No Wooden Nickels

The Australian Greens’ health plan would reduce the burden of cancers linked with obesity, smoking and alcohol in Australia, Cancer Council Australia said today.

Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ian Olver, welcomed the Greens’ proposals to end junk food ads in children’s TV viewing hours, introduce traffic light labeling for food products, set a floor price plan for cigarettes and run a safe alcohol consumption awareness program – all of which were consistent with Cancer Council Australia’s proposal launched last week.

“Obese Australians have a much higher chance of dying from cancer than people in a healthy weight range, so Australia’s high rates of obesity and overweight are a cancer time bomb,” Professor Olver said.

“Protecting children from junk food advertising and providing clear information to consumers on food products are two of the most important measures available to government for reducing obesity in Australia, so the Greens should be commended for showing leadership on these issues.

“With 6.9 million Australians expected to be obese by 2025 if current trends continue, we need to take strong measures now before Australia experiences a surge in obesity-related cancers.”

Professor Olver said the Greens’ proposal for a floor price plan for tobacco products would prevent the sale of discounted cigarettes from undermining the health benefits of tobacco tax, while raising awareness about the harms of alcohol would also help reduce preventable cancers.

“We are calling on all political parties to support these measures and to announce a plan for the full implementation of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program,” he said.

Original Posting: Medical News Today

Article Date: 03 Aug 2010 – 11:00 PDT

Source: Cancer Council Australia 

Diet is now considered a major factor in the prevention and treatment of cancer. According to the American National Cancer Institute about one-third of the cancers are linked to diet. Thus, right choices of foods can help prevent a majority of new cancer cases and deaths from cancer.

Cancer usually develops over a long period. Latest research shows that what one eats may interfere with cancer process at many stages, from conception to growth and spread of the cancer. Foods can block the chemical activation which normally initiates cancer. Antioxidants, including vitamins can eradicate carcinogens and can even repair some of the cellular damage caused by them. Cancers which are in the process of growth can also be prevented from further spreading by foods. Even in advanced cases, the right foods can prolong the patient’s life.

Researches conducted in ascertaining links between diet and cancer since 1970 have now conclusively proved that fruits and vegetables can serve as antidote to cancer. According to Dr. Peter Greenwald, Director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the American National Cancer Institute: “The more fruits and vegetables people eat, the less likely they are to get cancer, from colon to stomach cancer to breast and even lung cancer. For many cancers, persons with high fruit and vegetable intake have about half-the risk of people with low intake. Some studies indicate that eating fruit twice a day instead of less than three times a week cut the risk of lung cancer 75 per cent, even in smokers.”

The normal servings of fruits and vegetables are two fruits and three vegetables a day. Adding more fruits and vegetables to these servings can reduce the risk of cancer.

The plant foods which are considered to possess anti­cancer properties by the American National Cancer Institute include vegetables like garlic, cabbage, tomato, soya beans, ginger, carrot, celery, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts’ and cucumber; citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime; other foods like turmeric, whole wheat, brown rice, barely and berries; and herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, chives and basil.

According to several studies, Vitamin A exerts an inhibiting effect on carcinogenesis. It is one of the most important aids to the body’s defence system to fight and prevent cancer. A recent British study found that cancer rates dropped by 40 per cent in men with the most blood beta carotene (a precursor of Vitamin A), compared with those with the least. Other research has found that those with higher levels of folic acid (found in green vegetable) and lycopene (a tomato compound) are much less vulnerable to all cancers, in particular of the lung, cervix and pancreas.

Source:  Health Guidance

Originally Posted Aug 18th 2007 2:39PM by Patricia Mayville-Cox

A 2007 government report on cancer addresses not only the tobacco industry, but also the food industry and the federal government. The report called on the federal government to “cease being a purveyor of unhealthy foods.”

According to the report, federal, state and local policies have made healthful food more expensive and less available while cutting back on physical education classes in schools.

The report recommends encouraging doctors and insurance companies to offer more programs regarding nutrition, smoking cessation and exercise. The report also urged Congress to authorize the FDA to regulate tobacco and to increase the cigarette tax.  The Bush administration at the time opposed such an increase in the cigarette tax.

They’re ready to sting, and they know where they’re going.

They’re called “nanobees,” and they’re not insects — they’re tiny particles designed to destroy cancer cells by delivering a synthesized version of a toxin called melittin that is found in bees.

“Melittin, which would otherwise result in substantial destruction of your red blood cells and other normal tissues if it were delivered intravenously alone, is completely safe when it’s on a nanoparticle,” said Dr. Samuel Wickline, director of the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Nanobees are one of the latest examples of how nanotechnology may change the way diseases are treated. Read more…

Hey guys, here’s a great reason to put your distaste for broccoli aside and scarf some down at dinner tonight — eating it regularly can significantly reduce your risk of prostate cancer. 

In fact, it’s more effective against the cancer than any other food out there.In a study, The US National Cancer Institute and Cancer Care Ontario in Toronto found that while regularly eating fruits and vegetables didn’t necessarily reduce one’s risk of prostate cancer, eating lots of leafy greens–particularly broccoli–was associated with a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.  Another healthy food that showed promising results? Cauliflower.

So eat next time you’re tempted to eat the meat and leave the veggies, don’t–for your health’s sake.

In the last decade, we’ve seen studies that link mobile phone use to various types of cancer, the most common type being brain cancer.  The thinking is that the radiation output from these devices affects the brain when those phones are held close to the head for extended periods.

Well, here’s one attempt to shoot this theory down, I suppose.  In Australia, authorities there have said that mobile phone use does not cause cancer, and talking on a phone in the car is no more dangerous than having a passenger aboard.  Wow– those are heavy hitters.

For many of us, those ultra low-power Bluetooth headsets are the solution for not holding that cellphone near your head for along periods of time.  And still a great many more feel that even the BT headsets are still a cause for concern.  You?

In early 2009 it was announced that cancer had surpassed heart disease as the number one killer of Americans under the age of 85, according to an annual report by the American Cancer Society.  As one of the primary organizations which refer their patients to our doors for financial assistance, this report carried special weight for No Wooden Nickels.

While cancer is no respecter of class, status, race or religion, it has an even more devastating effect on those who are already deemed “low-income”.  For over three years No Wooden Nickels has been engaged in the fight, step-by-step, with more than 400 cancer patients and their families who have sought financial assistance for basic necessities. 

No Wooden Nickels is the only charitable organization of its kind devoted exclusively to offering help with those basic needs to simply get through treatment.  Assistance such as transportation, household utilities, meals, medical equipment, clothing, adult and child care, medical bills and more.  Click here to learn more.

So here is the plain truth (the short version) as many cancer patients already know and what we see each day:  over 85% of patients who are diagnosed with cancer and undergo treatment are too ill to continue working.  Once out of work, patients and their families suffer an immediate decline or complete loss in income.  While family members can and do help, the battle can sometimes last, on average, a year and a half (of course I’m being generous).  A great many patients have no insurance or quickly max out their benefits in a few short months.  Chemo ain’t cheap. 

Now, try to maintain doctors’ appointments, travel on average 60 miles one way for treatment, experience decreased activity due to the ill effects of treatment and oh, I almost forgot…come home to no lights or no heating gas, etc.  Sobering thought wouldn’t you say?  Like many other organizations who has cancer in it’s crosshairs, No Wooden Nickels attempt to add our voices to advocate on their behalf.  Daily I am sent and plow through tons of current information on cancer, nonprofits and the enormous amounts of research being done. However, we recognize perhaps more than most that in the overwhelming majority of these cases help is needed—now.  To change the present.  That’s why we say we help deliver dignity. 

Don’t get me wrong, this disease which is estimated to end the lives of some 566,000 of our loved ones here in the U.S. in 2009 requires attack from many sides.  More importantly, there are wonderful and innovative approaches and ideas being implemented and discussed every day.  Being a former systems engineer/administrator I am still drawn to headline making IT news.  So imagine my surprise and delight as I perused the December ’08 issue of Wired http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/17-01/ff_cancer/ where it talked about the work of Don Listwin, formerly of Cisco Systems and the mission of the Canary Foundation.  Having lost his mother to ovarian cancer is now on a mission to beat cancer with early detection using biomarkers by 2015—this is one of my favs.

But instead of me going on and on, we’d like for you to add your voice to the discussion.  Honestly, I do not know of anyone who doesn’t know someone who has not been touched by this disease.  Grammar aside, we’re always on the search to find ways to raise awareness of this community.

Therefore, this forum is for sharing your personal stories or those of someone you know who has or is currently battling this disease and the devastating financial impact it creates.