Women's Health News and Research

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Decrease in breast cancer incidence linked to drop in HRT

A special report in the April 19, 2007 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine concludes that the sharp decline in breast-cancer incidence in 2003, followed by a relative stabilization at a lower rater in 2004, is most likely related to the first report of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

19 Apr 2007

Breast cancer incidence continues to trend low in 2004

An extended analysis of cancer rates reinforces a strong association between use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and increased breast cancer incidence, according to research led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

19 Apr 2007

Drop in HRT use linked to decrease in breast cancer rates

According to the latest report the drop in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in mid-2002, following the results of the Women's Health Initiative study (WHI), is linked with a steep decline in new breast cancer diagnoses.

19 Apr 2007

Aspirin may modestly reduce cancer risk

A daily dose of adult-strength aspirin may modestly reduce cancer risk in populations with high rates of colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer if taken for at least five years.

18 Apr 2007

Aspirin, cancer and lung inflamation

Two new studies by researchers at the at the Mayo Clinic have found that taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on a regular basis may offer some protection against cancer.

18 Apr 2007

Studies highlight role of inflammation in cancer

Can reducing inflammation keep cancer at bay? Two novel studies presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research that examine use of common anti-inflammatory agents suggest this might be the case.

18 Apr 2007

Health disparities in access to healthcare

Minority individuals are much more likely to develop and die from cancer than the general U.S. population.

16 Apr 2007

Nationwide survey of state Medicaid programs on "pay-for-performance" practices

In the first published nationwide survey of state Medicaid programs on “pay-for-performance” practices, more than half of all programs state that they provide financial incentives to health care providers for better quality care.

15 Apr 2007

HRT scare questioned

According to the latest research hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may not be quite as dangerous as was first implied by a major American study in 2002.

8 Apr 2007

Montefiore Medical Center launches human papilloma virus clinic

The only HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Vaccine Clinic of its kind has been launched at Montefiore Medical Center.

7 Apr 2007

Women unaware of health risks of surgical adhesions

Although more than half of the country's women will have some type of pelvic surgery and are therefore at risk for surgical adhesions, a survey released this month by the not-for- profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) finds that women are largely unaware of the health risks associated with adhesions.

5 Apr 2007

No apparent increase in coronary heart disease for women who initiate hormone therapy

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth ( NYSE:WYE ) , provides comment on a re- analysis of pooled data from both hormone therapy arms of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

4 Apr 2007

Women who initiate hormone therapy closer to menopause tend to have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease

Studies examining the effects of the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy on coronary heart disease (CHD) have yielded mixed results, depending on the type of study conducted. There may be a number of reasons for the differences, including the timing of initiation of hormone therapy, according to background information in the article.

4 Apr 2007

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and risk of cardiovascular disease by age and years since menopause

Secondary analyses of findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) suggest that women who begin hormone therapy within 10 years of menopause may have less risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) due to hormone therapy than women farther from menopause.

3 Apr 2007

Obstetric fistula, impact on women

Reuters on Friday examined obstetric fistula and its impact on women living with the condition (Ringler, Reuters, 3/30). Obstetric fistulas develop when a fetus becomes lodged during labor in the narrow birth canal of a girl or young woman, causing pressure that blocks the flow of blood to vital tissues and tearing holes in the bowel, urethra or both, causing incontinence.

3 Apr 2007

Philadelphia Inquirer examines efficacy of genetic testing to determine risk of breast cancer relapse

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday examined the efficacy of Genomic Health's Oncotype DX test and Amsterdam, Netherlands-based Agendia's MammaPrint, both of which measure a woman's odds of breast cancer relapse by testing her removed tumor for genes that can predict the likelihood of her cancer returning.

3 Apr 2007

Takeda acquires rights for drug to treat cervical dysplasia, HPV

Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda on Friday announced that it has acquired from 3M the rights for a drug, called R-851, to treat cervical dysplasia and "high-risk" human papillomavirus infection, Reuters reports.

2 Apr 2007

EU agrees to create embryonic stem cell line registry

The European Commission on Thursday agreed to spend about $1.3 million over three years to create a registry of human embryonic stem cell lines, Xinhuanet reports.

2 Apr 2007

New York progresses HPV vaccine distribution to health providers, school clinics

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Thursday announced that it has distributed 57,810 doses of Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil to city health providers, including school-based health clinics, the New York Post reports.

2 Apr 2007

More women with family breast cancer history inquiring about MRI screening following ACS guidelines

More women with a family history of breast cancer are asking their physicians whether they should undergo breast magnetic resonance imaging scans after American Cancer Society guidelines released on Wednesday recommended the screening for women at high risk of developing the disease, the Baltimore Sun reports.

2 Apr 2007