Monday's health links

 I know, I know, it's Tuesday.

1.  Pushing for a ban on teens using tanning beds in Ontario. Globe and Mail.
2. Driving with car windows open increases risk of skin cancer. Um, duh. CBC News.
3. Older women with breast cancer less likely to die from that than from cardiovascular disease. Another reason why we can't ignore our heart health! US News.
4. Advances in treating prostate cancer...in mice. A new vaccine has some promising results - how does this translate into treating our guys? CBS News.
5. If you aren't watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, why not? It's not getting many viewers this season, and yet it is doing the most remarkable thing for reality TV - making it relevant and powerful. Here in my neck of the woods it is on Friday nights. Set your PVR if you actually have a social life and are out that night. Or catch past episodes online. Calgary Herald.
6. Finally, Betty Fox, the mother of cancer crusader Terry Fox, died Friday morning. She was a remarkable woman. When Terry succumbed to cancer, Betty took over his dream and made it reality. Terry's story is incomplete without mention of his mother's tireless work for all who have been touched by cancer.  My heart goes out to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

Our garden recipes - next, rainbow chard

Discussion of this powerful anti-cancer, gloriously colourful green along with some recipes, up now on my recipe blog.

Come on, it's not as scary as you think.

Monday's recipe links

Up now on my recipe blog - a selection of sides and salads, a pretty soup and a yummy crispy salmon recipe.

Monday's health links

1. Using exemestane to prevent breast cancer? A Canadian-led study suggests that using this aromatase inhibitor, a family of drugs used now to treat some breast cancers, can slash one's risk of getting the disease by nearly 65%.  The study involved women in Canada, the US, France and Spain who had gone through menopause and were classified as being at a high risk for developing cancer based on age, age at time of first child and family history. This is exciting news, especially since exemestane has much milder side effects than tamoxifen. Vancouver Sun.
2. Giving radiation to women with early-stage breast cancer may lower the risk of cancer recurrence. CTV.
3. New breakthroughs in treating melanoma. CBS News.
4. Researchers identify the mutated genes associated with the most common form of leukemia. Globe and Mail.
5. Public response to the World Health Organization's announcement that cellphones might raise the risk of brain cancer. Basically, the response is, "Meh!" CBS News. Favourite quote: "I was watching the news about it, and I thought, 'I'm already screwed because I've been talking on the phone for seven years,'" said Genevieve Chamorro, a 31-year-old New Yorker who was shopping for a phone. Yeah, you probably shouldn't bother worrying about it then.
6. A new study from the Mayo Clinic says flax seed isn't actually an effective treatment for hot flashes. Good news for me - since I can't take much flax seed due to my estrogen positive cancer. Toronto Sun.
7. Only 5 to 10% of prostate cancer cases are attributable to cell changes that men inherit from their parents; the rest are traced to cell changes that occur over the man's life. The American Cancer Society provides a list of risk factors to show men what increases the risk of this happening. No surprises here: risky behaviours include eating too much red meat and high-fat dairy and not enough fruits and vegetables, being obese, not exercising and smoking.  US News.
8. A closer examination of the new dinner plate approach to managing our daily eating habits. Huffington Post.

Finally, GO CANUCKS! Saturday's game was epic. Great job, boys.