Cancer Prevention Program

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Cancer Prevention Program

JoAnn Guest

Apr 25, 2007 13:29 PDT

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Cancer Prevention Program

http://www.modernmanna.org/cancer_remedies.asp

 

Cancer is perhaps the most feared of all diseases. Unlike the other

killer diseases, cancer usually causes a slow death involving pain,

suffering, mental anguish, and a feeling of hopelessness. It is the

second most common cause of death in the United States and will

affect one out of three Americans during his or her lifetime. All

over the world, the number of new cancer cases has been increasing

over the past nine decades.

 

Since 1971, when President Nixon declared war on cancer in the U.S.,

tens of billions of dollars have been invested over the years in

cancer research. Approximately $80 billion is spent on cancer

treatment each

year for direct health costs and lost productivity. Despite this

enormous effort to combat cancer, the number of new cases of nearly

every form of cancer has increased annually over the last century

around the world and in the United States.

 

Still worse from 1930 to the present despite the introduction of

radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy; despite CT scans

and MRI scans, and all other new medical

technology lifespans for almost every form of adult cancer, except

cervical and lung cancer, have remained constant, which means there

has been no significant progress in cancer treatment.

 

And worse yet, perhaps even deceptively so, is the unrealistic goal

set by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society

of a 50 percent reduction in cancer mortality by the year 2,000.1

 

In the past 25 years, the National Cancer Institute has personally

invested $29 billion in the war on cancer. Despite all their efforts

to find a cure, this year alone 555,000 Americans are expected to

die of cancer 215,000 more than in 1971.

 

Current trends suggest that cancer might overtake heart disease as

the No. 1 killer by the year 2,000.2

While a cure remains elusive, the biggest step in the direction of

prevention has come in the last 10 years, with well over 100 studies

indicating that diet is related in some ways to all types of

cancers.

 

Second only to giving up smoking, diet is probably the most

important

area where we can make a critical difference in preventing cancer,

says Tim Byers, professor of preventative medicine at the University

of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. How big a difference? For

several leading forms of the disease, a careful diet can cut the

risk in half, he says. In fact, nearly 35 percent of all cancers are

now thought to be linked directly to diet.3

 

After collating the existing cancer data, Charles B. Simone, M.D.,

found that 80 to 90 percent of all cancers are produced as a result

of dietary and nutritional practices, smoking, alcohol, sedentary

life, stress, hormones, chemicals, or other environmental factors.

This information has been corroborated by all the major U.S.

agencies: National Academy of Sciences, National Cancer Institute,

and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Diet and nutrition appear to be factors in 60 percent of women's

cancers and 40 percent in men's cancers, as well as

75 percent of cardiovascular disease.4

 

Reducing Your Risk

 

Some items on your plate increase your risk for cancer. Others keep

it from developing, or from even starting in the first place. Let us

look at how diet can affect four leading causes of cancer:

 

Lung Cancer

 

Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer around the world,

accounting for an estimated 85 percent of all cases of the disease.

Rates of lung cancer in women have increased from 13,686 cases in

1971 to 64,300 cases in 1996 because of an increase of smoking among

women. Cigar smoking is now becoming trendy among the female

population.

 

The Diet Connection:

 

Certainly quitting smoking is the first step to be taken in

preventing

lung cancer. Several studies in Europe in the last five years

suggest that a diet rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoid-

containing foods may help reduce the risk.

 

Last year, scientists at the American Health Foundation identified a

compound in watercress that blocks

cancer-activating enzymes in the body. In animal studies, the

compound has also been shown to slow the growth of lung tumors.

 

How much watercress have you eaten in the past 5 years?

 

Our Recommendations:

 

If you haven't already done so, quit smoking now! Protect your lungs

by avoiding harmful chemicals (paints, hairsprays, second-hand

smoke) and by eating plenty of antioxidant- rich, fresh, organic

fruits and vegetables filled with carotenoids such as carrots,

cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, and vitamin C-rich foods, with perhaps

a serving of watercress on the side. Avoid animal fat, because of

the toxic residues present in white fat, it is directly linked to

lung cancer. Get plenty of exercise in the fresh air. Make your diet

primarily vegetarian, and include fresh organic juices as part of

your daily regimen.

 

Prostate Cancer

 

Prostate cancer currently kills 41,000 American males a year, making

it the second leading killer behind lung cancer among men. The

number of deaths from prostate cancer has increased from 17,700 in

1971 to 41,400 in 1996. Today, there is strong evidence that diet

and lifestyle play a major role in the disease.

 

The Diet Connection:

 

In 1993, researchers at Harvard University found that the fattier

the diet, the greater the risk of prostate cancer. The strongest

risk seems to be associated with animal fat, specifically from red

meat.

 

There is also recently reported evidence, according to Harvard

researchers, that men who ate 10 or more servings a week of tomatoes

cut their risk of prostate cancer by as much as 45 percent. Even two

to four servings a week of tomato sauce promoted a 34 percent

reduction. The antioxidant lycopene, a carotenoid cousin of beta

carotene, is thought to be responsible.6

 

Our Recommendations:

 

Eat a low-fat vegetarian diet rich in whole plant foods and free of

animal products that means ice-cream, too! Eat plenty of fresh

organic fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains daily. A diet

rich in whole

plant foods (preferably organically grown) may offer some protection

against prostate cancer due to the presence, in particular, of

minerals (calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, germanium);

vitamins; plant pigments (flavonoids, chlorophyll); fiber

(especially gel-forming and

mucilaginous types); and sulfur-containing compounds (onions and

garlic) all of which have activity that helps the body deal with

toxic chemical and heavy metals.

 

It has also been shown that men with prostate

disorders are usually low in the mineral zinc. Nuts and seeds,

especially green pumpkin seeds (about 30-50 a day) from Mexico or

China, are a good natural source of this key mineral. Nuts and

seeds, especially flaxseed, are also excellent sources of essential

fatty acids which, like zinc, have shown positive results in the

treatment of BPH.

In one study, the administration of a mixture of essential fatty

acids to nineteen subjects with BPH showed a reduction in the amount

of residual urine in the bladder. These effects seem to be due to

the

correction of an underlying essential fatty acid deficiency.7 In a

study

of men of Japanese ancestry, it was observed that an increased

consumption of brown rice and organic tofu were both associated with

a decreased risk of prostate cancer.8

 

An herb called saw palmetto has proven to be more

effective than the drug Proscar in the treatment of enlargement of

the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) and frequent

night-time urination. Actually, 160 mg. of saw palmetto extract

daily would be an excellent preventative medicine.

 

Colon Cancer

 

Every year, more than 94,000 Americans are diagnosed with colon

cancer. It is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer, and is far

more

prevalent in the U.S. and other developed nations. Colon cancer,

like most other cancers, is on the increase.

 

The Diet Connection:

 

Could the fast food restaurants, like Burger King, with their

nutritious 60 percent fat Whoppers, with little fiber, be one cause

of the increase?

 

Evidence points to the high-fat, low fiber intake typical of

the Western diets as the cause. A prospective study of 90,000

middle-aged women in Boston recently confirmed the important role of

meat consumption in the development of colon cancer. The risk of

colon

cancer in women who ate beef, pork, or lamb as a main dish every day

was

found to be two and a half times greater than for women who consumed

those meats less than once a month. 9

 

High fiber foods like legumes, fruits, and vegetables, on the other

hand, help speed potential carcinogens out of the system, reducing

the risk of colon cancer. In a

1992 study at Harvard Medical School, men who consumed about 30

grams of fiber per day were half as likely to develop early signs of

colon cancer as men who consumed only about 12 grams per day.

 

Saturated fat and refined sugar may also raise the risk by

increasing production of

insulin, which, in turn, boosts tumor cell growth, while alcohol

consumption may account for 15 percent of colon cancers.10 Saxon

Graham,

of the Roswell Memorial Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York,

showed that the risk of colon cancer was twice as high in those who

ate vegetables less than 5 times a week compared to those who ate

vegetables at least 2 times a day.

 

Furthermore, for those eating cabbage no more

than once a month, the risk of colon cancer was three times greater

than those who consumed cabbage at least once a week.11

 

Our Recommendations:

 

Eat plenty of fiber-rich, whole plant foods such as vegetables

(especially green leafy ones), fruits, whole grains, and legumes

(especially cooked dried beans and peas (split peas)).

 

Avoid refined foods, such as white rice, white sugar, white flour,

and white bread. These foods contain little, if any, fiber. The same

advice applies to animal foods like meat, fish, chicken,

and dairy. Remember the word 'processed' means 'destroyed' food.

 

Use very little salt (and only in cooking), and avoid very pungent

spices that can be irritating to the lining of your stomach and

colon.

Also, avoid fried and greasy foods and caffeinated beverages. It

would be a good idea to detoxify your bowel periodically with a good

psyllium husk/herbal cleansing, to drink plenty of pure water, and

get sufficient exercise at least 4-6 days a week.

 

Breast Cancer

 

More than 185,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this

year, and some 44,000 will die of the disease. While heredity may

play a small role in determining risk (about 10 percent), diet

appears to be the

important factor. Breast cancer is one of the fastest growing

cancers among women, just as prostate cancer is among men.

 

The Diet Connection:

 

Countries where diets are low in fat typically have low rates of

breast cancer, suggesting that high intakes of fat increase the

risk.

 

The reason is that fat cells produce estrogen, which is thought to

stimulate both breast and ovarian cancer cells.

 

Therefore, the amount of fat you eat can increase the amount of

estrogen produced by your body, thus feeding the cancer cells.

 

Our Recommendations:

 

A diet abundant in fruits and vegetables contain vitamin A and beta

carotene and other antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber, which

may lower breast cancer risk. Consuming no animal sources of protein

(beef, chicken, dairy products, etc.), and substituting more plant

proteins, such as organic fermented soy products, may also offer

some protection. About half of the

Seventh-day Adventists in the United States follow a vegetarian

diet, and most do not eat any pork.

 

Their breast cancer mortality is one-half to two-thirds the breast

cancer mortality seen in the U.S. population in

general.12 Avoid animal fats, and be careful with the vegetable fats

as well.

 

If you must have a little oil, olive oil is a more stable form of

oil than others, as well as one of the best choices. Women who

consumed traditional Mediterranean diets, with olive oil as the

primary source of fat, have lower rates of breast cancer than women

in countries who consume comparable levels of total fat, but more

saturated fat.

 

Flaxseed has also been shown to inhibit tumor growth, but only buy

oil that has been cold- processed in an oxygen-free environment and

keep it in the refrigerator.

 

Be careful of which deodorant you apply under your arm (many lymph

nodes are under your arm), and the chemicals applied to your

skin via make-up. Commercial deodorants and make-up are filled with

toxic chemicals that can poison your blood and liver. Read labels!

Remember, overall lifestyle is your greatest defense.

 

Open air, Daily exercise, Sunshine, Plenty of rest,

Lots of water, Abstemiousness, and Nutrition.

 

In conclusion, a Cornell University team recently completed one of

the largest epidemiological studies, involving 6,500 Chinese for a

period of 6 years. Some refer to this study as the " grand prix " of

diet studies.

 

Some of their findings included the following:

 

Chinese consumed 20 percent more calories than Americans, but are

less obese.

 

Chinese eat one-third of the fat Americans eat.

 

Americans eat 33 percent more protein than Chinese; 70 percent of

this protein is from animals, compared to only 7 percent coming from

animals for the Chinese.

 

Chinese consume three times the amount of fiber that Americans eat—

33 grams versus 10 grams.

 

Chinese women have low rates of breast cancer. High dietary fats,

protein, and calories promote early menarche (onset of

menstruation), which is associated with higher breast cancer rates.

 

Chinese women start menstruating three to six years later than

Americans.

 

Osteoporosis is uncommon in China. Chinese do not consume dairy

products, but rather get all their calcium from vegetables. They

consume half as much calcium as Americans.

 

The cholesterol of the Chinese is approximately 127 mg% and 212 mg%

for Americans—an 85 mg% difference.

 

Never forget the old cliche: " An ounce of prevention is worth a

pound of cure. " This saying certainly applies to the most dreadful

disease—cancer.

 

1. Simone C B: " Cancer: An International Outlook, " Energy Times,

May, 1996, pg. 21.

2. Rubin R: " The War on Cancer, " U.S. News and World Report,

February 5,

1996, pg. 54.

3. Jaret P: " Closing in on Cancer, " Eating Well, March/April, 1996,

pg.

42.

4. Simone C B: " Cancer: An International Outlook, " Energy Times,

May,

1996, pg. 22.

5. Jaret P: " Closing in on Cancer, " Eating Well, March/April, 1996,

pg.

46.

6. Ibid.

7. Murray M T: Natural Alternatives to Over-the-Counter and

Prescription

Drugs, William Morrow and Co., Inc. NY, 1994, pg. 213.

8. Severson R K, Nomura A M, et al: " A Prospective Study of

Demographics, Diet, and Prostate Cancer Among Men of Japanese

Ancestry

in Hawaii, " Cancer Res 49(7): 1857-60, 1989.

9. Willett W C, Stampfer M J, et al: " Relation of Meat, Fat, and

Fiber

Intake to the Risk of Colon Cancer in a Prospective Study on Women, "

323: 1664-1672, 1990.

10. Jaret P: " Closing in on Cancer, " Eating Well, March/April, 1996,

pgs. 46,47.

11. Graham S, Dayal H, Swanson M, et al: " Diet in Epidemiology of

Cancer

of the Colon and Rectum, " J Natl Cancer Inst 61:709-714, 1978.

12. Simone C B: " Cancer: An International Outlook, " Energy Times,

May,

1996, pg. 22. 13. Ibid, pg. 25.

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/