I recently had the privilege of attending MD Anderson’s Cancer Survivorship Conference. As always, it exceeded my expectations. Walking into the Omni, where the conference was held, I was awestruck by the anti-cancer tools around me. A gentleman was making fresh smoothies with whole fruits and yogurt, serving trays of berries and other fruits were abundant. I saw hot teas galore, kashi this and kashi that- wow MDA, I was impressed! After signing in I noticed a massage area and break out activities including yoga and salsa dancing. Did I say yoga, yes yoga- oh and a class on the benefits of tea. Clearly, a conference for Anticancer Amy!
So, did you know that there are over 13 million cancer
survivors right now in the United States?
And by 2022 there will be an estimated 18 million survivors! Yes, we are all touched by cancer in some
way. I learned there are 3 stages of
survivorship:
Acute – include diagnosis,
testing and treatment
Extended – maintenance or
watchful monitoring (this is me)
Permanent – low risk patients
The discussions throughout the weekend had a common theme, “exercise, eat whole foods, maintain a healthy weight and avoid tobacco”. The American Cancer Society states that 1/3 of all cancer deaths in the U.S. could be prevented by good diet and exercise. Exercise was defined as 150 minutes of exercise per week. A healthy diet defined as 5-6 servings of fruit/veggies a day and minimal processed meat and red meat. Apparently obesity is giving tobacco a run for its money on being the number one factor in cancer! Read more startling facts on obesity here- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120918190923.htm Fried chicken anyone?? Interesting that Mississippi possibly has the highest percentage of obesity, Colorado the lowest. Obesity specifically is a risk factor for breast, colon, endometrium, esophageal, kidney, pancreas, and liver cancers, to name a few. Read about prostate cancer and obesity here- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120924202530.htm
And yet, more evidence-
|
Percentage of Cancers that Could Be Prevented
via Diet, Activity and Weight Control* |
||
|
Cancer Type
|
Percentage Prevented
|
Cases Prevented Annually
|
|
Breast, female
|
38%
|
86,210
|
|
Prostate
|
11%
|
26,591
|
|
Gallbladder
|
21%
|
2,060
|
|
Endometrial
|
70%
|
32,991
|
|
Esophageal
|
69%
|
12,047
|
|
Colorectal
|
45%
|
64,557
|
|
Pancreatic+
|
39%
|
17,128
|
|
Mouth, Pharyngeal & Laryngeal
|
63%
|
33,144
|
|
Kidney
|
24%
|
15,544
|
|
Liver
|
15%
|
4,308
|
|
Stomach
|
47%
|
10,020
|
|
Lung
|
36%
|
81,417
|
*Sources: AICR/WRCF, Policy and Action for Cancer
Prevention 2009; Cancer
Facts & Figures 2012, American Cancer Society.
+The CUP report on Pancreatic Cancer is expected to be released October 2012.
+The CUP report on Pancreatic Cancer is expected to be released October 2012.
When it comes to breast cancer, early menstruation (less
than 12 years of age) or later
menopause (older than 55) increases your risk.
The physician speaking said that one reason is possibly due to estrogen
being in your body for longer periods of time.
Researchers are still looking into it.
My question was “What about fertility treatments and the surge of
hormones to regulate/ manipulate menstruation?
Is this a risk for young women?”
The physician again said they are actively looking at fertility and now
include it in screening for medical history.
Hmmm…… My opinion is that
fertility treatment does in fact have an effect on someone already at risk for
cancer. I see it sort of like a switch,
a trigger. The physician spoke in depth
on cancer “initiators and promoters”, things like stress, smoking, family
history, etc. I see fertility treatment as
one of these. I am seeing more studies
published that look at fertility and breast cancer. If you have received or are considering
fertility treatment, I urge you to question your physician on fertility and
cancer. Read more here-
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120706234743.htm
I was most intrigued at the conference by a medical panel
which included Ronald DePinho, M.D. (President of MDA), Holly Holmes, M.D. (Geriatrician in the Internal Medicine
Clinic) and Karen Lu, M.D. (director of MDA Clinical Cancer Genetics Program
and High-Risk Ovarian Cancer Screening Clinics). MDA is on the forefront of individualized
cancer care. Cancer is a disease of the
genes and MDA’s goal is to continue to develop targeted therapy specifically
for your cancer. This involves identifying
gene sequences so that drs know which genes to target/ silence. Read more here about recent genetic analysis
of breast cancer very interesting) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/health/study-finds-variations-of-breast-cancer.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120924&_r=0
As Dr. DePinho said “Cancer is like a battlefield where
before, we went in and bombed all the troops. Now we can go in and find the generals
responsible for the battle and target them.” I say “Let’s DO this!!”
The last topic that was of huge interest to me was how
old Americans are getting. Age is a
factor in cancer. Did you know there is
such thing as a geriatrician? A doctor who
is board certified in treating people 65 and older. It is estimated that in 2050, there will be 6
million Americans older than 100! (as
a side note, my grandma is 100 and Brett’s grandma is 99) The problem is that
there is a shortage of geriatricians.
Right now there are fewer than 7,000 board certified geriatricians- it
will only be a bigger problem in the future. Of course, any doctor can treat an older
person- I suppose. But, geriatricians
stage aging and are specialists.
Whew, I feel like I just finished writing a college
essay.
Be Well my Friends,
