Anticancer Amy: University of MDA: Health 101

Hi Everyone,

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.

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.