Don't Become a Flu Statistic. Get Vaccinated

TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 -- With flu season imminent, U.S. health officials urge everyone 6 months and older to get a flu shot.

Already, one unvaccinated child in Florida has died from flu, the officials warned.

Less-Invasive Surgery for Cervical Cancer May Bring More Risks, Studies Find

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 -- Surgeons have long turned to a minimally invasive means of hysterectomy when treating early stage cervical cancer.

However, two new studies could change all that. Both found the approach was linked to a higher rate of cancer recurrence, plus worse long-term survival, compared to more "open" surgeries.

How Necessary Is HPV Cervical Cancer Screening for Women After Age 55?

FRIDAY, Nov. 2, 2018 -- Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) has become the standard of care in screening for cervical cancer. But now, Canadian researchers say it may become unnecessary in women aged 55 or older who have one negative result with the test.

The DNA-based HPV test is highly accurate in detecting 14 high-risk strains of the virus that causes the majority of cervical cancers.

Obesity Doubles Odds for Colon Cancer in Younger Women

THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 -- While rates of colon cancer have declined among people 50 and older, they're on the rise for younger Americans. Now, new research suggests widening waistlines may be one reason why.

In the study, women aged 20 to 49 who were overweight or obese had up to twice the risk for colon cancer before age 50, compared with normal-weight women.

Does Breastfeeding Hormone Protect Against Type 2 Diabetes?

THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 -- The hormone prolactin -- most commonly associated with breastfeeding -- may play a role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that women with the highest levels of the hormone, though still in the normal range, had a 27 percent reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with the lowest levels in the normal range.

Newer Birth Control Pills Tied to Lower Odds for Ovarian Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay -- News) -- There's long been a connection between birth control pills and a reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Now, new research suggests that's true for the latest form of the drug, as well.

Scientists say the protective effect of the newer pills -- which contain lower doses of estrogens and different progestogens -- rose over time and persisted for several years after women stopped taking them.