Fish Oil Linked to Reduction in Breast Cancer Risk (07/09/2010)
A recent study suggests that regular use of fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer. These findings were published in the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Common in Pediatric Cancer Patients (04/08/2010)
Pediatric cancer patients commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a review article recently published in the journal Pediatrics.

Vitamin E and Vitamin C Supplementation Do Not Appear to Prevent Cancer (11/24/2008)
Long-term supplementation with vitamin E and vitamin C may not prevent cancer, according to data from the Physician’s Health Study II that was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Seventh Annual International Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 16, 2008.

Women&Cancer Magazine Features Paula Zahn on Spring 2008 Cover (03/17/2008)
News anchor and cancer advocate Paula Zahn knows what it means to watch a loved one confront a cancer diagnosis. In fact, in the space of 14 months when Paula was 29 years old, her immediate family managed four active cases of cancer; of those four, which included her mother, her father, her sister-in-law and her aunt, only her mother would survive. “I think any of us who have been exposed to cancer in our families share a strong bond,” Paula says. The veteran reporter and media personality shares details of her own experience and of her role as an impassioned cancer advocate in an inspiring interview.

Some Chinese Herbs Reduce Nausea Associated with Chemotherapy (04/03/2007)
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, treatment with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), as prescribed by a Chinese herbalist, may significantly reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy.

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Ayurvedic Medicines from South Asia Found to Have Potentially Harmful Levels of Heavy Metals (01/24/2006)
Researchers from Boston have reported that 1 of 5 Ayurvedic herbal medicine products (HMPs) produced in South Asia and available in Boston South Asian grocery stores contains potentially harmful levels of lead, mercury, and/or arsenic.

PC-SPES and SPES Herbal Supplements Recalled (03/17/2004)
According to recall notices issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California Department of Health Services (DHS) and BotanicLab, consumers should immediately stop using PC-SPES and SPES herbal supplements. Laboratory testing conducted by DHS identified undeclared prescription medications in these formulas that could cause serious side effects, particularly if combined with other prescribed medications.

Poison Control Center Data Suggests Dietary Supplements Can Produce Serious Side Effects (08/14/2003)
A recent article in the January 2003 issue of The Lancet calls attention to the potential side effects of dietary supplements. The authors of the published study state that there are “an estimated 29,000 [dietary supplement] products on the market in the USA” and caution that the lack of safety information, especially on drug-supplement interactions, poses a serious risk to patients. Patients are encouraged to discuss any supplements they take or are considering taking with their physician. The authors also argue that research into the risks of dietary supplements should be given top priority.

Herbal Formula for Colon Cleansing Causes Heart Poisoning (08/14/2003)
According to an article recently published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, an herbal formula marketed for internal cleansing was the cause of heart poisoning when a 36 year old woman ingested the entire bottle at one time, rather than in four doses as directed by its instructions. The product was purchased from a street vendor and claimed to consist of Amazon herbs, although its packaging failed to detail specific ingredients.

St. John’s Wort Appears to Interfere with Camptosar® and Other Drugs (04/03/2003)
Research over the last several years has suggested that St. John’s wort, a herbal remedy commonly used for mild to moderate depression, decreases the effectiveness of Camptosar®, a chemotherapy drug, and various other prescription medications.

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Acupuncture May Prevent Some Cases of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (10/03/2005)
According to a review published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, certain types of acupuncture-point stimulation may relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting, but few well-designed studies have been conducted.

PC-SPES and SPES Herbal Supplements Recalled (03/17/2004)
According to recall notices issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California Department of Health Services (DHS) and BotanicLab, consumers should immediately stop using PC-SPES and SPES herbal supplements. Laboratory testing conducted by DHS identified undeclared prescription medications in these formulas that could cause serious side effects, particularly if combined with other prescribed medications.

Herbal Supplement PC-SPES may Interfere with Chemotherapy Drug Paclitaxel (02/06/2003)
A recent article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that the herbal supplement PC-SPES appears to interfere with the anticancer activity of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel.

Acupuncture Palliates Xerostomia after Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers (02/04/2003)
According to results recently published in Cancer, acupuncture appears to reduce the severity of radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

Homeopathic Medication TRAUMEEL S Reduces Chemotherapy-Induced Stomatitis in Children (02/04/2003)
Results of a recent study published in the journal Cancer, suggest that TRAUMEEL S significantly reduces the severity and duration of stomatitis resulting from chemotherapy in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

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Alpha-Tocopherol and Beta-Carotene Supplementation: A Post-Intervention Follow-Up (10/01/2003)
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, alpha-tocopherol appears to significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer, while beta-carotene increases risk of lung cancer and total mortality.

Zinc Supplements May Increase the Incidence of Prostate Cancer (10/01/2003)
According to results published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Harvard Medical School have reported that high supplementation with zinc, more than 100 mg/day, increased the incidence of prostate cancer in men more than 2-fold. Zinc supplementation of 100 mg/day or lower did not increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Preoperative Supplementation Improves Results of Surgery in Colorectal Cancer Patients (08/14/2003)
According to an article recently published in the journal Surgery, presurgical supplementation with arginine, an amino acid, and n-3 fatty acids, a family of essential fatty acids, by colorectal cancer patients appeared to produce significantly improved immune response and fewer postoperative infections.

Fish Oil Appears Ineffective for Anorexia/Cachexia in Advanced Cancer Patients (08/14/2003)
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, fish oil does not appear effective at reducing anorexia or cachexia experienced by patients with advanced cancer.

Poison Control Center Data Suggests Dietary Supplements Can Produce Serious Side Effects (08/14/2003)
A recent article in the January 2003 issue of The Lancet calls attention to the potential side effects of dietary supplements. The authors of the published study state that there are “an estimated 29,000 [dietary supplement] products on the market in the USA” and caution that the lack of safety information, especially on drug-supplement interactions, poses a serious risk to patients. Patients are encouraged to discuss any supplements they take or are considering taking with their physician. The authors also argue that research into the risks of dietary supplements should be given top priority.

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Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Common in Pediatric Cancer Patients (04/08/2010)
Pediatric cancer patients commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a review article recently published in the journal Pediatrics.

Women&Cancer Magazine Features Paula Zahn on Spring 2008 Cover (03/17/2008)
News anchor and cancer advocate Paula Zahn knows what it means to watch a loved one confront a cancer diagnosis. In fact, in the space of 14 months when Paula was 29 years old, her immediate family managed four active cases of cancer; of those four, which included her mother, her father, her sister-in-law and her aunt, only her mother would survive. “I think any of us who have been exposed to cancer in our families share a strong bond,” Paula says. The veteran reporter and media personality shares details of her own experience and of her role as an impassioned cancer advocate in an inspiring interview.

Cancer Patients Do Not Report Use of Complementary and Alternative Treatments (10/25/2005)
According to results presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), nearly half of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, the majority of these patients do not report CAM use to their doctors.

Religiosity Associated With Complementary Medicine Use in Pediatric Oncology Patients (10/17/2003)
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, pediatric oncology patients often use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), particularly if the family is very religious.

Factors Associated with CAM Use By Localized Prostate Cancer Patients (10/17/2003)
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Urology, few men start using CAM as a result of a prostate cancer diagnosis, but those that do, usually fail to discuss it with their physician(s).

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Some Chinese Herbs Reduce Nausea Associated with Chemotherapy (04/03/2007)
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, treatment with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), as prescribed by a Chinese herbalist, may significantly reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Chinese Herbal Medicine May Increase Effectiveness of Lung Cancer Chemotherapy (01/20/2006)
A combined analysis of 34 studies suggests that Astragalus-based Chinese herbal medicine may increase the effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy regimens for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). (However, because the quality of several of the evaluated studies was poor, these findings need to be confirmed in well-designed clinical trials.) These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Recent Trends in Use of Herbal and Other Natural Products (03/02/2005)
According to a study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the popularity of herbal remedies and other natural products has varied over time and usage varies according to sex and age.

Calendula Effective Against Radiation-Induced Dermatitis in Breast Cancer (05/07/2004)

PC-SPES and SPES Herbal Supplements Recalled (03/17/2004)
According to recall notices issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the California Department of Health Services (DHS) and BotanicLab, consumers should immediately stop using PC-SPES and SPES herbal supplements. Laboratory testing conducted by DHS identified undeclared prescription medications in these formulas that could cause serious side effects, particularly if combined with other prescribed medications.

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Effects of Exercise on Breast Cancer Patients Following Conventional Cancer Treatment (04/08/2003)
According to an article recently published in Psychooncology, patients were less likely to exercise following treatment for breast cancer and when they did, most did not experience improvements in mood or cancer-related symptoms. Patients did report, however, an improvement in physical functioning with adequate physical activity.

Lifelong Physical Activity Reduces Breast Cancer Risk (02/04/2003)
Women who maintain consistently high activity levels throughout their lives have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than their inactive counterparts, according to the results of a study recently published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Exercise Reduces Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment (02/04/2003)
Physical exercise can help to reduce some of the negative side effects of breast cancer treatment, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Lack of Physical Activity Appears to Increase Risk for Colorectal Cancer (02/04/2003)
Persons who have a low level of physical activity have an increased risk for developing cancers of the colon and rectum, according to researchers from Switzerland. This news comes as the result of the researchers’ recent study, evaluating the incidence of colon and rectum cancers in association with physical activity, during both work and leisure times.

Clinical Hypnosis May Benefit Pediatric Oncology Patients Undergoing Lumbar Punctures (10/17/2003)
According to an article recently published in The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, hypnosis appears effective in reducing pain and anxiety in children undergoing lumbar punctures, especially if a therapist is present.

Online Support Groups May Benefit Breast Cancer Patients (10/09/2003)
According to a recently published article in the journal Cancer, breast cancer patients reported experiencing benefits from participating in online support groups. This may be especially important for women living in areas that lack social services, such as small towns or rural communities.

Laughter May Boost Immune System (08/14/2003)
According to an article recently published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, laughter may reduce stress and increase natural killer cell levels, a type of white blood cell that attacks cancer cells.

No Evidence That Coping Styles Influence Cancer Outcomes (03/21/2003)
According to a recent article published in the British Medical Journal, the coping attitude a patient has towards his/her cancer does not appear to affect overall survival or the likelihood of recurrence.

Stress does not Appear to Increase Cancer Recurrences in Women with Breast Cancer (02/04/2003)
According to results recently published in the British Medical Journal ( BMJ), women with breast cancer leading a stressful life do not have an increase in cancer recurrences compared to other women with breast cancer.

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Fish Oil Linked to Reduction in Breast Cancer Risk (07/09/2010)
A recent study suggests that regular use of fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer. These findings were published in the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Vitamin E and Vitamin C Supplementation Do Not Appear to Prevent Cancer (11/24/2008)
Long-term supplementation with vitamin E and vitamin C may not prevent cancer, according to data from the Physician’s Health Study II that was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Seventh Annual International Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 16, 2008.

Red Wine Consumption Associated with Reduced Risk of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (04/26/2006)
According to a recent article published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, consumption of red wine may reduce the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in men.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Do Not Reduce Risk of Cancer (01/25/2006)
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids does not protect against the development of cancer.

High Doses of Vitamin E Associated with Increased Mortality (01/28/2005)
According to a recent article in the Annals of Internal Medicine, high doses of daily vitamin E appear to be associated with higher risks of mortality.

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