Age, gender affect melanoma chemo success
Women with melanoma that has metastasized, or spread, respond more readily to chemotherapy than men, and the effect is particularly strong for older women, according to research presented here Saturday at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress.
( Reuters, 10/24/2002 10:31 AM PDT)

Monkey virus-cancer link debated
Despite years of study, there remains too little evidence to conclude a monkey virus that once tainted some polio vaccine can cause cancer in humans.
( 10/23/2002 06:44 AM PDT)

UC-Davis launches program to prompt cancer research
The cancer death rate for Asian-Americans is climbing faster than in any other ethnic group, yet many in the Asian population are still unaware that it is the most dangerous disease they face.
( By Marian Liu, Mercury News, 10/23/2002 06:57 AM PDT)

Breast cancer care different for black, white women
Older black Medicare recipients with breast cancer may receive different treatment for their cancer and appear to be less likely to pursue breast conservation strategies than white women, according to the results of a national study.
( BY DANA FRISCH, Reuters, 10/23/2002 07:00 AM PDT)

Disappointing results for cancer drug
An experimental drug that targets cancer in an entirely new way has yielded disappointing results when combined with chemotherapy for lung cancer patients, but experts remain convinced it has a role in fighting cancer.
( EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer, 10/22/2002 06:40 AM PDT)

Cancer survivor's story helps kids fight their battle
The teenager had been diagnosed with cancer toward the end of school last spring, and she wasn't talking to anyone. Angie Long, the new child life specialist at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, kept trying to break the ice, but the girl wasn't having any of it.
( BY STAN FINGER, The Wichita Eagle, 10/22/2002 07:20 AM PDT)

Elderly Seen Tolerating Cancer Drugs
Many elderly patients can tolerate powerful cancer drugs better than doctors think, according to research presented Sunday.
( EMMA ROSS, AP Medical Writer, 10/22/2002 06:44 AM PDT)

Lung Cancer Drug Disappoints in Chemo Combo
Drugmaker AstraZeneca will focus on testing its new anti-cancer drug Iressa as a stand-alone treatment after two phase III trials presented on Monday showed the drug added no survival benefit when combined with chemotherapy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
( BY STEPHEN PINCOCK, Reuters, 10/22/2002 11:50 AM PDT)

Cancer Link to 1950s Polio Vaccine Unclear: Panel
There is no way to be certain if a polio vaccine used decades ago, which was contaminated with a potentially cancer-causing monkey virus, actually led to an increased cancer rate in humans, a scientific panel from the Institute of Medicine concluded Tuesday.
( BY TODD ZWILLICH, Reuters, 10/22/2002 11:50 AM PDT)