AHA News: Common Prostate Cancer Treatment May Increase Risk of Fatal Heart Condition

MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Many men with prostate cancer rely on common testosterone-blocking drugs as a part of their treatment. But those so-called antiandrogens also might put them at risk for a deadly heart condition, according to new research.

In a study published Monday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, researchers looked at how several testosterone-blocking drugs affect the heart's QT interval – the time it takes the heart cells to recharge in between beats.

Routine Screening for Pancreatic Cancer Not Warranted, Expert Panel Says

TUESDAY, Aug. 6, 2019 -- There's nothing to be gained by screening for pancreatic cancer in people with no signs or symptoms of the lethal tumor, according to an influential U.S. panel of experts.

Looking over the accumulated data on the subject, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday reaffirmed its prior recommendation against routine screening for pancreatic cancer.

Drug Duo May Be an Advance Against a Common Leukemia

WEDNESDAY, July 31, 2019 -- A two-drug combo helps patients with a common form of leukemia survive longer than the current standard of care, a new clinical trial finds.

The phase 3 trial of more than 500 U.S. patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) found that a combination of rituximab and ibrutinib extended patient survival.

Is an Elusive U.S. Total Ban on Asbestos Finally in Sight?

THURSDAY, July 11, 2019 -- A new U.S. government rule on asbestos is at best a toothless measure against the cancer-causing material, critics charge.

The rule, laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), went into effect in June. The agency says it was designed to strengthen decades-old public health protections.

Sugary Sodas, Juices Tied to Higher Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, July 10, 2019 -- It's long been known that sugary drinks help people pack on unwanted pounds. But new research suggests that sweetened sodas, sports drinks and even 100% fruit juice might raise your risk for some cancers.

The study couldn't prove cause and effect, but it found that drinking as little as 3 to 4 ounces of sugary drinks each day was tied to an 18% rise in overall risk for cancer.

Cancer Risk Rises After Iodine Rx for Overactive Thyroid: Study

MONDAY, July 1, 2019 -- Patients who receive radioactive iodine treatment for an overactive thyroid have an increased long-term risk of cancer death, new research finds.

The study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, but "we identified a clear dose-response relationship between this widely used treatment and long-term risk of death from solid cancer, including breast cancer, in the largest cohort study to date of patients treated for hyperthyroidism," said lead author Cari Kitahara. She's with the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI).