From OncoLog, November 2004, Vol. 49, No. 11

House Call: Going Beyond the Headlines:
Tips to help you evaluate cancer stories in the news media

Every day, we are bombarded by news reports stating that this food may prevent cancer or that newly discovered gene may contribute to a certain kind of cancer. It is hard to know where all these stories come from and whether they are trustworthy, especially when several reports seem to contradict each other.

In fact, most cancer-related news stories in the mainstream media are triggered by studies reported in scientific journals. Journalists who report on cancer frequently check these journals. Here are some tips for getting the most out of cancer studies reported in the news.

The basics

First, look for the basics. Most cancer news stories—even the very briefest ones—answer the following three questions:

• What was the study’s major finding? For example, an article might say, “Researchers have found that among women with a high risk of breast cancer, MRI is more effective than standard mammography in the detection of breast tumors.” However, a careful reading of this article will show that the findings apply only to women with a specific genetic mutation rather than to all women at high risk.
• Who conducted the study, and at what institution(s) do these people work?
• When and where was the study report published?

Additional study details

Next, look for details about the study design:

• Did the study involve people? Or was it a laboratory study—for example, a study conducted with tumor cells or mice? A study showing that a drug cures cancer in mice doesn’t mean that the drug will cure cancer in people—it just means that the drug may eventually be studied in humans. In contrast, studies involving people may lead to changes in the way cancer is treated.
• If the study involved people, how many people were included? In general, the more people included, the stronger a study’s findings. If a study was small, further studies with more patients will probably be needed to confirm the findings.
• If the study involved people, what kinds of people were included? Often, study findings apply to only a small subgroup. For example, a major study published in 2001 showed that the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) was effective against metastatic breast cancer—but only in women who had a modification in a specific gene, the HER-2 gene.

Context and commentary

Many cancer news stories use interviews with cancer experts to answer the question: “What do these findings mean?” Journalists may interview the study authors as well as cancer specialists not directly involved with the study. Among the issues experts may address are:

• Should clinical practice be changed as a result of the findings? In December 2003, a major study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that “virtual colonoscopy,” which uses x-rays, was just as effective as standard colonoscopy for colon cancer screening. However, experts noted that even though the study was large and well designed, further research was needed before virtual colonoscopy could be considered a standard screening option.
• What questions remain to be answered? Experts interviewed about the virtual colonoscopy study noted that physicians were still not sure which patients with polyps discovered on virtual colonoscopy should have them surgically removed.
• For studies about new prevention, diagnosis, or treatment strategies, does the new strategy have any drawbacks? Experts interviewed about virtual colonoscopy drew attention to the fact that about a third of patients in the study thought virtual colonoscopy was more uncomfortable than standard colonoscopy.

Sometimes experts will disagree about what findings mean, and further studies may be needed to resolve questions.

Going beyond the story

Major new findings about cancer are usually reported by multiple media outlets. To get the most complete picture of what new findings mean, read, watch, and listen to as many different news reports as possible. Another excellent resource for help with interpreting cancer news is the Cancer Information Service (1-800-4-CANCER). This National Cancer Institute–sponsored service connects callers with knowledgeable staff who explain cancer-related information in easy-to-understand terms.

For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.

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