Cancer Resources

We are constantly being told to avoid the sun as much as possible. We are told to cover up and nearly every skin product that we buy seems to contain sunscreen. However, now there is some evidence that a small amount of sun exposure may actually be healthy.

There are two most frequent reasons that we are told to avoid exposure to the sun are skin cancer and aging. This article is going to discuss some new studies on melanoma, how the situation may not be so straightforward, and some evidence that a small sensible amount of exposure to sunlight may have health benefits.

There are a number of types of skin cancer, with melanoma being the one that scares us. Other precancerous and cancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are much more common. These other types of skin cancer, particularly if they are detected early, are in most cases very treatable. Continue reading ‘Melanoma – Rate Not Increasing and Some Sun is Good’ »

Vitamin D is increasingly being looked at as a cancer prevention nutrient, as multiple prior clinical research studies have linked higher blood levels of this hormone-like vitamin, and calcium (which is regulated by Vitamin D), with a decreased risk of colon and rectal cancer, as well as other cancers.

Less well understood is the role of Vitamin D as a survival factor in patients who have already been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Now, a newly updated clinical research study from Harvard University, just published in the British Journal of Cancer, suggests that higher Vitamin D levels in colorectal cancer survivors may be associated with a significantly greater likelihood of surviving the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States.

The authors of this clinical research study analyzed volunteers within the massive Nurses’ Health Study. A total of 1,107 volunteers were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer, between 1986 and 2004, after joining this long-term prospective public health study. Using a previously validated scoring system that accurately predicts Vitamin D levels in the blood, the researchers assessed the survival rates of these colorectal cancer patients as a function of their Vitamin D scores. (It is important to note that Vitamin D scores were calculated prior to the diagnosis of colorectal cancer in these patient volunteers.) The results were rather profound. Continue reading ‘Vitamin D & Colorectal Cancer Survival’ »

Four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancerous tumor could not be felt by me or my gynecologist or the surgeon who performed my mastectomy. My film mammogram and my ultra sound were inconclusive, but I had a radiologist that wouldn’t stop. The tumor finally showed up on a diagnostic mammogram. It was difficult to see and impossible to feel because the tumor was in the back of my breast close to the chest wall. I am one of those very fortunate women who have not become a statistic. Over 40,000 women die every year from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths of women in the United States. (Lung cancer is first.) While there are no guarantees in life, there are measures to take to give you an edge.

There are two types of screening mammograms: digital and film. Get a yearly digital mammogram. They are more definitive than a film mammogram. A digital mammogram takes an electronic image of the breast and stores it on a computer. Images can be enhanced and brightened for a clearer reading by a radiologist. Digital mammograms use less radiation than a film mammogram. A film mammogram takes a picture of the breast on film, like a picture. It can’t be altered, magnified, or brightened. Continue reading ‘October is Breast Cancer Month’ »

More news on daily vitamin D intake, known for helping strengthen bones and immune system while lowering your risks of some life-altering diseases. New research has discovered that a higher amount of vitamin D is needed than once thought to really impact the risk of major diseases, including your chances of getting cancer (both breast and colon), multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

This study of vitamin D levels used the results of from a survey involving several thousand subjects who took vitamin D supplements ranging from a low of 1,000 to a high of 10,000 IUs a day. The participants also had blood tests to establish the number of vitamin D metabolites in the bloodstream.

A recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey finds that a mere 10% of those living in the U.S. have the right level of vitamin D in their bloodstream to stop serious disease. These are often people who work (or spend lots of time) outdoors so they get a natural boost in those vitamin D levels. Continue reading ‘Upping Daily Vitamin D Intake Lowers Chances of Getting Cancer’ »

Researchers have been studying the benefits of vitamin D in fighting several types of cancers; such as colon, prostate and breast cancers. However, Vitamin D and skin cancer have a very interesting relationship since vitamin D is only produced naturally when our skin is exposed to the sun.

While there isn’t a cure for any cancer at this time, there are numerous vitamins and nutrients that can lower the risks of getting cancer to begin with. Over the past few years, researchers have been studying the effects of vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important part in our bodies ability to strengthen bones and muscles, our nerves need it to send signals throughout the body, and most importantly, our immune system uses vitamin D to fight off viruses and bacteria. There is currently no solid link of vitamin D fighting any of these types of cancers, it plays a part in lowering the risks of contracting them. Continue reading ‘Does Vitamin D Fight Skin Cancer?’ »

Vitamin D sure is in the news a lot lately. In fact, a recent statistic showed that up to 80 percent of American adults are deficient in vitamin D! That’s a startling fact, especially considering all of the health benefits vitamin D can have, from keeping your heart healthy to staving off dementia and cancer. Now, a new study has shown that there’s an asthma-vitamin D connection – especially if you’re a mom-to-be. Let’s take a look at this recent discovery.

An insufficiency of Vitamin D may be linked to the severity of asthma symptoms in children, according to a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. According to the study, a higher intake of vitamin D by pregnant women can reduce the risk of asthma in children as much as 40 percent.

Pregnant women who were vitamin D deficient had more of a chance of having a child who suffered from asthma and other allergies, according to the studies. The study was the first performed on children and the link to vitamin D concerning asthma. Continue reading ‘Skin Cancer – Breathe Right – The Surprising Link Between Asthma and Vitamin D’ »