August 9, 2002 

In This Issue: 
Cancer Research Watchdog Profiled, Pollutants' Role in Breast Cancer Questioned, CAM Info on the Web, Gleevec and Gray Hair, Nursing Shortage Threatens Lives

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Large Study Questions Pollutants' Role in Breast Cancer

NSAIDs Reduce Need for Opioids in the Management of Cancer Pain

Shortened Course of Radiation Effective after Lumpectomy

Cancer Drug May Restore Color to Gray Hair

Obesity Linked to Increased Colorectal Cancer Risk in Premenopausal Women

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CAM INFO ON THE WEB 

It's estimated more than two thirds of cancer patients use some form of alternative or complementary(CAM) therapy to either manage their cancer or side effects from conventional treatments. Yet according to a report published last month, information published on Web sites about herbal remedies is not always accurate. If you are looking for good, impartial, information about herbal medicines, including details about evidence-based research, check out HerbMed, a free internet resource offered by the Alternative Medicine Foundation.
Website: http://www.herbmed.org/

And Duke University Medical Center offers an excellent online guide to complementary and alternative medicine for the cancer patient. You will need an Adobe Reader on your computer to read the guide.
Duke UMC Website: http://cancer.duke.edu/pated/CAM.asp
Adobe Acrobat Reader Website: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html (free download)

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NURSING SHORTAGE THREATENS LIVES

Nursing shortages come and go, but the current emerging crisis is being described in apocalyptic terms. A major healthcare accrediting group, The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations now reports that unfilled nursing jobs are costing patients their lives. JCAHO warns if steps aren't taken soon the crisis is only going to get deeper as the population ages and aging nurses retire. Last week, President Bush signed the Nursing Reinvestment Act but no money has been appropriated to meet its goals of increasing the nation's supply of nurse professionals. 
To read the JCAHO report, CLICK HERE

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CANCER RESEARCH WATCHDOG PROFILED

With about 1,200 subscribers, the Cancer Letter is a must read for oncology professionals, especially those in the cancer research field. In a Washington Post profile published this week, Cancer Letter editors Paul and Kirsten Boyd Goldberg's crusade against sloppy and unscrupulous cancer research is detailed. " He cannot tolerate misrepresentation, which he contends runs rampant through cancer research, drug-making, treatment and policy," the Post says of Paul Goldberg. 
To read the story in the Washington Post, CLICK HERE

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NOW THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY IS ONLINE

People with cancer who participate in their fight for recovery from cancer will improve the quality of their life and may enhance the possibility of their recovery, according to the founder of the nonprofit Wellness Community. The organization operates 22 facilities providing supportive services to cancer patients "completely free of charge" and now offers the Virtual Wellness Community for online information, mind-body exercises, nutrition information and lists of books, websites and other support services.
Website: http://www.wellness-community.org