August 9, 2020

Gynecological Cancers Not a Risk for Severe COVID-19: Study

THURSDAY, July 30, 2020 -- Despite rampant fears that cancer patients are at higher risk of having severe cases of COVID-19, a new study suggests gynecologic cancers do not boost the chances of hospitalization or death.

"Our study should be reassuring for women with gynecologic cancers who are worried that having cancer increases their risk of becoming seriously ill if they go to the hospital because of COVID-19," said lead investigator Olivia Lara, an oncology fellow at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center.

August 3, 2020

American Cancer Society Recommends HPV Test for Cervical Cancer Screening

THURSDAY, July 30, 2020 -- An updated guideline from the American Cancer Society calls for more simplified cervical cancer screening, administered less often.

The new guideline calls for an initial cervix screening at age 25, followed by the human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years, continuing through age 65, the guideline says.

August 3, 2020

What's the Best 'Uterine-Sparing' Treatment for Fibroids?

WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 -- Two "uterine-sparing" treatments for fibroids can improve women's quality of life -- though one might be more effective than the other, a new clinical trial suggests.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in and around the wall of the uterus that are usually harmless. But when they cause significant problems, like persistent pain and heavy menstrual bleeding, treatment may be necessary.

July 21, 2020

Under 50 and Had a Heart Attack? Quit Smoking, and You'll Live Longer

THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 -- If you're a smoker under 50 and you suffer a heart attack, new research suggests kicking the habit may be the best thing you can do to still be around years later.

"These results are definitive: among young people who have had a heart attack, quitting smoking is associated with a substantial benefit," said corresponding author Dr. Ron Blankstein, from the division of cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

July 16, 2020

Smog Harms Women's Brains, But One Food May Help Buffer the Damage

WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 -- Dirty air is the curse of urban living, and studies have shown that breathing it in harms the brains of men and women alike.

But a new study suggests that diet can help reverse the damage: Older women who regularly ate fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids seemed to better withstand the neurological effects of smog.

July 12, 2020

Stroke Treatment Gap Narrows Between Men and Women

WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2020 -- Women who have a stroke are far more likely to be treated with clot-busting drugs than they used to be, new research shows.

In the early 2000s, women suffering a stroke were 30% less likely than men to get clot-busting treatment, also known as thrombolysis. Recently, the gap has narrowed to 13%.