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By Anthony J. Brown, MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who survive cervical cancer are at increased risk for developing other cancers decades later, according to a report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The increased cancer risk is primarily seen in women who were treated with radiation therapy and involves organs that lie near the cervix.

"Previous studies have indicated that the risk of second cancers is increased among cervical cancer survivors, but overall and (body) site-specific risks among very long-term survivors were unclear," Dr. Anil K. Chaturvedi, from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues note.

The findings are based on an analysis of data for 104,760 cervical cancer survivors drawn from several Scandinavian countries and the U.S. The researchers calculated the rate of second cancers over more than 40 years of follow-up.

On the overall analysis, the survivor group was 30 percent more likely to develop a cancer than were women in the general population. Further analysis showed that the rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)- and smoking-related cancers were elevated in survivors who had radiotherapy and those who did not.

Survivors treated with radiotherapy had an elevated risk for cancers in close proximity to the cervix, including cancers of the colon, rectum, anus, bladder, ovaries and genitals. By contrast, no increased risk for these cancers was seen in survivors who did not receive radiotherapy.

The 40-year cumulative rate of a second cancer was higher for survivors diagnosed with cervical cancer before rather than after they were 50 years old: 22.2 vs. 16.4 percent, respectively.

"The most important finding is that even 40 years after a diagnosis of cervical cancer, survivors remain at increased risk of second cancers. These results are consistent with previous studies that showed increased second cancer risks beyond 30 years of follow-up, but that did not have sufficient data on time periods beyond 30 years," Chaturvedi told Reuters Health.

"The increased second cancer risk among cervical cancer survivors underscores the need for screening or regular medical surveillance," he emphasized.

SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 7, 2007.

Die besten Orte, die neuesten Trends – wir verraten, was auf der Piste und auf Ski-Reisen geht

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The nonprofit Consumers Union recently put five home lead-testing kits to the test and deemed three useful, though limited, as a screening tool for consumers worried about lead contamination in products in and around their home.

According to the group's Consumer Reports magazine, the three tests garnering a passing grade are Homax Lead Check, Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, and Lead Inspector.

These test kits detect surface or "accessible" lead but not lead embedded below the surface, according to a statement from Consumer Reports.

The Homax Lead Check, which retails for $8 and the Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, which sells for $18.45, were the easiest to use, according to Consumer Reports, and the kits identified surface lead in toys, ceramic, dishware, and vinyl or plastic.

These two kits consist of cigarette-shaped swabs that turn pink when they detect lead. If lead concentrations are low, these swabs may take up to 2 hours to turn pink; high lead levels yield immediate results.

According to Consumer Reports, the Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, which contains eight swabs is a better bargain than the Homax Lead Check, which contains only two swabs.

The Lead Inspector test kit, which also got a passing grade, retails for $13. It contains 8 swabs that turn yellow, brown, gray or black if lead is present.

The two test kits that did not make the grade are the First Alert kit, which indicated some false positive results, and the Pro-Lab Lead Surface kit, which was less sensitive and more difficult to use than the others.

"Manufacturers and the government need to strengthen their efforts to eliminate lead in the marketplace," said Donald Mays, Consumer Reports senior director for product safety. "In the meantime, consumers need a way to assess the safety of products in their homes, and lead test kits are a useful though limited screening tool."

The Consumers Union advises wearing gloves and having good ventilation when using lead test kits and removing from the home any item that tests positive.

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