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.

Monday's health links

Sorry for the dead air. My dad and dad-in-law are facing some serious health challenges and there just hasn't been time for posting. But things are looking good today, so let's get back at it.

On to the links...

1. Fast food in Canada and the US is saltier than elsewhere in the world. Having just dined at Fat Burger last night, I would have to concur. But it was yummy. So one more reason to employ moderation. Some foods are treats, not fuel. CTV
2. Exercise during breast cancer treatment helps you avoid depression and fatigue. And, helps cut down on constipation - so it's a win-win-win situation! Toronto Sun.
3. Using yoga to help fight breast cancer. Vancouver Sun (video)
4. If you still aren't eating your greens, here is a great summary of what you are missing! Top performers: kale, dandelion, spinach, chard, and collard greens. Seattle Times
5. Still need convincing? Criminy! Ok, how about this - cruciferous vegetables, like leafy greens, broccoli and cauliflower, may improve chances of surviving breast cancer. Huffington Post
6. Really - still not convinced? What about what you're modelling for your kids? Here are some tips on getting kids to eat vegetables. Among the tips - kale chips, greens in smoothies, planting a garden and, and my favourite, talking with them about why vegetables are important. Don't lecture, but be honest about the risks of a bad diet. Kids get it. Washington Post.

Have a great week! 

Monday's health links

1. Liver and thyroid cancer rates rise in Canada. CBC.
2. Was the Million Women Study flawed?  If so, the anxiety around hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer may be misplaced. NY Daily News.
3. New blood test shows promise in early detection of pancreatic cancers. MSN. This could be huge news - one of the reasons pancreatic cancers are so hard to fight is that they go undetected until they have spread.
4. The debate continues. Here, on op-ed piece the National Post calling into question the value of mammograms. I hear both sides, all the time. Many women are offended that critics of mammograms point to the unnecessary anxiety that false positives cause, saying they would rather deal with anxiety than cancer. But my reality is that my mammogram did not find my 8 cm tumour. It was only because I continued to press about the cause of my pink skin that I was referred to a specialist. Perhaps we should be enriching the public dialogue by including more anecdotal evidence through individuals' stories of how their different cancers have presented. I am so tired of the pithy cancer sound bite and the cute marketing campaign.  I don't know about you, but I have time in my day to listen to the cancer experience. That's where the real learning is.
5. Magnesium may be one key to decreasing your risk of stroke. A new study finds that people with diets rich in magnesium have a much lower stroke risk. The mineral is found in beans, lentils, nuts, whole grains and, of course, green leafy vegetables. Magnesium also aides in calcium absorption, so it's an important mineral for people looking after their bones (like me!).  Globe and Mail.
6. Finally, back to my previous posts on daily tips for getting your healthy eating back on track. Day 7: snack on fruit. Day 8: drink a cup of green tea (here they suggest you use it while marinating or stir-frying) . Day 9: eat a leafy green vegetable (!).  Day 10 : plan next week's meals in advance (helps you avoid the dreaded drive-thru dash.)  Day 11:  pass on the salt. (Originally I read this as "pass the salt" and was all "woo hoo!" This makes much more sense. Nuts.)   Day 12: eat one vegetarian meal. And Day 13: add ground flax seed to your diet. The lignans are the key here so feel free to add chia seeds instead.  I had estrogen receptor positive breast cancer so should avoid flax seed - but chia is safe (and you don't have to grind it!). Globe and Mail.

Have a great day and, if you're getting snow dumped on you today, stay warm and please drive safely.

Monday's health links

I've been quiet for a while - sorry about that! Some weeks I just get so tired of thinking about cancer. But, here we go, back at it!

1. This morning, an interesting conversation about breast cancer on the Today Show was ended quickly so they could make time for the really important news...the addition of two new cast members to Beverly Hills Housewives. People suck. Anyway, before this ridiculousness, Dr. Susan Love beats the prevention drum some more. Something we all need to hear in this month of "awareness." NBC.
2. Speaking of Dr. Love, if you have a moment, the website for the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is worth a look. It's a great place to read current breast cancer news stories and hear about the latest research findings. For example, this recent article consolidates current knowledge about the value of bone building drugs as part of adjuvant therapy. After two rounds of Zometa, I asked my oncologist if he had been following research that said it didn't make much of a difference. He concurred and I stopped. Well, this article reinforces that there is a very small survival gain, especially when given to premenopausal women. Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.
3. Got time for another? Almost every breast cancer patient I know has questions about soy. This article does a great job of summarizing current knowledge. The takeaway? We should feel safe about eating whole soy foods, like cooked soybeans, edamame, tofu, miso and soy milk. A 2009 study found that after 4 years, the higher a woman's soy protein or isoflavone intake, the lower her risk was of having a recurrence or dying. This applied across the board, for both ER+ and ER-, and pre and postmenopausal women, as well as for women on tamoxifen. Isn't soy a phytoestrogen? Doesn't it make life harder for my tamoxifen? "The soy story also shows us why we can't over simplify the science. Soy is not a phytoestrogen but rather a "phytoSERM," more like tamoxifen than estrogen. It also reinforces that we cannot automatically extrapolate from studies on cells and rats to women. We need to do studies on women so that we know what happens in women's bodies." This is a great website.
4.  The economic fallout of cancer, here for women in the UK. WebMD.
5. The breast cancer story as told by both a nurse and a pathologist struck by the disease. CNN.
6. Drs. Oz and Roizen summarizing the main things we know about breast cancer prevention. Put down that merlot and pick up your sneakers. The Star.
7. Carving up some Jack-o'-lanterns this month? Save and roast those pumpkin seeds because they are really good for you! Just remember to limit yourself - they pack fat. Empowher.
8. BPA consumed in pregnancy is linked to behavioural problems in daughters. MSNBC.
9. Today is the first ever Food Day. Dr. David Katz wants us to make every day Food Day. Huffington Post.

Have a great day!

Monday's health links

Welcome to Autumn, friends! The beautiful rain, the crisp fall breeze, children back at school...that can only mean one thing...flu season. Go wash your hands!

1. A new study for breast cancer treatment tests whether bumping up radiation can cut treatment time in half. That could have a big impact since it will mean treatment will cost less and be completed more quickly. Some of my US friends have asked whether radiation dosages are higher in Canada. Many of them have done around 7 weeks of treatment but I only did 5 1/2. And mine was considered a high risk case, so it's not likely I received less radiation than the average bear. USA Today.
2. Promising new study examined combining two drugs (everolimus plus exemestane) to better treat ER-positive breast cancer. Examiner.
3. And...targeted chemo used to better fight metastatic breast cancer. Medscape.
4. Study into new prostate cancer drug is so successful they end the study early. Daily Mail.
5. Eating blueberries may slow the growth of breast cancer cells. Promising news for triple-negative cancer. Sacramento Bee.
6. Phytoestrogens, like those found in vegetables, bran, sesame seeds, barley and flaxseeds, linked to lowered risk of breast cancer and breast cancer death. But what the heck does that mean for us estrogen-positive chicks? To take us into account, the study leader expressed a desire to sample a much larger group of women. Until then, I will continue to eat lots of veggies, seeds and bran, but I will be limiting my intake of flax. Emax Health.
7. Add legumes to your diet and support a Saskatchewan farmer! You non-Canadians who may not be so moved should also know that they are an excellent source of folate, the B vitamin touted as a weapon against colon cancer. Globe and Mail.

Have a great week!

Monday's health links

Hope it's warm where you are - it sure ain't here.

1. Estrogen may help prevent stomach cancer. Toronto Sun ~Great, just perfect.
2. More pink fatigue voiced in response to Susan G. Komen's Nancy Brinker promoting Promise Me perfume. Look for quotes from cyber friend Brenda Coffee of the Breast Cancer Sisterhood. USA Today ~Personally, I have given up most perfumes and conventional cosmetics because of the health risks posed by many of the ingredients. And I empathize with women who cannot deal with scent on themselves or others, especially during cancer treatment. There is no way I could have been in the same room with someone wearing this or any other scent when I was on chemo. Can Komen not find other more appropriate products to help promote breast cancer awareness and raise money for research? Vitamin D? Calcium supplements? Whole grain cereal? Green tea? Yoga accessories? What about one of those fancy, celebrity endorsed waters?
3. More on the link between diet pop and our bulging bellies. The Province
4. Stop riding Michelle Obama for eating a hamburger and fries! What is wrong with you people?  Are those the arms of a person who abuses junk food? Get a life. USA Today
5. Study finds that weight gain that occurs with age has more to do with poor dietary and lifestyle choices than anything else. Montreal Gazette
6. Poor dietary and lifestyle choices also linked to the rise in cancers for those over 40 in new UK study. Daily Mail ~Anyone else want to join me this morning for some exercise and an egg white omelette? 
7. Mozart may have died because of vitamin D deficiency. This might also be true for Gustav Mahler. Daily Mail
8. Low vitamin D levels is also linked to an increased risk of muscle injury. Toronto Sun

Monday's health links

I'm considering renaming them Tuesday's health links.

1. What level of alcohol consumption is safe, from a cancer perspective? Probably none. Vancouver Sun
2. Men more likely to die from cancer than women. A study finds that it is likely they have higher risk cancers and get treatment later. Gentlemen, please go see your doctors the second you have a concern - don't wait. Reuters.
3. Looking at a possible link between allergies and cancer.
4. Researchers find a gene that may help them target treatment of ovarian cancer. US News Health.
5. Bladder cancer patients get sub par care according to a new study. CNN Health.
6. The importance of keeping your family cancer history up to date. US News Health.
7. Calcium and vitamin D linked to decreased melanoma risk according to a study out of Stanford. Scope.
8. A study in the July issue of Gastroenterology refutes previous studies and finds folic acid or folate reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. Washington Post (Blog)
9. A new study focuses on salt, heart disease and potassium. Cutting back on salt and increasing potassium are important steps to preventing cardiovascular disease. Web MD.
10. Finally, after two nights of grilled meats in a row, a reminder about healthier grilling.  Eating grilled meat is linked to increased cancer risk. So, at least part of the time, choose to use lean meats, marinate and try indirect heat to cut down on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic amines, or stick to fish, seafood and vegetables. Seattle PI

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.

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.

Monday's health links

1. New breast cancer screening guidelines and how women perceive them. Reuters. 
2. Losing more than 15% of weight can help obese women significantly increase their vitamin D levels. Sacramento Bee.
3. Doubts raised over the effectiveness of selenium against cancer. The National.
4. The nutritional hazards of having your team make the playoffs. (Go Canucks! My downfall are Costco chicken wings with blue cheese dip. I've started piling on the vegetables along side these little honeys and washing it down with vast quantities of water instead of beer. Not as festive, for sure, but I'm also less sleepy by the middle of the third period. :-) ) CBC.
5. Taking another look at aspartame. Daily Mail. Too many years ago, when I was a junior at university, a roommate who was a bit of a lab rat made a big impression on me when she said she would never, ever consume aspartame with any regularity - and she ate Wonder Bread.
6. Ditching the food pyramid in favour of the dinner plate. New York Times.
7. Dieting is easier with a little help from your friends. Huffington Post.
8. Health Canada takes on Coca Cola - what is in that vitaminwater? Montreal Gazette.

Monday's health links

1. Environmental Defence calls on Health Canada to tighten regulations on toxins in cosmetics after finding many unlisted heavy metals in cosmetics. It also calls for complete itemization of the makeup of our makeup. Why the heck doesn't this already happen? Cosmetic companies argue that many of these ingredients are naturally occurring components of listed ingredients. But when no level of lead is safe, and when no one knows what the cumulative impact is of many beauty products applied over many days, shouldn't consumers be able to see a complete itemization of what they are putting on their skin?
2. Obesity raises men's prostate cancer risk.
3. Teens are using sunbeds even though they know that they increase the risk of skin cancer.
4. Prostate cancer on the rise for US servicemen.
5. How much is enough? How much is too much? Coffee and its impact on disease, measured in cups.
6. How about coffee and breast cancer? Consumer Reports Health reports on a study that examined coffee and its possible impact on estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer.

Monday's health links

First up, Go Canucks! Second, congratulations to everyone who ran the Vancouver Sun Run yesterday. What a lovely sunny day you had - you deserved it. You're better people than I. :-)

Now, on with the links...

1. Drs. Oz and Roizen on why sugar is really bad for you. And though the American Heart Association wants women to limit themselves to 6 to 7 teaspoons a day, and men to 10, these docs want you to eat even less. Remember to carefully check the labels of the foods you are eating; processed foods are where most sugars you consume are hiding. Another reason to cut processed foods out of your diet.
2. A comprehensive article on how to reduce your BPA exposure. San Francisco Chronicle.
3. To screen or not to screen for prostate cancer. The Western Star.
4. Too many Canadians don't have access to enough safe, affordable, nutritious food. The new report, Resetting the Table: A People's Food Policy for Canada, calls for more local production, processing and distribution of food, a new school-lunch program and more environmentally-friendly farming practices.
5. More on the shift to cancer prevention strategies. In comment threads, some people are voicing anger with this approach. After all, fit people with healthy diets still get breast cancer. But until we know why, I am going to continue to make healthier lifestyle and dietary choices.
6. A director of cancer research weighs in on the prevention vs. cure debate. lfpress

Finally, I am totally rocking the poached egg on sauteed spinach for breakfast these days. Yum yum yum. I heartily recommend it.

Monday's health links

Sorry for the blackout. I was away on spring break holiday with my lads and could not think of a single interesting thing to say. It was all, play quietly please while we make supper, put your brother down, let's play hide and seek, take that out of your nose, let's go to the park, put your cousin down! Not much time for research or reflection. But I'm back!

And a big shout out to my husband for driving too much in conditions that were too terrifying. He told me with great love that he will not drive over mountain passes with me anymore unless I medicate myself. He's getting ready for an extended business trip to India. If anyone has some insights that will help him prepare, I would love to hear them.

On with the news:

1. Is Vitamin D really a powerful tool to fight breast cancer? Maybe not.  A new study calls into question many previously produced reports on the sunshine vitamin's benefits for a range of diseases. Speak to your doctor about what this may mean for your treatment or prevention plan.
2. Early diagnosis is key in treating lung cancer.
3. A scary but necessary article to read - the superbugs like MRSA may be winning the war unless we start making new advances in antibiotic research. Wash your hands! And, please, please, even if you think your hands are clean, if you enter a hospital please use the provided hand sanitizer to give yourself an extra debugging.
4. Closer than ever to fixing cat allergies. My husband and I are brutally allergic to cats. Visiting friends and family with cats is a miserable experience.
5. Finally, laughter is good for your heart.

Monday's health links

Welcome to another week of your life...and take a look outside - it's finally Spring!

1. An interview with Michael Pollan on the backlash against the food movement. The Globe and Mail.
2. An Ontario breast cancer patient, denied Herceptin due to the size of her tumour, receives an important phone call from someone who may have the power to change this policy. The Globe and Mail. Now, this morning, the Ontario government announces it will provide coverage to some of these cancer medications on a case by case basis. CBC
3. Using a genetic test to determine which breast cancer patients will best benefit from chemo. Bloomberg.
4. Frequent painkiller users have lower rates of bladder cancer. Reuters.
5. A good round up of gluten-free resources. Uh, ok - I guess resources are typically gluten-free. Edmonton Journal.
6. Finally, an article on getting the most nutrients out of the foods you are eating. Chicago Tribune.

Monday's health links

1. Interesting and potentially promising new therapy for the prevention of bone loss - nitroglycerine ointment.
2. Some drugs used to prevent bone loss may lead to a higher incidence of rare and unusual fractures.
3. The whole "cancer coach" thing was news to me and I have appreciated the debate carried out in blog land. As an alternative to cancer coaches, how do we feel about patient navigators? This article includes a profile of the doctor who first advocated the role as well as a breakdown of its history and its possible benefits for users. And this article says navigators improve cancer survival rates. Perhaps one of the keys to their success is that they are health care professionals, often nurses, who undergo additional, specialized training.
4. Moderate alcohol consumption linked again to improved heart health. Moderate is 1 to 1.5 drinks for women and 2 drinks for men. Recall, however, that moderate consumption is also linked to increased risk for some forms of breast cancer.
5. University of Alberta finds that marijuana use improves appetite and sleep quality for advanced cancer patients.

Monday's health links

1. Get moving and significantly cut your risk of prostate cancer. It will also protect you against a bunch of other diseases. Men, why are you still reading this? Get going!
2. In related news, link found between prostate cancer and early male pattern baldness. 
3. Too much red meat has been linked to cancer. Here's some guidelines from Britain on what may be safe.
4. It's not good enough anymore just for mom to watch what she's eating during pregnancy. Now, a study shows that dad's diet is important to the health and well-being of children.
5. Getting psyched up to start jogging - now, when is the best time to stretch?
6. "Man bags" linked to back pain. Now, Jon and other male friends, before you start laughing, they are including laptop bags in that category, too!
7. Finally, this Wednesday is Pink Shirt Day in many parts of Canada. Please join us in saying no to bullies.

Monday's health links

Good morning and welcome to a Valentine's Day edition of health links - because I love you.

1. Folic acid is a possible cancer risk. I mentioned this a while back and there are renewed concerns since some cancer survivors are being told to increase their folic acid intake (as I was). The advice in this article is that no one should take more than 400 micrograms a day from all sources - so monitor how much you are getting from both supplements and foods that have it as an additive.
2. Examining the link between imaging procedures and cancer.
3. Connecting the dots between diet and IQ in children.
4. Berries could cut the risk of Parkinson's.  Good in the fight against cancer, too. It's Valentine's Day - go share some berries with someone you love.
5. University of Alberta researcher has discovered the mechanism that stops human genome p53 from suppressing tumours.
6. Finally, this is Heart and Stroke month in Canada. On this day when we share our hearts with the people we love, please make a commitment to yourself and those you love to take better care of them.

Monday's health links

1. Dogs pretty good at diagnosing cancer, see here  and here. True story: my dog likes me, but loves my husband. It's ok - I don't take it personally. But, since I got cancer, my dog spends a lot more time hanging around me. When I read stories like this, I don't know whether to be touched or terrified. :-) 
2. Practice prevention to avoid heart disease - good advice here for the other diseases as well. Vancouver Sun.
3. Healthy snacks. Financial Post.
4. Childhood obesity caused by bad habits, not genes. Bloomsburg Business Week.
5. Report out of India disagrees with previous studies and says that cell phones do pose a significant health hazard.
6. The benefits of drinking tea. The book featured in this article sites the studies that say it helps prevent recurrence of breast cancer. I thought this was disproved. I need someone to clarify this for me. Luckily, I'm still taking my green tea supplement and drinking tea 2 to 3 times a day for its other benefits (but some days I get sick of tea). Vancouver Sun

Bittman`s Food Manifesto for the Future

In the New York Time`s opinion pages today, Mark Bittman has published a call to action on the state of food in the United States. If you care about your own health or that of the planet, please read it. And if you don`t, what the hell is wrong with you?

Monday's health links

1. Fatty foods increase risk of depression.
2. Nudging people towards better eating habits.
3. Anti-depressants found in fish. Good lord, what are we eating?
4. Understanding what nutrition labels are telling us. 
5. Related to the above...from the LA Times, two guys trying to lose weight discuss what they are learning from these labels, including how manufacturers define portion size.
6. Study associates body fat with increased risk of estrogen-negative breast cancer.
7. Using hormone replacement therapy to deal with menopause symptoms in young women linked to elevated risk of breast cancer.
8. Sadly, 20-year old Vancouver singer Megan McNeil succumbed to cancer after a 4 year fight.Megan put her heart and soul into the effort to raise awareness of childhood cancers. To say she was inspirational is an understatement. Click here to see her perform the song she wrote in tribute to the children she met going through cancer treatment. It is available for purchase on iTunes; proceeds go to childhood cancer organizations including BCCCPA, a group that provides support to families of children with cancer, and the James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research.