First lady didn't donate to breast cancer fund; Gov. Beshear announces collaboration to fight many cancers

Though First Lady Jane Beshear made headlines Monday when it was discovered neither she nor Gov. Steve Beshear had checked off a donation box to support breast cancer research on their state income tax returns — something the first lady has encouraged taxpayers to do — the governor announced Tuesday the formation of a foundation exclusively committed to reducing the rates of several types of cancer.

Gov. Beshear, who was treated for prostate cancer in 1994, joined members of the newly-formed Kentucky Cancer Foundation to announce their plans

to reduce lung, colon, breast and cervical cancer rates. To do so, foundation members will raise private funds and pursue grants to pay for services like mammograms, pap smears, smoking cessation programs and colon cancer screenings.

The public-private collaboration would focus first on screening 4,000 uninsured Kentuckians for colon cancer. Beshear has put $1 million for the screenings in his current budget proposal.

"Our most recent information shows more than 24,000 new cases of cancer in Kentucky each year and of those, more than 9,500 Kentuckians die from these cancers," Beshear said. "This is a real problem in our state that is affecting the lives of every family. As a cancer survivor, I know firsthand that screenings and an early diagnosis will help save our citizens from this horrible disease." (Read more)

As for the tax gaff, the Lexington Herald-Leader's Jack Brammer reports the 2010 returns show the Beshears did opt to check the box to donate at least $2 of their taxes to the Kentucky Democratic Party.

Diane L. Brumback, a Northern Kentucky breast-cancer survivor and Democrat who participated in a news conference with Beshear in January to promote the state-run Breast Cancer Research and Education Trust Fund, said Monday the first lady should stop promoting the cause "if she is not going to do as she says."

A Beshear spokeswoman underscored that the governor and first lady are very charitable. "On their 2010 tax return, you'll see they donated nearly $19,000 of their gross income — that's more than 11 percent of their before-tax income," said spokeswoman Kerri Richardson. "Not only do they donate money to many worthy causes, including those that support breast-cancer research, but they give their time and energy to promoting those charities and non-profit organizations." (Read more)

New technology at UK allows for more comprehensive breast imagery, especially for women with much dense or fatty tissue

Technology that will enable radiologists to see individual breast structures without overlapping tissues obstructing their view will begin being used at the breast care center at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center. It will be the only center in the state to use the 3-D technology known as tomosynthesis.

"In addition to providing the traditional top and side images of the breasts taken during a regular mammogram, tomosynthesis also allows the technician to take multiple X-ray pictures of each breast from many angles," a UK press release said. "A computer than combines all this information into one 3-D image."

The technology is expected to be especially useful for women who have dense or fatty breast tissue. More than 50 percent of women under the age of 50 have dense tissue and more than 30 percent of women over 50 have dense tissue. (Read more)

UK expert available for interviews today on National Mammography Day

A University of Kentucky expert is available for interviews this afternoon to discuss the importance of mammograms. The opportunity is in honor of National Mammography Day, which is today.

Dr. Margaret Szabunio, associate medical director for the UK Markey Cancer Center's Comprehensive Breast Care Center and division chief of women's radiology for UK HealthCare, is available for interviews from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:45 to 4:30 p.m.

National Mammography Day is part of national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The purpose of the day is to encourage women to get or make an appointment for a mammogram, which can sometimes detect a tumor up to three years before it can be felt.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast tissue. For every 1,000 women screened, about 80 will be called back for more evaluation. Of those, 15 will be recommended for a biopsy, and about one third of those women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

To set up an interview, contact Allison Perry at 859-323-2399 or allisonperry@uky.edu or Teri Timmons at 859-323-2406 or teri.timmons@uky.edu. (Read more)

Walnuts May Help Lower Breast Cancer Risk

(NaturalNews) A new study conducted by a team of researchers at Marshall University, and recently published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, has revealed that just modest, daily amounts of walnuts are sufficient to significantly lower the risk of breast cancer in mice.

To test the anti-cancer properties of walnuts, the mice involved in this study were genetically altered to develop breast cancer at an accelerated rate. The study evaluated the effects of dieting with and without walnuts, across the entire life-span of two tested groups of mice - one group was fed walnuts from conception to weaning, through the mothers, and later received walnuts directly into its daily diet, while a control group of mice was fed a regular diet, without walnuts.

Elaine Hardman, associate professor of biochemistry at Marshall's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, who led this research project, firmly believes in the possible health benefits of foods, stating that "food is important medicine in our diet".

What we put into our bodies makes a big difference, it determines how the body functions, our reaction to illness and health. The simple stuff really works: eat right, get off the couch, and turn off the TV. The results of her study stand to support her claims: the mice that were fed small amounts of walnuts had developed cancer at less than half the rate of the mice that had been fed a regular diet.

Moreover, the test mice that did develop cancer eventually had much smaller and less frequent tumors, suggesting than walnuts effectively slowed down cancer progression, even where a genetic predisposition existed. Hardman trusts that the walnuts' high content of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and, more notably, cholesterol lowering phytosterols, is to be credited for these amazing results in mice.

Moreover, vitamin E consumption and breast cancer development seem to be inversely proportional - the more vitamin E the mice consumed, the slower their cancerous tumors developed. Hardman also added that the walnut amounts given to the test group throughout the trial would equate to roughly 2 ounces of walnuts per day for average humans.

While scientific studies such as this one cannot accurately determine whether the health benefits documented are a direct result of something that is added to the diet, rather than of something that is removed from it, Hardman reminds us that additional studies conducted in the past support her hypothesis as well.

Walnuts, especially when raw, have the highest content of antioxidants in all known nuts, in addition to other cancer-fighting substances. At a closer look, Hardman's research team discovered that the very gene activity of the test mice, who were fed walnuts daily, had changed significantly in several areas believed to be relevant to breast cancer development.
Although the information revealed by Hardman's study is, without a doubt, gladdening, other members of the scientific community are still skeptical regarding the extent to which such data is relevant to humans.

Numerous variables, such as smoking, pollution, physical fitness, and lifestyle, make accurate prognoses on humans very difficult, as deputy director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C, Peter G. Shields observed, reminding us that while beta-carotene may fight against cancer in non-smokers, it is actually detrimental to the health of smokers.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/...

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/waln...

About the author:

Raw Michelle is a natural health blogger and researcher, sharing her passions with others, using the Internet as her medium. She discusses topics in a straight forward way in hopes to help people from all walks of life achieve optimal health and well-being. She has authored and published hundreds of articles on topics such as the raw food diet and green living in general. In 2010, Michelle created RawFoodHealthWatch.com, to share with people her approach to the raw food diet and detoxification.

Antidepressants increase the risk of breast cancer

Saturday, July 23, 2011 by: J. D. Heyes

(NaturalNews) Women who take an SSRI - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor - antidepressant have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a meta-analysis of 61 separate studies indicated.

"Reviewing the evidence is a critical public health issue in light of the increasing prevalence of antidepressant use, especially among women, and in light of the fact that one in eight women will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast during their lifetime," said the study, according to a report from the Alliance for Human Research Protection.

An astounding 27 million Americans regularly use antidepressants - most of whom are women, the report said. In fact, women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with MDD - Major Depressive Disorder - and three times as likely to be diagnosed with other Dysthymic Disorder, a chronic type of depression in which a person's moods are regularly low.

Worse, antidepressants are increasingly being prescribed for a host of other conditions including hot flashes, neuropathy, headaches, back pain and eating disorders. In fact, the report said, antidepressants are now the third-most prescribed medications, behind cholesterol-lowering drugs and painkillers.

That's bad news for women, based on the meta-analysis findings regarding the higher incidence of breast cancer. But it's also disturbing for women - and, more often, children as well - because of the increased risk to them posed by the dangerous effects of SSRI's.

That class of drugs, "which disturb the brain's chemistry, raising levels of serotonin, increase suicide and have been implicated in homicide cases," said the AHRP report. "They are also linked to birth defects."

And yet, it's difficult to get the word out, mostly because of the medical establishment's ties to Big Pharma and other beholden interests - a phenomenon the AHRP report acknowledges.

The study's authors "report the difficulty of uncovering the serious risks posed by SSRIs from the journal reports that fail to disclose serious negative findings. The tainted reports are often ghostwritten, but signed by prominent psychiatrists who have financial ties to drug manufacturers. The reports serve as industry promotional marketing vehicles--thus, any findings that might interfere with marketing goals are buried."

SSRI-related problems are especially growing in the United States, because doctors here prescribe them freely.

Antidepressant use in the U.S. alone doubled in a 10-year period, between 1996 and 2005. At the same time, research has shown that SSRI use is linked to a number of illnesses and conditions, including increased risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as - oddly enough - psychological problems, many of which have led to suicide.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033099_antidepressants_breast_cancer.html#ixzz1UUK875y9

Public health champion bravely fights cancer, inspires many

Dr. Rice Leach, who has championed public health in Kentucky for decades, is inspiring many by the upbeat way he is battling cancer. "He has talked about it at Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health meetings and at Rotary Club meetings. His hat of choice, a gift his son John bought at Cracker Barrel, reads 'I'm having a no hair day,'" the Lexington Herald-Leader's Mary Meehan reports.

Leach was Kentucky's commissioner for public health from 1992 to 2004. He is now commissioner of Fayette County's health department, which has undergone a tumultuous transition after the very public replacement of Dr. Melinda Rowe. "I've really admired his dedication to the job," Geoff Reed, a senior adviser to Mayor Jim Gray, told Meehan. "He's just that kind of person who shows real passion in everything he does."

Leach, 71, has lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes for which he is being treated with several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Meehan reports how Leach drew inspiration from the example set by his daughter, Mary Leach Whitcomb, who bravely fought breast cancer until her death in 2007. "If that 37-year-old can handle that big mess, you better believe I can handle this," he said. Meehan's piece provides a good example of how to write sensitively and informatively about a difficult subject. (Read more)

Resveratrol - Powerful antioxidant support for youthful, healthy aging

Resveratrol is one of the most amazing nutrients known to modern science. Known as a longevity nutrient that gives red wine it's amazing benefits on heart health, resveratrol continues to be widely studied for applications in treating cancer, diabetes, and even chronic inflammation. Several drug companies have already attempted to copy the resveratrol molecule and turn it into a "miracle drug" that would be patented and sold at huge profit margins.  While red wine is a good source of resveratrol, you would have to consume about 100 glasses a day which of course is never recommended.  Red wine is recommended in moderation of 1-2 glasses a day.  Resveratrol is now available in capsule form. 

Powerful antioxidant support for youthful, healthy aging

Resveratrol Youthful Aging™ combines the activated form of natural trans-resveratrol with red wine extract, green tea extract and grape seed extract. The research indicates that combining natural trans-resveratrol with other polyphenols provides greatest efficacy. 100% vegetarian product.

Each capsule contains the following youthful aging nutrients:

• Red Wine Extract
• Potent Natural Trans-Resveratrol
• Grape Seed Extract
• Green Tea Extract

The benefits of each of these nutrients are:

• Red Wine Extract
• Contains the group of polyphenols known to be the source of the French Paradox (a high fat diet but with much less cardiovascular health issues than Americans)
• Possess synergistic antioxidant and longevity attributes
• Nurtures healthy cardiovascular function
• Potent Natural Trans-Resveratrol

The most researched polyphenol found in red wine grapes, berries and Japanese Knotwood plant (polygonum) 

Includes only the bioactive form - natural trans-resveratrol

• Standardized for consistent efficacy in every capsule
• Promotes a healthy inflammatory response
• Positive impact on youthful gene expression
• Supports healthy dendrites formation in the brain
• Positive impact on healthy clotting levels

Grape Seed Extract

• Contains proanthocyanins (a class of polyphenols), which act as antioxidants and thought to be instrumental in combating oxidative stress
• Protect cells against free radical damage and resulting oxidative stress
• Animal studies indicate increased efficacy of resveratrol when combined with grape seed extract

Green Tea Extract

• Contains the powerful EGCg polyphenol
• EGCg is the polyphenol most closely associated with healthy cell expression

Parsley, Celery Carry Crucial Component for Fight Against Breast Cancer

Parsley, Celery Carry Crucial Component for Fight Against Breast Cancer, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (May 9, 2011) — Parsley is usually used as a decorative accent to a scrumptious meal, but don't set it aside just yet. In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has found that a compound in parsley and other plant products, including fruits and nuts, can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing. The study was published recently in Cancer Prevention Research.

In his study, Salman Hyder, the Zalk Endowed Professor in Tumor Angiogenesis and professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, exposed rats with a certain type of breast cancer to apigenin, a common compound found in parsley and other plant products. The rats that were exposed to the apigenin developed fewer tumors and experienced significant delays in tumor formation compared to those rats that were not exposed to apigenin. Hyder believes this finding could impact women who are taking certain hormone replacement therapies.

"Six to 10 million women in the United States receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT)," Hyder said. "We know that certain synthetic hormones used in HRT accelerate breast tumor development. In our study, we exposed the rats to one of the chemicals used in the most common HRTs received in the United States -- a progestin called medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) -- which also happens to be the same synthetic hormone that accelerates breast tumor development."

When tumor cells develop in the breast in response to MPA, they encourage new blood vessels to form within tumors. The blood vessels then supply needed nutrients for the tumors to grow and multiply. Hyder found that apigenin blocked new blood vessel formation, thereby delaying, and sometimes stopping, the development of the tumors. Hyder also found that the compound reduced the overall number of tumors. However, while apigenin did delay tumor growth, it did not stop the initial formation of cancer cells within the breast.

Apigenin is most prevalent in parsley and celery, but can also be found in apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products. However, apigenin is not absorbed efficiently into the bloodstream, so scientists are unsure of how much can or should be ingested.

"We don't have specific dosage for humans yet," Hyder said. "However, it appears that keeping a minimal level of apigenin in the bloodstream is important to delay the onset of breast cancer that progresses in response to progestins such as MPA. It's probably a good idea to eat a little parsley and some fruit every day to ensure the minimal amount. However, you can also find this compound in pill supplements in the health food section of many stores. Of course, you should always check with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle."

The next phrase of studies should include human clinical trials to determine the appropriate dosage amount, Hyder said. He believes further study on humans is necessary to address any health and safety issues that might exist.

The research team included Benford Mafuvadze, doctoral student in biomedical sciences, Indira Benakanakere, research scientist Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center; Franklin Lopez, research fellow in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology; Cynthia Besch-Williford, associate professor of veterinary pathobiology, and Mark Ellersieck, research professor of statistics in the College of Arts and Science.

Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia.
________________________________________
Journal Reference:
1. B. Mafuvadze, I. Benakanakere, F. Lopez, C. L. Besch-Williford, M. Ellersieck, S. M. Hyder. Apigenin prevents development of medroxyprogesterone acetate-accelerated 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cancer Prevention Research, 2011; DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-10-0382