May 24, 2002 

In This Issue: 
Clinical Trials Confusion, PSA Test For Men, Keeping Statistics and Positive Thinking In Perspective, Higher Mortality for Uninsured, Gene Study Seeks Patients, Research Reports

********************************************************
THE LATEST NEWS
Confusion Affects Clinical Trial Enrollments

Enrolling in a Study? Most Don't Ask Key Questions

Annual PSA Testing May Be Unnecessary For Many Older Men

Stephan J. Gould and Putting Statistics In Their Place

Laser Treatment May Not Prevent Skin Cancer


********************************************************
ONCOLOGISTS' RESEARCH REPORTS NOW ONLINE
The American Society of Clinical Oncology, the professional association for oncologists, recently held its annual conference for physicians and researchers to discuss the latest treatments and hopes for treatments. Summaries of each report and a press release for some reports are available online. Those with fast connection speeds can listen to the taped presentations and read the slides used in the actual presentations. See ASCO's Virtual Meeting: 
http://virtualmeeting.asco.org/vm2002/default.cfm


********************************************************
CANCER PATIENTS WITHOUT INSURANCE FACE HIGHER MORTALITY RATES
Cancer patients who are uninsured have lower survival rates than the insured not only because of later detection, but also because they receive less treatments - even when the cancer is detected early. A new report by the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine indicates that even after adjusting for stage of illness at diagnosis and, for example, after following colorectal cancer patients for four years, the uninsured had a 64% greater death rate than the insured. See "Less Care Without Insurance Coverage," by Chris Thomas, cancerpage

********************************************************
"THE TYRANNY OF POSITIVE THINKING"
In The Human Side of Cancer, Jimmie C. Holland, M.D., of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, explores the issue of positive thinking as a method to fight cancer, showing the limits of such approach. Some patients feel angry when people suggest thinking positive: "If anyone else tells me to be positive, I'm going to slug them." He quotes one patient who said, "I got really depressed when people said I should think positive. If that's what I have to do to survive, I'm never going to make it." Another patient told Dr. Holland, "It's been hard (to be positive) when I've felt so washed out and tired (from treatments)." His theme is that it's OK to feel discouraged when fighting cancer. Patients often say they are frightened by the notion that feeling sad, upset, or angry can somehow make a tumor grow. He wants to set the record straight regarding the role of the mind in causing or prolonging cancer. For most cancers, the cause is far from clear, and there is no scientific evidence that positive thinking can shrink tumors, according to Holland. 
http://www.humansideofcancer.com/chapter2/chapter.2.htm


********************************************************
STUDY OF GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PREDISPOSITIONS TO CANCERS
The National Cancer Institute is conducting a study of 7,500 people at high risk of cancer. To be eligible, individuals must be at high risk of cancer due to personal or family medical history and/or have exposure to a high-risk environment, such certain industries. The long-term study will evaluate specific mutations in genes that may predispose a person to have cancer and, if mutations are found in clinical trial patients, their relatives may also be eligible for genetic testing. Unlike other trials, no treatments are given in this trial; the study will involve diagnostic tests is to document genetic and environmental factors related to cancers. To see more information, go to NCI's Clinical Trials homepage (see URL below), scroll to Protocol ID and type this code in the box: NCI-78-C-0039. Then scroll to bottom and choose a version of the information, depending on whether you are a Professional or Patient. Next, click on Search at the bottom of the page and click on Search on the following page. 
http://www.cancer.gov/search/clinical_trials/