CANCER - Yoga for cancer survivors

A recent study has found that gentle yoga practice 

improves the quality of life for cancer survivors.

 

Cancer survivors who took part in a month-long yoga program reported better sleep, less fatigue and less need for sleep medications, as well as an overall enhanced quality of life, a new study reports.

The study authors looked at a group of more than 400 cancer survivors who took up a program that consisted of a blend of hatha and restorative yoga. The participants reported an improvement in sleep quality of 22 per cent.

Fatigue rates decreased by 42 per cent, daytime sleepiness was reduced by 20 per cent, and six per cent of participants reported an improvement in overall quality of life.

"It is possible that gentle hatha and restorative yoga classes might be useful ... in helping with side effects of cancer treatment," says study author Karen Mustian.

"What we can't say at this time is whether other forms of yoga, such as heated or more rigorous types of yoga, would be effective in mitigating these side effects or be safe for cancer survivors."

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - Do mobile phones cause cancer?

What damage are our mobile phones doing to us?

 

The latest research on long-term exposure to microwaves from mobile phones shows that it does lead to an increased risk of brain tumours.

To date, only 11 published studies have provided data on the risk of developing brain tumours in people who have been using mobile phones for more than 10 years. The largest study was funded by the wireless communications industry and had some flaws, including short durations of phone use.

However, an independent series of studies led by Swedish cancer specialist Dr Lennart Hardell has found the more hours of mobile phone use over time, the higher the risk of developing brain tumours.

Ways to reduce exposure to these microwaves include limiting the number and length of calls, restricting children’s mobile phone use, communicating by text instead of voice, and wearing an “air tube” headset (not a regular wired headset) rather than holding the phone to the ear.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - How to prevent cancer

Some surprising ways you can help prevent the disease

 

The figures are startling: more than 40,000 Australians will die of cancerthis year, and one in three women will be diagnosed with the disease before their 85th birthday. But here's another statistic: about half the cases could have been prevented. A family history of the disease is obviously a risk factor, but consider that your height, the number of children you have, how many men you've slept with and how long you've been on the contraceptive pill all influence your likelihood of developing cancer.

Quit smoking

Professor Ian Olver, Cancer Council Australia chief executive, says tobacco use - despite smoking rates falling to below 17 per cent - remains the biggest lifestyle risk for developing cancer. "Because most cancers are a mix of genetic and environmental factors, it's important not to exacerbate the genetic risk by avoiding environmental risks," he says. In Australia, the main three environmental risks are tobacco, obesity and sun exposure. Smoking accounts for 90 per cent of all lung cancers, which now kill more women than breast cancer.

Physical activity

Exercise can lower women's risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer in a woman who goes through menopause at age 55 is 40 per cent higher than in a woman who goes through menopause at age 45 because they're exposed to 10 more years of period-related hormones.

"Obviously we have no way of influencing that. But the impact of that 10-year difference in menopause is the same magnitude risk for breast cancer as having a family history of it," says Australian cancer expert Professor Graham Colditz, now at the Washington University School of Medicine in the US.

The earlier you start menstruating, the greater the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, again because of the longer exposure to oestrogen. But there are ways to cut your risk. Girls who are physically active from the time they get their period have a 25 per cent lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.

"We're not talking about extreme sports, we're talking about recreational activity, which is enough to cut breast cancer risk by a quarter, " Professor Colditz says. "Being physically active significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer. We can get up to a 50 per cent reduction with half an hour of activity a day. And in the case of bowel cancer there appears to be even higher levels of protection with higher levels of activity."

Eat less red meat

Eating red meat every day heightens the risk of bowel cancer by five to 10 per cent, while there is a 10 to 20 per cent increased risk associated with being overweight or obese.

Reducing salt and alcohol

Professor Ray Lowenthal, a cancer specialist at the Royal Hobart Hospital and the University of Tasmania, says alcohol intake can also be an indicator of whether or not you will develop cancer.  "High alcohol intake, especially if one is also a smoker, is a risk factor for head and neck cancer and cancer of the oesophagus," he says.

Drinking three or more alcoholic beverages a day means you have a 10 to 20 per cent increased risk of developing cancer. High salt intake has been linked with stomach cancer. Leading a healthy lifestyle could reduce the risk of cancer by 30 to 50 per cent, though the figure is debatable, Professor Lowenthal says.

Staying sun safe

Australia is known for its harsh sun and has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The slip slop slap campaign is well known and some Sydney beaches played a Ben Lee jingle composed for the Cancer Council NSW at regular intervals last summer to remind sunbathers to reapply sunscreen. Red-haired, fair-skinned people burn easily and those with lots of moles need to be especially careful. People who have had several blistering sunburns as a child are at 15 per cent greater risk for each sunburn. And solariums are no substitute when seeking that bronzed look as they too have been found to cause cancer.

Having children

Because of changes to breast tissue associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding, children also play a significant role in whether or not you will contract cancer. American researchers say pregnancy permanently changes breast tissue, making it less likely to become cancerous, so the later this change occurs in a woman's life, the more time the breast cells have had to become abnormal and cancerous.

But women lower their risk of developing these cancers with each child they have, and breastfeeding for a total of a year or more lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer because hormonal changes and changes to breast tissue protect the cells. However, on the flip side, women who have two or more children have a higher risk of cervical cancer, with researchers suggesting it may be related to injury to the cervix when the baby leaves the uterus.

Screen tests

Women who have regular Pap tests are less likely to develop cervical cancer and there is now a vaccine, Gardasil, against the human papillomavirus. Those who have sex for the first time at an early age, who have lots of male partners or contract a sexually transmitted infection are all at greater risk of contracting cervical cancer, but regular testing makes this less likely.

For all cancers, the risk increases with age. That's not to say young people don't develop cancer, but more than four times as many cancers are detected in people aged over 60. Screening programs for breast, cervical and bowel cancers have improved early detection and treatment and those who get tested regularly are less likely to develop the disease.

The contraceptive pill

The risk of developing breast cancer while taking the contraceptive pill is said to be higher, but researchers have actually found that if taken for more than five years, the pill can lower a woman's risk of colon, uterine and ovarian cancers.

Genetics

According to National Health and Medical Research Council figures, five to 10 per cent of common cancers are caused by a genetic predisposition. "But even if you're genetically predisposed, you still need an environmental risk to bring out that predisposition," says Professor Stephen Clarke from the Sydney Cancer Centre.Professor Clarke says people with a predisposition should be screened earlier than others.

"It's impossible to completely avoid any risk factors, but they should definitely avoid smoking and you can now avoid viral risk factors for cancer with appropriate vaccinations. "Professor Olver says explaining to a patient why they have cancer when they have no family history of the disease and have led a healthy lifestyle can be tough. "One of the difficulties is there is no one cause [of cancer] ... it usually requires four to five changes in genes to trigger the disease, '' he says. "You might be born with two and three can be environmental. Some people just seem to be unlucky."

Professor Lowenthal says that in the end, it all comes down to statistics. "Adhering to a healthy lifestyle will reduce the risks of getting cancer, not eliminate them," he says.And that's where luck comes in - being exposed to enough risk factors to cause the cell changes to trigger cancer. Researchers are now looking at maternal health while in utero to determine whether that also has an influence on whether or not you will develop cancer. Cancer patients are living much longer than 50 years ago and a "revolution" in cancer treatment is offering fresh hope.

Personalised medicine is also now enabling cancer specialists to tailor treatments to individual patients, getting better response rates with less toxic therapy. "The first generation of these drugs is coming through and over the next 10 years we'll see a stronger emphasis on targeted cancer therapies and less emphasis on chemotherapy," Professor Olver says.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - How to support your body during chemo

Natural remedies for easing the side effect of chemotherapy

(Q) I'm about to start chemotherapy for breast cancer, and I've been told the side effects are nasty. Is there anything I can do to lessen them?

(A) Chemotherapy is often used to treat cancer, alongside surgery and radiotherapy. Although it is often a lifesaver, it takes its toll on the body. Natural remedies can help, but ask your oncology team for approval first.

Most chemotherapy drugs target fast-dividing cancer cells. The problem is that other fast-dividing cells are also in the line of fire, including the hair follicle cells and the lining of the digestive tract. This explains two common side effects of chemotherapy - hair loss and digestive problems.

Sadly, natural therapies cannot save hair loss, but they have much to offer an ailing gut. Slippery elm powder is a friend to the gastrointestinal tract. One teaspoon, taken twice daily with banana, yoghurt, porridge or warm water, will soothe the digestive tract lining.

Psyllium husks are often recommended for constipation, but they can also help reduce diarrhoea from any cause, including chemotherapy. Take one or two tablespoons daily. As slippery elm powder and psyllium husks are types of fibre and are not absorbed into the bloodstream, they should not interfere with intravenous chemotherapy treatment.

Mouth ulcers are another common side effect of chemotherapy. Sucking on vitamin C and zinc lozenges three to four times a day can reduce and eliminate them. Rescue Remedy will help calm anxiety before and during treatment.

After the chemotherapy course is over, give the liver and kidneys some love. Detoxifying herbs include dandelion root, cleavers, St Mary's thistle, schizandra, burdock and echinacea. Vegetable and fruit juices are also good, such as carrot, spinach, green apple, celery, parsley, wheatgrass, ginger and lemon.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - Ease side effects of cancer treatment

Five natural remedies to reduce the severity 

of side effects for a range of cancer treatments

The three common treatments to combat cancer include surgery, to remove the offending tumour; chemotherapy to shrink the tumour and kill cancer cells; and radiotherapy to target the tumour's demise. Depending on the type of cancer and time of diagnosis, these treatments may cure, or at the very least retard the cancer's growth. As successful as they may be, each treatment has its downside.

Here are five natural remedies that may help reduce side effects from cancer treatment. Remember: it is very important you speak with your doctor or oncologist before taking any remedies in combination with cancer treatment.

1   Positive thinking

Creative visualisation is one technique that can be helpful during chemotherapy. As the chemo is being delivered intravenously, rather than thinking of it as a toxic chemical, visualise a team of tiny warriors entering the body determined to seek and eliminate any cancer cells they encounter. Alternatively, think of chemo as a magical golden elixir, coursing through the body delivering healing wherever it travels.

2   Skin TLC

Radiotherapy is applied externally or internally (brachytherapy). When given externally, radiation may over time burn the skin, causing it to become red, sore, itchy and tender. While nothing is permitted on the skin prior to a treatment, caring for the area after each treatment will minimise symptoms. Aloe vera gel is cooling and healing. Applying oils containing vitamin E with other healing ingredients such as lavender, rosemary and chamomile are also recommended. An interesting remedy gaining popularity is fine powdered white French clay. This is simply dusted over the area and left for an hour.

3   Tummy troubles

Chemotherapy is notorious for causing tummy upsets. A daily dose of slippery elm bark and some probiotics will reduce many symptoms (try the smoothie suggestion below too). Slippery elm is a soothing fibre that helps heal the lining of the digestive tract, while the probiotics reestablish 'good bacteria' that normalise bowel function and assist the immune system. Herbal teas such as ginger, peppermint, chamomile all help with nausea and assist in digestion too.

4   Surgery support

Whether it's for cancer or to remove an ingrown toenail, any kind of surgery causes trauma to the body. Arnica, a homoeopathic remedy, is excellent to reduce bruising and hasten healing. Take a few drops every few hours after surgery and for the next day or so. Zinc and vitamin C are a healing combination after surgery too. Take one tablet twice a day for a few weeks.

5   Drink it down

If eating has become a chore during cancer treatment, this smoothie delivers a load of nutrients in one quick gulp. It's easy to make, and tastes delicious too. 

1 serve of whey based protein powder
1 serve of milk or juice 
1 small banana
1 teaspoon of probiotics (acidophilus powder)
1 teaspoon slippery elm powder
½ cup frozen mixed berries

Add all the ingredients to a blender, whizz, and serve cold.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - What is cancer of unknown primary?

When Jane Barrett was diagnosed with a common but little-

known cancer, she struggled to find information or support

Ribbon days, pin days, moustache months – cancer awareness in Australia has never been higher. But imagine being diagnosed with the sixth most deadly cancer in the nation, only to discover there are no "days" for it, no specialists dedicated to its treatment, no support groups or networks. In short, your cancer is invisible, and so are you.

Jane Barrett found herself in this lonely situation when she was diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary (CUP).

People with CUP have been diagnosed with some form of metastatic cancer – a cancer that has spread from somewhere else in the body – but the primary cancer cannot be located, even after thorough testing.

The reason for this is not known. It could be because the body has already rid itself of the primary by the time of diagnosis; it may be too small to be seen; or the cancer may have spread very quickly. Because of the advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis, the median survival rate is a little under a year, although individual cases can vary considerably.

Barrett's symptoms first appeared about two years before her February 2009 cancer diagnosis, but they were so vague – a cough now and then, a hoarse voice, a tired throat – that when preliminary testing turned up nothing worrying, she dismissed them. However, after experiencing tiredness and shortness of breath while on a walking holiday in New Zealand, Barrett went back to her GP.

This time they did a fine-needle biopsy and a specialist consultant gave her the results.

Devastating diagnosis

"He said: 'You've got a metastatic neck cancer and from the cells, we can't tell where the primary has been'," Barrett says.

Not being able to identify the main cancer was a significant blow, because it is the primary that guides treatment.

"I just couldn't grasp how you couldn't have a primary," she says. "I walked out of there and I just didn't know what to do. It made no sense. There was no mention of the concept of 'cancer of unknown primary'."

Doctors removed 70 lymph nodes from Barrett's neck and discovered the cancer had also spread into the surrounding tissue. The major surgery, combined with six weeks of radiation treatment, left her with debilitating side effects, including tiredness, face and neck lymphoedema (fluid retention and swelling), loss of taste and partial numbness of her neck, head and shoulder.

Searching for answers

"It was only after radiation, when I started to feel somewhat better, that I started to look into CUP," Barrett says. "And I think then the desolation really hit me. In Australia, there was just nothing. No information or support. And I couldn't find others out there, like me, who had this disease. So there was this feeling of absolute loneliness and despair."

Drawing on her professional background as a health educator, Barrett began to pull together the slivers of information she could find.

The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures show that CUP is the eighth most common cancer diagnosis in the nation – the seventh most common for women and the ninth for men – with a total of 2897 people diagnosed in 2007. CUP is the sixth most common cause of death from cancer, following lung, bowel, prostate, breast and lymphoid cancers.

"So this is not a rare cancer. Its impact is huge," Barrett says. Through her research, she concluded CUP was a cancer defined by the word "lack".

She says she found there was a lack of a clear definition, of dedicated specialists, of research and clinical trials, of clinical guidelines and models of care, of patient information and support, of a voice for CUP sufferers, and of an understanding of CUP in the general population and the health sector.

No specialists

Gillian Batt, director of Cancer Information and Support Services at The Cancer Council of NSW, says that when Barrett approached the people at her organisation and told them her story, they too were stunned at the lack of information surrounding CUP.

"Quite often people are not even told they have CUP – they're just told: 'You've got cancer but we don't know where it started'," Batt says. "So they haven't got a label. They've got no club to belong to and there are no specialists. You usually end up being seen by a specialist for where your secondary cancer is presenting. It would be farcical if it wasn't so dreadful."

The Cancer Council has now produced a free patient booklet on CUP. It is also doing research with patients to find out what support is needed and there are plans to introduce online and telephone support groups.

A lack of specialists dedicated to CUP had also seen it slip between the cracks when it comes to medical research.

Barrett was overjoyed when internet contact with a CUP foundation in the UK finally put her in touch with Professor David Bowtell, head of the Cancer Genomics and Genetics Program at Melbourne's Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Bowtell and the team at Peter MacCallum are tackling CUP on several fronts, including creating a diagnostic test based on the molecular appearance of the cancer cells, rather than where the cells are thought to come from. It is hoped the test will be generally available later this year. The centre is also developing a program of psychosocial support for patients with CUP and their families.

Bowtell says one of the lessons learnt from the very successful breast cancer awareness, research and support campaign of recent decades is the importance of patient input.

Barrett's involvement with Cancer Voices NSW, an organisation that ensures the voices of cancer patients are heard at the decision-making level, has now led to her involvement as a consumer representative for a new research project being undertaken at the University of New South Wales.

Associate Professor Claire Vajdic says the project will look at the diagnostic and treatment paths of people with CUP.

"It will provide information with which we can inform patients about what to expect," she says.

Back to the battle

After more than two years of being cancer-free, in April Barrett was diagnosed with cancer in her thyroid and the lymph nodes in the opposite side of her neck. Tests so far show the cells are non-specific. She is undergoing more surgery.

"The uncertainties of CUP, which never really go away, are back in full force. We need more research, support and information about this cancer," she says.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - A look at cancer clusters

When a rash of people from the same workplace are 

diagnosed with the same cancer, alarm bells ring

Imagine living with the worry that something at your workplace could be causing cancer. That's the reality for workplaces caught in a cancer cluster scare. The latest alarm has been raised at the ABC's Melbourne studios, three years after a cluster of 17 breast cancer cases at the ABC Brisbane headquarters forced the site's closure.

Cancer experts say that in 99.9 per cent of clusters investigated, there is no underlying cause found, meaning that most clusters are mere coincidence. But that's little solace to staff members comforting stricken colleagues and wondering if something in their work environment might be threatening their lives. Breast cancer survivor and former ABC newsreader Lisa Backhouse, who was the face of the fight to have the Toowong studios in Brisbane closed, says being part of a cancer cluster makes going to work a stressful, draining experience.

"This must be a very frightening time for the women of the ABC in Melbourne, particularly in light of what happened in Brisbane," says Backhouse, now a part-time relief newsreader and health reporter with Channel Nine in Brisbane. "Being part of a cancer cluster is terrifying." At ABC Toowong, an expert panel found the breast cancer rate was six times higher than that of the general population and the staff of 400 was relocated. Tests were conducted, but no cause was found.

Fears of a new cluster at the ABC in Melbourne, with three cases of breast cancer emerging, have been dismissed as coincidence. A recent Cancer Council NSW study into all ABC sites across Australia found no evidence of a cluster at any ABC site apart from Toowong.Cancer is common: one in three Australian men and one in four women will be diagnosed with it by age 75, according to Cancer Australia. So it's inevitable that some workplaces will appear to be hit by a rash of cancer cases by coincidence.

"People win the lottery sometimes, and the odds of winning the lottery are one in several billion, so these plays of chance actually do occur," says Cancer Council NSW CEO Dr Andrew Penman. Clusters can also appear when several people decide to be tested for cancer around the same time, such as lots of women checking their breasts for lumps after a flurry of publicity. So when is a cancer cluster more than mere coincidence?

Experts sit up and take notice when several people develop the same type of cancer, or a rare type of cancer is involved, the cancers appear in younger than usual age groups, and the rate is several times higher than expected. Dr Penman says that while the ABC Melbourne rates were slightly higher than that of the general population, other ABC sites had lower rates, and it's normal to expect highs and lows in small groups. "At the extreme, obviously, if you look at an individual and that person develops cancer, the rate of cancer in that person is 100,000 in 100,000 people," he says.

Dr Geza Benke, senior research fellow at Monash University in Melbourne, has helped investigate several apparent cancer clusters in workplaces and says people often struggle to understand that coincidence may be the only factor at play. "I find people are convinced it's got to be something in the environment, or a chemical in the workplace or something like that," Dr Benke says. "But there's always going to be hotspots. There are going to be highs and lows through chance alone."

Dr Benke says some of science's greatest breakthroughs have come from cancer clusters, through scientists linking a particular chemical or agent to the disease. But only a handful of cancer clusters are ever found to be significant. At RMIT's business school in Melbourne, a string of seven brain tumours among students and staff forced the university to close two floors of the city building for two months in 2006. An investigation later found there was no cluster.

Experts last year also ruled out a cancer cluster at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra after concerns were raised in 2000 that five security staff and up to nine other employees had contracted cancer. Five years on, Backhouse is disappointed that the mystery of the Toowong cancer cluster will never be solved. "Unfortunately the scientific testing at Toowong was abandoned before any conclusions could discover whether there was something in the operational set-up that was causing the problem," says Backhouse.

"While we've had to put our trust in the scientists, it's a dreadful shame nothing has been identified, as it could be an ongoing problem for women at the ABC in Brisbane."Authorities have closed the books on the ABC Melbourne case, even though the Cancer Council study only investigated cases up to 2005 because more recent national cancer data was unavailable. But Backhouse wants further investigation. "Clearly, the study is incomplete as it only took into account women up to [the year] 2005," she says. "Your life is more important than your job, and while the jury is still out on whether the Melbourne office is a cluster, the stress alone can damage a person's health and wellbeing."

Lisa's story

Lisa Backhouse was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer at age 35 in 2004 after 11 years working at the ABC's Toowong studios. Several of her colleagues had already contracted the disease. The mother of two was in surgery within a week of diagnosis, started chemotherapy within three weeks, then endured radiation therapy. The hormone treatment she received brought on menopause and prevented her from having more children. Here is her story:

"Alarm bells started to ring when a succession of ladies were diagnosed in a very short amount of time. In under three years seven women had been diagnosed, four of them under the age of 40. Most of us sat at the same desk."

"Nothing can truly describe what it feels like to receive a cancer diagnosis. I was overwhelmed with grief and incapacitated by fear. Everything was geared for looking ahead; to planning, hoping, striving for one thing: my life."

"I do believe in coincidence, but I'm also a pragmatist. If we'd had different types of cancer or if we had fitted the mould of a typical breast cancer victim, it would be easier to accept that this cluster may have occurred through chance."

"I promised myself during chemotherapy that from now on, I'd embrace every opportunity and really live. Last year I went to Europe for six weeks with my family. It was exhilarating. "I'm still recovering from the latest surgery, some overdue reconstruction work. It was pretty rugged but important to finish so I can move on."

"Having to stare down your mortality at such a young age has a profound effect. These days I have at least found some peace and just enjoy every moment with my beautiful family."

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - An apple a day keeps cancer away

New research from Poland shows that eating apples 

regularly may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

A study compared patients suffering from the disease with those who were free of the disease and found a reduced risk was observed in those who ate one apple a day, while those who ate more than one apple a day reduced their risk by half.

The high level of antioxidants in apples is thought to help reduce cancer risk, with the skin of an apple containing five times the level of antioxidants as the flesh, so while you should wash apples, you shouldn't peel them.

Researchers say that eating other fruit or vegetables did not have the same effects when it came to lowering the risk of colorectal cancer.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - Having fun can combat cancer

It seems that happiness is a healing tonic when it comes to cancer.

A new study claims that having fun and enjoying life could help to counteract the effects of cancerous tumours in the body.The New Zealand study involved a group of mice who had been injected with melanoma cells. Scientists found that mice who were placed in spacious cages with lots of toys fared much better than the mice who were placed in regular lab cages.

After six weeks, the tumours had shrunk by 77 per cent in the mice in the "stimulating" cage. The tumours completely disappeared in 17 per cent of the mice, with no other cancer treatment. On the other hand, the tumours in mice in the regular lab cages continued to grow as normal "The way we live may well have a much bigger impact on the prognosis of cancer than we recognised previously," says Professor Matthew During of the University of Auckland.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

CANCER - Healthy changes to beat cancer

How far does old-fashioned healthy living really go towards combating cancer?

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world, and its affecting more people each year. Yet health experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) estimate one third of common cancers in the United States, China and Britain could be prevented by a few simple and practical lifestyle changes.

The experts estimate eating a healthy diet, cutting back on alcohol, avoiding smoking and maintaining a regular exercise regime could prevent some 40 per cent of breast cancers diagnosed in Britain and the United States, as well as thousands of colon, stomach and prostate cancers.

“It is distressing that even in 2011, people are dying unnecessarily from cancers that could be prevented through maintaining a healthy weight, diet, physical activity and other lifestyle factors,” Martin Wiseman, a WCRF medical and scientific adviser, said in statement.

The WCRF says 27 per cent of cancer cases in China are preventable, as are 35 per cent in the United States and 37 per cent in Britain. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cancer is expected to kill more than 13.2 million people a year by 2030, almost double the amount it killed in 2008. The vast majority of deaths will occur in poorer countries.

In Australia, Professor Graham Colditz a world-renowned leader in cancer prevention supports these healthy-living claims, admitting obesity is one of the country’s biggest threats to beating cancer. Professor Colditz says more than 14 per cent of cancer in men and 20 per cent in women were caused by obesity. “These cancer deaths could be avoided if we did not gain weight through our adult years,” Professor Colditz said.

He says this healthy-living approach is crucial for cancer prevention but also to treat current cancer patents, suggesting oncologists should raise this holistic approach when treating patients. “An oncologist is focused on the patient’s cancer but perhaps they need to look past the cancer to the whole person and discuss diet and exercise,” he said.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HEALTHY FOOD - Cancer Healing Tree

CANCER - Top Ten Cancer Fighting Foods

CANCER - Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk

Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk

Key Points

• Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products.
• Formaldehyde sources in the home include pressed-wood products, cigarette smoke, and fuel-burning appliances.
• When exposed to formaldehyde, some individuals may experience various short-term effects.
• Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and several cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.

What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials. In addition, formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. It is produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes.

How is the general population exposed to formaldehyde?

According to a 1997 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde is normally present in both indoor and outdoor air at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air (ppm). Materials containing formaldehyde can release formaldehyde gas or vapor into the air. One source of formaldehyde exposure in the air is automobile tailpipe emissions.

During the 1970s, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was used in many homes. However, few homes are now insulated with UFFI. Homes in which UFFI was installed many years ago are not likely to have high formaldehyde levels now. Pressed-wood products containing formaldehyde resins are often a significant source of formaldehyde in homes. Other potential indoor sources of formaldehyde include cigarette smoke and the use of unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves, wood-burning stoves, and kerosene heaters.

Industrial workers who produce formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products, laboratory technicians, certain health care professionals, and mortuary employees may be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general public. Exposure occurs primarily by inhaling formaldehyde gas or vapor from the air or by absorbing liquids containing formaldehyde through the skin.

What are the short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure?

When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, whereas others have no reaction to the same level of exposure.

Can formaldehyde cause cancer?

Although the short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure are well known, less is known about its potential long-term health effects. In 1980, laboratory studies showed that exposure to formaldehyde could cause nasal cancer in rats. This finding raised the question of whether formaldehyde exposure could also cause cancer in humans. In 1987, the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen under conditions of unusually high or prolonged exposure (1). Since that time, some studies of humans have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with certain types of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies formaldehyde as a human carcinogen (2). In 2011, the National Toxicology Program, an interagency program of the Department of Health and Human Services, named formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen in its 12th Report on Carcinogens (3).

What have scientists learned about the relationship between formaldehyde and cancer?

Since the 1980s, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has conducted studies to determine whether there is an association between occupational exposure to formaldehyde and an increase in the risk of cancer. The results of this research have provided EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with information to evaluate the potential health effects of workplace exposure to formaldehyde.

The long-term effects of formaldehyde exposure have been evaluated in epidemiologic studies (studies that attempt to uncover the patterns and causes of disease in groups of people). One type of epidemiologic study is called a cohort study. A cohort is a group of people who may vary in their exposure to a particular factor, such as formaldehyde, and are followed over time to see whether they develop a disease. Another kind of epidemiologic study is called a case-control study. Case-control studies begin with people who are diagnosed as having a disease (cases) and compare them to people without the disease (controls), trying to identify differences in factors, such as exposure to formaldehyde, that might explain why the cases developed the disease but the controls did not.

Several NCI surveys of professionals who are potentially exposed to formaldehyde in their work, such as anatomists and embalmers, have suggested that these individuals are at an increased risk of leukemia and brain cancer compared with the general population. However, specific work practices and exposures were not characterized in these studies. An NCI case-control study among funeral industry workers that characterized exposure to formaldehyde also found an association between increasing formaldehyde exposure and mortality from myeloid leukemia (4). For this study, carried out among funeral industry workers who had died between 1960 and 1986, researchers compared those who had died from hematopoietic and lymphatic cancers and brain tumors with those who died from other causes. (Hematopoietic or hematologic cancers such as leukemia develop in the blood or bone marrow. Lymphatic cancers develop in the tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infections and other diseases.) This analysis showed that those who had performed the most embalming and those with the highest estimated formaldehyde exposure had the greatest risk of myeloid leukemia. There was no association with other cancers of the hematopoietic and lymphatic systems or with brain cancer.

A number of cohort studies involving workers exposed to formaldehyde have recently been completed. One study, conducted by NCI, looked at 25,619 workers in industries with the potential for occupational formaldehyde exposure and estimated each worker’s exposure to the chemical while at work (5). The results showed an increased risk of death due to leukemia, particularly myeloid leukemia, among workers exposed to formaldehyde. This risk was associated with increasing peak and average levels of exposure, as well as with the duration of exposure, but it was not associated with cumulative exposure. An additional 10 years of data on the same workers were used in a follow-up study published in 2009 (6). This analysis continued to show a possible link between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the hematopoietic and lymphatic systems, particularly myeloid leukemia. As in the initial study, the risk was highest earlier in the follow-up period. Risks declined steadily over time, such that the cumulative excess risk of myeloid leukemia was no longer statistically significant at the end of the follow-up period. The researchers noted that similar patterns of risks over time had been seen for other agents known to cause leukemia.

A cohort study of 11,039 textile workers performed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also found an association between the duration of exposure to formaldehyde and leukemia deaths (7). However, the evidence remains mixed because a cohort study of 14,014 British industry workers found no association between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia deaths (8).

Formaldehyde undergoes rapid chemical changes immediately after absorption. Therefore, some scientists think that formaldehyde is unlikely to have effects at sites other than the upperrespiratory tract. However, some laboratory studies suggest that formaldehyde may affect the lymphatic and hematopoietic systems. Based on both the epidemiologic data from cohort and case-control studies and the experimental data from laboratory research, NCI investigators have concluded that exposure to formaldehyde may cause leukemia, particularly myeloid leukemia, in humans.

In addition, several case-control studies, as well as analysis of the large NCI industrial cohort (6), have found an association between formaldehyde exposure and nasopharyngeal cancer, although some other studies have not. Data from extended follow-up of the NCI cohort found that the excess of nasopharyngeal cancer observed in the earlier report persisted (9).

Earlier analysis of the NCI cohort found increased lung cancer deaths among industrial workers compared with the general U.S. population. However, the rate of lung cancer deaths did not increase with higher levels of formaldehyde exposure. This observation led the researchers to conclude that factors other than formaldehyde exposure might have caused the increased deaths. The most recent data on lung cancer from the cohort study did not find any relationship between formaldehyde exposure and lung cancer mortality.

What has been done to protect workers from formaldehyde?

In 1987, OSHA established a Federal standard that reduced the amount of formaldehyde to which workers can be exposed over an 8-hour workday from 3 ppm to 1 ppm. In May 1992, the standard was amended, and the formaldehyde exposure limit was further reduced to 0.75 ppm.

How can people limit formaldehyde exposure in their homes?

The EPA recommends the use of “exterior-grade” pressed-wood products to limit formaldehyde exposure in the home. These products emit less formaldehyde because they contain phenolresins, not urea resins. (Pressed-wood products include plywood, paneling, particleboard, and fiberboard and are not the same as pressure-treated wood products, which contain chemical preservatives and are intended for outdoor use.) Before purchasing pressed-wood products, including building materials, cabinetry, and furniture, buyers should ask about the formaldehyde content of these products. Formaldehyde levels in homes can also be reduced by ensuring adequate ventilation, moderate temperatures, and reduced humidity levels through the use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

Source: http://www.cancer.gov/

CANCER - 10 Things that can Increase Cancer Risk & Chances

10 Things that can Increase Cancer Risk & Chances

Article by Surbhi Jalan, March 15, 2014

Cancer, medically known as known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a vast group of diseases involving unregulated multiplication of cells. It is an intricate group of diseases with hundreds of probable causes. There are many causes of cancer including genetic factors like family disease; lifestyle factors such as intake of alcohol, tobacco and physical activity; certain kinds of infections; and exposures to various radiations like ultraviolet rays and chemicals. There are also various ways by which cancer can be prevented which includes eating healthy diet with more vegetables, not smoking, exercising, avoiding oral sex and keeping your skin away from sunlight. These days every other thing you know causes cancer and the statement “everything causes cancer” has become an exaggeration. Cancer is found in many common food items and our daily use materials and some of them have been scientifically shown to boost cancer risk to a large extent. Here is a list of 10 things that are part of your daily life which increase the risk of cancer and min:

10. Family history of cancer

Usually, it is not common for cancer to run in a family but there have been instances where many people in a family have been diagnosed with cancer. Sometime, same type of cancer in a family is traced due to inherited gene changes which increase the risk of cancer. Melanoma and breast cancer often runs in a family. If you think that cancer is common in your family, then it is often advisable to get the checkup done and take precautions at an early age.

9. Microwave popcorns

Microwave popcorns might be simple and convenient but are deadly. The chemicals lined on the microwave popcorn bags are carcinogenic which not only causes pancreatic, liver and testicular cancer but also tumor and infertility. Also, chemical inside the popcorn, Diacetyl, is also linked to causing damage to your lungs and cancer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the chemical used in the nonstick coating on the inside of the popcorn bags that crumbles, producing a compound, known as perfluorooctanoic acid is the main cause of cancer. However, if you don’t let your popcorn cool before you open the bag, you can minimize the ill effects of microwave popcorn. This cause is more prevalent in case of factory workers who are exposed to much larger quantities of such chemicals than you would be at your home.

8.Sunlight

According to the American Cancer Society, sunlight indirectly produces Vitamin D in the human body and thus preventing it with possible proactive properties against various cancers. But too much of sunlight and exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB rays) from the sun causes cancer and other deadly diseases. Infact, skin cancer due to exposure to the UV rays is very common. Another serious cancer, Melanoma is also a result of the sun exposure. Skin cancer has also been related to exposure to some non-natural sources of UV.

7. Sunscreen Lotion

Yes, sunscreens do protect us from the harmful radiations of the sun and tanning and it often recommended by dermatologists as protect against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) ray. Also, sunscreen has substantial amount of Vitamin D in it. However, excessive use of it may cause cancer. Chemicals in sunscreen disrupt the hormones of our body like estrogen and other hormones by blocking them.  This blockage of hormone causes breast cancer in women. To reduce the risk, try covering your face with a stole or wear long-sleeves shirt and avoid using sunscreen. You can also carry an umbrella or use sunscreen containing titanium or zinc.

6.Oral Sex

Sex is not a very common cause of cancer but oral sex between men and women or same sex couples may cause cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that gets transmitted through oral sex which causes cancers like cervical cancer, cancer of mouth, vagina, anus and throat. This virus is commonly known and can easily be prevented to avoid cervical cancer. This cancer through oral sex is most commonly found in youths and studies show that 36% of oral sex is HPV positive.

5. X-Ray Radiations

With increase in the radiation, the risk of cancer increases. We are exposed to various kinds of radiations in our daily life from sunlight, while traveling in airplane, from microwaves and occasionally from X-Rays. All radiations are harmful in one way or the other but the lower is the exposure, the lesser is the risk. Medical X-Rays directly emit a strong radiation on our body parts which is likely to cause cancer. In Great Britain, 0.6% of the cancer cases are due to the radiation caused by x-rays.

4. Alcohol

Alcohol is definitely one of the most common causes of cancer. Not everyone who drinks can get cancer but drinking on a regular basis may lead so. There is no particular limit of alcohol consumption but if adhered to the guidelines given by the government, which is one standard drink daily for women and two for men then the risk can be reduced. Tracing your daily consumption of alcohol and minimizing it can help you to reduce the cancer risk. Smoking and drinking together are even worse and are the major causes of lung cancer. Every year, on an average, alcohol causes 4% of total cancer in UK, approximately 12000 cases.

3. Red meat

After rigorous studies in the past by many scientists, it has been finally concluded by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute of Cancer Research that eating red meat increases the risk for cancer.  Consumption of small amount of red meat doesn’t increase the risk of cancer but if consumed in a large quantity, it can prove bad for your health. Red meat is any fresh, crushed or iced up beef, pork or lamb and processed meat is anything that has been preserved but not through freezing which includes salami, ham and sausages. The effect on health due to red meat consumption is not uniform and depends generally on its contents of fat, its processing and preparation. It causes pancreatic cancer and on an average 41 cases per 100,000 people was found with pancreatic cancer due to red meat consumption in a year.

2. Smoking and Tobacco

Smoking is a major cause of many deadly health problems like aneurysms, heart disease and cancer. Most of the lung cancers are due to smoking. Lung cancers is the most commonly found cancer and is its treatment is the hardest. Many steps are taken to make people including children aware about the harmful effects of smoking and prevent them from doing so. However, lung cancer rates have fallen tremendously over the last 30 years. Usage of tobacco causes many types of cancer like lung cancer, cancer of the esophagus, breast cancer, cancer of the pancreas and many more. Smoking, including second hand smoke, along with tobacco consumption is one of the major causes of cervical cancer in women. Tobacco has more than fifty contents that causes cancer including nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

1. Mobile Phones

Not even ten minutes and mobile phones can damage your brain. It has been claimed by the scientists that the radiations emitted by them hinders the way brain cells divide. The radiofrequency energy released by the cell phone in the form of non-ionizing magnetic radiations heats up the brain tissue. These radiations are classified as carcinogenic by many organizations and  exposure to them causes cancers of the brain, neck or nerves.  Even though, it is impossible to keep yourself away from cell phone, you can always curtail its use by keeping it away while sleeping, avoid playing games and texting as the amount of radio frequency emitted depends on the extent of use, technology of phone and the distance between the user and the antenna of the phone. So, keeping your cell phone away will help to reduce the risk of cancer.

Source: http://listdose.com