Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels may lower risk of prostate cancer

Men who keep their cholesterol levels in check may decrease their chances of developing prostate cancer, in addition to keeping their heart healthy, as science has already shown. In fact, two recent studies indicate that maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol may be a good form of cancer prevention. In one study, results showed that men who retained healthy levels of cholesterol in the range below 200 actually cut their risk of developing high-risk prostate tumors by more than 50 percent in comparison to men with high ranging cholesterol levels. In the second study, findings showed that men with high levels of good (HDL) cholesterol were slightly less likely to develop prostate cancer in any form, compared to men with very low HDL cholesterol levels. The studies were recently published in the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research called Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. Both studies support prior research indicating that by limiting fats in the bloodstream, the risk of cancer can be lowered. Share and Enjoy:

About 100,000 cancer cases each year due to obesity

This year, an estimated 1.47 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 562,000 will die of it. Two major classes of factors influence the incidence of cancer: hereditary and environmental. Hereditary factors, such as inherited genetic mutations, come from our parents and account for about 5 percent of all cancers. Environmental factors, which include tobacco use, certain infectious agents, certain medical treatments, excessive sun exposure, and exposures to cancer-causing agents known as carcinogens that exist as pollutants in our air, food, water and soil, account for an estimated 75-80 percent of cancer cases and deaths. Obesity is also an environmental factor that is clearly associated with increased risk for developing many cancers, causing more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year, according to a recent study from researchers at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Share and Enjoy:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When you think of October images of pumpkins, spider webs, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins often spring to mind. However, there is one uninvited ghoul that lingers throughout this month waiting to claim another victim: Breast Cancer. In 2005 alone, there were over 188,000 people (both men and women) diagnosed with breast cancer and over 41,000 deaths from the disease. Instead of October being the month of scare tactics and spooky decorations, this year make October a month to wear something new, a pink ribbon to support breast cancer awareness, survivors living with it or who are in remission, and those who weren’t so lucky. Although breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer (the first being skin cancer) among women and being the 7th leading cause of death, males are also susceptible, as twenty men in North Carolina have recently found out. (The twenty had been ingested the same water from a Marine Corps base decades ago, which may help form a possible link to the disease.) Share and Enjoy:

First blood test for ovarian cancer wins FDA approval

On Friday, September 11, the FDA announced their approval of the first laboratory test that, prior to exploratory surgery or biopsy, can indicate the likelihood of ovarian cancer, even if radiological tests fail to indicate malignancy. The announcement comes at a fitting time—during September—the month recently designated by President Obama as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The test, called OVA1, was developed by California-based Vermillion Inc., in conjunction with their partner, Quest Diagnostics, and with researchers at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. OVA1 uses a blood sample to check levels of five proteins that change due to ovarian cancer, and then simplifies the results into a score between zero and 10, indicating whether the pelvic mass is benign or malignant. The test is intended only for women 18 and older who are already selected for surgery because of their pelvic mass. Interpreting the test result requires knowledge of whether the woman is pre- or post-menopausal. Share and Enjoy:

Obesity: Will it become the leading cause of preventable cancer among women?

Obesity may have been the cause of over 124,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in Europe last year alone. In addition, obesity could become the leading preventable cause of cancer in women in Western countries within a decade. The number of estimated cases was based on information from a number of sources, including the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Researchers calculated the proportion of body weight related cancers in 30 European countries. The researchers examined the cancer risk among men and women having a body mass index (BMI) score greater than 25. BMI is a ratio of weight to height used to determine if an individual is overweight or obese. Statistics available from 2002 indicated that over 70,000 new cases out of a total of 2.2 million cancers could be attributed to being overweight or obese. By projecting these figures forward, an estimated 124,050 new cancers linked to body weight may have occurred in 2008, which would account for 3.2 percent of new cancers in men, and 8.6 percent in women. As the outbreak of obesity continues to spread, and with major cancer culprits such as smoking and hormone replacement therapy fading from the forefront, cancers linked to obesity could well become the leading preventable cause among women. Share and Enjoy:

Infertile men have higher odds of developing testicular cancer

Men who experience infertility problems may be at greater risk for developing testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among young American men and it seems infertile men have three times greater risk than men in the overall population, of developing the cancer. Dr. Thomas Walsh and his Colleagues at the University of California reported in the February 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine on their recent study, the largest in the U.S. to consider the link between testicular cancer and infertility. The study evaluated medical data gathered during evaluation at infertility treatment centers for over 22,000 California men from 1967 to 1998. The men’s medical data established their infertility and according to the researchers, determined the infertile men “were 2.8 times more likely to develop testicular cancer relative to the general population.” Within a year of their search for infertility treatment thirty-four of the men had developed testicular cancer. From 1975 to 2002 cases of testicular cancer almost doubled. The authors said sperm quality and fertility declined during that time. Share and Enjoy:

New prostate cancer vaccine shows promise

There are many health concerns today when it comes to illnesses, but one of the number one health concerns for a man to consider is prostate cancer. There are already treatments available for this type of cancer, but now there is a new one to consider. Provenge, which an experimental treatment vaccine for advanced prostate cancer, has met researchers’ goal in a key trial that is needed to get FDA approval. This news was recently announced by Dendreon, which is the company that makes the vaccine Provenge. Mitchell Gold, M.D. and the president and chief executive of Dendreon, said that they believe that this vaccine is truly a breakthrough for the prostate cancer community a testament to the promise of the field for cancer immunotherapies. Provenge is a biologic drug that is given by infusion to spur the immune system to help fight against advanced prostate cancer that does not respond to anti-androgen treatment. Share and Enjoy:

Excess weight gain may increase risk of prostate cancer

We are all aware of the plethora of complications that can arise from packing on excess pounds, the most common being high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and diabetes. Obesity also results in an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. In females, there is up to a threefold increase in the incidence of breast, cervical and ovarian cancer, while the risk of endometrial cancer is up to seven times higher. For men, there is an increased incidence of colon cancer and, according to a new study—prostate cancer, especially for white men who gained excess weight in young adulthood. To find out more about the relationship between weight and prostate cancer, researchers at the University of Hawaii collected and analyzed on nearly 84,000 men of different ethnic groups; African-Americans, Japanese, Latinos, Native Hawaiians and Caucasians, all of whom had participated in a long-term study called the Multiethnic Cohort. Overall, more than 5,500 were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Share and Enjoy:

12 Top health threats for women

Men and women have different health needs, and each gender finds itself with special health risks and needs. Women, in particular, are required to pay particular attention to certain health ... Share and Enjoy: