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"NSAIDs may benefit colorectal cancer"

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Deaths from liver cancer are surging

Liver cancer has emerged as a growing problem across the USA.  It has been reported by the American Cancer Society that liver cancer has become the fastest growing cause of deaths from cancer in the United States. Death rates for this cancer have doubled in the USA ever since the mid 1980s.

Variations in major risk factors along with inequalities in access to treatment have led to racial variances in liver cancer mortality which are significant. It has been estimated by the American Cancer Society that liver cancer will account for approximately 41,000 new cancer cases and 29,000 deaths from cancer  alcohol, which increases liver cancer risk by about 10% per drink per day, and tobacco use, which increases liver cancer risk by approximately 50% in the United States in 2017.

Incidence of liver cancer has been on the rise in the USA since at least the mid 1970s. This trend is anticipated to continue through at least the year 2030. A higher rate of hepatitis C virus among baby boomers has been noted to be one primary contributing factors in this trend.

It is also likely that an increase in obesity and type 11 diabetes over the past few decades has contributed to this trend. Alcohol, which increases liver cancer risk by approximately 10 percent per drink per day, and tobacco use, which increases liver cancer risk by about 50 percent, are also likely to have been contributing to this trend.

It has been noted that there is significant disparity in liver cancer death rates by race/ethnicity. This disparity ranges from 5.5 per 100,000 in non-Hispanic whites to 11.9 per 100,000 among American Indians/Alaska Natives.

The authors have written that most liver cancers can be prevented. It has been suggested that there should be improvements in hepatitis B virus vaccination and better screening and treatment of HCV. It has also been advised to maintain a healthy body weight, get high quality care of diabetes, and avoid excessive alcohol drinking and smoking.

This study has been published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. There is a high fatality rate associated with liver cancer. Efforts for the aggressive prevention of liver cancer are suggested.

Mars astronauts will be at increased risk for cancer

The idea to actually send astronauts to Mars is fascinating. However, there are health risks involved with such a venture which must be taken seriously. 

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas reports there will be an increased risk for cancer in Mars astronauts due to collateral damage from cosmic rays.  Researchers at UNLV have predicted a dramatic increase in cancer for these astronauts. There is heavy damage to cells from cosmic rays such as iron and titanium atoms because they have high rates of ionization.   

UNLV scientist Francis Cucinotta, who is a leading scholar on radiation and space physics, says that 900 days or more will be needed for Mars missions. The extensive time in deep space makes exposures to all energies of galactic cosmic ray heavy ions unavoidable. Exposure risks would just be moderately lowered with present levels of radiation shielding.

Cucinotta has said that a cell's nucleus can be devastated by galactic cosmic ray exposure and can cause mutations which can lead to cancer. It has also been observed that signals are sent from the damaged cells to surrounding, unaffected cells and this likely modifies the tissues. It seems these signals lead to mutations of healthy cells which leads to more tumors or cancers.

This study has been published in Scientific Reports. It has become clear risk of cancer is a vital concern for galactic cosmic ray exposures. Cucinotta has been right to point out that increasing acceptable risk levels for long-term space missions outside of the protection of the Earth’s geomagnetic sphere raises serious ethical flags. The true nature of the risks are not yet completely understood and so further investigations of this matter are necessary.