Today’s dose has summer on the brain: we review stories on barbeques and skin damage. Also, news on the link between hair loss and prostate disease, and the success of a preventative breast cancer vaccine in mice.
— If you’re planning on busting out the barbeque this summer, you may want to consider putting an Italian twist on your burgers by adding oregano. A UCLA study suggests that adding a mixture of herbs and spices may reduce the levels of carcinogenic compounds that form during the grilling process. The study was funded by the McCormick Science Institute, the research wing of the spice manufacturer, so you might want to take the findings with a grain of salt. (SciAm)
— Hair loss in men could indicate a higher risk for an enlarged prostate. A study presented yesterday at a meeting of the American Urological association compared 30 men with male-pattern baldness against a group of their counterparts who had a full head of hair. The researchers found that the balding men had prostates 34% larger in volume and 32% lower urine flow. It’s thought that the genetic defect that leads to hair loss may also be linked to prostate disease. (LATimes)
— Even if you’re a man with a full head of hair, you should still go see your doctor. Cancer Research UK found that men’s death rate from skin cancer has doubled since the late 1970s. The researchers speculate that men are less likely to recognize the signs of skin cancer, and more likely to put off seeing the doctor if they spot a worrisome mole than women are. (BBC)
— A study detailing the success of a preventative breast cancer vaccine published in the most recent issue of this journal is getting some major media play, since placing the words “cancer”, “vaccine”, and “successful” in close proximity to each other causes news organizations to soar to new heights of hyperbole. While the vaccine did prevent breast tumor formation, it’s worth noting that the small study used only a dozen mice, and that the vaccine is a long ways away from being tested on humans. (CNN, and many more)
Posted on behalf of Roxanne Palmer
Image by Sudhamshu via Flickr Creative Commons