US Firms Balk at EU Crackdown on Chemicals

Fresh food diet best way to avoiding risky chemical

(NEWSER) - The estrogen-mimicking compound BPA, linked to health problems including breast cancer and infertility , is found in plastics, canned food, and even store receipts. It's nearly impossible to avoid it completely, but researchers say eating more fresh food helps and Fast Company has some tips for further cutting down exposure. Try to avoid:

• Bottled water—Drink from the tap or try BPA-free stainless steel bottles.
• Canned foods— found to be especially high in BPA —unless the can states that it has a BPA-free lining.

Number of survivors rises 20% in six years

(NEWSER) - More people than ever can call themselves cancer survivors, according to new federal stats. Highlights from the New York Times :

• One in 20 adults has survived some form of the disease, including one in five people over age 65.
• The total number of survivors rose to 11.7 million in 2007, up from 9.8 million in 2001 and 3 million in 1971.
• About 65% of survivors have lived five years or more since diagnosis, 40% have lived at least 10 years, and 10% at least 25 years.

Lead researcher says kids' use should be restricted

(NEWSER) - One of the most thorough reviews yet of the health risks of cell phones suggests that longtime users face a higher risk of brain tumors. The World Health Organization study is not definitive, but it bolsters the case that precautions make sense. The lead researcher tells the Telegraph she thinks that kids' use of cell phones should be restricted—but not eliminated—and that adults should consider devices such as hands-free kits. More»

Just 3% of adult patients take part in studies

(NEWSER) - Cancer death rates have changed little in the past 40 years, and one big reason often goes unremarked on, experts say: only 3% of adult cancer patients participate in studies of treatments, the New York Times reports. More than a fifth of trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute couldn’t enroll a single subject, doctors found. “We can’t improve survival unless we test new treatments against established ones,” says one doc. More»

Experts say tumors could be treated as chronic diseases

(NEWSER) - Instead of waiting for cancer to return, some doctors are keeping up patients’ chemotherapy even when the threat has lessened, the New York Times reports. With maintenance therapy, some in the medical and drug industries say, it may be possible to treat cancer as a chronic disease, with tumors kept under control longer. But others say it’s not proven and could do more harm than good. More»