Diabetes Increases Risk of Blood Cancers and breast cancer

A study released earlier this month in Blood revealed that people with type 2 diabetes are at a significantly greater risk of developing blood and marrow cancers such as leukemia , lymphoma , and myeloma . The research found that type 2 diabetics were 20% more likely to develop hematologic cancers than the rest of the population. Type 2 diabetes has been diagnosed in more than 19 million people in the United States, and its rates are on the rise. A 20% increasedrisk in this population is very serious. This particular research did not investigate the biologic link between the two conditions,the scientists did indicate that future study would be needed to determine the impact of unhealthy lifestyle factors (obesity, excercise etc.) as well as antidiabetic medications on the cancer risk In the case of patients with blood and marrow cancers like leukemia and lymphoma,it is often necessary that treatment be startedimmediately after diagnosis. Patients are also often quite ill at the time of diagnosis. Sperm banking, the most common form of male fertility preservation can usually be done in a timely manner and will not delay therapy. Female preservation options, on the other hand, can take a number of weeks or more to complete and are therefore more likely to cause delays. In some cases, women may feel like it is not worth the wait or it may put theirlife in danger. Despite these facts, it is important that all cancer patients receive the information and be allowed to make the decision for themselves Ms. Ephron was known for her witty humour and was the creative force behind such movies as Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Heartburn and Silkwood . Those who knew her in her real life described her as brilliant and remarkable. She leaves behind her husband, author Nicholas Pileggi, and her sons, Max and Jacob. She was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) a number of years ago which ultimately progressed to AML. The cause of her death was pneumonia related toleukemia, according to her son. My heartfelt wishes go out to Ms Ephron' s friends and family after the loss of an amazing and inspiring lady.