Plaque-causing bacteria may cause colorectal cancer

Fusobacterium nucleatum.
Courtesy of the University of Adelaide

CancerDigest – If you still need a reason to floss, how about this? The bacteria that causes plaque 

has recently been linked to colorectal cancer. 

And now new research shows a possible mechanism for how the microbe changes cells in the intestines to stimulate cancer growth.

The microbe is Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is linked to several diseases of the mouth, head and neck and more recently colorectal cancer. But it was unclear how it might alter the genes in colon cells to cause cancer.

Tumor cell pattern may predict lung cancer recurrence

A study reported this week by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) may offer an additional glimmers of hope for people with certain types of lung cancer.

In a study to be published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute a group of chest surgeons and pathologists at MSKCC in New York, found that a specific pattern of cell characteristics in the removed tumor were good predictors of recurrence. The study is to be published in the Aug. 20 issue.

Chinese herbal remedy linked to urinary cancers

Aristolochia.littoralis 

VOA – Aug. 8, 2013 – If it is natural, is it safe to put in your body? To listen to many natural and organic food and medicine advocates that’s what you’d think, but you’d be wrong.

A natural herb called birthwart commonly used in Asia to treat arthritis, gout, inflammation and even used for weight-loss has been found to be powerful cancer-causing substance. 

Would you choose a tattoo instead of reconstructive surgery?

Some women are choosing elaborate tattoos instead of surgery following a mastectomy. Is it a growing trend, or a choice limited to a niche group of survivors?

by Katherine Locketheguardian.com,

THE GUARDIAN – Aug. 7, 2013 – More women are actively choosing not to reconstruct. There is a small but growing trend in the US (slowly filtering though to the UK) to refuse reconstruction and tattoo over the scar tissue instead. For many women, the battle with breast cancer is the most intense fight of their lives and they are seeking a way to acknowledge this, rather than disguise it.

More...

Taking blood pressure medicines long-term may boost cancer risk

BLOOMBERG – Aug. 5, 2013 – Women who took blood pressure drugs called calcium-channel blockers, like Pfizer Inc. (PFE)’s Norvasc, for 10 years or more had a 2.5 times higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who never took the medicine or who used other blood pressure treatments, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.  More ...

Diabetes drug may lower risk of prostate cancer death

WEBMD – Aug. 5, 2013 – A study of nearly 4,000 diabetic men found that those taking metformin when diagnosed with prostate cancer were less likely to die of the cancer or other causes compared to men using other diabetes drugs. But whether metformin can prevent prostate cancer progression in people without diabetes remains to be seen, experts say.

In the new study, published online Aug. 5 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Margel looked at more than 3,800 diabetic men aged 67 or older who lived in Ontario. During roughly four years of follow-up, Margel found those who took metformin had a 24 percent reduction in risk from prostate cancer death for every additional six months of use after their cancer diagnosis.  More ...