July 2007

DIET VERY HIGH IN FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND FIBER AND LOW IN FAT DOES NOT APPEAR TO REDUCE RISK OF BREAST CANCER RECURRENCE MORE THAN THE “5-A-DAY” DIET
July 18, 2007 — Women with early stage breast cancer who adopted a diet very high in vegetables, fruit and fiber and low in fat did not have a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence compared to women who followed a diet of five or more servings a day of fruit and vegetables (the “5-A-Day” diet), according to a study in the July 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

June 2007

FIRST COMPACT PROTON THERAPY MACHINE FOR CANCER TREATMENT ENTERS DEVELOPMENT
June 14, 2007 — With a technology transfer agreement announced today, the first compact proton therapy system — one that would fit in any major cancer center and cost a fifth as much as a full-scale machine — is one step closer to reality.

GENE VARIATIONS MAY ACCOUNT FOR JAPAN-U.S. DIFFERENCES IN SUCCESS OF LUNG CANCER TREATMENT
June 2, 2007 — Last year, a groundbreaking international project found that a group of Japanese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer survived longer — and had a higher rate of side effects — than U.S. patients with the same diagnosis when both groups were given two well-known drugs for the disease.

May 2007

PROTECTION AGAINST CANCER FROM THE GRILL
May 23, 2007 — Although many Americans barbecue throughout the year, the Memorial Day holiday traditionally serves as the unofficial kickoff to the grilling season.

NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY CELEBRATION
May 4, 2007 — Cancer survivors, their family members, friends and caregivers are invited to take part in a weeklong series of programs and events at UC Davis Cancer Center in celebration of National Cancer Survivors Day.

UC DAVIS RESEARCHERS WIN GRANT FOR LATINO PALLIATIVE CANCER CARE STUDY
May 1, 2007 — UC Davis researchers have received a two-year, $144,000 grant from the American Cancer Society's new Palliative Care Initiative to develop and test a Spanish-language educational program for Latino cancer patients and their caregivers.

COMPUTER-AIDED DETECTION MAY REDUCE THE ACCURACY OF MAMMOGRAMS
April 4, 2007 — Computer-aided detection software designed to improve how radiologists interpret mammograms may instead make readings less accurate, according to new research.

TWO-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR, AGE 10, NAMED AMBASSADOR FOR CALIFORNIA CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS
March 27, 2007 — Francesca Arnaudo, 10, a two-time cancer survivor from Ripon, Calif., has been chosen as California's representative in the Champions Across America tour, an awareness campaign to highlight the vital work of the nation's 170 Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

GENERAL PHYSICALS PROMPT PATIENTS TO GET NEEDED CANCER SCREENINGS, STUDY FINDS
March 26, 2007 — If you're 50 or older, seeing your doctor every year or two for a checkup may be a good defense against cancer, according to a new study by researchers at UC Davis, the University of Washington, and Group Health Cooperative in Seattle.

UC DAVIS RESEARCHERS USE HEATED NANOPROBES TO DESTROY BREAST CANCER CELLS IN MICE
March 6, 2007 — In experiments with laboratory mice that bear aggressive human breast cancers, UC Davis researchers have used hot nanoprobes to slow the growth of tumors — without damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

UC DAVIS CANCER CENTER, SACRAMENTO STATE AND NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER COALITION HOST FREE PUBLIC ART EXHIBIT
March 5, 2007 — "Body Image/Body Essence," a traveling exhibit of artwork created by Massachusetts-based sculptor John Magnan as a response to his wife's diagnosis of ovarian cancer, will make its West Coast debut at Sacramento State's University Library Annex Gallery, at 6000 J St. in Sacramento, March 24 through April 27.

“SHAVE” THE WAY TO CONQUER PEDIATRIC CANCER
February 1, 2007 — Sacramento's fourth annual St. Baldrick's Day public shearing party to raise money for childhood cancer research will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 16, at UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X St. Along with head shaving, the event will include a raffle and kids' activities.

UC DAVIS RESEARCHERS AWARDED NIH GRANT TO DETERMINE IMPACT OF ANCESTRY ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
January 29, 2007 —  UC Davis researchers will conduct a first-of-its-kind genetic study to determine the importance of ancestry on the development of diseases in women, thanks to a grant of nearly $1.4 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

“SCREEN YOURSELF, VACCINATE YOUR DAUGHTER” CERVICAL CANCER AND HPV PROJECT LAUNCHED
January 24, 2007 — A statewide campaign to increase awareness and prevention of cervical cancer and its primary cause, the human papilloma virus, was announced at UC Davis Cancer Center today.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR STUDY OF ANCESTRY AND PROSTATE CANCER IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN
January 16, 2007 — A new study under way at UC Davis Cancer Center may help doctors see beyond skin color when it comes to decisions about prostate-cancer screening and treatment for African-American men.