Articles Tagged ‘DNA’

« Older Entries

New Tumors in Cancer Survivors

January 24, 2007

scene from animation: patient undergoing radiation treatment for cancerous tumor

While some cancer survivors are more likely to develop a new tumor than others, little is known about the complex interaction of factors that lead to this increase in risk. The chance of developing a second cancer can be affected by a variety of factors, including shared causal factors, such as lifestyle and environmental exposures, genetic susceptibility, and combinations of risk factors including gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. As more research focuses on the issues faced by cancer survivors, scientists hope to provide answers that will allow for improved therapy and care. Researchers also believe that knowledge gained from these studies will improve the quality of life for all cancer patients.

Can Radiation Therapy Influence the Development of Second Cancers?

January 24, 2007

scene from animation: patient undergoing radiation treatment for cancerous tumor

Over 10 million people in the U.S. — about one in 30 — are cancer survivors. This growing population reflects advances in cancer detection and treatment. But with the greater number of survivors comes an increasing number of people living long enough to experience more than one type of cancer in their lifetime. Overall, cancer survivors have a 14 percent higher risk of developing a new primary malignancy compared with the general population, according to a new NCI monograph entitled, New Malignancies among Cancer Survivors: SEER Cancer Registries, 1973-2000. The risk factors involved in the second cancer may be the same as those that led to the original tumor, such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, diet and nutrition, and genetic predisposition. For some people, however, the radiotherapy or chemotherapy received to treat the first cancer may be a contributing factor for their developing a completely new primary cancer.

Genetic Testing for Cancer: Pros and Cons

February 23, 2005

Illustration of Hyper- and Hypomethylation

It can be difficult enough to hear a doctor tell you that you have been diagnosed with cancer, but how would someone react if a doctor told them that while they might be healthy now, they are likely to have cancer in the future?

« Older Entries