Breast cancer: What you need to know

Tuesday August 5, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) – Actress Christina Applegate, known for playing Kelly Bundy on the TV comedy "Married with Children," has been diagnosed with breast cancer, her spokeswoman said on Saturday. 

Applegate, 36, was found to have breast cancer during a routine MRI screening, reported Reuters, citing an email by spokeswoman Ame Van Iden. 

BBC NEWS stated that, according to the spokeswoman, "The cancer is not life threatening. She is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery." 

Applegate seems to have a family history of cancer. Reuters reported that her mother suffered from both breast and cervical cancer, and the actress has been advocating for breast cancer research. 

She is famed for her role on "Married with Children,” has won an Emmy for her guest role as Jennifer Aniston's sister on two episodes of "Friends," and now plays an amnesiac in her own sitcom “Samantha Who?”

Breast cancer is common.   One in every 8 women will get the disease in the US. According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 182,000 women are diagnosed with the disease and about 50,000 die each year in the United States. 

Although widespread, doctors know little about how to prevent the disease.   But evidence is convincing that something can be done to avoid it in many women. 

The following is a summary of some cancer studies we reported on foodconsumer.org that may give readers some ideas as to how to prevent breast cancer.

Kelp may reduce breast cancer risk: A study published in the February 2 issue of the Journal of Nutrition showed female rats fed 250 mg of kelp per day increased their menstrual cycle by 37 percent and reduced the estradiol level by 25%. Both the shortened menstrual circle and lowered estradiol may indicate lower risk for hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

Forsteronia refracta compound may be the killer of breast cancer: Researchers at University of Virginia Health System isolated a compound from a rare South American plant called Forsteronia refracta that inhibits in vitro breast cells, an action that mimics the one of Gleevec, a drug for the treatment of chronic myoloid leukemia. The result was published in the February 1, 2005 issue of the journal Cancer Research.

Oleic acid in olive oil protects against breast cancer: Women who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil have a lower risk of breast cancer, according to a study published in the journal Annals of Oncology. Researchers attributed the lower risk to oleic acid, which was found to suppress the activities of a common cancer-causing oncogene called HER-2/neu.

Alcohol ups cancer risk: Alcohol increases risk for a range of cancers including breast cancer, according to a review of 156 previous studies. The review was published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Lower caloric intake may reduce cancer risk: Elaine Hsieh and colleagues at UC Berkeley published a study in the May 2005 issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism showing that a 30 percent reduction in calories would result in an 89 percent reduction in the proliferation of breast cells. Faster cell proliferation could make cells more prone to errors, leading to cancer cells.

Apples fight breast cancer: A study by Dr. Rui-Hai Liu and colleagues at Cornell suggested that eating apples may reduce the risk of breast cancer in humans. The study of rats shows that the number of tumors was reduced by up to 61 percent when rats were fed the amount of extract from six apples a day. The results appear in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

High GI diets linked to breast cancer risk: Stephanie A. Navarro Silvera and colleagues from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada, published a study in the April 20, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer showing that consumption of high glycemic index (GI) or high carb diets may increase the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Adipose tissue boosts breast cancer growth: Philipp Scherer and colleagues from Albert Einstein College of Medicine reported in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation that adipose tissue increases breast cancer risk.

Danggui Longhui Wan kills cancer cells: A study found that derivatives of indirubin, the active component of a Chinese herbal medicine Danggui Longhui Wan, can potently inhibit the growth of certain types of cancers including breast cancer.  The report appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 18, 2005.

Moderate exercise betters odds of beating breast cancer: Women with breast cancer can drastically increase their odds of survival if they do moderate physical exercise after diagnosis, which is the equivalent to walking one more hour per week, according to a study published in the May 25 issue of JAMA.

Bisphenol A (BPA) linked to breast cancer: BPA, a food container chemical, affects female fetuses in the womb and increases the risk of breast cancer in the affected females when they grow into their adulthood, according to a study that appears in a recent issue of the journal Endocrinology.

Turmeric may stop breast cancer: The curcumin in turmeric, a yellow spice widely used in Indian cuisine, has long been touted for its health benefits. A study recently found that turmeric may have the potential of stopping the spread of breast cancer. The results were presented in the fourth Era of Hope meeting for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program held June 8-11, 2005, in Philadelphia.

Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil fight breast cancer: Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. A new study finds that derivatives from two omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have more potent anticancer properties than their parent omega-3 fatty acids, according to research in the June 7 issue of Breast Cancer Research.

Cleaning chemical causes breast cancer in mice: A study in the July issue of the Journal of Applied Toxicology found that a chemical called 4-nonylphenol, found in cleaning materials, textiles, plastics, paper, and clothing, causes breast cancer in mice.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Causes Cancer: In a monograph published on July 29, the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that estrogen-progestogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT), used by millions of women around the world, causes breast and endometrial cancers.

French fries may raise breast cancer risk: Young children who eat French fries frequently may be more likely to develop breast cancer in their later life, according to a US study published in a recent issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Weight loss reduces breast cancer risk: A study indicates that women with a mutation in the gene BRCA1, which predisposes women to breast cancer, should avoid putting on weight in early adulthood, especially if they plan to have children. The study, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, found that women with a mutation in BRCA1 were 65 percent less likely to develop breast cancer if they lost weight between 18 and 30 years of age. 

Omega-3 fatty acids: Dietary intake of omega 3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may curb the growth of breast cancer cells, according to a study published on May 17, 2005, on the Web site of the International Journal of Cancer.

Cabbage and Sauerkraut: Results from the U.S. component of the Polish Women's Health Study showed an association between cabbage and sauerkraut consumption, a constituent called glucosinolate, and lower risk of breast cancer.

Mammograms: Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, and his colleagues wrote an excellent review on mammogram screening based on 47 scientific articles. Their article is titled "Dangers and Unreliability of Mammography: Breast Examination is a Safe, Effective, and Practical Alternative." Dr. Epstein’s article, published in 2001in the International Journal of Health Services, concludes that mammogram screening is dangerous and unreliable when it comes to the detection of breast cancer.

Garlic: Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a component of garlic, has been shown to inhibit the effects of PhIP, a carcinogen formed during the cooking of meat, that, when biologically active, can cause DNA damage or transform substances in the body into carcinogens. 

Artemisinin: Two University of Washington bioengineers found that a substance, artemisinin from a sweet wormwood plant, that has been used as a Chinese remedy for malaria, appeared to prevent the onset of breast cancer in rats that had been given a cancer-causing agent. The study appears in the latest issue of the journal Cancer Letters. 

Vitamin D: Vitamin D has been linked to reduced risk for a variety of cancers including breast cancer. It's reported that using high doses of vitamin D can cut breast cancer risk by up to 70 percent. 

Women with advanced-stage breast cancer appear to have significantly lower levels of vitamin D, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Imperial College London. However, researchers were not sure whether lower levels of vitamin D cause the cancer or vice versa.

Soy: Soy isoflavones may not raise markers for breast cancer in postmenopausal women and could protect them against the disease, suggests an animal study published in the January15 issue of the journal "Cancer Research."

Grape Juice: Drinking Concord grape juice may protect against the development of breast cancer, suggests a study appearing in a recent issue of Cancer Letters. But some cancer patients reportedly had a bad experience with grape juice. 

Whole wheat: Baby girls born to mothers who eat lots of whole wheat during pregnancy may have a reduced risk of breast cancer, suggests a study published in the Nov 15, 2006, issue of the International Journal of Cancer. 

Red Meat: Eating red meat may be associated with higher risk for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers in premenopausal women, according to a report published in the November 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Pro-vitamin E: A precursor of vitamin E known as alpha-tocopheryl succinate may be used to effectively treat breast cancer with high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2), an Australian study suggests. 

Low-protein diet: Vegetarians on a low-protein diet had a significantly lower level of insulin-like growth factor 1, known as IGF-1, which promotes cell growth and multiplication. High levels of IGF-1 have been linked to elevated risk of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 

Dietary fat: Reducing dietary fat intake may cut the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women who have been treated for early-stage breast cancer, according to a trial in the December 20 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Home work: A study published in the January edition of the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention suggests that women who do housework frequently may have a lower risk of breast cancer than those who do not, Telegram.co.uk reported. Researchers found that regular moderate physical activity such as housework provides a better protection against breast cancer than more strenuous but less frequent sporting activity. 

High dietary fiber: Eating fiber-rich vegetables, fruit, and whole grain foods may reduce the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, but not in postmenopausal women, according to a UK study, which found that those who ate the highest amounts of total dietary fiber cut their risk of breast cancer by 50 percent. 

Red and processed meat: University of Leeds researchers suggest that eating red meat may significantly increase the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The suggestion resulted from a 7-year study of 35,000 women, which found that older women who ate about 57 grams, or one 2oz portion, a day had a 56 percent increased risk of breast cancer compared with those who did not eat any. 

Soy and Broccoli: 3-Diindolylmethane and genistein, found in broccoli and soy respectively, may help prevent the spread of breast and ovarian cancer, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles.   Studies have linked eating foods such as broccoli and soy to reduced risk for some types of cancer, but it is not well understood how these foods could possibly provide such protection against cancer.

Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast cancer for women who have their first child after the age of 25, according to a study presented at a news conference on Monday, April 16, at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research held in Los Angeles. 

Barbecued meat: A study published in the May 2007 issue of Epidemiology suggests that eating grilled, barbecued, and smoked meat for a long period may raise the likelihood of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women. 

Dr. Susan E. Steck from the University of South Carolina in Columbia and colleagues found that the risk of breast cancer can be raised by 47 percent in postmenopausal women over their lifetime because of the consumption of meat.

Grapefruit: Eating too much grapefruit too often may drastically increase the risk of breast cancer, according to a new epidemiologic study conducted by the University of Southern California and published in the British Journal of Cancer advance online publication on July 10, 2007. 

Evidence revealed early through in vitro and in vivo studies suggests that grapefruit inhibits CYP3A4, which is involved in the metabolism of estrogen and increases plasma estrogen concentration, increasing risk of breast cancer. 

Western diet: Meat and sweets are two treats for westerners. Researchers found that those who were in the quartile with the highest intake of meat and sweets were 30 percent more likely to have breast cancer than those who were in the quartile with the lowest intake of meat and sweets, according to a study published in the July 16, 2007, issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 

Grapes: A study published in the June 10, 2007, issue of the Journal of Medicinal Foods suggests that drinking Concord grape juice may help prevent cancer-causing agents from causing DNA mutations that would otherwise lead to the development of breast cancer. 

A study conducted by KW Singletary, KJ Jung, and M Giusti from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tested the effect of anthocyanins, found abundantly in concord grapes, for their potential to inhibit NDA adduct formation induced by an environmental carcinogen known as benzo(a)pyrene. 

Green tea and mushrooms: Use of green tea and mushroom extracts may suppress progression or invasiveness of metastatic breast cancer, according to a study published in the April 2007 issue of the International Journal of Oncology.

Aluminum salts: The aluminum salts used in antiperspirants have been linked to an elevated risk of breast cancer. A study published in the September issue of the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry demonstrated that aluminum may affect the risk of breast cancer by interfering with estrogen functions. 

Low doses of radiation: Radiation, such as x-ray, is a risk factor for a variety of cancers.  Experts representing their respective fields have been debating the risk of exposure to low-dose radiation. A new study confirmed that even tiny amounts of radiation raise the risk of solid cancers, a notion that has been rejected by the medical industry for decades.

Vitamin C: A study led by researchers at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, Korea, found some biological basis for the ascorbate induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) in human breast cancer cells. 

Ascorbate (vitamin C) has been shown to inhibit cell growth and induce cell deaths in a variety of cancer cells including human breast cancer cells, according to the background information provided by the researchers in their study report, which was published in the October 18, 2007, issue of Oncology Reports. 

Iron: High levels of free iron either released from iron reservoirs in the body or from dietary intake may increase risk of developing breast cancer, according to a review article published in the October 2007 issue of Cancer Causes Control. 

In a review of 83 research reports, Drs Geoffrey C. Kabat and Thomas E. Rohan from Albert Einstein College of Medicine proposed that iron overload and the disruption of iron homeostasis, resulting in an increase in free iron, may increase oxidative stress and cause damage that eventually leads to breast cancer.

Sun exposure: Sun exposure, which is a major source of vitamin D, reduces risk of advanced breast cancer among women with light skin pigmentation, according to a study published in the October 12 issue of American Journal of Epidemiology.

A study led by John E.M. from the Northern California Cancer Center in Fremont, California, and colleagues showed that high sun exposure may reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer by 47 percent in non-Hispanic women who had light skin color.

Antibiotics: Use of antibiotics may increase the risk of developing breast cancer in a dose-dependent manner, according to a study published in the October 8, 2007, of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. 

A study led by researchers from King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showed that the use of antibiotics increased the risk of breast cancer by 50 to 79 percent, depending upon the number of prescriptions an individual received during the one to fifteen years prior to the diagnosis of the disease. But this does not mean that antibiotics are definitely the cause of breast cancer. It is possible that those who often use antibiotics have a weak immune system that makes them more susceptible to cancer.

Calcium: A new Australian animal model study showed that calcium deficiency due to low dietary intake or vitamin D deficiency increases the rate of calcium absorption back into the bone, promoting breast cancer tumor growth in bone, Reuters reported on October 19. 

Breastfeeding: Women who breastfeed their first baby can reduce their risk of breast cancer even if the first birth occurs later in life, according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research held in Los Angeles. 

Living in a city: A new study suggests that women living in urban areas are more likely to have dense breasts than those who live in the suburbs, meaning that the city women may have a higher risk of breast cancer as previous studies showed that dense breasts are associated with higher risk of the disease. 

Acrylamide: A new study led by Henrik Frandsen, a senior scientist at the Technical University of Denmark and the Danish Cancer Society, and colleagues showed that high dietary intake of acrylamide may increase the risk of breast cancer.  Acrylamide is formed during thermal processing in starchy foods.

By foodconsumer.org, and edited by Heather Kelley.

Aug 5, 2008 - 7:54:48 AM