Every puff of tobacco is packed with 250 harmful chemicals. Nearly 70 of them cause cancer. And it’s more than just lung cancer. Cigarettes are linked to 12 other kinds, including stomach, bladder, kidney, mouth, and throat. The sooner you stop, the better. Ask your doctor for advice on quit-smoking methods.
Eat More Broccoli
2/14
Fruits and veggies pack an anti-cancer punch because they’re high in nutrients and fiber, and low in fat. Try broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, watercress, or other cruciferous vegetables. They protect against DNA damage that can turn cells cancerous. Or eat colorful berries. Studies show they have cancer-fighting chemicals that ward off damage to cells.
Trim a Few Pounds
3/14
Extra weight around your middle could add up to a greater chance of having cancer, especially of the breast, colon, uterus, pancreas, esophagus, and gallbladder. Researchers say one reason may be that fat cells release substances that encourage cancer cells to grow.
Go Easy on Alcohol
4/14
Tip back too many martinis each day, and your odds of cancer go up. Alcohol is linked to cancers of the mouth, breast, liver, esophagus, and others. The more you drink, the higher your risk. If you drink, do it in moderation. Women should stick to one drink a day, men up to two.
Addressing fungal infections may offer a novel means to help prevent cancer in the immunocompromised.
Some researchers are looking for innovative ways to fight cancer. One novel approach may involve addressing fungal infections.
According to a 2021 study published in Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin (APB), epidemiological evidence shows a clear link between fungal infections and cancer development. Researchers frequently find this association in people who are immunocompromised, such as those with AIDS.
Why Might the Connection Between Cancer and Fungal Infections Be Relevant?
In 2018 18.1 million new cases of cancer occurred worldwide, with 9.5 million lives lost to it. Experts predict the number of new cases will soar to 29.5 million by 2040 and cancer-related deaths to 16.4 million. In an attempt to reduce the ever-rising rates of incidence, some scientists are exploring the risk factors that underlie the disease.
According to the APB study, cancer has a broad array of risk factors including microbial infection, obesity, diet, sex and nation, lifestyle, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exposure to environmental pollutants.
A 2020 study published in Microbial Pathogenesis found that microbial infections underlie about 20 percent of all cancers. Of this 20 percent, a portion may stem from fungal infections.
The APB study states that the most common fungi species involved in cancer include:
Candida albicans
C. tropicalis
C. glabrata
Fusarium verticillioides
F. proliferatum
Aspergillus flavus
A. parasiticus
How Do Fungal Infections Increase Cancer Risk?
The APB study explains that fungal infections produce cancer-causing chemicals that include:
Acetaldehyde: This harms DNA and prevents repair of the damage. The greater the exposure to acetaldehyde, the higher the cancer risk.
Mycotoxins: These are fungal metabolites that cause adverse health effects, including chromosomal changes and a risk of cancer.
Nitrosamine: These are chemicals that can damage chromosomes or DNA and have tumor-producing effects.
Proinflammatory cytokines: These chemicals indicate inflammation. They influence cancer development in multiple ways.
Who May Get Fungal Infections?
Anyone can get a fungal infection. While many types of fungi do not usually cause infections in healthy individuals, they are more likely to produce them in those with weakened immunity. The below factors may make it more difficult to fight a fungal infection:
Certain Health Conditions
This includes HIV or AIDS, especially in those with a CD4 (a type of white blood cell that plays a role in immunity) count of less than 200. Stem cell or organ transplants also make fighting fungal infection more difficult due to the immunosuppressive drugs taken to prevent organ rejection.
A Stay in a Health Care Facility
The use of medical devices, such as ventilators and catheters in hospitals or skilled nursing facilities create opportunities for fungi to enter the body. Candida auris frequently spreads among people in health care settings. Candida auris can be spread through contact with infected people and contaminated equipment or surfaces in health care settings.
Older Age
A decline in immunity is a well-known effect of aging, thus, fighting off fungal infections is more challenging for older adults.
Medications That Affect Immunity
This includes oral and inhaled corticosteroids, which are used to treat asthma, allergies, arthritis, and autoimmune diseases. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as TNF inhibitors used to treat autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy also weaken the immune response.
What Antifungal Interventions Are Available?
Doctors may recommend prophylactic treatment for fungal infections for people with weakened immunity. Prophylaxis in this context refers to taking antifungal medications to help prevent infections, instead of waiting until infections manifest to start treatment.
Fungi are a natural part of the environment, so it is hard to avoid them. They are present in soil and outdoor vegetation, as well as on the skin and many indoor surfaces. The following measures may reduce exposure to fungi:
Stay away from areas with lots of dust, such as construction sites.
Avoid areas with bird and bat droppings, such as chicken coops and caves.
Wear shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when engaging in outdoor activities.
Wear gloves when handling manure, moss, or soil.
What Natural Agents Have Antifungal Properties?
Although antifungal medications are available, they can have side effects. In addition, drug-resistant fungal strains are emerging. Consequently, researchers are looking for alternatives to synthetic drugs that come from natural compounds. The below options show promise:
Garlic
Studies have found that many fungi species are sensitive to garlic. The antifungal mechanisms of action in garlic include:
Suppressing the synthesis of nutrients fungi need, such as proteins and fats.
Reducing their growth.
Damaging their cell membranes.
Decreasing their oxygen uptake.
Other studies note that garlic contains more than 100 biologically active compounds, most of which contain sulfur. A main sulfur compound, ajoene, has “important” antifungal activity against both yeast and non-yeast forms of fungi.
Curcumin
Curcumin is a compound found in the spice turmeric that contains powerful antifungal properties. Curcumin suppresses fungi growth by disrupting their synthesis of vital enzymes and proteins.
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Another study discovered that curcumin was more effective than the antifungal drug fluconazole in inhibiting the attachment of candida species to cells inside of the cheek, particularly in people with AIDS.
Propolis
Propolis is a mixture of beeswax and pollen that bees collect from certain plants. Studies found that it contains 26 or more constituents with antifungal properties. Researchers propose that the main mechanism of action underlying its properties stems from the ability to induce apoptosis, or cell death, in fungi.
A Final Word
Although many individuals with cancer have fungal infections, it does not mean that the infections cause the cancer.
However, the authors of the APB study express concern, as they note that the infections “may play a significant role in the risk for precancerous lesions.” With this in mind, it seems reasonable to think that efforts to prevent fungal infections in people with compromised immunity are worthwhile.
Urolithin A may improve mitochondrial function, leading to lower inflammation levels and boosted immune function
The metabolite Urolithin A, a compound found in berries, walnuts, and pomegranates, seems to have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties due to its effects on mitochondria.
Aging is inevitable, but some of the maladies we face as we age may one day be mitigated, thanks to advancing knowledge about exactly what causes our bodies to decline with time.
The landmark 2013 Hallmarks of Aging study identified nine factors that contribute to health decline in advancing age: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication.
The study was updated in 2022 to include five additional factors. One of these is inflammation.
Chronic, low-grade inflammation has been called “inflammaging” because it is a significant risk factor for disease and death in the elderly. In fact, human aging is characterized by chronic, low-grade inflammation, and most—if not all—age-related diseases arise from an inflammatory process, according to gerontologists.
At the body’s cellular level, damaged mitochondria are thought to contribute to inflammation and aging.
“As we age, our mitochondrial health declines, and as a consequence, energy levels decline,” Anurag Singh, M.D., with a doctorate in immunology, told The Epoch Times.
“This is mainly because rates of cellular processes such as mitophagy slow down and we accumulate more faulty mitochondria in our cells.”
What Is Mitophagy?
Mitophagy is “a cellular renewal process that recycles poorly functioning mitochondria into building blocks of newer healthier mitochondria,” Singh explained.
Can we induce and harness mitophagy to ameliorate disease? This is a newer field of research that holds promise.
The 2020 review article “Mitophagy: An Emerging Role in Aging and Age-Associated Diseases,” by a group of French, Chinese, and Swedish researchers, found “impaired mitophagy and dysfunctional mitophagic mechanisms were associated with numerous physiological and pathological processes.”
These included “development, differentiation, aging, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular pathologies, and cancer.”
Renewing Mitochondria
We now know that many foods long considered to be “healthy” are beneficial thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. The metabolite Urolithin A, a compound found in berries, walnuts, and pomegranates, seems to have anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties due to its effects on mitochondria.
“The most studied health benefits of Urolithin A are on improving mitochondrial health,” said Singh.
Singh and co-authors of the study “Impact of the Natural Compound Urolithin A on Health, Disease, and Aging” noted that Urolithin A protects against aging and age-related conditions affecting muscle, brain, joints, and other organs by inducing mitophagy.
Singh is also chief medical officer of Amazentis, a company that makes a Urolithin A supplement.
Although Urolithin A was discovered more than 40 years ago, research into the benefits of supplementing the human diet with Urolithin A is relatively new.
Recent advances in Urolithin A research suggest that it “attenuates inflammation in various tissues, including the brain, adipose, heart, and liver tissues,” according to researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
This attenuation leads to the “potential delay or prevention of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,” they wrote.
“Urolithin A is the only clinically studied natural molecule shown to activate mitophagy that has shown to be safe across multiple randomized clinical trials and that when orally administered improves mitochondrial health,” said Singh, citing another study, this one by Swiss researchers, that showed improved mitochondrial and cellular health following regular oral administration in a group of sedentary elderly subjects.
The only other interventions known to activate mitophagy are regular exercise and calorie restriction, he said.
A Treatment for Cancer?
Mitophagy induced by Urolithin A changes T cells’ genetic program, making them more able to fight tumors, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola.
A German study published late last year showed Urolithin A improved the function of immune cells and called it a promising treatment for colorectal cancer.
“After treatment with urolithin A, tumour-fighting immune cells become T memory stem cells, which, due to their ability to divide, constantly supply the immune system with rejuvenated, non-exhausted T cells,” the researchers reported.
The Gut Connection
Not everyone naturally produces Urolithin A. The ability to do so requires a specific type of microbiome composition in the gut and depends on age, health, and diet.
Only approximately 40 percent of the human population has this specific gut microbiome composition, researchers have determined. Singh wrote, “Direct supplementation with Urolithin A overcomes limitations of dietary exposure and gut microbiome variability in healthy adults to achieve consistent levels across the population.”
“One way people can focus on the key pillars of good health is eating a balanced diet rich in fiber, fruits, and nuts rich in the dietary precursors that lead to Urolithin A production,” Singh told The Epoch Times.
While research into the benefits of Urolithin A is relatively new, it looks as though the compound holds great promise as an anti-inflammatory agent and a possible cancer treatment. Enjoying berries, nuts, and pomegranates as well as other inflammation-fighting foods will boost your body’s functioning from the cellular level.
Over the past few decades, people have become increasingly aware of the risks associated with excessive exposure to UV radiation from sunlight, including skin cancer, photoaging, and cataracts.
However, appropriate sun exposure provides benefits that are crucial for human health. Growing evidence suggests that sun exposure not only helps prevent and treat a variety of diseases, but insufficient exposure to sunlight may also increase the risk of cancer.
Sun Exposure Increases Skin Cancer Risk, but May Prevent Other Types of Cancer
Many people associate sun exposure with skin cancer, but research has found that insufficient exposure to UV radiation may also be linked to other types of cancer.
Before delving into this topic, we first need to understand the relationship between sunlight, UV radiation, and vitamin D.
Energy from the sun reaches the Earth in the form of visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is further divided into three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC, of which only UVA and UVB reach the Earth’s surface. UVC is absorbed by the atmosphere.
UVB in sunlight is absorbed by cholesterol in the skin and converted to vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is then metabolized in the liver to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (also known as calcidiol) and in the kidneys to its biologically active form (calcitriol), according to a 2004 article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
According to that article, the only way to determine a person’s vitamin D level is to measure the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in their blood. This 25-hydroxyvitamin D has a half-life of approximately two weeks and is the major circulating form of vitamin D.
In 2022, a study published in the journal Nutrients found that, based on ecological studies of cancer related to solar radiation, sun exposure may decrease the incidence and mortality risks of approximately 23 types of cancer. According to an article in Environmental Health Perspectives, compared to those who live in regions with longer sunlight exposure, people living at high latitudes with less sunlight exposure have an increased mortality risk from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and other types of cancer.
According to the Nutrients study, meta-analyses of multiple observational studies have shown that there is a significant negative correlation between the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood and the incidence of 12 different types of cancer, indicating that higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with a lower incidence of cancer.
American researchers conducted a meta-analysis of two randomized clinical trials and one prospective cohort and found that among 5,038 women, the group with the highest 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration (≥60 ng/ml) had an 82 percent lower incidence of breast cancer compared to the group with the lowest concentration (<20 ng/ml). The same group had an 80 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those with the lowest concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, and calcium supplement intake.
Another meta-analysis found that breast cancer patients with the highest concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D had a death rate of approximately half that of those with the lowest concentration. In a clinical trial, over 2,300 women aged 55 and above residing in Nebraska consumed 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 (two to four times the daily suggestion) and 1,500 milligrams of calcium daily. The results showed that in the subsequent two to four years, individuals who achieved a blood concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D at 55 ng/ml had a 35 percent lower risk of developing cancer compared to those with a concentration of 30 ng/ml.
A meta-analysis of five studies found that individuals with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration less than or equal to 12 ng/ml had a 50 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer compared to those with a concentration of 33 ng/ml or greater.
How Does Sun Exposure Prevent Cancer?
“We believe that vitamin D plays multiple roles in helping to reduce the risk of many deadly cancers,” said Michael F. Holick, a professor of pharmacology, physiology, and biophysics at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, in an interview with The Epoch Times.
Studies such as the one that appeared in Nutrients have demonstrated that the active form of vitamin D3 has a wide range of anti-cancer effects, including inhibiting cancer cell growth, inducing cancer cell maturation and apoptosis, reducing angiogenesis, and decreasing cancer cell metastasis.
“The active form of vitamin D can prevent cells from becoming cancer cells, and if they do, it can also hinder their ability to receive nutrients and ultimately lead to their death by shutting down angiogenesis,” Holick explained.
Active vitamin D3 is a hormone that can regulate the immune system by acting on various immune cells, according to a 2022 study review in Nutrients.
Additionally, low levels of vitamin D are often associated with low-grade inflammation, as reflected by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, which is a significant risk factor for cancer. Meta-analyses such as the 2022 Nutrients review have shown that the level of C-reactive protein is associated with several types of cancer. Cell experiments have demonstrated that active vitamin D3 can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may help reduce chronic inflammation.
Small Amounts of UV Radiation Are Beneficial in Fighting Cancer
In addition to the vitamin D generated by UV radiation, the radiation itself can also be beneficial. According to a review in Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, the protective effects of less-intense solar UV radiation on the human body outweigh the radiation’s potential mutagenic effect.
Animal studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to a reduction in the area of colon tumors in mice.
Sunlight Exposure Regulates Circadian Rhythm and Generates Other Active Substances
Regular exposure to sunlight can regulate circadian rhythm and influence the secretion of various hormones in the human body.
Some studies suggest that melatonin can inhibit tumor growth, and daytime light exposure enhances the inhibitory effect of nighttime melatonin on the growth of prostate, liver, and breast cancer. The precursor of melatonin, serotonin, is affected by exposure to daylight. It is usually produced during the day and converted to melatonin only in darkness. Exposure to sunlight in the morning promotes the secretion of serotonin, which in turn accelerates the production of melatonin at night, according to the Environmental Health Perspectives article.
The increased risk of cancer among night shift workers may be due to their disrupted circadian rhythm, which affects the production of melatonin.
Exposure to sunlight not only produces vitamin D3 in the skin, but also generates other photoproducts of previtamin D3, which have additional unique biologic activities. “It generates a whole host of other things,” Holick explained.
A systematic review in Dermatoendocrinology specifically indicated that inadequate sun exposure carries many other risks, including increased all-cause mortality, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, it can lead to multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, macular degeneration, statin intolerance, and myopia.
How to Get Sun Exposure Safely and Efficiently
The medical community has always advocated for moderate sun exposure. “Such suggestion is not unreasonable,” said Holick. “The solution (getting vitamin D through sun exposure) is simple.”
According to the Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology review, under normal circumstances, about 90 percent of the body’s essential vitamin D is obtained through sun exposure. However, people are now spending much less time in the sun, especially after the pandemic.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the standard for 25-hydroxyvitamin D in plasma should not be lower than 20 ng/ml. However, the reality is that 32 percent of Americans have been found to have vitamin D insufficiency, according to the Dermatoendocrinology review. If the Endocrine Society’s standard for vitamin D sufficiency (30 ng/ml) is used, the proportion of people with vitamin D deficiency would further increase.
It is estimated that for every 100 IU of vitamin D ingested, the blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increases by only 1 ng/ml (2.5 nmol/l). For most adults, periodic and brief sun exposure can provide sufficient vitamin D, which is more effective than taking 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. Moreover, getting vitamin D through sun exposure prevents the potential toxicity of excessive vitamin D supplementation.
Holick stated that the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level should reach 75 nmol/l (30 ng/ml), and the ideal range is between 40 to 60 ng/ml, “just like the Maasai herders.” The Maasai are traditionally nomadic people who live in East Africa.
Generally, it is recommended to expose the arms, legs, and other body parts to the sun for 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week. However, this is not an absolute rule, as factors such as season, latitude, weather, time of day, skin pigmentation, clothing, age, sunscreen use, and glass can all influence the production of vitamin D3 in the skin.
For example, during winter, sunlight enters the atmosphere at a more oblique angle, and more UVB photons are absorbed by the ozone layer. In areas north of 37° latitude in the Northern Hemisphere from November to February, the decrease in the number of UVB photons reaching the Earth’s surface can range from 80 to 100 percent, depending on the latitude.
In the morning or evening, the angle of sunlight is so oblique that even in summer, the rate at which vitamin D3 is produced in the skin of individuals living in these regions is very slow.
People with lighter skin may only need a short amount of time in the sun to get enough vitamin D, while those with darker skin may require more time to achieve the same effect. For most white people, according to the Environmental Health Perspectives article, sunbathing in swimwear for half an hour in the summer sun can initiate the release of 50,000 IU (1.25 mg) of vitamin D into the circulatory system within the following 24 hours; the same sun exposure yields 20,000 to 30,000 IU vitamin D for tanned-skin individuals and 8,000 to 10,000 IU vitamin D in dark-skinned individuals.
According to research from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, exposing 22 percent of the skin for 10 to 15 minutes to the sun during spring and summer can synthesize 1,000 IU of vitamin D. However, it is more challenging to obtain sufficient vitamin D from sun exposure alone during autumn and winter because people typically only expose 8 to 10 percent of their skin, which may require 6.5 hours of sun exposure to obtain the same amount of vitamin D.
A study of 2,360 American adults published in Frontiers in 2022 showed that in real life, exposure to sunlight for around 35 minutes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, without deliberately sunbathing at noon, can result in ideal serum vitamin D levels (>50 nmol/l).
Holick introduced a software called D Minder that he helped develop. By using this software, people can instantly find out how much sun exposure is needed in their area to obtain sufficient vitamin D.
Holick also recommended protecting the face, which is the most susceptible to sunburn, while sunbathing; whereas exposing the arms, legs, abdomen, and back to the sun for a reasonable and shorter duration without using sunblock can generate a significant amount of vitamin D.
Every puff of tobacco is packed with 250 harmful chemicals. Nearly 70 of them cause cancer. And it’s more than just lung cancer. Cigarettes are linked to 12 other kinds, including stomach, bladder, kidney, mouth, and throat. The sooner you stop, the better. Ask your doctor for advice on quit-smoking methods.
Eat More Broccoli
2/14
Fruits and veggies pack an anti-cancer punch because they’re high in nutrients and fiber, and low in fat. Try broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, watercress, or other cruciferous vegetables. They protect against DNA damage that can turn cells cancerous. Or eat colorful berries. Studies show they have cancer-fighting chemicals that ward off damage to cells.
Trim a Few Pounds
3/14
Extra weight around your middle could add up to a greater chance of having cancer, especially of the breast, colon, uterus, pancreas, esophagus, and gallbladder. Researchers say one reason may be that fat cells release substances that encourage cancer cells to grow.
Go Easy on Alcohol
4/14
Tip back too many martinis each day, and your odds of cancer go up. Alcohol is linked to cancers of the mouth, breast, liver, esophagus, and others. The more you drink, the higher your risk. If you drink, do it in moderation. Women should stick to one drink a day, men up to two.
Cut Back on Hot Dogs
5/14
Think twice before you throw some on the grill. Studies show that processed meats, like hot dogs, bacon, and sausage, have chemicals called nitrites and nitrates that may be linked to cancer. And research suggests too much red meat like steak and burgers could be a long-term risk for colorectal cancer. Choose safer alternatives for your backyard cookout, like chicken breast or fish.
Get Off the Couch
6/14
Do you spend too much time lounging around? Cancer prevention is one more reason to get moving. Exercise fights obesity and lowers levels of hormones like estrogen and insulin, which have been linked to cancer. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise — the kind that gets your heart pumping — on most days of the week.
Put on Sunscreen
7/14
Baking in the sun might give you a healthy-looking glow, but under the surface, UV rays cause skin damage that could lead to cancer. Because you can burn in just 15 minutes, rub on sunscreen before you go outside. Pick a broad-spectrum product with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply whenever you sweat or swim. And when you’re out in the sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat and wraparound sunglasses.
Practice Safer Sex
8/14
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) aren’t your only worry during unprotected sex. Some of these infections also increase your odds of having cancer. About 70% of cervical cancers start with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18. Some types of hepatitis can cause liver cancer. To stay safe, use a latex condom every time you have sex.
Get Vaccinated
9/14
When it comes to vaccines, think beyond your annual flu shot. Some can protect against cancer, too. Certain HPV vaccines prevent cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, and anus. The time to get vaccinated is between ages 9 and 26. The hepatitis B vaccine wards off the virus that causes liver cancer. It’s part of the childhood vaccination schedule.
Avoid Toxic Chemicals
10/14
Chemicals called carcinogens damage DNA in your cells and raise your chance of having cancer if you touch, eat, or breathe them in. Asbestos, radon, and benzene are a few that some people come into contact with at work or home. Chemicals in weedkillers, plastics, and some home products may also be risky. You can’t avoid every chemical, but know which ones are in products you use and switch to safer options if you can.
Know Your Family History
11/14
You inherited more than your mother’s eyes or your father’s grin. They may also have shared their chances for having diseases like cancer. Some genes that parents pass down to their kids have flaws. They don’t repair damaged DNA the way they should, which lets cells turn into cancer. Learn about your family’s medical history and ask your doctor if a genetic test is a good idea for you.
Stay Up to Date With Screenings
12/14
Screening tests catch cancer early — sometimes even before it starts. A colonoscopy often finds polyps in the colon and rectum before they turn into cancer. The Pap test locates pre–cancerous and cancerous cells in a woman’s cervix. Mammograms and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) look for early breast and lung cancers. Ask your doctor when to start getting these tests, and how often you need them.
Take Meds if You Need Them
13/14
Some drugs lower your odds of getting certain cancers. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox) and raloxifene (Evista) can reduce breast cancer risk but may have serious side effects. Aspirin may protect against colorectal and prostate cancers. Be wary, though, of supplements that promise to keep you cancer-free. Many haven’t been proven, and some have side effects.
Be Cautious About Hormone Therapy
14/14
It can ease menopause symptoms like hot flashes and fatigue, and protect your bones. But hormone therapy may raise your chances of breast cancer and make cancer harder to detect. Ask your doctor about your risks before you try this treatment.
The battle against cancer is heading into new territory, as scientists explore the healing ability of substances that support the body’s cells, instead of killing them off. Researchers from the Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Aging (INRCA) have made a breakthrough discovery for preventing the spread of malignant tumors. A natural plant-based combination, including quercetin and tocotrienols, effectively targets aging cells that cause chronic inflammation and cancer. This dynamic, anti-cancer duo causes stubborn cancer cells to die off and simultaneously promotes the growth of normal cells.
This dynamic duo heals the body at the cellular level by triggering a die-off sequence within aging and malignant cells. If old, decrepit cells become inefficient at performing cellular division, new cells cannot be created. If these senile cells refuse to die off, a condition called cellular senescence sets in. This causes an accumulation of aged cells that emit pro-inflammatory chemicals into the body. This process promotes aging in the body and increases cancer risk. Quercetin and tocotrienols help to remove aging cells so healthy cells have space to flourish.
Moreover, quercetin and tocotrienols identify malignant cancer cells and speed up their cellular senescence. This dynamic duo effectively target unwanted cancer cells and speed up their death, preventing cancer cell replication. The two natural substances remove inflammatory, aging cells and stop malignant cells from growing. This combination is a highly intelligent form of medicine that deciphers dangerous cells and manipulates cellular senescence so that the body can heal itself. The combination can be employed as an adjunct therapy for cancers of many origins. This combination can be used to prevent cancer from taking hold and stop early cancers in their tracks.
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Anti-cancer intelligence of tocotrienols
Tocotrienols are an anti-inflammatory type of vitamin E that can be found in wheat germ, barley, oat, rye, cranberries, blueberries, kiwi, plum, coconut, and some nuts. It is also isolated in supplement form. Research confirms that this form of vitamin E can reverse cell cycle arrest and reduce DNA damage, especially for treatment of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma. However, assimilation of tocotrienols in the human intestine is poor because they are lipophilic in nature (they dissolve in lipids and fats). Researchers must find ways to increase the bio-availability of tocotrienols to increase this vitamin’s therapeutic effects. Intestinal absorption depends upon the secretion of bile and transporters such as ?-tocopherol transfer protein (?-TTP); therefore, assimilation of tocotrienols occurs more readily with food. Nutritionists recommend a daily dose of 150 mg of tocotrienols. One should expect to see therapeutic benefits with supplementation after ninety days.
The healing nature of quercetin
Quercetin is a plant-based flavonoid and antioxidant that helps plants defend against disease. When quercetin is combined with tocotrienols, synergy is created; together these natural substances slow the aging process, prolong the life of healthy cells, and induce apoptosis of malignant cancer cells. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, quercetin can benefit seasonal allergies, asthma, bronchitis, and congestion. Quercetin is commonly found in apples, tea, onions, nuts, berries, cauliflower and cabbage and can be isolated and consumed in the form of a supplement. To rid the body of aging cells, nutritionists recommend a daily dose of quercetin (500 to 800 mg) for up to three consecutive months, followed by a maintenance dose of 150 mg a day. It is best to consult a healthcare professional, as many medications can adversely interact with the body when healing substances are introduced.
A steady drumbeat of research suggests that taking a small dose of daily aspirin over a period of years can reduce the risk of certain cancers. The strongest data favoring aspirin as a preventive are for cancers of the colon and rectum, stomach, and esophagus.
In April 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a recommendation stating that a low-dose aspirin regimen is most beneficial for adults age 50-59.
“Our research has demonstrated a benefit for aspirin in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, and we are pleased with the new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force,” says Charles S. Fuchs, MD, MPH, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber. “Our ongoing research seeks to fully understand the mechanisms by which aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer and assess whether we can leverage those findings to improve the treatment of patients with established colorectal cancer.”
According to the Task Force recommendations, the adults most likely to benefit from aspirin are those who are not at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, have a life expectancy of at least 10 years, and who are willing to take low-dose aspirin daily for at least 10 years.
For adults age 60-69, the Task Force recommends individuals speak with their primary care physician about the risks and benefits of aspirin use, and whether a low-dose regimen is right for them. The Task Force’s findings did not have sufficient evidence showing an aspirin regimen would be beneficial for adults younger than 50 or older than 70.
The biggest obstacle to recommending routine aspirin use is the significant risk of causing gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. So, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits with a physician.
Data supporting an aspirin regimen
In August 2014, researchers from London’s Queen Mary University concluded that daily aspirin taken over 10 years reduced the risk of developing cancers of the digestive tract – colon, stomach, and esophagus – by as much as 40 percent, and had a lesser impact on the number of lung, breast and prostate cancer diagnoses. The leader of the research – published in the Annals of Oncology, said “the evidence is that everyone between 50 and 65 should consider [taking daily] aspirin.”
A team at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia has also presented research showing that low-dose aspirin helps suppress inflammatory pathways that feed prostate cancer cell formation. And another study in 2014 reported that daily aspirin could reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 20 to 34 percent.
However, it is important to consider that many of these aspirin studies are observational and designed to look for preventive effects in heart disease, rather than side-by-side comparisons of aspirin versus no aspirin for cancer prevention.
More research is needed
A 2010 review of four clinical trials revealed that over a 20-year period, taking low doses of aspirin was associated with a 24 percent reduction in colon cancer cases and a 35 percent drop in deaths.
However, a study by researchers at Dana-Farber and Massachusetts General Hospital has suggested that this benefit may be limited to individuals who are already at high risk of colon cancer because they have elevated levels of an inflammatory factor called TNFR-2in their blood. Fuchs, senior author of the study, noted that TNFR-2 was the only one of three inflammatory markers that was relevant to colon cancer risk, showing that testing for specific biomarkers likely will be needed to identify patients who might benefit from preventive use of aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs.
This finding reflects a larger set of unanswered questions about aspirin as a cancer preventive: Who might benefit – people who are at low risk for developing cancer, or those at high risk? How long does it take for aspirin’s presumed protective effect to kick in, and how long must the drug be taken for maximum benefit?
Research continues. Meanwhile, patients should discuss the pros and cons of daily aspirin, as with any course of medication, with their doctor.
In April 2016, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 
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