The latest research indicates the link between tanning beds and melanoma may be greater than previously suspected. While only 4 percent of skin cancers are melanomas, 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma. According to this article, the more time you spend in the tanning bed, the greater the risk. The World Health Organization has labeled tanning beds as carcinogenic and recommends banning them for children under the age of 18.
Ask most people how to avoid skin cancer and they’ll reply, “Wear sunscreen.” The fact is, although the use of sunscreen is on the rise, so is skin cancer - it now accounts for nearly half of all cancer cases and is five times more prevalent than breast cancer. Startling? Indeed.
The reason? Sunscreen may not be all it has been promoted to be. A new report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that the majority of sunscreens lack protection from all forms of radiation, that many make false claims or most contain harmful chemicals. Of the 500 sunscreens tested by EWG, only 39 were recommended by EWG.
Yes, sunscreens can protect you from sunburns. But experts are uncertain as to the benefits of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer. Further, scientists are still debating whether UVA or UVB is the most dangerous form of radiation. Most experts believe that it is a combination of UVA and UVB rays that lead to increased melanoma risks.
Statins, the most common medication used to lower cholesterol levels, can help prevent heart attack and strokes. According to a new study released by the Mayo Clinic, these same medications can also lower the risk of prostate growth and cancer.
The study followed nearly 2,500 men, aged 40-79, from 1990 through the present and examined their risks for the development of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. Interestingly, the results of the entire study favored the use of statins.
Rising health care costs remain one of America’s top concerns — so it is with some interest that we follow a new Canadian health campaign, launched this week, that endorses home screening for colorectal cancer that is both cost-effective and preventative.
Colorectal cancer refers to both cancer of the colon and cancer of the rectum. It’s the third most common cancer in the United States and, according to the National Cancer Institute there are about 150,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer each year resulting in 50,000 deaths. The Canadian province of Ontario has one of the world’s highest rates of colorectal cancer, so their health ministry has taken the lead on promoting early screening for colorectal cancer with a simple home test that assesses the risk of colorectal cancer.
September is prostate cancer awareness month. This year, nearly 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in America, and nearly 30,000 deaths in 2009 will be attributable to this disease. Let’s look more closely at this significant male problem.
What is prostate cancer? The prostate is a male reproductive gland located in front of the bladder that controls the urinary stream. This gland may develop cancer in the tissue, particularly in older men, because as a person ages the gland becomes enlarged as cells multiply. This can lead to difficulty with urination and cause other urinary problems. At the same time, the replication of tissue places one at risk for cancer.
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