The Centers for
Disease Control reported Thursday that one in four young
girls had gotten at least the first vaccine shot against the human
papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cervical cancer. The series of three shots
can cost around $300. The vaccine is recommended for girls starting at age
9, but before they become sexually active. It protects against strains of
HPV most closely associated with the development of cervical cancer. As an
aside, the German scientist responsible for showing that the human
papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, Harald zur Hausen, was
awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine this week for this work, as
you can read here
.
MOVE IT!
Want to reduce your risk
of developing cancer? Get moving! The Physical Activity Guidelines released by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week concludes: "Adults and older adults lower the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high
blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer
and can help prevent falls and reduce depression..[...] and enjoy better
thinking ability ..." Read
more about it here.
Getting a move-on may also be a good idea for
many intensive care patients. That's the conclusion reported by Johns Hopkins
hospital researcher, Dr. Dale Needham. He published his study in this week's
Journal of the American Medical Association. After reviewing the records
of Johns Hopkins patients and the research in 24 other studies, Needham
and colleagues determined that patients, even those on life support, can
safely get out of bed and walk more quickly, resulting in shorter time on a
ventilator and a shorter stay in the ICU. Needham cautioned that despite the
evidence for early mobilization, additional research is needed to more fully
understand the best methods for doing it, and the short-term and long-term
benefits. Read
more here
.
FDA
Warnings
Renewal Research of Sebastapol, California has
been warned to stop telling prospective customers that its supplements can
prevent cancer. Otherwise it's selling drugs that are regulated by the FDA that
have to meet strict approval requirements.
Covered
by the warning letter mailed out September 25th were claims made on
the Renewal Research website about it's DHEA. Folic Acid, Green Tea, Lycopene, and
Vitamin D products although the letter said the violations were more wide reaching
- "The above violations are not meant to be an all-inclusive list of
deficiencies in your products and their labeling, " the letter warned.
The website has been changed now.. Read the letter
here.
The FDA has posted a list of approved drugs with
potential safety problems. You can see the latest list here.
2008 Breast Cancer Global
Congress
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The U.S.
State Department is teaming up with the Avon Foundation on Wednesday (Oct. 15)
to host the 2008 Breast Cancer Global Congress at the State Department in
Washington. The Congress brings together breast cancer clinicians and
researchers, public health authorities, advocates and survivors from more than
40 countries to discuss the global burden of breast cancer, awareness programs,
and recent developments in screening and treatment. Did you
know that more than one million cases of breast cancer occur worldwide every year and that
it is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide?
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