WEEKLY HEALTH WRAP

Researchers have identified two genes which play a key role in determining whether a person is at risk for breast cancer. Identified as Brca1 and Brca2, individuals with both the ‘breast cancer genes’ are found to be at a greater risk of inheriting breast cancer.
But new research shows there are two other genes, called Notch1 and Jagged1, which are linked to the more aggressive lung cancers. It’s believed patients are less likely to survive the disease when these two genes are found.

Scientists studied women with breast cancer, and found that patients with high levels of each of the two genes Brca1 and Brca2, had lower 5-year survival rates and shorter survival time overall than those without the genes. Those with both Brca1 and Brca2 had even shorter survival times.
The researchers say that developing a way of screening for these markers may help doctors identify patients who should be more aggressive about screening for breast cancer. In extreme cases it might even enable them to take protective measures, such as performing a mastectomy before cancer strikes.

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More on breast cancer- new research just released early by the New England Journal of Medicine looked at whether the newer digital mammography was more accurate than older film mammograms. Digital, or computerized mammography differs from standard mammography in that the system is equipped with a computer instead of a film cassette.
It allows the amount of contrast in the image to be manipulated so the denser areas of the breast can be seen with greater clarity.
The study found that digital mammograms are more accurate, particularly in women under the age of 50, who tend to have denser breasts.

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Eating a diet rich in beans, peas, nuts and cereals could help to prevent cancer because these foods contain a natural compound that inhibit the growth of tumors.
The compound killed tumors in mice and boosted the effect of other drugs against ovarian and lung cancer cells in the lab.
The researchers believe the compound could also be used to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs.

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Being popular as a teenager has its downsides.
According to a study in the October issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, popular students are more likely to become smokers than their less popular peers.
The researchers believe that the teens think that being among the first to experiment with smoking will help them stay popular. Then other kids pick up the habit to be like the popular kids.
If the findings hold up in other studies, it could hold a key to a new strategy to fight smoking. By using popular teens as role models not to smoke, anti-smoking campaigns could gain more steam.
Ironically the study also showed that isolated students-those who named no friends in the classroom-were also more likely to become smokers. This is presumably because they want to connect with older friends who are more likely to smoke.