Monday's health links

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes for my dads. They are both on the mend and their wives are both saints. :-)

On to the links:

1. New progress in using the immune system to fight cancer. Vancouver Sun.
2. The importance of testing for stomach cancer. It's an easy test - if you are prone to indigestion, reflux or chronic stomach pain, you need to talk to your doctor about getting one. CBC.
3. Breast cancer affects 1 in 1,000 men, and they are less likely to survive it than women. Men, if you find a small lump or something feels wrong, get in to the doctor. I know you don't want to go. No, you can't just walk it off. FOX. 
4. Dire news. If things don't change, 42% of Americans could be obese by 2030. USA Today.
5. Michelle Obama's plans to eradicate "food deserts", communities where residents don't have access to fresh fruit and vegetables, are at risk. Grocers have only opened a fraction of the stores originally promised. Bloomberg.
6. Vitamins E and C may not, as previously thought, help fend of macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Vancouver Sun.
7. Already in the arsenal of breast cancer warriors, Vitamin D may aid in the fight against prostate cancer. Renal and Urology News.
8. Seven foods with more Vitamin C than an orange: papaya, red bell pepper, broccoli, kale, strawberries, kiwi, and cauliflower, with brussel sprouts getting an honourable mention. Huffington Post.
9. Sad news. The Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch died Friday after a long fight with cancer. Those who look past the teen with the youthful bravado and swagger in the band's early videos would see the brilliant, compassionate, and generous man he became. Montreal Gazette.

Finally, a reminder. The days are getting longer and the sun is shining more. Please don't go outside without your sunscreen. SPF 30, as a minimum, over every part of your body exposed to the sun. Staying out for a while? Reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating. Add a hat and sunglasses and consider clothes with good coverage as well. And, if you have had radiation as part of your treatment regime, make sure the affected area is well covered from the sun.

BPA, Methylparabens and Tamoxifen...oh my!

We're not in Kansas anymore.

A very troubling study was released last week. San Francisco researchers found that bisphenol A (BPA) and methylparaben, two chemicals found commonly in many consumer goods, are dangerous little buggers for breast cancer survivors. Not only are they believed to trigger some of these cancers, a new study shows that they also help cancer cells withstand the effects of Tamoxifen. In the study, the researchers took noncancerous breast cells from patients at a high risk for developing breast cancer, grew them in a lab and then exposed them to BPA and methylparaben.The formally normal breast cells began acting like cancer cells. Then, the researchers added Tamoxifen to the mix. What happened? One would hope that Tamoxifen would do what it is designed to do and slow down or stop the growth of these cells. Nope. Instead, these cells just kept growing.

The concern for estrogen-positive breast cancer patients like me? According to Dr. William Goodson, lead author of the study, "Since most breast cancers are driven by the hormone estrogen, the bulk of the drugs used to treat breast cancer are designed to knock down estrogen. BPA and methylparaben not only mimic estrogen's ability to drive cancer, but appear to be even better than the natural hormone in bypassing the ability of drugs to treat it."

Scary stuff. If this finding is true, many of us are in big trouble if we don't start eliminating these chemicals from our environment. And it would be naive to expect manufacturers to lead the way. Instead, consumers have to start taking a look at the potential dangers of products they use and finding safer alternatives.

There are a few basic steps you can take right now.

1. Cut down on your use of canned goods that are not labelled BPA-free. Eden packages all of their beans in BPA-free cans but there are other manufacturers doing this as well. Look at the label. If you can't find BPA-free cans, switch to dry beans. Once you have mastered the technique of cooking them (long soak followed by a long-slow cook) you will be amazed you were ever intimidated by it. And, you'll save a lot of money! Seek out tomato sauces that are sold in glass jars. Look for frozen artichoke hearts or buy the marinated ones in glass. Buy fresh mushrooms...you get the idea.
2. Research the BPA content of plastic containers you use to store foods and beverages. I was happy to discover that Zip-Loc bags are BPA free! Excellent news since I use them almost exclusively to freeze whole and stewed fruits and vegetables, pesto, salmon and meat. Stop buying bottled water and invest in aluminum water bottles - the marketplace is full of them. My new rule of thumb - when in doubt about how to store something, use glass. I know of people who now take mason jars of soup coddled in knitted cozies or socks to work. Sweet.
3. Look at the labels of all the creams, lotions and potions you lather and slather on you and your family and eliminate those that contain parabens. Environmental Working Group's site Skin Deep is a great database for researching the ingredient lists of many of the products found in our medicine cabinets, shower stalls, and cosmetic bags. Then seek out products that are paraben-free. This group of products has grown in leaps and bounds, and it is much easier to find simply formulated products today than even two years ago when I first started making the shift.
4. Keep reading studies. We don't want to follow junk science, so learn to read with a critical eye. But when in doubt, practice caution. Until I read solid research that finds BPA and parabens don't interfere with Tamoxifen, I'll be treating them like something to be feared.

Be well.

Cutting down on your chemical exposure

In an effort to decrease my exposure to potential carcinogens and estrogen-mimicking chemicals,  I have completely overhauled my cosmetic and skincare routine. That means chucking out and passing along tried and true creams and cleansers, and searching out unknown, but potentially less hazardous, simpler products.

With the help of the Environmental Working Group's database, Skin Deep, and reviews on Amazon and Canadian online health and beauty store well.ca, I have sourced new products for both myself and my family.

Here's what I have started with:

1. Green Beaver Jr. Boreal Berries Bubble Bath for the boys. Smells great, lots of bubbles and none of the crap found in the bubble bath I used to buy for them. All organic, biodegradable, gluten-free...ok, the last part makes me smile cause I only ever thought gluten was an issue in edible products. Clearly I was wrong! Did I mention Green Beaver is a Canadian company?
2. Also from Green Beaver, Purifying Grapefruit and Soothing Aloe Facial Cleanser. Works a treat, didn't strip my skin and has a light, happy, citrusy scent that comes from the ingredients and not added fragrance.
3. For hand and bath soap, for us and the kids, I went with Rocky Mountain Soap Company soaps. They are great - lots of lather, skin softening and great scents. Plus, all of them are rated zero risk at Skin Deep. I bought ours at their Victoria, BC store but they are also available, along with the rest of their great products, via their website.
4. Jamieson ProVitamina E Moisture-Rich Nourishing Cream for an all-around moisturizer, day or night, that packs a ton of moisture. To make it a day cream, I'm mixing it with my regular sunscreen in my palm. Skin Deep rates this a moderate risk, due mostly to allergy and immunotoxicity concerns, but it is a low-risk for cancer and that's my main concern. I will alternate this cream with straight olive oil for my night-time moisturizing needs.
5. For an all over lotion, I got Ella's Botanicals My Darling Clementine Hand & Body Lotion. Doesn't show up on Skin Deep, but I can see from its ingredient list that this one's a keeper. Just a few ingredients, mostly sunflower oil, and tangerine and sweet orange essential oils to give it a light, appealing scent. Not greasy, rubs in quickly and, 24 hours later, my skin is still soft.
6. For conditioner, I picked Live Clean Argan Oil Restorative Conditioner that goes with the Live Clean Argan Oil Restorative Shampoo I have already been using. No ratings on Skin Deep, but argan oil shows up as zero risk. So far, so good. My hair feels clean and soft (but I'm still growing out this goofy post-chemo hair and I think what I really need now is a haircut!) and the products are not strongly-scented.

As I find new products, I'll let you know. For example, Olivier Soapery makes shampoos and soaps that show up as zero risk on Skin Deep, so I think that will be my next purchase once these ones run out.

If you are starting this process as well, take heart! There are lots of places to look for advice on picking new products. In addition to the sites I used here, I also belong to Crazy, Sexy and Safe Products at the Crazy Sexy Life website and my friends there have lots of great recommendations.

If you have any natural products that you love, let me know and I'll share them here!

Angiogenesis: Is this another way we can use nutrition to fight cancer?

Earlier this week, registered dietitian Susan B. Dopart mentioned the work of cancer researcher Dr. William Li.  A while back he had been on Dr. Oz discussing angiogenesis, defined by him as being the way our body grows blood vessels. According to Dopart's article, Li says that microscopic cancers are growing in our bodies all the time and if blood vessels are not allowed to grow to feed these cells, cancer will not develop. He advocates using anti-angiogenesis therapy, the use of dietary forms of antiangiogenic substances to starve cancer cells and prevent their growth.

For me, this is exciting stuff. I am already including many of these foods and ingredients as part of my transition to a plant-based diet. This just gives additional weight to the science I have already been reading about the benefits of using nutrition as another weapon in my war on cancer.

Below is a table listing most of the dietary sources of antiangiogenic substances recommended by Dr. Li. Interestingly, Dopart adds Gouda, Jarlsberg and Edam cheeses in this group; it's nice to see some love for cheese from a nutritionist! I can't do the lavender (thank you, Brenda, for educating me on the estrogenic properties of my beloved sleepy-time essential oil), rarely eat soy and only occasionally allow myself the red wine, but most everything else is in my kitchen in some form or another. (Hold on a second...I'm just adding sea cucumber to my grocery list.Got to tell you...not a big fan.)  Dang, no joke -  by the end of today I will already have eaten more than a dozen of these.

If you are interested in more information on Dr. Li's work, here is a link to his TED Talk from 2010. When I get a quiet moment later today (shhhhh Bunny, Mommy is blogging, yes you can have a blueberry muffin) I'm going to curl up with my green tea and, yes, a blueberry muffin and watch it.

Hope you are all well.

"An ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cure"

So says Dr. Joseph Ragaz, director of the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada and a senior medical oncologist and clinical professor at the University of British Columbia. He also says if known prevention strategies such as improved diets and increased exercise were used more widely in Canada, several thousand breast cancers could be prevented each year.

Today, the Cancer Advocacy Coalition released its annual report.  And it is calling for something I am very passionate about - a new emphasis on cancer prevention. Until there is a cure, I believe we should be doing more to educate people on how to lower their risk for developing cancer. While we need to continue research with the aim of finding new and better treatments and, one hopes, a cure, more space must be made in the cancer dialogue for talk of prevention.

But something goes unsaid in the report. In the comment thread, a reader raises a valid concern: where is the criticism of the many corporations who continue to expose us to carcinogens in our cleaning supplies, personal care products, food, water and air? Where is the criticism of the governments who fail to regulate them? I have to say, the absence of this part of the equation was shocking. Surely, decreasing the presence of carcinogens in the things we touch and consume should be near the top of the list for cancer prevention. 

The reader goes on to accuse the report writers of once again "blaming the victim." But, while I understand the anger behind the statement, I don't see it that way. I see no blame in this report. I don't feel that the report writers are holding me responsible for my tumour. Instead, I see a call to arms to take back the power we have handed over to others. While we wait for a cure, we can educate ourselves on better lifestyle choices. While we wait for the development of less devastating treatments, we can educate ourselves on better dietary choices. [And, might I add, while we wait for the implementation of stricter manufacturing regulations, we can educate ourselves on how to select less toxic products.] The absence of an official request for the Canadian government to hold the corporate world accountable should be noted - and noted loudly. But its absence does not discredit the very good advice to educate ourselves on what we can do to help ourselves and those we love.

I do appreciate the anger this person's letter expresses. I am angry, too. I am angry that profit comes before the public's health. I am angry that more politicians don't care about this issue as much as I, and this reader, do. Let's channel that anger and use it to make some real change. And while we gather momentum at the grassroots, national and international levels, let's also make some smarter choices in our homes.

Decreasing my chemical exposure part 1: daytime skin care

What are the toxins in my environment? When I consume or inhale a toxin, how long does it stay in me? What impact do toxins have on my health? Which ones should I fear the most? Cheery questions, right? But if I want to get serious about disease prevention,  I believe I need to start learning about the connection between my health and toxins in my environment.

First up, learning about the chemicals in my personal care products, specifically, my daytime skin care. In 2004, environmental advocacy organization the Environmental Working Group started the online database Skin Deep.  Skin Deep is a searchable safety guide consumers can use to learn more about what the ingredients in their personal care products may be doing to their health. The Skin Deep database links to more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases to produce current data on what the known health risks are. Think of it as a little new found transparency for an industry that historically hasn't been terribly interested in being transparent.

To help you learn about how the site works, I'm going to share my experience using it. Feel free to use my learning if you want. Better - go there yourself to check out what you have been using and see if you think you need to consider alternative products.

Typically, I use one of three moisturizers and two sunscreens on my face during the day:

1. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream SPF 15. Nuts. This isn't listed but they have tested the lighter Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion SPF 15. It gets a rating of 7 out of 10 which means by their standards it is a hazardous product and is not recommended. Ingredients in it have been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies and a whole passel of other things. Ugh. (Note: you can click on the product names to see the detailed ingredient breakdown and the related hazards.)
2. Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45. Crap. This gets a 7 as well. Next.
3. Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer Fragrance Free. This is a little better. It gets a 5 making it a moderate hazard and, even though they have been linked to almost everything else, ingredients in it have not been linked to cancer. I am comfortable using up the rest of my current bottle while I try to find a less hazardous product.
4. L'oreal Ombrelle Sunscreen SPF 45. Again, this one isn't listed! So if I want to keep using it I should sit down with the ingredient list and do the research myself on this one.
5. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream. Woo hoo, folks, we have a winner. My ridiculously expensive sunscreen (which I buy once a year for the summer months because I had a basal cell carcinoma removed when I was in my early 30s) gets a 2!!! I can continue to use this product for as long as my pocketbook will allow me. Interestingly, I had been recently considering upping my SPF protection by switching to one of their SPF 60 products but those products get ratings of 7. :-( I'll have to remember to plop on my hat and stay in the shade this summer to give me the boosted protection instead.

So, I will back out of my own searches, and start paging through what I will consider their recommended products, those numbered 0 and 1 on the hazards scale. One thing I notice right off the bat is that while there are a lot of low hazard products listed in the database, I haven't heard of most of them. That's a problem. I want to locate products that are easily purchased in my local stores. I will make a note of some of the more popular low-toxin brands to look for online and in my local health food store and Whole Foods. But my priority today is finding something I can pick up in my neighbourhood. Doing that, this is what I come up with:

1. Daytime moisturizer  - if I want a facial moisturizer with a built in SPF, I can't seem to get much below 4 on the hazard scale. At least not with the moisturizers at my local stores. So, let's say I switch to a sunscreen-free moisturizer used in conjunction with a separate sunscreen. There are a few examples from my expensive  friends at La Roche-Posay (for example, Toleriane Soothing Protective Facial Cream gets a 2) but I will start with Kiss My Face Organics Under Age, Ultra Hydrating Moisturizer (a 1) or, if I can't find that, Burt's Bees Carrot Seed Oil Complexion Mist (also a 1).
2. Sunscreen - if I want a less expensive sunscreen than my La Roche-Posay, and if I want to be able to find it easily at my drugstore, I could opt for Neutrogena's Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 with Purescreen. It gets a 4, making it only moderately hazardous. Better, I could go with Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas: Mineral Natural Sunblock SPF 30 which gets a 2 and is half the price of my La Roche-Posay.

My verdict? The Skin Deep website is an easy to use, comprehensive resource. If the science behind the findings they present has any integrity, than this is an important tool for people looking to lower their exposure to toxins.

Try it out!

Illusion, a short film

Got a minute? Another member of my My Crazy Sexy Cancer breast cancer group posted this powerful film she and her partner made about breast cancer and early detection. I would love it if you could watch and pass it along to women you know, especially young ones.  Too often the message is directed at older women - but none of us are immune.

It is called Illusion. The film makers are Nikki Mackey and Connie Finn. And here's a link to Nikki's website, Cats not Cancer.

Be it resolved...

It is that time of year again - my pants are tight from too much turkey, beef and tarts and someone is going to ask me again if I have made any New Year resolutions... sigh.

Yes, this year, I resolve to lose weight. I would love to look cute in my clothes. I would love to look younger. I would love to be able to keep up better with my kids. But, mostly, I would love to not die. :-) Can I get an amen?

So after a bunch of reading, researching and ruminating, I have chosen The Pink Ribbon Diet as my guide book in this new endeavour. The Pink Ribbon Diet is the product of the work of research dietitian, Mary Flynn, PhD, RD, LDN, who set about exploring the link between diet and breast cancer. Turns out, she found that low-fat diets can increase the risk of cancer, but a plant-based one, similar to the Mediterranean diet, helps you shed pounds while gaining important nutrients beneficial to the fight against cancer.

To prepare this book, Flynn teamed with Nancy Verde Barr, a former culinary associate of Julia Child's.You can tell - there is a lot of passion in the recipe introductions and lots of sensible food wisdom. The book begins with a thorough explanation of the diet, the science behind it and stories from women who have tried it. The rest of the book is devoted to recipes, 150 of them, covering everything from breakfast foods, soups, sandwiches and salads through a range of main dishes, sides and desserts. The emphasis is on vegetables and healthy doses of olive oil for fat, with small portions of meats allowed. There are lots of notes on ways to customize or adapt recipes and they all look really, really doable.

As a bit of a foodie, I am often sceptical of diet books. The recipes often look boring and, well, uninspired. These ones are different. I actually want to try them. There are lots of fresh herbs used, you can use store-bought sauces for convenience and speed, and I can even see the occasional mention of cheese! Woo hoo! There are also a range of global influences and cooking methods, so you should find recipes that fit your own personal cooking styles.

The rumour has it, this is a diet you can live with, like, forever. I'm going to take it one day at a time. But I will report back here and in my recipe blog to share my results.

Good luck with your own resolutions! And now one last glass of eggnog before a workout session with our new Wii Just Dance game. Cheers!

Charging forward anyway in the face of conflicting studies

Fighting the cancer recurrence battle can feel a little like playing craps. One day we're told to drink a glass of wine for our hearts, the next we're told DON'T, it might give you breast cancer. Now that you've got breast cancer from all that wine you've been drinking, you find out you need to eat ground flax seed to cut down on your chance of recurrence. Ok - not so fast person with HER2+ tumours...flax seed might increase your chances of a return. Green tea may or may not be good for fighting many cancers but studies seem to say now breast cancer is probably not one of them. Not always eating right? Don't rely on a supplement to fill in the gaps in your healthy eating plan because multi-vitamins have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Next up - folic acid. Recent studies suggest that folic acid intake may be linked to cancer. That was interesting for me  because my nutritionist at the cancer clinic recommended that anyone at risk for breast cancer who chooses to continue drinking alcohol take a folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of recurrence.

So if you take the time to read these studies, what do you do? Well, I am choosing moderation. I am trying to eat a balanced diet, rich in anti-oxidants (omega 3s, beta carotene) and fibre, and low in fat. I drink green tea, but I am not a fanatic. I limit my intake of flax seed to 2 tablespoons a day. I take the maximum recommended dosage of vitamin D, fish oil and calcium. I take aspirin every day to cut down on inflammation. In the new year, I am adding green tea supplements, just in case, and I am also adding a new one, turmeric. I have cut back on my multi-vitamins, and now only take them a few days a week.

And folic acid? Well, in the absence of conclusive studies saying the benefits of folic acid outweigh the risks, I'm going to have to err on the side of caution. That means cutting back further on alcohol and relying less on folic acid to offset it's dangers.

And now my wee boy wants to paint! So you will pardon this cancer girl who needs to get back to her real life. :-) That's the best supplement of all. I dare a researcher to prove me wrong!

Monday's health links

This morning, I had my port-a-cath removed. Many thanks to the lovely nurses and surgeon at Richmond Hospital. One more line has been cast-off as I ease back to the middle of the river.

Back to today's health links...

1. New options in breast reconstruction. By the way, I don't have a clue what I am going to do. Does anyone who has already gone through it have any advice? Let me know - I'd love to start a dialogue about it here.
2. Add this to the "You have to be frickin' kidding me" column - tumours grow their own blood supply. Apparently, the big bugger who had taken up residence in my left boob was playing twister with my blood vessels. My surgeon gasped (yes, gasped) when he saw it. Back to school for you, Buddy. Never gasp in front of the patient.
3. Gentlemen...how to lower your risk for prostate cancer. Not sure what role genetics plays, but my dad and my father-in-law both had prostate cancer* and now we have to protect their sons and grandsons from it. [*Great Uncle Carl had it too - but, Carl,  I'm pretty sure a shared love of gross toys isn't enough of a connection to raise their risk. :-) ]
4. Mo...vember - how successful will this campaign be? And are they doing any better job at raising awareness of prevention or is it still focused on early detection?
5. Purple sweet potato pie? Kansas State University comes up with a cancer-fighting pie. I may cry. Don't worry - they're happy tears.
6. Nova Scotia is proposing legislation that would prevent people under 19 from using tanning beds.
7. Canada's Food Guide recommends we eat two servings of fish a week. A seafood-rich diet has been linked to improvement of heart, brain and vision health and reduced risk of cancer and stroke. Yes, please, I want all of that. This may seem obvious to you, but I was happy to be reminded that canned fish and seafood represent an easy way to meet this challenge. Cloverleaf, one of Canada's main canned seafood companies is doing the reminding and providing some quick recipes. In addition to the traditional canned fish offerings, such as wild salmon and water-packed tuna, Cloverleaf also offers tuna pre-flavoured with a variety of chilies, herbs and other ingredients. I cannot speak to what they taste like, but I may be tempted to try some of those products with a few of these recipes, like 5-Minute Tuna Chili, Spicy Thai Chili Tuna with Noodles, and Mild Curry Coconut Soup. Also, I don't think I'll wait until next summer to make Salmon Cucumber Couscous.

Ingredient of the week - Turmeric

Turmeric, the bright yellow spice adding zip to Indian curries and the bright yellow colour to ball park mustard, may be one of your new best friends.  

Why would I use it?

Well, what ails you? Turmeric is currently being used to treat a range of conditions and diseases: indigestion, ulcerative colitis, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, kidney stones, infections, liver problems, blood clots, irregular menstruation, inflammation, gallstones, wounds, and eczema.  But it has received more media exposure in recent years as evidence grows that this cousin of ginger may be a powerful weapon for three other health concerns. It contains natural agents that may block the formation of the substance responsible for the plaques that, over time, obstruct cerebral function in Alzheimer's disease. Turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties and curcumin, the main active ingredient, has been shown to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Studies have also found that turmeric may help with prevention and/or treatment of breast, prostate, esophogeal, oral, skin, and colon cancers. If we focus for a moment on breast cancer, research conducted at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston in 2005 suggested that curcumin may help prevent its spread. Researchers were sufficiently impressed to suggest that it might be worthwhile for women at a high risk of breast cancer due to a family history to take curcumin.

How do I use it?

1) As a supplement
You can take turmeric much as you would any herbal supplement. According to the Livestrong website, the University of Maryland Medical Center says that a standard medicinal dosage of turmeric for adults is 1.5 to 3 grams of cut turmeric root per day, 1 to 3 grams per day of the dried, powdered root, 400 to 600 milligrams of standardized powder in capsule form up to three times per day, 30 to 90 drops of fluid extract per day, or 15 to 30 drops of turmeric tincture up to four times per day. There is no recommended dosage for children, though it is believed they may safely consume small amounts of the herb. If you are considering adding turmeric to your daily supplements, please discuss it with your health care provider.

2) As a tea
Dr. Weil believes that one of the best ways to get the benefits of turmeric is to follow the example set in Okinawa, the island nation with the world's longest average lifespan - cold turmeric tea.

• Bring four cups of water to a boil.
• Add one teaspoon of ground turmeric and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.
• Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup, add honey and/or lemon to taste.

He suggests adding a teaspoon of ginger along with the turmeric. You can also substitute fresh turmeric at a rate of one inch of fresh root for every teaspoon of dry.
 
3) As a cooking ingredient

One of the easiest ways to give turmeric a try is to simply begin adding it to your diet. Dr. Andrew Weil says that because turmeric's anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects are seen at doses well below "pharmaceutical strength", you could begin by simply adding the spice to your foods.You may be most familiar with turmeric as one of the spices making up Indian curry. But there are certainly other ways to incorporate it into daily cooking. On Saturday I purchased fresh turmeric in its root form at the South China Seas Trading Company at Granville Island and I am itching to get started. So I am in search of recipes!

So far, I am most excited about these ones:
Alice Water's Spicy Cauliflower Soup from Jane Spice

Bobby Flay's Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric and Ginger from the Food Network 

James Oseland's Indonesian Chicken Soup with Noodles and Aromatics from Wednesday's Chef 

Tomato Soup with Lentils from Delicious Days 
Casbah Wings from Food 52

As I try out these recipes, I will post the results on my other website - the river and the sea recipes. And if you have any recipes you would like to share, please send them along! Help me help others fight cancer! If I try them out, I'll post my experience and pictures there as well.

If you are coming up with your own recipes, one point you should remember from the Livestrong website is that turmeric is fat-soluble so it is best absorbed when taken with some form of fat. So, if you want to toss some with cauliflower before roasting it, add some olive oil as well. 

Warnings

High dosages or long-term use of turmeric may cause indigestion, stomach upset or ulcers. If you have gallstones, obstructed bile passages, gastrointestinal disorders or diabetes, or are undergoing chemotherapy, only take turmeric supplements after discussing it with your health care provider because it may worsen these conditions or cause adverse affects in some cases. Women who are pregnant or nursing may eat foods containing turmeric, but should not take supplements. 

Find out more

For more information on turmeric, there are informative articles on Livestrong and on Dr. Andrew Weil's website:  Three Reasons to Eat Turmeric and Turmeric for Breast Cancer Prevention

Prevention - Kicking Treatment's Butt for a Gazillion Years!

Anyone reading this blog knows that I am a big believer in the need to push prevention if we are going to make any headway in stopping breast cancer. One of the best sources of prevention information I have found is the Breast Cancer Fund. The focus of their work is making connections between breast cancer and exposure to chemicals and radiation in our daily lives. They look at current research and try to increase awareness of it through public education campaigns. And, they provide lots of good information if you are trying to educate yourself on what you can do to prevent cancer.

They offer tips for prevention and information with which to educate friends and family. If you are interested in helping to bring about change, and you should be, they also provide easy ways to lend your name and voice to the cause. For example, if you visit their site today, you have the opportunity to send President Obama a request to prioritize breast cancer prevention by:

1. creating a national cancer prevention plan,
2. issuing a federal mandate to eliminate BPAs from food and beverage containers,
3. expanding the FDA's authority to ensure that cosmetics are safe, and
4. supporting reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act so that it more adequately helps the public, industry and government assess and control chemical hazards.

Take a look at their site. And come back to visit for updates on new research and education campaigns.

Finally, their report The State of the Evidence 2010: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment should be considered required reading. From a press release for the report:

The report’s lead author, Janet Gray, Ph.D., professor at Vassar College, said that widely understood risk factors for breast cancer such as primary genetic mutations, reproductive history and lifestyle factors do not address a considerable portion of the risk for the disease. “A substantial body of scientific evidence indicates that exposures to common chemicals and radiation also contribute to the unacceptably high incidence of breast cancer,” Gray said. “This report focuses on these environmental issues.”
The report states that a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is 1 in 8—representing a dramatic increase since the 1930s, when the first reliable cancer incidence data were established. Between 1973 and 1998 alone, breast cancer incidence rates in the United States increased by more than 40 percent. Strikingly, the increasing incidence of breast cancer since the 1930s parallels the proliferation of synthetic chemicals. Today, approximately 85,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use in the United States, more than 90 percent of which have never been tested for their effects on human health.

Go on - make a pot of tea and at least give it a scan. Your breasts (or those of someone you love) will thank you. :-)

New study calls green tea's breast cancer benefit into question

A new study out of  Japan found that middle-age and older women who drank 10 or more cups of green tea a day did not  have a lower breast cancer risk than women who drink half a cup or less a week. According to researcher Dr. Motoki Iwasaki, a cancer epidemiologist at the National Cancer Center in Japan, the study's findings suggest that, "green tea intake, within a usual drinking habit, is unlikely to reduce the risk of breast cancer." While other studies have found green tea to have a beneficial effect, Iwasaki says this is not the first study to disprove the connection.

So why have some studies in the past suggested their is a benefit? Dr. Qi Dai, a cancer epidemiologist at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Tennessee suggests that green tea may provide protection against breast cancer for women in specific age groups or with certain genetic makeup.

But Iwasaki doesn't think the conflicting evidence means we should stop drinking it. There are many types of green tea, but all contain antioxidants called polyphenols that neutralize toxic free radicals in the body. Studies have linked the tea to a decreased risk of other types of cancers, including bladder, ovarian, stomach and colorectal cancers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Am I confusing people by posting all these conflicting studies? I hope not. I'm trying to stay on top of research so that we can be informed about the potential for solid breakthroughs. So I will keep drinking green tea and reminding people to maintain a healthy bodyweight and watch their alcohol consumption. Anyone got a study to disprove those last two?!

While we wait for a cure, how do we process all these headlines?

When I was at the cancer fund-raiser last weekend, one of the speakers cautioned us against making too much of research involving, essentially, a few mice, a beaker and a scientist. And I get that. It seems every day there is another headline in the paper announcing the results of another cancer study. But at what point do we start to get excited? How large does the study need to be? Over what duration? Involving whom? Do we make decisions for ourselves, or wait for some organization, group or health care provider to put their stamp of approval on it before we start making the changes the research would seem to indicate?

Cue the latest headline - Collards and carrots may ward off breast cancer. In this new study of over 50,000 African American women, eating lots of carrots and cruciferous vegetables (collard greens, cabbage, broccoli) was linked to a reduced breast cancer risk, especially for estrogen receptor-negative tumours, a form of breast cancer more common among African American women. Estrogen receptor-negative tumours are harder to treat and have a poorer prognosis than estrogen receptor-positive tumours.

Lead researcher Dr. Deborah A. Boggs, of Boston University said her research team had found in previous work that African American women who consumed what they called a "prudent diet" high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fish had a lower risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers. In her new study, she and her team were looking at whether fruits and vegetables were behind the beneficial effect of that diet and, further, whether specific varieties of fruits and vegetables were more beneficial than others. What they found was that women who ate at least two servings of vegetables a day had a 43 percent lower risk of ER-negative breast cancer compared with women who ate fewer than four servings of vegetables each week. And, certain types of vegetables appeared to reduce the risk of all types of breast cancer, including broccoli, collard greens, cabbage and carrots. For example, women who ate three or more servings a week of carrots had a 17 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who ate carrots less than once a month.

So what do we take away from this study? This is a nice big group. And its women, not mice! Do we rush out and start eating more carrots? Maybe we should. The researchers say it is still to early to know what the link is and that further research needs to be done on the role of vegetables in the cancer fight. It may be that people who regularly consume a lot of vegetables just make generally healthier lifestyle choices. Or, there may be some other unknown mechanism that accounts for the apparent protection offered by these specific vegetables.  

 

But given that there is no down side to increasing our vegetable consumption, why wouldn't we start eating more of them now? We have no idea how long it will be before a real cure for breast cancer is found. In the meantime, it makes good sense to start making the changes that make sense.

Changing our perception during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Anyone reading the cancer blogs these days is going to have run across a pretty common refrain - the pink campaign isn't working for all of us. While I recognize the value of educating the public about breast cancer, I am unhappy with the way the campaign plays out in stores across North America. And clearly I am not alone. Bloggers are blogging, loud and clear. Rethink the pink.

All of this discussion makes me happy, though. Perhaps we are on the front edge of a wave of changing perception when it comes to all forms of cancer.  Perhaps we are moving to a world where we devote as much time, or more, to prevention as we do to screening and treatment.

What follows are a range of news stories on prevention and the need for related education.

1. BCAM is tired of the pink campaign. Instead, they want more money being channelled to breast cancer prevention. 
2. A study out of Montreal examines the possible connection between breast cancer and traffic-related pollution.
3. British scientists say genetic differences are not as important as lifestyle factors when it comes to breast cancer. Obesity and alcohol consumption - are you listening?
4. Lifestyle choices and environmental causes - in May of this year cancer advisors to President Obama released their report stating that while choices like smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise cause two-thirds of cancers, pollution, radon from the soil and medical imaging scans also cause many avoidable cancers. The American Cancer Society questioned the report's downplaying of known risks and "restating of hypotheses as if they were established facts."
5. I missed THIS in June. Researchers in Cleveland are working on a breast cancer vaccine.  The vaccine targets a protein found in tumours and is designed to prevent the disease with a single dose. It has worked in mice and the researchers have great hope it will work in humans because this protein is relatively high in tumours in both groups.
6. Canadian researchers found that while consuming vitamin D and calcium in food did not protect against breast cancer, consuming vitamin D in supplement form did. They are calling for more research in this area. I can tell you that increasing my daily intake of vitamin D in supplement form to prevent recurrence is probably the single biggest piece of advice I have received from my medical oncologist. OK - that and managing my weight through vigorous exercise! :-)
7. Finally, the debate about the value of screening mammograms heats up with this study from Norway. Let's not dispense with screening, but please let us not become overly reliant on it as a first line of defence.

Moving towards a plant-based diet

If you have been reading about the food-cancer connection, you may have seen recommendations for shifting to a plant-based diet. I'm new to the topic, so have been trying to determine how well this is backed up by science.

My first contact with this in recent days was reading about Bill Clinton's recent weight-loss using The China Study by Colin Campbell. I started to learn more when I found Meg Wolff's posts on the Huffington Post. People who believe in changing to a plant-based diet can cite all sorts of anecdotal evidence of it working to reverse cardiovascular disease and fight many cancers. Yet there are still doctors who do not support the drastic changes this approach represents for most people, who instead just want us to "eat healthier" and manage our weight.

So how do we decide what works best for us? At this point, I've decided to start making gradual changes and continue to research and talk to my health care providers. I'm increasing the quantity and variety of vegetables I eat and cutting back on animal protein. I try to satisfy my sweet tooth with fruit. I will still consume dairy (I'm allergic to nuts so don't tell me to drink almond milk) but in smaller amounts; I make my own yogurt and love cheese, but I will make sure to monitor my portions and opt for lower fat versions whenever possible. I will continue to eat flax seed, but limit my intake to a couple of tablespoons a day. I still have my morning latte, but drink nothing but tea or water for the rest of the day. I am increasing the beans and legumes I consume and opting for whole grains over processed white flour. I am cutting back on my alcohol intake. And, I am getting more exercise.

But in the interest of full disclosure, I will admit that after Bunny's soccer practice tonight, we stopped for takeout poutine. Yes we did. Because sometimes you need to share something ridiculous with a couple of goofy boys.

Breast cancer, estrogen and your diet - part one

I am entering that stage of my treatment where I am starting to look more and more at preventing a recurrence. I do not want to go through this again, and I'm pretty sure everyone around me feels the same way.

So what do I do? First off, I know I need to get more exercise and eat less calories so that I will begin to lose weight.  I also need to adjust my diet to improve my overall health and, hopefully, lower my risk of growing another tumour. With that in mind, I am trolling the Internet, looking for everything I can find to help me make these changes safely. The key is finding information with good scholarly research behind it.

Please talk to your doctor before following the advice of anyone on the Internet. Treat my recommendations as jumping off points for your own research or conversation starters for you next visit with a health care provider. And, as with anything you are learning about online, consider the sources. I'll do my best to sort the sensible from the kooky, the solid from the flimsy.

Here's what I have found, so far:

1. Why higher blood levels of estrogen are a problem and what you can do to counteract them.
2. What food and drink choices can be made to lower estrogen levels?
3. Diet advice from Sheryl Crow's doctor, a specialist in minimally-invasive breast cancer diagnostic and treatment methods.
4. Foods that reduce estrogen dominance. From Livestrong. They recommend consuming flax seed. However, there are conflicting views on the use of flax while on Tamoxifen. Some studies show the lignans it contains may inhibit the growth of tumours and improve the effectiveness of Tamoxifen. Some patients say consuming ground flax seed helps them deal with Tamoxifen's side effects (cutting down on hot flashes!). However, lignans are also a weak form of estrogen, and studies are being conducted to determine if they impede the action of the Tamoxifen by blocking receptor sites on cancer cells. The advice I received from my clinical team nutritionist - one to two tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day is probably fine, but I should avoid higher dosages.

You've Got to Be Freaking Kidding Me

or How I Learned to Put Down the Malbec and Pick Up the Green Tea

In a few days, I will post about some of the risk factors for breast cancer. One of them is moderate alcohol consumption. Not heavy consumption, moderate. Really?! Really. And, for most women, moderate consumption is considered to be one alcoholic beverage a day. If you are someone that enjoys a glass of wine with dinner (and if you are a red wine drinker you have probably been patting yourself on the back for all those lovely heart health benefits you've been swigging back) now you need to enjoy it less often.

So when you do get to enjoy it, make sure you really enjoy it. :-) That means, do your research. In addition to talking to family and friends to get advice (Hi Mom, Christi, Jim, Judy, and Shaun!), I've also started looking at an on-line resource - Snooth.

From their website:
Snooth doesn't sell wine. Instead, we offer users an engaging and unique shopping experience that lets them interact with wineries, merchants, fellow wine lovers, and wine professionals from all over the globe. When users are ready to make a purchase, they can compare prices and shop from over 10,000 wine merchants worldwide as well as review the wine and their buying experience to help others in the future.
Since its launch in June 2007 Snooth has quickly become the world's largest and most comprehensive online wine destination, featuring millions of reviews and hundreds of thousands of wines.

I don't buy wine via Snooth, but I have been reading the articles and reviews. I have researched past wines I have loved, and not loved, and learned about new ones to look for the next time I'm out for dinner or at the liquor store. It's a fun diversion and, if you like wine, you will find lots of great, current information from experts and amateurs.

So, I highly recommend doing your research and making sure you are getting good value for your dollar. And, now that you have freed up all that time you normally spend selecting, opening and decanting your wine, could I suggest you pop the kettle on for tea?

Cheers!