Cancer
Commentary: One Third of Cancer Patients Use Complementary and Alternative Therapies, but Don’t Tell Their Physicians
As a recovered cancer patient, who used integrative treatment options during my care and do so today for recovery, I wasn’t surprised by a recent JAMA Oncology study showing that one-third of cancer patients use complementary and alternative therapies, such as such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and supplements.Read
High Fructose Corn Syrup Accelerates Growth of Intestinal Tumors in Mouse Models
For years high fructose corn syrup has been vilified to the point where cities are placing sugar-taxes on sugary drinks. One common hypothesis is that sugar directly feed cancers and boosts their growth? But is there proof? Baylor College of Medicine researchers, along with colleagues at Weill Cornell Medicine, sayRead
One Third of Cancer Patients Use Complementary Medicine, But Many Don’t Tell Their Doctors
With a cancer diagnosis, many people begin to seek complimentary forms of medicine to go with conventional treatments. A new study shows that one-third of people with a cancer diagnosis use complementary care options, such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and supplements. The problem is that of these oneRead
Are Headlines of Medical Breakthroughs Overstating Actual Science and Research?
Patients should have as much access to information as possible. The more they know, the more informed decision about their health and life that can be made. However, faulty headlines about new therapies are infiltrating news outlets left and right recently. Many times, this information can be misleading, and itRead
Gut Microbiome Connected to Effectiveness of Immunotherapies for Cancer
A growing amount of research shows that the gut microbiome has a dramatic affect on anti-tumor immunity. Just how the intestinal microbiota limits tumor expansion has remained somewhat elusive. This new study, published in Nature Commutations, shows why certain immune checkpoint inhibitors, used in cancer treatment, don’t always work. It’sRead
Acupressure for Co-Occurring Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients
A new study finds acupressure could be a low-cost, at-home solution to a suite of persistent side effects that linger after breast cancer treatment ends. Researchers from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center reported in 2016 that acupressure helped reduce fatigue in breast cancer survivors. In the new study,Read
Aspirin and EPA Show Promise for Reducing the Numbers of Precancerous Colon Polyps
Both aspirin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), reduced the number of precancerous colon polyps in patients found to be at high risk of developing bowel cancer, according to new research published in the journal Lancet. This study, called the seAFOod Trial, is the result of a multidisciplinaryRead
Integrative Oncology: Making Appropriate Choices While Changing the Culture
By Santosh Rao, MD / I find it difficult to truly define integrative oncology. Statements about how we look after the “whole person”, pay attention to lifestyle and stress or even spirituality seem ambiguous and incomplete. All caregivers pay attention to these things, perhaps some more than others, but isRead
Does Eating Organic Food Reduce Cancer Risk? New French Study Says Yes
Is eating organic healthier? Does eating organic food reduce cancer risk? These are questions that constantly come to mind when your patients shop for produce in the grocery story or farmer’s market. While it seems intuitive to want to eat fewer pesticides, are there health advantages, such as reducing one’sRead
New Support Tool Improves Genetic Testing Knowledge in Breast Cancer Patients
Awareness of genetic testing among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients is low, a new study finds. In this new study, published in the journal Cancer, as few as 30% of new diagnosed, early-stage breast cancer patients know about genetic screening. Even more troublesome is that the study found that fewerRead