Obesity increases your cancer risk (even if you are a non-smoker)!

Telegraph.co.uk: Obesity has become the main cause of cancer in non-smokers, a global conference will hear next week.

The World Cancer Research Fund has spent five years collecting information about the effect bodyweight, diet and physical activity has on the risk of developing cancer and will present its findings on Thursday.

Smoking is still the single biggest cause of cancers, accounting for one third of the 300,000 cases in the UK each year.

But only one quarter of people smoke and research has found that for non-smokers being overweight or obese is the most important avoidable cause of cancer. In the UK, 12,000 people a year could avoid cancer if they maintained a healthy weight, according to Cancer Research UK.

Obesity is known to cause between nine and 15 per cent of breast cancers – more than defective genes.

A recent study found women who have gone through the menopause and are obese increase their risk of developing breast cancer by a third.

Obesity is known to increase the risk of cancer by raising the level of hormones such as oestrogen, which feeds many breast cancers.

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Breast Thermography – A new tool for early detection of breast cancer!

Breast Thermography or Digital Infrared Imaging is a technique that is based on the principle that metabolic activity and vascular circulation in both pre-cancerous tissue and the area surrounding a developing breast cancer is almost always higher than in normal breast tissue. In an ever-increasing need for nutrients, cancerous tumors increase circulation to their cells by holding open existing blood vessels, opening dormant vessels, and creating new ones. This process frequently results in an increase in regional surface temperatures of the breast. DII uses ultra-sensitive medical infrared cameras and sophisticated computers to detect, analyze, and produce high-resolution diagnostic images of these temperature variations. Because of DII’s extreme sensitivity, these temperature variations may be among the earliest signs of breast cancer and/or a pre-cancerous state of the breast. (Source: http://www.breastthermography.com/breast_thermography_mf.htm)

This technique is FDA approved, non-invasive, non-radioactive and painless and can help in detecting breast cancer much earlier than other established techniques like mammography. This news story from CBS News talks in detail about ‘Breast Thermography’ and the need for women to know more about this new technology.

Breast self-examination – The best defence against breast cancer!

Breast cancer (cancer of breast tissue), is the most common form of cancer in women, affecting one out of eleven women at some stage of their life, in the developed world. It is expected to cause some 41,000 deaths in the United States, this year, and the number has been steadily increasing since 1970’s, due to the changes in our lifestyle. Breast cancer is a potential killer and early detection is vital to increase the chances of survival.

Breast self-examination helps in detecting breast cancer early, when it is more treatable and women should check their breasts regularly for any changes in size, shape, lump, tenderness or nipple discharge and consult a healthcare professional, if they find anything unusual with their breasts.

This video explains how to conduct breast self-examination and how to detect unusual changes in the breasts.

Note: This video could be inappropriate to some viewers (under the age of 13)

Special diets neither prevent breast cancer relapse nor does it improve survival!

Among breast cancer survivors, adopting a low-fat diet high in vegetables, fruit and fibre does not prevent the cancer from returning or prolong survival, according to a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association

Dr John P Pierce and his associates designed the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) trial, based on evidence that plant-derived foods contain anti-cancer chemicals.

Pierce, at the University of California, San Diego, and his team describe the intervention as "a telephone counselling program supplemented with cooking classes and newsletters that promoted daily targets of five vegetable servings plus 16 ounces of vegetable juice; three fruit servings; 30 grams of fibre; and 15 to 20 per cent of" calories from fat.

Subjects in the comparison group received care as usual and were given publications from the National Cancer Institute and the US Department of Health and Human Services, describing the "5-A-Day" dietary guidelines.

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A new system to identify women at risk of developing breast cancer!

The Newton-Wellesley Hospital at Newton, Massachusetts, has developed a new system to identify women at risk of developing breast cancer and to save their lives. This system identifies women at risk for breast cancer and screens them more frequently for breast cancer, which helps in the early detection of the disease and ultimately saves their lives.

This news story from WCVB - Boston's Channel 5, explains how this system works.

Too much of alcohol doubles the risk of breast cancer!

Women, who drink the equivalent of roughly two bottles of wine over a weekend more than double their risk of breast cancer, say Danish researchers.

A study of 17,647 nurses found twice the risk of breast cancer in women who drank 22-27 drinks a week compared with those who drank one to three drinks.

The risk was greatest when drinks were consumed in a short period, reported the European Journal of Public Health. Experts said women should try and limit the amount of alcohol they drank.

Women in the study were aged over 44, and most drank a moderate amount of alcohol. A drink was classed as a bottle of a glass of wine or spirit, which in Denmark is roughly 12g of alcohol. .

More than a quarter of the women drank more than the recommended 14 drinks a week. One in 10 were week-day binge drinkers, having more than four drinks a day and 13% were weekend binge drinkers, defined as more than 10 drinks between Friday and Sunday.

There was a 2% increased risk of breast cancer for each additional drink consumed, but at weekends there was a 4% increased risk with each additional drink.

The researchers said this was because more drinks were likely to be consumed in a weekend drinking session.

Drinking 22-27 drinks over the course of the week was linked to a 130% increased risk. Those who drank excessively on just one day during the week increased their risk by 55%.

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Tulsi inhibits the progression of breast cancer

Indolink.com: It is in America's medical establishment - especially in the many outstanding cancer research centers - that traditional Indian medicine is confronting western science and proving that it has something worthwhile to offer. No wonder the power of Tulsi and of turmeric, so common to Desis everywhere, is now beginning to amaze Americans.

And in many instances the work is being done by Indian-American scientists or in collaboration with scientists in India.

Take ongoing research on the holy Tulsi plant (Ocimum sanctum) at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan, or the common spice Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) at MD Anderson Cancer Research Center in Houston.

In the case of Tulsi or India’s holy basil, Ayurvedic practice recommends Tulsi in several formulations to enhance immunity and metabolic functions as well as in the management of respiratory problems. Recent pharmacological studies have established the anabolic, hypoglycemic, smooth muscle relaxant, cardiac depressant, antifertility, adaptogenic and immunomodulator properties of this plant.

Surprisingly enough, in 2006, research scientists at Karmanos Cancer Institute announced findings of their study titled Inhibition of breast cancer progression by the medicinal herb Ocimum Sanctum at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in Washington, D.C.

They asked the question, can this herb curb breast cancer growth? Ocimum Sanctum or Tulsi or Holy basil is part of the mint family that has been used in Indian homes for hundreds of years. The researchers were interested in studying the effects of the herb, which appear to have anti-oxidant, chemically induced cancer-inhibiting and anti-inflammatory properties, on human breast cancer using a mouse model system.

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Vaccines under development could be a solution to breast cancer

Breast cancer, the most common form of cancer in women, can now be fought with new vaccines that are under development. Listeria monocytogenes, a microorganism found in diary products will be used in a new vaccine development program. Dr. Yvonne Paterson, the scientific founder of Advaxis Incorporation and a person who suffered from breast cancer herself, is heading a team of researchers, who are working to develop a new vaccine to fight cancer, using Listeria monocytogenes, which has a direct stimulatory effect on activities of immune killer T cells.

A new vaccine called Lovaxin B has been developed by this team and it is in pre-clinical study and Advaxis Incorporation has sought the approval of FDA for clinical trial of this vaccine. If the vaccine passes the clinical trials, the company plans to manufacture this vaccine in large quantities in future.

Only 20% of people, who are suffering from breast cancer, survive and breast cancer is considered to be a ‘killer disease’ in developing nations. If new initiatives like this one come out well, it would be a great achievement in the field of medicine.

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