Cartenoids stop reocurrence

There are over 600 different carotenoids, for example:

Alpha-Carotene - found in carrots, coriander and green beans

Beta-Carotene - found in apricots, cantaloupe melon and broccoli

Beta-Cryptoxanthin - found in persimmon (Sharon fruit), papaya and tangerines

Capsaicin - found in chilli, sweet red bell and jalapeno peppers

Lycopene - found in tomatoes, guava and watermelon

Lutein - found in turnip, kale and spinach

Zeaxanthin - a strong yellow pigment found in fruits and vegetables


Many have been found to inhibit cancer development but this inhibition is reversible, meaning that stopping a diet rich in carotenoids may allow the cancer to grow again.

There’s a great deal of research into the effects of carotenoids. One way that carotenoids inhibit cancer growth is related to their ability to improve intercellular ‘communication’ by increasing the production of a protein (connexion 43, C43) which sits between cells. Cancer cells lack the C43 protein, which means they also lack a vital growth control system. A diet rich in carotenoids can help return the situation to normal, especially when combined with selenium – a constituent mineral of C43 found in brown rice, fish and Brazil nuts.

Two studies, one from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York and the other from Harvard in 2009 showed that eating colourful red, yellow and orange vegetables not only reduced the risk of developing breast cancer, but helped prevent it returning. In both cases the groups eating the carotenoids almost halved their risk. (International Journal of Cancer, 2009 Jun 15; 124(12):2929-37. Cancer Epidemiology; Biomarkers and Prevention. 2009 Feb; 18(2):486-94).
Shhwartz and Shklar at Harvard University studied the ability of carotenoids to inhibit tumour growth in breast, lung, oral and skin tissue. They found a positive response to treatment within 1 to 5 hours.

Stahelin and colleagues from the University of Basel researched the role of a number of antioxidants, including carotene in 3000 men over a period of 15 years. They found that there was an increase in cancers of the stomach and bronchus in subjects with low plasma levels of carotene.

Another example from research concerns vitamin A, mainly created in the body from carotenoids consumed. Known to drive many cancers from breast, to colon, to prostate and even some brain tumours, oestrogen causes its damage by binding to cellular receptor sites. Scientists at the University of Chicago have shown that a metabolite of vitamin A (retenoic acid) can compete with and block this damaging action. Whereas oestrogen causes random and rapid cell growth to occur, the vitamin A was found to ´normalise proceedings´.

Taken from Chris Woollams Newsletter July 2012

Melatonin interesting points....Breast cancer link

Here's an interesting set of points about the lack of melatonin or night shift work and Breast cancer taken from Chris Woollams newsletter July 2012.

Some quick facts about melatonin and cancer prevention

1. Melatonin is a natural hormone produced mainly by the pineal gland in the brain, although some has recently been found in the bone marrow where it appears to be linked with white cell formation. It is a crucial regulator of cancer driving hormones, and a powerful antioxidant.

2. Little was known about the pineal gland in Western Medicine until 1958 when Lerner reported that it secreted melatonin. However, the Greeks described it as The Realm of Thought; Descartes called it The Seat of the Soul. In Eastern medicine it has long been associated with the "Third Eye" and intuition, and it is linked to an important energy chakra.

3. The pineal has also been shown to be the link between the nervous system and the "Limbic System" of the brain. It is thus truly linked to perception and is activated (and turned down) by energetic, electrical and magnetic frequencies. These may be your own natural ones, or external EMFs.

4. Science has now shown that the pineal gland is linked to circadian rhythms, and to seasonal, sleeping and breeding habits. Recent research carried in Cancer Watch suggested that circadian rhythms might even control the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and the time of day they should be taken.

5. Philadelphia University have shown in research that areas of the brain are deactivated during meditation and during nuns praying.

6. In meditation, the pineal gland and the pituitary have been shown to vibrate in unison. Monks can even control their internal energy systems and temperature during meditation.

7. Melatonin is produced about 90 minutes after falling asleep in a fully darkened room. It pushes you into a deeper sleep. Production is light sensitive and regulatory "sensors" have been found in the retina. Several studies (e.g. The Boston Nurses Study, Scandinavian Airlines) have shown that irregular sleeping habits and sleeping in synthetic light, lower the production of the hormone and are also associated with higher breast cancer levels. Research has shown that melatonin regulates excess oestrogen levels and excess IGF-1 levels. Both drive cancer and IARC has declared lack of sleep a carcinogen. Melatonin is an anti-cancer agent.

8. However, it is now known that EMF´s (Electromagnetic frequencies) - the sort found from mobile phones, to masts etc - can also lower melatonin levels in the body, allowing oestrogen and IGF-1 levels to increase.

9. Recently the discovery of melatonin in the bone marrow and its reduction by EMFs has spawned debate about its role in prevention of leukaemia and especially child leukaemia.

10. There are nearly a thousand studies showing that melatonin supplementation has important oncostatic effects: both in cancer prevention, and also during chemotherapy, where it cuts down the side effects.

11. Melatonin levels decline with age, and melatonin supplements have been shown to have anti-aging benefits. Supplementation is now used by night shift workers, nurses, long-haul flyers and a number of top oncology and anti-aging professors on both sides of the Atlantic.

12. Supplements of 3 to 6 mgs are commonly taken about 30 minutes before going to bed. Levels above 10 mgs have been thought to cause vivid dreams and hallucination, but there is little scientific evidence. The hormone is freely available over the counter in many countries from Thailand to the USA. But not in the UK. Recently it was found that melatonin acts far better when plant-derived rather than synthetic. The plant derived version is called Asphalia.

Lymphedema? and the great flood......

Wow another one of those days!! Got bitten on my leg by a horseflie thought to myself I'll go to dr on Monday, then whilst enjoying a brief respite from the pouring rain (I live next village from Yealmpton on national news as it flooded) another of the nasty buggers bitten me this time on my right arm by wrist I've had all the lymph nodes out in that arm and distinctly remember my BCN (breast cancer nurse) saying "not to cause any trauma on that side or it could turn into Lymphedema (see below description) " so was worried sick I ended up phoning the NHS help line and they put me onto a very nice Dr who phoned me back and wrote out a prescription for antihistamines and antibiotics, so now drugged up to the eyeballs on the stuff, it never rains and then it pours excuse the pun!!!!

If any readers have had their lymph nodes out and don't understand the implications of this here's a description of what Lymphedema is. One of the most common causes of lymphedema is removal of the breast (mastectomy) and underarm lymph tissue for breast cancer. This causes lymphedema of the arm in 10 - 15% of patients, because the lymphatic drainage of the arm passes through the armpit (axilla). The main symptom is persistent swelling of the affected limb also note there is no tablet or drug to take that will relieve this symptom and once you have developed it, it can be very hard to reverse the process, the only thing you can do is wear a compression sleeve and of course exercise can manually move the fluid along so it always helps to do the exercises the BCN gave you whilst in recovery from the mastectomy.

On a lighter not I've been busy baking my first loaf of bread today in borrowed breadmaking machine, tasted delicious and I love the fact I know what's in it also baked a sticky toffee pudding smells yummy, sending you all my love and a cyber slice of the sticky toffee xxxxx

Complementary..

Whilst out and about in Totnes the other day I came across a sign outside of Neals Yard "20% off all treatments if booked throughout July" so went in and booked an appointment for acupuncture, I have been recommended this too help with the hot flushes as well as a host of other side effects from the drugs I'm on, I am sooooo excited, I know it sounds ridiculous but I am really looking forward to this, I haven't had any complimentary treatments for quite some time the only one I do regularly is spiritual healing which to be fair is generally hands off, so can't wait to try something new, also thinking about trying some reflexology as a general calm down and relax therapy, will keep you all informed how I get on.

Looking outside of the window today and again the sun is hidden behind a thick blanket of mist and rain :0( WHERE IS OUR SUMMER!!!! It has at the very least afforded me time to sort out selling my old Mac powerbook and I'm thinking of doing some proper baking today, try and fill the freezer up with some goodies.
Love to all
sarahxx