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For the first time, researchers can predict the lung cancer risk for social smokers as well as habitual smokers. Data presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) showed that a social smoker age 50 or older has a risk for developing lung cancer similar to that of a smoker under age 50 who smoked three packs a day for 20 years. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
Lycopene, an antioxidant commonly found in tomatoes and tomato-based products, is perceived to reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. A new study at Northwestern University seeks to determine whether natural tomato oil with a high concentration of lycopene may reverse or delay progression of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), a condition in which abnormal cells form within the prostate and which is the strongest risk factor yet identified for the development of prostate cancer. The study is headed by Peter Gann, MD, professor of preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a member of the cancer epidemiology and prevention program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive C... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
A new study from Columbia University Medical Center finds that stomach (gastric) cancer originates from bone marrow derived stem cells (BMDC), rather than from stomach stem cells, as previously thought. The study, "Gastric Cancer Originating from Bone Marrow-Derived Cells" is published in the current issue of Science. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
A complex interplay between three different genes may determine how prostate cancer will progress, a new mouse study finds.
Genetics clearly plays a role in prostate cancer, but researchers are still working to clarify that role. Studies have shown that from 5 percent to 10 percent of prostate cancers are hereditary; the risk is doubled or tripled for a man with a brother or father who has had the malignancy, and genetic mechanisms are estimated to be responsible for half of the early-onset cases, those that occur before the age of 55. [MedicineNet Cancer General]
Two studies have found the umbilical cords of newborn babies offer an alternative, albeit last-resort, source of stem cells for adult leukemia patients needing transplants.
They may represent another treatment alternative for people who are quickly running out of options, experts say.
"It's confirmation of something that we've known anecdotally," said Dr. Marshall Lichtman, executive vice president of research and medical programs at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which helped fund the study. "These are two studies that are more formal and have a larger sample of patients. They show that, with careful selection, cord blood can be useful in adults." [MedicineNet Cancer General]
A diet high in fiber is not enough to prevent the intestinal changes that often lead to colon cancer, report two large studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The doctors in both NEJM studies chose recurrence of polyps (adenomas) as the primary outcome, because adenomas are considered precursors of many colon cancers and appear faster than the cancers do. Researchers selected subjects who already had developed adenomas, because these subjects were more likely to have them again. This made it easier to evaluate the effects of different treatments; the study only needed to last for a few years to evaluate the results. Colon cancer is the second major cause of cancer in the US (after lung cancer). About 130,000 A... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
A new study at Northwestern University seeks to determine whether natural tomato oil with a high concentration of lycopene may reverse or delay progression of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), a condition in which abnormal cells form within the prostate and which is the strongest risk factor yet identified for the development of prostate cancer. [ScienceDaily Headlines]
Q: Should I use coral calcium to fight cancer or prevent other diseases?
A: While coral calcium may be nothing more than a clever marketing gimmick, there is no debating that calcium supplements prevents disease. For example, hundreds of studies have demonstrated the positiveeffect of calcium supplements on bone health and a recent studyin the American Journal of Medicine found that postmenopausalwomen who took 1,000 mg of calcium daily for one year reduced theirrisk of heart attack by up to 30%. Another study in the Journal of theNational Cancer Institute revealed that individuals who consumed atleast 700 mg of calcium per day (from food and supplements) hadabout half the risk of developing colon cancer as those getting... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
FAD diets which are dominated by green vegetables, such as the cabbage soup regime, could help women avoid cervical cancer.
Doctors working to unlock the mystery of the disease have discovered that when eaten, the substances produced in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and sprouts could help in the fight against cancer.
A research programme is now under way in Wales working on the age-old principle that you should "eat your greens".
Scientists based at the Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University, said yesterday they hope the outcome will pinpoint which vegetable has the most powerful effect against the causes of cervical cancer. [Scotsman.com News - Health]
Black Americans who have had colon cancer surgery are 67 percent more likely to die within five years than whites are, a new study says.
This was despite the fact that their cancers were diagnosed at the same stage and treated the same. This suggests racial differences in survival rates may be due to genetic or underlying biological factors, researchers noted. [MedicineNet Cancer General]
A group of leading scientists and doctors, including Luc Montagnier, Hubert Reeves, and Nobel Prize winners Jean Dausset and François Jacob, have warned about chemical pollution being "the main cause of current human scourges such as cancers, infertility and congenital diseases". [NewsIsFree: Health]
Breast cancer patients often complain of memory and concentration problems after undergoing chemotherapy. The phenomenon is so common it has a name -- chemobrain -- but now new research shows that chemotherapy alone can't explain it. [Breast Cancer - Topix.net]
Title: Smoking Cuts Chances Against Head, Neck Cancers
Category: Health News
Created: 10/2/04 1:55:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 10/2/04 1:55:03 AM [MedicineNet Cancer General]
The jury's still out on the relationship between breast cancer prevention and dietary restrictions, but dozens of sources recommend specific foods and vitamin supplements to "protect" against the No. 1 cancer among women. We talked with Amelie Ramirez, an associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, about nutrition and breast cancer prevention. And we looked for answers to that question among myriad other resources. The following information, offered during Breast Cancer Awareness/Prevention Month, should be taken simply as educational, and we suggest, as always, that each woman consult with her personal physician before making dramatic changes to diet or supplement intake. Dr. Ramirez admitted that "the science i... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Researchers who found that fish oils appear to reduce breast cancer risk have now discovered that the oils may especially benefit women with particular genetic makeups. The protective effects of fish oils, called marine n-3 or omega-3 fatty acids, are linked to the cancer-fighting properties of the oil's byproducts, propose investigators from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and the National University of Singapore. The study in Carcinogenesis was published early online through the journal's Web site. Moreover, researchers believe that women whose bodies do a poor job of getting rid of the fish oils' byproducts are the ones who benefit most from consuming the oils. That may help scientists better un... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Elizabeth Edwards and her breast cancer diagnosis raises the question: What else can be included in the arsenal of tools for surviving this disease? Best-selling authors, Allen and Linda Anderson, a couple who recently survived a crisis with breast cancer themselves, found in their research for a series of books about the human-animal bond, that cats and dogs are invaluable additions to healing therapies.
A recent study, reported in the British Medical Journal, shows the ability of dogs to sniff out cancer tumors even before sophisticated medical tests do. Allen Anderson, a contributor to a new book on husbands supporting their wives through breast cancer, offers firsthand experience about helping a spouse with the aid of the family's animal companions. After multiple surgeries the Andersons' cats, dog, and birds aided Linda's healing. [PR Web (The Free Wire Service) Medical Alternative Medicine]
Did your grandmother always tell you to "eat up your greens"? It appears that she may have known something scientists are only now discovering. When the substances produced in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, sprouts or cauliflower are eaten, they could help in the fight against cancer. [EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health]
A just-published research study by Urological Sciences Research Foundation may help explain a quandary that has perplexed medical scientists for decades: why is prostate cancer so much more common in the West than in Asia? Diet has long been chief suspect for the difference. The new study compared dietary influences on prostate tissues of Japanese men who spent their life in Japan vs. other Japanese men who spent their life in the U.S. The Western diet, relatively rich in animal fat and poor in soy, was found to exert cancer-causing influences that could be traced directly into prostate tissues. "This study is important because it's among the first to look directly at tissues, in an attempt to link diet and cancer," commented Alan Par... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Strong-flavored onions can be harsh on your social life, but they're potentially great for fighting cancer. Researchers at Cornell University have found in preliminary lab studies that members of the onion family with the strongest flavor - particularly New York Bold, Western Yellow and shallots - are the best varieties for inhibiting the growth of liver and colon cancer cells. "No one knows yet how many daily servings of onions you'd have to eat to maximize protection against cancer, but our study suggests that people who are more health-conscious might want to go with the stronger onions rather than the mild ones," said study leader Rui Hai Liu, MD, PhD, a chemist with Cornell's department of food science in Ithaca, New York. Resear... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
High levels of selenium in the blood may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a new study that suggests but doesn't prove the mineral's role as a preventive.
Selenium is a trace mineral found in meats, grains, seafood and some nuts. However, how much you get varies according to where you live, because different areas have different concentrations of selenium in the soil. Those who live in areas where selenium intake is low have higher rates of colorectal and other cancers. [Yahoo! News - Health]
Being obese more than doubles the risk of a type of leukemia -- acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) -- in older women, according to a new report. The risk is only slightly diminished in women who are overweight. [Yahoo! News - Health]
By living in Washington state, women are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer than in any other state in the country.
But, you are also more likely to survive! Now, doctors are trying to find out why. "The Puget Sound area is higher, on average, than the state of Washington," says Dr. David Beatty, Breast Specialist at Swedish Medical Hospital. [Breast Cancer - Topix.net]
Ask Paula Column - Free Advice from a Medical Intuitive Dear Paula, I have had surgery for colon cancer last July/03 and did undergo some chemotherapy which I have discontinued now. I do have some lesions on both lungs but...
Paula: Cancer is a disease caused by too much acid in the system. Along, with the emotional body 'stopping the flow of energy' your number one contributor of acid is food (red meat, processed foods, sugar, carbo's etc.). To change the environment in the body you must change the way you eat. Secondly, liquid minerals are essential as is omega-3-6-9 oils on daily basis.[About Holistic Healing]
Mouth cancer rates could soar because young people are smoking and drinking more, experts have warned. [BBC News | Health | UK Edition]
A new study finds tobacco may act as an environmental trigger for patients with an inherited genetic predisposition to pancreatic cancer. The authors of the report say the findings underscore the importance of strongly counseling patients with a family history of pancreatic cancer to avoid smoking. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
A new study at Northwestern University seeks to determine whether natural tomato oil with a high concentration of lycopene may reverse or delay progression of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), a condition in which abnormal cells form within the prostate and which is the strongest risk factor yet identified for the development of prostate cancer. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
A recent study, reported in the British Medical Journal, shows the ability of dogs to sniff out cancer tumors even before sophisticated medical tests do. Allen Anderson, a contributor to a new book on husbands supporting their wives through breast cancer, offers firsthand experience about helping a spouse with the aid of the family's animal companions. After multiple surgeries the Andersons' cats, dog, and birds aided Linda's healing. [PR Web (The Free Wire Service) Medical Alternative Medicine]
For many people, losing weight is not the result of successful diet and exercise, but is a symptom of a serious illness. It's important to take special care of yourself when undergoing cancer treatment. Cancer can deplete your body's nutrients, have a negative effect on your appetite and on the ability to digest foods. Optimal nutrition can help support the effectiveness of your treatment and minimize side effects such as involuntary weight loss. These side effects may be partially due to the effect of cancer itself on your body but you may also be eating less than usual due to emotional concerns. These factors combined may leave you in a vulnerable condition - high nutrient need and low nutrient intake.During your treatme... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Researchers from The Pennsylvania State University have examined whether eating a salad as a first course had any effect on intake of the main meal. As a weight management strategy, most nutrition experts agree that along with regular physical activity, people should keep tabs on their portion sizes to help them manage the number of calories they consume. The results of the study of 42 women showed eating a large salad (3 cups), compared with not having a first course, reduced the women's meal energy intake by 12%. The researchers concluded, "Consuming a large portion of a low-energy-dense food at the start of a meal may be an effective strategy for weight management." Their findings were published in the October 2004 Journal of... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Add colon cancer prevention to the possible list of reasons that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Studies in lab rats show that certain antioxidants found in apples sharply reduce pre-cancerous lesions in their colons, according to researchers at a cancer prevention meeting recently. The team of French scientists also found that the apple compounds influence cancer by altering specific cell-signaling pathways that lead to cell death. "These studies not only offer insights into the chemopreventive properties of these compounds (called polyphenols), they also offer proof of their potential to prevent colon cancer," said Francis Raul, the study's lead investigator and research director of the French Nation... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Eat your vegetables ladies, because research shows they are negatively associated with ovarian cancer, while dietary cholesterol and eggs are positively associated with it. According to researchers in Canada, "Epidemiologic studies have suggested that some dietary factors may play a role in the etiology of ovarian cancer, but the findings have been inconsistent. We assessed the association of ovarian cancer with dietary factors in a population-based case-control study in Canada. "Diet information was collected on 442 incident cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in 1994 to 1997 and 2,135 population controls via a self-administered questionnaire," the scientists wrote in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. S.Y. Pan... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Two-and-a-half cups of fresh grapes a week may cut the risk of some cancers in half, according to the results of a new study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The latest research on a compound called resveratrol is good news for people who like fresh grapes, according to the California Table Grape Commission. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant found in the skins of fresh grapes and has been linked to lowering the risk of prostate cancer in the new study. Consumers can get the necessary amount of resveratrol by eating fresh grapes of any color. Because red wine is fermented with the skins, red wine contains resveratrol and the study linked the reduced prostate risk to the consumption of red wine, reporting that 4 or mor... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Nutrients in oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruit, and their peels have the ability to fight the nation's top killing diseases - heart disease, cancer and obesity. Scientific studies revealing this information were presented by researchers from around the world during the 2-day "Potential Health Benefits of Citrus" symposium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to the Sunkist Nutrition Bureau. Highlights from the symposium included: Citrus Compounds May Prevent Colon Cancer: Two recent studies provide new evidence that citrus fruits contain compounds that may help prevent colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Jairam Vanamala and Nancy D. Turner from Texas A & M University isolated citru... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
Earlier this year, a study in the journal Science reported that 14 different chemical contaminants and pesticides were higher in farmed salmon than in wild salmon. Since these greater levels of contaminants and pesticides may correspond to a higher risk of cancer, it was concluded that farmed salmon are not as safe to eat as wild salmon and that farmed salmon should not be consumed more often than once a month. [MedicineNet Cancer General]
Immune responses to prevent or delay the spread of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, are more likely to prolong survival in patients if their immune cells carry a special kind of marker on the surface, according to a team of researchers at the University of Virginia Health System. The finding is published in the November 1 issue of the journal Cancer Research, found on the web at http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
A number of genetic mutations could collectively raise bowel cancer risk, researchers have found. About 4% of bowel cancers are caused by mutations in single genes.
But Cancer Research UK scientists found another 20% are caused by the combined effect of many genetic mutations - most insignificant alone.
They hope the research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could lead to a sophisticated blood test for bowel cancer. [BBC News | Health | UK Edition]
Some allergic conditions may increase the risk of developing blood cancer as an adult, research suggests.
Scientists found people with hives had an increased risk of leukaemia, while those who had childhood eczema were at higher risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. [BBC News | Health | UK Edition]
Patients want to discuss complementary medicine with GPs but many do not as they are embarrassed, research shows.
Some 71% said they want to talk about therapies such as hypnotherapy and herbal medicine with pharmacists or doctors, a poll of 1,000 people showed.
But 38% said they felt most doctors disapprove of the use of such medicine, according to health education charity Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP). [BBC News | Health | UK Edition]
Two and a half cups of fresh grapes a week may cut the risk of some cancers in half, according to the results of a new study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The latest research on a compound called resveratrol is good news for people who like fresh grapes. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant found in the skins of fresh grapes and has been linked to lowering the risk of prostate cancer in the new study. Consumers can get the necessary amount of resveratrol by eating fresh grapes of any color. Because red wine is fermented with the skins, red wine contains resveratrol and the study linked the reduced prostate risk to the consumption of red wine, reporting that four or more glasses of red wine per week ma... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
The jury's still out on the relationship between breast cancer prevention and dietary restrictions, but dozens of sources recommend specific foods and vitamin supplements to "protect" against the No. 1 cancer among women. We talked with Amelie Ramirez, an associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, about nutrition and breast cancer prevention. And we looked for answers to that question among myriad other resources. The following information, offered during Breast Cancer Awareness/Prevention Month, should be taken simply as educational, and we suggest, as always, that each woman consult with her personal physician before making dramatic changes to diet or supplement intake. Dr. Ramirez admitted that "the science i... [Cancercompass News: Cancer Nutrition]
The National Cancer Institute states that Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining around the heart. [A Mesothelioma Information Resource]
Psychiatrically ill and nicotine-dependent individuals consume approximately 70 percent of all cigarettes smoked in the United States, according to an article in the November issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
This is the second article in a 3-part series on alternative cancer treatments. As mentioned in part 1, a common misconception about alternative approaches to cancer is that they are not based on sound medical science. The truth is, however, there are several well-established scientific principles which many alternative cancer treatments are based on, and these have been successfully demonstrated in scientific tests. This article outlines two of the most important principles: the trophoblast principle and the anaerobic cell principle. [Cancer - Topix.net]
Studies have linked chronic, longstanding, untreated heartburn with an increased risk of esophageal cancer. During the past 30 years, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, a rare and highly fatal form of cancer, has rapidly increased in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, between 1970 and 2000, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus increased seven-fold in the United States. This year 14,250 Americans will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer, and 13,330 will die. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
Smokers can add pre-cancerous growths in the colon to the host of increased health risks they face, according to two studies presented at the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology. Researchers at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center examined the relationship between polyps and dietary and recreational habits as well as medications in a prospective study of 157 patients with a mean age of 55 years and found smokers faced a significant risk of developing colon polyps – precancerous growths in the colon.
The researchers gathered a range of demographic and health information, including smoking history and use of herbal and nutraceutical supplements including vitamins and minerals, among other information. Participants underwent colonoscopy screening to detect polyps and colorectal cancer. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
European oncologists and cancer organizations should urge their governments to ratify an international treaty on tobacco control, the World Health Organization and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) said on Monday, 1 November 2004. [EurekAlert! - Cancer]
A protein present in normal body tissue can prevent further growth in tumours, researchers have found.
A tumour can grow only if its blood supply also expands to provide it with essential nutrients.
The protein, discovered by Bristol University researchers, appears to block the growth of blood vessels past a certain size.
The researchers hope their work, published in Cancer Research, will lead to new cancer treatments.
The key protein is one of a group known as vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF).
Most forms of VEGF stimulate blood vessel growth, including the new vessels formed as a tumour begins to develop. [Cancer - Topix.net]