Cancer - July 2013 Archives

http://youtu.be/KZZ_kf3ByYw The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, of which Mayo Clinic is a partner, is announcing a preliminary recommendation that people at high risk for lung cancer consider having annual low-dose CT scans. Smoking is the biggest risk factor for developing lung cancer, resulting in 85 percent of the lung cancers in the United States, and high-risk individuals are those 55 to 80 years old with a "30 pack year or greater smoking history."  That can translate as someone who has smoked a pack a day for 30 years or someone who smoked two packs a day for 15 years. Results of the National Lung Screening Trial, published in the fall of 2011, suggested that smokers and former smokers might benefit from lung CT scan screening. It found a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths with CT scan screening. Federal agencies and medical professionals have been discussing the findings ever since. Mayo Clinic took part in that trial, and thoracic surgeon Stephen Cassivi, M.D., calls today's announcement a mandate that will certainly save lives. Journalists: B-roll of a patient having a lung CT scan and sound bites with Drs. Cassivi and Midthun are available in the downloads.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhirPWjaCZ8

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORY Sodium: How to tame your salt habit Getting too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and cause other health problems. See how to cut back on salt. EXPERT ANSWERS Osteopathic medicine: What kind of doctor is a D.O.? You know what M.D. means, but do you know what D.O. means? HEALTHY RECIPES Halibut with tomato basil salsa Grilled pineapple Pasta with marinara sauce and grilled vegetables Chickpea polenta with olives  HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits In small amounts, alcohol can help lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much alcohol, generally more than one drink a day for women and more than two a day for men. Binge drinking in particular can cause large and sudden increases in blood pressure and increase your risk of stroke. If you're a heavy or binge drinker, talk to your doctor about how to reduce your drinking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POCIcywv9X0 Anokhi Jambusaria-Pahlajani, M.D., dermatologist at Mayo Clinic in Florida, talks about skin cancer. She discusses the different types of skin cancer, signs to look ...

On Saturday, July 13, Richard Hurt, M.D. and Jon Ebbert, M.D. will join us to talk about the Nicotine Dependence Center.  For 25 years, the ...