January 1, 2010: January is National Radon Action Month. Visit the link to see what the EPA offers to help you preventradon in your home.
radon in your home.
November 29, 2007: As winter solstice nears, we mourn the lack of
light, but a long winters nap in the dark may be just what the doctor ordered. In December, the World Health Organization
(WHO) will announce that it is classifying night shift work as a probable human carcinogen. Why? Click here to find out.
November
1, 2007: November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. 87% of lung cancer cases are due to smoking yet there are things non-smokers
can do to lower their risk. #1 on the list is to check your home for radon (the leading cause of lund cancer in non-smokers). For
further information on how, go to our Blog Page or see page 21 of Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time.
July
9, 2007: Food Dyes - Do They Cause Cancer?
According to a new study published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) the red
2G food color, which is added to some breakfast sausages and burger meat, may cause cancer. This is the first opinion in a series
of re-evaluations EFSA is currently undertaking on the safety of food additives, including colors, authorized in the European Union
(EU).
For more information on food dyes and cancer go to our Blog Page or see page 193 of Avoiding Cancer One Day
At A Time..
June 6, 2007: From The Recent Archives Of Internal Medicine
Vitamin D and calcium intake are associated with
a lower risk of pre-menopausel breast cancer. This is especially significant for more aggressive tumors. Good sources of calcium include
dairy products (preferably from cows not treated with RBST). Vitamin D can be obtained in three ways - dietary sources including dairy
products and fish - 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure before 11AM or after 4PM, without sunscreen. Those with a family history of breast
cancer may want to consider a supplement. An excellent product imported from Europe is available from Dr. David Lu of the Total Health
Clinic in Minnesota.
Moderation is key. A high intake of dairy products has been associated with the development of prostate
and ovarian cancer.
May 17, 2007: Over 200 Chemicals, Many In Household Products, Cause Breast Cancer
May 6, 2007: Minnesota Signs Radon Law
Residents of older
homes can quickly check the radon levels in their homes by ordering a radon test kit.
Write us for a map of the USA to see levels
of radon by county in every state.
May 1, 2007: May Is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Since
sunscreen has not been conclusively proven to lower the risk of skin cancer, remember common sense methods to protect yourself. In
1935 before sunscreen was available, the incidence of melanoma was one in 1500 Americans. It is now 1 in 84! Remember these simple
ideas
- wear protective clothing. Loose fitting, tightly woven fabrics are best.
- wear a hat
- use an umbrella
- avoid sun exposure
during the worst times of 11AM to 3PM
When purchasing suncreen, make sure to invest in a product that protects against both UVA
and UVB rays. Anthelios SX by L'Oreal provides this dual protection.
April 7, 2007: April Is Cancer Control Month
- Quit smoking.
- Eat 5-9 servings of fruits & vegetables per day. (Those who do so have half the risk
of cancer as those who eat 1-2)
- Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity causes 20% of cancer deaths in women and 14% in men. With
obesity rates
skyrocketing, these numbers are expected to escalate as well.
- Enjoy the sun safely. 40-50% of Americans
will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime, but twice as many
Americans die from lack of sun exposure. A recent
study showed that 2000 IUs of vitamin D a day halved the risk of
breast cancer and dropped the risk of colon cancer even more.
10 to 15 minutes in the sun with 40% of the body
exposed (without sun screen) can result in the absorption of 2000-5000
IUs of vitamin D.
Cover up. Use protective clothing, hats and umbrellas. Apply sunscreen but realize it has never
been shown
conclusively to prevent skin cancer. Stay out of the sun between 11AM and 3PM. Our grandparents did this years
ago before sunscreen was available, and the melanoma rate then was a fraction of what it is now.
- Open your windows and buy
a few houseplants. The EPA has ranked indoor air quality as the 4th leading
environmental cause of cancer. Provide good ventilation
by opening your windows. Avoid woodburning stoves and
fireplaces. Purchase a few houseplants that NASA has found effective in
decreasing indoor air carcinogens.
- Practice safe sex.
- Avoid home and garden pesticides. Chemical weed killers increase
the risk of lymphoma in dogs by a factor of 3.
Do you really want your children playing on grass treated with this?
-
Filter your water. Carcinogens have been found in both private well and city water. Purchase a reverse osmosis water
filter
system.
- Smile, laugh and play. Stress produces changes in the body that weaken the immune system. Take time to have
fun!
April
6, 2007: Test Your Home For Radon
Since the best time to test for radon is during the cold months when homes are closed up tightly,
check your home for radon as a first step in spring cleaning.
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the USA following
smoking, and levels ar elevated in one in fifteen homes. This translated into one in 500 Americans expected to develop lung cancer
from this entirely avoidable cause. Some states have higher levels, such as Minnesota, where one in three homes are affected,
but high levels have been found in all states. Radon test kits are available at most hardware stores. Discounted kits can be purchased
through the National Radon Hotline at 1-800-557-2366. For further information check out the EPA Web Radon Information Website.
March
12, 2007: The Anniversary Of Dana Reeves (Wife Of Supeman Christopher Reeves) Death At Age 44
To commemorate Dana Reeve's, a non
- smoker who succumbed to lung cancer
- Encourage your friends and family members that smoke to quit. Consider a gift of
a smoking cessation program
or nicotene patches, along with a note they can call you 24/7 if they are struggling.
-
Stay away from facilities that allow smoking. If non-smokers refuse to go to an establishment that allows smoking,
perhaps they
may change their policy.
- Have your home tested for radon.
- Practice caution with chemicals, If you use chemicals like
methylene chloride, invest in a fume mask.
- If you DO smoke do not take antioxidants. Preparations containing vitamin
E and Beta-carotene are actually correlated
with an increased risk of smokers developing cancer in two large
studies.
March 7, 2007: Routine Lung CT Scans May Not Lower Risk Of Lung Cancer Death After All
In contrast to the October
2006 New England Journal of Medicine Study (below), a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association today
showed that the use of routine lung CT scans had no effect on the risk of death from lung cancer. This study in fact showed
that the routine use of CT scans resulted in ten times as many people having lung surgery. What do we do when we see these contrasting
studies? Quit smoking, avoid second hand smoke and make sure you have your home tested for radon.
February 17, 2007: Count Your
IU's Of Vitamin D
A recent analysis of two studies revealed that a generous intake of vitamin D may cut the risk of developing breast
cancer in half, and lower the risk of colon cancer even more. These reductions were seen with blood levels of vitamin D corresponding
to an intake of 2000 IU (International Units) of vitamin D daily.
Vitamin D can be obtained through diet, supplements or spending
time in the sun. One glass of milk contains approximately 100 IU of vitamin D. Fish or shiitake mushrooms are excellent dietary sources.
Spending 10-15 minutes in the sun outdoors with 40% of your body exposed can result in the absorption of a whopping 2000-5000
IU's.
January 22, 2007: See Your Dentist, Brush Your Teeth
For some time it has been known that the inflammation related to gum
disease raises the risk of heart disease. A recent study supports two older studies that indicated gum disease may raise the risk
of pancreatic cancer. In fact, the most recent study deems those with peridontal disease as having 3 times the risk of pancreatic
cancer. Keeping with the theme of our book, life can be scary but many simple measures can lower your risk of cancer. Stay up to date
on your dental
appointments and ask your dentist for guidance on the proper way to brush your teeth to avoid gum disease.
January
1, 2007: Begin 2007 Fresh, And Lower Your Risk Of Breast Cancer At The Same Time
Be domestic. A European study of 200,000 women (Cancer
Epidemiologists Biomarkers And Prevention 12/19/2006) evaluating physical activity showed that housework lowered the risk of breast
cancer more than recreational and job related physical excercise. While previous studies have shown a positive effect conferred by
exercise in postmenopausal women, housework in this study was correlated with a significantly lower risk of breast cancer in both
pre and postmenopausal women.
November 29, 2006: No Tap Water For Baby
The American Dental Association (ADA) issued an alert this
month advising parents to avoid using fluorinated water when making powdered infant formula. Flouride exposure in infants may
actually pemanently damage teeth rather than protect them. It also may cause osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer most common in adolescent
boys. Osteosarcoma, though rare, is the most common non-blood related cancer found in children.
November 12, 2006: Eat
Organic
When feasible switch to organically grown foods. While it is clear that organically grown foods carry less pesticide residue,
there is more to organically grown foods than avoidance of pestidices. New research is showing that foods grown organically have higher
levels of phytochemicals (plant chemicals that fight off cancer) than food grown non-organically. Despite no difference in the levels
of pesticide residue in one study, animals fed organically grown food were healthier, less obese, slept better and had healthier immune
systems!
November 10, 2006: November Is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer in
the United States. What can you do to avoid lung cancer? Don't smoke! Avoid second hand smoke. Have your home tested for radon. Radon
is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States (1 out of 15 homes, old or new, in every state, has elevated radon
levels).
November 3, 2006: 80% Of Lung Cancer Deaths Could Be Prevented With Screening!
In 1996, the one year survival rate after
a diagnosis of lung cancer was a dismal 41%. Routine chest x-rays are not recommended since these do not pick up cancer at an earlier
stage than symptoms alone. The October 26th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine addressed the use of spiral CT scanning in
high risk individuals. In this study, 85% of cancers were in stage I, with an estimated 10 year survival rate of 88%.
Do not
forget primary prevention! Our book discusses methods of avoiding lung cancer in the first place with ideas that go far beyond stopping
smoking.
October 8, 2006: U.S. Allows Importing Formaldehyde Laden Products
From the LA Times, "As the European Union and other
nations have tightened environmental standards, mostly in the last two years, manufacturers here and around the world are selling
goods to American consumers that fail to meet other nations stringent laws for toxic chemicals."
Formaldehyde is listed by the
International Agency on Cancer Research (IARC) as thought to cause cancer in humans. Michael Wilson, Professor at UC Berkley's Center
for Occupational and Environmental Health, said "the United States is becoming a dumping ground for consumer goods that are unwanted
and illegal in much of the world." The Environmental Protection Agency has relied on voluntary steps from industries rather than regulations,
saying the threats posed by low levels of chemicals are too uncertain to eliminate products valuable to consumers and businesses.
October
6, 2006: October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Too many of us have experienced the heartache that accompanies the diagnosis of
breast cancer in loved ones. Currently one of seven American women will develop breast cancer. If you are concerned about your risk
of developing breast cancer, a method called the Gail Model has been developed to calculate your five year and lifetime
risk.
One very simple technique that may lower your risk of breast cancer is turning out the lights when you sleep. Some
researchers feel that the hormone melatonin, which is manufactured by your brain in total darkness, may protect against the development
of breast cancer. In fact, completely blind women have a greatly reduced risk of breast cancer. Sleep well!
September 18, 2006: Hormone
Replacement Therapy
Despite studies that have shown an elevated risk of breast cancer, many women continue to opt for Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT) due to the disabling and extremely unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Are there any objective signs you can look
for to see if using HRT is increasing your risk of developing breast cancer? According to a recently published study, the symptom
of breast pain at the onset of HRT may indicate an increased risk of breast cancer. An abstract of this study is available from the
Archives of Internal Medicine.
August 21, 2006: New Cancer Risk Tool
August 16, 2006: Sunscreen Doesn't Decrease Risk Of Skin Cancer
Did you know that despite
all of our recommendations to wear sunscreen, it has never been conclusively proven to decrease the risk of skin cancer? A new sunscreen
formula, approved by the Food & Drug Administration in July 2006, may change that. Previously, sunscreens available in the USA
provided protection against UVB rays, leaving us vulnerable to damage caused by UVA rays. Anthelias SX(tm), a combination sunscreen
owned by L'Oreal, is now approved. This sunscreen provides protection against both UVB and UVA rays and should soon be available in
the USA. The sun filters present in Anthelias SX have been used with minimal side effects in Europe and Canada for some time. The
FDA website has more information.
August 8, 2006: New HPV Vaccine
This summer the FDA approved a new vaccine for the HPV virus
in women. This virus is the major cause of cervical cancer, the second leading cause of cancer worldwide in women. Visit about
HPV and Cancer to find out more about HPV and Cancer, and the HPV vaccine to learn more about the vaccine itself.
