Green Tea Isn't Useless

The study said inconclusive and when compared to one (1) cup or ten (10) there did not appear to be a difference in the number of cases of breast cancer among Japanese women. Our question is that there are items in tea green or otherwise that has been shown in studies to be useful in the fight against cancer. Our question to the researchers is when has green tea been considered the only tool you'd need in the fight against breast cancer?

"Green tea drinking and subsequent risk of breast cancer in a population to based cohort of Japanese women - Although many in-vitro and animal studies have demonstrated a protective effect of green tea against breast cancer, findings from epidemiological studies have been inconsistent, and whether high green tea intake reduces the risk of breast cancer remains unclear. ...In this population-based prospective cohort study in Japan we found no association between green tea drinking and risk of breast cancer." Breast Cancer Research (October 28, 2010)

Essentially this study reflects the data found in the smaller 2009 study presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 conference in San Diego California. Since we don't have access to the full details of the research we're speculating based on the introduction and conclusion presented. What would make the information from the research more persuasive would be if attention was made and presented that disproved the results of the 2008 study.

"Effects of a Green Tea Intervention on Anthropometrics, Intake, and Glucose Levels in Breast Cancer Survivors ...results suggest that daily intake of 4 cups green tea did not significantly change anthropometrics or glucose in overweight breast cancer survivors, although these markers did move in a favorable direction. Future studies should include higher EGCG exposure and a larger sample size of breast cancer survivors who demonstrate insulin resistance at the time of study entry." Experimental Biology 2008 (April 2008)

While the 2008 researchers focused on a specific type of survivors (overweight). They also used half as much tea than the current study which ignored the leading indicators of the specific that might have impacted on those who might wish to survive breast cancer and focused on all women. The current research ignored the disease and focused specifically on all the women and not those impacted. We should be happy because our focus has been on ways to prevent cancer. Protecting PearlieMae from the ravages of the disease to which she succumbed.

The antioxidant found in green tea EGCG worked in female mice but not in female women has been found to be effective. Again we only have the abstract to go on then and now. At the same Experimental Biology conference evidence was presented to that conclusion.

"Oral Administration of EGCG, an Antioxidant Found in Green Tea, Inhibits Tumor Angiogenesis and Growth of Breast Cancer in Female Mice ...(mouse breast cancer) cells were injected in 4th mammary gland of the mice. Tumor size was monitored by measuring tumor cross section area (TCSA)." - Experimental Biology 2008 (April 2008)

This wasn't a case where mice were just observed and some were given EGCG and some were not. These mice were cancer infected and then treated with the EGCG and were compared to those not so lucky. Rather than focusing on the actual working part of the green tea the research focused on the tea itself. For us that's the flaw in the study. Not that we're always consistent in our support for the chemical over the naturals. Except in this case we have to go with the chemical.

"Green Tea and Its Catechins Inhibit Breast Cancer Xenografts - A major shortcoming of the vast majority of the antiangiogenic drugs is the fact that they require intravenous or subcutaneous administration. This is particularly problematic, since antiangiogenic drugs need to be given on a long-term basis to control cancer growth. Furthermore, many of these agents are complex peptides that are difficult and expensive to produce in the quantities and purities required for human use. Thus an antiangiogenic drug that can be administered orally and inexpensively, such as green tea, would be clinically very useful." - Nutrition and Cancer (November 2009)

The Nutrition and Cancer research conclusion is why we support tea in the prevention of cancer. We're not big supporters of green tea but EGCG and possibility of either treating or preventing cancer. The future is still not predetermined by the very large study results (53,793 women during 13.6 years) over such a large period. We believe in the possibility in spite of the results. We're hanging our hopes on this statement in their conclusion: "We also found no association of oolong tea, black tea, coffee and canned coffee intake with breast cancer risk."

It's weak we know - about like a cup of green tea. It's still something to hang our hopes upon. We found the full study results in the PDF. "Although we found no association, we cannot deny the possibility that changes in green tea intake during the follow-up period influenced the findings, particularly considering that the questionnaires used in the baseline and five-year follow-up surveys were different." See were not totally delusional. There are flaws in the study and we're going to exploit them.

Surviving Cancer

PearlieMae was afraid of the disease that eventually, through complications, took her life. She knew of neighbors who suffered from breast cancer and rather than call the condition to the attention of her doctors she hid the smell of the disease as it ravaged her body. PearlieMae was of the same generation as that neighbor whose religion prevented her from seeking help that might have prolonged her life. We can't speak of PearlieMae's opinion of the neighbor. We do know that she knew of the woman and knew of her condition and her passing.

Cancer is again much in the news due to actor Michael Douglas' treatment. The son to noted actor and stroke survivor Kirk Douglas is considered "cancer-stricken" and like his father shares his' father's fatherhood regrets when career came before family. Now this is a stretch but we included the Douglas' with the neighbor in our story to highlight how knowing information and actually being able to utilize the information are often very difficult tasks.

Michael who may or may not have had to watch his grandfather suffer and die from smoking must have known that his father (Kirk) wasn't a smoker until:

"Hollywood started me smoking, literally putting a cigarette in my hand. Who knows how many moviegoers have started smoking because of what they have seen on the screen? Too many movies glorify young people smoking. It doesn't have to be this way. I have done at least 50 pictures where I avoided smoking. In one film, ''The Brotherhood,'' I played a Mafia character and chewed on a cigar. In a scene from a film I just did, ''The Illusion,'' when offered a cigarette, I say: ''I don't smoke. I have cancer.'' " - New York Times

That is unless career kept father Kirk Douglas from imparting to his son Michael the suffering his grandfather endured and the strength that fueled his ability to quit. The story of which the elder Douglas wrote of and was published in the New York Times.

"After many years of smoking, my father was told by his doctor that he would die of cancer if he did not stop smoking. So he quit cold turkey. Here's how he did it: he always carried one cigarette in the breast pocket of his shirt. When he felt the urge to smoke, he'd take the cigarette out and look at it fiercely. With a growl, he would say, in his Russian accent, ''Who's stronger? You -- me?'' He would glare at the cigarette: ''I stronger.'' And he'd put the cigarette back in his pocket. He did that for a few years, but it was too late. He died of cancer at age 72." - New York Times (May 2003)

Neglect doesn't lead to cancer and we're not trying to suggest such a connection but we are trying to suggest that neglect can lead to repeating what can be avoided and can have disastrous and long term affects that can be repeated in families broken or otherwise. Sometimes stories should be discussed in polite company if only to learn how individuals feel about detection and treatment. Sometimes its just good to know that people, even those whom we see on screens big and small, suffer and prevail.

Jefferson Thomas a "Little Rock nine" member was much younger than PearlieMae. While Mr. Thomas was only briefly on the small screen his passing from pancreatic cancer caught our eye when we read of the latest report in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). While nothing is written in the story on his cancer struggle it got us to thinking about cancer, secrets, treatment and prevention.

That's when the memory of PearlieMae and the neighbor returned to our memory. We can't rewrite what has been written. Like sharks that can only swim forward, life is a forward journey that each of us must make. Though sharks can only swim forward they, like each of us can also move in a circle. (Thanks to PBS we've learned that sharks don't have to "move or die" some varieties can stand still. We keep mentioning sharks because since 1970 sharks and cows cartilage has been considered for the treatment and/or cure for cancer. While none of the research has been considered successful enough to be commercial viable. The hope still remains. With the big "casino" (cancer) for many hope is all there is.)  We should move forward and forward or upward and onward. We should seek to go where we've never been before. Or so we guess.

The JAMA research found that women having elective mastectomies and

"...women with a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer may consider preemptively removing their fallopian tubes and ovaries. “Early intervention” can also save the lives of people predisposed to certain types of kidney and thyroid cancers." 

There is a drug for the treatment of prostate cancer, in its early stages or think of it as elective surgery. The down side of treatment is possible hair growth for thinning hair, decreased desire or possible pain in the region.

 "In 2003, the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), involving more than 18,000 patients, found that finasteride cut the incidence of prostate cancer by 25 percent -- the first drug to do so." Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF)

The down side is doctor's don't prescribe the drug because they were poorly informed about the drug. While admitted the physicians in the study were in the Veteran's Administration (VA) it is a stretch to assign ignorance to all physicians in every walk of life. However if you learn or suspect prostate cancer a good place to start is with a question concerning the drug treatment before considering surgery especially if caught early.

Early detection whether or not you'd like to go to the extreme and have elective surgery is the key to survival at the very least. While we doubt such an extreme could extend to elective prostate cancer surgery or elective skin removal surgery we're amazed that so much focus has been placed on elective mastectomies. If there was a family history the women stated they'd consider it. The men have a different point of view altogether.

"Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men." - American Cancer Society (2010) 

Again it just might be this generation or our generation. As for PearlieMae's generation who knew what they considered that makes a woman a woman. Is it because she has her breasts or is she less of a woman if she's had a hysterectomy? As our younger family members deal with their own bouts with the big "C" we'll keep reviewing the research and sharing what we find and what isn't being shared. May the disease never be a part of your family and your life.

The American Cancer Society (ACS)suggests you can prevent cancer by:

1. Eat an abundance of foods from plant-based sources.
2. Limit fat. 
3. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

Common Wisdom Not Wise...

...when it comes to lung cancer. The big "C," commonly considered cancer, is an automatic death sentence is a mistaken belief. Yes, it is "the most lethal cancer in the United States" but doctor can catch it in time and recovery is possible. If you're the kind of person who does the old "wait and see" for treatment because you don't have enough insurance or either don't have enough money to buy either your current medications or can't pay your co-pay for every doctor's visit that delay can mean a death sentence. So maybe common wisdom is wise but it more of a "self fulfilling prophesy" than a forgone conclusion. Believing it to be so and the depression that can ensue from having a fatalistic "doom and gloom" attitude can do more to prevent treatment and recovery.

We bet you think we just make this stuff up as we go along don't you? We don't. Christopher Lathan, MD, MS, MPH "an oncologist in the Division of Population Sciences at Dana-Farber, is the first author of the report in the journal Cancer. Senior author is Gary Bennett, PhD, of Duke University's Global Health Institute. Both whites and blacks in the survey "grossly underestimated" the bleak outlook associated with a diagnosis of lung cancer — only 15 percent of patients survive for five years."

"Many said 50 percent when the true number is 15 percent. There were three survey questions on which blacks and whites diverged significantly. African-Americans were more likely than whites (53 percent vs. 37 percent) to say they were confused by too many recommendations on how to prevent lung cancer. "This is shocking," says Lathan. "There is only one recommendation to decrease the chance of getting lung cancer. Stop smoking and avoid tobacco smoke." (Dana-Farber)

Dana-Farber (DF) is a Boston Mass based research center founded "in 1947, Dana-Farber has been committed to providing cancer patients with the best treatment available today while developing tomorrow's cures through cutting-edge research."

Last September DF discovered a protein that can aid in stopping cancer from spreading. Unfortunately the discovery that is on going doesn't appear to offer much hope to suffers of lung cancer. When Dana-Farber made Science magazine's "top ten breakthroughs of 2008" it had nothing directly to do with cancer or stopping cancer. The hope the center offers is to individuals who catch the lung cancer's in time and survive their surgeries thanks to "Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD, (who) is testing a small solution to the problem of lung cancer recurrence following surgery – small enough to fit millions of times into a grain of sand."

While the researchers at Dana-Farber have been searching for effective cancer medicines since 2003 with nearly $12 million in research fund and what's there final recommendations to prevent lung cancer? Stop smoking. Dana-Farber is no CUBA which, with less funding and no American tax dollars spent developed a lung cancer vaccine for terminal lung cancer patients. "CimaVax EGF does not prevent or cure lung cancer. It is a therapeutic vaccine which stimulates the patient's body to make an antibody against the epidermal growth factor (EGF), which is a key driver causing lung cancer cells to grow." Unfortunately the vaccine works better on the younger patients than the older. What it is more than anything else is hope to the hopeless.

Soy Safe Breasts

We disagree with the American Heart Association's (AHA) conclusions on soy. It's not that they're wrong or that their statements are incorrect. The AHA conclusions are misleading. Our newest associate editor accused us of trying to kill him because we fed him vegetables. He claims he's allergic to vegetables, jokingly. The American Heart Association (AHA) will later conclude that soy is not bad for you. We think that's not strong enough in support of soy.

"AHA Comments to FDA on Soy Protein and Coronary Heart Disease Health Claim - at this time the totality of evidence linking soy protein consumption with reduced risk of coronary heart disease is not sufficient to meet the standards of significant scientific agreement (SSA). Thus, AHA strongly recommends that FDA revoke the soy protein and CHD health claim. We understand that if the FDA decides to revoke this SSA health claim, the Agency could consider allowing its use as a qualified health claim. We urge FDA not to do so. Consumer research conducted by AHA, FDA, and others has repeatedly shown that despite the presence of qualifying language, consumers do not understand qualified health claims and do not understand that they are based on limited and varying degrees of evidence. Therefore, AHA does not support the use of qualified health claims; only health claims meeting the SSA standard should be permitted." - American Heart Association (May 1, 2008)

Headlines don't help and the news reports you read or view don't have the time to accurately explain the research results. The American Heart Association (AHA) is accurate saying that soy protein doesn't prevent cancer. Neither does beef or pork prevent cancer or heart disease. If you have to eat a soy burger, hamburger or pork chop you'll be better off eating the soy than any of the alternatives. While soy protein might not be heart healthy processed soy is better than processed meat as an alternative. It might not make you live forever it would be better if you ate tofu, cooked soy beans with your unprocessed soy milk that you made yourself. That's more likely to keep you alive than any of the processed alternatives.

"Effect of soy isoflavones on breast cancer recurrence and death for patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy - Of the original 524 patients, we were able to contact 508 directly for follow-up in July 2008. Among the 16 patients who could not be contacted directly, the mortality registry revealed 10 deaths. For six patients there was no match in the registry, and we assumed that they were still living. The total number of deaths was 154, and 132 of these were due to breast cancer. The other causes of death were cardiovascular disease (12 patients), respiratory disease (5), other cancers (2) and other causes (3)." - Canadian Medical Association Journal (October 18, 2010)

How can soy be good for you two (2) years ago but good for you now? The answer is in the processing of food as compared to unprocessed food. Soy protein is processed soy isoflavones is unprocessed and actually part of the waste product from processing soy. It's like comparing apples to cinnamon sweeten applesauce. It's not all soy and soy is better and healthier for you than any meat alternatives. Soy is as a vegetables the lowest in fats. Meats can't compete.

"In this study, high dietary intake of soy isoflavones was associated with reduced risk of recurrence of disease among postmenopausal patients with estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive breast cancer and those who were receiving anastrozole as endocrine therapy. This finding is potentially important in terms of recommendations for intake of soy isoflavones in conjunction with endocrine therapy. Large multicentre clinical trials and other observational epidemiologic studies are needed to confirm these findings." - Canadian Medical Association Journal (October 18, 2010)

While the American Heart Association (AHA) may not be convinced we think there is more than ample evidence that soy is heart smart and healthy. While this might not apply to all soy processed products we maintain that the research is clear and getting clearer all the time. There were earlier stories that indicated the contrary but again those stories results often contradicted the studies. For instance the evidence might not have made soy the superfood that on its own was miraculous. We think soy in combination with the basics recommendations of the AHA was more healthful than previously thought.

"Dietary Soy and Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer, the Singapore Chinese Health Study - We caution that our novel finding of a positive association between soy and bladder cancer risk is based on a relatively short period of follow-up and a modest number of cancer cases. If this provocative observation is confirmed by others, laboratory studies to delineate possible mechanisms will be needed. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (December 2002)

There are other items in nature and health that if you don't want to be bothered with soy have been scientifically effective. We're convinced of the effectiveness of soy but can understand if you aren't convinced. You don't need to take our word or the word of the above mentioned organizations and institutions. Just because an institution isn't based in the United States of America doesn't mean their facts or rather research should be ignored. Often the off-shore universities work in cooperation and collusion with US institutions of higher learning to share methods and methodologies.

Bitter Melon Extract Attacks Breast Cancer Cells - Early Research Points to Promising Area of Research - The extract from a vegetable that is common in India and China shows promise in triggering a chain of events that kills breast cancer cells and prevents them from multiplying, a Saint Louis University researcher has found. Ratna Ray, Ph.D., professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University and lead researcher, said she was surprised that the extract from the bitter melon she cooks in stir fries inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells. "To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells," Ray said. "Our result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon extract significantly induced death in breast cancer cells and decreased their growth and spread." - Saint Louis University (February 23, 2010)

One of the weaknesses in much of the research is in the reporting to researchers. The individuals reported their behavior to researchers. While this might be significant in a small study history has shown the success of soy in both animals and human trials. While much of the research has centered on breast cancer research specifically in girls and women soy has other benefits as well. You might not trust soy be we're soy believers. We think that more unprocessed soy is digested the more effective its health benefits would be felt on the human body.

"A New Frontier in Soy Bioactive Peptides that May Prevent Age-related Chronic Diseases - Soybean proteins can be a source of bioactive peptides with diverse and unique health benefits that can be used in the prevention of age-related chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, and decreased immune function. Bioactive peptides are released from proteins by either food processing or by GI digestion. Indirect evidence also suggests that these peptides can be absorbed by the GI system thus exerting their action on specific target organs. Other peptides do not need to be absorbed and act at the intestinal level. However, understanding whether digestion of food proteins in vivo releases the same peptide fragments as the ones in vitro experiments is an important question. Also, the effective plasma levels of bioactive peptides are unknown and need to be determined. In comparison with milk, research on bioactive peptides from soybean is far from complete." - Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (November 20, 2006)

If we didn't convince you - you just might want to try soy and we looked for the specifics in the research that we might personally duplicate for better health. Well try anything as long as its not exercise. We're not allergic to exercise we just remember the quote from Mark Twain. "Whenever we feel the urge to exercise we lie down until it goes away." Since that kind of thinking can lead to an early death we look for foods we can consume to keep death at bay. We look to soy and all the soy research that leads us to that conclusion.

"Soy Peptide Lunasin Has Anti-Cancer, Anti-Inflammatory Properties - "We confirmed lunasin's bioavailability in the human body by doing a third study in which men consumed 50 grams of soy protein--one soy milk shake and a serving of soy chili daily--for five days. Significant levels of the peptide in the participants' blood give us confidence that lunasin-rich soy foods can be important in providing these health benefits," said Elvira de Mejia, a U of I professor of food science and human nutrition." - University of Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana (December 2, 2009)

Our focus because of PearlieMae has been breast cancer. Soy's benefits aren't new neither are results that say its so. We wish that more of the bigger more familiar institutions of higher learning we more in the research of soy. We will admit that many of the smaller, meaning less trust worthy institutions are sources for much of the information. We don't admit that their research is any less trust worthy only that when you think of the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico you don't immediately think of as scientific worthy of award and acclaim.

"Children’s Hospital Oakland Scientists Discover Soy Component May be Key to Fighting Colon Cancer - Soy has long been touted as protective against colon cancer, but Dr. Saba’s team made the groundbreaking discovery that SDs naturally found in soy may underlie the benefits of soy products. Dr. Saba and her team first identified SDs in the fruit fly, an organism that is sometimes used to study the genetics of human diseases. Further investigation indicated that elevated SDs actually induced the death of mutant cells in the fly, revealing SDs to be cytotoxic compounds (toxic to cells). Preventative colon cancer strategies often focus on cell death—a normal process the body uses to remove unhealthy or mutant cells, like cancer cells. Coupling this discovery with the finding that soy is a rich source of SDs, researchers made an innovative connection." - Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland (November 24,2009)

We aren't fruit flies and again this is the only study on soy and cancer. We still think its better to eat your way to health than sweat your way to health. We don't deny the benefits from exercise. We're just reminded of the TV commercials for the Biggest Loser and the woman contestant who said that her workout "was harder than giving birth." TV trainers who proclaim: "You thought the other person was hard you ain't seen nothing yet." We imagine passing out from the sweat and strain of working out. That's before we even begin to exercise.

"Diet Can Provide Protection against Development of Certain Cancers, New Studies Show - With cancer, researchers don't believe "you are what you eat" -- that disease is always a direct result of what is, or what isn't, on your dinner plate. But studies into the association between diet and cancer show that food can have an impact in preventing cancer, or in reducing the aggressiveness of the disease. At the American Association for Cancer Research's Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting, investigators have found that eating fish regularly as an adult, or soy as a young girl, or using a specific vitamin if you are a smoker, can help to protect against development of certain cancers. Another study found that blood cholesterol, some of which comes from eating animal fats, doesn't control whether a man develops prostate cancer, but lower levels of these lipids may help protect against aggressive forms of the disease. The researchers say these studies provide some of the strongest links found to date between diet and cancer."  - American Association for Cancer Research (November 14, 2006)

The implication from this earlier research are clear. While later conclusions are that you can't eat your way to good health it appears from earlier research is that to survive the leading indicators of death requires a proper diet as well as exercise. We tend to place our focus on food rather than work. We'd rather add soy and "gold pepper" to our diet with the proper supplements to intensify the effectiveness of all than to grunt and strain under the watchful eye of a scowling trainer. However it is better to workout with a buddy than alone. We support that as well. Soy and a buddy for better breast health.

And Then You Die!

The headline from US News & World Report reminds of the old joke that ends with that punchline. Unfortunately when you're old, poor, Black and female it's no joke. It's no joking matter. You're the most neediest among of us, you're the most disadvantaged among us, you're the most discriminated among us, you're the most abused among us and when you marry if you get terminally ill your mate will leave you to die. Even if they don't you're the most likely to, if you have cancer, not survive when others would have.

The one headline lead us to the Journal of Cancer study we could not find but to many other studies in the journal from the US, Mexico and Switzerland. The studies relating cancer to issues of color, discrimination and poverty. Here is what we came upon in our verification process:

African-American women have increased breast cancer mortality compared with white women. Diagnostic and treatment gaps may contribute to this disparity.
Disparities in medical care among patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer were evident between African-American women and white women despite health plan insurance coverage. Interventions that address the gaps identified are needed. Cancer Journal

Racial differences in follow-up of abnormal mammography findings among economically disadvantaged women
BACKGROUND: In the United States, and particularly in South Carolina, African-American women suffer disproportionately higher mortality rates from breast cancer than European-American women. The timeliness of patient adherence to the follow-up of mammographic abnormalities may influence prognosis and survival. The objective of the current investigation was to examine racial differences in the completion and completion time of a diagnostic workup after the finding of a suspicious breast abnormality.
CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study established a racial disparity in the time to completion of a diagnostic workup among Best Chance Network participants. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the factors associated with delays in and adherence to completing the recommended workup when breast abnormalities are detected in mammograms. Cancer Journal

Ethnic disparity in mortality after diagnosis of colorectal cancer among inner city minority New Yorkers
CONCLUSIONS: The first to compare inner city minority subjects with CRC, the authors observed increased odds of death in AAs, despite similar clinical features and living environment. Tumor behavior or host response among AAs could explain this difference. Aggressive therapeutic and early detection strategies need to be tested in a large randomized study setting to substantiate our study findings. Cancer 2009.

Impact of socioeconomic status on prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in Geneva, Switzerland, in which healthcare costs, medical coverage, and life expectancy are considered to be among the highest in the world.
CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, patients of low socioeconomic class were found to be at increased risk of dying as a result of their prostate cancer. This increased mortality is largely attributable to delayed diagnosis, poor diagnostic workup, and less invasive treatments in these individuals. Cancer 2009.

Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. - Shirley Chisholm

The impact of Medicaid coverage and reimbursement on access to diagnostic mammography
CONCLUSIONS: Callers with Medicaid were offered appointments for DM less frequently than callers with Medicare, although both were widely accepted. State Medicaid reimbursement rates did not affect access to mammography. Cancer 2009.

Racial differences in treatment and outcomes among patients with early stage bladder cancer
BACKGROUND: Black patients are at greater of risk of death from bladder cancer than white patients. Potential explanations for this disparity include a more aggressive phenotype and delays in diagnosis resulting in higher stage disease. Alternatively, black patients may receive a lower quality of care, which may explain this difference.
CONCLUSIONS: Although differences in initial treatment were evident, they did not appear to be systematic and had unclear clinical significance. Whereas black patients are at greater risk of death, this disparity did not appear to be caused by differences in the intensity or quality of care provided. Cancer 2009.

WHO calls for action beyond the health sector to improve the health of girls and women
Despite progress, societies continue to fail women at key times
Despite considerable progress in the past decades, societies continue to fail to meet the health care needs of women at key moments of their lives, particularly in their adolescent years and in older age, a WHO report has found.

It was this final study that gave us considerable cause for concern. This was the most disheartening of all and unfortunately the full information was not available to us or you. Our only solace is that we in our lives are not making it true. For the unlucky/unblessed/unfortunate among us it is a sad reality that speaks to the real state of the nation. Reuters news service printed this story:

Men more likely than women to leave partner with cancer
The study confirmed earlier research of a divorce or separation rate among cancer patients of 11.6 percent, similar to the general population, but found the rate jumped to 20.8 percent when the woman was sick versus 2.9 percent when the man was ill.

"Female gender was the strongest predictor of separation or divorce in each of the patient groups we studied," said Marc Chamberlain, director of the neuro-oncology program at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA).

The researchers said the reason men leave a sick spouse can be partly explained by their inability to rapidly adjust to becoming a caregiver and to look after the home and family.

The picture of the elderly woman above was the last time we saw our namesake in her chair. It was taken just before she was admitted to the hospital for one of her last visits. When we brought her we did not know she would not be coming home ever again. We never know when the last time will be the last time. What comforts us now is the words of our family which said: "Think how better her life was with you in it!" Too many women are old and alone without anyone to care for or to care for them. Pearlie Mae Leach Frierson outlived her husband and son until there was just us. That we had her brings us continued joy.

Cancer 1 Us 2

Why it's taken me two days to post the understanding of the government's cancer report is beyond me. Aunt Pearlie died as a result of her surrendering to her breast cancer. "The 2008 report shows that, from 1996 through 2005, death rates for all cancers combined decreased for all racial and ethnic populations and for both men and women, except for American Indian/Alaska Native men and women, for whom rates were stable. The drop in death rates has been steeper for men, who have higher rates, than for women. Death rates declined for 10 of the top 15 causes of cancer death among both men and women. However, death rates for certain individual cancers are increasing, including esophageal cancer for men, pancreatic cancer for women, and liver cancer for both men and women. Overall cancer death rates were highest for African-Americans and lowest for Asian American/Pacific Islanders."

The Washington Post says: "African Americans are less likely than whites to survive breast, prostate and ovarian cancer even when they receive equal treatment..." The 2009 report's conclusions were: "The black-to-white disparity in age-standardized breast cancer mortality was largely driven by the higher hazard rates of breast cancer death among black women, diagnosed with the disease, irrespective of ER expression, and especially in the first few years following diagnosis. Greater emphasis should be placed on identifying the etiology of these excess hazards and developing therapeutic strategies to address them."

The first report uses data from 2005 and the new report reviews data from 2004. While both are the most current data my Aunt wouldn't be included in either. Since her death won't be reflected as lung cancer or cancer it is no doubt in my mind that it was the breast cancer that caused it. She refused to either disclose the mass to her physician or family nor were ever discovered through her numerous physicals. Her response was that she expected it to be discovered fearing once cancer was discovered it would mean the end of her life. In this case it was certainly true. Although her cancer was responsive to treatment and would not have been life threatening.

Preventing Breast Cancer

We're very concerned about this topic because of how it affected us through our families and the women in our lives and on our staff. PearlieMae's death was a result of her fear of breast cancer. The cancer spread from there to her back and into the bone . This being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month we thought we should contribute to its success. PearlieMae might have wanted it that way though we know she would shudder knowing we've revealed her "Big C" condition.

"The Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, a large, population-based cohort study of 5042 female breast cancer survivors in China. Women aged 20 to 75 years with diagnoses between March 2002 and April 2006 were recruited and followed up through June 2009. Information on cancer diagnosis and treatment, lifestyle exposures after cancer diagnosis, and disease progression was collected at approximately 6 months after cancer diagnosis and was reassessed at 3 follow-up interviews conducted at 18, 36, and 60 months after diagnosis. Annual record linkage with the Shanghai Vital Statistics Registry database was carried out to obtain survival information for participants who were lost to follow-up. Medical charts were reviewed to verify disease and treatment information." - Journal of the American Medical Association (December 9, 2009)

We're believers in soy products yet we're not certain that removing the other nutritional factors from the above equation makes it a wonder drug. Genetically Asian women suffer less from breast cancer than European and women of African descent. The results aren't new in 1998 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition drew a connection between soy and breast cancer. It's worth noting during this "Pink Month" because its use might be prevented.

"The following may reduce breast cancer risk: kelp; forsteronia refracta compound; oleic acid in olive oil restricted calories; apple, Danggui Longhui Wan ( chinese medicine); moderate exercise; turmeric, fish oil, weight loss, omega-3 fatty acids, cabbage and sauerkraut; Artemisinin; vitamin D, soy, garlic, grape juice, whole wheat, pro-vitamin E, low-protein diet, doing home work, high dietary fiber, broccoli, breastfeeding, grapes, green tea and mushroom, vitamin c, and sun exposure. Those factors that may boost risk are: high GI diet, alcohol, adipose fat, Bisphenol A; cleaning chemicals, hormone therapy, french fries, omega 6 fatty acid linoleic acid found in corn and soybean oil; mamograms, dietary fat, red meat and processed meat, barbecued meat, grapefruit, western diet, aluminum salts, radiation, iron, antibiotics, calcium, living in a large, metropolitan area, and acrylamide." - Food Consumer (Pink Tips)

Missing from that list is the desire to seek care until its too late. Both men and women suffer from that same condition of fear if our personal experience is any indication of having cancer and seeking immediate medical treatment. We don't want to know, believing ignorance is bliss and that we can't die if we don't know for sure. How's that for research. We believe that nothing "boost risk" more than fear and trepidation whether you're male or female.

"Although not all experts are convinced that it's safe to begin advising women to add soy to their diet, they agree that there is no need to avoid soy altogether. "What I've been telling my patients right now is that soy as part of a healthy balanced diet is safe. But I would avoid trying to eat a totally soy-based diet or taking a soy supplement. You have to be careful in not extrapolating beyond the study," says Dr. Richard Lee, medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston." - Time (December 2009) 

We'd have to agree. The nutritional solution isn't a one (1) item choice. Variety seems to be what all the experts agree upon. The Pink Tips given offer a variety of items that together might be the super fuel that would be a preventative against breast cancer. Though finding a lump and leaving it rather than calling attention to it to your physician is a mistake that can cost you your life and your family much pain and suffering. Unfortunately we have too much experience with the latter than we care to admit or ever care to see repeated.

It's Better To Look Good...

...than to feel good if you know what I mean. (Billy Crystal as Fernando Lamas (Video)

For many people including pseudo celebrities "Speidi" you never really look good until you've had something "fixed" with plastic surgery. The latest trend in research seems to be following that credo. Today's news comes this story from ABC News, LA Times and Wall Street Journal:

Fish Oils May Slow Genetic Aging in Heart Patients - "In the study, Dr. Ramin Farzaneh-Far of the University of California San Francisco and colleagues followed more than 600 men with heart disease and found those taking the most omega-3 appeared "biologically younger" -- that is, the ends of their chromosomes, called telomeres, looked longer and healthier."

The question becomes: What could it hurt? Though if we were heart patients aging wouldn't be so much on our minds as not dying. To be honest you can't age if you're dead. So "younger" appearing wouldn't be our first concern.

The American Heart Association (AHA) understands this and offers us a way of not just looking healthier but staying alive which is a great way of slowing death. AHA doesn't just offer a single solution but seven (7) simple life's steps to live better. Unfortunately it's seven or the familiar blah, blah, blahs as before or to quote Seinfeld: "YADA YADA YADA long story short" we've heard it all before and it doesn't work for the couch obsessed.

The information isn't really news worthy or new. It bears repeating because regardless of the familiar blah, blah, blahs until there's a change in the causes of death not just in country but locally as well. If the AHA wasn't trying to keep us alive we'd be fairly perturbed. From their no news news to their "National Wear Red Day" as a tool of celebration featuring real women to make this a day to remember?!?! It's all so confusing. We mean aren't all women, except maybe for "Speidi," real? We guess they mean not actresses, who are after all real women aren't they? If you're an actress do you lose your gender?

It's purpose seems lost on the organization which only later suggests that purpose is to help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. Our suggestion to raise awareness of something that doesn't sound so medical and isn't so confusing. Maybe we can help raise awareness of not prematurely dying.

Study Shows Regular Exercise Benefits Prostate Cancer Survivors - "even a moderate amount of exercise – taking regular walks, for example – reduced overall mortality rates in men with prostate cancer. The more vigorous the exercise, the greater the benefits, the study found." (23% - 51% - editor's note) "Find an activity you enjoy and get moving. Just be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program to make sure it's safe for you, especially if you haven't exercised in a long time." (American Cancer Society)

TYPES OF CANCERS By Jurisdiction 1ST 2ND 3RD District of Columbia Maryland Virginia United States North Carolina

Cancer is the number one (1) and number two (2) cause of death in our jurisdiction and the nation falls into several categories. The figures are estimated for 2009 by the ACS. We've charted the top three cancers in our area by ribbons. In the District of Columbia first (1) sky blue for prostate, second (2) pearl (white) is lung and bronchus and third (3) is the familiar pink for breast cancer. Maryland, Virginia and the Nation places places lung first, breast second and prostate third. North Carolina does lung and bronchus first, prostate second and breast third.

In the beginning 51,529 men in health professions participate(d) in the study. This group is composed of 29,683 dentists, 4,185 pharmacists, 3,745 optometrists, 2,220 osteopath physicians, 1,600 podiatrists, and 10,098 veterinarians. Among the study participants are 531 African-Americans and 877 Asian-Americans. (Harvard School of Public Health)

We hesitated to use ribbons as symbols of types of cancer because of the conflict and crossover in colors and causes from the expanded use of the ribbons symbols. Yet no other symbols could consistently be used and understood in our minds.

"For the first time, the American Heart Association has defined poor, intermediate and ideal cardiovascular health -- using seven easy-to-understand measures." (AHA)

We're obviously in the poor category because we're too lazy to find the tools to measure what qualifies as poor but optimistic enough to consider ourselves "intermediate." What's most interesting is that our staff, comprised largely of women, are in the process of losing and while the men are gaining weight.

This is the kind of study we think should be prompted. We call this "couch" research because to do it we don't have to get off the couch to implement and benefit from it.

"Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Stroke Research Center looked at 4,435 people, aged 30 to 75 years, who were participating in ongoing national government health research from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. They found that over a 20-year period, those who had never owned a cat had a 40 percent greater risk of death due to heart attack and a 30 percent higher risk of death due to any sort of cardiovascular disease than previous or current cat owners. Researchers found no such protective effects for dog owners." (ABC News)

Our problem with the ABC report is in an effort to be fair and balanced they included opinions that referenced an older not as well researched study that contradicted this longer and larger study.

Pet ownership, social support, and one-year survival after acute myocardial infarction in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST) - "One year survival data were obtained from 369 patients (87%), of whom 112 (30.4%) owned pets and 20 (5.4%) died..."

Yes compare a one (1) year study with three hundred and sixty-nine individuals to a twenty (20) year study with forty-four hundred individuals. We verify and so now can you.

We can couch study with cats but other study says that we can't nap or rather if we do we'd better be careful.

"Among 2,153 participants in a prospective study with an average follow-up of 2.3 years, the risk of stroke was 2.6 times greater for those classified as doing “some dozing” compared to those with “no dozing.” Those in the “significant dozing” group had a 4.5 times higher risk." (AHA)

So cat in the lap but no cat nap with the cat in the lap! Also we've got to be careful when the cat is not in the lap but somewhere in the house.

Dogs and cats provide comfort and companionship, but it’s important to realize that pets and pet items can cause falls that result in injuries, including fractures. Every day it is estimated that an average of 240 people are treated in emergency departments—about 86,600 each year—for injuries from falls involving dogs and cats. This study examined five years of emergency department data and found that 88 percent of fall injuries involved dogs than cats. Among injuries related to dogs, about 31 percent of persons fell or tripped over dogs and 21 percent fell after being pushed or pulled by dogs. For injuries related to cats, 66 percent fell or tripped over cats. Raising public awareness that pets can cause falls and pets and pet-related items can be fall hazards can help reduce possible injuries. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC)

So as long as we're careful - What could it hurt? Maybe your cat? Did you know your pets can also get strokes? Neither did veterinarians until recently when research showed differently.

"Strokes in cats can be caused by an underlying medical condition, or through an accidental injury or poisoning. Ischemic strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain has been reduced, and hemorrhagic strokes occur when a vessel within the brain breaks." (PETWAVE)

It may be good for us to have our cats in our laps but it could kill your cat! For the solution to that problem we'll leave that up to the PETA scientists. Since cardiovascular disease isn't something that deserves more attention from us in our jurisdiction than the three (3) cancers that actually kills more of our residents we probably won't be wearing red on "National Wear Red Day!" We hope the AHA understands.

Cancer Cholesterol / Cholesterol Cancer?!?!

We blame the researchers and the publications but if we spent the money and got our lazy behinds out to every single medical conference in the country we could get the verification for the information reported in the news. But have you read us? We tire easily and we're not the "Big & Rich" (hey they're not any longer) business we hope to be. What we can report is our experiences with Pearlie Mae Frierson Leach, after whom we are so named. All are articles we suggest you peruse beyond the headlines and the news story.

Many of the headlines (ABC News, US News & World Report, AP, WedMD), which are difficult to write, don't quite shed light on the complexity of the results. If the materials aren't publicly published we can't verify. We write (rather) email for more info to the mentioned speakers but they don't usually reply. While the info might be cited it can't always be checked. We just thought you should know! We're on it - as best we can!

The headline: Low Cholesterol May Be Sign of Undiagnosed Cancer from ABC News yesterday said: "Low total cholesterol may be a sign of cancer rather than a cause, as some researchers have suggested, and men who have low cholesterol actually have a lower risk of developing high-risk prostate cancer, two teams reported on Tuesday."

That headline seemed to contradict this headline from US News and World Report: "Low Cholesterol May Help Prevent Cancer - Two studies dispel longstanding fears about possible connection - Low blood cholesterol levels reduce the risk not only of heart disease but also of cancer, two new studies show."

AP reported using the same research report: "Men may protect more than their hearts if they keep cholesterol in line: Their chances of getting aggressive prostate cancer may be lower, new research suggests." WedMD reported: "Radiation treatment cuts the risk that melanoma will come back in people at high risk for recurrence, a new study suggests. Researchers studied more than 200 people with melanoma at high risk of having their cancer return after surgery because the disease had spread to the lymph nodes."

The original abstract from Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (CEBP) concluded: "Results from the two analyses of cholesterol and risk of cancer published in this issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention provide one answer and raise two new questions. Results from the ATBC analysis clearly show that low total cholesterol is unlikely to increase risk of cancer. At the same time, the ATBC results raise a new question about the potential role of high HDL cholesterol and its correlates in reducing risk of cancer."

You had to be there - unfortunately we couldn't and weren't. Hey its not the last time. We're working on other stories and because we weren't there we'll have to wait for responses to our questions from the researchers who tend to be too busy to answer emails. That's just the way it is!

Salted to Death...

...but at least you didn't get cancer when you died!

The men among us here are big salt users. Calls us "salters" because we reach for the shaker before our lips ever touch the food. There is not a woman among us that doesn't warn us against the dangers of our salty ways. We get the same grief when we sweeten our drinks. The warnings always include the ominous you're going to get cancer (or diabetes as the case may be) and die! Maybe you've heard it or maybe you're a carrier of "the ominous warnings of death!" (TOWOD)

Now comes The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) and the Japan Public Health Center–based Prospective Study which says we (the men) were right and they (the women) were wrong. Well kind of wrong.

"Sodium intake as a whole salt equivalent may not increase the risk of cancer but may increase that of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In contrast, salted food intake may increase the risk of cancer. [Their] findings support the notion that sodium and salted foods have differential influences on the development of cancer and CVD." (AJCN)

So to all the other Tarzans out there - "Salters" not dying but greasy pre-salted bad! That includes all the processed meats and salty processed foods which can still kill you. Science keeps verifying it this bit of news over and over again. In this case science, since 1995 and eliminating family history for over ten (10) years and over seventy-seven thousand (77,500 men and women aged 45–74 y. During up to 598,763 person-years of follow-up until the end of 2004, 4476 cases of cancer and 2066 cases of CVD were identified.) individuals helped confirm the results.

It's not direct research it's what's called "a meta-analysis" of twenty-one (21) studies but the bottom line is (according to these  reviewers) "there is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD." (AJCN) That's good enough for us and we'll hang on to every thread of countermanding evidence.

We don't need new lab research to show us the benefits of fruits and vegetables. We need research that emphasizes real-world solutions. - Janet King, PhD

Here Here Dr. King! We giveth the bad news and we taketh away the bad news - there is some new cancer hope from some fairly unconventional sources.

Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) scientist Julie Saba, MD, PhD, and her colleagues have just published a groundbreaking study in Cancer Research that identifies a new class of therapeutic agents that could hold the key to the prevention and treatment of colon cancer. Sphingadienes (SDs) are sphingolipid metabolites found naturally in soy that Dr. Saba’s group has found to be protective against colon cancer. (CHORI)

Soy and fruit flies, all things we turn our noses up from the very mention or even seeing. Now showing us the way that going to get cancers and kill it!

"Although cell death does not sound like a good thing and can indeed contribute to pathology, it is also part of the normal process the body uses to remove unhealthy or mutant cells, providing what Dr. Saba refers to as a "cancer surveillance" function. Preventative colon cancer strategies often focus on the same process – ways to get rid of those cells that might be damaged – and thus more prone to turning into cancer – as quickly as possible, which was why Dr. Saba’s team was particularly interested in SDs." (CHORI)

Now we've got some additional ammunition in our growing arsenal to fight the "big C" (cancer) and we won't have to make major life changes to take advantage of its benefits. That's what we call a good day and a great end to a great week.

Suicide By Cancer

Pearlie Mae Frierson Leach, for whom we are named, was suffering with cancer prior to her death. Breast cancer had reached her back and was in her bones. Our experience is that the diagnosis created what the editor's at the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) would say:

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a stressful event and may increase risks of suicide and cardiovascular death, especially soon after diagnosis.(JNCI)

That was our experience but we have earlier memories of women whom hide their breast cancers from their families until the disease so ravaged their bodies that they could no longer disguise either the smell or the effects until hospitalized. Death soon followed. In our opinions both situations should be considered "cancer-assisted suicide" when patients refuse or avoid treatment. You've heard of "suicide-by-cop" this is a similar condition we believe.

The authors from the best hospitals in the US, Sweden and Iceland reached this conclusion:

"A diagnosis of prostate cancer may increase the immediate risks of suicide and cardiovascular death." (JNCI)

Emotional counseling and support should be provided for patients with newly diagnosed cancer. These results add to the complex debate of pros and cons of extensive prostate-specific antigen testing and the many nonlethal prostate cancers thus detected. (JNCI)

We support their conclusions though our support comes from our own anecdotal experiences. While offering counseling we hope the facilities will look beyond their own staffs and into the communities they serve for diversity in counseling and support. Even in the best of circumstances professionals might not be able to override cultural biases and fears fed by their own anecdotal history. Pearlie Mae was prayed over, friend supported by best friend cancer survivors and still choose "cancer-assisted suicide" rather than receive chemotherapy.

Although the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn't separate their 2006 data by state in reference to race the numbers for suicide especially among African-American women is not considered very high (about twenty-fifth according to Center for Disease Control (CDC Table 14 by Race)25th, the figures for African-American men is substantially higher (about fourteenth) 14th. By jurisdiction the leader in suicides for 2006 was North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland followed by the District of Columbia according to the CDC (Table 29). The four (4) or five (5) leading causes of death in our jurisdiction and the nation are preventable. This isn't secret information. Yet we do not take the steps that should be taken to prevent the preventable.

Other suicidal considerations could be financial. Especially among the aged and the elderly.

"New Avalere research suggests that the cost of providing infusion services in community oncology practices may be higher than the associated payments from Medicare. This study – the most comprehensive to date on infusion-related services performed by community oncology practices and associated costs – suggests that many oncology offices in community settings are losing money on some key services." (Avalere Health, DC)

Patients live with cancer until they die. There is no cure to living - obviously we live to die. Whether or not that contributes to the person's depression (which obviously leads to a decision to either commit suicide or to choose "cancer-assisted suicide") when one chooses to not seek treatment is not known.

Typically, malignant mesothelioma will respond to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but these treatments are not able to fully cure the cancer. (Asbestos)

We speak of treatment (chemotherapy) as though its a pill to take or needle to receive. We acknowledge that it is non-invasive yet an immensely strong and debilitating procedure. Indeed knowledge of the intensity of the procedure may be another factor in such ultimate decisions.

"(C)hemobrain or, less catchily, "cancer treatment-related change in cognitive function" - a widespread problem for cancer patients which, until recently, has been largely ignored by clinicians. For many, it's the last straw after months of treatment. You might struggle to find the right word for an object or be unable to follow a fast-paced conversation. Or you might have trouble multitasking. You might even forget your own phone number. More than just irritating, these occurrences can shake your confidence, damage your career, upset your social and family lives and, in extremis, even put you in danger." (Guardian News)

The hope, which is where we live and what we have, is that although patients "complain that doctors dismiss these symptoms, "or put them down to stress, depression, fatigue or the menopause." When they hear that there may be concrete physical causes, and that the condition usually abates a year or two after the chemo finishes, their relief is palpable."

That's the hope. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's uncomfortable. Yes, it's difficult but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We support the call for counseling but not just for patients but for physicians as well. Yes, we know the above information comes from across the pond nonetheless, we believe the circumstances remain the same there as here. It's a pervasive problem that affects the medical community whether American or British, patients speak but doctor's don't listen until it's too late.

Aspirin Prevents Bowel Cancer

We've always supported the use of aspirin and we've also spoken on how scientific research can be misused to mislead and aspirin was our example. Aspirin has been found to be successful for reducing heart damage or high blood pressure but not heart attacks, and now cancer of the colon. Aspirin has not been found effect in stopping stab wounds or automobile accidents. It's not meant to. Research into such things would not be useful except to disparage or discourage aspirin use. It's affordable, available and well tested.

"Aspirin taken for several years at doses of at least 75 mg daily reduced long-term incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer. Benefit was greatest for cancers of the proximal colon, which are not otherwise prevented effectively by screening with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy." - The LANCET (Interpretation)

We also spoken on the amount used. In the recently release study more aspirin has been more effective. In the past we talked about governments recommend use levels but also the effects and concerns of toxicity in exceeding recommended amounts. Indeed in the studies the researchers spoke on this very issue of the twenty (20) year over fourteen thousand (14,032) Brits, Dutch, and Sweds participants:

"High-dose aspirin (≥500 mg daily) reduces long-term incidence of colorectal cancer, but adverse effects might limit its potential for long-term prevention. The long-term effectiveness of lower doses (75—300 mg daily) is unknown. We assessed the effects of aspirin on incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer in relation to dose, duration of treatment, and site of tumour." - The LANCET (Background)

We know its more of a review of one specific study on the power of the aspirin. Aspirin works and if you're concerned about colorectal cancer you might want to add it to your medical regime if you FIRST discuss your intention with your primary care physician. According to the current research in the British Journal THE LANCET. So we do mention the publication in some of our stories but there is a caveat. Well there is now. The World Health Organization (WHO) finds some flaws with the publication:

"WHO disputes Lancet's report on number of malaria deaths in India - The World Health Organization has disputed the findings of a study on malaria that claimed the number of Indians dying from the mosquito-borne disease each year 13 times higher than the United Nations health agency's estimate. The study was published in the British medical journal Lancet. The research claimed that malaria causes 200,000 deaths in India every year. However, the WHO estimates that 15,000 malarial deaths take place each year in India." - OneIndia (ANI)

We don't often quote OneIndia either. We do so to say that the review of the review shouldn't be considered the final word on the subject. Neither we nor the Lancet are the final words on the matter. Aspirin - GOOD. Bowel cancer - BAD. The final word on the subject may come from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREEE) international study.

"This research study is the largest international trial ever funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and is being conducted in partnership with over 21 clinics and universities across the United States." - ASPREE (English Brochure)

While the study won't really affect or apply to us (God willing and the creek don't rise) if we live to a ripe old age the results might be useful to us. Prior research has already demonstrated the success of aspirin and taking a low dose a day has shown to be more useful than not. What the study doesn't do that we have concerns with is that it doesn't appear to be focusing on interactions among the elderly. We know of no cases where seniors are NOT on multiple medications. Nor do we support giving any senior a placebo for five (5) years when aspirin has proven to be so effective.

"Women's Health Study Researchers Publish Landmark Findings - Nancy Cook, ScD served as the lead investigator on the low-dose aspirin and cancer analyses, and I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD was the lead investigator of the vitamin E and cardiovascular and cancer analyses. “As a result of our findings, we do not suggest doctors recommend low-dose aspirin therapy for primary prevention of cancer,” Cook said. WHS analyses could not rule out benefits of higher doses of aspirin, and Cook and her colleagues recommend additional study. Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

The study contradicts the American research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston. The twelve (12) year forty-thousand (40,000) women study. Except it doesn't. The BWH Women's Health Study (WHS) concerns low dose aspirin and "breast, colorectal and other site-specific cancers." The results from that study which included the use of Vitamin E and cancer. It's the contradictions in the findings that makes the study so interesting. Vitamin E doesn't work says the researchers.

"Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

I-Min Lee is, in our humble opinion, wrong. The research says the researchers are wrong. Rather, the research indicates that its not completely correct in their assessment. While vitamin E and aspirin do NOT prevent cancer or disease. Yet, if we take aspirin and vitamin E we won't be among those numbers of the dead and dying that do not. Research shows that as well.

Nuevo Cancer

The newly American cancer risk has struck the newest immigrants. Hispanics who come to this country get more cancers than those who stay in their native land. According to the latest research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The same information first discovered with first generation Asians some twenty to thirty years ago has been duplicated with another group of new Americans.

One TV's THE VIEW co-host Sherri Shepherd had her big reveal in a bathing suit today. We didn't watch! How does this one thing relate to another? Several shows ago the program has hyped favorite foods, healthy lifestyles, exercises all to promote this event. Although her big reveal has been hyped for at least a month Ms. Shepherd has continued to eat an unhealthy American diet of barbeque ribs, chocolate bacon and other non-dietary fare often being caught on camera "cheating." All while her network is broadcasting how she'll be wearing a bathsuit on camera. With the whole world watching (much like Kristie Alley on OPRAH and Oprah each month on O Magazine) and the big day only days away Sherri continued to eat to taste rather than to waist. With personal trainers and special diets the weak link in the chain of better health is us. It doesn't matter what we learn or what we know what matters is what we do.

The report which is based on how people identified thems found: "Mexicans are a lower risk population compared with Puerto Ricans or Cubans, which are higher risk populations. Moreover, Cubans are a distinct group with respect to cancer incidence among Hispanics, their cancer patterns resembling those of Whites in Florida, particularly for the low incidence of stomach and cervical cancers. Their higher educational attainment and income in relation to Mexicans and Puerto Ricans (17) may be driving their unique cancer profile..."

"...In conclusion, knowledge of cancer patterns in these subpopulations is vital. These data influence public health policy and form the basis of etiologic hypotheses. This study shows that each Hispanic subpopulation has a distinct cancer profile. Puerto Ricans are the most affected by cancer and Mexicans the least. The advantage that Hispanics have over Whites in several health outcomes seems limited, in cancer incidence, to Mexicans. Finally, the higher risk for cancer observed among Hispanics who move to the United States should be further investigated."

These "new" Americans and the old Americans all have bad habits that will result in an unhealthy cancer risky life style. It doesn't matter what we read, how we "workout" or what goals we set. What matters is what and how much we eat.