Mammography is considered the gold standard in early breast cancer detection but some members of the medical community had hopes that adding ultrasound screening would improve the detection rate even further.  A recent study funded by the Avon Foundation and…

It is well known that people in different regions of the world have rates of breast cancer that vary considerably. Is this simply because the genetic makeup of certain populations differ? Japanese women have a low rate of breast cancer.…

What would a summer picnic be without the grill going? Yet, studies show us that eating grilled foods may raise our risk of developing cancer. As we spring into the summer months of picnics, parties, and that wonderful aroma and…

Within just five years of quitting cigarette smoking, women enjoy a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and a lowered risk of death from cancers related to smoking by about 20%. These are the findings from an extensive observational study,…

In a society where we are all “stressed out,” we can add another entry to our worry list.

Stress may increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. A study published this month in “Annals of Behavioral Medicine,” found that women…

My mother always says “look beneath the skin.” Great advice from a child psychologist turned stay-at-home mom for evaluating relationships, but keen advice for evaluating well-respected journalism as well.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be over a million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in 2008. Thankfully despite this high number less than 1000 deaths are expected, but treatment and worry are considerable nonetheless. Melanoma, responsible…

Most health care professionals advise the use of sunscreen for everyone - but unlike people, sunscreens are not all created equal. The Environmental Working Group investigated 1,015 brand name sunscreen products. Of these they found that only 25% were both safe…

The lowly aspirin is really quite a medicinal workhorse. It relieves head- and body aches, reduces fever, quells the pain of arthritis, helps to prevent recurrent heart attacks, and it may even offer some protection against colorectal cancer. Researchers have…

Knowing that acupuncture provides effective relief from hot flashes and other symptoms associated with menopause, Jill Hervik, a physiotherapist and acupuncturist, conducted a trial to see if the same relief could be achieved in breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen after…