Listen, we’re not the type to throw around the word “literally” like all those people who annoy the heck out of everyone else by claiming that they are “literally starving.” You’re not, but we can say that a man who crawled through a wig store pilfering hair meant for cancer victims is literally a lowdown thief. Because of the crawling, and because stealing from people in need is awful. [More]
cancer
Drug Makers Raising Prices On Prescription Medicines Because They Can
By 5.9.14
Imatinib, a cancer drug sold under the name Gleevec by Novartis, is a life-saving and life-prolonging medication. The question for many patients, however, is: how much are they willing to pay to prolong their lives, and how much profit a company can make from one medication before it becomes immoral. [More]
FedEx Loses Breast Tumor Bound For Lab, Scares Cancer Patient
By 3.14.14
When a shipping service loses your new computer or your book, it can be frustrating but not catastrophic. After all, somewhere there’s a warehouse full of more computers and more books. Shippers also handle things that are totally irreplaceable. Like human tissue on which someone’s life depends. [More]
Steakhouse Apologizes After Asking Cancer Patient For Doctor’s Note To Wear Hat
By 12.17.13
Sometimes people have very good reasons to violate dress codes. We usually don’t hold infants to “coat and tie” policies, for example. Someone with no legs shouldn’t be required to wear shoes into a store. And a person who has lost their hair due to the side effects of chemotherapy should, by all means, be allowed to wear a nice knitted cap in a restaurant, even if they don’t normally allow hats. One would think. [More]
Tests Find Cancer-Causing Chemical In 98 Personal Care Products
By 8.27.13
Cocamide diethanolamine (cocamide DEA) is a chemically-modified form of coconut oil, sometimes used as a thickener or foaming agent in a number of products. It has also been listed by the state of California as a known carcinogen, meaning manufacturers are required to include a warning on the label. But recent tests found 98 shampoos, soaps, and other personal care products, that contain the chemical but don’t have any warning. [More]
Hospital On Flood Of Deliveries For Little Girl: Yes, There Is Such A Thing As Too Much Pizza
By 7.16.13
While I can think of nothing more delightful or delicious than a flood of pizzas, a show of support from well-wishers for a cancer-stricken 2-year-old who wanted a pizza finally had to be stopped by the hospital where she’s receiving treatment. Her mother taped a message to the hospital room window on Sunday simply reading, “Send Pizza” with her room number. And boy, did the Internet send pizza. [More]
Daughters Who Lost Mom Say Mall Kicked Them Out For “F—k Cancer” Hats
By 5.22.13
Three daughters who recently lost their mother to cancer say they were kicked out of the King of Prussia Mall outside of Philadelphia for sporting a unique tribute to her. Two of the women were wearing black-and-pink hats designed by a family friend that read “F – – K CANCER” with the C in the naughty word replaced by a pink breast-cancer-awareness ribbon. They claim that on Sunday, a security guard told them they had to take of their hats, or leave the mall. [More]
Government Report Says Inactivity And Obesity Are Linked To Cancer Risks
By 3.30.12
According to a government report, a lack of exercise and excess weight can make you more vulnerable to as many as a third of the most common cancers in the United States. Tobacco use is the only prevalent risk factor that leads to more preventable diseases and deaths. [More]
Cancer Is Afflicting And Killing Fewer Americans
By 1.5.12
Researchers at the American Cancer society say cancer prevention, detection and treatment are eroding the disease’s impact. Between 2004 and 2008, cancer claimed fewer American patients and victims, presumably leading to a decrease that continues to this day. [More]
FDA Says Some Cancer Drugs Are In Short Supply
By 8.25.11
According to the Food and Drug Administration, several generic cancer drugs are suffering dwindling supplies, creating stumbling blocks for treatment programs. The past two years have yielded sizable spikes in shortages, many of which are generic injections used to treat testicular and breast cancer. [More]
Comcast Repairman Charged With Stealing Jewelry From Customers, Including Cancer Patient
By 8.8.11
A Comcast technician in Georgia was charged with stealing from his customers homes when he went to make repairs, including jewelry from a recovering cancer patient. [More]
Applebee's Gives Free Meal To Man With Terminal Brain Cancer
By 7.20.11
Tashi has an incredible above and beyond letter of accolades for Applebee’s. Her husband has terminal brain cancer and they don’t have much money. How would they celebrate him being alive 500 days after being diagnosed? A 3rd party who knew about their situation contacted the local Applebee’s and arranged for part of their meal to be comped. But then the manager went above and beyond even this fantastic gesture and really made their night special. Here’s the letter she sent Applebee’s headquarters: [More]
Studies: 2 New Drugs Can Slow Advanced Melanoma
By 6.6.11
Physicians apparently have two strong new weapons against melanoma, according to studies that show a pair of drugs are effective at slowing the cancer in its advanced stage. The drugs could be game-changers for doctors and patients who have long struggled to find effective ways to treat the type of skin cancer. [More]
Report: Cellphone Use Is "Possibly Carcinogenic"
By 5.31.11
Since the first Gordon Gekkos of the world picked up their 10-pound brick mobile phones more than two decades ago, there have been numerous studies into the relationship, if any, between mobile phone use and cancer. And it’s a debate that won’t disappear anytime soon thanks to the World Health Organization’s announcement that it has categorized wireless phone use as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” [More]
Heavy Beer Drinkers May Increase Risk Of Cancer
By 4.7.11
Science lends more proof to Homer Simpson’s assertion that beer is both the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems. A Spanish study found that heavy beer drinking — two or three beers a day for several years — can increase the risk of gastric cancer, especially if the drinkers possess a specific gene variant that’s present in 20 percent of the population. [More]
Docs: Tanning Booths Should Be Outlawed For Teens
By 2.28.11
Last year, we asked readers if minors should be required to get parental permission to use a tanning bed and almost 75% of voters said yes. But today, the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared its belief that minors should be legally barred from entering a tanning salon. [More]
Justice Department Wants Big Tobacco To Admit Its Products Are Deadly
By 2.24.11
The Justice Department wants major tobacco companies to admit its products cause 1,200 Americans to die every day, and also that it misled consumers with advertisements that “light” and low-tar” cigarettes were less harmful than regular cigarettes. [More]
How Oral Sex Can Increase Risk Of Cancer
By 2.21.11
Oral sex seems less safe in light of news that it could surpass tobacco as the main cause of oral cancer for Americans age 50 and under. Human papilloma virus, known as HPV, can be passed from genitals to mouths, and the presence of the virus can lead to oral cancer. [More]
