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What are the most important issues affecting patients that everyone is talking about? Here is the place to find out.

The Future is Now: Personalized Medicine

Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The future of personalized medicine lies within our chromosomes, and it is now understood that our genetic blueprint has a lot to say about the diseases that each person faces in their life—especially cancer. Many of the first breakthroughs in personalized medicine have occurred in breast cancer research. More breakthroughs are occurring with leukemia, colon cancer and metastatic melanoma. With the increased understanding about our genetic basis of disease,  we will have a greater knowledge of how to treat cancer, making this a crucial role in the war to beat cancer.

Find out more about personalized medicine from the American Cancer Society article. 

Pap Test Improves Cervical Cancer Outcomes

Monday, April 16, 2012
Studies have found that the odds of surviving cervical cancer are better when the cancer is detected by Pap testing verses when the cancer is detected from symptoms. The Pap test is a screening test has had a tremendous impact on cervical cancer incidence and mortality because any abnormalities or changes in the cells from the Pap are examined closely to take preventative measures, if necessary. Read more about the importance of the Pap testing and its impact on treating cervical cancer here. 

Chemotherapy Alone Effective for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Thursday, March 15, 2012
Among patients with Stage IA or IIA nonbulky Hodgkin’s lymphoma, research has found that treatment with only chemotherapy resulted in better overall survival than treatment that included the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With the overall survival rate greater for those who did not receive radiation with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the results suggest that chemotherapy only would be best for patients. For patients diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the avoidance of radiation therapy reduced the risk of death from other causes. Read more about the research and findings at CancerConnect.com. 

Gene Mutation Linked with Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer

Monday, February 13, 2012
Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer that is known to run in some families. Researchers have identified a rare, inherited gene mutation, HOXB13, which appears to substantially increase the risk of prostate cancer. Studies were conducted on multiple cases among close family members when the HOXB13 gene was discovered—a gene that is known to play an important role in prostate development. Find out more about the study here. 

Cervarix Provides Cross-Protection Against other Types of HPV

Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A new HPV vaccination, Cervarix®, could protect against cervical precancer and cancer, and there is evidence that it provides cross-protection against other high-risk types of HPV, according to a recent study. Cervarix is FDA-approved and protects against four types of HPV (6, 11, 16 and 18), and evidence from the study also shows that it also protects against four other cancer-related types of HPV: HPV types 33, 31, 45, and 51. Read more details and information about the study at CancerConnect.com. 

Coffee May Cut Uterine Cancer Risk 

Monday, December 19, 2011
If you are a coffee drinker, you might be surprised to find out some of its benefits. Although these results are not definitive, a recent study suggests that fairly heavy coffee consumption—four or more cups per day—may reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. However, adding a substantial sugar or cream to coffee could detract from the potential benefit. Read more about the study at CancerConnect.com. 

A Higher Dose of Preoperative Radiation May Benefit Rectal Cancer Patients

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
For rectal cancer patients, chemotherapy and radiation are often combined to shrink the cancer and lower the chance of recurrence prior to surgery. Researchers have now found that rectal cancer patients could greater reduce their risk of recurrence with the combination of chemotherapy and a higher dose of radiation therapy. Read more about the study at CancerConnect.com. 

Chemotherapy Given Before or After a Lumpectomy Does Not Play Part in Breast Cancer Recurrence

Tuesday, October 11, 2011
New research has found that chemotherapy before breast-conserving surgery, also known as a lumpectomy, is as effective against breast cancer recurrence as giving chemotherapy after breast-conserving surgery. Researchers have concluded that breast cancer recurrence has more to do with the tumor characteristic, rather than the timing of chemotherapy. Read more about the study at CancerConnect.com

New Protein Could Stimulate Growth and Function of Certain Types of Immune Cells

Thursday, September 15, 2011
Even when a cancer patient is done with chemo treatments, there are still powerful side effects that are left behind, one of which is the depletion of the immune system—particularly in older patients.  Researchers are conducting a clinical trial among patients 60 years and older who have recently completed chemotherapy for non-metastatic breast cancer, color cancer, or bladder cancer to explore the effect of recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) on immune system recovery and response. L-7 is a protein that stimulates the growth and function of certain types of immune cells, which would help in creating a stronger immune system. Find out more about the clinical trial. 

Vitamin D: Good for Your Bones, Good for Protecting Your Skin

Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Vitamin D is important for bone health, and some research suggests that it may also reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, according to CancerConnect.com. Among women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma), vitamin D and calcium supplements may reduce the risk of melanoma.  Few foods naturally contain large amount of vitamin D, but vitamin D can be obtained from fatty fish such as salmon, fortified foods such as milk, and dietary supplements.

New Drug along with Chemotherapy Improves Survival of Advanced Melanoma

Monday, July 11, 2011
A recent study shows that Yervoy™, a prescription medicine, in addition to chemotherapy improves the overall survival rate of patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery. Even though some serious side effects were common in the Yervoy™ group, the overall survival rate was 20.8% versus 12% of the group treated only with chemotherapy. Read more about the study and how Yervoy™ works here. 

Provenge: Using Your Immune System to Fight Prostate Cancer

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
When a boxer prepares to fight his opponent, he trains his body. When fighting prostate cancer, Provenge trains your body’s immune cells to seek and attack prostate cancer cells. Your personalized dose of PROVENGE consists of your own immune cells that have been activated by a recombinant antigen—a genetically engineered substance produced to encourage an immune response—which finds and attacks the cancer cells. At the Montgomery Cancer Center, we are proud to be the first in Alabama to offer this treatment to prostate cancer patients. For more information on Provenge, visit www.provenge.com. 

New HPV Test Approved by the FDA 

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) consist of more than 100 different viruses, and HPV tests were created to detect women at highest risk of serious cervical abnormalities.  A new HPV test, the cobas, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Cancer Connect.  With NPV16 and HPV18 roughly accounting for 70% of all cervical cancers, the cobas simultaneously tests for 12 high-risk types of HPV in addition to HPV16 and HPV18 individually.  By providing better and more detailed HPV results, the cobas HPV test is likely to improve the detection and management of cervical pre-cancers, with the hope to prevent cervical cancer in the future. 

Teens Increase Their Chance of Skin Cancer with Early Use of Tanning Beds

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called to legally ban tanning bed use among children and teenagers.  According to Cancer Connect, people who use tanning beds at a young age face a 75% higher risk of melanoma than people who don’t.  With most sun exposure estimated to occur before the age of 18, this makes it a critical time to prevent skin cancer.  

Cancer Rates Higher for African Americans

Friday, March 18, 2011
Cancer rates continue to be higher among African Americans than any other racial group in the United States, according to the Cancer Connect, with lung cancer ranking the highest in the leading cause of death.  It is important for African Americans and any other race to be aware of their risks and know what symptoms to look for. To learn more about specific types of cancer and about treatments, go to the Montgomery Cancer Center  website.

Rare Cancer Possibly Linked to Breast Implants

Friday, February 25, 2011
From patients with cancer to patients with a blood disease, the Montgomery Cancer Center works to treat various diseases and aims to inform patients and non-patients of the links to cancer.  According to Cancer Connect, a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been linked to breast implants, saline and silicone.  Though a small amount of cases have been reported, it proved enough to prompt the FDA to take a closer look at the link.  It is important for women, cancer patients and non-cancer patients, who are contemplating implants or reconstructive surgery to be aware of the latest risks.