Medical Update - November 2, 2004

A drug used to fight breast cancer now has another use to fight the disease. Plus an emergency summit to plan for an outbreak of the flu. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor has tonightâ€™s Medical

Wednesday, November 3rd 2004, 11:25 am

By: News On 6

A drug used to fight breast cancer now has another use to fight the disease. Plus an emergency summit to plan for an outbreak of the flu.

News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor has tonightâ€™s Medical Update.

With growing worries about the possibility of a global flu pandemic, the World Health Organization has announced plans to hold a summit to draft emergency response plans. 16 vaccine manufacturers and health officials from the US and other larger countries have agreed to attend the meeting later this month.

A drug currently prescribed to fight advanced breast cancer can now be used to help prevent the disease from recurring. The FDA has approved Femara for use by postmenopausal women who have finished Tamoxifin therapy. Both drugs block the effects of estrogen, which is responsible for the growth of breast cancer cells. But the body can become resistant to Tamoxifen after five years, so Femara offers women a new treatment option.

A new study finds weight problems can contribute to a more difficult time in the delivery room. Researchers found labor took longer for overweight or obese women. Longer labor times also made overweight and obese women more likely to have a C-section.