Trending News Today: Childhood Cancer Survivors at Higher Risk of Skin Malignancies

A new study found childhood cancer survivors may have a 30-fold higher risk than the general population of developing skin malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. For the study, the researchers examined data on 5843 individuals diagnosed with cancer as children between 1963 and 2001 who had survived 5 years or more. Overall, 259 childhood cancer survivors developed a total of 1061 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 27 melanomas were found among 20 survivors, and 11 squamous cell carcinomas among 10 survivors, according to the findings.

CDC officials said that there is a 90% chance that flu season has peaked, The Associated Press reported. According to the article, the flu was reported to be widespread in 48 states last week, down from 49 the week before. However, CDC experts are also monitoring an increase in illnesses from Type A H3N2, a type of flu strain that tends to cause more hospitalizations and deaths, the article reported.

Interventions that reduce work instability for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) should focus on increasing self-efficacy, The American Journal of Managed Care reported. According to the article, the researchers followed 208 patients with MS over 3 years who were employed at the beginning of the study. By the end of the study, 22 patients had stopped working, and the researchers determined that 3 variables were key to keeping a job: work instability, self-efficacy, and age. The researchers suggested early screening using the MS-specific Work Instability Scale and a measure of self-efficacy to identify patients who may benefit from interventions, the article reported.