KZN health restarts cancer machines

Two state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines used to treat cancer patients will be operational again soon at Durban's Addington Hospital.

• Probe into Addington cancer saga
• New model for gene testing in cancer patients
• KZN cancer patients denied treatment
• KZN doctors neglecting patients, claims report
• Jolie sets good example by careful weighing of risks

CT scans a cancer risk for kids

A study finds that children exposed to radiation during CT scans are 24% more likely to develop cancer.

• New device may show doctors more of the colon
• Multiple CT scans increase cancer risk
• Young men biggest consumers of sugar

Japan tests powerful breast cancer therapy

A Japanese cancer specialist has started the world's first clinical trial of a powerful, non-surgical, short-term radiation therapy for breast cancer.

• Angelina: preventative breast removal
• Diagnosed with breast cancer
• Do you have the breast cancer gene?

Revised sunscreen labels help consumers

A new survey finds that 1 in 7 products still claim an 'SPF' rating of 50 or higher.

• Screen yourself against the sun
• Daily moisturisers don't always provide UV protection
• Melanoma survivors avoid sunscreen

New cancer tools offer alternative to chemo

After decades of using one-size-fits-all therapies to combat cancer, doctors are using new tools to help decide when their patients can skip chemotherapy or other harsh treatments.

• Cancer and keeping your full-time job
• Radiation-based prostate cancer drug approved
• Making sense of hair loss

Cancer and keeping your full-time job

Being diagnosed with cancer is traumatic enough. But when you work full-time and are a parent, the cancer is not your only problem. Breast cancer survivor Barrie Sidelsky shares her story.

• Empowering cancer patients in the workplace
• Cancer: know your rights and responsibilities

Empowering cancer patients in the workplace

Campaigning for Cancer has announced its new Cancer@Work Programme which is aimed at helping cancer patients and their employers to understand their rights and obligations and the cancer journey.

• What is Campaigning for Cancer?
• Patient advocacy explained
• Cancer: know your rights and responsibilities

Big drugmakers think small with nanomedicine deals

Is nanomedicine the next big thing? A growing number of top drug companies seem to think so.

• Poor sleep makes the brain age faster
• What's bad for the heart also bad for the brain
• KZN cancer patients denied treatment

Scientists pinpoint blood cancer genes

Scientists have identified nearly all genetic mutations associated with blood cancer acute myeloid leukaemia which could lead to improved treatments.

• Gene mutations sign of childhood leukemia risk
• New wider blood cancer pictures taken
• Antidepressant shows promise as cancer treatment

Latin America threatened by cancer epidemic

Latin America's growing prosperity is fuelling a cancer epidemic that threatens to overwhelm the region unless governments take urgent preventive action.

• Scientists spot cancer metabolism changes
• Diagnosed with breast cancer
• Obesity linked to prostate cancer

Cancer-zapping spin-off from CERN collider bought

The giant particle-smashing machine run by CERN outside Geneva is not only unravelling the mysteries of the universe, it may also be opening up new avenues to treat cancer.

• Scientists spot cancer metabolism changes
• Cancer scientists awarded R45.7 million prize
• DNA colon cancer test meets trial goal

DNA colon cancer test meets trial goal

Exact's test, which identifies abnormal DNA in cells shed in a patient's stool, detected 92% of colorectal cancers and 42% of pre-cancerous polyps in a large late-stage study.

• More genetic insights into 3 types of cancer
• Tapeworm DNA contains drug weak spots
• DNA strand length predicts life expectancy

Weight loss surgery tied to colon cancer risk

Obesity is already linked to a higher risk of colon or rectal cancer, but a new study suggests this risk is even greater for obese people who have undergone weight-loss surgery.

• More black women die of breast cancer
• Link between HPV and lung cancer
• Oral cancer screening: more studies needed
• Missed mammograms increase cancer risk

'Wake-up' cigarette raises cancer risk

People who smoke a cigarette as soon as they wake up in the morning are more likely to develop lung and oral cancer than other smokers, a new study reveals.

3D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer

Porous polymer scaffolds fabricated to support the growth of biological tissue for implantation may hold the potential to greatly accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics.

• More genetic insights into 3 types of cancer
• Experimental drug may work against Hepatitis C
• Scientists pinpoint gene coding errors for cancer

Record gene haul could improve cancer screening

New research has nearly doubled the number of genetic variations implicated in cancer, offering fresh avenues for screening.

• Gene mutations sign of childhood leukemia risk
• Early baldness a clue to prostate cancer
• Genetic code of oesophageal cancer found

Immune-system therapy may help leukemia

An experimental therapy that tweaks cancer patients' own immune cells to recognise an often-deadly form of leukemia has shrunk tumors and sent the cancer into remission in adults, according to a US study published on Wednesday.

• Celebs affected by leukaemiaview
• Antibiotics crisis prompts rethink on risks, rewards
• Night shift linked to raised risk of ovarian cancer

Gene mutations sign of childhood leukemia risk

Children who inherit certain variations in four particular genes have an increased risk of developing childhood leukaemia, a new study says.

‘That’s not a girl, that’s my son!’

Does your son’s long hair get him mistaken for a girl?

Heart risk rises with breast cancer radiation

The radiation that might cure a breast cancer may also raise a woman's risk of having a heart attack or heart disease later in life, according a new study.

• Breast self-examinationview
• 1 in 4 breast cancer diagnoses may spur PTSD
• More young women getting breast cancer

Medically safer hybrid grapefruit developed

Grapefruit fans who gave up the fruit to avoid potentially dangerous interactions with their prescription medications may soon be able to indulge in the tangy fruit without risk.

• Diet, exercise boost good cholesterol
• Knowing cholesterol better
• Grape seed (Vitis vinifera, Vitis coignetiae)

Colonoscopy tied to lower risk of advanced cancer

People who have had a colonoscopy in the past decade are less likely to be diagnosed with advanced colon cancer than those who haven't been screened recently, according to a new study.

• Colon, rectal cancers the same disease
• Screening tests for men
• Colonoscopy

'Google Map' of human metabolism built

An international consortium of university researchers has produced the most comprehensive virtual reconstruction of human metabolism to date.

• 10 ways to boost your metabolismview
• Basal metabolic rate
• Snack your body into shape

Testicular cancer can affect anyone

He was super-fit, followed a healthy diet and generally looked the picture of health. Yet avid cyclist Charles Solomon was diagnosed with cancer following a routine test.

• Are you at risk for prostate cancer?
• Fried foods boost prostate cancer risk
• Daily soda raises prostate cancer risk
• How healthy is your prostate?