Lifestyle Research News from the NCRI conference Liverpool November 2011 |
Exercise reduces radiotherapy late effects (abstract): A study of 440 men with prostate cancer evaluated lifestyle habits and the level of late toxicity after radical radiotherapy. Regular exercisers where much more likely to get normal erection, and not have urinary or bowel urgency. Likewise smoking and being overweight were other adverse factors - more about exercise after cancer
Lip balms made from naural oils are better at helping chemotherapy associated chapped lips (abstract). A study of 100 men and women receiving chemotherapy showed that the incidence of chapped lips went up 2.5 fold but petroleum based creams rarely helped as opposed to their natural, albeit more expensive, counterparts. From this study lip care guideliens have been developed along with a natural, organic balm specifically designed for people on chemotherapy - see lip care guidance
Online nutritional tests reveal stricking levels of Vitamin D and Omega 3 deficiency in cancer Survivors (abstract). Cancernet has established an online service which measures the essentail micronutients, a deficiency or excess of which have been linked to cancer. The results of the first cohort of participants who bought this service online were presented in the NCRI conference. 95% had sub-optimal levels in one or both of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaeonic acid (DHA). 92% (37 of the 40) patients had levels of 25 hydroxyl vitamin D lower than 75 nmol/l with 29 (73%) having levels lower than 50 nmol/l. These individuals were issued an comprehensive dietary and lifestyle advice report which aims to restore them to an optimal nutrional status - read more about micro-nutrient testing |
Vitamin D May Reduce Risk of Melanoma In High-Risk Women |
Calcium and vitamin D according to a study involved 36,282 postmenopausal women appears to have a benefical effect. Women were randomised to either 400 IU of vitamin D3 along with 1,000 mg of calcium or a placeboand calcium supplements or placebo and then followed them for seven years (know as the WHI trial). Women who had a history of non-melanoma skin cancer such as rodent ulcer (BCC) who taking calcium and vitamin D supplementation had a 55% (HR = 0.43) reduced risk of developing melanoma. This study further confirms that supplements can be both good and bad and the most reliable way to to ensure you have the most benefit from them is to measure your baseline micro-nutrient levels first |
Exercise rehabilitation course launched November 2011 |
A government recognised qualification in cancer rehabilitation is now available in the UK thanks to a course developed by the charity The Wright Foundation. So far three courses, Bedford, Liverpool and Norfolk, have successfully trained over 20 exercise professonals. This is a great step forward for cancer rehabilitation in the UK as municipal gyms, who have an instructor with these level 4 skills, are now able to accept referrals on the natioanl exercise referral scheme. The course welcomes gym instructors, other exercise professionals empowering them with a knowledge of why exercise is important and the challenges for cancer survivors - to sign up or read more about the course |
Weight lifting helps lymphoedema |
Contrary to previous popular advice, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that professive resitant exercise actually helps reduce the complications of lymphoedema - In the randomised study of 141 breast cancer patients who had lymphoedema, women who embarked on a slow, progressive program of weight lifting had significantly fewer flare-ups than the women who restricted their activity... more about exercise after cancer |
Most baby boomers do not have a Will |
A recent associated Press-Life poll found that 64 percent of boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 say they don't have a Will and even less have a living Will when they get ill. These documents would guide medical decisions should a patient be unable to communicate with doctors. These do not have to be expensive - Cancernet has teamed up with a leading UK lawyer to drive down the cost of making a solicitor checked Will. This reliable, easy to use, online resource ensures your assets go to the person you want Cancernet-glossLegal Wills start from �39 and Living Wills from �12....read more |
Lifestyle after Cancer - the facts 2011 edition |
The perfect gift for Christmas (�8.95 online via this email)
A new scheme is also now available to advocacy groups - The publishers of "Lifestyle after Cancer - the facts" are able to supply at cost price to group who can sell on to members at a discount Contact us about joinng this scheme
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Read foreword by Paula Radcliffe
Read a free Chapter - Avoiding carcinogens |
Too much Vitamin E increases Prostate Cancer Risk |
The Internationally acclaimed SELECT study gave over 35,000 participants placebo, Vitamin E alone, Vitamin E plus selenium or selenium alone. The results published last year showed no benefit for selenium to prevent cancer. An update of the results this year showed that the men in the Vit E group alone actually had an increased risk of prostate cancer. This trial further confirms that excess or deficiency vitamins and mineral can be harmful. The most reliable why to know you have correct levels is to measure them - see nutritional testing |