Lifestyle and cancer Newsletter .
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&nbs= p; &= nbsp; January 2011	Contents of this issue
Welcome to this newsletter This issue aims to highlight top= ical issues, news, interesting studies and announcements which add to our understanding of lifestyle and cancer.&n= bsp; We, the Cancernet team, as well as performing our own studies, scr= een the world literature for studies which show how lifestyle can reduce the = risk of cancer, improve well-being during and after treatments and reduce the = risk of relapse. This newsletter supports our lifestyle and cancer treatment website Cancernet.co.uk &n= bsp; = ; Email us to receive future quarterly news letters	P1-2. Lifestyle news &nbs= p; - Mult= ivitamin caution &nbs= p; - Benefits of aspirin<= /span> - Turmeric investigate= d &nbs= p; - Risks of alcohol - Risk of some skin cr= eams P.2-3 Announcements - Micronutrient test l= aunch - Self help lifestyle = book released - Macmillan survivorship group P.3 Poem of the month P.4 Top tips: Avoiding carcinogens<= span style=3D'color:#4A442A;mso-themecolor:background2;mso-themeshade:64'> P.4 Healthy meal of the quarter P.5 Guest article- Pros / cons of micro-nutr= ient test? &n= bsp;
	Lifestyle ne= ws =
	Alcohol increases breast cancer recurrence risk: A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that drinking 3-4 alcoholic drinks a week raised the risk for breast canc= er recurrence by 1.5 times in women who were postmenopausal or overweight. … Read more
	Multivitamin= s - Not helpful after Colon Cancer: Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute did not find that multivitamin use prolonged life or decreased time to recurrence. More than 1,000 subjects participated in th= is study and the findings are consistent with other studies that did not find benefit from multivitamins in colon cancer treatment and survival. Any benefits in correcting a nutritional deficiency with an “off the se= lf supplement” were likely to be counterbalanced by over correction of= a normal level (also known to be harmful). Individuals thinking of taking a nutritional supplement are advised to test their baseline blood levels fi= rst. …Read more
	Aspirin reduces bow= el Cancer risk: = A study published in the medical journal Gut found that people who take even a ve= ry low dose of aspirin (75mg) every day for five years can cut the risk of developing colon cancer by almost a third. Don’t forget, however, t= hat natural aspirin (salicylates can be found in vegetables and individuals w= ith a high consumption have higher blood levels. …. Read more
	Turmeric benefits investigated: Oklahoma Medical Research Founda= tion scientists are studying the effects of curcumin, a chemical in the spice turmeric, on prostate cancer. Turmeric is a widely used spice in Asia, where the rate = of prostate cancer is much low So far, published studies have shown that curcumin can induce death in some cancer cells, which absorb more of the chemical than normal cells ….Read more about antioxidants.
	Concerns over cosmetics: Reports on research from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium finding that six widely available moisturizers contain oestrogen-like preservative that could increase brea= st cancer risk if absorbed through the skin. One researcher urged women with breast cancer to forgo using these topical moisturizers, as they may interfere with their treatment but instead use natural oil based creams. = …Read more = = Exercising May Help Reduce Risk Of Dying From Colon Cancer. Walking for just 30 minutes a day could lower = the risk of dying from colon cancer, new research shows. "Â = The Telegraph added, "Taking on an exercise program could also reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other cancers," while "reg= ular physical activity can...be beneficial after a cancer diagnosis has already been made." ….Read more

Announcements

Online micro-nutrient test launched:

Cancernet have teamed up a major laborator= y to make micro-nutritional testing, easier, more readily available and more c= ost effective. The pros and cons of the Micro-Nutritional testing” are discussed in the guest artic= le in this newsletter. Read more

“Lifestyle and cancer – the facts”<= /o:p>

Paula Radcliffe supports long awaited new edition. Like the first edition, this book addresses the evidence behind practical lifestyle choices which conf= ront individuals on a daily basis. This version has been extensively updated in response to new international research and positive feedback from readers= . Read more

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Marie C= urie Cancer Care Will be having their annual= Research Conference in the Royal Society of Medicine on 25th March 2011 – see full programme

New cancer survivorship advisory group Ma= cmillan have established a new exercise, lifestyle and cancer advisory committee.= A team of UK experts will now advising on ways to help individuals exercise= and live healthy after cancer.

3Dexce= Gyms to take on cancer rehabilitation?=

The first steps to allow municipal gym to take on the main role for exercise rehabilitation in the UK have been approved. The regulatory authority “Skills Active” announced in August the standards for a new course in cancer exercise rehabilitation.

Royal Homeopathic Hospital name change= This iconic Hospital has changed its name to the Royal London Hosp= ital for Integrative Medicine, reflecting the wide range of complementary therapies available. It remains is the largest public sector provider in Europe.

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3D"woman Poems of = the issue

Over 300 inspirational and emotive poems have been submitted to Cancernet here= is an example of two of them…see all poems

The Battle of Cancer

“I'm li= ving with the image that cancer left with me,
I know the fears cancer has made me see.
I am more than what cancer had made me be,
And I will live my life totally cancer free.

Cancer is a hard battle no one should have to fight.
Tossing and turning throughout the whole night.
Trying so hard to reach toward the light.
Sometimes wanting to just give up the fight.

But we all must hang in there and be very strong.
The battle will end soon it won't take too long.
I will overcome cancer because I am strong.
With only happy thoughts nothing will go wrong”

The Trail of Healing=

Left prints on the sand grains<= br> Wind has erased once used to be a trail
Illness strays our life imprints
“Lord”- we are on weakness stand - enlighten us with hints
Inspire our soul towards the trail of healing
There comes a finding
We urge to be awaken from the frightening trance
Truth is- the spinning fate changes our journey in a glance
It's beyond the terrain chase searching for trace
The will glints from within
Faith, support-the need to believe-in
The fight shall never end

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3Dbbq= Top tips - avoid carcinoge= ns

There are thousands of potential cancer-forming chemicals (carcinogens) in our environment. Common examples include acyrlamides from super heated foods and hydrocarbons from burnt foods. It is impossible to eliminate contact with all of them but here are some practical tips to reduce the level of exposure…read more

General carcinogens

= · Steer cl= ear of heavily processed foods

= · Avoid fo= ods high in additives and preservatives

= · Avoid unhealthy fats, salt and sugars

= · Avoid reheating fats and oils

= · Avoid super-heated snacks such crisps, chips cheap breakfast cereals, doughnuts= and biscuits

= · Avoid sm= oked, barbequed or burnt foods

= · Reduce <= /span>cheap meat intake<= o:p>

= · Increase= antioxidant intake = to counterbalance risk e.g. spices, fruit, berries, raw vegetables=

= · Stop smoking, avoid passive smoke

= · Avoid bu= rning paraffin candles

<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",= "serif"'>

Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers:

= · Buy a go= od salad spinner

= · Soak let= tuce and herbs thoroughly before eating

= · Wash fru= it before eating

= · Wash vegetables, change water before cooking

= · Buy organic foods<= /span> if poss= ible

<= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",= "serif"'>

Xenoestrogens and metaloestrogens:

= · Avoid pe= trol, diesel fumes

= · Use hydrocarbon free cosmetics and lip salves

= · Avoid excessive amounts of antiperspirants

= · Use soap instead of paraben rich shower gels

= · Use glass rather than plastic bottles

= · Try not = to re-use plastic water bottles

= · Rinse so= ap & detergents thoroughly from dishes

= · Avoid st= oring food in plastic food containers

= · Avoid ra= ping food in plastic film

Healthy recipe of the month

Quinoa curry; A really tasty , easy to make che= ap meal packed full of anti-oxidants, healthy fats and vitamins

Ingredients:

1 Cup Quinoa , 1½ Tbsp. Virgin ol= ive Oil , ½ Onion Diced, 1 Tsp. Grated Fresh Ginger Root, ½ Fre= sh chopped Green Chile

1 Heaping Tsp. Turmeric , 1 Heaping Tsp. Coriander ,¼ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon ,1¾ Cups Water, ½ = Cup Fresh or Frozen Peas , Herb salt to taste

Cooking instructions:=

·     Add oil and diced onions to a saucepan or wok.

·     Sa= ute the onions on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.

·     Add the ginger root, chile, and rinsed quinoa.

·     Cook for one minute stirring constantly.

·     White spiral appears around the grain as it cooks.

·     Stir in the turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, and salt.

·     Cook for one minute stirring constantly.

·     Add the water and bring it to a boil.

·     Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.

·     Stir in peas.

·     Cover and cook for 3-4 or five minutes

·     Peas become are tender

·     Most of the water should have absorbed.

·     Fluff with a fork before serving.=

·     Enjoy

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Guest article: Micronutrient testi= ng pros & cons

It is now firmly established that= a deficiency of micro-nutrients s= uch as vitamins, essential minerals and fatty acids can lead to an increased ris= k of cancer. It is also clear from published studies that an excess of vitamins or minerals = can increase the risks of cancer as well as heart attacks and other diseases.= The problem is, even with a normal diet we cannot be cert= ain that we have the correct balance of nutrients to prevent or fight cancer.= One way to ensure the correct amounts of vital nutrients in your diet is to measure the body's levels.

Why are micro nutrients important for the cancer process?

Vitamins, essential minerals and fatty acids cannot be made = by the body so have to be ingested or absorbed. They are crucial components = of enzymes and chemicals required for metabolism and efficient day to day function of the body. Although, in Western Society, gross deficiency dise= ases such as scurvy and beri = beri are rare, minor deficiencies may develop that can cause imbalances in the regulatory and immunogenic processes.

Copper, zinc, sele= nium and manganese are all required to make the th= ree main antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione S-transferase glutathione; superoxide dismutase. Deficiencies in = these have been shown to reduce the ability to mop up free radicals generated by carcinogens. A study from China, for example, gave selenium to the inhabitants of one of two villages both known to have low selenium in the food chain. After 2 years, the risk of liver cancer had substantially red= uced in the village which received selenium. This proved that correcting a selenium deficiency reduces the risk of cancer. 3Dcar=

Vitamin A added to cancer cells slows growth rates and encourages them to die (apoptosis). A study from California showed th= at cells deficient in vitamin B are more susceptible to DNA = damage after carcinogenic exposure. Vitamin C is involved in the mechanism= which enables DNA to ‘sense’ the damage done by free radicals, by integrating with the iron imbedded in DNA. This process facilitates DNA repair and is therefore a significant aspect of immune surveillance. Vitam= in D has been shown to reduce proliferation, promote differentiation, inhibit invasion, angiogenesis, prevent loss of adhes= ion, promote apoptosis. Clinical studies have shown that = those survivors of bowel and breast cancer with regular exposure to sunlight ha= d a lower incidence of subsequent relapse. Vitamin E has direct antioxidant effec= ts and prevents cancer cells de-differentiating into more aggressive forms. A st= udy from Finland showed that people with higher serum vitamin E levels had a = low risk of bowel cancer.

3Dsal= Omega 3, 6 and 9 are= not made by the body so also have to be eaten. They are essential for the formation of hormones, particularly those involved in inflammation and immunity (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, hromboxanes). They= have COX-2 inhibition properties which in turn has direct anticancer properties. In = USA Health professionals Study men who had the highest intake of omega 3 had = the lowest incidence of aggressive prostate cancer. The long chain omega-3’s, Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) = and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are particularly healthy and these can be made in the body from the short cha= in omega-3, Alpha-linolenic acis (LLA). Omega-6 however blocks this process so the ratio of omega 3:6 is important. Ideally it should be 1:2 or 1:3 but in most western societies = the ratio are generally much higher as omega-3’s have been removed from= our food chain via intensive meat farming and fast foods. Laboratory experime= nts have demonstrated that oleic acid in olive oil helps repair DNA damage caus= ed by excessive sunlight. Olive o= il has also been shown to suppress over-expressed Her-2 protein on breast cancer cells.

Why not just take a supplement?

3D"Copy At first sight it would seem obvious to boost the body’= ;s nutrients with one of the many commercially available supplements –= job done and no need to worry! Taking supplements however may do more harm than good as, notwithstanding the expense, they may over correct a baseline normal level. They may also give false confidence that they have sufficient or the correct ingredients to correct a deficiency. Several studies support this statement.

The large international SELECT s= tudy of selenium and zinc supplementation did not show any benefit in prostate cancer risk and there was a trend towards more aggressive cancers in the selenium group. In the health professional study men who took zinc supplementation over long periods of time actually had a higher risk of prostate cancer.

A study of vitamin A supplements involving 30,000 male smoke= rs, found that there was a reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer, but= the incidence of lung cancer was actually higher. A substantial European study gave vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol and Vitamin A supplements in the form of beta carotene to individuals who were either heavy smokers, or who had previously had cancer of the throat. The trial showed an elevated risk of both lung and prostate cancer and a high= er rate of cerebral haemorrhage if they also had high blood pressure. <= /o:p>

A study from Norway gave vitamin B supplements or placebo to patients with angina or following a heart attack in an attempt to reduce = the incidence of another cardiac event. After three years there was no cardiac benefit but a significant increase in cancer. These results were confirme= d in a separate post heart-attack study also published in 2009. Men who took f= olic acid supplements were more than twice as likely to develop prostate cancer compared with men who took a placebo. This study made another interesting observation: it also found that, independent to whether they took a supplement or not, the prostate cancer incidence was slightly lower in men who had adequate amounts of folate in their d= iet.

A study from Queensland Australia analysed over a thousand individuals who had been treated for skin cancer. The risk of a further cancer was reduced if individuals ate foods with a = high level of dietary antioxidants compared to those who did not, but individu= als who took supplements of vitamin E actually had a higher rate of recurrent= skin cancers. A further study which supplemented women with alpha-tocopherol, demonstrated no reduction in cancer, bu= t the incidence of heart disease was slightly worse.

Another large human dietary prevention study combined beta-carotene and retinal analogues of vitamin A. People at the start of = this study had their serum vitamin A levels measured but all took the same interventional supplement dose. Those participants who started the trial = with naturally low blood levels of beta-carotene had lower levels of prostate cancer after years of supplementation. Those people who had adequate blood levels at the start of the study ended up with a higher risk of cancer, particularly prostate. This trial provides a clear take home message, that correcting a natural or acquired deficit is beneficial, but too much is harmful.

What are the chances of a micro nutrient imbal= ance after cancer?

Various studies have reported deficiencies amoung patients a= fter cancer particularly with Vitamin D in the region of 40-60%. Since we star= ted the cancer risk nutritional profile service we have also seen Vitamin D levels below normal in over 75% of cases. The most common deficiencies, ho= wever, are omega 3, particularly the important long chain varieties. Over 50% so= far have also had a mineral deficiency or excess (Particularly zinc and selen= ium) but no clear pattern of one over another. The ratios of omega 3:6 are consistently greater than 1:5 with some above 1:10. Lycopene and lutein levels have been deficient in all but one of= the men with prostate cancer.

What are “Cons” of nutritional testing?

The tests are not cheap, they are not usually available on t= he NHS and most private policies do not cover them. Nevertheless, as the adv= ice provided in the reports aims to restore nutritional harmony with diet and not additional supplements then, in the long term, there is likely to be savi= ngs. Secondly, they are snap shot in time, generally reflecting the previous f= ew weeks dietary pattern or even shorter for vitamin C. Provided there has n= ot been a major change in lifestyle over this time, however, they are likely= to represent a more global picture but it is advisable to have the test done= at a time which reflects the usually day to day pattern as much as possible (e.g. not immediately after a holiday or major illness).

Conclusions

Published data strong suggest that micronutrient imbalance i= s a risk for cancer. It also suggests that restoring nutritional harmony redu= ces the risk, although more randomised controlled trials are clearly needed. Whether this applies after cancer, to reduce the risk of relapse and impr= ove well-being, remains unproven but the assumption is that factors which cau= se cancer in the first place are usually detrimental afterwards. As an alternative to blind, often costly supplement intake, micro-nutrient test= ing, such as The = Cancer Risk Nutritional Profile, has the advantage of empowering individuals with information and advice relevant to their own make up which can guide them to better informed dietary choices.

Advertisements

The Cancer Risk Micro-nutrient Profile

This t= est measures the essential micro nutrients which have been linked to the cancer process and provides a detailed report advising which foods to avoid and which to= eat more of:

· Serum Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Cu and Selenium.

&middo= t; Fat soluble vitamin pro= file, Retinol (Vit A)

&middo= t; Alpha-tocopherol (Vit E), Beta-Carotene, = Vit D

&middo= t; Antioxidant levels of l= ycopene & lutein

&middo= t; Essential fatty acids&n= bsp; omega 3, 6 & 9’s

&middo= t; Essential fatty acid ra= tios

&middo= t; Common antioxidant leve= ls

· Glutathione perioxidase, Superoxide dismutase

To order:

1. Click on Cancernet.co.uk/nutritional-tests.htm

2. Securely pay online

3. A blood sample kit will be sent to you

4. Have a blood test and send back to the lab

5. The results and a detailed report will be sent to you<= /p>

6. Empower your dietary choices and restore nutritional balance!

Natural lip and nail balm

Cracked and chapped lips are uncomfortably and unsightly. Th= is distressing symptom is common following exposure to sun, wind, after a period of stre= ss, dehydration or during chemotherapy and afterwards. There is evidence that natural oil based creams are better than petroleum based creams.

Nature-medical lip balm has been specifically design to soothe and moisturize the l= ips preventing and treating chapping and splitting. It contains only natural waxes and including essential oils specifically selected for their anti-i= nflammatory and anti-septic properties.

It also idea for moisturizing and soothing the nail bed to prevent and treat cracked skin around the cuticl= es.

Available online: keep-healthy.com<= /span>

̶= 0;Lifestyle and cancer – the facts” =

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; New 2011 edition

Foreword by Paula Radcliffe

Follo= wing the sell-out first edition th= is book has been extensively re-written with even more evidence from two more years of international research and feedback from readers from over 5000 sales of the first edition.

It is up-to-date, topical and relevant to the stresses of mod= ern day life - You n= ow can be even more confident the book explains the reasons why foods, personal habits and environmental factors can increase or decrease the risks of cancer and other major illnesses and help you recover stronger from cancer treatment= s

Available online: Cancernet.co.uk/books.htm

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