Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, resulting in more than 480,000 deaths annually. Almost 70 percent of current smokers report wanting to quit smoking, but quitting can be hard and often takes multiple attempts. A variety of medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are… Continue reading Fact or Fiction: What to Know about Smoking Cessation and Medication
Tag: lung cancer
The Shrinking Use of Tobacco
Good news: Cigarette smoking has reached the lowest level ever recorded among U.S. adults. Only 14 percent of Americans smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Still, about 47 million (one in five) Americans used a tobacco product in… Continue reading The Shrinking Use of Tobacco
Understanding Lung Problems
Lupe has smoked for over 45 years. This year she started having trouble keeping up with her 3-year-old grandson without gasping for air. She can no longer work in her garden without having coughing fits. Sometimes Lupe feels out of breath strolling through the market. Yet, Lupe was surprised when her doctor said she had… Continue reading Understanding Lung Problems
Are Lung Cancer Survivors Getting Too Many Costly Scans for No Reason?
Once you’ve made it through lung cancer treatment, you want to make sure you catch it early if it comes back again. However, a University of Michigan study published in February 2016 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that one approach to watching for a cancer’s return is being inappropriately used at… Continue reading Are Lung Cancer Survivors Getting Too Many Costly Scans for No Reason?
Too Few Lung Cancer Screenings?
Expanding lung cancer screening to include people who quit smoking more than 15 years ago could detect more cases and further reduce associated mortality This according to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. “A decline in smoking rates has been, and continues to be, a critical step to reduce… Continue reading Too Few Lung Cancer Screenings?
The Most Recommended Screenings for Women 50 and Above
What kind of screening or diagnostic tests should you take after 50? The SeniorHealth division of the National Institutes on Aging, using material developed by the respected Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, has some suggestions: Breast Cancer BRCA 1 and 2 Genes The agency experts recommend that you consider a genetic test for these… Continue reading The Most Recommended Screenings for Women 50 and Above
Improved Quality of LIfe for Lung-Cancer Patients
African-American and older patients with advanced lung cancer can be effectively treated with a new, federally approved therapy, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati. Such patients are not good candidates for chemotherapy. The findings were published in the journal Libertas Academica. The treatment the researchers focused on is gefitinib, a drug that’s already… Continue reading Improved Quality of LIfe for Lung-Cancer Patients