News and Alerts

Lung Cancer Remains Top Cancer Killer of Women

Lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer death of women in the United States and new cases in women are poised to outpace cases among men for the first time ever.

Although perceived as a "man's disease," lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death for both women and men, responsible for approximately 32 percent of all cancer deaths in men and 28 percent of cancer deaths in women. At one point, half the adult women in the United States were smokers, and almost 25 percent continue to smoke today.

Even more alarming, available data shows that women are more susceptible to lung cancer than men. There is preliminary data to suggest that estrogen- related hormones may promote cancer development in women exposed to tobacco.

Since current treatments for established lung cancer are so disappointing, and since this is a major threat to women, the National Foundation for Cancer Research is supporting research towards preventing lung cancer development in women at high risk. NFCR Project Director, ' Dr. Waun Ki Hong at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, is conducting research to identify the genetic and hormonal differences in women that put them at greater risk for lung cancer so they can receive chemoprevention.

For further information on the research regarding women and lung cancer, visit the NFCR Web site.

New vaccine could mean fewer childhood ear infections.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is expected to approve a new type of vaccine proven to fight deadly infections that often start as simple ear infections. The vaccine protects children from a type of bacteria that leads to pneumococcal disease, the most common cause of ear infections in children.

If approved, it would be given by injection at two, four and six months of age, with booster shots at a year and 15 months. Most parents don't realize pneumococcal disease can also cause meningitis, an inflammation of the tissue and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal canal, and bacteremia, a severe blood stream infection. The vaccine is 100 percent effective against these two rare conditions.

If the vaccine is approved by the FDA, as expected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is likely to recommend it for use in all healthy children. It would be given to infants and toddlers during their routine vaccinations and would be available to children up to age five.

For more about this visit FDA's Web site

Consumer Alerts

Precious Moments® Tender Tails® stuffed toys come with pom-poms that can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Enesco Corp., of Itasca, Ill., is recalling 472,000 of these toys.

Consumers should immediately cut off the pom-poms from these stuffed toys and return the pom-poms along with their name, address and phone number to Enesco to receive a free Tender Tails® Hippo toy. For more information, visit their web site, or email them at ttpompoms@enesco.com.

For more information about recalls, visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.

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