Researchers Aim To Detect Potential Pancreatic Tumors Before They Can Turn Into Fast-Moving, Lethal Threats
The new Pancreatic Cancer Prevention and Screening Clinic at UC San Diego Moores Cancer will focus on early risk-factor-based screening, which aims to find patients who carry certain inherited genetic mutations, have a family history of pancreatic cancer, have pancreatic cysts, have chronic pancreatitis or are newly diagnosed with type II diabetes. Other public health news focuses on the flu and the E. coli outbreak.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
New Center At UCSD Aims For Pancreatic Cancer Prevention
Pancreatic cancer often causes no symptoms until it has spread to other organs, leading to a very low survival rate after diagnosis. But a new effort underway at UC San Diego Moores Cancer seeks to increase patients’ odds of successful treatment by detecting potential pancreatic problems earlier. Opened this month alongside a recently-announced research effort that explores using complementary drugs to treat the disease, the Pancreatic Cancer Prevention and Screening Clinic at Moores is following special risk-based protocols to screen those with known risk factors for early signs of potential malignancy. (Sisson, 11/29)
LAist:
First Flu-Related Death Is Reported In Los Angeles
The first flu-related death of the season in Los Angeles County was announced Thursday. The individual who died was elderly, and had other, underlying health conditions, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (Ogilvie, 11/29)
Ventura County Star:
Ventura Ag Officials Frustrated With E. Coli Investigation
An E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce continues to be investigated by the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture, which has listed Ventura County as a possible source. The FDA announced Monday that the California Central Coast region appeared to be the source of the outbreak. Included in the FDA investigation are Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 43 people across 12 states have been infected by the E. coli outbreak, although no deaths have been reported. (Hersko, 11/29)