Health e News

From Comrades 2012 to comrades

Seven members of the Treatment Action Campaign’€™s (TAC) Runners for Health who participated at the Comrades Marathon successfully completed the marathon. Six managed to get bronze medals. This week they shared their reflections on this epic road race.

Understanding malaria

Researchers have taken another step towards greater understanding of malaria after figuring out how the mosquito manages to fight off infection from the parasite.

WHO: Mercury in skin-lightening creams still a problem

The World Health Organisation has released a technical document focusing on the issues associated with skin-lightening creams thatcontain mercury. One in three woman in South Africa are reported to be using these products on a regular basis despite the fact that it could cause kidney damage among other side-effects.

CT scans could triple the risk of leukaemia and brain cancer

Radiation exposure received from two to three computed tomography (CT) scans of the head in childhood (aged under 15 years) can triple the risk of later developing brain cancer, while around five to 10 such scans could triple the risk of developing leukaemia.

Tenofovir shortage almost over

The national health department has contracted additional pharmaceutical manufacturers to make up the critical shortage of the antiretroviral tenofovir across the country.

Early baldness may be a risk factor for prostate cancer

New research suggests that male pattern baldness may be a risk factor for prostate cancer.

25% reduction in preventable diseases by 2025

The World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has approved a resolution calling for a 25% reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2025.

Cancer docs suffer grief, doubt when patients die

A recent study revealed that some cancer doctors experience grief, self-doubt and despair when patients die, while others build up emotional walls and distance themselves from patients they can’€™t save.

Gene variation may give some smokers advantage over others

Smokers lucky enough to have inherited a ‘€œsuper-detox gene’€ could answer the age-old question of why some will develop smoking-related illnesses within the first five years of lighting up while others happily puff away for 50 years before dying of old age.

Many docs unfamiliar with chemo-risks

A survey of more than 1000 primary-care doctors in the United States suggests the vast majority have little knowledge about the long-term side effects of chemotherapy.

Blood test may improve diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Scientists have discovered that a simple blood test could lead to better diagnosis and treatment for early-stage breast cancer patients, according to an article published online first in The Lancet Oncology.

TAC “Comrades” tackle the race of a lifetime

Runners for Health, a group of runners from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), will be participating in this year’€™s Comrades Marathon. The annual 89 km race, running between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, will take place on Sunday. Read here why they describe it as their biggest challenge yet.

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