America's Obesity Epidemic May Mean Some Cancers Are Striking Sooner

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2019 -- Since the turn of the century, American obesity rates have skyrocketed. And now a new study indicates that as the nation's waistlines expand, cancers long linked to obesity are striking the middle-aged more than ever before.

The finding follows a review of data on more than 6 million white, black and Hispanic cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2016.

Drug Offers Hope Against a Tough-to-Treat Blood Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21, 2019 -- Patients with a form of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma who haven't responded to other therapies might have a new weapon against the disease, researchers say.

A drug called selinexor appeared to help patients with the blood and bone marrow cancer, according to a clinical trial involving 122 people.

New Treatments Could Be Powerful Weapons Against Brain Tumors

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2019 -- New therapies are showing real promise in fighting the type of brain cancer that claimed the lives of Sens. John McCain and Ted Kennedy, a pair of new clinical trials shows.

One experimental treatment injects powerful genes directly into a brain tumor, and then uses pills to turn the genes on and off. That way, the genes can attack the cancer without going berserk and damaging other parts of the body.

AHA News: Common Prostate Cancer Treatment May Increase Risk of Fatal Heart Condition

MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Many men with prostate cancer rely on common testosterone-blocking drugs as a part of their treatment. But those so-called antiandrogens also might put them at risk for a deadly heart condition, according to new research.

In a study published Monday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, researchers looked at how several testosterone-blocking drugs affect the heart's QT interval – the time it takes the heart cells to recharge in between beats.

Routine Screening for Pancreatic Cancer Not Warranted, Expert Panel Says

TUESDAY, Aug. 6, 2019 -- There's nothing to be gained by screening for pancreatic cancer in people with no signs or symptoms of the lethal tumor, according to an influential U.S. panel of experts.

Looking over the accumulated data on the subject, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday reaffirmed its prior recommendation against routine screening for pancreatic cancer.

Drug Duo May Be an Advance Against a Common Leukemia

WEDNESDAY, July 31, 2019 -- A two-drug combo helps patients with a common form of leukemia survive longer than the current standard of care, a new clinical trial finds.

The phase 3 trial of more than 500 U.S. patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) found that a combination of rituximab and ibrutinib extended patient survival.