May 20, 2010 -
Tanning Beds Increase Risk of Developing Melanoma Four Fold Tanning beds are popular devices used by millions of adults across North America for esthetic purposes. This population based case controlled study was able to show a massive increase in risk (4 fold) for those individuals who were regular users of these devices. The risk increased with increasing years of use. We should be considering these devices as carcinogens and warnings should be required to be posted in businesses who sell these tanning treatments. read more...
Metastatic Multiple Myeloma is a challenging disease to treat with poor survival even with chemotherapy treatment. Thymosin alpha 1 is an isolated peptide extract from calves thymus that has immunomodulatory properties particularly in T cells. In this study it was shown that Thymosin alpha 1 in combination with decarbazine increased overall survival and reducd diseases progression.
Moderate selenium supplementation during radiation therapy in patients undergoing radiation therapy for cervical or uterine cancer is effective in reducing the number of episodes and severity of radiation induced diarrhea.
It was once thought that during and after cancer treatment patients should avoid physical activity.Just get some rest, they would say.The idea being physical activity was a stressor on the body and could detract from the healing or recuperating response in the body.Nothing could be further from the truth.Physical activity, nor matter how minor, is always beneficial during and after cancer treatment.The affects of exercise on the health of cancer patients is well known and well researched.
What can you expect by engaging in a consistent exercise routine during and after cancer treatment?Here is what the research says:
Reduced Rate of Cancer Related Fatigue
Cancer related fatigue is often considered an unavoidable consequence of conventional cancer treatment.Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy often cause side affects like anemia, cardiotoxicity, and neuropathy.All of these things can lead to increasing levels of fatigue.To combat this most patients are told to “take it easy”.The result of this can actually worsen the symptoms of fatigue.By reducing physical activity you lose lean body mass and decrease cardiovascular fitness.The end result…the body has less ability to complete daily activities and other physical tasks which can lead to further fatigue.Studies have shown that endurance exercise programs of 30 minutes or more per day can result in improvements of cancer related fatigue in patients undergoing chemotherapy by almost 30%.
Reduced side effects of treatments
Studies have shown that patients engaged in regular endurance training experience reduced side effects of cancer treatment.This includes:
reduced nausea and need for medication to treat nausea and vomiting
reduced fatigue
increased physical endurance
increased quality of life
Reduced rates of cancer recurrence and Improved Survival
This is an poorly communicated benefit of exercise to patients who have undergone successful cancer treatment.In many studies patients who undertake 15-18 hours of per week see an increase of survival of more than 50% and a reduced rate of recurrence of over 50% compared to non exercising patients.This benefit was seen regardless of whether the patients had engaged in regular physical activity prior to their diagnosis of cancer.Studies have shown these effects in Breast, Colorectal, Lung and Prostate Cancers and researchers believe that the results are likely similar in any other cancer entity.
It was once thought that during and after cancer treatment patients should avoid physical activity.
