Screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in current and former smokers has the potential to avert approximately 12 000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. That is the conclusion of a new analysis published in CANCER.
Government'€™s National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout, specifically to the 10 provincial pilot sites, was the focus of finance minister Pravin Gordhan'€™s budget speech. However, while commentators welcomed the renewed focus on NHI, they wanted to hear more on rooting our failures and corruption within the health system.
Although smokers are expected to pay around R1.50 more per pack of 20 cigarettes, experts believe this increase is insufficient to deter young people from taking up this unhealthy habit.
New Zealand plans to follow Australia'€™s lead and remove all branding, including logos and colours, from tobacco products. However, authorities will wait until a challenge to Australia'€™s plain packaging law is resolved before implementing theirs.
Women trying to quit smoking are at greater risk for relapse when also drinking alcohol, according to a new study.
Banning smoking in public places reduces the risk of babies being born prematurely, according to a large new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Two-thirds of women smokers in their 50s to 70s died as a result of smoking and smokers lose at least 10 years of lifespan.
LUSIKISIKI. '€“ Residents from Mevana district in the Eastern Cape were stunned by the level of service they received from the emergency services in the area. This community, who is used to long queues, medicine stock outs and generally poor health services was pleasantly surprised when the emergency services arrived within minutes after they logged a call.
Smokers take on average three more sick days from work every year than non-smokers, according to a recent review published in the journal Addiction.
Research conducted in rural Sudan has shown that an inexpensive programme of breast cancer screening, undertaken by local volunteers, results in earlier detection of breast cancer, allowing improved treatment and management of the disease.
The number of smokers in sub-Saharan Africa will double over the next 12 to 13 years unless anti-smoking policies are adopted.
VHEMBE. '€“ Heavy rains have caused serious damage to roads in the Vhembe district causing serious problems for health services in the area.
The Lancet: Feb 4 was World Cancer Day, an opportunity to critically consider progress against cancer. Is it fair to say that the cancer medical community has failed patients living with cancer? This is a harsh statement, but according to respected oncologist, Franco Cavalli, whose Comment leads a discussion about cancer in today's Lancet: "Current strategies to control cancer are demonstrably not working."
LUSIKISIKI. '€“ Communities in the Eastern Cape are up in arms about the breakdown in health services in this province and activist groups here are pressurising local and provincial departments for answers and solutions.
Older smokers and former heavy smokers should consider low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans to screen for lung cancer.
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