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Ovarian cancer, also known as “the silent killer,” may soon be detected earlier, giving women improved survival rates, with the recognition of specific early warning signs which including abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, urinary urgency or frequency, pelvic and lower back pressure, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly and abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Bladder cancer has one of the highest recurrence rates, but there are many tests and ways to monitor for early detection including, urine cytology, cystoscopy, BladderChek, UroVysion, FISH and ImmunoCyt Bladder Cancer Monitoring Test.

Research focusing on early detection and prevention of prostate cancer with chemoprevention drugs such as Proscar and Avodart and dietary prevention with vitamins and supplements such as vitamin E and selenium.

The STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) trial, one of the largest breast cancer prevention trials ever conducted, showed that five years of Evista is as effective as tamoxifen in lowering risk of developing breast cancer, giving high-risk women a new option for prevention

Many people, especially young adults and teens, are unaware of the dangers of indoor tanning beds and that they give off UV light, just like the sun, and can cause skin cancer.

Many cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy or chemotherapy experience moderate to severe treatment-related fatigue—tiredness, feeling drained, low energy, shortness of breath, concentration difficulty—and although the specific cause is unknown, there are ways to manage cancer fatigue including exercise, meditation, stress reduction, energy conservation and certain medications.

Choosing which cancer treatment is right for you is tough, but it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of each option and consider getting a second opinion, and studies show that most men diagnosed with prostate cancer base treatment decisions on preconceived ideas and fears or stories heard from other patients rather than logical evaluation of each treatment option—chemotherapy, radiation, surgery—and information from doctors.

Oncologists are increasingly focusing on treatment-related infertility.

With research focused on targeted therapies that are less toxic, patients with advanced and rare cancers once considered incurable are being diagnosed earlier with better screening and diagnostic tests and living longer with new treatments like Xeloda for advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Women with hormone-negative breast cancers may not be able to benefit from tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, but a subset of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer are able to take advantage of advances such as Herceptin and Tykerb. For women with hormone- and HER2-negative cancers, or triple negative, new research into what drives these cancers and prevent recurrence may increase treatment options and benefit this population.

With the Food and Drug Administration requesting more information about the efficacy of Provenge, an investigational vaccine for hormone-refractory prostate cancer and what many expected to be the first vaccine approved to treat cancer, one may wonder when a therapeutic vaccine will finally reach patients outside clinical trials. But as researchers learn more about the immune system, develop better vaccines, and find how best to study their effects on cancer, vaccines are still expected to be an important player in the future of cancer therapy.

A guide for caregivers after treatment ends—what to expect, how to return to normal, accepting a new role, coping with grief and finding emotional support.

A guide for navigating the challenging territory of caretaking.

How and why caregivers should care for themselves.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2007 top Clinical Cancer Advances: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention, and Screening saw advances in liver cancer, better screening methods for breast cancer, and the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer—each advancement in prevention, screening, and treatment brings researchers one step closer to improving quality care for all people affected by cancer.

Brian Durie, MD, and Susan Novis, president of the International Myeloma Foundation, answer questions about the progress in multiple myeloma.

Patients and their caregivers must do a balancing act during the holidays of continuing past traditions while also conforming to the demands of cancer treatments, side effects, and doctor appointments—families are learning that with a proactive approach and family communication, the holidays can still be festive and memorable.