Guest guest Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Cancer - Dr. Andrew Weil JoAnn Guest Jul 08, 2005 14:02 PDT In this section we take a closer look at three types of cancer: breast cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. As you read the staggering statistics from the American Cancer Society, remember that there are steps we can all take – small steps every day – to help prevent this disease and lower these numbers. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. after cardiovascular disease. About 1,200,100 new invasive cancer causes were diagnosed in 2000. One out of every four people in the U.S. will eventually develop cancer. About half of all men and one third of all women will develop cancer. Almost 80 percent of all cancer cases are diagnosed at the age of 55 and older. Research suggests that about one-third of cancer deaths in the U.S. are related to diet – another third are due to cigarette smoking. For those who do not smoke, physical activity and dietary habits become the most significant controllable determinants of cancer risk. Only about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers result from inherited defective genes that predispose a person to a very high risk of certain types of cancer. Cancer Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Prostate Cancer Cancer – Overview Cancer is defined as a disease that causes cells in the body to change and multiply out of control, disrupting the normal function of a particular organ or organs. Cancer begins when the DNA molecules – the materials in our cells that dictate our genetic makeup and control the way our cells divide – are altered. These cells then begin to grow and multiply, forming tumors. Some tumors are malignant, meaning they destroy their surrounding tissue and have the potential to spread to other sites in the body. Benign tumors do not grow and spread like cancer, and they usually don’t become a serious health threat. Diet plays a multitude of roles in the development of cancer. The first is exposure to ingested substances that initiate cancer (carcinogens). The second is exposure to substances in the diet that can either enhance or inhibit the growth of the cancerous cells. These include compounds that influence our immune system as well as those that have a direct effect on cancer cells. If you are challenged by cancer, consider adopting the following suggestions: Use mind/body techniques such as guided imagery and meditation, and energy medicine modalities like Therapeutic Touch and Reiki to enhance your treatments of choice. Stay active. Regular exercise is an essential part of staying healthy. Engage in gentle physical activity as often as you can. Get support. Join a support program for people with cancer. The inspiration and hope you’ll find there is priceless. Have faith. Don’t underestimate the role of your spiritual life in the healing process. Nutrition and Supplements Population studies – those that carefully examine the risk of health conditions in different groups of people - have clearly identified environment and lifestyle as major factors influencing the development of cancer. Diet ranks second only to smoking as a controllable aspect of lifestyle linked to cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Prevention has published these compelling statements: Eating right, plus staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight, can cut cancer risk by 30 to 40 percent. Recommended dietary choices coupled with not smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke have the potential to reduce cancer risk by 60 to 70 percent. As many as 375,000 cases of cancer, at current cancer rates, could be prevented each year in this nation through healthy dietary choices. Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day could by itself reduce cancer rates more than 20 percent. Treatments for cancer, either conventional, alternative or a combination of both, can be enhanced by some simple lifestyle, diet and nutritional supplement strategies. Get plenty of antioxidants through foods or supplements. Always discuss any changes in diet with your health care practitioner. Have one to two servings of soy foods each day. The simplest soy food to include may be soy milk as a beverage or ingredient in a smoothie. Also try edamame (whole green soybeans), canned soybeans, tofu, roasted soy nuts and soynut butter. Eat generous amounts of vegetables and moderate amounts of fruit. Choose organic whenever possible to minimize exposure to pesticide residues that may put an extra detoxification load on the liver. Consider juicing to easily ingest several servings without feeling too full. Drink green tea several times a day. Remember that decaffeinated versions are available and quite delicious. Concentrate on omega-3 fatty acids either through foods or supplements. The foods that are rich in this healthy type of fat are walnuts and flax seed, and cold-water fish like salmon and sardines. Limit alcohol consumption. In virtually all studies that have looked at alcohol consumption and risk of cancer, regular consumption is linked with increased cancer risk, especially breast cancer. Avoid harmful radiation, UV light, and carcinogenic chemicals. Recommended Supplements: Asian mushrooms - These contain strongly cancer-protective substances. CoQ10 - A natural antioxidant which has been shown to increase survival in some forms of cancer. Folic acid - Can help reduce the risk of breast cancer. A vitamin B-complex - Folic acid (with B12) can help prevent cancer of the colon. A balanced calcium-magnesium formula - Can be an effective weapon against colon cancer. Lycopene - A powerful antioxidant that is particularly good at protecting against prostate cancer. Selenium - Fosters healthy cell growth and division, and discourages tumor formation. Vitamin D - Reduces risk of prostate, colorectal and other forms of cancer. Breast Cancer – Overview In the United States, an estimated 182,000 cases of breast cancer occurred among women in the year 2000, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer accounts for 18.5 percent of cancer deaths in women. Fortunately, it is one of the most curable types of cancer when detected at an early stage. Survival rates are continuing to climb as technology advances for early breast cancer detection and intervention. The five-year relative rate of survival for localized breast cancer has increased from 72 percent to 96 percent over the past 60 years. Early detection with a mammogram – which should be performed annually for women over 40 – has been key to successful early detection and treatment. Diet plays a role in prevention. American women have five times the risk of developing breast cancer as Japanese women who consume a traditional Japanese diet. Second- and third-generation Japanese-American women who adopt a typical American diet have almost the same incidence of breast cancer as other American women. And a Westernized diet in Japan is now causing an increase in breast cancer among women there. Here are some lifestyle measures for prevention: Get active. Regular physical activity, at least 30 minutes on most days, has been shown to be protective against breast cancer. This may be because it results in weight loss and decrease in body fat; therefore, it lowers circulating estrogen levels. Reduce exposure to xenoestrogens. We are exposed to a large number of synthetic chemical compounds that have estrogen-like activity. These include common pesticides, industrial pollutants and hormone residues in meat, poultry and dairy products. While the research on their link with breast cancer is conflicting, we recommend limiting exposure as much as you can. Choosing hormone-free dairy and animal products and organic produce is a good start. Early detection is key. Women ages 20-39 should have a clinical breast exam performed by a health care professional every three years in addition to conducting a self-examination every month. If you are 40 years of age or older, annual breast exams and mammograms are recommended. Your physician may request one at an earlier age if you display other risk factors. Nutrition and Supplements Pay close attention to your diet. The original thought that breast cancer risk increased with a high-fat diet may have been too simple. There are several factors that we now believe are more closely associated with risk. Choose fats wisely. Studies have shown that women with a higher intake of olive oil have less breast cancer. Omega-3 fats, found in cold-water fish (especially wild salmon and sardines), flax seed and walnuts have also been associated with inhibiting the growth of breast tumors. Eat generous amounts of vegetables and fruit, which are loaded with cancer-protective phytochemicals. Our recommendation is 8 to 10 servings a day. Use ground flax seed or other sources of fiber every day. Diets that are high in fiber – lignins specifically – seem to increase the excretion of estrogen or modify the metabolism of estrogen and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Eat more soy. There has been some recent discussion on the possible negative effect of soy on risk of breast cancer, especially hormone receptor positive forms of the disease. Although the isoflavones in soy do have a mild estrogenic effect (they are able to bind to estrogen receptor sites in human tissue), soy foods also contain many cancer-protective substances. For this reason, and also because population studies have failed to show a relationship between soy consumption and increased risk of breast cancer, we recommend one serving of whole soy foods a day. Make green tea your beverage of choice. Green tea consumption is linked with lower incidence of many kinds of cancer. Drink very little, if any, alcohol. Alcohol consumption, even in modest amounts, is associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Take a multivitamin with folic acid, vitamin D and antioxidants. All these nutrients have been shown to be related to a reduced risk of breast cancer. Although the diet should be the primary source of most of these, a good daily supplement can help provide insurance that your intake is adequate. Colon Cancer – Overview Colon cancer is now the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American adults. The five-year relative survival rate is 90 percent for those who have found and treated the cancer at an early stage. But for those cases in which the cancer has spread, the rate goes down to 65 percent or lower. Colon cancer develops in the region of the gastrointestinal tract called the large intestine or large bowel. The colon represents the main portion of the large intestine, and is responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from the undigested food matter passed on from the small intestine. It also serves as a storage area for waste material. Colon cancer is believed to be initiated by damage to the epithelial cells lining the colon, the result of either chemical injury or chronic inflammation. Polyps, or small growths, may develop at the site of that damage. One type of polyp, called adenomas, may develop into cancer over time. Other polyps are benign. Recommended Lifestyle Changes Early detection is key to winning the cancer battle. Once you reach the age of 50, the following tests should be done routinely: 1. A fecal occult blood test (to test for blood in the feces) annually if normal 2. A flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years if normal, or 3. A colonoscopy (if normal, every 10 years), or 4. A barium enema every 5 to 10 years if normal and 5. A digital rectal exam at the same time the sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or barium enema is performed (up to 10 percent of tumors can be detected by this low-tech test). Screenings should be done earlier if there is a family history of colon cancer or polyps. Nutrition and Supplements Eat very little, if any, red meat. Regular consumption of red meat results in an increased risk of developing colon cancer compared to eating no red meat at all. Eat generous amounts of vegetables. Green leafy vegetables, especially, have been linked to lower risk of colon cancer. Eat plenty of fiber from a variety of foods (from beans to whole grains to fruit). Although recent studies have not been conclusive – especially when it comes to primary prevention of colon cancer – most physicians, researchers and nutritionists are still recommending a largely plant-based diet with lots of fiber. Limit alcohol. Studies suggest that the more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of colon cancer. Make green tea your beverage of choice. Green tea consumption is linked with lower incidence of many kinds of cancer. Consider taking aspirin therapy. Research suggests that taking a daily low-dose aspirin over a period of years can cut colon cancer risk by as much as half. Take a multivitamin containing folic acid and vitamin D. Keep blood sugar and insulin levels low. Insulin resistance, especially when linked to excessive abdominal body fat, is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. Eat small, balanced meals frequently and watch your intake of carbohydrates (sugars and starches), especially those with a high glycemic index. Prostate Cancer – Overview Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among men. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 184,000 new cases were diagnosed in the year 2000, and American men have one of the highest incidences of invasive prostate cancer in the world – 102 cases per 100,000 men. About 12.6 percent of all cancer deaths are due to prostate cancer. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases significantly after the age of 65. Prostate cancer is typically a slow-growing cancer. Many patients with prostate cancer live much longer than five years. In fact, almost 90 percent of men with prostate cancer live at least five years, and 63 percent survive more than 10 years, according to the American Cancer Society. If the cancer is detected before it has spread to other organs, the five-year relative survival rate is 100 percent. However, if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to 31 percent The prostate gland is found only in men. It is about the size of a walnut, and sits just below the bladder in front of the rectum. The urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder) runs through the prostate. The role of the prostate gland is to manufacture a fluid that is part of the semen (the fluid that contains sperm). Causes Scientists have estimated that lifestyle factors account for about 75 percent of advanced prostate cancer cases, and of all the environmental variables, diet appears to be the most influential. Like breast cancer, prostate cancer is particularly sensitive to factors that influence hormone levels. Recommended Lifestyle Changes Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Have regular screenings for prostate cancer. Digital rectal exams can help provide early detection of problems with the prostate gland. Additionally, the PSA test measures a marker of prostate cancer in the blood and checking PSA levels should be discussed with a physician. Nutrition and Supplements Take a multivitamin that includes vitamin D and antioxidants, especially selenium. Eat little to no red meat and saturated fat. Diets high in red meat and saturated fat have been correlated with an increased risk for prostate cancer. Eat less dairy. A recent study linked high calcium intake from dairy products to prostate cancer. If you supplement with calcium, or a product that contains calcium, keep your total intake of calcium below 1,200 mg a day from all sources. Eat more vegetables, especially tomatoes and tomato sauce. Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes and watermelon, has been linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer. Men who ate tomato sauce four times a week had 40 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than men who ate tomato sauce rarely or never in one recent study. Include soy foods regularly. Soy foods contain genistein, an isoflavone that helps normalize hormone levels and seems to be linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer. Eat more fish. Including fish in your diet at least once a week is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. Eat more fiber. Fiber helps in the elimination of hormones such as testosterone which influence changes in the prostate. Make green tea your beverage of choice. An antioxidant compound in green tea called EGCG kills prostate cancer cells in the test tube. Another compound in green tea blocks the actions of an enzyme that promotes prostate cancer. All material provided on the DrWeil.com Web site is provided for informational or educational purposes only. Consult a physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition. AIM Barleygreen " Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future " http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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