(Press-News.org) Among patients with the most common form of kidney cancer, whites consistently have a survival advantage over blacks, regardless of patient and tumor characteristics or surgical treatment. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's results suggest that additional efforts are needed to prolong the survival of all patients with kidney cancer.
Since the mid-1990s, black Americans have had a higher incidence of renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer, than white Americans. Research also suggests that there are racial disparities in the survival of patients with renal cell carcinoma, with black patients dying earlier than whites.
When Wong-Ho Chow, PhD, currently of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute analyzed national data of nearly 40,000 renal cell carcinoma patients, they confirmed the poorer survival rates for black patients compared with whites. Specifically, 72.6 percent of white patients survived for at least five years, compared with 68.0 percent of black patients. The survival advantage of white patients over black patients was consistently seen in all subgroups of patients, regardless of gender, age, tumor stage or size, tumor subtype, or type of surgical treatment.
Surprisingly, a higher percentage of black patients than white patients were diagnosed at the localized stage, with smaller tumors, or with a less aggressive subtype of cancer. These factors should indicate a better prognosis. Also, compared with white patients, a slightly higher percentage of black patients received no surgical treatment, which is associated with a substantially poorer prognosis.
Additional studies are needed to determine why these disparities exist. "We cannot rule out the possibility that other factors not measured in our study—such as obesity, high blood pressure, access to care, and genetic susceptibility—may be contributing to the persistent disparities," said Dr. Chow.
###
Black patients with kidney cancer have poorer survival than whites
2012-11-12
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Survey of ER docs and pediatricians highlights need for training, tools to manage kids' concussions
2012-11-12
While general pediatricians and pediatric emergency physicians value their role in concussion management, a study of their self-reported knowledge, practices and attitudes points to the need for improved concussion-specific training and infrastructure to support optimal patient care. The study, released today in the journal Pediatrics, served as a catalyst for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to create a new "medical home" model for managing pediatric and adolescent concussion.
The study surveyed 145 emergency medicine and primary care providers, among whom ...
Helmets save lives of skiers and snowboarders
2012-11-12
The use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders decreases the risk and severity of head injuries and saves lives, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests. The findings debunk long-held beliefs by some that the use of helmets gives athletes a false sense of security and promotes dangerous behavior that might increase injuries.
"There really is a great case to be made for wearing helmets," says Adil H. Haider, M.D., M.P.H., an associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the leader of the study published in the November issue of the ...
Expert: Time to break the beta blocker habit?
2012-11-12
VIDEO:
First approved for use in the 1950s, beta blockers have been called the first "blockbuster " drug ever developed in the US. Today, millions of people take them for everything from...
Click here for more information.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) November 2012 - First developed in the 1950s, beta blockers have been a mainstay in medicine for decades, used to treat everything from heart disease to stage fright to glaucoma. But some older classes of beta blockers are causing ...
Researchers unlock ancient Maya secrets with modern soil science
2012-11-12
After emerging sometime before 1000 BC, the Maya rose to become the most advanced Pre-Columbian society in the Americas, thriving in jungle cities of tens of thousands of people, such as the one in Guatemala's Tikal National Park. But after reaching its peak between 250 and 900 AD, the Maya civilization began to wane and exactly why has been an enduring mystery to scientists.
Writing in the Nov.-Dec. issue of the Soil Science of America Journal (SSSA-J), an interdisciplinary team led by Richard Terry, a Brigham Young University soil scientist, now describes its analysis ...
San Diego Self Storage Matches Donations to "Bottles For Babies" to Benefit Military Families
2012-11-12
San Diego Self Storage (SDSS) is matching all financial donations from the 2012 "Bottles for Babies" collection campaign to benefit deserving military families. The campaign collected baby bottles and $5.00 to $20.00 donations to purchase baby bottles at 18 SDSS facilities through the non-profit organization MOM4USA. MOM4USA is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization that provides baby care packages to first-time active-duty parents, wounded warrior veterans and active-duty reservists. MOM4USA also offers assistance to military families through their mobile food pantry ...
Japan Rail Pass Now Re-Launches in Australia
2012-11-12
Japan Rail Pass Now announced today the relaunch of it's official website (japanrailpassnow.com.au). The website is apart of Japan Rail Pass Now's new online strategy which plans on becoming the market leader within the Australian market.
The main goal of the new website is to educate visitors on the many benefits of the Japan Rail Pass and enhance the user experience. With the well planned site design and optimized usability they hope that visitors planning on travel to Japan will benefit from the new features. From insightful content to easy to understand steps on ...
"Return to the Mother Tongue with Will Taegel" on November 13 "Why Shamanism Now?" Radio Show
2012-11-12
Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network on Tuesday, November 13, at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time, on her show "Why Shamanism Now?: A Practical Path to Authenticity," shaman and founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing Christina Pratt tells listeners that we must engage intimately with our wild heart to participate in shaping a new direction for humanity on Earth. Only through an intimate relationship with nature can we come to know our own true wild-hearted nature.
Pratt talks to renowned author and leading edge thinker, Will ...
Innovative Mind Group Scores Big with Reebok, Interscholastic Licensing Company with a Two- Year Licensing Agreement
2012-11-12
Innovative Mind Group (IMG), a youth sports marketing company, has inked its second major partnership in the last month by signing with Interscholastic Licensing Company (ILC) for the licensing rights of Reebok for a two year deal. IMG will use these rights to benefit programs under their operation, most notably, the Kennesaw Fury Travel Basketball Team. The partnership will also benefit IMG's Bonafide Southeast Conference and RimRocker Tournaments, reaching youth basketball programs throughout the southeastern region.
The Kennesaw Fury will take full advantage of this ...
Sirqul Announces Mobile Disaster Relief App (MDRA) to Help Manage Relief Coordination for Super Storm Sandy Volunteers
2012-11-12
Sirqul has spent the past year building solutions focused on social mobile location solutions. When phone calls came in earlier this week from a former co-worker and friend requesting information on how to help volunteers in the New York and New Jersey area, the entire team sprang into action. The result was a 3-day turnaround to develop a solution that targets aid workers, aid dispatchers and centers, and people who are looking for where to go to get the items they need. In collaboration with Wavesforwater.org, 1love.org, and volunteers on the ground in the Rockaway area ...
TranZcenter New RateMyShipment.com system is Changing the Transportation Industry!
2012-11-12
According to Mr. Milton Collier, the President of TranZcenter, LLC the RateMyShip.com website is what the industry needs, because RMS delivers on-demand to reduce on-going costs.
Feeling the pressure to reduce costs and improve customer service in the face of escalating freight rates and strict vendor requirements? RateMyShipment.com is a full-featured, transportation management system (TMS) that offers significant transportation cost savings and improved customer service levels through multi-modal optimization and exceptional shipment visibility. RateMyShipment.com ...