Health News

One Rx Better Than Another For Melanoma?
Two medications are approved in the US to treat advanced melanoma. Zelboraf ( vemurafenib ) was approved in September, 2012. DTIC-Dome ( dacarbazine ) is used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as melanoma. Which is the better medication?
The Wild Card in Lymphoma
Cancer in one person can behave very differently than it might in another person. That’s because each person’s genes are unique. So some new cancer treatments can target the individual’s unique genetic fingerprint. Scientists are exploring possible new targets in lymphoma.
Rx Shortages Affecting Kids With Cancer
There has been a shortage of certain medications for about three years now. Particularly hard hit have been generic injectable drugs. The shortage of one medication has affected kids with cancer.
Experimental Blood Cancer Rx is Showing Positive Results
There is excellent news for people with mantle cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. An experimental drug is demonstrating impressive results in a phase II clinical trial. But this is a limited research study, and the product is not yet available.
Cheers Against Blood Cancers
You’ve probably heard that red wine is good for you. And maybe you’ve also heard that drinking can increase your risks of specific types of cancer. A recent review puts a checkmark in the “alcohol-healthy” column.
Former Senator Arlen Specter Dies
The Senator who served the state of Pennsylvania for longer than anyone in history – Arlen Specter – has lost his years-long battle with cancer. He died of complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in his Philadelphia home this morning.
Recycling the Cyclin D1 Target Theory
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, that’s made up of tiny tubes that run throughout the body. One subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) – mantle cell lymphoma – needs more treatment options and research is under way to find those solutions.
Soaring Melanoma Risks for Some
Melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – is increasing in this country for a number of reasons, including tanning beds. Some cancer patients are especially at risk and need to be especially vigilant of their skin.
Cancer Goes To the Movies
If you’re familiar with Debra Winger, you may know she’s died from cancer at least a couple times – in her movies Terms of Endearment and Shadowlands . While cancer can make for heart-wrenching drama, such bleak portrayals of the disease are far from the truth.
Helping Cancer Cells Die
One of the genes that helps to keep cancer from ever forming is the p53 gene. It works by blocking cancer cells from killing themselves. When p53 is messed up in some way, cancer cells go to town and wreak havoc.