Tag Archives: smoking
Top 3 Causes of Head and Neck Cancer in 2012
April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Famous survivors include Michael Douglas (http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20100901/throat-cancer-faq) and Peter Tork of the Monkees (http://www.headandneck.org/site/c.8hKNI0MEImI4E/b.6281225/k.BDD9/Home.htm). As we remember these survivors and loved ones with the disease in 2012, it’s helpful to know how to minimize our future risk for this group of diseases. “Head and neck cancer” describes cancers of [...]
Celebrities as Health Models: Jobs & Obama
We like to tell ourselves that our favorite celebrities, whether from the ball field, the big screen, or the political arena, are not too different from us. Like it or not, though, in our star-crazed society, they wield tremendous power to influence the masses. As an oncologist, I have been impressed by the potential impact [...]
Simple Lifestyle Changes for Women with High Breast Cancer Risk
There’s good news for women at high risk for developing breast cancer. According to an analysis by Dr. Stephanie Land and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, a few simple lifestyle changes can significantly decrease the risk of not only breast cancer, but also colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer: http://www.ascopost.com/articles/july-1-2011/smoking-and-lack-of-exercise-increase-risk-of-some-cancers,-but-moderate-alcohol-consumption.aspx. The researchers evaluated more [...]
Worse to Be a Man…When It Comes to Cancer
As they say, “Getting older aint fun, but it beats the alternative.” One of my least favorite parts about getting older is that illness and injury become a more frequent focus of conversation. Unfortunately and inevitably, the topic turns to cancer. Statistically, about 1 out of every 2 men and 1 out of every 3 women [...]
Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Screening: Don’t Wait!
Seems like it’s human nature for most of us to be reactive rather than active. We procrastinate ’til the last minute and delay anything that seems like it might be unpleasant or uncomfortable. When it comes to medical tests, that rule certainly applies. Cancer screening tests can be unpleasant. A blood draw for a prostate [...]
Screening CT Scans Reduce Lung Cancer Deaths
We all know that smoklung can lead to lung cancer, but what can be done for long-term smokers to reduce their risk? Thanks to a new major study, we have one answer. The National Lung Screening Trial was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine yesterday. Over 53,000 people were enrolled. These folks weren’t [...]
Fighting the Good Fight with Scary Pictures
Although you wouldn’t know it based on the amount of research dollars spent, lung cancer kills more Americans than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer combined! Several of my relatives have died of it, including my mother in law at age 60 and a cousin in his 40s. The disease costs our country billions in medical [...]
More Reason to “Take the Ball by the Horns”
A 2009 report from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) revealed that roughly one third of cancers that occurred in Minnesota residents were related to obesity! http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=899869&catid=14 Obesity is often (though not always) related to choices about nutrition and physical activity. Smoking is clearly a choice. Combining cancer [...]
