Here are a few newsworthy items in the world of cancer research

• Reuters reports that British scientists hope that in the near future a simple blood test can serve as a “smoke alarm” for the early detection of cancer.
• In a new paper published in ecancermedicalscience, researchers from the King’s College London show that men of color, primarily black men, are consistently underrepresented in prostate cancer research studies. The study illustrates that healthcare research conducted in one demographic often doesn’t translate to results for other demographics, and recruitment of ethnic minorities often fails to meet a balance.
• A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins published in JAMA Oncology indicates that a cancer diagnosis can present a serious financial challenge for elderly and the disabled who receive Medicare. Out of pocket costs can range between $2000-8000 annually.