Is there meaningful information contained within a person’s breath? Could this information lead to early detection of ovarian cancer? The Pine Street Foundation is seeking to answer these questions with novel, ground-breaking research.
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Can dogs detect cancer?
Evidence-based discussions.
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There has been significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer this past year. In this article, guest author Gwendolyn Stritter, MD, discusses some of the latest research and observes how there is increasingly “more information about which herbs, supplements, and other alternative/complementary approaches can minimize treatment side effects and possibly even reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.”
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests combining certain chemotherapy treatments with certain antioxidants at specific dosages can help improve drug effectiveness or reduce the severity of side effects. In this evidence-based review article, we searched through thousands of peer-reviewed, published studies and discuss how antioxidants may enhance or, in some cases, inhibit the therapeutic action of specific chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer.
While it is true that there are some antioxidants that can hinder chemotherapy’s effects, recent research suggests that there are some antioxidants that, when combined with chemotherapy, can increase the effectiveness of treatment by upwards of 30%. In this article, we seek to provide some clarity on this topic by providing useful guidelines that patients and health care providers can use to make better, more informed treatment decisions. Although this article specifically focuses on advanced metastatic prostate cancer, future articles will focus on the use of antioxidants and chemotherapy in the treatment of other cancers.
In 2005, we addressed the issue of chemotherapy-related cognitive decline, sometimes called “chemo brain” or “chemo fog.” Since then, there have been some important new studies that provide more evidence of this problem, which we discuss and summarize in this new article.
When a visit to a hospital is necessary, knowing what to expect, who to contact, and how to ask questions can be immensely beneficial. In this article, author Sandra Boeschen writes how “with a little preparation, an inpatient or outpatient visit can be the healing event you need.”
This article discusses how to talk to children about cancer diagnosis and treatment. The author, Michael Haas, MA, MFT, writes how “explaining cancer to a child is difficult and requires thoughtfulness, compassion, and some understanding of how children of different ages deal with trauma.”
In this article, we discuss the impact cancer treatment can have on sexual functioning. By addressing this important topic, it is our hope that this article will facilitate a constructive discussion between patients and their partners and health care providers.
Dogs Excel on Smell Test to Find Cancer
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Article originally published in the New York Times on January 17, 2006. Click here for the original article.
In the small world of people who …
Often called “chemobrain,” patients going through various cancer treatments can sometimes experience cognitive dysfunction, such as slowed thinking, memory problems, and poor coordination. In the first of two new articles in our Becoming Your Own Advocate series, we address the issue of cognitive dysfunction by discussing its causes and offering various solutions that can help prevent or minimize its effects.
Guest contributor Marie Savard, MD, wants “each of us to take medical matters literally into our own hands” by compiling and maintaining a complete set of our own medical records. In the second new article in our Becoming Your Own Advocate series, Dr. Savard describes why a complete set of records is important and offers tips for how to go about finding and requesting copies.
There are few public health issues in the news right now that are more prominent than H1N1, the so-called “Swine Flu.” In a comprehensive review, we discuss how this flu is different from seasonal flu, whether or not it’s really a major concern, the different approaches to preventing and treating it, and how to decide if getting vaccinated is right for you.
There are few things in life that are black and white and medical research is certainly no exception. Being able to skillfully evaluate the authority, usefulness, and reliability of medical information is a crucial step towards making informed decisions in one’s own healthcare.
On Friday, December 4th, the Pine Street Foundation was featured on the “Montel Williams Across America” radio show.
Click here to listen to the interview
Chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of ovarian cancer work, in part, by inducing even higher levels of oxidative stress to attack cancer cells. This increased oxidative stress also causes chemotherapy related side effects. Oncologists have been concerned that antioxidants, which can decrease oxidative stress, can therefore also decrease chemotherapy treatment effectiveness or increase resistance to chemotherapy. However, no substantial clinical research has emerged to support the assertion that antioxidants are contraindicated during chemotherapy.
On Friday, December 4th, the Pine Street Foundation was featured on the “Montel Williams Across America” radio show.
Click here to listen to the interview
