Stand Up To Cancer

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a cancer-initiating cell in human melanomas. While it has been comparatively easy to bring a patient into remission, this finding may be able to explain why current immunotherapies have had difficulty preventing the cancer from returning. Alexander Boilo, PhD said, "These cells lack the traditional melanoma cell surface markers targeted by these treatments. Without wiping out the cells at the root of the cancer, the treatment will fail."
http://www.healthcare-digital.com/news/melanoma/scientists-stanford-recognize-melanoma-causing-cell

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that thousands of deaths could have been prevented last year if more U.S. citizens had received screenings for breast and colorectal cancers (two of the country's deadliest cancers). Adults with health insurance had higher screening rates than the uninsured, and many racial and ethnic minorities had low screening rates. The CDC report suggests that the recently passed Affordable Care Act may allow more citizens to be screened through expanding insurance coverage.
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/06/cdc-millions-more-cancer-screenings-could-save-thousands-of-lives/

A study from the Journal of Medical Genetics has found that men with the BRCA2 gene have a one in 12 chance of developing breast cancer before the age of 80. Researchers from St. Mary's Hospital in Manchester said, "These risks are sufficient to increase awareness of breast cancer among men in BRCA2 families and to stress the importance of early presentation with breast symptoms." This study reveals that the existence of this gene variation increases the risk for breast cancer in both women and men.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/640824.html

Citizens in developing countries account for 88% of the 274,000 annual cervical cancer deaths caused by the humanpapilloma virus (HPV). While rich nations currently have a vaccine to prevent against HPV, few resources exist for women in the world's poorest countries. However, a new test that detects the DNA of HPV fairly quickly has been approved by the European Union. The short time frame for testing and detection may increase the chances for women in developing countries to receive early diagnoses and treatments, potentially saving millions of lives throughout Africa and Asia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2010/jul/06/cervical-cancer-test