Live Well September 2014

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

Healthy lifestyle choicescan lower your cancer risk

HEALTHY HABITS

Charmaine Earle, M.D., of Choice Medical Group and Choice Physicians Network explains clearly and concisely

ALL ABOUTBREAST CANCER

How to reduce yourrisk for colorectal cancer

COMBATTING CANCER

Holly Handorf, RN, BSN, of Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group offers sound advice for both women and men

BE CANCER AWARE-NOT CANCER SCARED

Coping with the sideeffects of chemotherapy

ON THE MEND

Desert Valley Medical Group will offer mammograms at special ratesthroughout October, in recognition of Breast Health Awareness Month

THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION

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CANCER AWARENESSLive Well!Live Well!Health • Fitness • Lifestyle

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Inside Live Well

The human body’s im-mune system is inte-gral to its short- and

long-term health, helping guard the body from a host of threats, including germs and viruses. But the immune system can be compromised, and when this happens, the results can be severe.

Lymphoma is one of the more troubling issues that can compromise a person’s immune system. A cancer of the lymph system, which is a part of the immune system, lymphoma comes in many forms, and recognizing which type of lymphoma a person has can help a doctor tailor a treatment plan and provide a more accurate prognosis to his or her patients. But men and women also can benefit from understanding lympho-ma, as it can help them more effectively manage their dis-ease or better understand what a loved one diagnosed with lymphoma is going through.

What are the types of lymphoma?

There are many types of lymphoma, and these types fall into one of two categories: Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

• Hodgkin disease: Hodg-kin disease begins in white blood cells known as lympho-cytes, and because lymphoid tissue is present in many parts of the body, Hodgkin disease can start nearly any-where on the body. However, Hodgkin disease most often starts in the lymph nodes of

the upper part of the body, such as the chest, neck or under the arms. Hodgkin dis-ease will spread gradually, most often from lymph node to lymph node. But because there are different types of Hodgkin disease, the disease can grow and spread differ-ently depending on the type a person has.

• Non-Hodgkin lympho-ma: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma also begins in the lympho-cytes and can begin almost anywhere in the body. There are many types of non-Hodg-kin lymphoma, but they were often grouped as slow- or fast-growing lymphomas. The former grows so slowly that it produces few symp-toms, while the latter spreads so quickly it can cause se-vere symptoms and may be referred to as an aggressive lymphoma.

What causes lymphoma?Though researchers are

not always certain why cer-tain factors make a person more likely to develop Hodg-kin disease, they have deter-mined a handful of factors that increase a person’s risk. People who have had mono-nucleosis, an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV, have an increased, albeit small, risk of Hodgkin disease. DNA from EBV is found in roughly half of Hodg-kin patients’ Reed-Sternberg cells, which are a type of cell found in people with Hodgkin lymphoma. But many people

Understanding lymphoma and its potential causes

SEE LYMPHOMA • PAGE 24

3 Understanding lymphoma and its potential causes

4 Healthy habits to lower your cancer risk

6 Learn to recognize potential cancer symptoms

7 11 little-known facts about cancer

8 Reduce your risk for colorectal cancer

10 The stages of colon cancer

11 How antioxidants play a role in cancer prevention

12 Recognizing the signs and symptoms

of prostate cancer

14 Understanding bone cancer

15 GMOs and cancer potential cause worry

16 Coping with the side effects of chemotherapy

18 The relationship between vitamin D and cancer

19 Fighting cancer with food

20 How to establish a cancer fundraiser

21 Be cancer aware, not cancer scared

22 Skin care tips when in cancer treatment

23 Alcohol and cancer risk

25 Breast cancer

26 Breast cancer — the importance of early detection


Certain types of cancer are more likely to strike certain types of people

than others. For example, while men can be diagnosed with breast cancer, women are far more likely to develop the disease. But just because a person’s risk of developing cancer is low, that does not make that person immune from the disease. As a result, it’s important that men and women take steps to lower their cancer risk.

One of the more effective ways to lower your risk for cancer is to ensure your life-style choices are as healthy as possible. Choosing habits that benefit your short- and long-term health can reduce your risk for cancer and a host of additional ailments.

• Maintain a healthy weight. According to the American Cancer Society, men and women who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of several types of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum, breast, kidney, and thyroid. The Na-tional Cancer Institute defines obesity as someone with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or above, while someone with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight or shedding excess weight if you are already at an elevated risk for cancer can lower your risk for cancer and other po-tentially debilitating diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.

• Quit smoking. Smokers might be surprised to learn that tobacco use, according

to the ACS, is responsible for nearly 20 percent of all deaths in the United States. That might have something to do with tobacco’s role in caus-ing more than a dozen types of cancer and its link to heart disease, emphysema and stroke.

But smoking can even harm nonsmokers unfortu-nate enough to spend time in the vicinity of smokers. Such nonsmokers take in nicotine and thousands of additional chemicals, including carbon monoxide and cadmium, a chemical element used in bat-teries, when people smoke near them. In addition, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nonsmokers exposed to sec-

ondhand smoke were 25 per-cent more likely to have coro-nary heart disease compared to nonsmokers not exposed to smoke. Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to chil-dren, as kids whose parents smoke around them get bron-chitis and pneumonia more often than kids whose parents abstain from smoking in their presence.

• Exercise regularly. The NCI notes that there is strong evidence that physical activ-ity is associated with reduced risk of certain cancers, includ-ing cancers of the breast and colon. More than 60 studies published in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia have indicated that physically active women have a lower

risk of developing breast can-cer than inactive women, with some active women reducing their risk by as much as 80 percent. Studies conducted around the world have pro-duced similar findings with re-gard to colon cancer. Research has consistently indicated that adults who increase their physical activity, be it in inten-sity, duration or frequency, can reduce their risk of developing colon cancer by 30 to 40 per-cent relative to adults who are sedentary. The ACS suggests adults include at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vig-orous activity in their weekly routines, though many studies have found that 30 to 60 min-utes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day is the most effective way to reduce cancer risk significantly.

• Reduce alcohol con-sumption. While many adults may be quick to point out the benefits that a glass of wine can have with regard to a person’s risk of heart disease or stroke, the National Toxicology Pro-gram of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as recently as 2011 listed the consumption of alcoholic bev-erages as a known human car-cinogen. Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for vari-ous types of cancers, including head and neck cancers, esoph-ageal cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer. Adults who continue to consume alcohol should do so in moderation, which the ACS defines as no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women.

— Metro

Healthy habits to lower your cancer risk

Metro Creative Connection

Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers, including cancers of the breast and colon.


A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event. Those diagnosed with

cancer typically wonder how the disease will impact their fu-tures, including their ability to work and how the disease may impact their family’s security.

Men and women diagnosed with cancer also often wonder if they missed any warning signs that might have alerted them to their disease prior to their diagnosis. Unfortunately, many forms of cancer have no symptoms in their earliest stages. When they do, condi-tions may be so mild that they are easily mistaken for some-thing more innocuous.

But that does not mean men and women should not familiarize themselves with the warnings signs of cancer. Early detection of cancer fac-tors heavily into the efficacy of treatments, and the Cancer Cure Foundation notes the fol-lowing signs and symptoms could be warnings signs of certain cancers:

• lumps or thickening in tissues of the body• sores that do not heal or noticeable changes in warts, moles or beauty marks• unusual bleeding or discharge• weakness, persistent aches or constant fatigue• unexplained weight loss• persistent cough or blood in sputum• constant indigestion or trouble swallowingAdditionally, the American

Cancer Society uses the word CAUTION to help people rec-ognize the most common early signs of cancer.

C hange in bowel or bladder habits.A sore that does not heal.U nusual bleeding or discharge.T hickening or lump in the breast, testicles or else-where.I ndigestion or difficulty swallowing.O bvious change in the size, color, shape, or thickness of a wart, mole or mouth sore.N agging cough or hoarseness.Keep in mind that cancers in

particular areas of the body may have their own unique symp-toms that do not include any

of the ones already mentioned. For example, bloating could be a sign of ovarian cancer, but some may look at it as a symp-tom of indigestion. Dizziness or drowsiness may be indicative of brain cancer.

The presence of cancer symptoms does not mean a per-son has the disease. However, symptoms that persist beyond two weeks should be investigat-ed by a doctor. Cancer screening is specific to age and risk fac-tors. A doctor is best qualified to determine which screening options are in your best inter-est. Blood tests and minimally invasive tests, such as biopsies

or CT scans, can help to deter-mine if cancer is present.

The good news is that rec-ognizing cancer early can make treatment more effective. The ACS notes that early diagnosis generally translates to a higher rate of survival.

Routine screenings for can-cer in those who have a family history or other risk factors can be helpful. However, under-standing your body and being mindful of even the slightest changes can prove even more effective in recognizing symp-toms that may be the early stages of cancer.

— Metro

Learn to recognize potential cancer symptoms


Certain physical abnormalities may be more than just signs of aging. They could be early indicators of cancer.


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Despite the prevalence of cancer, some information about this potentially deadly disease is not widely known. The following are some facts about cancer that may surprise you.

1. Cancer is officially known as “malignant neoplasm.” 2. Married people or those in steady relationships are more likely to survive cancer, which may be linked to couples’

increased concern and awareness of each other’s conditions and their push for cancer screenings. 3. Researchers believe that more than half of all cancers and cancer deaths are potentially preventable. 4. Most cancers develop through a combination of environmental factors and heredity. 5. Ovarian cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer are typically asymptomatic until they spread elsewhere in the body.

That is why routine screenings for these diseases are so vital. 6. Those who sleep fewer than six hours a night are more likely to develop colon cancer than those who sleep more. 7. Despite what is known about protecting oneself from the sun, skin cancer is still the most often diagnosed type of

cancer, and rates continue to steadily increase. 8. The highest rate of people diagnosed with melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, are white men over

the age of 50. 9. Men with a family history of breast cancer are at a higher risk for prostate cancer.10. The left breast is statistically more prone to developing cancer than the right breast. Unfortunately, doctors and

scientists are unsure why.11. Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are significantly more likely to carry breast cancer genes than the general

population.— Metro

11 little-known facts about cancer


Colorectcal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in

both the United States and Canada. So say the American Cancer Society and the Ca-nadian Cancer Society, who project nearly 60,000 Ameri-cans and Canadians will lose their lives to colorectal cancer in 2014 alone.

Though many risk factors for colorectal cancer, includ-ing age, heredity and racial and ethnic background, are

beyond an individual’s con-trol, that does not mean people are helpless to reduce their risk for this potentially deadly disease. Maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle can reduce a person’s risk of developing various cancers, and colorectal cancer is no exception. The following are a few ways adults can reduce their chance of developing colorectal cancer.

• Get screened. As is the case with many cancer

treatments, colorectal can-cer treatments are much more effective when cancer is detected and treated early. Colorectal cancer screenings help find polyps before they become cancerous. In addi-tion, people may not imme-diately associate symptoms of colorectal cancer with the disease, instead thinking such symptoms are indicative of a less serious illness or condi-tion. Screenings can not only determine if those symptoms are a result of colorectal can-cer but also find colorectal cancer before such symptoms even develop. Screenings and screening guidelines vary de-pending on the individual, as people with a higher than av-erage risk for the disease may be told to start receiving an-nual screenings before they turn 50, which is the age when people are told to receive such screenings regardless of their backgrounds.

• Reconsider your diet. Adopting a healthier diet is another way many men and women can reduce their risk for colorectal cancer. Red meat is a great source of many nutrients, including protein, iron and zinc. But studies have shown that a diet high in red meat increases a person’s risk for colorectal cancer, which may be due to chemi-cals known as nitrites form-ing when meat is digested or processed. In addition, the CCS notes that red meat con-tains higher amounts of heme iron than white meat. That’s significant, as heme iron has

been shown to cause damage to the innermost layer of the colon wall, which is known as the mucosa. A diet without much red or processed meats, which are those preserved by curing, smoking or salting, can lower one’s risk for colorectal cancer.

• Cut back on alcohol con-sumption. The International Agency on Cancer Research notes that there is sufficient evidence linking alcohol con-sumption to colorectal cancer. Men and women who exces-sively consume alcohol may be at greater risk of colorectal cancer because such consum-ers tend to have low levels of folic acid in the body. Numer-ous studies have linked low levels of folate to a higher risk of colorectal cancer, and one study that examined the ef-fects of folate deficiency on mice concluded that folate de-ficiency increased DNA dam-age by decreasing the expres-sion of two genes involved in DNArepair. When consuming alcohol, men should stick to no more than two drinks per day while women who are not pregnant should limit their al-cohol intake to one drink per day. Pregnant women should not consume alcohol.

• Reduce exposure to het-erocyclic amines and polycy-clic aromatic hydrocarbons. Meat that is barbecued, fried, broiled, or cooked to well done can produce heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, and polycy-clic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, both of which have been found to cause changes

Reduce your risk for colorectal cancer


A diet that is high in red meat, and red meat cooked over an open flame in particular, increases a person’s risk for colorectal cancer.


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in DNA that may increase cancer risk. According to the National Cancer In-stitute, HCAs form when amino acids, sugars and creatine react at high tem-peratures, such as those necessary when frying foods or grilling over an open flame. PAHs, which also can be found in cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes from automobiles, form when fat and juices from meat grilled direct-ly over an open fire drip onto the fire and cause flames, which contain PAHs that then adhere to the surface of the meat. To reduce exposure to HCAs and PAHs, avoid prolonged cooking times and direct exposure of meat to an open flame or high heat source, flip meat often, discard charred areas of meat before eating and never use meat drippings to make gravy.

Many risk factors for colorectal cancer are beyond an individual’s con-trol, but men and women still can take steps to significantly reduce their risk of developing this deadly disease.

— Metro

Did you know?Though it is the most common cancer among children and teens, child-

hood leukemia is a rare disease. So says the American Cancer Society, which notes that roughly 75 percent of leukemias among children and teens are acute lymphocytic leukemia, or ALL. When a child has ALL, his or her leukemia begins to form in the lymphoid cells of the bone marrow. ALL is most common among children between the ages of two and four and is more common in boys than girls. Acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML, is another type of acute leukemia and accounts for much of the other cases of leukemia in children. AML starts in the myeloid cells where white and red blood cells and platelets are formed. In rare in-stances, a child may have a hybrid type of leukemia, often referred to as a “mixed lineage leukemia,” where cells have features of both ALL and AML. Children with this hybrid form of leukemia are often treated as if they have ALL, and that course of treatment is typically effective. While many adult cancers are linked to lifestyle choices or environmental risk factors, childhood cancers do not have a strong link to such factors. Many childhood cancers can be traced to gene changes inside cells, and these changes often occur early in life or even before a child is born.

— Metro


While the death rates for colon cancer have declined consider-

ably over the last 20 years, it re-mains the third-deadliest cancer among both men and women in the United States and a consid-erable threat overseas. But when discovered and treated early, colon cancer has a five-year sur-vival rate of roughly 90 percent. Upon receiving a colon cancer diagnosis, men and women will be informed which stage their disease has entered, and that stage may dictate treatment and influence the diagnosing physi-cian’s prognosis. The following are the stages of colon cancer.

• Stage 0: Also referred to as carcinoma in situ, stage 0 colon cancer is diagnosed when abnor-mal cells have been found in the mucosa, which is the innermost layer of the colon wall. These ab-normal cells may become cancer and eventually spread.

• Stage I: When a diagnosis of stage I colon cancer has been made, this means that the can-cer has formed in the mucosa and spread to the submucosa, a layer of tissue beneath the mu-cosa. In addition, a stage I diag-nosis could mean the cancer has spread to the muscle layer of the colon wall.

• Stage II: Stage II colon can-cer is broken down into three categories: stage IIA, stage IIB and stage IIC. A stage IIA co-lon cancer diagnosis means the cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon wall to the wall’s outermost layer, which is known as the serosa.

A stage IIB colon cancer di-agnosis means the cancer has spread through the serosa of the colon but has not spread to nearby organs.

When a person has been di-agnosed with stage IIC colon cancer, their cancer has spread through the serosa and to near-by organs.

• Stage III: Stage III colon cancer also is divided into cat-egories. A stage IIIA diagnosis can mean the cancer has spread through the mucosa to the sub-mucosa and may have spread to the muscle layer of the colon wall. In addition, a stage IIIA diagnosis means the cancer has spread to at least one but not more than three nearby lymph nodes or that cancer cells have formed in tissues near the lymph nodes. But a stage IIIA diagno-sis also is made when the cancer has spread through the mucosa to the submucosa and to at least four but not more than six near-by lymph nodes.

A stage IIIB diagnosis means cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon to the serosa or has spread through the serosa but not to nearby or-gans. Stage IIIB also means the cancer has been found in at least one but not more than three nearby lymph nodes or cancer cells have formed in tissue near the lymph nodes. If none of those signs are present, a doctor may still diagnose stage IIIB colon cancer if the cancer has spread to the muscle layer of the colon wall or to the serosa and to at least four but not more than six nearby lymph nodes. But a stage IIIB diagnosis also is made when cancer has spread through the mucosa to the submucosa and possibly to the muscle layer of the colon wall and to seven or more nearby lymph nodes.

A stage IIIC colon cancer diagnosis means the cancer has spread through the serosa

but has not spread to nearby organs, though it has spread to at least four but not more than six nearby lymph nodes. When such evidence is not present, a doctor still may diagnose stage IIIC colon cancer if the cancer has spread through the muscle layer of the colon wall to the se-rosa or if it has spread through the serosa, but not to nearby organs, and to seven or more nearby lymph nodes. Cancer that has spread through the se-rosa and to nearby organs is also indicative of stage IIIC colon cancer, but that diagnosis would not be made unless a doctor also notices the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or that can-cer cells have formed in tissue near those lymph nodes.

Stage IV: Stage IV colon cancer is divided into stage IVA and stage IVB. Stage IVA means the cancer may have spread through the colon wall and to nearby organs or lymph nodes. This diagnosis also means that the cancer has spread to one organ that is not near the colon or that is has spread to a distant lymph node.

Stage IVB colon cancer is di-agnosed when doctors suspect the cancer may have spread through the colon wall and to nearby organs or lymph nodes. In addition, this diagnosis is made when cancer has spread to more than one organ that is not near the colon or has spread to the lining of the abdominal wall.

As with any cancer, early de-tection is often the key to surviv-ing colon cancer. Men and wom-en can visit www.cancer.gov to learn more about colon cancer diagnosis and risk factors.

— Metro

The stages of colon cancer Did you know?

If you want to cut your risk of devel-oping many types

of cancer, quit smok-ing cigarettes and oth-er tobacco products. Smoking has been linked to cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, kid-neys, throat, pancre-as, cervix, and stom-ach, and may also contribute to acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, and at least 250 are known to be harm-ful, including carbon monoxide, ammonia and cyanide. The Na-tional Cancer Insti-tute says at least 69 of the chemicals in cigarettes are known carcinogens. Some of these cancer-causing agents are benzene, cadmium, nickel, and vinyl chloride. Smok-ing causes 80 percent of lung cancer deaths among women and 90 percent among men, and many chronic lung diseases are attribut-ed to smoking. What’s more, in addition to increasing one’s risk of developing cancer, smoking can increase one’s risk of heart at-tack by up to six times compared to that of a nonsmoker.

— Metro


Each year, about 1.4 million people in the United States will be

diagnosed with some form of cancer, while a National Post breakdown notes that every hour an average of 20 Cana-dians are diagnosed with this deadly disease. Although the causes of each particular case of cancer may be unknown, doctors do know that a com-bination of heredity and en-vironmental influences can contribute to cancer risk. It’s also known that the foods a person eats can help increase his or her chances of prevent-ing cancer.

Free radicals and antioxidants

Antioxidants often come up in conversations about cancer

prevention. Many people un-derstand that antioxidants can be beneficial in a diet but may not be entirely sure what

role they play in cancer pre-vention.

Free radicals are highly re-active chemicals that have the

ability to harm cells. Formed naturally in the body, free rad-icals play important roles in cellular processes. But at high concentrations, free radicals can be hazardous to DNA and other cell components. In addition, free radicals form from the damaging effects of processed foods, radiation, to-bacco, and pollution.

Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances found abundantly in fruits and veg-etables. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E. Alpha li-poic acid, lycopene, coenzyme Q10, and selenium are antioxi-dants or substances that work with antioxidants to maximize the disease-fighting potential of the immune system. The

SEE ANTIOXIDANTS • PAGE 13

How antioxidants play a role in cancer prevention


Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can be a viable defense against cancer.


Prostate cancer is a deadly disease that forms in the tissues of the prostate, a

gland in the male reproductive system that is found below the bladder and in front of the rec-tum. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men (exclud-ing nonmelanoma skin can-cers), while the National Cancer Institute estimates that nearly 30,000 American men will lose their lives to prostate cancer in 2014, and roughly 15 percent of American men will be diag-nosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life.

Despite its status as a poten-tially deadly disease, prostate cancer can be beaten. In fact, the NCI notes that the five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2004 and 2010 was 98.9 per-cent, proving that a prostate cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. Like many types of cancer, prostate cancer is most effectively treated when dis-covered in its early stages. For example, the five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, which describes cancer that is found only in the part of the body where it started, between 2004 and 2010 was 100 percent.

Men are often their own best friends when it comes to fighting prostate cancer. Men over 50 should speak to their physicians about routine pros-tate cancer screenings, which include the prostate-specific antigen test or the digital rectal examination. Such screenings

can help detect prostate cancer early and dramatically improve a man’s prognosis. In addition to screenings, men can learn the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer to further improve their chances of surviving a diagno-sis.

Early signs of prostate cancerProstate cancer does not al-

ways show signs or symptoms in its early stages, and that’s because it tends to be slow-growing. A sign of prostate cancer refers to something that a physician or healthcare professional can observe and recognize, while a symptom is something that only the per-son experiencing it can feel. It’s important men recognize that certain symptoms associ-ated with prostate cancer may be caused by other conditions and that the presence of these symptoms does not mean a man has prostate cancer. How-ever, it’s equally important that men who notice symptoms as-sociated with prostate cancer bring them to the attention of their physicians immediately.

Changes in bladder habits are among the most common symptoms of prostate cancer, and these symptoms tend to be early indicators of the disease. These changes may include a frequent need to urinate, espe-cially at night; an intense need to urinate; difficulty in starting or stopping the flow of urine; inability to urinate; weak and/or interrupted urine stream; and burning or pain during urination.

Blood in urine or semen and

painful ejaculation may also in-dicate the presence of prostate cancer.

Late signs of prostate cancerWhen prostate cancer is not

detected early, the cancer then grows larger and may metasta-size, or spread to other organs of the body. This spreading can produce the following late signs and symptoms, which differ greatly from those that appear during the early stages of prostate cancer.

• bone pain, especially in the back, hips, thighs or

neck• weight loss• fatigue• low red blood cell count (anemia)• weakness or numbness in the legs or feet• loss of bladder or bowel controlThough prostate cancer is

a potentially deadly disease, men who prioritize screen-ing and learn to recognize its signs and symptoms can vastly improve their chances of surviving a diagnosis.

— Metro

Recognizing the signs and symptomsof prostate cancer


Men who learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer can improve their chances of surviving a potential diagnosis.


Did you know?

According to the Surveillance, Epidemiol-ogy, and End Results Program from the Na-tional Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is

most frequently diagnosed among men between the ages of 65 and 74. Though any man can get prostate cancer, older men are far more likely to be diagnosed than younger men. Of the new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the United States between 2007 and 2011, less than 1 percent were among men between the ages of 35 to 44. While prostate cancer has excellent survival rates, death rates are higher among certain groups of men, including those between the ages of 75 and 84 and men of African-American descent. The benefits of early detection of prostate cancer are obvious in the death rates, as just 0.1 percent of prostate cancer deaths between 2006 and 2011 were among men between the ages of 35 and 44, while just 1.6 percent of those deaths were among men between the ages of 45 and 54.

— Metro

body also makes some of the antioxidants it uses to neu-tralize free radicals, which are called endogenous anti-oxidants.

Antioxidants go after free radicals and essentially consume them, neutralizing their damaging effects to the body. In laboratory and animal studies, the pres-ence of increased levels of antioxidants has been shown to prevent the types of free radical damage that can be associated with cancer. Some research points to tak-ing antioxidant supplements to help prevent cancer, but such studies have yielded mixed results.

Increasing antioxidant intake

The best way to get antioxi-dants into your body is through healthy, low-fat foods. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegeta-bles in your diet. High-fiber foods also are beneficial. The U.S. De-partment of Agriculture’s food guidelines recommend men and women consume 20 to 30 grams of fiber per day.

Black and green tea also are healthy sources of antioxi-dants, and some research has suggested tea can help pre-vent cancer.

A combination of healthy, antioxidant-rich foods and beverages can make for a great defense against cancer. Loading up on nutrient-rich foods will keep the body in top form, which goes a long way toward reducing cancer risk.

— Metro

ANTIOXIDANTSFROM PAGE 11


Few things in the world are stronger than bone. Accord-

ing to the American Can-cer Society, some bone is able to support as much as 12,000 pounds per square inch, and it can take as much as 1,800 pounds of pressure to break the fe-mur, which is the longest, heaviest and strongest bone in the human body.

Though bone may ap-pear invincible, anyone who has ever suffered a broken bone knows that’s not the case. In addition to breaks, bones can fall victim to disease, includ-ing bone cancer. Cancers that start in the bone are uncommon, so many di-agnosed with bone cancer often have lots of questions about their disease. Gain-ing a better understand-ing of bone cancer can help men and women in their fight against the disease.

What is bone cancer?According to the Na-

tional Cancer Institute, bone cancer is a malignant tumor of the bone that de-stroys normal bone tissue. But the presence of a bone tumor does not necessar-ily mean a person has can-cer, as not all bone tumors are malignant and benign, or noncancerous, bone tu-mors are more common than malignant tumors. Benign tumors do not spread or destroy bone tis-sue, though they can grow and compress healthy bone tissue.

How do doctors distin-guish between the types of bone cancers?

There are different types of bone cancers, and doc-tors distinguish one from another by determining the type of tissue in which the cancer began. Cancer can begin in any type of bone tissue, including osteoid, cartilaginous and fibrous tissues.

What are some types of bone cancers?

Osteosarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer that arises in the osteoid tissue in the bone. This type of tis-sue is hard or compact, and tumors that begin in oste-oid tissue most often occur in the knee and upper arm.

Chondrosarcoma is an-other type of bone cancer that begins in the cartilagi-nous tissue, which is tough and flexible tissue that pads the ends of bones and lines the joints. Chondrosarcoma is typically found in the pel-vis, upper leg and shoulder, and a chondrosarcoma that contains cancerous bone cells may be classified as an osteosarcoma.

There are also a family of tumors that may arise in soft tissue, such as muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, or blood vessels, but typically oc-cur in bone. This family of tumors is known as the Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors, or ESFTs. These types of tumors are most often found along the back-bone and pelvis and in the legs and arms.

What causes bone cancer?There is no defini-

tive cause of bone cancer, though several factors have been identified as increas-ing a person’s likelihood of developing bone tumors. For example, osteosarcoma occurs more frequently in people who have previously been treated with certain anticancer drugs and those who have undergone high-dose external radiation therapy.

Studies also have indi-cated that people with he-reditary defects of bones are more likely to develop osteosarcoma, as are peo-ple with metal implants that were used to treat past bone fractures.

Are there symptoms of bone cancer?

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain, which may be persis-tent or unusual near a bone where a tumor is present. But such pain does not nec-essarily indicate cancer, so men and women dealing with pain in their bones should visit a doctor, who can conduct tests to deter-mine the cause of the pain. Swelling in or near a bone also may be a byproduct of bone cancer.

How is bone cancer diagnosed?

When an individual re-ports persistent or unusual pain or swelling near a bone to a doctor, that physician will likely inquire about the individual’s personal medi-

cal history and that of his or her family. A physical examination also will be conducted, after which the doctor may order certain tests.

One of the tests doctors use to diagnose bone can-cer is an x-rays of the area, which can provide a depic-tion of the tumor, including its location, size and shape. Special imaging tests, such as an MRI, a CAT scan, a PET scan, and a bone scan, may also be ordered for patients whose pain is especially unusual or persistent.

A biopsy also may be ordered to determine if cancer is present. During a biopsy, a tissue sample will be taken from the bone tumor to determine if it is malignant or benign. Biop-sies of bone tissue are often conducted by orthopedic oncologists.

Some doctors dealing with patients experiencing persistent or unusual pain in their bones may order a blood test to determine if a high level of alkaline phosphatase is present in the blood. High levels of this enzyme are normal in children and adolescents because they are still grow-ing, so parents should know that a high level of alka-line phosphatase in their children’s blood does not necessarily mean the child has bone cancer.

More information about bone cancer is available at www.cancer.gov.

— Metro

Understanding bone cancer


The use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in foods re-

mains a controversial subject. The concerns about modify-ing genetic material in foods surrounds the uncertainty about the medical implica-tions of consuming foods that have had their DNA changed in a laboratory. One such con-cern is whether or not there is a link between GMOs and cancer. To understand such a potential connection, it first helps to understand GMOs and why they spark such con-troversy.

What are GMOs and why are they used?

GMOs are plants or ani-mals that have been genetical-ly changed, but many people associate GMOs with foods, namely corn and other grain products. Genes from one species are inserted into an-other to create a desired trait. This is known as gene splicing. Plants may be modified to be more resistant to drought or harsh conditions. Other genes may be altered to make plants more resilient and resistant to pesticides or certain diseases.

Most commonly altered foods

Certain foods are subject to genetic modification more so than others. Soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, papaya, zucchini, and other squashes are some of the more com-monly modified crops. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications also lists alfalfa, chicory, eggplant, flax, potato,

rice, sugar beet, and tobacco on its list of GM crops.

Concerns about GMOsThe risks associated with

consuming GMOs are largely unknown. According to the MD Anderson Cancer Cen-ter, researchers have not con-

clusively confirmed if GMOs increase a person’s risk of developing cancer or other diseases. Some experts say the benefits of eating whole grains and vegetables -- even GMO varieties -- outweigh the concerns about GMOs, while others are not so sure.

According to a study pub-lished in the peer-reviewed journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology, French research-ers discovered that rats fed genetically engineered corn or those exposed to the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup over a long period suffered premature death and developed mammary tumors while also suffering from kidney and liver damage. Re-searchers fed rats GM corn or gave them water laced with Roundup at levels allowed in the United States. The re-search found that even limited exposure to these products produced mammary tumors and led to severe liver and kid-ney damage, which occurred in as little as four months in males and seven months in females.

Fifty percent of the male rats and 70 percent of the fe-males died earlier than the rats in the control group. The corn studied was Monsanto’s NK603 seed, a variety devel-oped to live through heavy dosings of pesticide. Round-up is a pesticide that plants can consume at levels many toxicologists say could cause harm to humans.

ConclusionsMore research is neces-

sary to confirm or debunk any suspected link between GMOs and cancer, and even then it may be difficult to weed out risks between brands, foods and types of modifica-tion. People concerned about GMOs can eat organic foods or GMO-free foods.

— Metro

GMOs and cancer potential cause worry


Some studies point to a link between GMOs and cancer, while others are inconclusive.


Upon receiving a can-cer diagnosis, men and women are often

quick to inquire about their options with regard to treat-ing their disease. Treatments vary depending on the type of cancer and whether or not the cancer has begun to spread, or metastasize, beyond its point of origin, but chemo-therapy is one option used to treat various cancers.

First used to treat cancer in the 1950s, chemotherapy drugs help kill cancer cells and may be used to keep the cancer from spreading, slow its growth and/or relieve cer-tain symptoms caused by the cancer.

As effective as chemother-apy treatments can be, the drugs used in such treatments are very strong and kill any cell that’s growing fast, even if that cell is not cancerous. The death or damage of these normal and healthy cells is responsible for the side ef-fects of chemotherapy. Some people do not experience any side effects of chemotherapy, while others develop side ef-fects that can be painful, ef-fect self-esteem negatively

and make it difficult to main-tain a normal level of activity during ongoing treatments.

The following are some common side effects of che-motherapy and some sug-gestions on how to best cope with them should they sur-face during treatment.

Nausea and vomitingBecause chemotherapy

drugs are so strong, many people feel sick to their stom-achs or vomit during their treatments. Nausea and vom-iting that results from che-motherapy typically surfaces a few hours after a treatment, and men and women might feel their effects for a short

time after they begin. Coping with nausea and

vomiting is something that should be discussed with your physician, who may pre-scribe medications to make these symptoms subside or at least lessen in severity. If the medicine does not work or if the vomiting continues for more than one day, call your physician.

Hair lossUpon beginning chemo-

therapy, many people are understandably concerned about losing their hair. But only certain chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss. Before beginning chemo treatments,

your physician will likely dis-cuss the potential side effects of the drugs that will be ad-ministered during the treat-ment, including the likelihood that you will lose your hair. Hair loss may occur slowly or rapidly, and sometimes hair only thins.

When doctors advise you that hair loss is likely to oc-cur, speak to the doctor about how to take care of your hair and scalp during treatment and ask about any potential solutions to mask the hair loss. Many people find their self-esteem suffers when they experience chemo-re-lated hair loss, but such loss is nothing to be ashamed of

Coping withthe sideeffects ofchemotherapy


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and you can employ head cov-ers, wigs and scarves to mask hair loss during treatment. Your health insurance may even cover the cost of a wig or hairpiece you might need as a result of chemo treatments.

Memory lossSome people find their

memory slips and their abil-ity to concentrate is compro-mised during and after che-motherapy treatments. This is more likely to happen among people whose chemotherapy drugs are administered in es-pecially large doses.

Memory loss and other side effects that effect the brain remain somewhat of a mystery. But men and wom-en who find their memory and concentration suffering during chemotherapy treat-ments should speak with their physicians, who may suggest certain mental exer-cises to counter the memory loss and keep the brain going strong throughout the treat-ment process.

Changes in the mouth and skin

Dental care is an important part of chemotherapy treat-ment. Certain chemo drugs can cause sores in the mouth or throat, and the American

Cancer Society recommends that men and women visit a dentist prior to beginning chemotherapy treatments. A dentist can show you how to take care of your teeth and gums during chemo, which may require you do more than your normal dental routine.

In addition to dental is-sues, skin changes are a side effect of certain chemo drugs. Redness, itching, dryness, acne, and peeling are some of the skin problems people have reported while receiving chemotherapy treatments. Others have reported aller-gic reactions that can cause hives and make it difficult to breathe. These particular is-sues must be treated right away, and if you report them to your physician, he or she may insist that you receive treatment in his or her pres-ence so he or she can treat this reaction immediately.

Chemotherapy is an effec-tive way to kill cancer cells and prevent them from spread-ing, but such treatment may produce potentially painful side effects. Men and women should not suffer these side effects in silence, as there are many ways to lessen their se-verity and make it easier to endure treatments.

— Metro


Vitamin D has long been a friend to men, women and

children. Obtained primar-ily through exposure of the skin to sunlight but also procured in certain foods and dietary supplements, vitamin D helps the body use calcium and phospho-rous to improve bone health and build healthy teeth.

But as valuable as vita-min D can be to your bones and teeth, it also may play a role in reducing your risk for certain cancers. The National Cancer Institute notes that many studies have suggested that higher intake of vitamin D or high-er levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. To understand this relationship, it helps to first understand vitamin D.

What is vitamin D?A group of fat-soluble

prohormones, vitamin D comes in two forms that are important to humans. Vitamin D2, also known as ergocalciferol, is made naturally by plants, while vitamin D3 is produced naturally by the body when it is exposed to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.

How are vitamin D levels in the body measured?

When vitamins D2 and

D3 enter the body, they are converted to 25-hydroxyvi-tamin D in the liver before traveling through the blood to the kidneys, where the 25-hydroxyvitamin D is modified to calcitrol, which is the active form of vita-min D in the body. When a person has their vitamin D levels measured, the most accurate method of do-ing so is to determine the amount of 25-hydroxyvita-min D in their blood.

How do I get enough vitamin D?

The NCI notes that most people already get at least some of the vitamin D they need through sunlight ex-posure. In addition to sun-light exposure, many peo-ple get plenty of vitamin D from their diets, including foods such as fatty fish, fish liver oil and eggs that naturally contain vitamin D. But foods fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, juices and breakfast cere-als, also ensure many peo-ple get adequate amounts of vitamin D. For many people, the combination of exposure to sunlight and diet is enough to produce strong bones and healthy teeth and reduce risk for colorectal cancer.

But people who are di-agnosed with low levels of vitamin D can look to sup-

plements to ensure they’re getting enough. Recom-mended daily intake guide-lines vary depending on age, but those interested in learning these guidelines can find them on the Insti-tute of Medicine website at www.iom.edu.

Why study the connection between vitamin D and cancer?

While studies have previously linked higher levels of vitamin D with reduced risk of colorectal cancer, research is ongo-ing to determine if vitamin D plays a role in lowering a person’s risk of develop-ing other types of cancers as well. Driving this re-search are early studies that discovered incidence and death rates for certain cancers were lower among people living in southern latitudes than those liv-ing in northern latitudes. That’s a significant distinc-tion, as levels of sunlight exposure, which is a chief source of vitamin D, are relatively high in southern latitudes and consider-ably higher in such areas than in northern latitudes. Studies are ongoing into this particular link and if vitamin D is, in fact, behind the lower cancer incidence and death rates.

Another reason to

study the connection is that experimental studies conducted on cancer cells and tumors in mice found that vitamin D may play a role in slowing or prevent-ing the development of cancer.

Does vitamin D definitively lower risk for certain cancers?

Though evidence has suggested a link between high vitamin D intake and lower risk of specific can-cers, the NCInotes that, thus far, studies have been inconsistent. While numer-ous studies have concluded that vitamin D reduces a person’s risk for colorectal cancer, even that widely acknowledged link remains open to debate. For exam-ple, a 2006 study published in the New England Jour-nal of Medicine found that healthy women who took vitamin D and calcium sup-plements for an average of seven years did not have a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer, though some scientists questioned if that study was extensive enough to support its ulti-mate conclusion.

More information about the relationship between vitamin D and cancer is available at www.cancer.gov.

— Metro

The relationship betweenvitamin D and cancer


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Few, if any, families can say they have never had an experience with

cancer. Cancer is a potentially deadly disease with no cure. While cancer can be treated effectively, there is no way for men and women to elimi-nate their risk of developing c ancer.

Though cancer may strike even the healthiest of persons, there are ways men, women and even children can reduce their risk. One such way is to consume certain foods that researchers feel can reduce cancer risk. Though precisely how these foods fight cancer remains a mystery, cancer researchers feel they can ef-fectively lower an individual’s

cancer risk when combined to form a healthy diet.

• Beans: Beans boast nu-merous healthy attributes, and their potential to reduce cancer risk is one such at-tribute. Beans contain many phytochemicals that research-ers feel protect the cells from the type of damage that can ultimately make a person sus-ceptible to cancer. Beans also have been shown to deceler-ate tumor growth and prevent tumors from releasing poten-tially harmful substances that can damage nearby cells.

• Colorful fruits and veg-etables: It may seem odd that a food’s color can have an impact on cancer risk, but colorful fruits and veg-

etables contain more cancer-fighting nutrients than fruits and vegetables that aren’t as flashy.Consuming such fruits and vegetables also helps men and women maintain a healthy body weight, an im-portant benefit when consid-ering overweight and obesity increases a person’s risk for multiple cancers.

• Foods with folate: Folate is a B vitamin that can reduce a person’s risk of developing several cancers, including those of the colon, rectum and breast. Those who are fond of a healthy breakfast to begin their day may already be get-ting healthy doses of folate, which can be found in eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, or-

ange juice, and strawberries, among other foods. If toast is your breakfast of choice, opt for whole wheat toast, as whole wheat products are a good source of folate.

• Grapes: Studies have shown that resveratrol, a key ingredient in grapes, may prevent the type of damage that triggers the production of cancerous cells. Though scientists are not yet comfort-able saying grapes, or bever-ages like grape juice and wine, can reduce cancer risk, they believe that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory prop-erties of grapes make them a healthy option.

Fighting cancer with food

SEE FOOD • PAGE 24


Cancer and its associat-ed treatments can rob patients of their en-

ergy and enthusiasm for daily activities. But cancer also can prove taxing on a person’s fi-nances.

Depending on an individ-ual’s health insurance cover-age, treatments can be costly and out-of-pocket expenses numerous. Those incapaci-tated by cancer also may find they are unable to work, re-sulting in lost wages.

Some cancer fundraisers aim to provide funds for fami-lies or individuals in financial peril as a result of their di-agnoses, while others hope to raise money for cancer research. Millions of dollars are raised annually both by national foundations and in-dividuals.

Successful cancer fund-raisers follow the same guidelines of any successful fundraising effort, with dedi-cation of time and devotion to the cause playing a key role. With dedication and commit-ment in tow, the possibilities to raise money for a worthy cause are endless.

• Establish your cause. Set the fundraising objective, which will include how the

money will be raised and how it will be spent. If you are rais-ing money for a specific type of cancer, it may be easy to pair up with an organization that already works toward that cause, such as the Amer-ican Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society, or CureSearch. Of course, you can start from scratch, but donors may be more in-clined to give to a charity that has already established itself.

• Make it personal. It’s much easier to stand behind a cause in which you have a vested interest. This is why many cancer fundraisers are so successful. Many people start a fundraiser in the name of a friend or family member battling cancer or someone who has lost his or her battle, and that personal connection can be a motivating force as you raise awareness for your cause.

• Establish a fundraising team. Fundraising is more manageable when there is a team of people working to-gether to raise money and organize how money is spent. Assign responsibilities based on personal skills and areas of expertise. For example, a

person with accounting expe-rience can handle the book-keeping work, while someone familiar with marketing can work to raise awareness for the cause and any fundrais-ing events.

• Solicit community at-tention. Getting the word out about your organization and fundraiser may require the help of others in the commu-nity. Find out if you can join a school-sponsored “Relay for Life” event or have an infor-mation booth at the entrance to supermarkets or other high-traffic businesses.

• Maintain transparen-cy. The success of fundrais-ing may revolve around how much potential donors trust your efforts. Make every at-tempt to be as open and hon-est with people as possible. Be willing to share informa-tion about charitable orga-nization documents, funds raised, distribution of money, and administrative costs.

• Establish a website. A website enables you to con-tinue spreading the message of your charitable efforts af-ter hours. Donors can look up your charity online and learn about the story behind your fundraising efforts. Prompt-ly return any phone calls or emails from people interest-ed in more information. Fre-quently update the website so the public has reason to come back for more information.

• Personally thank donors. Send a letter or place a phone call to thank donors for their contributions. This establishes your charity and fundraiser as one that cares about its cause and the people who help that cause. It also puts a face to your efforts.

Cancer fundraisers are quite popular and relatively easy to establish. It takes a group of people willing to de-vote time and effort to a wor-thy cause.

— Metro

How to establish a cancer fundraiser


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We have seen a rise in cancer diagno-ses over the past s

everal years. Lifestyle and environmental changes have been identified as the main reason for this increase. Or are we just more aware of it? It is all over the news, television, movies, and media. With this sudden focus on cancer, it is very easy to become paranoid about getting cancer. Here are some things you can to be cancer aware:

1. Get regular check ups See your doctor regularly,

about every 3 to 6 months depending on your health. Just like you take your car in for regular tune-ups, you need tune-ups, too. Checking in with your doctor insures you are on the right path to health and well-being.

2. Check yourself Women should perform

self-breast exams monthly on about the same day of the month. Men should perform self-testicular exams monthly on about the same day of the month. Any unusual lumps should be evaluated by your doctor. Everyone should exam-ine their body for any unusual moles or skin conditions on a regular basis. Any change in a mole or skin condition should be evaluated by your doctor.

3. Eat well, rest well, be fit The trifecta of healthy

living! Eating a diet high in nutrient dense vegetables such as kale, cucumbers, and cauliflower may help prevent

the formation of cancer cells. Decreasing stress and allow-ing yourself the chance to rest and relax has also been proven to lower your risk of cancer. It goes without saying that a fit body is a healthy body. Cancer finds it hard to thrive in a strong, fit body.

4. Trust yourself We know ourselves better

than anyone else. If you feel something is wrong, chances are you are right. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor for a cancer screening if you are concerned. Many doctors will order an annual mammo-gram or colonoscopy test as a cancer prevention screening.

By Holly Handorf, RN, BSN Heritage Victor ValleyMedical Group Health Education

Be Cancer Aware,Not Cancer Scared

HOLLYHANDORF


The effects that cancer treatment can have on a person’s skin have long

been overlooked. But patients who have suffered through skin rashes and burns will be glad to know that a growing trend in treating cancer focus-es on curing both the disease and helping patients maintain their self-esteem and quality of life. A new movement combin-ing oncology and dermatology aims to address both the dis-ease and the potentially nega-tive consequences that rash-es, burns and blemishes can produce.

“For obvious reasons, the skin, hair, and nails have not been the topmost concerns in oncology — the most im-portant goal is to treat and cure the cancer,” said Mario Lacouture, M.D., who special-izes in dermatologic condi-tions that result from cancer treatments. “But skin side ef-fects can affect patients’ sense of self and their interactions with others. These side effects can lead to costly treatments, affect overall health, and per-haps most significantly, they may require that anticancer treatments be reduced or stopped altogether.”

Upon receiving a cancer diagnosis, patients concerned about the potential impact that treatment may have on their complexions should dis-cuss their options with their physicians. After initiating such discussions, men and women being treated for can-cer can take additional steps to maintain their appearance and quality of life both during and after treatment.

• Alter your skin care

routine. Upon receiving a can-cer diagnosis, patients must make a host of lifestyle adjust-ments to many things, includ-ing to their skin care routines. Intense skin rashes and burns are common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and certain side effects are actually an indicator that the treatment is working. While such consequences can affect patients’ self-image, these side effects are entirely manage-able.

“What many patients do not realize is that most der-matologic side effects are manageable, allowing people to maintain their quality of life and continue their cancer treatments,” said Lacouture.

Recognizing traditional skin

care products’ ineffectiveness at combating the dermatologic side effects of cancer treatment during her own battle with the disease, cancer survivor and entrepreneur Lindy Snider began working with derma-tologists, oncologists, nurses, and skin care formulators to address the issue, eventually developing Lindi Skin (www.lindiskin.com), a collection of skin care products designed specifically for individuals un-dergoing treatment for cancer and related disorders. Com-bining state-of-the-art tech-nology with innovative natural ingredients, Lindi Skin prod-ucts include a host of botanical extracts boasting anti-inflam-matory, analgesic, anti-bacte-rial, and anti-viral properties,

while providing a soothing and gentle solution even for those patients with especially sensi-tive skin.

“Tarceva, the medication I take for lung cancer, has played havoc with my skin, which has become unbelievably dry and sensitive,” said Phyllis of Coral Gables, FL. “(Lindi Skin) prod-ucts are the only ones I can use on my face and body. They actu-ally soothe, whereas all others create a burning sensation.”

• Embrace antioxidants. Often touted as miracle ingre-dients in a host of foods, anti-oxidants can be found beyond the dinner table as well. In developing Lindi Skin, Snider and her team designed an ex-clusive formulation of concen-trated botanicals that deliver high levels of beneficial anti-oxidants to the skin. Known as the LSA Complex, this formulation includes Snider’s pioneering use of astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that is only now beginning to receive widespread recognition for its restorative properties, a de-cade after Snider began using it in her skin care products. While astaxanthin can relieve the pain and inflammation in the skin that cancer patients often feel, it also can help those suffering from less severe, non-cancer related skin problems, such as sunburn, rosacea, dry skin and UV damage.

Skin damage is an often overlooked side effect of cancer treatment. But cancer patients should know that side effects like skin rashes and burns are manageable and don’t have to negatively impact self-image or quality of life.

— Metro

Skin care tips when in cancer treatment


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Though the exact de-tails of how alcohol increases cancer risk

are unknown, the American Cancer Society notes there are several different ways that alcohol may contribute to a person’s elevated risk of developing cancer.

• Tissue damage: Alco-hol can be an irritant in the mouth and throat as well as other areas of the body, forcing damaged cells to re-pair themselves. That forc-ing of the hand may lead to DNA changes in the cells, and such changes may act as a steppingstone to can-cer. Alcohol also can cause inflammation and scarring in the liver, and as liver cells

attempt to repair that dam-age, mistakes in the DNA may result, increasing a person’s risk for cancer. In the colon and rectum, bac-teria can convert alcohol into acetaldehyde, a chemi-cal which studies have shown causes cancer in lab animals.

• Body weight: Exces-sive consumption of alcohol often causes people to gain weight, and being over-weight or obese is a major risk factor for various types of cancer.

• Hormones: Women who consume alcohol may be prone to elevated levels of estrogen, a hormone as-sociated with hormone-re-

ceptor-positive breast can-cer that plays a significant role in the growth and de-velopment of breast tissue. According to Breastcan-cer.org, when compared to women who abstain from alcohol, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer, and that may be a byproduct of the effect alcohol has on a woman’s hormone levels.

• Effect on harmful chemicals: Alcohol can dis-solve other harmful chemi-cals, including those found in tobacco smoke, making it easier for them to enter the cells lining the upper diges-

tive tract. The ACS theoriz-es that this may play a role in why the combination of smoking and drinking is far more likely to cause cancers in the mouth or throat than either smoking or drinking alone.

• Effect on nutrients: The body’s cells need a vi-tamin called folate to stay healthy. But alcohol con-sumption can compromise the body’s ability to absorb folate from foods, which is especially problematic for heavy drinkers who do not get enough nutrients in their daily diets. Low folate levels have been linked to breast and colorectal cancers.

— Metro

Alcohol and cancer risk


infected with EBV never develop Hodgkin disease.

Age is another risk f actor for Hodgkin disease, as the disease is most common among people between the ages of 15 and 40, especially men and women in their 20s. But many men and women are diagnosed with Hodgkin disease in late adulthood as well. Age also is a risk factor for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, though the majority of cases are diagnosed in people in

their 60s or older.Family history also plays a

role, as brothers and sisters of young people with Hodgkin disease have an elevated risk, one that is especially high for the identical twin of a person with Hodgkin disease. But the American Cancer Society still notes that a family link is still seen in only about 5 per-cent of all cases of Hodgkin disease.

Some studies have sug-gested that exposure to cer-tain chemicals, most notably benzene, and certain herbi-cides and insecticides used to kill weeds and insects, may be linked to an elevated risk

of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, such re-search is ongoing.

Patients treated with ra-diation therapy for other cancers may also be at an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and this risk is even greater for those treated with both radia-tion and chemotherapy.

Immune system deficien-cies and autoimmune diseas-es have also been linked to a greater risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People who have received organ transplants are often treated with im-mune system suppressants to ensure the immune system

does not attack the new or-gan, and such suppressants put people at a higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin lym-phoma. Children born with immune system deficiencies also have an elevated risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as do people with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and celiac sprue.

Lymphoma is a poten-tially deadly disease, but one that is often treatable. More information about lymphoma and lymphoma treatment is available at www.cancer.org/cancer/lymphoma.

— Metro

LYMPHOMAFROM PAGE 3

• Tomatoes: Tomatoes are widely beloved, and perhaps that love affair stems from the tomato’s role in fighting cancer. Though the reasons are unknown, tomatoes have been linked to lowering men’s risk for prostate cancer. One such study, a 1995 study from researchers at the Harvard Medical School, found that men who ate 10 or more serv-ings of tomatoes per week re-duced their risk of developing aggressive prostate tumors by nearly 50 percent. Later research from the author of the 1995 study found that pro-cessed tomatoes, such as those found in tomato paste and to-mato sauce, were even more effective at reducing cancer risk than fresh tomatoes. To-matoes have also been linked to lowering a person’s risk for lung and stomach cancers.

• Water: Water may not

qualify as a food, but it may protect people from bladder cancer. Potential cancer-caus-ing agents in the bladder are diluted when drinking water. In addition, the more water you drink the more frequently

you’re likely to urinate, which means cancer-causing agents have less time to come into contact with the lining of your bladder.

Many foods can help in-dividuals in the fight against

cancer. Though one food alone may not be potent enough to do the job, when several can-cer-fighting foods are included in a person’s diet, the effects may be significant.

— Metro

FOODFROM PAGE 19

Metro Creative ConnectionTomatoes, whether served fresh or as a paste or sauce, have been linked to reducing a person’s risk for various cancers, including cancers of the prostate, lung and stomach.


BY CHARMAINE EARLE, M.D.

What Is Breast Cancer?Each month, a woman’s

breasts go through temporary changes associated with men-struation, and a lump may form. While the vast major-ity of these growths are not cancerous, any lump should be examined immediately. Lumps are most common in the lobules — small sacs that produce milk — or the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. But they occasionally start in other tissue. The two main categories of breast cancer are lobular and ductal carci-nomas.

Breast cancer usually be-gins with the formation of a small, confined tumor. Some tumors are benign, meaning they do not invade other tis-sue; others are malignant, or cancerous. Malignant tumors have the potential to metasta-size, or spread. Once such a tu-mor grows to a certain size, it is more likely to shed cells that spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Fortunately, breast cancer is very treatable if detected early. Localized tumors can usually be treated successfully before the cancer spreads; and in nine in 10 cases, the woman will live at least another five years. Experts usually con-sider a five-year survival to be a cure. Improved screening procedures and treatment op-tions mean that at least seven out of 10 women with breast cancer will survive more than five years after initial diagno-sis, and half will survive more

than 10 years.

What Causes Breast Cancer?Although the precise causes

of breast cancer are unclear, we know what the main risk factors are. Among the most significant factors are advanc-ing age and a family history of breast cancer. A woman whose mother, sister, or daughter has had breast cancer is two to three times more likely to de-velop the disease, particularly if more than one first-degree relative has been affected.

A link between breast can-cer and hormones is gradually becoming clearer. A woman’s exposure to estrogen and pro-gesterone rises and falls dur-ing her lifetime, influenced by the age she starts and stops menstruating, the average length of her menstrual cycle, and her age at first childbirth. A woman’s risk for breast can-cer is increased if she starts menstruating before age 12, has her first child after 30, stops menstruating after 55, or has a menstrual cycle shorter or longer than the average 26-29 days. Current information indicates that the hormones in birth control pills probably do not increase the risk. Some studies suggest that taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause may increase risk, especially when taken for more than five years.

Breast Cancer

Dr. Earle is part of the team of exclusive caring physicians

of Choice Medical Group / Choice Physicians Network. She

is a Board Certified Family Practitioner and has been providing comprehensive

medical care to the residents of the High Desert for over five years. Her office locations are:

12332 Hesperia Road, Ste. A, Victorville, California and 12384 Palmdale Road,

Ste. 203, Victorville California. She can be reached at

(760) 243-4009.To schedule an appointment

with Dr. Earle call(760) 242-4009. For more information on becoming a member contact Member

Services at Choice Medical Group at

(760) 242-7777, Ext. 224 or visit us at www.ChoiceMG.com.

Did you know?

The foods a person eats can increase his or her risk

of developing various types of cancer. Sodi-um nitrite and sodium nitrate are widely used as preservatives, anti-microbial agents, col-orings, and flavorings in cured meats and many other products. Nitrates and nitrites are commonly found in hot dogs and lunch meats. Once they are consumed, nitrates turn into nitrites in the digestive system, and it is believed that nitrites react with certain bodi-ly chemicals and turn into cancer-causing carcinogens known as nitrosamines. Green, leafy vegetables and root vegetables con-tain naturally occurring nitrites as well. How-ever, it is believed that nitrites in vegetables do not have the same effect on the body as artifically added ones, so the benefits of eat-ing vegetables out-weigh these risks. But avoiding nitrites does not mean people have to give up their favor-ite foods. Many types of bacon, hot dogs, bo-logna, and other foods now come in nitrite-free varieties, which is possible by using salt, vinegar and sugar rather than sodium ni-trite to cure the meat.

— Metro


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month but this is

not the only time you should think about a breast exam. Desert Valley Medical Group is educating women about the importance of early detection and the importance of mam-mograms.

Mammography is the best method readily available to detect breast cancer at an early stage. Throughout the month of October we encour-age women to make a mam-mography appointment.

Know the FactsThe statistics speak for

themselves. About 1 in 8 U.S. women (just over 12%) will develop invasive breast can-cer over the course of her life-time. Simply put, the chances are that someone in your family or someone you know is likely to fall victim to this devastating cancer.

For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any oth-er cancer, besides lung cancer. In addition, besides skin can-cer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.

Who Should Get a Mam-mogram?

According to the American Cancer Society the recom-mendations for early breast cancer detection in women without breast symptoms are as follows:

Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should contin-

ue to do so for as long as they are in good health.

Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a peri-odic (regular) health exam by a health professional prefer-ably every 3 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a CBE by a health professional every year.

Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should know about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to their health pro-fessional right away.

Early DetectionKnowing what your

breasts look and feel like and checking them regularly can help you detect when some-thing is wrong. Look out for new lumps and changes in shape.

Detecting cancer early can mean treatment is more effective. Knowing what your breasts normally feel like will help you be aware of any ab-normal changes. But not all changes are a sign of breast cancer. Some women have cysts or thickening of the breast tissue, which is nor-mal.

Your breasts appearance and feel can change at differ-ent times of the menstrual cycle. The milk-producing tissue in the breast becomes active in the days before a pe-riod starts. Some women find their breasts feel tender and lumpy at this time, especially near the armpits.

PreventionChoosing the right im-

aging center can be just as important as your decision to get a mammogram. With experienced radiologists and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment Desert Valley Medical Group is the smart choice for your next mammo-gram.

In recognition of Breast Health Awareness Month, Desert Valley Medical Group will be providing mammo-grams at a special rate for the entire month of October.

Call Desert Valley Medical Group at 760-241-8000, ext. 5160 to make your mammog-raphy appointment.— Desert Valley Medical Group

Breast Cancer — the importance of early detection


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Dr. Frank R. Lin, Johns-Hopkins Medicine

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Live Well September 2014

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