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.
Discovery of essential fatty acids (EFAs) was made by Burr and Burr in 1929. At that time, the fats gained their “essential” title through their involvement in growth and in the prevention of the dermatitis that ensued when on a fat-free diet.
More than 60 identified health conditions can benefit from the adequate consumption of essential fatty acids, among them - cancer. Essential fatty acids are those that cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet. These include both the omega-3 and omega-6 families. A proper balance between both EFAs are critical to normal prostaglandin metabolism, thus processes of inflammation, blood pressure, allergy, GI function, nerve transmission, fluid balance and various other vital processes.
Substantial evidence remains on the anticancer properties of flaxseed oil and are in part due to its high lignan and omega-3 fatty acid content . Lignans are converted by gut flora into compounds that bind estrogen-receptors and interfere with the cancer-inducing effects of estrogen on breast tissue Population and experimental studies conducted in humans and animals have shown that lignans protect cells from cancer by increasing sex-hormone binding globulin production, which eliminates excess estrogen from the body and decreases the risk of breast cancer. The alpha-linolenic found in certain food sources is also found to promote anticancer effects by suppressing tumour angiogenesis, proliferation, inducing apoptosis and enhancing immune function. The literature surrounding linoleic acid has been less clear in elucidating the mechanism of action, however, some studies have demonstrated antitumor activity of omega-6 supplementation in colon and breast cancers.
A prospective study measuring the levels of various fatty acids in the tissue of women with breast cancer found a strong correlation between those with lower essential fatty acid levels and those with a greater metastatic spread of the cancer. Low levels of alpha-linolenic acid was the first determinant of metastatic spread than all other factors considered. Numerous other studies have been performed demonstrating similar results. This suggests that supplementing with flaxseed oil may help prevent breast cancer as well as its invasiveness.
Discovery of essential fatty acids (EFAs) was made by Burr and Burr in 1929. At that time, the fats gained their “essential” title through their involvement in growth and in the prevention of the dermatitis that ensued when on a fat-free diet. 
