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breast cancer | Research | Treatment | 12 pages | source: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology | Added Feb 11, 2016

A new look on vitamin supplements in bone health

This article evaluated calcium and vitamin D supplementation in maintaining bone health in women with breast cancer.

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rheumatoid arthritis | Research | Treatment | 6 pages | source: Current Opinion in Rheumatology | Added Feb 11, 2016

Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: first, second and third options

This review examined the various treatment options for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 

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breast cancer | Research | 10 pages | source: British Journal of Cancer | Added Feb 09, 2016

LDH as an early predictor of cancer survival

This study investigated the relationship between lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and cancer-specific survival.

Researchers concluded that LDH can be used as an early indicator of cancer outcomes.

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rheumatoid arthritis | Research | Treatment | 10 pages | source: The Journal of Rheumatology | Added Feb 07, 2016

Evaluating the safety and effect of golimumab (Simponi) injections

This study assessed whether golimumab was effective for treating active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate therapy. The study concluded that 78% of patients achieve good response to long-term golimumab treatment.

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rheumatoid arthritis | Research | 8 pages | source: The Journal of Rheumatology | Added Feb 04, 2016

Can smoking and gender affect treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis patients?

This study examined whether smoking and gender can affect the response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

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breast cancer | Research | 10 pages | source: Journal of clinical oncology | Added Feb 01, 2016

Does chemotherapy have a persistent effect on cognitive function in breast cancer patients?

The present study looked at the persistence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with breast cancer, after they had completed chemotherapy for at least 6 months.  Except for slight impairments in verbal abilities (e.g. word-finding difficulty) and visuo-spatial abilities (e.g. getting lost more easily), no persistent decrease in cognitive functioning was identified.

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rheumatoid arthritis | Research | 10 pages | source: The Journal of Rheumatology | Added Jan 31, 2016

Can yoga improve activity in arthritis patients?

This study examined the effect of yoga on activity in arthritis patients.

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breast cancer | Research | 10 pages | source: Journal of clinical oncology | Added Jan 30, 2016

BRCA mutations - What is the risk of contralateral breast cancer?

This study looked at the risk of developing contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in patients with or without BRCA mutations. The study concluded that age at the time of first cancer diagnosis is a strong risk factor for CBC in patients with BRCA.

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rheumatoid arthritis | Research | 33 pages | source: Arthritis Care & Research | Added Jan 26, 2016

Exercise reduces metabolic syndrome in osteoarthritis patients

This study investigated the association between exercise and metabolic syndrome in patients with osteoarthritis

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breast cancer | Guidelines | 33 pages | source: CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians | Added Jan 25, 2016

Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors

This article outlines current guidelines regarding nutrition and physical activity for cancer survivors.

A cancer survivor is anyone diagnosed with cancer (cured or currently undergoing treatment). Environmental and dietary factors play a major role in cancer development. Adequate nutrition and regular physical activity improve quality of life and may help increase overall survival.

Guidelines for nutrition and physical activity take into account the status of the disease. For patients currently undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments, the authors recommend limiting dietary supplements (such as multi-vitamins) because they may interfere with some cancer drugs. One example of such an interaction is taking Folic acid (Folate) supplements when treated with anti-folate medications (i.e. Methotrexate). During cancer treatment, physical activity is not harmful, but should be done in moderation. After treatment, lifestyle changes for cancer survivors generally mirror those recommended to the general population.

Body weight should be kept at a healthy level, with a body-mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25. Some patients may benefit from weight gain, while others should try to lose weight. Overweight patients still benefit from small losses of 5-10% of body weight even if BMI targets are not met.

Physical activity has been linked to lower risks of recurrence and mortality. Aerobic and resistance training are recommended to improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength. Patients should seek medical advice before intense physical activity. Some conditions require special precautions: anemia, severe fatigue, having a compromised immune system, peripheral neuropathy. Patients who just underwent radiation therapy should avoid chlorine exposure (from pools) to irradiated skin. The presence of catheters to administer medication also requires special protection to prevent infection.

Cancer survivors should engage in moderate aerobic physical activity (such as brisk walking) for at least 150 minutes/week. Each session should last more than 10 minutes. Despite the benefits, most cancer survivors do not engage in physical activity.

Breast and ovarian cancer survivors should aim to prevent becoming overweight, since this may lead to a greater risk of recurrence and mortality. 0.5 to 2 point increases in BMI have been shown to increase breast cancer recurrence rates by 40%. Moderate physical activity is important to improve cancer outcomes and may help reduce the symptoms of lymphedema (swelling of the arm following lymph node surgery).

Vegetarian diets which also include fish or dairy products are recommended over strictly vegan diets which often require supplements. Most carbohydrates should come from vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. Nutritional supplements (i.e. multivitamins) do not offer significant benefits for cancer survivors. Vitamins and minerals should primarily be obtained from food sources. Alcohol may increase the liver toxicity of some chemotherapy agents and cause gastrointestinal irritation after radiation treatments. Special attention should be paid to food safety, since many cancer survivors have weaker immune systems to fight food borne infections.

Diet and lifestyle changes should be made after talking to your doctor who may recommend a dietician to help build a meal plan. It is important to be skeptical about news reports or single studies claiming extraordinary benefits of certain products. It is advisable to gather as much information as possible and talk to your doctor before making radical lifestyle changes.

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