cancer

Health & Safety

People With HIV Are Less Likely To Get Needed Cancer Treatment

11:17am May 20, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

A third of patients with HIV and lung cancer failed to receive treatment for the cancer, compared with 14 percent of those who were HIV-negative. It's one example among many of disparate treatment.

The Power Of Genes, And The Line Between Biology And Destiny

9:09am May 17, 2016

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee says genetics play a significant role in identity, temperament, sexual orientation and disease risk — but that environment also matters. His new book is The Gene.

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The author at age 3 with her mother Brenda, in 1986.

On Mother's Day, Mourning The Mom My Baby Will Never Know

5:00am May 08, 2016

by Kendra Snyder

I watched my mother disappear bit by bit as cancer destroyed her brain. I don't know if she heard me when I said I was pregnant. But I still feel her love. I think our baby will, too.

Steve Julian, a radio host with KPCC in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last November. He and his wife, Felicia Friesema, turned to social media for solace, support and the space to process their heartbreaking journey.

Online Comfort For Real-World Cancer Can Be Surprisingly Sweet

10:10am April 08, 2016

Steve Julian is a morning anchor for KPCC-FM in Los Angeles, a playwright and a former cop. His communities are legion, and all cared deeply when he got his terminal diagnosis. How best to reach out?

Harvoni can cure hepatitis C, but the drug costs a fortune. Are loans to patients the answer?

Buying Costly Drugs On The Installment Plan: Could It Work?

8:42pm March 28, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Two academics suggest that loans financed by the private sector could be one way to help patients cover the cost of expensive, curative pharmaceuticals. Think mortgages.

Bad Luck Or Bad Genes? Dealing With BRCA And 'A Cancer In The Family'

1:29pm March 14, 2016

Oncologist Theodora Ross discusses the hereditary nature of cancer and her own predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, which led her to have a double mastectomy and to have her ovaries removed.

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Erbitux is used to treat cancers that start in the head and neck and tumors there that spread from other parts of the body. Because its effectiveness varies, should the price also?

Medicare Looks To Cut Drug Costs By Changing How It Pays Doctors

2:55pm March 09, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

The agency plans to reduce the incentive for doctors to use the most expensive drugs and link prices to patient outcomes, perhaps paying less when patients have to be admitted to a hospital.

Foods that fit the ketogenic diet are high in fat and low in sugar.

Fighting Cancer By Putting Tumor Cells On A Diet

5:37pm March 05, 2016

by Bret Stetka

While genetic mutations are nearly ubiquitous in cancer, they may not always be the driving force for disease, some researchers say. They suggest looking at disruptions in cellular metabolism.

Treatment for breast cancer can have side effects including painful sex, to the point that women forgo cancer medications.

Topical Estrogen May Help With Side Effects After Breast Cancer

6:20pm February 22, 2016

by Dana Farrington

Estrogen supplements have been linked to cancer risk, but vaginal estrogen is probably safe for women who have had breast cancer, a national gynecologists's group says. It can help with side effects.

Dr. Lucy Kalanithi and Dr. Paul Kalanithi with their daughter, Elizabeth Acadia.

Books
Arts

Inside A Doctor's Mind At The End Of His Life

3:33pm February 12, 2016

by NPR Staff

Dr. Paul Kalanithi was finishing his residency in neurosurgery when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. His memoir deals with the struggle and the joy of life as death drew near.

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