Behind the Headlines

Could new gene markers herald better cancer tests?

Thursday Mar 28 2013

Most of the UK media have reported on what has been described as landmark research into the genetics of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Many commentators state that this will lead to cheap and reliable screening tests…

Women who stop taking breast cancer drugs risk early death

Friday Mar 22 2013

“Breast cancer survivors who cut short preventative treatment ‘risk early death’,” The Guardian reports, saying that women who have only three years of preventative treatment rather than five are more likely to die earlier…

Seven healthy lifestyle tips could 'halve cancer risk'

Tuesday Mar 19 2013

'The seven golden rules for a healthy life: Simple lifestyle steps can help prevent cancer and heart disease,' the Mail Online website reports. This accurate headline comes from a new study that found that people who took steps to reduce...

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Metastatic breast cancer blood test performs well

Thursday Mar 14 2013

A blood test to see how well women are responding to breast cancer treatment could be on its way, The Daily Telegraph reports. It describes the test as a 'liquid biopsy'…

Diet high in processed meat 'threatens health'

Friday Mar 8 2013

The big health news of the week is the claim that eating a diet high in processed meat can increase the risk of premature death due to cancer and heart disease. The current media scare stems from a large Europe-wide study…

Don't lose sleep over heart failure risk from insomnia

Wednesday Mar 6 2013

Insomnia "can triple your risk of heart failure", the Daily Mail reported today. Try not to lose sleep over this story. The Mail has chosen the most startling figure it can find. Fortunately, the results of the research are less worrying...

Breath test could help spot stomach cancer early

Wednesday Mar 6 2013

“A quick and simple breath test can diagnose stomach cancer”, BBC News accurately reports, saying it ‘could revolutionise and speed up the way this cancer is diagnosed’. Currently, the only way…

Skin cancer and obesity share genetic link

Monday Mar 4 2013

"A gene previously shown to be linked to obesity may also increase the risk of a deadly form of skin cancer," BBC News reports. The news comes from a study investigating the genetic factors associated with malignant melanoma...

Women's lung cancer death rates set to rise

Wednesday Feb 13 2013

The news that lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in British women is being widely reported by the media. The stories are based on...

Charity calls for boys to get HPV jab

Friday Feb 1 2013

Boys as well as girls should receive the HPV vaccine, say experts, it was reported by the BBC and others today. The experts, gathered together by the Throat Cancer Foundation, say the change is needed to prevent a rise in throat...