Health briefs
Advertiser Staff
Study reports on cancer risks
Women who received smaller doses of radiation to treat Hodgkin's disease have a lower risk of developing breast cancer later in life, a study reports.
It's not clear, however, whether this conclusion applies to women who are receiving the newest treatment regimens, which involve chemotherapy with even lower radiation doses, says a study appearing in the July 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hodgkin's disease, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, has a phenomenally high cure rate today: 85 percent of patients are survivors at the five-year mark. The downside, however, is that people who survive it have a higher likelihood of developing a second cancer such as leukemia, sarcoma, breast, lung, or thyroid as a result of radiation therapy. These second cancers are the leading the cause of death among Hodgkin's survivors.
Benefit set for cancer patient
Friends and family of Shandra "Sandy" "Tita" Hew will hold a stew and rice dinner on Sunday to raise money to help her fight against cancer. The event is 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Iolani School student center.
The suggested donation is $25 per ticket. Reservations and checks payable to Friends of Shandra Hew may be mailed to Joy Yoshimura, 2950 Loi St., Honolulu, HI 96822-1526. For more information, call 349-1682.
Neuroscience facility to open
The Queen's Medical Center will conduct a blessing and open house for its new Neuroscience Institute at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Queen Emma Tower, fifth floor.
The facility will provide comprehensive neuroscience care. Features include decentralized nursing design, family rooms and an epilepsy monitoring unit. Validated parking will be available in the hospital's Miller Street garage.
Surface water to be assessed
The state is inviting the public to help it ensure the quality of streams and other surface waters in Hawai'i.
People who have environmental assessments or other accepted analyses documenting surface water quality may submit them to the Department of Health's Environmental Planning Office before Oct. 1.
In addition, the department is updating criteria it uses to assess the health of surface water. Public comments on the draft criteria may be submitted through Aug. 8.
Call the Environmental Planning Office at 586-4337 or visit www.hawaii.gov /health/eh/epo.
Air quality bad in S. California
Southern California is having one of its worst air pollution seasons in years.
The region has had more than 40 days of unhealthy air quality, almost double the number recorded by this time last year, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Most of the trouble has occurred since June 26 as ozone levels have exceeded the health standard in parts of the Los Angeles Basin.
A bout of unusually hot, stagnant weather prompted a Stage 1 smog alert in the San Bernardino area on July 11, the first time such an alert was declared in the district since 1998. During Stage 1 episodes, people with sensitivities to smog may experience headaches, nausea or shortness of breath.
