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estrogen and breast cancer, obesity and breast cancer, essential fatty acids and breast cancer, critique tamoxifen, fat and fiber and breast cancer, breast health calcium glucarate, CoQ10 and breast cancer, melatonin and breast cancer, vitamin lady writes about breast cancer, black cohosh breast cancer
BREAST
CANCER:
PREVENTION - FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE by Lynn Hinderliter CN, LDN
Some years ago, I had a brush with fear
over this very thing, so I would never presume to say that anything we do
carries a guarantee of no disease: however, the steps I am going to suggest have
so much expert support that I will say this: taking control certainly
beats sitting back and just waiting for Fate to get you!
What
could have been the cause of the astronomical increase in breast cancer
that has been seen in the past 40 years or so? England has seen an 81%
increase in cases since 1971. In the States since 1970, numbers
have risen from 68,000 to 184,300.
One has to
take into account that certainly there are more women now, and also that they
are living longer, into the age when breast cancer is an increased risk, but
even so ...
Consider
also that men have nipples -
they have
them because the development of an embryo begins with a FEMALE design, and only
later does the Y chromosome kick in that designates a MALE. By the time
that happens, nipples have already been formed, and nothing in the development
process reverses that.
Testosterone
is produced, but sensitivity to estrogen remains. This means that enough breast
tissue is present that on rare occasions, men have been able to lactate. Alas,
it means that men also are susceptible to breast cancer, particularly through
exposure to estrogenic compounds. While male breast cancer is rare, and usually
affects men over the age of 65, the presence of lumps -which can be easily
detected on a male chest - should be a sign that calls for immediate attentions.
Male breast cancer often involves larger tumors and more serious cases, perhaps
because men tend not to go to the Doctor in a timely fashion. Since the disease
is rare in men, there is also a risk of misdiagnosis.
I
would like to note here that male breast cancer, though increasing at a
lesser rate
than female, still increased by 25% between 1973
and 1998.
Both men and women in this day and age have much more exposure
to toxins and exogenous estrogen (from outside their body) than previous
generations. Many of the pesticides and even some of the chemical fertilizers in
common use nowadays have estrogenic influence.
In 2006, it became clear that women who spent time in an
agricultural environment when growing up are more likely to develop breast ( and
other) cancers, and men could not logically be excluded from a similar finding.
It had also become clear that there was a connection between
synthetic hormone useand breast cancer (primarily for menopausal
symptoms, though one has to wonder about birth control ..Birth
control pills are made from synthetic estrogen. A recent study on HRT therapy
with estrogen confirms this risk factor. (See Resources
for details.) and finally, after
their usage dropped, so too did breast cancer figures begin to decline.
Estrogen is sensitive
to levels of fat and fiber in the diet.
People in Western societies eat less fiber and more animal
fats than those in parts of the world where breast cancer is not such a scourge,
such as Japan and China. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, so overweight is
frequently a risk factor. In women, high body weights at an early age lead to
early menarche, and every extra menstrual cycle leads to extra exposure of the
breasts to estrogen.
Recollect that most of our foods are packaged, wrapped or
stored (and sometimes all three) in substances that contain
estrogen like compounds in the plastic that forms them. Some of this
leeches into the food itself. The good news is that a food wrap has been
developed that is made from vegetable starches. http://www.worldandi.com/public/2001/October/ee.html
Good news on this
front: compostable bags and storage utensils made of cornstarch and
sugarcane are now available at www.simplybiodegradable.com.
Here is a report
from the UK, from May of 2001, about estrogenic chemicals in
our food supply.
Estrogen is designed to be deconjugated in the liver into
safer compounds which are not associated with cancer. The liver, however
is an organ which is sadly overburdened these days and often is unable to
fulfill this function as efficiently as it should. More
about supporting liver health.
In the RESOURCES
you will find a comprehensive
analysis of the connection between various toxins and breast cancer, but
in light of the increased publicity being given to the need to use Sunscreen
blocks to avoid skin cancer (oh, the irony) I want to make you aware that a
Swiss group testing six popular sunscreen formulas found that 5 of the 6 showed
estrogenic activity in breast cancer cells, and 3 of the 6 showed estrogenic
activity in laboratory animals. (170.
Schlumpf M, Cotton B, Conscience M, Haller V, Steinmann B, Lichtensteiger W.
(2001). In vitro and in vivo estrogenicity of UV screens. Environmental Health
Perspectives 109(3): 239-244.)
Here are some effective risk-lowering
steps:
more fiber in your diet: whole grains, fresh
vegetables and fruits are the best sources for this. (this will lead to
avoidance of foods prepackaged in plastic.)
less fat - particularly animal fats. Remember,
however, that some fatty acids from the Omega
3 family are essential to health. Add olive oil to your diet:
I say this because there are substances in the olive oil which may protect
our health in ways previously unimagined. Dr. Menendez, doing research
at Northwestern University Scholl of medicine (Chisago) has discovered that Oleic
Acid, one of the main ingredients in olive oil, actually seems to
suppress HER-2/neu, the most active oncogene in breast cancer (it is found
in more than one fifth of breast cancer patients, and associated with the
most aggressive tumors.)
Occasional fasts to rest and cleanse the liver:
perhaps even a course of herbs on a regular basis for liver function
support. More about the
Liver
Take occasional cleansing and
detoxification breaks to minimize the build-up of toxins in the body.
Consider an effective Detox agent like ZEOLITE
Regular exercise to make sure that your weight is
under control, and that stores of fat are tapped to burn for energy.
Mothers, look to introduce physical exercise early
into your daughters' lives: while no one wants to affirm compulsions
to be thin to an adolescent, there is much to be said for concepts of
healthy moderation! Remember, estrogen
is stored in fatty tissues.An alarming recent study (Obstet
Gynecol 2002;100:288-295.) looked
at the relationship between teenage girls (18 years old ), obesity (BMI of
25 or greater) and subsequent pre-menopausal ovarian cancer - in a
study of 109,445 nurses they found that those who met these criteria were
nearly TWICE as likely to develop cancer.
Enough sleep - there is a link between Melatonin levels and breast
cancer, manifested quite clearly in the study on flight attendants and
breast cancer.
Sunshine in moderation, or Vitamin D3 supplementation.
The figures for prevention of Breast ( and colon) cancer through adequate
levels of D3 are startling: this 2007 study suggests that 600,00 cases could
be avoided worldwide.
Mothers, consider also the preliminary research that
suggests adding soy foods to the diet of children starting at age 5,
may lower their risk of later breast cancer by around 80%.
Additionally, an October 2003 study at the
University of California concluded that even an hour a WEEK of
moderate exercise ( how hard can that be) cuts cancer risk by 35%.
Unfortunately, this didn't hold true for hereditary groups.
What are you drinking? Cut out
the excess caffeine, the pops and the alcohol, and replace it with as little
as HALF A CUP of green tea daily - or choose a supplement with EGCG (epigallocatechin
- 3 - gallate)
Make sure your diet includes plenty if high
antioxidant foods - or supplement. Research shows a link between low
antioxidant levels and breast cancer. (Sharhar
S, Normah H, et al, Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2008; 9(2): 343-50. )
Monitor your Vitamin D levels - or take steps to make
sure you are getting enough of this nutrient. Again, research shows a
link between low Vitamin D levels and breast cancer. (Neuhouser
ML, Sorensen B, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2008; 88(1): 133-9. )
Does the risk of breast cancer have you wishing you knew
for sure?
Some facts
about Mammography which every woman should know: I am indebted
to Dr. W. C. Douglass of the newsletter "The
Daily Dose" for this analysis. http://www.realhealthnews.com
First, the idea that "early detection"
of breast cancer will
spare a woman's breast (or breasts) is erroneous. Despite the
mainstream's droning on about the need for regular mammograms as
an aid to the detection of cancerous tumors, the notion that
such advanced warning will lead to a cure for the disease is
SIMPLY FALSE. Yet survey data indicates that a huge percentage
of at-risk women believe just that. This is really tragic, since
the only tumors mammograms can reliably detect are those that
indicate a relatively advanced stage of metastasized cancer.
Second, the act of getting a mammogram itself may actually CAUSE
the spread of diseased cells and the development of cancerous
tumors within an otherwise healthy breast. In what I call the
"compression syndrome," the act of squeezing and
compressing the
breast in order to get good images during mammography may
activate and spread an otherwise contained or localized mass of
cancerous cells. In one 90,000-woman Canadian study (published
in a 1992 issue of The Lancet, my favorite medical journal),
subjects between 40 and 50 who had yearly mammograms showed a
36%-52% INCREASE in breast cancer mortality. But have we heard
about this in USA Today, or on NBC news?
On September
24th 2004, Dr. Douglass added this opinion:
A recent study of 663 cancerous women published
in the Archives of Surgery reveals that those subjects whose
cancerous breast tumors were needle biopsied - in other words,
intentionally ruptured for diagnostic purposes - were 50% more
likely to subsequently develop cancer of the lymphatic nodes
located under the armpit than women whose tumors were removed
outright (also not something I'd always recommend, but that's
another story).
For those in the back row (or those with
their fingers in their ears, like mammographers), I'll
shout: That's TWICE AS LIKELY to develop lymphatic
cancer after disruption of the cancerous tumor.
Now, I ask my critics, in light of this
startling (but not to me) finding, is it really so
unreasonable for me to maintain that extreme compression of
the breast might possibly cause cancerous growths to release
malignant cells into nearby tissues that might otherwise have
remained contained in a tumor until such time as detection and
treatment could occur?
Third, conventional medicine is COMPLETELY IGNORING a perfectly
safe, non-invasive alternative cancer test called the AMAS
(Anti-Malignan Antibody Screen). AMAS is a simple and amazingly
accurate (95%+) blood test for detecting cancer cells of any
type originating anywhere in the body. And false positives for
the AMAS test are less than 1%, which compares very favorably to
the... (Lynn: see RESOURCES for
the link)
MORE THAN 73% FALSE POSITIVE RATE OF MAMMOGRAMS AND PHYSICAL
EXAMINATIONS!
That's right: According to the Breast Cancer Detection
Demonstration Project, a 5-year study of more than a
quarter-million women between 35 and 74, only ONE IN SIX
biopsies performed on the basis of a positive mammogram (or
physical exam) revealed cancer. Yet millions of women rush into
lumpectomies and mastectomies based on these results. If the
mainstream would just follow these tests with the AMAS, they'd
be saving a lot of women the physical and psychological damage
that goes hand-in-hand with these procedures.
In other
words, your actions
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS
can affect your outcome!
Finally the mainstream medical community is at
least re-visiting the value mammograms for women under the age of 40 - I
am sure that figure will change over time!
Consider
also Thermography
- http://www.breastthermography.com/mammography_thermography.htm
Another
non-invasive test for cancer -The
AMAS test. http://www.amascancertest.com
The Immune System.
All my favorite things play positively into a
strong, functioning immune system: a healthy diet, fresh air, exercise,
stress control - all the things that can be said easily and quickly, but in the
midst of a busy lifestyle are not so easy to implement.
The list of things that compromise the immune
system is long, but consider among the most important the following:
stress
toxins and chemicals
nutrient deficiencies
dysbiosis
(overuse of antibiotics/destruction of internal bacterial balance)
(Note: Feb 17th 2004 - boy, was this right on! Check study in
RESOURCES)
allergies
insomnia
Controlling
stress is in the number one position here, because with overwhelming stress come
so many other immune suppressive health concerns, such as inflammation and
digestive distress, pH and blood sugar imbalances, and adrenal
insufficiency. Click
here for a detailed article on Stress and its many problems.
It is becoming impossible to
ignore the connection between toxins, toxic chemicals, and illness. While
the Government wants all the i's dotted and the t's crossed, just a quick check
of the literature shows clusters of environmentally connected disease problems
that cannot be ignored. The weapons here are increased awareness,
since this will enable you to take preventative action - even moving, if
necessary!
Consider once again the benefits of organic foods.
Remember, authentic organic foods confer benefits on the producer, the
environment, any creatures involved and the consumer. It is not just
another word attached to nutritionally inferior food to entice you to
buy!
I do not want to get into the whole subject of
factory farming here, but will only say that in my opinion the health
risks we discuss here are only a small part of their adverse
social effects.
There are additional risks we are just becoming
aware of in commercial fertilizers, too. Did
you know that when toxic wastes are added to fertilizer, they become
an unregulated "product"? (http://www.ewg.org/reports/factoryfarming/fertpress.html) If
you think you are avoiding
heavy metals, look at this information. and think again!! I
recommend a book called Fateful Harvestby Duff Wilson,
which was a finalist for the Pulitzer prize. It will make you
aware of a problem we should all be working to overcome. See
RESOURCES.
Be aware of the potential for toxicity
in your cosmeticsand personal care
items. Some experts are now investigating the possibility that this partly
explains the difference in cancer levels between women and men - women use the
make-up! ***
Support the immune system with a diet rich
in antioxidants and enzymes. If it is compromised, select supplements to
support it such as Moducare, or medicinal mushrooms. More
about the immune system.
Keep track of your body's pH, to ensure
you are not giving disease the environment it needs to develop. An acidic
pH contributes to dysbiosis by adversely affecting the health of the denizens of
your digestive tract which control the balance of friendly and unfriendly
organisms: an overgrowth of Candida will compromise your immune system in short
order. Click
here for a detailed article on Candida Albicans.
Minerals
help balance your pH, and research is underlining the importance of
calcium to reducing cancer risk.
Higher levels of Calcium and its
friend, Vitamin D, are associated with lower levels of breast density. Read
the abstract of the study at http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/9/1466
Be
alert to the possibility of allergens in your diet.
Research
has found that food allergies are also likely to cause a
"disturbed balance between beneficial and potentially harmful bacteria in
the large intestine" People with food allergies benefit from
the addition of both digestive enzymes and probiotics. An article in
Gut
(July 2002;51:51-55)
says definitively that "a healthy balance of gut microorganisms is essential for
the normal development of the immune system." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12077091&dopt=Abstract
Dr.
d'Adamo's book, Eat Right For your Blood Type, gives some interesting
general guidance, and for more particular results, consider the handy Coca
pulse test.
There are interesting
studies on the inhibitory effect
of Melatonin on breast cancer.
Researchers have found that Melatonin blocks the binding of
estradiol to the element in DNA that responds to estrogen. This may be very
significant, and may also explain why Melatonin helps Alzheimer's, by blocking
the receptors in neurons. (studies done on Air Attendants showed a connection
between consistent interruption of circadian cycles, and higher levels of breast
cancer. See RESOURCES for a
connection between night time lights, shift work, and breast cancer). The paper
reports the therapeutic dose as being around 300-500 mcg, which is the amount
normally released by the pineal gland at night.
There is no suggestion that maintaining high levels during the
day would be helpful, and some indication that it might be harmful . An
interesting side note is that electro- magnetic fields have been shown to reduce
Melatonin levels, even when the exposure is incurred during the daytime. The
study showed that workers exposed to constant levels of magnetic fields from 60
Hz alternating current experienced reduced Melatonin production. Even a clock
by the bed can be a factor. You
can measure your Melatonin levels with this kit.
Remember, too, that meditation not only helps with stress
levels, often a factor in insomnia (high cortisol levels inhibit sleep) but has
also been shown to raise Melatonin levels. Look in RESOURCES
for some home help with meditation, which also has a track
record in helping with our second risk-lowering strategy.
Drink Green Tea, and add soy to your diet.A
mouse study found the combination was more effective than either food by
itself.
Cannabis and
aggressive Breast Cancer cells
I don't think they are talking about SMOKING it, by the way, but the seeds
and protein from Hemp are now available commercially.
Topic:
A
Compound found in Cannabis May Prevent the Spread of Breast Cancer -
http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/36965
Keywords:
CANCER, BREAST CANCER, METASTASIS - Cannabis,
Cannabidiol, Chemotherapy
Reference:
"Cannabidiol as a novel inhibitor of Id-1 gene
expression in aggressive breast cancer cells," McAllister SD,
Christian RT, et al, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 2007; 6(11):
2921-7. (Address: California Pacific Medical Center, Research
Institute, 475 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. E-mail:
mcallis@cpmcri.org ).
Summary:
In a study involving aggressive human breast cancer
cells, cannabidiol - a compound found in cannabis with a low-toxicity
profile - was found to block the activity of a gene called Id-1,
thereby reducing the aggressiveness of the cancer cells. In previous
research, the authors had determined that metastatic breast cancer
cells were less invasive and less metastatic when Id-1 was
down-regulated. In this study, cannabidiol (CBD) was found to down
regulate Id-1 expression in aggressive human breast cancer cells; the
concentrations effective at doing so correlated with the
concentrations required to inhibit the proliferative and invasive
phenotype of breast cancer cells. In a concentration-dependent manner,
CBD inhibited Id-1 expression at the mRNA and protein level. According
to the authors, the effects of CBD appear to result from the
inhibition of the Id-1 gene at the promoter level. CBD did not inhibit
invasiveness in cells that ectopically expressed Id-1. The authors c
onclude that, "…CBD represents the first nontoxic exogenous
agent that can significantly decrease Id-1 expression in metastatic
breast cancer cells leading to the down-regulation of tumor
aggressiveness." Given the limited therapeutic interventions
available for the treatment of aggressive and metastatic breast
cancer, and given the toxicity and other side effects associated with
chemotherapy, these results offer hope that a non-toxic alternative to
chemotherapy may be on the horizon.
CoQ10 and Breast
Cancer
A
2005 study at the University of Miami found that CoQ10 in high
doses restored the normal life cycle to cancer cells . In other words,
it restored programmed cell death. http://www.med.miami.edu/news/view.asp?id=403
To quote from
their press release: “It is amazing that a
benign compound, CoQ10, can cause the cancer cells to selectively kill
themselves without harm to normal cells. Moreover, we have a novel topical
delivery system that offers cancer patients an improved quality of life with a
boost of energy. Indeed, our team looks forward to one day bringing the
benefit and hope of this technology to many cancer patients.”
Another
study found complete remission in two cases of breast cancer.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7612003&dopt=Abstract
Apoptosis,
which can be defined as "gene-directed cellular self-destruction" or
programmed cell death. Direct from Roche (thank you!) I have taken
the following definition: "Apoptosis
plays an important role in the homeostasis and development of all tissues within
an organism. In contrast to necrosis (cell death by accident), apoptosis is a
well regulated physiological process. Any disturbance of the balance between
cell proliferation and cell death maintained by apoptosis can result in serious
disease, in particular cancer."
http://www.celldeath.de/encyclo/aporev/aporev.htm#6
There has been compelling research done into the
effects of Maitake mushroom extract on apoptosis, and if you are at high
risk for breast cancer this is a supplement to consider.
Part of a healthy body is the system of cell
messengers that patrol it. If you have had Cancer previously,
or feel your risk is exceptionally high, consider IP6. IP-6 is
present in all cells of both animals and plants, and because IP-6 is related to
a compound called Inositol Triphosphate which plays a role in communicating to
the cell what its reaction should be to stimuli, it may regulate either the
manner in which the signal is transmitted, or even act as a censor for
unacceptable messages. Be that as it may, the results of studies show that IP-6
brings about reduction in the size of all the tumors monitored in rats,
colon, mammary glands, lung, liver, skin - you name it. If the mode of
operation of IP-6 is as outlined above, then it would be effective against all
forms of cancer. Cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells bringing about
uncontrolled growth: a nutrient that can cancel out the message to the cells
that causes this rogue reaction would (in the words of Dr. Shamsuddin, the
researcher) "reduce this abnormal growth rate of cells down to the normal
growth level."
Breast cancer affects roughly 1 in every 50 women over the age of 50. While the
risk rises steadily throughout a woman's reproductive years, it increases even
more following menopause. It is therefore comforting to find that the herb Black
Cohosh (Cimifuga racemosa) , used by many women to help control the symptoms of
menopause, also has a beneficial effect on that risk.
Studies
suggest it may HALVE the risk of breast cancer.
LAST
BUT NOT LEAST
women, use your breasts for their intended purpose, & encourage your
daughters to do so
Let your breasts loose on occasion
- don't wear a bra 24/7. Inhibiting lymphatic movement in the breasts has a very interesting
connection to breast cancer. http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html
Some interesting facts and studies follow:
I do not want to end this article
without commenting on the use of Tamoxifen to treat women at high risk of
developing breast cancer. A study published in The Lancet (9 Sept
2000; 356:868-869, 881-887) came up with the following results:
Women who take Tamoxifen for 2 to 5 years have twice the
risk of endometrial cancer as women who have not taken it.
Women who have taken Tamoxifen for 5 years or more have a
seven times higher risk of endometrial cancer.
The total increased risk for all women who used Tamoxifen
at all was 50%.
Advanced endometrial cancers were more common in women who
had taken Tamoxifen long term than in those who had not.
The 3-year survival rate for endometrial cancer was
"significantly worse" for long term Tamoxifen users than
non-users.
Research in 2004 has put this issue to rest -
researchers at the University of North Carolina produced statistics on severe
side effects such as stroke and blood clots in users of tamoxifen which
make any possible benefit worthless in face of the potential harm.
Ironically, it is now recommended that the
nutrients CoQ10 (100 mg), Niacin (50 mg) and Riboflavin (10mg) be added to the
Tamoxifen regimen to reduce the chance of metastases.
(Biol Pharm Bull, 30, 2:367-70, 2007)
Topic:
In
Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients, Supplementation with Coenzyme
Q10, Niacin, and Riboflavin Improves Various Blood Chemistry Profiles
Unfavorably Affected by Tamoxifen Therapy - http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/37791
Keywords:
BREAST CANCER, TAMOXIFEN, CHEMOTHERAPY, SIDE EFFECTS
- Coenzyme Q10, Riboflavin, Niacin, Blood Chemistry
Reference:
"Effect of Coenzyme Q(10), Riboflavin and Niacin
on Tamoxifen treated postmenopausal breast cancer women with special
reference to blood chemistry profiles," Yuvaraj S, Premkumar VG, et
al, Breast Cancer Res Treat, 2008; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address:
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALMP-GIBMS, University of
Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 600 113, Tamil Nadu, India).
Summary:
In a study involving 78 postmenopausal breast cancer
patients receiving tamoxifen therapy and 46 healthy controls,
supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (100 mg), niacin (50 mg), and
riboflavin (10 mg) for a period of 90 days was found to favorably impact
blood chemistry profiles negatively affected by tamoxifen (a
chemotherapy drug). Blood samples were collected at baseline, on the
45th and on the 90th day, and various blood chemistry profiles were
assessed. Tamoxifen therapy was found to unfavorably affect various
blood chemistry parameters, such as serum total bilirubin, serum
glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate
transaminase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, uric acid, lipoprotein
lipase, lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferases (LCAT), potassium,
calcium and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase. Supplementation with coenzyme Q10,
riboflavin and niacin (CoRN) was found to favorably reverse these
various blood chemistry parameters to near normal levels, particularly
liver and lipid parameters. Thus, the results of this study suggest that
postmenopausal breast cancer patients who are receiving tamoxifen
therapy may benefit from supplementation with a combination of coenzyme
Q10, riboflavin, and niacin.
http://www.vitasearch.com/
From "Nutrition and Cancer" Regulation of Tumor Angiogenesis by Dietary Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids
David P. Rose and Jeanne M. Connolly, The authors are affiliated with the
Division of Nutrition and Endrocrinology, American Health Foundation, Valhalla,
NY 10595.
Women who hide their natural hair color with
regular applications of permanent hair dye may be putting themselves at
increased risk for bladder cancer, new research findings suggest.
"Our study is the first to demonstrate a
frequency- and duration-dependent association between personal use of
permanent hair-dyes and bladder cancer risk," lead study author Dr.
Manuela Gago-Dominguez, from the Keck School of Medicine at the
University of Southern California, told Reuters Health.
To investigate the relationship between permanent hair dyes and bladder
cancer, Dr. Gago-Dominguez and colleagues analyzed more than 1500 cases
of bladder cancer, 897 of which yielded information about hair dye use.
Data on a similar number of adults who did not use permanent hair dye
were used for comparison. The study findings will be published in the
February 2001 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
After adjusting for cigarette smoking, the authors found that women who
used permanent hair dye at least once a month were 2 times more likely
to develop bladder cancer than women who did not use permanent hair dye.
Women who reported regular long-term use of the hair dye for at least 15
years were more than 3 times more likely to develop bladder cancer than
nonusers.
Hairstylists and barbers were 50% more likely to have bladder cancer
than those who did not have occupational exposure to hair dye. Those who
were exposed to hair dye for at least 10 years were five times more
likely than the comparison group of unexposed individuals to develop
bladder cancer.
"Our novel observations are provocative and carry enormous public
health implications," Dr. Gago-Dominguez said. "It is
[perhaps] a little premature to make any recommendation about stopping
the use of permanent hair dyes," she acknowledged. "However,
this is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies ever conducted
on the issue and we think our results should not be ignored."
Now we come to the fun part! According to
Dr. John Corbett, a consultant to the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance
Association, Dr. Gago-Dominguez and her team may have used a faulty study
design.
"Their measure of exposure is just (Lynn: my italics) frequency of
use and duration of use, which is not very good," he told Reuters Health.
"The most important factor in exposure to hair dye is the shade you
use."
"All of the shades use essentially the same chemicals, but there's quite a
lot more of [the chemicals] in dark brown and black than there are in
blonde," he explained.
Also, Dr. Corbett contends that the researchers "seem to make light of
previous studies" by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer
Society that failed to find an association between hair dye use and cancer risk.
"The bottom line is I don't think [the new study findings] should affect
people in their decision as to whether to use hair color or affect the hair
color industry," Dr. Corbett said.
Science News, April 29, 2000 Soy-rich diets appear to help fight certain cancers. Tea drinking has been
linked to similar benefits. Two studies now find that the combo offers a potent
double whammy against cancer of the breast and prostate -at least in mice. Jin-Rong
Zhou and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School in Boston injected a million
breast cancer or prostate cancer cells into mice engineered to possess weak
immune systems. Two weeks earlier, they had replaced the drinking water of some
animals with green or black tea. Others received chow laced with
isoflavones, soy's biologically active antioxidants. Two groups of mice got both
the mix of isoflavones and one or the other tea. Some just ate their normal
diet. Two months after implantation of the cancer cells, the researchers
surveyed for tumors and found that all the experimental diets had conferred some
benefit. Compared with animals on the normal diet, mice given isoflavones or tea
had 25 to 50 percent fewer tumors, and their tumors weighed 15 to 25 percent
less. However, benefits from pairing tea and isoflavones equaled or exceeded the
sum of either alone--a reduction of between 72 and 87.5 percent in tumor number
and a similarly large decrease in each tumor's size.
The results of a new
survey by the UK government's food watchdog has shown that the seepage of the
oestrogen-mimicking compound bisphenol A (BPA) into canned food is widespread.
Nearly two thirds of tinned food assessed by the Food Standards Agency's
Committee on Toxicity including Heinz baled beans, Tesco tuna and Sainsbury's
fruit cocktail were found to contain BPA.
Although the committee declared the level of contamination as "unlikely to
be of concern to health," environmentalists have called for an alternative
to BPA to be developed as a matter of urgency.
Animal research has shown that BPA enlarges the size of the prostate gland in
mice, advances the onset of puberty in females and reduces fertility in rats.
The findings have led to speculation that the build up of BPA in humans — the
chemical is also found in white dental fillings — may be responsible for the
rise in testicular cancer, prostate cancer and reduced sperm counts. Children
and unborn babies are thought to be at greatest risk of the effects of BPA
because of their smaller body size.
In the survey, scientists examined 62 samples of canned food or drink from UK
supermarkets. BPA was detected at up to 0.07 mg/kg in 37 samples and at 0.35 to
0.42 mg/kg in three additional cans.
The highest level of contamination was found in cans of Princes ham bought in
Tesco. Lower levels were found in Farrow's marrow fat, giant processed peas and
Tesco baby carrots. None of the four samples of baby formula tested were
positive for BPA.
The safe limit for BPA set by the EC is 3 mg/kg, according to the Food Standards
Agency, making canned foods no danger to health. It advises the public that
there is no need for them to change their eating habits as a result of these new
findings.
However, the debate about what constitutes a safe level of BPA consumption is
controversial. Some scientists have found have that BPA produces effects in
animals at very low doses
Commenting on the findings Dr Michael Warhurst, Safer Chemicals Campaigner at
Friends of the Earth, said: "These are disturbing results. The Government
must put pressure on the canning industry and supermarkets to get rid of this
risky chemical. In the mean time, the public has a right to know which cans
contain this hormone disrupter."
"The Government should stop protecting its friends in the chemical industry
and start protecting our health," he added.
It is not known why BPA migrates into certain
foods and not others, though it seems that the risk of seepage is higher when
BPA is used as a linking agent between the can and the food rather than just in
the lining of the can, Dr. Warhurst said. "We really don't know enough
about BPA at the moment. But we do know that there is a huge amount of
confidentiality surrounding canned coatings," he said. "Consumers
should be asking their retailers which cans contain BPA and which don't. Because
of the evidence from animal studies, we don't think BPA should be used in the
context of food."
Dr.
Laufey Tryggvadottir and colleagues, from the Icelandic Cancer Society in
Reykjavik, assessed the link between breast-feeding and breast cancer by
analyzing data on 993 parous women who developed breast cancer and 9729 matched
control subjects who did not develop cancer.
Conditional logistic regression analysis, considering only women diagnosed with
breast cancer before 40 years of age, revealed an inverse relationship between
breast-feeding duration and the risk of breast cancer. For women diagnosed after
40 years of age, the association was much weaker, the authors note. The risk of
breast cancer at all ages appeared to be lower for women who had ever lactated
versus those who had not.
"The present results, in the context of results from previous studies,
indicate that breast-feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer diagnosed under
the age of 40, and it may offer some protection for older cases also," the
researchers state.
Further studies are needed to determine whether the breast cancer risk reduction
observed in the current study applies to women with a genetic risk for breast
cancer, Dr. Tryggvadottir's team comments.
Keywords:
estrogen and breast cancer, obesity and breast cancer, essential fatty
acids and breast cancer, critique tamoxifen, fat and fiber and breast
cancer, breast health calcium glucarate, CoQ10 and breast cancer,
melatonin and breast cancer, the vitamin lady writes about breast
cancer, black cohosh breast cancer
Quick
Links
The
Poisons within - http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0610/feature4/index.html
Link
between Fluoride and Cancer? - http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-07-27/news_story2.php
Citizens
Concerned about Chloramine - http://www.chloramine.org/chloraminefacts.htm
Mammography
- is it worth it? http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/322/7293/1040
Thermography
- alone or in conjunction with. http://www.breastthermography.com/mammography_thermography.htm
For those fortunate
enough to live in the City of my Youth:
Breast
Screening in the UK http://www.wholisticmedical.co.uk
Wholistic Medical
is a natural Health Clinic in London, and a fully qualified
Holistic Health Clinic.
Available therapies are Breast Screening and Breast Cancer Treatment
The
Wise Woman promotes Breast HEALTH
Awareness Month - http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Prevent_Breast_Cancer.htm
Re-thinking
THE PINK - http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Oct05/Marshall1003.htm
CLA
and breast cancer - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14988466
Cancer and Stress Control through Mind Control
-
Accepting and Receiving suggestions for change through Hypnosis
Find out more about programs to manage Stress and Anxiety”,
all composed by state-licensed psychologists.
http://www.hypnosisnetwork.com/hypnosis/stress_anxiety.php
The following is a
"conventional"
(i.e.. not alternative oriented) site, but with good overall information:
National
Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations - http://nabco.org
Determine
your cancer risk -
an assessment - http://www.yourcancerrisk.harvard.edu/
Study
links Antibiotic Use and Breast Cancer - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/291/7/880
A
very interesting connection between the
bra and breast cancer. - http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html
Cancer
and Personality-
one Doctor's review -
http://www.drbrodie.com/personality.shtml
Don't
let them invade you, squeeze you, cut you - there's a new way to
check for cancer. http://www.cancure.org/tests_to_detect_cancer.htm
Early
Menarche and DDT - http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-05-22d.htm
Information
about performing BSE (Breast Self Exam) http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/bse.asp.htm
Breast
Self Massage - http://www.breasthealthcancerprevention.com/Breast_self_massage.htm
BSE
- is it worth it? http://healthfullife.umdnj.edu/archives/selfExam_archive.htm
Just
in case you aren't happy with your standard issue -some facts about Breast Implants.
http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/make_diff.html
Flight
Crews and Cancer - http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20031021/flight-crews-have-higher-cancer-risk
Melatonin,
D3 and breast cancer - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12788662&dopt=Abstract
Estrogens
in PlasticWraps? http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/Out-Of-Diet-PG5nov03.htm
Compostable bags and storage utensils made of cornstarch
and sugarcane are now available at simplybiodegradable.com.
An
inexpensive non-invasive way to check for early Cancer -
Articles/navarro-urine-test.htm
A
forum for young women with breast cancer to meet and gain a
sense of community. http://www.cwhn.ca/resources/breast_health/breastless.html
Important
information: ANY woman who is on birth control, and has
received the report of an atypical Pap smear needs to
know about this. http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/thinprep.htm
Vitamin
D, Calcium and Breast Cancer -
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/9/1466
Cancer
is Big Business - http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/199909/cancer.asp
Tamoxifen
and Liver Cancer - http://www.preventcancer.com/patients/med_avoid/tamoxifen.htm
Birth
Control and Cancer - http://www.preventcancer.com/patients/med_avoid/pill.htm
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