Milestones are going to be hit. Breakthroughs will be made. The more scientists uncover the way cancer spreads — in a process called “metastasis” — the closer we’re coming to developing new therapies that can stop it.

 Until recently, scientists have only had a rudimentary understanding of metastasis, which is a complicated process that involves genes splitting, altering, and spreading. It’s tough because one metastasis (say, breast cancer spreading to the lung) is different than the next (stomach cancer spreading to the bone). It is the metastasis that kills, more than any one tumor.

 Usually … Read More

Vitamin D isn’t just for your bones anymore. This versatile vitamin is now showing promise in the fight against gum disease as well. According to a new study, vitamin D has both anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. (This means that it can reduce inflammation and boost your body’s ability to fight off infections.) It appears that people who have more vitamin D in their bodies run a lower risk of contracting gum disease.

 The Boston-based study looked at 6,700 people who had never smoked before. They examined the gums and teeth of these people and compared … Read More