Cancer Research, News

New Collaborative Research Initiatives Hold Promise for Cancer Cure

Cancer Research
Cancer Research

The provocative headline — How to Cure Cancer — on the cover of Time magazine’s April 1, 2013 issue was as intriguing as reporter Bill Saporito’s featured article, The Conspiracy to End Cancer. Saporito chronicles the radical multi-discipline, multi-institution approach to cancer research and cancer treatment development that is being spearheaded by Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), a celebrity-funded cancer foundation that is funneling millions of dollars into a new style of cancer research that is not only changing our approach to this multi-faceted family of diseases but could significantly fast-forward efforts to develop a cure for cancer.

The cost of cancer is staggering. Despite progress in cancer prevention, detection and treatment, more than half a million Americans die from cancer every year, according to the National Cancer Institute; and another 1.7 million new cancer cases are diagnosed. Annual medical costs alone top $77 billion, and the cost of lost productivity by patients and family caregivers is more than $124 billion.

Part of the problem with treating cancer is that cancer is not a single disease, but many, possibly hundreds of different diseases. Adding to the complexity is the fact that cancer has no single pattern of attack or behavior, but many. While there are commonalities, there can also be vast differences in the way cancer and cancer treatments affect different individuals. The typically fragmented approach to medical research in which individuals and small teams working independently attack small pieces of the cancer puzzle and then jealously guard their discoveries has not proven effective against the breadth and scope of cancer. Stand Up to Cancer is changing the cancer research paradigm.

To be continued

Alternative Cancer Treatment, Cancer Research

What You Eat Can Affect Your Cancer Risk

Mediterranean Foods.
Mediterranean Foods.

A recent groundbreaking cancer study conducted by the National Institutes of Health tracked the eating habits of more than half a million older Americans over a 15-year period and found that what we eat can have a profound effect on cancer risk. While study participants were age 50 and older, cancer treatment experts feel the nutritional findings are applicable to people of all ages.

The study found a marked decrease in cancer and heart disease in people who ate what is considered a Mediterranean diet: a diet rich in vegetables, beans, fruits, nuts, whole grains, olive oil and fish but low in red meat, processed meat and saturated fats. In comparing dietary choices to cancer incidence, researchers also discovered some interesting associations with specific foods:

  • Women who drank more than three cups of caffeinated coffee daily decreased their risk of endometrial cancer by 35%.
  • Coffee drinkers of both sexes who drank at least 4 cups of either regular or decaf coffee daily reduced their risk of colon cancer.
  • Blueberries and other antioxidant-rich berries offer protection against mouth and neck cancers.
  • Breads and pastas made from 100% whole grains decrease colon cancer risk.
  • Lycopene-rich tomatoes, both whole and in sauces, help protect against prostate cancer.
  • Consumption of alcohol at any level increases the risk of breast cancer.
  • High alcohol consumption increases the risk of colon and liver cancer for both men and women.

Making healthy food choices that support a strong immune system may help decrease cancer risk and support the effectiveness of cancer treatments should cancer strike.

Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Research

Research Finds Strong Link Between Diet and Cancer

Healthy Eating.
Healthy Eating.

There seems to be a lot of truth to the old saw “You are what you eat.” Research has found strong evidence linking diet to heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Now researchers are adding cancer to the list of chronic illnesses that may be preventable by eating a healthy diet.

As previously noted, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and exercising regularly are the three smartest things you can do to reduce your cancer risk and improve your odds of survival if you do contract cancer.

According to estimates by the American Institute of Cancer Research, more than 100,000 cases of cancer a year could be prevented in the U.S. if people ate a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity.

“Dozens and dozens of studies show that people who are overweight or obese have higher rates of many different cancers,” Walter Willett, M.D., head of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health told AARP in a recent article. “It’s not just one study or two,” he says. There is “a massive amount of evidence.”

In concert with the National Institutes of Health, AARP studied the long-term effects of eating a Mediterranean-type diet on the development of cancer. While the study focused on people over age 50, the findings were so remarkable that researchers believe the benefits will prove true for people of all ages. The study provides the most powerful evidence to date of the strong links between diet and cancer.

Alternative Cancer Treatment

3 Lifestyle Changes that Can Lower Cancer Risk

Stay Healthy To Fight Cancer.
Stay Healthy To Fight Cancer.

More than 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year. Men have a 1 in 2 chance of developing cancer during their lifetimes. For women, the risk is 1 in 3. In the U.S. more than 13 million people are actively battling cancer or have survived the fight. Cancer has numerous causes, only some of which we understand.

We know that smoking, alcohol abuse, unprotected sun exposure and genetics can increase the risk of developing certain cancers. In fact, our lifestyle choices may play a significant role in cancer risk and prevention. Researchers are discovering that the same healthy lifestyle choices that can decrease the risk of heart disease and diabetes may also decrease cancer risk.

“We know that we can prevent about a third of all cancers if people would maintain a healthy weight, eat a plant-based diet and be physically active,” American Institute for Cancer Research dietitian Alice Bender told AARP.

People who make healthy choices about diet, exercise and weight control — the Big 3 of cancer prevention — can significantly reduce their chance of developing cancer and, should cancer develop, improve their odds of survival.

  • Weight. Maintaining a healthy weight may be the most critical step people can take to reduce cancer risk. People who are overweight or obese experience higher rates of many cancers.
  • Diet. Eating a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, whole grains, olive oil and fish has been shown to reduce cancer risk.
  • Exercise. Regular physical exercise aids weight control, boosts the immune system and may aid cancer prevention.
Cancer Care Tips, Cancer Survivors, Living with Cancer

A Review of Online Cancer Support Groups

Others Who Went Through Cancer.
Others Who Went Through Cancer.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, you need the support of people who have walked in the same shoes understand what you are going through. Online cancer support communities provide opportunities for patients, survivors and caregivers to help and support each other:

  • IHadCancer.com. Cancer survivors, patients and caregivers share stories, successes and treatment experiences. Site users can filter searches by gender, age, year of diagnosis, type of diagnosis and their role as patient, survivor or caregiver.
  • CancerCare.org. Led by professional oncology social workers, Cancer Care groups are available for the most prevalent cancers. Also offered are support groups for post-treatment survivors, caregivers, loved ones, and bereavement/grief. Telephone and face-to-face support groups are also offered.
  • American Cancer Society. A clearinghouse for all things related to cancer, this multi-language site provides educational information on cancer topics, current cancer research, clinical trials, staying healthy, and other treatment tools and resources. Online support communities are hosted for patients, survivors, family and caregivers. Phone, email and local support are also available.
  • CancerSupportCommunity.org. Online support groups, distress screening and emotional support services for patients, family and caregivers are among the educational and support services provided. A special online support group for teens is also available. Site users can create their own webpage to keep friends and family updated on their cancer journey. Helpful information is provided on parenting through cancer and other issues families face when a loved one has cancer.

A list of additional cancer support services is available on the National Cancer Institute website.

Cancer Care Tips, Living with Cancer

Online Cancer Support Groups Offer Comfort to Cancer Patients

Cancer Support.
Cancer Support.

Thousands of people are touched by cancer every day; yet in the early days of diagnosis the feeling that you are alone in your struggle is nearly universal. A cancer diagnosis is an isolating event.

Patients and their families talk of feeling like the walls of their world are closing in on them. In the shock of dealing with their cancer diagnosis and coping with the overwhelming task of scheduling doctors’ visits and lab work, evaluating the potential effectiveness of traditional and alternative cancer treatments, making arrangements to start treatment, and managing all the changes cancer inflicts on their personal, family and work life, many cancer patients and their families tend to draw back from their normal support systems, increasing their feelings of isolation.

Many times newly-diagnosed cancer patients hesitate to share their diagnosis with extended family, friends or co-workers until they have a clearer picture of what they’re facing and how cancer might affect their ability to continue their normal activities. Often, cancer patients and their immediate families are so overwhelmed by their own fears and emotions that they are simply unable to also deal with the fears and emotions of others. While friends mean well, cancer patients can find their raw expressions of concern and sympathy uncomfortable and even embarrassing.

Despite all these difficulties, cancer patients and their families desperately need support. Cancer is a difficult battle that is impossibly hard to fight alone. Many cancer patients find the support they need in online communities where cancer patients and their families share their stories of hope and help lift each other up when despair strikes.

Next time: A review of online cancer support groups

Individualized Cancer Treatment