Cancer Facts by Jane Thurnell-Read

Cancer can be a scary word. Arm yourself with practical information that can help protect you against cancer or deal with it if you get cancer.

Early treatment can really help for cancer, but that means early diagnosis. Cancer Research UK has a very clear explanation of cancer signs and symptoms - things you can spot for yourself and that mean you should get checked by the doctor.

Psychiatrists have found that people with a negative outlook on life may be up to 25% more likely to develop cancer than those who are optimistic.

Quercetin acts like an antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory, and may help protect against heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants (in fuit and vegeatbles) protect us against cancer and ageing, but a high fat diet means the intestine is lined with lipids that make these vital nutrients difficult to absorb.

Prostate Cancer Prevention

The US National Cancer Institute says that selenium, vitamins D and E, and lycopene have shown potential benefit in studies on prostate cancer prevention.

The UK Prostate Cancer Charity says that cutting down on animal fats and eating more fruit and vegetables may lower the chances of getting prostate cancer. The charity says that broccolli in particular may be very beneficial for prostate health.

The US National Cancer Institute agrees that a diet high in fat, especially animal fat, may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. The Institute also says that studies show that a diet high in dairy products and calcium may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, although the increase may be small. They also report on research that suggests that selenium, vitamins D and E, and lycopene are potentially beneficial in prostate cancer prevention.

Pomegranate juice may help to protect against prostate cancer by suppressing the expression of genes linked to the disease. (Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, 2009).

Bladder Cancer Prevention

People who eat meat frequently, especially meat that is well done or cooked at high temperatures, may have a higher chance of developing bladder cancer, according to a large cancer research study from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Breast Cancer Prevention

Alcohol accounts for around 4% of all breast cancer cases in the developed world.

Ontario Cancer Institute analyzed 45 studies of 500,000+ women. Women who ate the highest amounts of saturated fat (found mostly in meat) were on average 20 percent more likely to get breast cancer than those who ate the lowest.

Consumption of soya, fruits, and vegetables helps reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Postmenopausal women who consumed plenty of soy, fruits, and vegetables had a 30 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer, compared with those who consumed relatively little of these foods. The research was based on 34,028 women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study. The longer the women had consumed these healthful foods, the less chance they had of developing breast cancer.

Women working at night are more likely to suffer from breast cancer than those who don't. If you work nights, pay particular attention to changes in your breasts.

Green Tea For Breast & Colon Cancer

The Duke University Medical Center (USA) says there is strong evidence suggesting that the daily consumption of 2-4 cups of green tea can have a major impact in decreasing the risk of breast and colon cancer.

Stomach Cancer & Diet

Eating processed meat products such as bacon, sausages and smoked ham increases your risk of getting stomach cancer.

Ovarian Cancer And Diet

Ovarian cancer has a relatively low survival rate, but research (March 2010 Journal of the American Dietetic Association) suggests women with this problem can increase their chances of surviving by adopting a more healthy diet:

*** High in fruit and vegetables
*** Low in meat
*** Healthy whole grains rather than white bread etc.

This is the diet we should all be following anyway. If you're not, focus on one of these three and make some healthy changes.

Cancer Help

There have been reports that peppermint, ginger and cardamom can help the sickness associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. (Cancer Research UK)

A study has shown that visualisation (guided imagery) helps women who are having treatment for breast cancer. Find a therapist or read a book that can teach you how to do it well.

People with advanced cancer benefit from massage and aromatherapy - better sleep and less depression. (Journal of Palliative Medicine 2004)

Professor Lisa D. Butler of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work has said: "although hypnosis is not at present standard practice for treating a wide range of symptoms that trouble cancer patients, it is worth examining that potential," .... "Together, these findings (a study on hypnosis and breast cancer) suggest that there may be a number of benefits to the use of hypnosis in cancer care including, but not necessarily limited to, its more traditional application for pain control."


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