Health Highlights: Feb. 15, 2007

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors ofHealthDay:

Many Black Breast Cancer Survivors Underestimate Recurrence Risk

Many black breast cancer survivors at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer don't believe that they have a heightened risk of recurrence, says a University of Pennsylvania study in the February issue of the journalCancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Researchers interviewed 95 black women with a personal and family history of breast cancer and found that 53 percent of them believed they had the same or lower risk of developing breast cancer again compared to other women, while 47 percent said they felt they had a higher or much higher risk.

Women with higher levels of education were more likely to believe that they had a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence, the study found.

"Having a personal and family history of breast cancer are known risk factors for breast cancer, and it is surprising and worrisome that most of these women with such a history don't recognize that risk," study lead author Dr. Chanita Hughes Halbert, assistant professor of psychiatry and director of the Community and Minority Cancer Control Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center, said in a prepared statement.

The findings suggest that it's important to ensure that black women understand their risk of developing cancer. Genetic counseling that addresses cultural beliefs and values may be one way to achieve that, the researchers said.

-----

Watercress May Reduce Cancer Risk: Study

Regular consumption of watercress may cut cancer risk by reducing DNA damage to white blood cells, suggests a University of Ulster (U.K) study in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

DNA damage to white blood cells is believed to be an important cancer trigger,BBC Newsreported.

In this study, 60 healthy people, including 30 smokers, ate 85 grams of fresh watercress every day for eight weeks. Blood tests taken before and after the volunteers starting eating the watercress revealed that DNA damage to their white blood cells declined by 22.9 percent during the study.