Stand Up To Cancer

You guys know I can't resist a good food story, and this week's is a humdinger: several major manufacturers of hot dogs are being sued by an offshoot of a vegetarian advocacy group. The Cancer Project wants hot dogs to carry warning labels cautioning that they increase the risk of cancer, citing an American Institute for Cancer Research report indicating that consumption of processed meats ups colorectal cancer risk.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g2VXQsB1U5blZHNw5KupjWVX-39QD99JORG00

When we hear the words "lung cancer," the image that most often comes to mind is that of a dedicated, pack-a-day smoker. But lung cancer also hits nonsmokers, and is just as lethal in those who've never touched a cigarette in their lives. Now a new NCI-sponsored study aims to examine the causes of lung cancer in those who have never smoked, looking for biomarkers and other risk indicators. "About 10 to 15 years after someone has stopped smoking, their cancer more closely resembles cancers from never-smokers than from smokers," the study's lead researcher notes. "As more and more people quit smoking, lung cancer will mainly become a disease of former smokers."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/columnists/sburns/stories/DN-p2miller_23bus.ART.State.Edition1.3cf5983.html

A new study covered by the Army Times indicates that active-duty service members have higher rates of breast cancer and double the rates of prostate cancer of civilians. Researchers think early screening could be the culprit - the cancers are being caught earlier in the military population. But there could be other reasons. Military women are more likely to take birth control than the general population, and service members are more likely to be exposed to depleted uranium, which could up prostate cancer risk.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/military_cancerrates_072209w/

According to an article in the New York Times, doctors and pharmaceutical companies are moving toward a new cancer treatment approach involving longer chemotherapy. "Maintenance therapy" could help keep tumors under control longer and is increasingly common as newer, less toxic cancer drugs continue to emerge. But maintenance therapy remains controversial, both because some cancers cannot be controlled in the long-term and because of the burden it places on an already overloaded health care system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/health/21canc.html?_r=1&ref=health

Finally, fresh news on green tea, touted by some as the natural cure for all ills. A metastudy comparing the results of 51 previous studies performed over two decades finds no conclusive evidence that drinking green tea reduces cancer risk - and it may actually slightly increase the odds of developing bladder cancer. The authors did, however, note "limited moderate to strong evidence" that the beverage helps protect against lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancer.
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/07/21/no-firm-evidence-green-tea-helps-prevent-cancer.html

That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!

--Cat