Category: Uncategorized

New data on the global burden of disease caused by exposure to second hand smoke (see report) adds to the urgency for action to prevent cancer heart disease asthma and other conditions caused by this exposure (Oberg M, Jaakkola MS et al. 2010). As noted in media coverage of the new findings, worldwide exposure to […]

As anyone who’s ever been on a diet knows: taking the pounds off can be hard, but keeping the pounds off can be even harder.  The main reason for this simply seems to be that it’s just easier to keep up with a new exercise and diet program over the short term than it is […]

A study out this month in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention reviewed the literature on sedentary behavior and cancer. Ten of the 18 studies included in the review found a significant positive association between sedentary behavior and cancer risk – specifically cancers of the colorectum, endometrium, ovaries and prostate. Sedentary behavior isn’t just […]

There is lots of talk in the news right now about scanning – mostly about the kind in airports and whether it is too great an invasion of privacy. But medical scanning has also been making headlines – specifically, whether we do too much of it unnecessarily, as CT and X-ray scans expose the body […]

This morning, I had the extreme pleasure of hearing Dr. Bill Dietz of the CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion speak about Policy and Environmental Changes to Prevent and Control Obesity at the Washington University School of Medicine Grand Rounds. Dr. Dietz touched on […]

I’ve been pretty reluctant to pick up best seller books about cancer and the history of cancer since I bought one a few years ago that I found so terrible I finally decided my time was being terribly misspent. So this morning’s Morning Edition interview with Siddhartha Mukherjee, the author of The Emperor of All […]

As noted in the NCI Cancer Bulletin this week (see related story), Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Howard Koh, describes the new tobacco control strategy released this month as four pillars of strategic action. These high impact approaches are known to work. Change social norms around tobacco use Improve the public’s health […]

With summer a distant memory and fall giving way to the cold, darker days of winter, a lot of us put our sunscreen into storage, along with our shorts, sandals, and t-shirts.  But, even though the warmth of the sun may have gone on hiatus, some of its ultraviolet (UV) punch hasn’t; this is especially […]

In the Journal of the National Cancer Institute a new study shows promise for reducing risk for beats cancer through another osteoporosis drug (Lacroix, Powles et al. 2010). Risk of breast cancer is reduced but the small number of women in the trial does not rule out side effects similar to tamoxifen.    The potential […]

CNiC recently gave a big endorsement of Mark Bittman’s new Food Matters cookbook. This week, we gave two of the recipes a whirl. One of the things that appeals to me about Bittman as a food writer is that he appreciates fine complex cuisine, but pushes us to realize that every meal (or most meals) […]

When the International Agency for Research on Cancer reviewed evidence on obesity and cancer in 2002 they concluded that only breast, colon, endometrial, esophagus, and kidney cancers were caused by obesity (International Agency for Research on Cancer 2002). Other cancers had only probable evidence for an association. Since 2002 numerous additional reports have been added […]

One of the key foundations of epidemiology is causation (Hill’s causal criteria were first detailed in 1965) – and that conclusions about causation are based on a number of factors including a plausible biologic mechanism. Thus, research papers outlining associations between risk factors and disease typically outline the likely or possible mechanisms that would link […]

That obesity had deleterious health consequences isn’t news, especially around here. Yet, we still find the results of a study out of Australia, published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention this week on weight gain and colon cancer risk compelling. Most adults experience weight gain over the course of their lives and this weight gain, […]

As the prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to climb, the challenges of quantifying the impact of this epidemic to inform public policies and health services becomes more pressing. The consequences of obesity on population health are far–reaching—as demonstrated in extensive analyses of health and economic consequences. For example, Calle and colleagues reported data from […]

Much scientific and public health interest focuses on the potential for vitamin D to reduce risk of cancer and mortality from cancer (see typical media coverage weighing up the evidence). A number of new reports shed light on the potential for vitamin D to reduce risk of specific cancers and evaluate the trade off of […]

In an earlier post on CNiC, we summarized a few studies relating Metformin use to lower risk of cancer (previous post). We have also summarized the enormous range of evidence that overweight and obesity increase risk of cancer (review paper (pdf)). Now a systemic review of the published literature in the journal Cancer Prevention Research […]

The CNiC cooking team is fortunate to have numerous wonderful resources to draw on when looking for healthy recipes that incorporate the cancer prevention principles that make up our 8 Ways to Prevent Cancer. When talking to others about these approaches, I’m often asked how much extra time and effort is required to cook this […]

Recently, there’s been a lot of chatter on the blogosphere about sneaking vegetables into kid’s food. This practice gained notoriety a few years back with the publication of cookbooks by both Jessica Seinfeld (wife of Jerry) and Missy Lapine (“The Sneaky Chef”) and came back into the conversation with the publication of another cookbook by […]

Last week new data were released adding to the evidence on the harmful effects of hormone therapy on breast cancer incidence and mortality (story). This timely report released in October when so much media attention focuses on breast cancer detection, treatment and prevention, brings further evidence to show how hormones cause breast cancer. Here I […]

This story from the New York Times on what health promotion items get tax breaks is sure to spark some heated comments, and it should (story). The IRS has ruled that Americans can get tax breaks on denture adhesive and acne cream, but not on breast pumps and other nursing supplies because “breast-feeding does not […]

New evidence has emerged that adds further insight into the risks and benefits of aspirin for prevention of colorectal cancer. Aspirin has been extensively studied in observational epidemiologic settings that address duration of use, dose, and magnitude of risk reduction. The observational evidence is consistent with evidence from randomized primary prevention trials, which have shown […]

Chalk another one up for the power of prevention.  While it’s easy to give in to the “heredity is destiny” mindset when it comes to diseases like breast cancer, new research from the Women’s Health Initiative suggests that women can take positive steps to lower their risk of breast cancer even if they have a […]

Fifteen years after its ground-breaking expose’ on the dietary train wreck that is movie theater popcorn, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has published results of a new study showing that little has changed when it comes to the cinema-show favorite “snack” (report). The popcorn choices carried by most major theater chains range […]

New research results out today suggest that 1 in 13 colon cancers may be missed on colonoscopy. There are a few reasons this may happen – some you can control and some you can’t. Completing the colonoscopy prep is one you can control – having a clean, prepped colon reduces the changes that a tumor […]

Breast cancer prevention means taking action now. We talked about awareness earlier this week and have discussed drug strategies to reduce risk of breast cancer in high risk or postmenopausal women. But for every woman there are things to do now to lower risk. be active – increase your level of physical activity maintain a […]

The LA Times has a provocative new article out that seems to rail against breast cancer awareness month. What are the criticisms? – Since the breast cancer awareness campaign started, age-adjusted rates have remained largely flat. – Talking about “breast cancer” ignores all of the research done to date that shows there are many different […]

A new survey conducted by the National Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University has found that well over half of sexually active teens in the United States regularly use condoms when they have intercourse, a percentage much higher than that for sexually active adults.  The survey, reported in today’s New York Times (link) and set to appear in […]

Powerful data reported from Scotland in the New England Journal of Medicine last week (see report)  show substantial reductions in childhood hospitalizations for asthma following implementation of a ban on smoking in public laces. Using sate of the art approaches to data analysis the authors report on hospitalizations for children and adolescents. After the implementation of […]

It seems everywhere you turn, someone is touting a new herbal supplement or extract as the solution to what ails you – prevent cancer, lose weight, reduce cholesterol, boost immunity. You name it, someone is probably selling an herbal concoction to fix it. And often, these claims seem to be backed by scientific research. So […]

Second hand smoke exposure in the US was thoroughly documented last week in the CDC report noted in many media stories. The report evaluated national data from 1999 through 2008, and estimates that 88 million non smokers greater than age 3 were exposed to second hand smoke. The authors note that the decline in exposure […]

More news from Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center showing significant nicotine exposure from cigarette smoke in restaurant and bar workers. It is time for regulations to protect workers. We can cut the health impact of smoking now.  See story 

Despite the high priority for tobacco control new CDC data show the decline in smoking has stalled (see story). As we have note previously, smoking is the leading cause of cancer. It causes more than 30% of all cancers in the United States and an increasing cause on developing countries as smoking rates rise throughout […]

There is a fascinating little study out this week in the journal Appetite, which was also highlighted in a piece in The Economist.  What the study found was that dieters, when they felt they were given a larger piece of pizza than other people were for lunch (pieces were actually the same),  were more likely […]

This week marks one of my favorite times of the year – the US Open. The New York Times had a couple of articles this week that got me thinking about how competition can fuel (or harm) health. The first was a great photojournalism article in the Sunday Magazine about how much harder the women […]

While lifestyle contributes substantially more to risk of cancer (and other chronic diseases) than genetics alone, the interplay between genetics and lifestyle is a subject of increasing interest. That’s what makes a new study out of the UK, published in PLoS Medicine so exciting. The researchers took 12 genetic mutations that had previously been found […]

On Friday, the federal government announced that effective immediately Medicare would cover the cost of smoking cessation counseling. Anyone covered by Medicare will be able to receive tobacco cessation counseling from a qualified physician or other Medicare-recognized practitioner who can work with them to help them quit. (All people with Medicare will continue to have […]

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported yesterday (see full report) that 1 in 5 hospitalizations in 2008 involved a person with diabetes. This amounted to 7.7 million hospital stays at a cost of $83 billion in just the hospital costs. Diabetics had hospital stays that were longer, on average, and more likely to […]

Recent media reports highlight how a lack of state policy on cigarette taxes can drive a state to have high cancer rates. Missouri is a fine US example which now has the lowest tax on cigarettes in the nation (17 cents per pack).   State level policy impacting cancer is not limited to just cigarettes and increased […]

Today I hopped over to Forbes.com to review their “most stressful cities” list (and was relieved that St Louis wasn’t topping another “bad” place to live list — I think topping the syphilis list is enough). While I was there, a link to a list of “10 foods you should be eating” caught my eye. […]

It’s a common theme here at Cancer News in Context – the important role our social and physical surroundings play in our health choices (previous posts).  The current issue of CDC’s journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, is devoted almost solely to one aspect of this: creating incentives for individuals or communities to make positive health choices.  Because […]

In previous posts, we’ve talked about implementing the weekday vegetarian plan or moving from your farm share box to a meal plan. For those who don’t have a big pile of recipes in the kitchen (or who are at work trying to figure out what to make for dinner that night), the internet is a […]

We have covered numerous aspect of the obesity epidemic over the past 3 months. The report last week on rising obesity in America continues to point to the growing burden now and into the future that our lifestyle and social structures are  facilitating. Time (see article) covered a new research study showing weight gain during […]

The health making headline this morning is the latest data out of the CDC indicating that obesity rates are continuing to rise across the country – topping 30% of the population in nine US states. Yet, just a few months ago, weren’t we celebrating the headline that obesity rates had plateaued and stopped rising based […]

This week, the Wall Street Journal reported on the launch of a new scoring system in grocery stores developed by the company, NuVal, which worked with a panel of (reputable) nutrition and health experts to create a scoring system that can be used to evaluate the nutritional value of products. While creating a perfect scoring system isn’t […]

There was a very nice piece this morning on NPR’s Morning Edition building on a study released earlier this month that found that being persistently overweight from young adulthood on can have a profoundly negative social and economic impact on individuals – this in addition to the already well-documented health effects of overweight and obesity (NPR story) […]

Results from an exciting new analysis were released today and highlight the important advances that are being made in understanding how energy expenditure relates to cancer. The results, from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study show that individuals who report more time spent sitting (6 hours/day or more) have a higher risk of mortality […]

This week, the New York Times reported (story) on the status of our nation’s efforts to control hepatitis C infections, which look grim in some ways, as rates of infection, and associated liver transplants continue to rise.  Some experts are excited about a new screening test which can detect hepatitis C infection immediately without waiting […]

Yesterday in the New York Times, Jane Brody reminded us of the importance of cancer prevention when focusing on tobacco, the leading cause of cancer in the US and the world. This preventable cause of cancer continues to be marketed, but how do we quantify the prevention efforts that range from international agreements to counter […]

While awareness continues to grow that screening for breast cancer, like other screening tests, aims to detect cancer earlier, when it is more successfully treated, it is clear that screening tests are not perfect and those who test positive require additional follow-up to confirm the diagnosis and chose an appropriate therapy. Equally important, but less […]

Previously, it was estimated that 70% of cervical cancer is caused by just two strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) – strains 16 and 18. Those are the same two strains that the HPV vaccine (sold under the name Gardasil in the US) protects against. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and the vaccine protects […]