Stand Up To Cancer

It's not always easy to contribute to charitable causes like SU2C - especially when the economy's on a downturn. That's why movies like "Living Proof," which profiles SU2C friend Dr. Dennis Slamon, are so helpful - because they remind us of how even the smallest contributions can make a big difference for researching fighting cancer. "Living Proof" tells the story of the development of Herceptin and airs Saturday at 9 EDT on Lifetime.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/16/entertainment/e085255D01.DTL

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the opportunities to help out in the battle against breast cancer have never been more plentiful. If you use Clinique moisturizer, buy a bottle this month and $10 of your purchase will go to cancer research - and that's just one example of the many "pink products" available this month. The below article details more.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008274402_zliv16pinkproducts.html

Some research in the past has suggested that caffeine intake could be linked to breast cancer risk. But a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine clears up any confusion on the topic. While caffeine may affect breast cancer progression, researchers say, there is no reason to suggest that it ups breast cancer risk.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2008/10/caffeine-probab.html

The same cannot be said for cigarettes, of course, and new research indicates that the risk is greater than we previously believed. It's not just cigarette smoke but nicotine in general that spurs the growth of breast cancer - meaning both secondhand smoke and nicotine replacement therapies should be avoided.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/10/16/nicotine_found_to_spur_breast_cancer_growth/

On to more heartwarming news. Just yesterday, Annette Bloch, the widow of an H&R Block founder and a breast cancer survivor, donated $20 million to the University of Kansas, where she was successfully treated earlier this year. "I feel so lucky and so blessed that I can do this," Bloch said. "I know that if my husband were alive, he would be just thrilled that I am."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jBv4kzoraDAXSY5_t1jOthg-dQbQD93QJPDO0

And finally, more news on this year's most controversial cancer topic, the link between cell phones and brain cancer. A new study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer takes a hard line on mobile phone use, finding that the chances of developing a malignant tumor are "significantly increased" in those who've used a cell phone for ten years. "To underestimate the risk would be a complete disaster," said the professor in charge of the study.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3208416/Mobile-phones-increase-risk-of-cancer-study-says.html

Got an opinion on cell phones or anything else? Share it in our forums!

That's all for this week, but we'll be back next Thursday with more news you can use . . .

--Cat