Cancer - September 2013 Archives

Individualizing Medicine 2013: From Promise to Practice, that's the name of a conference at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., this week focusing on how to translate the promise of genomic medicine into ongoing patient care. Genomics is the study of our genetic material, which determines everything from the color of our hair to which diseases we may be at risk of developing. That's why hundreds of physicians, researchers, scientists, medical staff, genetics counselors and others are gathering to see how the science of genomics is helping heal patients today. Richard Weinshilboum, M.D., the director of the Pharmacogenomics Program at Mayo's Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM), says the field is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The conference continues through 12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 2. Members of the media wishing to cover the event or interview speakers may contact Bob Nellis at Nellis.Robert@mayo.edu. Follow #CIMcon2013 Journalists: b-roll from the conference and additional sound bites are available in the downloads. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=art3pczL9H0

Journalists: Mayo Clinic breast cancer experts are available to discuss risk factors, screening and treatments. Read expert alert: English and Spanish. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, with more than 238,000 new diagnoses estimated this year. Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., a specialist in the Mayo Clinic Breast Clinic, says women with a family history of breast cancer are unfortunately at a higher risk of developing the disease but adds, there are some lifestyle changes they can make to lower overall risk. Dr. Pruthi recommends patients take the following steps to lower their risk: Don't smoke. Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women. In addition, not smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health. Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol — including beer, wine or liquor — limit yourself to no more than one drink a day. Control your weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause. Be physically active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. Breast-feed. Breast-feeding may play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect. Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer. If you're taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options. Avoid exposure to radiation and pollution. Medical-imaging methods, such as computerized tomography, use high doses of radiation, which have been linked with breast cancer risk. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Pruthi, from previous news release topics, are available in the downloads.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf5b8Bt1-Cc

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Sept. 26, 2013 — October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Mayo Clinic breast cancer experts are available to discuss risk factors, screening and treatments. MULTIMEDIA ALERT: Video and audio are available for download on the Mayo Clinic News Network. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, with more than 238,000 new diagnoses estimated this year. While breast cancer is predominantly found in women, about 1 percent of all breast cancers are diagnosed in men. As with all cancers, patients should be aware of the importance of prevention and early detection in order to give themselves the best opportunity to be treated if cancer is found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkcmYR6AXs Sulfasalazine, a drug commonly prescribed to reduce diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, does not reduce diarrhea in patients receiving radiation therapy for ...

  Mayo Clinic researchers have shown that a specific protein pair may be a successful biomarker for identifying smoking-related lung cancers. The protein is called ASCL1. ASCL1 is known to control neuroendocrine cell development and was previously linked to regulation of thyroid and small cell lung cancer development, but not smoking-related lung cancer. The findings appear today in the online issue of the journal Oncogene. “This is exciting because we’ve found what we believe to be a ‘drugable target’ here,” says senior author George Vasmatzis, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic molecular medicine researcher and senior author on the study. “It’s a clear biomarker for aggressive adenocarcinomas, these are the fast-growing cancer cells found in smokers’ lungs." To read the full news release click here.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Sept. 19, 2013 — Mayo Clinic researchers have shown that a specific protein pair may be a successful prognostic biomarker for identifying smoking-related lung cancers. The protein — ASCL1 — is associated with increased expression of the RET oncogene, a particular cancer-causing gene called RET. The findings appear in the online issue of the journal Oncogene. Journalists: For multimedia resources and membership, visit the Mayo Clinic News Network. "This is exciting because we've found what we believe to be a 'drugable target' here," says George Vasmatzis, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic molecular medicine researcher and senior author on the study. "It's a clear biomarker for aggressive adenocarcinomas. These are the fast-growing cancer cells found in smokers' lungs."

Collaborating with colleagues at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, researchers from Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix ...

Mayo Clinic is one of six new federally-funded Comprehensive Metabolomics (met-ah-bol-OH-mics) Centers to support medical research on metabolomics — the study, at the cellular level, ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. Petechiae Petechiae — round spots that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding underneath — may indicate a number of conditions, ranging from minor blood vessel injuries to life-threatening medical conditions. EXPERT ANSWERS Metabolism and weight Looking to lose weight by boosting your metabolism? Here's some real help in getting a handle on your weight. HPV infection: How does it cause cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is most often caused by a genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HEALTHY RECIPES Stuffed chicken breasts Creamy polenta with roasted red pepper coulis Tangy green beans Sauteed bananas with caramel sauce HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Try these quick, fun breakfast options. Don't skip breakfast, even if it's become a bore. Change it up, instead. People who eat breakfast tend to have more strength and endurance, better concentration, and lower cholesterol. If you're tired of the same old cereal, try these healthy breakfasts. 1. A whole-wheat pita stuffed with hard-boiled eggs. 2. Leftover vegetable pizza. 3. A tortilla filled with vegetables, salsa and low-fat shredded cheese. 4. A smoothie blended from exotic fruits, some low-fat yogurt and a spoonful of wheat germ. 5. Whole-wheat crackers with low-fat cheese or peanut butter.

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Fitness ball exercises: How-to video collection Fitness balls may look like toys — but they can play an important role in nearly any fitness routine. See how fitness ball exercises are done. Video: How to choose a fitness ball Want to add variety to your fitness routine? Here's how to choose the right fitness ball for you. EXPERT ANSWERS Splitting doses: A good strategy for colonoscopy preparation? Spreading preparation over two days is not only more tolerable, but does a better job of cleaning the colon. The Special K diet: Helpful for weight loss? Will eating cereal help your diet? See if the Special K diet works. HEALTHY RECIPES Curried cream of tomato soup with apples Pork tenderloin with apples and balsamic vinegar Apples with dip Baked apples with cherries and almonds HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Soapy debate: Antibacterial or regular? Despite soaring popularity, antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. And using antibacterial soap may lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the products' antimicrobial agents, making it even harder to kill these germs in the future.

A Musical Tribute to Breast Cancer Survivorship JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic and the University of North Florida are honoring National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October ...