A systematic review of 47 studies evaluating treatment for melanoma, head and neck cancer, genitourinary cancers, gynecologic cancers, and sarcoma indicates that lymphedema is a common side effect of treatment for these diseases. These findings were recently published in the journal Cancer.[1] Lymphedema... Continue Reading

Results from a recent international study indicate that the vaccine Gardasil® (quadrivalent human papillomavirus [types 6, 11, 16, 18] recombinant vaccine) protects against genital warts and low-grade precancerous changes to the cervix, vulva, and vagina. These findings were published in the journal... Continue Reading

Apparently, old habits die hard: less than one-third of physicians report compliance with the updated guidelines for cervical cancer screening that suggest longer intervals between screening for women with normal test results. The results of this survey were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.[1] Historically,... Continue Reading

More than half of young adults in a new sexual relationship are infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), and of those 44% were infected with an HPV type that causes cancer, according to the results of a groundbreaking study called the HITCH Cohort Study (HPV Infection and Transmission in Couples... Continue Reading

Women over the age of 40 are not likely to benefit from a vaccine designed to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1 HPV has been shown to cause cervical cancer. Human papillomaviruses consist of more than... Continue Reading

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has revised its cervical cancer screening recommendations: the organization now recommends that women begin screening at the age of 21 and receive screening at less frequent intervals. These recommendations will be published in the December... Continue Reading

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cervarix®, a vaccine against two high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), for prevention of cervical cancer and cervical precancers. This is the second HPV vaccine to be approved in the United States. Human papillomaviruses (HPV) consist of more... Continue Reading

In 2008, excess body weight was responsible for over 124,000 new cancer diagnoses in Europe. These results were presented at a major European cancer conference. Obesity is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor not only for cancer development, but also for worse outcomes after cancer treatment.... Continue Reading

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee has concluded that Cervarix®—a vaccine against two high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV)—is safe and effective for the prevention of cervical cancer. Human papillomaviruses consist of more than 100 different viruses. Some types... Continue Reading

The risk of HPV-related cancers is elevated among AIDS patients. This risk continues to increase as patients’ immune systems become more compromised, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Human papillomaviruses (HPV) consist of more than 100... Continue Reading

Gardasil® Label Highlights Fainting Risk Information about the risk of fainting has been added to the “Warnings and Precautionsâ€� section of the prescribing information for the HPV vaccine Gardasil®. As with any vaccine, Gardasil recipients should remain seated or lying down and be observed for... Continue Reading

Sentinel Node Biopsy Is a Minimally-invasive, Effective Method for Determining Spread of Cervical Cancer The majority of women with cervical cancer can safely undergo sentinel node biopsy instead of full pelvic lymph node dissection to determine the spread of their disease, thereby avoiding the complications... Continue Reading