Health News
Stop the Bleeding Inside
It's scary losing blood. And bleeding inside the body somewhere along the esophagus, stomach and the upper small intestine can be even scarier. But blood transfusions can help, especially with certain methods.
Safe to Stall Transfusions
Doctors have long debated the appropriate timing for a red blood cell transfusion. Is it better to wait until the last minute when patients are in the most need? Or should doctors be proactive and transfuse early? Which is safer?
The Wild Card in Lymphoma
Cancer in one person can behave very differently than it might in another person. That’s because each person’s genes are unique. So some new cancer treatments can target the individual’s unique genetic fingerprint. Scientists are exploring possible new targets in lymphoma.
Aspirin for the Heart: Go Uncoated
Taking low-dose aspirin daily has been touted for years to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. Some people show resistance to this therapy in blood tests, but why?
Rx Shortages Affecting Kids With Cancer
There has been a shortage of certain medications for about three years now. Particularly hard hit have been generic injectable drugs. The shortage of one medication has affected kids with cancer.
At the Heart of Genetic Shenanigans
There has been lots of really good news about a rare blood cancer. Several new drugs have been approved to treat all stages of chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ). There’s also work happening to go after the disease at deeper levels.
Experimental Blood Cancer Rx is Showing Positive Results
There is excellent news for people with mantle cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. An experimental drug is demonstrating impressive results in a phase II clinical trial. But this is a limited research study, and the product is not yet available.
Cancer Wounds WTC Workers
When the World Trade Centers evaporated on 9/11, clouds of toxic chemicals were left in their wake. Researchers wanted to know the impact of these clouds on the health of rescue workers.
Bad to the Blood
When blood has gone bad, patients turn normally to donors for help. But using undefined stem cells from other parts of the patient's body may help donors become more of a last-minute option in the future.
New Leukemia Rx Hits Market
Folks living with two types of blood cancer have new choices as of today. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Iclusig ( ponatinib ) to treat chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( Ph + ALL).