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Data shows hormone therapy can increase risk of ovarian cancer

Women planning on taking hormone therapy for the treatment of menopausal symptoms should be aware of a possible increased risk for ovarian cancer, according to data presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held here Nov. 7-10, 2010.

10 Nov 2010

Forceps delivery can pose risk to mother and child

Forceps might be a better instrument than a vacuum cup for assisting a successful birth, but new mothers might experience more trauma and complications after a forceps delivery, according to a new review of studies.

10 Nov 2010

Sec. Clinton calls for G20 to address gender issues

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday voiced her "support for the inclusion of women's issues on the agenda of the G20 Seoul Summit slated for Thursday and Friday in a video message to a parliamentary seminar" on the issue held in Korea, the Korea Times reports.

10 Nov 2010

Aromatase inhibitors increase side effects in women undergoing breast cancer therapy

Women being treated for breast cancer with aromatase inhibitors may experience extremely low estrogen levels resulting in a wide variety of side effects that a typical postmenopausal woman without cancer may not experience.

10 Nov 2010

Education can help prevent preterm birth

Doctors and patients should discuss a pregnant woman's risk of preterm birth by the twelfth week of pregnancy, according to a commentary published in the November issue of Ob.Gyn. News.

10 Nov 2010

Only one-third of young women complete HPV regimen

Despite strong evidence of its effectiveness, few of the young women who are eligible for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine take it, according to research presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held Nov. 7-10.

10 Nov 2010

New York Times examines HIV prevention products undergoing clinical trials

The New York Times examines several products being studied in clinical trials that researchers hope will one day prevent sexual transmission of HIV. The newspaper describes the ongoing trials of a vaginal microbicide gel containing the antiretroviral tenofovir which was found to reduce the risk of HIV infection in women by 39 percent, writing, "[o]ther clinical trials will report their results in 2011 and 2012 and, if all goes well, researchers hope to have a product or two ready to enter the market by 2013."

10 Nov 2010

Physical activity lowers risk of endometrial cancer

Women who exercise for 150 minutes a week or more may see a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, despite whether or not they are overweight, according to data presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held here Nov. 7-10, 2010.

10 Nov 2010

Joint complaints attributed to breast cancer drugs not linked with inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune disease

A new study suggests joint complaints attributed to aromatase inhibitors (AI), popular breast cancer drugs, are not associated with inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune disease. Because of that, researchers say women who were primarily concerned about the threat of arthritis should be encouraged to continue taking the medication. The findings of the study will be presented Tuesday, Nov. 9 at the 74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Atlanta, Georgia

9 Nov 2010

S.A.N.E. Vax calls for federal approval of reliable HPV genotyping test in cervical cancer prevention programs

In a letter addressed to Dr. Harold E. Varmus, director of the NCI, and Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA commissioner, Ms. Norma Erickson, president of S.A.N.E. Vax, Inc., requested that these two federal agencies recommend a reliable human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping test to support the national virology-based cervical cancer prevention program for patient care. Erickson stated: "The NCI knows reliable HPV genotyping is based on using a PCR system with short target sequencing."

9 Nov 2010

Childhood abuse increases risk of type 2 diabetes in women: Study

A new study of nearly 70,000 women found a clear association between abuse in childhood and adolescence and the risk of type 2 diabetes in adult women.

9 Nov 2010

Strong smoke-free policies reduce maternal smoking and improve fetal outcomes

New research released today takes a look at birth outcomes and maternal smoking, building urgency for more states and cities to join the nationwide smoke-free trend that has accelerated in recent years. According to the new data, strong smoke-free policies can improve fetal outcomes by significantly reducing the prevalence of maternal smoking.

9 Nov 2010

Smoking increases risk of breast cancer progression in multiethnic women with breast cancer

Being a current smoker or having a history of smoking significantly increased the risk of breast cancer progression and overall death among a group of multiethnic women with breast cancer, according to the results of a large prospective cohort study.

9 Nov 2010

Sugar-sweetened drinks can increase gout risk in women

Women who consume fructose-rich beverages, such as sugar-sweetened soft drinks and orange juice, are at an increased risk for gout, according to research presented at the Nov 2010, American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

9 Nov 2010

Chemotherapy for breast cancer does more harm than good

A fundamental principle of medicine is: "first, do no harm." However, for doctors who treat breast cancer, this is easier said than done. Every year, almost 22,000 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer - their treatment usually involves surgery to remove a tumour and then chemotherapy to reduce the risk of cancer returning.

9 Nov 2010

Study discovers role of Vav1 oncogene in several cancers

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that Vav1 - an oncogene (cancer-causing gene) found in recent years to be one of the factors in tumorous tissue growth -- plays a wider role in several types of cancer than had previously been thought. The discovery has implications for further concentration on targeting this gene in cancer research.

9 Nov 2010

Combination of optical and x-ray imaging may improve diagnostic accuracy of breast screening

By combining optical and x-ray imaging, radiologists may be better able to distinguish cancer from benign lesions in the breast, according to a new study published in the online edition and January issue of Radiology.

9 Nov 2010

Genta commences tesetaxel Phase 2b clinical trial as 1st-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer

Genta Incorporated today announced that the Company has initiated a new Phase 2b clinical trial of tesetaxel as 1st-line chemotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. Tesetaxel is the leading oral taxane currently in clinical development. The new trial will be conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY and at the Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network (ACORN) based in Memphis, TN.

9 Nov 2010

Statins do not reduce risk for colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women

The use of statins among a group of postmenopausal women did not reduce the risk for colorectal cancer, according to the results of a prospective analysis of data from the large population-based Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

9 Nov 2010

Family history of HG increases risk of extreme morning sickness during pregnancy

Approximately 60,000 pregnant women are hospitalized each year due to hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), an extreme form of nausea and vomiting that endangers their lives and often forces them to reluctantly terminate their pregnancies.

9 Nov 2010