November 2016 News Roundup

Our roundup of this month’s most important cancer and radiation therapy-related news.

More Breast Cancer Patients Should Consider Radiation, New Guidelines Say

September 21, 2016 (HealthDay News via Medline Plus)
Radiation therapy after a mastectomy can help prevent cancer recurrence in many patients, but may not be the best option for everyone. New guidelines have clarified the types of cases who generally receive the most value from post-mastectomy radiation therapy.

Smoking Wreaks Genetic Havoc on Lungs, Study Warns

November 4, 2016 (HealthDay News via Medline Plus)
Smoking has been well-studied and is linked to cancer-causing mutations in cells throughout the body. New research suggests that smoking may cause an additional 150 mutations in the lungs every year, greatly increasing an individual’s chance of developing lung cancer.

In addition, these smoking-related mutations were observed to affect cell changes in secondary parts of the body.

Does Baby Powder Cause Ovarian Cancer?

November 4, 2016 (HealthDay News via Medline Plus)
Recent claims against Johnson & Johnson have raised the question of whether talcum powder causes cancer. Most researchers agree that data from studies are inconclusive but suggest that if a risk exists, it is small. Some studies have not found a link while others found a small chance of increased risk.

Fewer in U.S. Smoke, But Smoking’s Death Toll Continues

November 10, 2016 (HealthDay News via Medline Plus)
While the rate of Americans who smoke has dropped from 21% to 15% from 2005 to 2015, 3 of 10 deaths are caused by cigarette smoking. According to this month’s CDC Vital Signs Report, tobacco use may be linked to 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the US.

Cigarettes contain 70 carcinogens (cancer-causing substances), and tobacco use is linked to 12 types of cancer. Avoiding tobacco use can help reduce the risk of developing many types of cancers.

Alcohol May Fuel Prostate Cancer Risk

November 16, 2016 (HealthDay News via Medline Plus)

Alcohol is a known risk factor for several types of cancer including several digestive cancers. New studies have found an association between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer risk. While no conclusive evidence proved that drinking increased the risk of prostate cancer, the study suggests that further research is needed to determine if alcohol is a risk factor for prostate cancer.