cancer

Aspirin Vs. Melanoma: Study suggests headache pill prevents skin cancer

Richard Knox — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:15:25 +0000

It's not the first study that finds the lowly aspirin may protect against the deadliest kind of skin cancer, but it is one of the largest.

And it adds to a mounting pile of studies suggesting that cheap, common aspirin lowers the risk of many cancers — of the colon, breast, esophagus, stomach, prostate, bladder and ovary.

The new study, in the journal Cancer, looked at melanoma in 60,000 post-menopausal Caucasian women.

Another side effect of chemotherapy: 'chemo brain'

Patti Neighmond — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:26:24 +0000

It's well-known that chemotherapy often comes with side effects like fatigue, hair loss and extreme nausea. What's less well-known is how the cancer treatment affects crucial brain functions, like speech and cognition.

For Yolanda Hunter, a 41-year-old hospice nurse, mother of three and breast cancer patient, these cognitive side effects of chemotherapy were hard to miss.

"I could think of words I wanted to say," Hunter says. "I knew what I wanted to say. ... There was a disconnect from my brain to my mouth."

Before getting treated for cancer, Hunter led a busy, active lifestyle.

Research: Circumcision might protect against prostate cancer

Keith Seinfeld — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:24:58 +0000

Researchers studying men in Seattle have found more evidence that sexual behaviors and cancer may be linked. In this case, they’re looking at prostate cancer.

The connection is through viruses and circumcision's role in possibly limiting some infections.

Film project amplifies loss and hope in death of jazz great, husband

Kevin Kniestedt — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:29:13 +0000

The documentary More to Live For screens at the Gig Harbor Film Festival this Saturday. People from the Pacific Northwest will finally get an opportunity to view the story of three men affected by Leukemia seeking out a bone marrow transplant, including the late tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker.

Read more on Groove Notes.

What's so controversial about cancer? Ask the U.N.

Keith Seinfeld — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Some of the leading disease experts from Seattle are visiting the United Nations this week. They’re at a "High-Level" meeting to discuss whether poor countries should start worrying about cancer and diabetes – as much as malaria or AIDS.

That's a controversial idea, says KPLU’s Humanosphere blogger Tom Paulson. He's in New York to cover the meeting. Before he left he explained the controversy to KPLU’s Keith Seinfeld.

Research 'factory' added to downtown Seattle's science hub

Keith Seinfeld — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:36:32 +0000

You may associate downtown Seattle with its shopping, hotels and offices, but the city's core also has a growing medical research community. From global-health focused non-profits to the University of Washington, it seems scientists all want to be near downtown.

The latest addition is a combination cancer research lab and bio-factory. Seattle Children’s Research Institute plans to open the new lab and "factory" in the Denny Triangle next month.

Cancer joins AIDS, malaria as global health issue

Keith Seinfeld — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:25:40 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-958886.mp3

The fight against diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis has made Seattle a center for global health.

Now, increasingly, the battle is including cancer -- which might seem ridiculously impossible. Isn’t it hard enough to fight infectious diseases in poor countries? Can we afford to start talking about the diseases like cancer, which we still struggle with in the United States?