WORCESTER — Jury selection began yesterday for the trial arising from a 2001 wrongful death lawsuit brought against tobacco company Philip Morris Inc. by a former Douglas woman whose husband died of lung cancer eleven years ago. The Worcester Superior Court trial stemming from a civil suit filed by Brenda L. Haglund over the death of her 51-year-old husband, Stephen C. Haglund, is expected to continue for several weeks. Testimony is expected ... Jump to full article >>

An estimated 443,000 deaths in the United States occur each year as a result of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke (1). These deaths cost the nation approximately $97 billion in lost productivity and $96 billion in health-care costs (1). During 2000–2004 in Missouri, smoking caused 9,600 deaths, 132,000 years of potential life lost (YPLL), $2.4 billion in productivity losses, and $2.2 billion in smoking-related health-care ... Jump to full article >>

The leader of Republicans in the House, who is aiming to become Speaker if the GOP wins a majority in November, maintains “extremely tight ties” with lobbyists and former aides who now represent some of the country’s largest companies, according to an article in The New York Times. The alliance between Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and corporate interests is “business as usual,” The New York Times writes today. The pap ... Jump to full article >>

Researchers may have found an easy way to detect lung cancer in its early or even pre-cancerous stages, as well as a way to reverse the start of the deadly disease with a readily available, over-the-counter drug. “It’s incredibly, incredibly exciting,” said Dr. Patrick Nana-Sinkam, a lung cancer expert with the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, who was not involved with the new study. “This definitely ha ... Jump to full article >>

Cigarette smoking may increase a man’s risk for developing and dying from prostate cancer, pooled data from 24 studies involving 21,600 men with the disease indicates. This study “provides good evidence that prostate cancer is likely a smoking-related tumor,” Dr. Michael Huncharek, at Meta-Analysis Research Group in Columbia, South Carolina, wrote in an email to Reuters Health. Prostate cancer is the most common of all cancers ... Jump to full article >>

THE legal ban on cigarette smoking in public places seems to be influencing public perceptions. For the smell of cigarette smoke has been identified as “Top of the Pongs” in a new survey. Tobacco was closely followed by stale alcohol suggesting that the smoking ban may have resulted in increased smoking and drinking at home, survey organisers Space Air Solutions said. Cheap perfume came in third place, cooking smells came fourth and ... Jump to full article >>

As expected, the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance banning the sale of candy cigarettes, a victory due largely to a feisty group of teen activists working with the Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota. There’s no doubt that candy cigarettes were my gateway drug to an adult addiction to Tootsie rolls and expensive Swiss chocolate. To be fair, though, these teens deserve our genuine props for tireless research, wonderf ... Jump to full article >>