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New direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests, like the one approved in April by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA), are seen by some as tools that allow everyday Americans to learn not just about their family lineage but also their risk for diseases ranging from late-onset Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s, all from the comfort of home. The news may sound like a welcome development to many, but experts warn that these at-home tests should be viewed with caution.
The U.S. Food and Drug has made the breakthrough step of approving a cancer therapy based not on the tumor's primary location, but on a specific genetic feature found in the cancer’s DNA.
Do you ever wonder why one medication works for one patient but not another? The answer may lie in pharmacogenomics. This growing area of personalized medicine studies how a person’s unique genetic makeup influences his or her response to pharmaceutical drugs and medications.
As scientists and oncology specialists learn more about cancer cell behavior, they have developed a new generation of tools designed to counteract those mechanisms.
Experts warn against using the soursop fruit to treat cancer. While research suggests soursop may fight cancer, it has not been studied in humans. As a result, there is no evidence of its safety or efficacy.
HER2 is a gene found in healthy cells, but when it mutates, the body makes too many HER2 proteins, which may lead to breast cancer. Understanding the chemical and genetic makeup of your cancer, including whether it’s HER-2 positive, may help doctors recommend a specific treatment and predict how likely the tumor will respond.
In the search for better treatments and prevention strategies, scientists are learning more about how cancer grows and survives, even in the most hostile environments. This blog is an installment in an occasional series called “How does cancer do that?” designed to shine a spotlight on newly discovered cancer behaviors that add to our growing understanding.
Breast cancer is one disease that often causes a variety of more obvious signs and symptoms that may alert you to a potential concern to share with your doctor. Since early detection is key, doctors recommend that women know what these symptoms are, and learn how to spot them.
A new study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine concludes that replication errors in that process may be responsible for more than 60 percent of all cancers.
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The information contained in this blog is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in the blog is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment of any illness, condition or disease.