Five Common Mistakes About Cancer

New report focuses on disparities in funding, incidence, survival

(NEWSER) - The number of women diagnosed with lung cancer is soaring, but federal funding for research lags even though the disease is more common than cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon—combined. A new report drills down on research about women and lung cancer, sorting out findings about incidence, gender disparities, and survival. Perhaps most interesting, "all federal spending for lung cancer research amounts to $1,249 for each lung cancer death," Richard Know writes for NPR . "Spending for breast cancer research is 21 times higher—$27,480 per death." More»

Research ties disease to specific mutations

(NEWSER) - Scientists have mapped the genomes of skin and lung cancer, allowing them to know which specific mutations cause the disease. The development, hailed as a major breakthrough, could lead to earlier detection and better drug treatments. Melanoma and lung cancer are triggered by sets of tens of thousands of errors, mostly caused by overexposure to the sun and cigarette smoke, respectively. One researcher likened the process to Russian roulette—"Most of the time the mutations will land in innocent parts of the genome, but some will hit the right targets for cancer." More»

Pomegranate juice, blueberries, and sushi should be in your diet

(NEWSER) - Here are 8 ways to boost your odds of warding off cancer, courtesy of Dr. Gary Stoner and the Ohio State University medical center in Men's Health.

1. Drink pomegranate juice
2. Eat blueberries
3. Reduce stress

What you eat—and just as importantly what you don't—may affect your risk of getting cancer

(NEWSER) - Genes may be a bigger factor than diet, but what you eat can still affect your chances of developing cancer. MSNBC tells you what to pile on your plate, and what to avoid. Eat up:

1. Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale
2. High-fiber anything
3. Foods rich in vitamin D and calcium

Compound in fruit's skin attacks, destroys abnormal cells

(NEWSER) - UK researchers may have found a natural way to combat certain cancers. In tests, a chemical compound in tangerine peel attacked and destroyed cancer cells. The findings could lead to treatments for cancers of the breast, lung, prostate, and ovaries, Reuters says. “It is very exciting to find a compound in food that can target cancers specifically,” said one chemist. More»