Author Archives: David Sampson

About David Sampson

I am the director of medical and scientific communications for the American Cancer Society national home office.

Don’t Fry Day: Getting Sunscreen Right

Posted on May 25, 2017

Despite increased awareness about the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, melanoma rates continue to rise in the United States. For “Don’t Fry Day” on May 26, the American Cancer Society is cautioning that many people may be using sunscreen improperly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Environment, Prevention, Skin cancer | Leave a comment

Ventilated Filters: Changing the Face of Lung Cancer in the U.S.

Posted on May 23, 2017

An analysis appearing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds strong evidence that adding ventilation holes to cigarette filters has contributed to a rise in a type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma among smokers. The authors say the FDA … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Environment, Lifestyle, Lung, Prevention, Research, Tobacco | 1 Comment

14: The Unmentioned Number in the Prostate Cancer/Coffee Story

Posted on May 5, 2017

Headlines across the Internet blared with the news over the past week that coffee could cut the risk of prostate cancer in half.  It was an irresistible headline. But just how reliable was the finding? What if I told you … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Communications, Nutrition, Prevention, Prostate | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Panel Re-Opens the Door for PSA Screening in Men 55-69

Posted on April 11, 2017

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released draft recommendations for the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer. The recommendation, which awaits public comment before being finalized, says the decision about whether to be screened for … Continue reading →

Posted in Guidelines, Prostate, Screening | Leave a comment

The ‘Bad Luck’ Cancer Analysis, Part II

Posted on March 25, 2017

A new study revisits an analysis made by the same lab in 2015 about the role of random mutations on cancer. The analysis uses computer modeling to estimate how many cancers are the result of replication errors. The authors say … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavior, Communications, Environment, Lifestyle, Prevention, Research | Leave a comment

ACS Study Finds Colorectal Cancer Rates Have Risen Dramatically in Gen X and Millennials

Posted on February 28, 2017

A groundbreaking study by American Cancer Society epidemiologist Rebecca Siegel, MPH finds that people born in the United States in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer and quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born around 1950, when colorectal cancer risk was lowest. Continue reading →

Posted in Colorectal, Prevention, Screening, Society news | Leave a comment

Study Corrects Cancer Data and Finds Cervical Cancer Rates, Disparities Higher than Thought

Posted on January 23, 2017

Otis Brawley responds to new study that corrects cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates to account for hysterectomy, and finds both incidence and mortality of cervical cancer has been grossly underestimated. Continue reading →

Posted in Access to Care, Cervical, Disparities, Prevention, Screening | Leave a comment