When money's no object Australian cancer patients want to know about high cost drug treatments, even if they can't afford them, and become distressed if they learn their cancer specialist failed to inform them of all options. Associate Professor Fran Boyle, of the University of Sydney, said up to 40 per cent of oncologists would hesitate to tell a sick patient about a drug that might cost up to $1000 a week, to avoid distressing the patient. In a survey of breast cancer patients, however, 96 per cent said they wanted to be told about high-cost drugs and 89 per cent said they felt comfortable discussing finances with their doctor. The results were presented this week at the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting. Twinkle twinkle little scar Pirates take note. Western women find facial scarring on men attractive and may associate it with health and bravery, British scientists have found, overturning an assumption it was seen as unattractive in Western cultures. In non-Western cultures scars are perceived as a sign of maturity and strength. The University of Liverpool team found women preferred men with facial scars for short-term relationships and equally preferred scarred and unscarred faces for long-term relationships. The results are published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences . Vitamin fights cancer A vitamin found in meat, nuts, grains and cereals may be more effective than sunscreen in preventing skin cancer. Nicotinamide, or vitamin B3, prevents damage from UVA and UVB radiation by protecting the immune system, and could be taken in tablet form or added to sunscreen, says Associate Professor Diona Damian of the University of Sydney. Runaway roaches New research could help people outsmart cockroaches. Italian scientists measured how the American cockroach responded to a threat and found that all the test insects ran away at an angle from the direction of the threat. The preferred angles were about 90, 120, 150 and 180 degrees - the opposite direction. The researchers say they have no idea what goes on in the roach nervous system to produce these preferred routes.

The study is published in Current Biology .