Dr. Len's Cancer Blog

As I sit here tonight watching the “Stand Up To Cancer” television show, I find myself admiring the quality of the effort that went into this program.

The producers and the entertainers have certainly tugged at my heartstrings, and I suspect they have done so for many, many people throughout the country as well.  This is, in a simple phrase, a smashing success.

It is no secret that when the stars come out, they get the attention of the masses.  That is a good thing when it comes to cancer research.

Yesterday, USA Today ran a lead story in their “Life” section about tonight’s “Stand Up To Cancer” television event, and today the American Cancer Society ran a full page advertisement in the same newspaper with the headline “A question so important it will take an entire nation to answer it.”

But there is more to the story, and we must embrace the concept with the understanding that there is much to be done in the fight against cancer.  It will take more than any organization’s single moment if we are going to succeed in our efforts to reduce the burden and suffering from these dreaded diseases we call cancer.

There has been a buzz lately in cancer research circles about an event that is going to air tomorrow evening on the three major television networks from 8 to 9PM EDT.

It is always a powerful moment when the media and Hollywood come together to promote something as important as cancer research.  The organizers of this event are to be commended for their commitment to raising awareness of the need for more funding for cancer research and putting the topic front and center in the public eye.

But sometimes strange things happen on the way to the chapel.  One of those is noted in an email I received late yesterday announcing that Brad Garrett is going to have a prostate cancer screening examination shown on national TV as part of this program.

Recently, there have been some question as to whether or not Vytorin is effective in reducing the risk of cholesterol-related heart disease.  Now, another concern has been raised that Vytorin can increase the risk of getting cancer.

This week the New England Journal of Medicine has published two research papers and an editorial that provide the first detailed glimpse into the controversy.  Unfortunately, the evidence isn’t sufficient in my opinion to provide a clear yes or no answer as to whether the increased risk of cancer is real.

Sometimes you just can’t get it right for trying.

I must admit that I am not a big “media fan” or stargazer, and I know nothing about an online website called TMZ.  What I have learned is that TMZ’s claim to fame is showing movie stars behaving badly.

Why am I even writing about this?

Because earlier this week, our division office in California was contacted by TMZ for a news comment.  The topic was a photo of Michael Jordan smoking a cigar at a softball game. 

Last week I wrote about an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that suggested a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure might prevent some of the more common forms of skin cancer.

Another article in the same issue of the Journal was also thought provoking.  That research suggested that the diagnosis of common skin cancers—especially in young people—may be a signal of increased risk of other more serious forms of cancer elsewhere in the body.

When Christina Applegate recently revealed that she had an inherited form of breast cancer and had bilateral mastectomies, there was an outpouring of media interest and genuine concern.  When she said she was cured, a lot of breast cancer survivors and doctors scratched their heads wondering what message she was sending.

An article in the current issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute provides a clue as to how many skin cancers could be prevented in those at high risk by using drugs that are common and readily available.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States today.  In 2008, over 1 million people will be diagnosed with either basal cell (BCC) or squamous cell skin cancers (SCC) or malignant melanoma. 

Basal and squamous cell cancers are very common, usually easily treated, and infrequently lead to death.  Melanoma, on the other hand, is less common but more malignant and unfortunately if not caught early can spread throughout the body. 

All of these cancers have been tied to sun exposure, which is one of the reasons the American Cancer Society and many other health-related organizations urge people to practice sun-safe behaviors.

You learn as a doctor to never say never. 

This past Wednesday I was a member of a panel that was brought together by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to review the clinical indications for using PET scans in cancer.

While trying to make decisions regarding the effectiveness and benefits of PET scans in various cancers, I made a discovery that was a surprise to me: something that I previously thought was a far out theory for cancer treatment may in fact be plausible after all.

Today marks the American Cancer Society’s 2008 Great American Eat Right Challenge. 

It is a time to remind all of us of the importance of healthy eating, healthy weight, and healthy exercise in reducing our risk of cancer.  It is also a day to “call to action” the American people to take what they know and finally do something about their ever increasing waistlines.

I guess I get a bit cynical from time to time about this subject.  The results of a survey recently completed by the Society don’t do much to improve my frame of mind on this topic. 

It appears that tackling our diets and getting off our duffs just isn’t at the top-of-mind for many of us.