News digest prostate cancer MRI trial, drug delivery, cancer cures on Facebook and weight loss – Cancer Research UK – Science Blog

Radiographers are responsible for taking MRI scans.

BBC News reports on a new large-scale trial that will test if MRI scans could be used to screen men for prostate cancer. The trial will invite 300 randomly selected men aged 50 to 75 years old to have a 10-minute MRI scan and a PSA blood test. Scientists are hoping to find out if using MRI in this way could help to flag men who have signs of prostate cancer without the need for a biopsy. Weve blogged before about how scientists are working to improve prostate cancer diagnosis.

A British woman is the first person in the world to receive a new treatment that aims to deliver high doses of chemotherapy directly to cancer cells. The treatment, which uses tiny clusters of bubbles and liquid droplets to enhance the delivery of chemotherapy, is part of a clinical trial being carried out in London thats looking to reduce the number of doses of chemotherapy and its side effects for cancer patients. Read the full story in The Metro.

A cheaper version of the breast cancer drug Herceptin has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This decision will make it possible for women in low-income countries to benefit from treatment. This type of hormone therapy blocks off certain cancers fuel supply. More on this in The Guardian.

Several Facebook groups promoting a dangerous skin cancer treatment have been banned from the social media channel, following concerns about sensational health claims. Groups were promoting a black salve paste, which they claimed had the ability to cure skin cancer by eating away at only cancerous cells. According to Buzzfeed News, the groups have been found to be in violation of Facebook rules that prohibit violent and criminal behaviour. Commenting on the story, experts strongly advised anyone considering taking an alternative or complimentary medicine to seek advice from a trained medical professional.

The Mail Online covers a study that says that post-menopausal women who are overweight could reduce their risk of breast cancer if they lose at least 20lbs. But the results present quite a complicated picture. Women who had sustainedweightloss only had a reduced cancer risk if they werent taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). And because hormone replacement therapy can increase the risk of breast cancer too, its hard to untangle which risk factor is having an effect. Unfortunately, theres still not enough evidence to know what effect different patterns ofweightloss can have on cancer risk.

Scarlett Sangster is a writer for PA Media Group

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News digest prostate cancer MRI trial, drug delivery, cancer cures on Facebook and weight loss - Cancer Research UK - Science Blog