Early Bird Special
20 % reduced risk for breast and prostate cancers .
The Image of Health ?
The Heart of the Matter
Data Stream
Early Bird Special
Results from a case-control study of more than 4,000 people suggest that eating dinner earlier – and waiting at least 2 hours before going to bed – could lower one ’ s risk of developing cancer .
Researchers evaluated patients with breast cancer ( n = 1,205 ) or prostate cancer ( n = 621 ) and 2,193 controls who kept diaries of their food intake and sleeping patterns . Compared with those who went to sleep immediately after dinner , participants who waited 2 or more hours had a
20 % reduced risk for breast and prostate cancers .
The ideal dinner time is before 9 p . m . Those who ate dinner after 10 p . m . had a 20 % higher risk of cancers .
These findings suggest that long-term disruptions to natural human cycles play a role in increasing cancer risk , and “ adherence to a more diurnal eating pattern , and specifically a long interval between last meal and sleep ,” could lower this risk , the authors wrote .
Source : Kogevinas M , Espinosa A , Castello A , et al . Effect of mistimed eating patterns on breast and prostate cancer risk ( MCC-Spain Study ). Intl J Cancer . 2018 July 17 . [ Epub ahead of print ]
The Image of Health ?
Clinicians should be more judicious with their use of CT scans in children , according to results from a Dutch study that suggests this type of imaging is associated with a higher risk of brain tumors and other cancers later in life .
After comparing expected with observed cancer incidence in more than 160,000 children who underwent CT scans between 1979 and 2012 , the researchers observed that this type of imaging was associated with increased risks for :
120 %
100 %
80 %
60 %
40 %
20 %
0 % lymphoproliferative disorders ↑39 % any type of cancer ↑47 % brain tumors ↑105 %
The Heart of the Matter
According to researchers from the Mayo Clinic ’ s Rochester Epidemiology Project , a diagnosis of breast cancer or lymphoma increases people ’ s risk for developing heart failure – a risk that was evident 1 year after diagnosis and persisted for more than 20 years .
Investigators compared rates of heart failure between 1,550 patients without a history of cancer and 900 patients with a history of either breast cancer or lymphoma , finding that :
2 %
of patients without cancer developed heart failure
7 %
of patients with cancer developed heart failure
“ CT scans for children represent a potentially life-saving and quality of life – improving technique for many patients ,” the authors concluded . Although the absolute number of cases was small , “ careful justification of pediatric CT scans and dose optimization , as are customary in many hospitals , are essential to minimize risks .”
Source : Meulepas JM , Ronckers CM , Smets AMJB , et al . Radiation exposure from pediatric CT scans and subsequent cancer risk in the Netherlands . J Ntl Cancer Inst . 2018 July 18 . [ Epub ahead of print ]
This translated to a more than 3-fold risk of developing new-onset heart failure ( hazard ratio = 3.65 ; 95 % CI 2.55-5.24 ; p < 0.01 ).
Undergoing chemotherapy – high doses of doxorubicin , in particular – was suggested as a major risk factor for heart failure . “ We need to be more vigilant in making sure we try to prevent or control heart issues post-cancer care , especially in light of the growing appreciation of the connection between some cancer treatments and heart disease ,” the authors concluded .
Source : Larsen C , Dasari H , Calle MCA , et al . Short and long term risk of congestive heart failure in breast cancer and lymphoma patients compared to controls : an epidemiologic study . Abstract # 1105-066 . Presented at the American College of Cardiology ’ s 67th Annual Scientific Session & Expo , March 10 , 2018 ; Orlando , Florida .
28 ASH Clinical News September 2018