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Cause
of Cancers
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
Should I take Any dietary supplement to Prevent Cancers?
Alcohol and Cancer
Suggestion of Dietary Supplements
for
cancer prevention
Nutrition
Guild for People Living With Cancer
Prostate
cancer and diet
Cause of Cancers ( obtained
from American Institute of Preventive
Medicine)
- Cancer
refers to a broad group of diseases
in which body cells grow out of
control and are or become malignant
(harmful). Cancer is the
second leading cause of death in the
United States (heart disease is
first). Current estimates say that
30 percent of all Americans will
develop some kind of cancer in their
lifetimes. The most common forms are
cancer of the skin, lungs, colon and
rectum, breast, prostate, urinary
tract, and uterus.
- Exactly
what causes all cancers has not yet
been found. Evidence suggests,
however, that cancer could result
from complex interactions of
viruses, a person's genetic make-up,
their immune status and their
exposure to other risk factors that
may promote cancer.
- These
risk factors include:
- ·
Exposure to the sun's
ultraviolet rays, nuclear radiation,
X-rays, and radon.
- ·
Use of tobacco and/or alcohol
(for some cancers).
- ·
Use of certain medicines such
as DES (a synthetic estrogen).
- ·
Polluted air and water.
- ·
Dietary factors such as a
high fat diet, specific food
preservatives, namely nitrates and
nitrites; char-broiling and
char-grilling meats.
- ·
Exposure to a variety of
chemicals such as asbestos,
benzenes, VC (vinyl chloride), wood
dust, some ingredients of cigarette
smoke, etc.).
- Lifestyle:
- ·
Do not smoke, use tobacco
products or inhale second hand
smoke.
- ·
Limit your exposure to known
carcinogens such as asbestos, radon,
and other workplace chemicals as
well as pesticides and herbicides.
Have X-rays only when necessary.
- ·
Limit your exposure to the
sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, sun
lamps and tanning booths. Protect
your skin from the sun's UV rays
with sunscreen (applied frequently
and containing a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 15 or higher) and
protective clothing (sun hats, long
sleeves, etc.).
- ·
Reduce stress. Emotional
stress may weaken the immune system
that is relied on to fight off stray
cancer cells.
Risk
Factors for Breast Cancer
- The
most important risk factors are:
- ·
Increasing
age (risk doubles between ages 45
and 65)
- ·
Previous
breast cancer in the same patient
- ·
Family
history of breast cancer -
particularly breast cancer in a
woman's mother, sister, or daughter
If blood relative (mother, sister,
or daughter) is pre-menopausal and
has bilateral breast cancer - risk
is nine-fold If blood relative is
pre-menopausal and has unit-lateral
breast cancer - risk is three-five
fold If blood relative is
post-menopausal and has breast
cancer - risk is two-fold
- Less
significant risk factors are:
- ·
Carriers
of genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are very
highly at risk. However, probably
fewer than 1 in 20 women with breast
cancer have these genes.
- ·
Female
descendants of European Jews have a
higher than normal risk
- ·
Women
with a family history of cancer of
the cervix, uterus or colon have a
slightly increased risk
- ·
Early
menarche (before age 13)
- ·
Late
menopause (over age 52)
- ·
Nulliparity
(no pregnancies)
- ·
First
pregnancy over age 30 may slightly
increase risk
- ·
Obesity
is said to be a risk factor, but it
may just obscure and delay discovery
of a breast mass
- ·
Breast
augmentation - Does not increase
risk of breast cancer and does fall
into a higher risk category,
however, as a tumor
would be more difficult to detect
because mammogram cannot
be performed as effectively.
Strongly advised to have a
pre-surgical mammogram as a baseline
before having augmentation
- ·
Oral
Contraceptives - Most studies have
shown no significant increased risk
for breast cancer from oral
contraceptive use, although there is
evidence they may reduce risk for
ovarian and
uterine cancer. A few recent studies
suggest a small increase in risk in
specific subgroups of women who have
mainly used older types of oral
contraceptives which contained more
estrogen than those commonly used
today. The largest overall analyses
show no significant increase in risk
of breast cancer for women who take
oral contraceptives when compared to
women who do not take oral
contraceptives. Modern pills contain
less estrogen than those commonly
prescribed 20 years ago. It may be
that there is a very small increase
in risk which would have to be
balanced against what can for some
women be a much greater risk of not
taking the pill. Individual women
should discuss this with their
family physician at the time of
renewing their prescription.
- ·
Hormone
Replacement Therapy (HRT)
1.For menopausal symptoms,
osteoporosis, cardiovascular
disease, etc: Most studies have
shown a 1.5x increased risk for
breast cancer from HRT if taken for
more than 5-10 years. There is
evidence that HRT reduces ovarian
cancer risk as well as risk of
cardiovascular disease and
osteoporosis (not osteoarthritis) in
post-menopausal women. Any
potential, as yet unproven,
increased breast cancer risk from
estrogen HRT must be balanced
against the positive effects in
reducing menopausal symptoms and
decreasing risk of cardiovascular
disease and osteoporosis.
2.For women who have had breast
cancer:
Present opinion is that HRT is not
recommended for women with a
previous history of breast cancer
(except for a very few exceptions
defined individually between the
woman and her doctor).
- ·
An
injury to the breast is not
associated with increased risk of
developing cancer but on occasion
draws attention to the mass.
- ·
Calcium
deposits (see below for information
under Diagnosis)
- Abortion
and Breast Cancer Risk
- Delaying
a first full term pregnancy, or not
becoming pregnant at all, increases
a woman's chance of developing
breast cancer. A spontaneous or
induced abortion does not
independently
increase a woman's
chance of developing breast cancer
Prolonged lactation (breast feeding)
seems to offer a weak protection
from breast cancer.
- Diet
and Alcohol Consumption
- The
role of diet in affecting the risk
of breast cancer is still
inconclusive, however, there are
several large studies underway now
to examine the importance of dietary
fat (which may increase risk). The
evidence that alcohol consumption
increases risk is consistently
found, however, its effect on
increasing risk is not strong - risk
is one and one-half to 2 fold.
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Should
I take Any dietary supplement to Prevent
Cancers?
When
researchers find that diets high in
carotenoids, vitamin C, or any other
dietary components may provide cancer
protection, it doesn't necessarily
follow that supplements containing them
will have the same effect. It also
doesn't mean that you will obtain a more
beneficial result by taking more or more
potent supplements. In fact, human
trials using supplements in varying
combinations and doses have produced
confusing results, at times even showing
increased cancer rates in those being
supplemented.
Scientists
are finding that whole foods rich in
nutrients and other compounds,
especially a variety of vegetables and
fruits, are the best defense against
cancer.
Scientisats
have shown for the first time that EGCG,
which is present in green tea at
relatively high concentrations, inhibits
the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR),
which is a recognized, established
target for anti-cancer drugs
What
this means......
There
is no magic pill that will help prevent
cancer, but a healthy diet can.
Supplements seem like an easy way to
bolster vitamins, minerals and fiber in
your diet, but research shows that
consuming these nutrients in wholesome
foods is the best way to achieve cancer
protection.
If
you are a healthy person and find
yourself relying on an array of
supplements, check with your doctor or a
registered dietitian. Find out which
foods contain the vitamins, minerals and
fiber you need and learn how you can get
adequate amounts of these foods in your
menus.
- Alcohol
and Cancer(
Contents
from the American Institute for
Cancer Research)
What
is the link between alcohol and cancer
risk?
According
to the expert report from the American
Institute for Cancer Research, Food,
Nutrition and the Prevention of
Cancer: a Global Perspective, there is
convincing evidence that alcoholic
drinks increase the risk of cancers of
the mouth, pharynx, larynx and
esophagus. The risk of upper
respiratory tract cancers is greatly
increased if drinkers also smoke.
Alcohol also increase the risk of
liver cancer and probably increases
the risk for colon, rectal and breast
cancers.
How
does drinking alcohol increase cancer
risk?
When
you drink, the sensitive tissues of
your upper-respiratory tract are
directly exposed to alcohol in
beverages, causing damage to cells and
possibly initiating cancer. Cancer of
the liver is probably preceded by
alcoholic liver cirrhosis which
develops after years of drinking.
There is less known about how drinking
alcohol affects the development of
other cancers.
What
can I do to lower my cancer risk?
One
thing you can do is choose not to
drink alcoholic beverages, or choose
to drink them only in moderation.
That's no more than 2 drinks per day
for men and 1 for women.
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1
drink =
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1
bottle or can of beer (12 oz)
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1
small glass of wine (5 oz)
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1
shot of 80 proof liquor (1.5 oz)
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Why
is the recommended limit different for
women and men?
Alcohol
affects women and men differently. A
woman's body has more fat and less
muscle than a man's. Alcohol can be
diluted into water-holding muscle
tissue, but not into fat tissue.
Therefore alcohol cannot be diluted as
quickly in her body as in his. Also, a
woman cannot metabolize alcohol as
quickly as a man. Therefore, alcohol
stays in her bloodstream longer.
Does
drinking present special risks for
women?
The
risk for developing breast cancer, the
second most common cancer in women in
the States, rises with increased
alcohol consumption. Women at a high
risk for breast cancer should consider
not drinking. Women develop
alcohol-related health problems, such
as cirrhosis of the liver, faster then
men who drink the same amount.
Finally, alcohol can severely injure a
pregnant woman's unborn child.
Is
it true that drinking alcohol can
lower my risk for heart disease?
There
is evidence that drinking modest
amounts of alcohol is associated with
a lower risk for coronary heart
disease in men, and perhaps women.
However, drinking higher amounts of
alcohol raises the risk of cancer
along with risks for high blood
pressure, stroke, heart disease, birth
defects, inflammation of the pancreas,
damage to the brain and heart,
malnutrition, osteoporosis, accidents,
violence and suicide. There are better
ways to decrease your heart disease
risk, including exercising, reaching
and maintaining a healthy weight,
lowering saturated fat in your diet,
controlling blood pressure and not
smoking.
Suggestion
of Dietary Supplements
for cancer
prevention
Most
people can not receive enough
vitamins and minerals from food for
different reasons,
although
whole
foods rich in nutrients and other
compounds, especially a variety of
vegetables and fruits, are the best
defense against cancer.
The
following vitamins, minerals, nutrition
considered particularly valuable in
cancer prevention.
- Vitamin
C,
Vitamin
E, Vitamin D3, carotenoids,
Omega 3 fatty acids, Rutin,
lycopene, dietary
fibers,
.
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