Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any common cancers

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Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any common cancers

Only 3% of those diagnosed expected to live 5+ years. Mainly due to the lack of symptoms and late diagnosis. Disease has already spread to other parts of the body, with minimal options for treatment. The study from Queen Mary University conducted research, which was funded by the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. Published in Clinical Cancer Research, scientists discovered a new biomarker (set of three proteins) which is a potential for new diagnostic test that could detect early-stage pancreatic cancer. Could be a definitive indication of whether someone has pancreatic cancer, or doesn’t

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CANCER SURVIVAL 'LAGGING IN ENGLAND'

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CANCER SURVIVAL 'LAGGING IN ENGLAND'

Study suggests England's track record for cancer survival remains poorer than other countries with similar health systems. Published in the British Journal of Cancer, the research compares England's survival trends with figures for five other countries over 15 years. Researchers say there have been steady improvements, but more needs to be done to close the survival gap. NHS England says survival figures have never been higher in the country. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine compared England's survival figures for colon, breast, lung, ovarian, rectal and stomach cancers with data from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

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Coffee may benefit colon cancer patients

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Coffee may benefit colon cancer patients

A new study suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee on a regular basis may lower the risk for colon cancer recurrence and improve survival in patients with stage three colon cancer. The study found that drinking four or more cups of coffee on a daily basis was the most beneficial. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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How is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

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How is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. About 90 percent of cases occur in people aged 50 or older. And on average, the risk of developing colon cancer is about 1 in 20. However, this may vary depending on individual risk factors. Early detection is key. With regular screening, colon cancer can be found early. This is when treatment is most effective. 

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Coffee May Prevent Endometrial Cancer

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Coffee May Prevent Endometrial Cancer

In the U.S., endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive organ. It is a type of cancer that starts in the endometrium, which is located on inner lining of the uterus. It may sometimes be referred to as uterine cancer. The uterus is the female pelvic organ where a fetus grows when a woman is carrying a child. Now, a new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention investigates the effects of diet and the risk of this prominent cancer in women. They found that 3-4 cups of coffee daily reduced the risk of endometrial cancer by up to 19%.

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Second Cancers On The Rise

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Second Cancers On The Rise

Second cancers are on the rise. Nearly 1 in 5 new cases in the U.S. now involves someone who has had the disease before. Cancer recurrence has a different approach from doctors. But when they speak on second cancers, they're referring to cancer occurring in a different tissue type or completely other site in the body, not recurrence or spread of the original tumor. Almost 19% of cancers in the United States are second-or-more cases, according to a recent study. In the 1970s, it was only 9 percent. Over that period, what changed? Could it be lifestyle factors, the rise of obesity contributing to diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases? Over the course of 40 years, that number rose 70%, while the number of second cancers rose 300%. 

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Quick Facts On Multiple Myeloma

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Quick Facts On Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell. Healthy plasma cells are found in the bone marrow and help the body fight infections by producing antibodies that identify and destroy foreign substances that can harm the body. Plasma cells are essential for the body’s immune system. Plasma cells can become cancerous. When they do, they continue to grow and a tumor develops called a plasmacytoma. Plasmacytomas usually grow within bone, but can sometimes be found in tissue as well. 

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Jimmy Carter’s Diagnosis: What the News of Stage 4 Melanoma Means

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Jimmy Carter’s Diagnosis: What the News of Stage 4 Melanoma Means

News broke late last week that former President Jimmy Carter has been diagnosed with Melanoma, first on his liver, and now 4 spots on his brain have been identified by doctors. Many people are unaware that Melanoma can actually occur internally, not just on the skin. The former President announced he will be undergoing radiation treatments targeted at the spots on his brain. The scary thing is doctors are unsure where the cancer has originated and many wonder about the likelihood of pancreatic cancer due to his aggressive family history of the disease. 

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Former President Jimmy Carter Announces Melanoma Diagnosis

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Former President Jimmy Carter Announces Melanoma Diagnosis

Former President Jimmy Carter (90 years old) announced he has been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is widespread, but not yet clear what kind of cancer he has. It was discovered after a procedure on his liver earlier this month. Carter announced on Aug. 3 that he had surgery to remove a small mass from his liver. "Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body," Carter said in the statement released by the Carter Center. "I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare."

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Best Cancer Fighting Foods

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Best Cancer Fighting Foods

Cancer is a deadly disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Types of cancer include cancer of lungs, blood, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, bone cancer, anal cancer, gallbladder cancer, skin cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, salivary cancer and cervical cancer. Most experts agree that a diet rich in cancer-fighting ingredients, should in large part be composed of a plant-based diet.  The general rule of thumb when setting your plate, is two parts plants, one part protein or whole grain.  And while all fruits and veggies are good for you, there are certain foods that are just better.  Here are some of those cancer fighting foods, everyone should be adding to their diet: 

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Understanding Head and Neck Cancer

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Understanding Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancers are those cancers which affect the head and neck, and typically develop in the squamous cells that line the inside of the throat, mouth and nose.   Because of where they begin, these types of cancers can be referred to as squamous cell carcinomas.  Within this group of cancers, each case is categorized by the area of the neck or head that the cancer originated.  For example, if the cancer originates in the throat it is considered throat cancer, if it originates in the nasal cavity it is considered nasal cavity cancer, and so on. 

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Penile Cancer Risk Factors

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Penile Cancer Risk Factors

Penile cancer in the United States is quite rare. It occurs in less than 1 in 100,000 men and accounts for less than 1 percent of cancers in men in the United States. It is more common in areas of Asia, African, and South America. The most common type of penile cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which usually forms on or under the foreskin. Signs and symptoms of penile cancer may include discharge, redness, irritation, or sores, a lump on the penis, or bleeding.

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Staying healthy during chemotherapy

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Staying healthy during chemotherapy

The anticipation of cancer treatment can be stressful to say the least.  But priming your body for treatment can help reduce negative side effects of the treatment, and keep you healthier through its completion.

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What you need to know about gastric cancer

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What you need to know about gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is also known as stomach cancer. The stomach is located beneath the ribs and in the upper middle portion of the abdomen. The stomach hold food after consumption, and also helps to break it down and digest it. Adenocarcinoma, which is cancer that begins in the lining of the stomach, is the most common type of stomach cancer.

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Risk factors for esophageal cancer

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Risk factors for esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells that line the inner esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach to be digested. This type of cancer can occur anywhere in the esophagus, but is most commonly found in the lower esophagus in people who develop it in the United States.

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Cervical cancer screening: What you need to know

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Cervical cancer screening: What you need to know

Almost 13,000 cases of invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed each year, with over 4,000 women dying from the disease. However, pre-cancers are diagnosed far more often than invasive cancer. Since the adoption of the Pap smear, the incidence of invasive cervical cancer has dramatically decreased over the past 30 years.

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What is mouth cancer?

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What is mouth cancer?

Mouth cancer is any cancer that develops in any of the parts of the mouth. This includes the bottom of the mouth, the top of the mouth, the tongue, the lips, the gums, or the inner lining of the cheeks. Mouth cancer may also be known as oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. It most commonly affects the lips and tongue. Mouth cancer is just one of a few different types of cancers that are considered head and neck cancers. It is estimated that about 10 out of 100,000 adults will develop mouth cancer.

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What is small intestine cancer?

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What is small intestine cancer?

Small intestine cancer is also known as small bowel cancer or a small intestine tumor. The small intestine or small bowel is the part of the intestines that connects the stomach to the colon, or large intestine. There are five different types of cancer that can grow in the wall of the small bowel. Small intestine cancer is very rare. It is estimated that there are about 7,000 new cases of small intestine cancer diagnosed in the United States each year.

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Facts about stomach cancer

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Facts about stomach cancer

Stomach cancer is also known as gastric cancer. The stomach is located beneath the ribs and in the upper middle portion of the abdomen. The stomach hold food after consumption, and also helps to break it down and digest it. Adenocarcinoma, which is cancer that begins in the lining of the stomach, is the most common type of stomach cancer.

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Melanoma: A Pathologist’s Perspective

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Melanoma: A Pathologist’s Perspective

With summer upon us it is time to think about sun safety. An alarming recent report found rates of new melanoma have doubled over the past three decades. It is estimated that education and awareness of the dangers could prevent 20 percent of new cases between 2020 and 2030, according to the CDC report. Without prevention programs rates will continue to increase.

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