Lifestyle and cancer research updates     September 2015
 Quick links - lifestyle tips:

Increase dietary polyphenols 

Help your sleep hygiene 

About the Pomi-T study

Join Our Mailing List! 
Previous issues - >>>  
Systemic review high lights evidence for phytochemicals and cancer

A major systemic review, published this month, summarises the evidence for phytochemicals in cancer management. Researchers from London, Switzerland and Cambridge sifted out the most robust laboratory and clinical trials from around the world. It provides a clear classification of phytochemical and polyphenol with biochemical mechanisms of their anti-cancer action. Most importantly, it provides practical guidance on diet and nutritional supplements for practitioners to empower them to have more informed conversations with their patients - download paper free

Being tired makes you moody - but exercise helps both
  
A study from New Zealand has confirmed strong links between mood and fatigue. Fortunately, they also found that physical activity helped both. The Dunedin Fatigue Study, involved 140 patients with rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. Even in people who found exercise difficult, because of arthritic pain, an exercise programme was feasible and reaped strong benefits .. Read paper

Largest nutrition and exercise intervention study - highly successful
multi-centre trial, involving 692 overweight or obese women with early-stage breast cancer, has demonstrated major benefits for an exercise and nutrition intervention programme. There was a 6% weight reduction at 12 months and a significant improvement in blood pressure. The ENERGY study, co-ordinated from California, dispels myths that behavioural change interventions don't work, and supports national  directives such as the Macmillan move more campaign.
 
Should doctors and nurses now go on singing lessons? 
Singing to patients before surgery has been found to be a complementary modality which reduces preoperative anxiety in a way that is safe, effective, time-efficient, and enjoyable. The study from Ohio randomised 207 women with breast cancer to live singing/music or recorded music or no music at all and found significant reductions in pre-operative anxiety and improved recovery times. This average 12.4 minutes benefit was because less anaesthetic agents where required - Read full study
More evidence that sugary drinks lead to diabetes 

Regular consumption of sugary drinks was linked to onset of type 2 diabetes independent of obesity reports a new review from Cambridge University. Processed fruit juices and artificially sweetened drinks didn't appear to be any healthier. The paper, published in the BMJ, looked at 17 studies involving 38,000 cases and found that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an 18% increase in incidence of type 2 diabetes. This is concerning as there is a strong link between type 2 diabetes and cancer - read more

 

Vaginal douches expose women to oestrogen phthalates

 Vaginal douching expose users to chemicals known as phthalates (DEP), a study from Washington finds. DEP were found in urine in 739 women who were also surveyed about their use feminine care products. The more women douched, the higher levels. Phthalate are xenoestrogenic carcinogens so this raises concerns about this practice which does not offer any health benefits anyway - read more

 

Strong correlation between PSA and MRI dynamics in men on Pomi-T

pomi-t 

A study presented at MASSC Copenhagen provides further reassurance for men taking the food supplement Pomi-T . In this new study, men who continued Pomi-T long term had 2 high resolution MRI images a year apart. There was a 100% correlation between disease progression on MRI with a rising PSA This data strongly suggests that the PSA effect of Pomi-t correlates with disease on MRI see full poster

 

Probiotics help reduce chemotherapy induced diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is a side effect of irinotecan, FU and capecitabine chemotherapy. In a study presented at ASCO patients with bowel cancer starting chemo were randomised to probiotics or placebo. Individuals taking probiotics had a significant (17.4%) reduction in severe diarrhoea of grade 3-4 as well as reduction in overall risk of diarrhoea  see full poster. It is, however important to take probiotics produced to a high manufacturing stand with a broad spectrum of friendly bacteria - read more

 

Online micro-nutritional testing - optimise your nutritional status
blood tests Most top athletes measure their body's essential micro-nutrients to ensure they have the correct nutritional balance for optimal performance. These tests are now available for everyone especially those concerned about or who have survived cancer. 

An online micro-nutrient service has been developed by cancernet which measures over 50 of the bodies essential micro-nutrients and anti-cancer enzymes.  

The results of the detailed blood test are issued with a bespoke advice programme which empowers the recipient to a diet and lifestyle which corrects deficiencies and lowers excesses to restore optimal nutritional status - read more about micro-nutrient testing
Lifestyle and Cancer - the facts

Lifestyle after Cancer This latest edition of Lifestyle and Cancer dispells the myths by providing clear evidence based advice, to help readers cope with side effects, speed up recovey and reduce the risk of relapse after cancer  Order online

 

A new scheme is also now available to advocacy groups and hospitals - The publishers are able to supply at cost price to groups who can sell on to members at a discount Contact us about joinng this scheme 

 

Read foreword by Paula Radcliffe 

Read free sample chapter - Avoiding carcinogens 

Measure and plot your PSA doubling time (PSAdt)

 This application is useful for doctors and patients alike as it quickly and accurately calculates the rate of rise of two or more PSA blood measurements over time - more important measurement than an isolated single level.

This is particularly useful for men with prostate cancer managed with Active Surveillance or experiencing a PSA relapse after previous treatments. The PSA doubling time over any period of time is displayed in an easily readable graph so one can accurately see if it is shortening (bad) or lengthening (good) in response to lifestyle changes or oral supplements such as Pomi-T. The graph can be updated with each blood test and the results emailed to your home computer or doctor - read more