August 10, 2001

In This Issue:
Men vs. Women's Experience of Pain, Men Preventing Prostate Cancer, Women Preventing Breast and Lung Cancer, Oncology Nursing Awards

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THE LATEST NEWS

Women, Men Experience Pain Differently

Safer Oxycontin Alternative in the Wings

Breast-Conserving Therapy Is Preferred Treatment For Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Necessity Of Annual PSA Screening Questioned

For twice a day updates to our cancer news section , see cancerpage

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MEN: HAVE YOU BEEN "SELECTED"?

More than 32,000 men will take part in a special study geared to prevent prostate cancer. Men will be partners with medical researchers and may decrease their chances of getting prostate cancer and may also help future generations of men avoid this cancer. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) is an important research study taking place in the United States, including Puerto Rico, as well as Canada. SELECT is trying to find out whether taking selenium and/or vitamin E supplements can prevent prostate cancer. There is some evidence that selenium and vitamin E may be able to prevent prostate cancer, but more study is needed. SELECT is sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. The study is coordinated by a group of researchers known as the Southwest Oncology Group and will take place in 400 locales. If you are 55 years of age or older (50 years of age or older if you are African-American) and have not had any type cancer in the last 5 years, you may be eligible to participate in SELECT. In US, call the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237 or TTY: 1-800-332-8615). Information available in Spanish and English. http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov/types/prostate/select/index.html

In Canada, call the Canadian Cancer Society at 1-888-939-3333. Information is in French and English: http://www.cancer.ca/

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WOMEN: ESTROGEN, SMOKING AND LUNG CANCER

The US Surgeon General dubbed lung cancer in women "a full-blown epidemic" in a report "Women and Smoking," because smoking causes more deaths than breast cancer. Lung cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths among US women, with approximately 60,000 deaths per year, according to the report. In addition, the sex hormone estrogen may be responsible for putting women at a higher risk for lung cancer, possibly by increasing the effects of known cancer-causing agents, according to a new article published in the British medical journal Lancet.

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NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR ONCOLOGY NURSING AWARD

The Oncology Nursing Society seeks nominations for the "Making A Difference Award" to recognize an oncology nurse who has made significant contributions to the oncology nursing profession, primarily at the local or regional level. Applications for this new award are available by contacting Laura Schnable at 412-921-7373, ext. 467 or email lschnable@ons.org. The application deadline is August 15. The Oncology Nursing Society offers many types of awards, scholarships, and grants for nurses as described in their 16-page document (in Adobe Acrobat format) http://www.ons.org/images/Library/ons_publications/PDFs/Awards_Booklet.pdf