ovarian cancer news stories on Newser

Taller Women at Higher Risk for Ovarian Cancer

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:21:48 CDT

Taller women face a higher risk of ovarian cancer, although the difference is small, according to a new study out of Oxford University. "If we compare a woman who is 5 feet tall with a woman who is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, there is a relative difference in ovarian...

In Case of 2 Cancer Drug Shortages, Relief

Kate Schwartz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:38:42 CST

Though the FDA cautions that "we're not out of the woods," it today announced that dangerous shortages of two cancer drugs are being addressed. Stores of the drugs in question—doxorubicin and methotrexate—became dangerously low after the company that made them closed its Ohio manufacturing facility over product safety...

Avastin Results Disappoint on Ovarian Cancer

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:14:37 CST

Avastin, the blockbuster drug that just lost approval for treating breast cancer , now looks disappointing against ovarian cancer, too. Two studies found it did not improve survival for most of these patients and kept their disease from worsening for only a few months, with more side effects. The Genentech drug...

Screening Doesn't Reduce Ovarian Cancer Deaths

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:41:19 CDT

Bad news from a new cancer study: Not only does ovarian cancer screening not reduce the number of deaths from the disease—it also leads to unnecessary treatment for false positives. The 16-year study of 78,000 women found that doctors "were unable to detect ovarian cancers any earlier" in...

Breakthroughs Boost Cancer Patients' Hopes

M. Morris — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:35:00 CDT

New treatments for cancer—breast, ovarian, and skin—raised hopes at this weekend's meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. The findings aren't enough for Robert Langreth of Forbes , who sees "serious questions about whether big drug companies may be rushing too fast." Judge for yourself. A...

Having Allergies Protects Against Cancer

Jane Yager — Mon, 24 May 2010 04:42:00 CDT

If pollen leaves you cursing your runny nose and itchy eyes each year, take solace in this upside: Allergy, asthma, and hay fever sufferers have significantly lower risks of developing many cancers. New studies show that asthmatics are 30% less likely to get ovarian cancer, while kids with airborne allergies...

Ovarian Cancer Breakthrough Raises Hopes

M. Morris — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:55:00 CDT

Combining an existing blood test for ovarian cancer with a new screening protocol may lead to a reliable way to diagnose the deadly disease in its early stages, a new study says. "This is an important step forward," the lead researcher tells the Houston Chronicle . " This may be pointing the...

Rights to Human Gene Patents Go on Trial

Jane Yager — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:52:18 CST

A Manhattan judge yesterday heard arguments on whether human genes should be covered by patents. A company called Myriad Genetics is being sued over its patents on two genes linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer—BRCA1 and BRCA2. The suit alleges that women's health is harmed...

Husband Enlists to Get Wife Back Into Chemotherapy

Will McCahill — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:41:12 CDT

Out of a job and unable to find work as the recession grinds on, a Wisconsin man desperate to find affordable chemotherapy for his cancer-stricken wife turned to Uncle Sam, but not for a handout—Bill Caudle, 39, enlisted in the Army. “Seventy percent of the reason is for the...