|
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 use
and 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 at right 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.
|
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
at right 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)
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.
|
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!
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 at right)
- 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"??
If
you think you are avoiding heavy
metals, look at this information. and think again!! I recommend a
book called Fateful Harvest by 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
at right.
|
Be aware of the potential for
toxicity in your cosmetics
and 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 here.
|
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."
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 at right 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 |
| 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. |
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.
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.
Be sure
to take to Co-enzyme Q10 in an absorbable form with lipids -
my
article on CoQ10 is here.
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."
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."
You will find an article on IP6 in
RESOURCES at right.
|
Black Cohosh and Breast
Cancer |
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
|
While previous studies yielded inconclusive
results,
breast-feeding has been found to be a factor in the risk
of breast cancer, according to a report published in the July
1st 2001 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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.
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)
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.
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for tumor
growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial cell proliferation,
migration, and capillary formation are stimulated by angiogenic
growth factors, which include the proteins vascular endothelial
growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming
growth factor- , and eicosanoids synthesized from n-6 fatty acids.
Clinical studies have shown that angiogenesis in solid tumors
relates to a poor prognosis and, in premalignant lesions, indicates
potential for cancerous transformation. High-fat, n-6 fatty
acid-rich diets were associated with a relatively poor prognosis in
breast cancer patients; in a nude mouse model the same diet enhanced
breast cancer progression, whereas n-3 fatty acids exerted
suppressive effects that were associated with impaired angiogenesis.
Lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products of n-6 fatty acid
metabolism are angiogenic in in vitro assays. This activity is
blocked by pharmacological inhibitors of eicosanoid biosynthesis,
and one, indomethacin, suppressed n-6 fatty acid-stimulated murine
mammary carcinoma growth and metastasis and tumor vascularization.
Review of the experimental data suggests that selective inhibitors
of eicosanoid-synthesizing enzymes and dietary intervention with n-3
fatty acids merit clinical evaluation as adjuvant therapy and
chemopreventive agents. [Nutrition and Cancer
37(2):119227, 2000. © 2000 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.]
**While
not strictly applicable to breast cancer alone, the
following study is important information for women since they are
the ones who are most likely to color their hair.
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.
Am J Epidemiol 2001;154:37-42.
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