Cigarette Smoking and Cancer

• Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancer deaths and is responsible for most cancers of the larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, and bladder.


• Secondhand smoke is responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths among U.S. nonsmokers each year.
  
• Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemical agents, including over 60 substances that are known to cause cancer.
  
• The risk of developing smoking-related cancers, as well as noncancerous diseases, increases with total lifetime exposure to cigarette smoke.
  
• Smoking cessation has major and immediate health benefits, including decreasing the risk of lung and other cancers, heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung disease.
  

Can Freezing Plastic Water Bottles Cause Cancer?

Recently, a lot of people received an email warning that freezing water in plastic water bottles could expose consumers to dioxins, a manmade compound which can cause a variety of health problems, even cancer. The email gave credit to the findings to Johns Hopkins University.

After further research, it was found that the email to be a hoax.

The folks at Johns Hopkins sat down with Dr. Rolf Haden, assistant professor at Department of Environmental Health Sciences and the Center for Water and Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Haden dispelled the myth saying "This is an urban legend. There are no dioxins in plastics. In addition, freezing actually works against the release of chemicals."

There simply is no scientific basis to support the claim that PET bottles will release dioxin when frozen. Dioxins are a family of chemical compounds that are produced by combustion at extremely high temperatures. They can only be formed at temperatures well above 700 degrees Fahrenheit; they cannot be formed at room temperature or in freezing temperatures. Moreover, there is no reasonable scientific basis for expecting dioxins to be present in plastic food or beverage containers in the first place.

The bottom line is that there is no cancer risk in drinking water from frozen water bottles.

For more info, please refer to the following links:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/medical/a/bottled-water.htm

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/plasticbottles.asp

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/plastic-cancer-link-hoax.html

http://www.plasticsinfo.org/

Colorectal Cancer Quiz

Take this quiz as it could help solidify your knowledge of colorectal cancer and maybe even teach you something you didn't know. Read the question first, select the answer that seems the most accurate from the choices given. The correct answer will be provided along with some additional information on the same topic. It might be helpful to retake the quiz after reading over the additional material. Good luck!

Question 1: My risk for colorectal cancer increases with age.
True or False

Question 2: If my doctor discovered polyps in the past, I am no longer at risk.
True or False

Question 3: One or more of my family members previously had polyps. Does this affect me?
True or False

Question 4: Eating more fats than fiber increases my risk of colorectal cancer.
True or False

Question 5: Smoking does not affect my colorectal cancer risk.
True or False

Question 6: Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day increases my risk. True or False

Question 7: Exercise has no affect on my risk.

True or False

Question 8: Which of these preventive measures is the most effective means of reducing risk?
A. diet high in fruits and vegetables
B. routine screening test
C. adequate calcium
D. all of the above

Question 9: How does colorectal cancer begin?
A. DNA changes in intestinal cells
B. tumors develop
C. polyps grow
D. intestinal lining thickens

Question 10: Where is colorectal cancer the second-most common form of cancer?
A. Asia
B. Western countries
C. South America
D. Australia

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ANSWERS:

A1: The correct answer is True.

Age is a significant risk factor for colorectal cancer: The older you are, the higher the risk. With each decade past 40, colorectal polyps and cancers become more common.

A2: The correct answer is False.
If you've had polyps or colon cancer in the past, your risk is greatest. For example, if you've had a pre-cancerous polyp, you have a 50-percent chance of developing more polyps.

A3: The correct answer is Yes.

Sometimes the abnormal genes in the cells lining the colon which allow polyps and cancers to develop are inherited. The more family members that have colorectal polyps or cancers, the higher your risk will be. But in most cases, the genes become abnormal by chance or because of cancer-producing chemicals (carcinogens) in the foods we eat. In addition, a family history of other types of cancer (i.e. ovarian, pancreatic, uterine and kidney) may increase your risk of colon cancer.

A4: The correct answer is True.

Many lifestyle factors have been associated with a higher risk for colorectal cancer. These include eating too much red meat and animal fats, and not eating enough fiber or fresh vegetables. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle may also increase your risk.

A5: The correct answer is False.

Long-term cigarette smoking increases your risk developing colorectal cancer for two main reasons: inhaled or swallowed tobacco smoke transports carcinogens to the colon, and tobacco use appears to increase polyp size. In general, the bigger the polyp, the greater the chance it will become cancerous.

A6: The correct answer is True.

Colorectal cancer has been linked to heavy alcohol use. The highest risks are associated with distilled spirits like gin, vodka and bourbon.

A7: The correct answer is False.

You can reduce your risk by increasing physical activity in your everyday life. This can be as simple as choosing a distant parking space, taking the stairs, going shopping, cleaning your home, going for walks or playing with your children or pets. In general, you do not have to "work out" at the gym multiple times a week to reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer. Simply leading an active lifestyle will help you reduce your risk.

A8: The correct answer is B
This test is the most important step to take. Exercise, a low-fat diet that includes adequate fiber, and maintaining an appropriate weight also help.

A9: The correct answer is A
Eating green vegetables with folate will help protect DNA.

A10: The correct answer is B

30 cancer patients treated to a cruise at the Danga Cruise Jetty

JOHOR BARU: Eight-year-old cancer patient Nurul Nazhatul Nadhira wore a huge smile as she walked warily up the ramp to a waiting cruise ship at the Danga Cruise Jetty.

As she stepped in, she quickly seated herself at the nearest window and exclaimed out loud that she wished the ship would just sail away - "quick!"

Nurul Nazhatul was part of 30 other child cancer patients also known as the Sunshine Children treated to a special outing co-organised by the Rotary Club of Straits View and The Johor Royal Lodge recently.

"I have never been on a ship before and I am so excited to be here," she said shyly as she sat close to her mother, Norazizah Amat.

Norazizah said Nurul Nazhatul had waited a whole year for this boat ride.

"We were supposed to come last year but we were late and missed the boat.

"To see her so happy, it’s really a blessing," she said, adding an outing like this was exactly what these children needed as they spent most of their time in hospitals or going through different treatments.

Another child, Vincent Yap Hao Jing, who was there with his sister and parents, said that it was his second trip with the Sunshine Children and enjoyed himself at the function.

Dr Razak Samsudin, the organising chairman as well as a Rotary member and surgeon at the Puteri Specialist Hospital, said the association was proud to be involved in such a worthy cause.
"Many people do not realise the amount of stress a the family has to face when one or more of its members are stricken with cancer," he said.

He added this was especially the case when it came to children.
"Parents are often more affected than the children, and need a support group to help them through the tough times.

Dr Razak said many of the sick children usually suppressed their fears and anxieties. Participating in outings, and getting involved in activities helped the children to release tension in a healthy way.

By DESIREE TRESA GASPER

Extracted from The Star Metro, 22 Jun 2009.

Do Antiperspirant Or Deodorant Cause Breast Cancer?

A large study in 2002 looked for links between antiperspirant use and breast cancer in 1,500 women. The researchers found that neither antiperspirants nor deodorants increased breast cancer risk. The results also showed no increased breast cancer risk for women who reported using a blade (nonelectric) razor and an underarm antiperspirant or deodorant, or for women who reported using an underarm antiperspirant or deodorant within 1 hour of shaving with a blade razor.

In 2006, researchers examined antiperspirant use and other factors among 54 women with breast cancer and 50 women without breast cancer. The study found no association between antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer; however, family history and the use of oral contraceptives were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Another study found traces of parabens, a chemical found in some deodorants, in some breast tumours. Parabens is similar to oestrogen, the human hormone that can promote breast cancer development at high levels. But finding parabens in tumours is a far cry from saying that it causes breast cancer. In fact, breast tumours have large blood supplies and are likely to have traces of everything in our bloodstream. And more than 90% of modern deodorants are parabens-free anyway!

Because studies of antiperspirants and deodorants and breast cancer have provided conflicting results, additional research is needed to investigate this relationship and other factors that may be involved.

Sources:

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/

http://www.cancer.gov/

Breastfeeding Can Help Prevent Breast Cancer

Studies found that there are several possible ways in which high breastfeeding can reduce risk to breast cancer.

• Breastfeeding lowers the levels of some cancer-related hormones in the mother’s body, thereby reducing the risk to cancer.

• During breastfeeding, menstruation reduces and often stops (amenorrhea). Lactation induces a period of infertility. This decreases lifetime exposure to menstrual cycles and may be protective against some cancers. This is the general mechanism through which lactation could plausibly protect against cancer.

• At the end of breastfeeding, the body gets rid of any cells in the breast which may have DNA damage. This reduces the risk of breast cancer developing in the future.

The evidence indicates that being breastfed protects infants and children against overweight and obesity. The WCRF report points out that this could be because exclusively breastfed children show different growth patterns from those of formula-fed infants. Babies who are breastfed consume less total energy and less protein than formula-fed infants. It is possible that the bioactive factors in human milk could modulate energy metabolism, a process in which leptin (present in human milk but not formula) may be implicated.

Alternatively, the effect of increased protein intake and plasma insulin concentrations in formula-fed babies could stimulate fat deposition and early development of fat cells.

This protective effect of breastfeeding against overweight and obesity amongst infants and children is particularly significant in later life because many overweight children tend to grow up to be obese adults.

Source: Adapted from Dr. Tee E Siong, "Breastfeeding Can Help Prevent Cancer", The Star, May 31, 2009.

Grilled Food Can Cause Cancer

You may have heard that grilled meat has been linked to cancer. It's true: high heat and long cooking time produce a chemical known to cause cancer in animals. Early studies suggest this chemical may lead to cancer in humans. According to lead researcher Dr. Kala Visvanathan at a recent conference on cancer prevention sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research, cooking meat at high temperatures in direct heat over an open flame can lead to the production of cancer-causing chemicals known as heterocyclic amines, or HCAs. Some grilled meats are much higher in HCAs than others. A grilled, well-done skinless chicken breast contains more HCAs than a well-done steak and more than 10 times the amount of a grilled hamburger. Research also found that women who reported eating more than 64 grams of meat per day ran a 43 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer, compared to women who ate equal to or less than 64 grams per day.

Wheetgrass Juice Can Treat Cancer

It has long been thought that wheatgrass can be a very effective method of treating cancer. Wheatgrass contains chlorophyll which contains the same structure as hemoglobin. Chlorophyll then increases the body’s production of hemoglobin, which means that there is more oxygen to fight the cancer. Selenium and laetrile found in wheatgrass are both anti-cancer. Chlorophyll and selenium also help build the immunity system. Furthermore, wheatgrass is one of the most alkaline foods known to mankind.

Wheatgrass must be juiced to obtain the maximum nutritional value from it. In its non-juiced form wheatgrass is non-digestible due to the high levels of cellulose and its fibrous nature. Wheat grass juice is a fantastic health supplement and is an incredibly rich source of folic acid. One 100 gm shot will give you 1,110 μg folic acid and at the same time supply you with most of the other B group vitamins, Vitamin A, C and E as well as the minerals you need.

Planet Of The Cows (Comic)

Latest Cancer Statictics in Malaysia

• Nearly 70,000 new cancer cases were diagnosed among Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia between 2003 and 2005, according to a report released in early 2008 on the incidence of the disease in West Malaysia.

• The Cancer Incidence in Peninsular Malaysia 2003-2005 report, published by the National Cancer Registry (NCR), states that the total 67,792 new cases were diagnosed among 29,596 males (43.7 per cent) and 38,196 females (56.3 per cent).

• The annual crude rate for males was 100.2 per cent per 100,000 population, and 132.1 per cent per 100,000 for females.

• The most frequent cancer during this period in Malaysians was breast cancer (18 per cent) followed by large bowel cancer (11.9 per cent) and lung cancer (7.4 per cent).
  

Source: Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA)