Cancer
Pharmacist Did Not Tell the Truth About Valsarta…
Over the past month, a recall that at first appeared quite limited in scope has continued to spread. The problem is with an active pharmaceutical ingredient made in China that was contaminated with a …
Is Liver Cancer a Risk of Acid-Suppressing Drugs…
Not again! We are sick and tired or reading about another potentially serious side effect of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Over the last few decades the list of very worrisome adverse reactions has g…
Is There Roundup in Your Breakfast Cereal?
A recent report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggests that oats and oat cereals may be contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate, often sold under the brand name Roundup. Some industry-af…
Pharmacist Wouldn’t Take Back Recalled Valsart…
On July 5, 2018 the European Medicines Agency announced a recall of a generic blood pressure medicine called valsartan (Diovan). The active ingredient in some generic formulations was apparently conta…
Can You Stop Being Tired All the Time?
There are too many possible causes of fatigue to offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Anemia due to inadequate iron or lack of B vitamins can make people feel worn out. So can many serious health probl…
Do Vitamin D Pills Lower Your Chance of Cancer?
Epidemiological studies have shown that people with low levels of vitamin D are more susceptible to various cancers. What can you do to reverse your risk? The answer is not clear. We do not know if …
What Health Benefits Can You Get from Spices?
You may be well aware that vegetables and fruits are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Perhaps you've even heard about additional compounds we call phytonutrients. These may not be considered essenti…
Are Frequent Flyers At Higher Risk For Developin…
A new study suggests that flight attendants may be at significantly higher risk of developing cancer than the general population (Environmental Health, June 26, 2018). This was part of the Harvard F…
Is Poliovirus Therapy a Breakthrough Against Dea…
Glioblastoma is a killer and it’s personal. One of my best friends, George B., died from this devastating brain cancer. Lots of famous people have also died from malignant glioma. Senator Edward (Te…
Will Vitamin D Pills Help You Avoid Cancer?
New research strongly suggests that people with too little vitamin D in their systems are more likely to get colorectal cancer (McCullough et al, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, June 14, 201…
Where in the World Are Cancer Rates Highest?
Cancer rates around the world vary greatly. Epidemiologists reviewed data from 195 countries in 2016 and found quite a large range (JAMA Oncology, June 2, 2018). Cancer Rates Are Highest in Australia:…
Can You Skip Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer?
Some women with the most common type of breast cancer might safely skip chemotherapy. That’s the finding from a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting and published in …
Super Immune Therapy Gave One Woman Her Life Bac…
An experimental immune therapy conducted on a single breast cancer patient has captured a great deal of attention this week. The 49-year-old woman, Judy Perkins, had metastatic breast cancer that had …
Should Desperate Patients Have the Right To Try …
Most people empathize with the plight of desperate patients. Those who have exhausted all available treatments are willing to try almost anything. That is why Congress has passed the "right to try" bi…
Are Sky-High Orphan Drug Costs Bankrupting Healt…
Drug companies have fallen in love with rare diseases. That’s because they are huge money makers for the pharmaceutical industry. It wasn’t always this way. Before the Orphan Drug Act, rare or unu…
Should Reader Worry About His Anticancer Supplem…
Once cancer patients finish treatment, do they put that entire episode behind them and just move on? Some do, but most find that periodic checkups to make sure the cancer has not returned remind them …
Immunotherapy Offers Hope for Lung Cancer
Lung cancer accounts for more cancer deaths than any other type, with 150,000 fatalities every year. Until recently, treatments were unimpressive and the prognosis for patients was “dismal,” as on…
Will Vitamin D Help Prevent Cancer?
Is there a connection between vitamin D levels and cancer risk? Previous studies have shown that people with low levels of vitamin D appear more susceptible to cancers of the pancreas, colon, breast a…
Nuts Reduce Chance of Colon Cancer Recurrence
Eating nuts has been shown to be good for cardiovascular health. But could nuts reduce the risk of colon cancer recurring? Nuts Reduce Rate of Recurrence: Now, researchers have found that people who e…
Does Scalding Tea Boost Your Risk for Esophageal…
People who drink very hot tea may want to let it cool a bit before they sip. That is particularly true for anyone who smokes or drinks alcohol. Smokers and drinkers who also regularly imbibe scalding …
How To Choose Safe and Effective Over-The-Counte…
Americans love to play doctor. And the FDA has made it easy. That’s because the agency has allowed Pharma companies to switch many Rx drugs to OTC in a big way. We spend $33 billion on over-the-coun…
Are Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer?
A small study from the Netherlands published in JAMA Oncology raises concerns about a connection between breast implants and a rare cancer, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (de Boer et al, JAMA Oncology…
Will Diabetes Drug Metformin Protect the Thyroid…
Most medicines have only one or two uses, but some are remarkably versatile. One of these is metformin, a drug that is used as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. Justifiably, it is widely pre…
Can What You Eat Change Your Risk of Cancer?
A new study published in JAMA Oncology reports that pro-inflammatory foods increase the risk of colorectal cancer. An anti-inflammatory diet, on the other hand, reduces the risk of cancer (Tabung et a…
What Is the Link Between Gums and Cancer?
Gum disease has been linked to heart problems. Other conditions that have been associated with periodontal inflammation include osteoporosis, pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis. Now results from the …
Beta Blockers Boost Benefits from Cancer Immunot…
Beta blocker heart medicines have been available for decades. Drugs like propranolol are prescribed to treat the pain of angina, lower high blood pressure and prevent migraine headaches. Might they al…
Blackseed Oil Saved Knee and Lowered Cholesterol…
Have you ever heard of blackseed oil? We didn't think so. It has not gotten the attention that turmeric has. The first we became aware of this dietary supplement was from an integrative oncologist, Dr…
Should You Worry About Your Cell Phone and Cance…
Do you know anyone who does not own a cell phone? There are a huge number of people, especially those under 30, who do not own a land line. You know, those old fashioned telephones that actually conne…
For People with Lymphoma, Fitness Helps Survival
By now, most people recognize that exercise is good for your health. But for people with lymphoma, physical activity can make the difference between life and death. What Is Lymphoma? This cancer affec…
Drinkers Boost Their Chance of Getting Cancer
The American Society of Clinical Oncology is warning us that alcohol increases the risk of getting cancer (Journal of Clinical Oncology, online Nov. 7, 2017). What might that mean in practical terms? …
A Pharmacist Remembers a Link Between Omeprazole…
On November 1, 2017 we sent out a People's Pharmacy Special Health Alert asking the question: "Do Acid-Suppressing Drugs Cause Cancer?" This article was based on new research from Hong Kong (Gut, onli…
Do Acid-Suppressing Drugs Cause Cancer?
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most popular drugs in the pharmacy. Physicians prescribe them to 15 million people every year for ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn and Barrett's esophagus. Th…
Are New Cancer Drugs Worth Their Price?
New cancer drugs have been welcomed as breakthroughs. They often come with a hefty price tag. Many cost over $100,000 a year. That might be justified if there were solid evidence that they save lives.…
How Good Is Aspirin Against Cancer in New Study?
In 1993 we published a book with Tom Ferguson, MD, called The Aspirin Handbook (Bantam Books). In it we pointed out that there was an impressive amount of research supporting the beneficial effects of…
Will Drug Shortages From the Puerto Rico Disaste…
The unfolding hurricane damage is a terrible tragedy for the people of Puerto Rico. Being without power, water, food, transportation, communication and other critical services is a calamity of enormou…
Should Your Doctor Know You Are Not Sleeping?
Are you sleeping enough, or are you missing out? Sleep scientist Matthew Walker says that skimping on sleep can shorten your life. The Effects of Sleeping Less Than Six Hours Nightly: Dr. Matthew base…
Preventing Peripheral Neuropathy From Chemothera…
When you get a diagnosis of cancer the world stops. Your brain melts and you go into fight or flight mode. It is one of the most stressful times of your life. All you can think about is choosing the r…
How Much Does It Really Cost to Develop a New Dr…
New cancer drugs have become extremely expensive. It is not unusual for immunotherapy treatments to cost between $100,000 and $200,000 per year. Often, the pharmaceutical industry justifies such a pri…
How Many Breast Cancer Survivors Suffer Nerve Pa…
Chemotherapy saves lives, but it can also result in long-lasting side effects. Until recently, oncologists did not know how often breast cancer survivors had to live with pain as a result of their tre…
What Makes Turmeric So Wonderful?
A few years ago most Americans had never heard of turmeric. If they had, they thought of it as an exotic ingredient in curries and other Indian dishes. Now, turmeric and curcumin, one of its active in…