bone pain, have it checked out. A team of investigators, led by Katherine A. Janeway MD, of the Department of Pedia...

Cancer screening guidelines and recommendations are utterly confusing. For example, if you're a woman in your 40s , do you have mammography or not? A review of a massive amount of data may help you have a more informed discussion with your doctor about what's best for you. In looking at the benefits and harms of breast cancer screenings in women aged 40-49, a group of researchers has determined that two risk factors are most important to consider - the type of breast tissue a woman has and her family history. For women who have these risks, every-other-year screening may be a go...

It usually starts as a lump under the skin that doesn't hurt or cause any real symptoms. Soft-tissue sarcoma usually shows up on an arm or leg, and it's very treatable if caught early.

Results from one study show that despite a lower overall rate of thyroid cancer, African-Americans are generally diagnosed with a higher grade of cancer than in Caucasian populations.

Bladder cancer is normally been treated with surgery alone, but the risk of complications from any surgery prevent it from being the solution for everyone.

A small trial shows that rehabilitation therapy for head and neck cancer patients clearly improves their ability to swallow faster, something that's often damaged with the cancer treatment. Intense treatment for cancers of the head and neck often involves both chemotherapy and radiation. With many important muscles involved in the region, preventing the areas targeted by radiation from weakening can be avoided with swallowing exercises. Ask your oncologist about suitable rehabilitation. The study compared a control group given no swallowing exercises to another group given t...

Melanoma, one of the most common cancers affecting Americans, casts a shadow over people at risk for this disease. However researchers are finding new ways to lower melanoma rates. A recent cohort study examining the use of vitamin A supplements provided evidence that may help researchers find ways to reduce melanoma rates among high-risk populations Taking multivitamins containing Vitamin A might reduce risk of melanoma. The author of this study was Maryam Asgari , MD, a researcher with Kaiser Permanente, a non-profit managed care consortium headquartered in Oakland, Californi...