The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday allowed food processors to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to kill E. coli and other pathogens.

The use of ionizing radiation will not only eliminate pathogens but also extend shelf life, the FDA said on it website. Under the FDA rule, which takes effect Friday, the packages of irradiated lettuce and spinach, like other irradiated food products, will have to bear the radura logo and one of two statements: "treated with radiation" or "treated by irradiation

Certain commonly used skin creams like moisturizers induced skin cancer in experiments on mice, a study released Thursday said, and experts are checking to see if they might cause growths in people as well.

Allan Conney and colleagues at Rutgers University in New Jersey said they tested four common skin creams on gene-altered hairless mice exposed to heavy doses of cancer-causing UV light

The Philadelphia VA Medical Center is investigating its treatment of 114 cancer patients on suspicion they might have received the wrong radiation doses.

The hospital admitted its error Tuesday, saying it's reviewing records of prostate-cancer patients who underwent brachytherapy during the past six years. The men may have received radiation dosages below the recommended levels. The treatment involved implanting radioactive rods or seeds in and around the prostate to destroy cancer cells in men who have low-risk prostate cancer

Methadone, an agent used to break addiction to drugs, has ability to destroy leukemia cells without harming healthy cells, a study has found.

The study, published in the August 1 issue of Cancer Research, suggests that methadone holds promise especially in patients whose cancer no longer responds to chemotherapy and radiation

The director of a Pittsburgh cancer institute has issued a warning to employees on avoiding cell phone usage, especially for children, due to possible cancer risks.

In a memo sent to faculty and staff of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman listed ways to limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell phones by using various alternatives such as texting, shortening conversations and using headset or speaker phone options, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday