Checking more lymph nodes linked to cancer patient survival “Current guidelines recommend evaluating at least 15 regional lymph nodes for gastric and pancreatic cancer, according to the study. Researchers reported that patients at a high-volume hospital or a hospital designated as a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center or as part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network were more likely to have at least 15 lymph nodes evaluated than patients undergoing surgery at community or low-volume hospitals. "Every reasonable attempt should be made to assess the optimal number of lymph nodes to accurately diagnose stage disease in patients with gastric and pancreatic cancer," said Bilimoria, who also is a research fellow at the American College of Surgeons. "The status of patients' lymph nodes is a powerful predictor of their outcome." “

An ecological study of cancer mortality rates including indices for dietary iron and zinc. (Anticancer Res. 2008) “CONCLUSION: Although there are mechanisms that explain why zinc should reduce the risk of cancer, whereas iron should increase the risk, these indices may represent the dietary sources of these nutrients, e.g. whole grains for zinc and red meat for iron, and other components of these dietary factors.”

Cancer Survival Rates Vary by Country: Study Shows U.S., Japan, and France Have Highest Cancer Survival Rates “The highest survival rates were found in the U.S. for breast and prostate cancer, in Japan for colon and rectal cancers in men, and in France for colon and rectal cancers in women, Coleman's team reports. In Canada and Australia, survival was also high for most cancers. The lowest cancer survival rates for all four cancers were found in Algeria.“

Hysterectomy: Out With the Ovaries or Not “There is not enough evidence to justify the routine removal of the ovaries during hysterectomy -- a common practice that may convey as many risks as benefits for premenopausal women, a new analysis suggests. About half of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the U.S. each year include surgical removal of the ovaries along with the uterus. The most common reason cited for ovary removal is to prevent ovarian cancer. But there is growing evidence that ovary removal may be associated with an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and other age-related diseases, such as osteoporosis and even dementia.”

Body Size and Renal Cell Cancer Incidence in a Large US Cohort Study (American Journal of Epidemiology 2008) “Weight gain in early (18–35 years of age) and mid- (35–50 years of age) adulthood was strongly associated with RCC, whereas weight gain after midlife (age 50 years to baseline) was unrelated. Waist-to hip ratio was positively associated with RCC in women and with height at age 18 years in both men and women.”

Light at night, chronodisruption, melatonin suppression, and cancer risk: a review. (Crit Rev Oncog. 2007)

Obesity and Risk of Cancer in Postmenopausal Korean Women (Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008) “Conclusion: Although variations exist between the individual cancer sites, obesity was associated with an overall increased risk of cancer in postmenopausal Korean women. To reduce the risk of cancer, active strategies to prevent obesity should be implemented in postmenopausal women.”

Obesity 'hikes' pancreatic risk “Obese women, who carry most of their excess weight around the stomach, are 70% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, research suggests. Obesity was thought to increase the risk - but more in men than women. However, the new study, of more than 138,000 postmenopausal US women over seven years, suggests it is a significant risk factor for women too. “

Mediterranean diet 'cuts cancer' “The biggest effect they found - a 9% reduction in risk - was achieved simply by eating more "unsaturated" fats such as olive oil. But just two changes - eating less red meat, and more peas, beans and lentils, cut the risk of cancer by 12%. … Their findings raised the possibility that broccoli, or other "cruciferous" vegetables, such as cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, could help prevent or slow down the disease, particularly if the man had a particular gene variant - GSTM1. Professor Richard Mithen, who led the research, published in the Public Library of Science journal, said: "Eating two or three portions of cruciferous vegetables per week, and maybe a few more if you lack the GSTM1 gene - should be encouraged." “

Physical Activity during Adulthood and Adolescence in Relation to Renal Cell Cancer (American Journal of Epidemiology 2008) “The authors conclude that increased physical activity, including activity during adolescence, is associated with reduced risk of renal cell cancer.”