Many 'High-Risk' Americans Unconcerned About Skin Cancer: Poll

• Cara Murez
• June 18, 2021
• Full Page

It's long been known the sun's rays can cause skin cancer.

But a new poll shows that only about 30% of American adults say they're concerned about developing skin cancer — even though nearly 70% have at least one risk factor for the disease.

The American Academy ...

Think You Can Skip That Annual Physical?  Think Again

• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

Despite calls from some leading health experts to scrap annual physicals because they are a waste of time and money, a new study finds advantages to routine screenings.

"While it is disappointing that I can't tell my patients a visit with me or my colleagues will help th...

Your Doctor Appointments Might Look Different Post-Pandemic

• June 6, 2021
• Full Page

If it's been a while since you've seen your doctor, it may be time to schedule a visit to catch up on preventive health screenings or discuss any health concerns and chronic medical conditions.

During the 15 months since people began quarantining, many have avoide...

U.S. Blood Supply Is Safe From Coronavirus, Study Finds

• Robert Preidt
• June 1, 2021
• Full Page

COVID-19 does not pose a threat to the safety of the United States' blood supply under existing donor screening guidelines, researchers report.

For the study, the investigators reviewed the results of tests for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in nearly 18,000 pools of donated...

After Testing Fell During Pandemic, Is a Surge in STDs Ahead?

• Robert Preidt
• May 27, 2021
• Full Page

There was a sharp drop in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that could translate into a future rise in cases, researchers say.

"The quickest way for people to spread STIs is to not know that they hav...

Mammography Rates Plummeted During Pandemic

• May 24, 2021
• Full Page

There was a sharp drop in mammography breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the decline was especially severe among American women of color and those living in rural areas, new research shows.

Those trends could cost lives in years to come, because "d...

Just 1 in 10 People With Alcohol Problems Get Treatment

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• May 24, 2021
• Full Page

Americans with drinking problems are rarely referred for treatment, even though most say a doctor has asked about their alcohol use, a new study finds.

The study is not the first to uncover low rates of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) -- the medical term ...

Get First Colonoscopy at 45, not 50: U.S. Expert Panel

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• May 18, 2021
• Full Page

A lot of people think of age 50 as the magic number for getting a first colonoscopy, but earlier is better, a prestigious U.S. expert panel now says.

Based on evidence that younger people are being diagnosed with colon cancer and would benefit from screening, the U.S. Pr...

Parents' Input Key When Screening Toddlers for Autism

• Steven Reinberg
• May 17, 2021
• Full Page

Early screening for autism can speed up diagnosis and treatment, and now new research shows that pediatricians are more likely to act when parents express concerns.

According to pediatricians surveyed in the study, only 39% of toddlers who had failed a screening looking ...

Researchers Develop First App-Based Rapid Gonorrhea Test

• Cara Murez
• May 13, 2021
• Full Page

Researchers say they have developed a rapid test for gonorrhea that could help reduce the spread of the sexually transmitted disease.

The test consists of an inexpensive, portable device and a cellphone app that will diagnose gonorrhea in less than 15 minutes. It can al...

COVID-19 Appears to Have No Lasting Impact on College Athletes' Hearts

• Robert Preidt
• May 10, 2021
• Full Page

Heart complications are rare among college athletes who have had COVID-19, according to a small study.

"Our findings may offer reassurance to high school athletes, coaches and parents where resources for testing can be limited," said senior author Dr. Ranjit Philip, assi...

Could Your Child Have a Heart Defect? Know the Warning Signs

• May 8, 2021
• Full Page

Heart defects are often - but not always - detected at birth, so it's important to pay attention when a child gets dizzy, passes out or says her heart is "beeping."

These and other warning signs, such as an apparent change in fitness, shouldn't be overlooked, an expert s...

Relatives' Colonoscopy Results Could Affect Your Colon Cancer Risk

• Robert Preidt
• May 5, 2021
• Full Page

Having close relatives with colon polyps -- which can be precursors of cancer -- could mean that you have a higher risk for colon cancer, researchers say.

Colon cancer is the second deadliest form of cancer in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

Americans Missed Almost 10 Million Cancer Screenings During Pandemic

• Robert Preidt
• May 5, 2021
• Full Page

Nearly 10 million cancer screenings have been missed in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers report.

The investigators analyzed data on three types of cancer for which early screenings are most beneficial -- breast, colon and prostate -- and fou...

4 in 10 Transgender Women Have HIV: CDC

• Robert Preidt
• April 16, 2021
• Full Page

Four in 10 transgender women have HIV, which shows the urgent need to offer them more prevention and treatment services, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

In interviews with more than 1,600 transgender women in Atlanta, Los Angele...

FDA Approves First AI Tool to Boost Colonoscopy Accuracy

• Robert Preidt
• April 13, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, April 13, 2021 (HealthDay News) --The first device that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help detect possible signs of colon cancer during colonoscopy has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The GI Genius uses AI-based machine learning to...

The Future of Cancer for Americans

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 8, 2021
• Full Page

At first glance, it appears that little will change between now and 2040 when it comes to the types of cancers that people develop and that kill them, a new forecast shows.

Breast, melanoma, lung and colon cancers are expected to be the most common types of cancers in th...

Mammogram Rates Have Rebounded Since Pandemic Began, But Concerns Remain

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• April 6, 2021
• Full Page

When the pandemic first hit last spring, screening mammograms fell by the wayside as COVID-19 became the most pressing medical concern in the country, but U.S. testing rates rebounded by mid-summer, a new study shows.

But even though things have returned to normal, it st...

COVID Fears Mean More Cancers Are Being Diagnosed at Later Stages

• Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
• April 1, 2021
• Full Page

Cancer screening rates are beginning to rebound after plummeting during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, a new survey finds.

And patients are being diagnosed with more advanced cancers than before the pandemic, according to the American Society for Radiation O...

Even in a Pandemic, Child Vision Tests Are Crucial

• Robert Preidt
• March 31, 2021
• Full Page

It's critical for parents to maintain their children's vision checkups during the COVID-19 pandemic, an expert says.

"All children should have their eyes checked by their pediatrician at regular intervals, even if they don't have any symptoms," said Dr. Samantha Feldman,...

Don't Delay Your Cancer Screenings, Surgeons' Group Urges

• Cara Murez
• March 29, 2021
• Full Page

Many people may have postponed cancer screenings during the coronavirus pandemic, but a major medical group says now is the time to catch up.

The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer is urging people to resume recommended cancer screenings to prevent further...

Study Ties Gum Disease to High Blood Pressure

• Robert Preidt
• March 29, 2021
• Full Page

Want to ward off high blood pressure? Don't forget to brush and floss.

A new study finds that severe gum disease may make an otherwise healthy person significantly more likely to develop high blood pressure.

"[Our] evidence indicates that periodontal bacteria cause...

U.S. Cancer Screening Rates Back to Normal After Pandemic Dip

• Robert Preidt
• March 24, 2021
• Full Page

After a sharp drop early in the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of routine breast and colon cancer screening soon returned to near-normal levels, a new study finds.

"These are the first findings to show that, despite real fears about the consequences of drop-off in cancer scree...

Many U.S. Mammography Centers Aren't Following Expert Guidelines: Report

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• March 18, 2021
• Full Page

An ongoing debate about when and how often women should undergo screening mammograms is intensifying in medical circles.

A new study and an editorial published online March 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine are adding new fuel to the fight.

The research suggest...

More Americans Would Get Lung Cancer Screening Under New Guidelines

• March 9, 2021
• Full Page

The number of Americans recommended for routine CT scans to spot lung cancer just got a lot bigger.

People between the ages of 50 and 80 who don't have symptoms of lung cancer, but are at high risk for the disease due to their smoking history should have the annual scre...

Skipping Mammograms Raises a Woman's Odds for Breast Cancer Death

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• March 2, 2021
• Full Page

Don't skip your breast cancer screening mammogram.

This is the overarching message of an extended study of more than a half-million Swedish women. Those who missed even one recommended screening mammogram were more likely to die from breast cancer, the study found.

Underarm Lump After COVID Shot Is Likely Lymph Swelling, Not Breast Cancer, Experts Say

• Cara Murez
• March 1, 2021
• Full Page

That swollen lymph node under your arm could be a temporary side effect of a COVID-19 shot and not a sign of serious health problems.

Radiologists from Massachusetts General Hospital noticed an increase in patients with swollen underarm lymph nodes as they were doing rou...

Why Is Liver Cancer More Lethal for Black Patients?

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• February 25, 2021
• Full Page

Black people with hepatitis C develop liver cancer sooner than people in other racial groups and the cancer is often more aggressive, but current screening guidelines may not be broad enough to catch these cases early, according to a new study.

Why? Despite often being m...

3D Mammograms Best at Spotting Tumors, But Many Black Women Missing Out

• Ernie Mundell and Cara Murez HealthDay Reporters
• February 24, 2021
• Full Page

Access to potentially lifesaving 3D mammography isn't equal, new research shows.

"This study was about whether adoption of this technology is equitable. We're showing that it has not been, even though it has been [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]-approved for a decade ...

COVID Vaccine Reaction Can Mimic Breast Cancer Symptoms, But Doctors Say 'Don't Panic'

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 11, 2021
• Full Page

One side effect of COVID-19 vaccination is creating undue fear among women, causing them to worry that they might have breast cancer.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can cause lymph nodes to swell, particularly those in the armpit on the side where the shot was rece...

Abnormal Stool Test Result? Don't Delay Your Colonoscopy

• Robert Preidt
• February 11, 2021
• Full Page

Getting a colonoscopy as soon as possible after an abnormal stool test could reduce your risk of colon cancer and death from the disease, researchers say.

In a new study, investigators analyzed data from more than 200,000 U.S. veterans, aged 50 to 75, who had an abnormal...

After Long Decline, Breast Cancers in Young U.S. Women Are On the Rise

• February 9, 2021
• Full Page

Breast cancer death rates are inching up in American women under age 40 again, after more than two decades of decline, researchers say.

The study authors said they hoped their new report would lead to a deeper look at reasons for the change.

"Our hope is that these...

Segregation, Poverty Tied to Worse Outcomes for Black Lung Cancer Patients

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• February 3, 2021
• Full Page

Racial segregation may help explain why Black Americans with lung cancer do more poorly than their white counterparts, a new study suggests.

For years, U.S. studies have documented racial disparities in lung cancer. Black Americans are less likely to receive surgery for ...

Heart Patients Avoiding Care During Pandemic: Survey

• Steven Reinberg
• February 1, 2021
• Full Page

Many Americans with heart disease are avoiding medical care during the pandemic, a new survey finds.

Only 52% of Americans sought medical care for a concerning health problem during the pandemic, according to the survey conducted by the Cleveland Clinic. Among patie...

Study Casts Doubt on 'Early Warning' System for Kidney Patients

• Robert Preidt
• January 25, 2021
• Full Page

Electronic 'early warning systems' for kidney damage in hospital patients don't improve outcomes, researchers say.

These systems are meant to alert for acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI, a sudden decrease in the kidney's filtration function, occurs in 15% of hospital patien...

Men, Make Health Your Goal This Year

• January 24, 2021
• Full Page

The new year is the ideal time to focus on your health and one expert has some tips, especially for men, for doing that.

According to Dr. Kevin McVary, director of Loyola Medicine Men's Health Center, in Maywood, Ill., "Men don't always focus on their health and, in fact...

Should Your Child Get a COVID Test?

• January 15, 2021
• Full Page

If you're trying to decide whether to have your child tested for COVID-19, talk with your pediatrician, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests.

Children and teens with COVID-19 symptoms should be tested immediately. This is especially important if they're goin...

Cancer Screening Fell Sharply Early in Pandemic, But Has Rebounded

• Robert Preidt
• January 14, 2021
• Full Page

As clinics closed for non-essential care and patients' COVID-19 fears kept them from check-ups, the United States saw a steep drop in cancer screenings and diagnoses during the first peak of the pandemic, a new report finds.

Researchers analyzed data on how many patients...

Genes Help Explain Role of Race in Prostate Cancer Risk

• Cara Murez
• January 7, 2021
• Full Page

If you're a Black man, your risk of getting prostate cancer is 75% higher than it is for a white man, and it's more than twice as deadly.

Now, research is helping to bring genetic risks for people of various racial and ethnic groups into focus. In doing so, dozens more r...

Some Americans Can't Access Telemedicine, Study Shows

• Dennis Thompson
• January 6, 2021
• Full Page

Telemedicine rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to their phones and computers rather than leave their homes for health care.

But some groups of people were left behind in the telemedicine boom, a new study reports.

Middle-aged and older ...

Tips for Making 2021 a Healthier Year

• January 2, 2021
• Full Page

A New Year's resolution to take better care of yourself is one you should keep, especially in the era of COVID-19.

Wearing a mask, maintaining a safe distance from others and washing your hands frequently are going remain important in 2021. But don't forget to prioritize...

Blood Pressure Often Differs Widely Between Two Arms: Study

• Amy Norton
• December 28, 2020
• Full Page

Blood pressure readings between the two arms can be different, and that disparity can sometimes be a warning sign of heart trouble down the road.

That's the finding of an analysis of 24 past studies: When people have at least a 5-point difference in blood pressure betwee...

Esophageal Cancer on the Rise Among the Young: Study

• Robert Preidt
• December 22, 2020
• Full Page

Esophageal cancer is increasing among young Americans, and they're more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease, according to a new study.

Esophageal cancer accounts for about 1% of U.S. cancer diagnoses, and just over 18,000 cases are expected to be diagnosed natio...

Pandemic Closures, Fears Keep Patients From Lung Cancer Screening

• Amy Norton
• December 21, 2020
• Full Page

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, many routine cancer screenings were put on hold. Now a new study suggests that lung cancer screenings have yet to rebound.

The findings come from one hospital system, but experts said they add to worries about the pandemi...

FDA OKs First Over-the-Counter Home Test for COVID-19

• Robert Preidt
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

The first non-prescription COVID-19 test that enables people to collect samples and get results at home has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"This is a great step forward," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns...

Body Temperature Higher in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Robert Preidt
• December 15, 2020
• Full Page

Rheumatoid arthritis patients who are in remission have significantly higher body temperatures than people without the joint disease, new research shows.

The study included 32 rheumatoid arthritis patients who were in remission and a healthy "control" group of 51 people ...

COVID in Kids: The Most Telling Symptoms

• Robert Preidt
• November 30, 2020
• Full Page

Among thousands of kids tested for COVID-19, an upset stomach, loss of taste/smell, fever and headache were symptoms most predictive of positive test results, a Canadian study found.

But one-third of children and teens with the coronavirus showed no symptoms, the resear...

MS Has Mixed Impact on Patients' Cancer Risk: Study

• November 25, 2020
• Full Page

How does having multiple sclerosis (MS) affect a person's odds for cancer? The answer may depend on the type of cancer, new research shows.

The study found that MS patients do have much greater odds of developing bladder cancer compared to people without the illness. But...

More Childbearing Women Having Suicidal Thoughts: Study

• Amy Norton
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

The number of women who contemplate suicide or self-harm during or after pregnancy may be on the rise, a large, new study suggests.

Among nearly 600,000 U.S. childbearing women, researchers found that close to 2,700 were diagnosed with suicidality in the year before or a...

Asymptomatic COVID Woman Shed Virus for 70 Days

• Robert Preidt
• November 9, 2020
• Full Page

Most people with the new coronavirus appear to actively shed infectious virus for about eight days. But a woman in Kirkland, Wash., may have set a record, shedding the virus for at least 70 days.

The 71-year-old was infected for at least 105 days overall, but had no symp...