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 skincancer. 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.
Copyright 2007 - 2008 - Turtle Lake Publications, Inc. - All Rights
Reserved
