As a two-time survivor of cancer I found it amazing that I might be able
to eat myself free of cancer. Well, that may be an overstatement, but
new research is showing that Curcumin may have strong cancer fighting
properties.
Curcumin, also called turmeric, is the compound that gives curry spices
their yellow tint. Curcumin has long been known for its antioxidant properties
and is now being studied for its benefits in treating several different
diseases.
Cancer researchers have taken an interest in Curcumin because many countries
with curry-rich cuisines have lower cancer rates than Western countries.
Researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center,
for example, found that Curcumin blocks a key biological pathway needed
for development of melanoma and other cancers. The study is published
in the August 15, 2005 issue of the American Cancer Society journal ÿffff93Cancerÿffff94.
The study tested varying doses of Curcumin on three melanoma cell lines.
It showed that Curcumin stops laboratory strains of melanoma from proliferating
and even induced apoptosis (programmed cell suicide). The results were
the same for high concentrations of Curcumin over short periods of time
and smaller doses over longer periods of time.
In a study published in 2002 in ÿffff93Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Preventionÿffff94,
researchers gave three groups of mice different amounts of Curcumin extract
for 15 weeks. The results showed that the group of mice given the largest
amount of Curcumin had a reduction of 40 percent in benign tumors that
were caused the same gene that causes mot types of colon cancer.
A similar study was published in ÿffff93The Prostateÿffff94
in 2001. Again, three groups of mice were used. All three were injected
with human prostate cancer cells. One group was a placebo group that
received no treatment. One group was given Curcumin when injected with
the cancer cells. The other group was given Curcumin two weeks after
the cancer injection. After 6 weeks the tumors in the two groups given
Curcumin were smaller than in the placebo group.
A study on Curcumin and breast cancer was published in Cancer Research,
Vol. 62, July 1, 2002, pp. 3868-75. This study found that the use of
Curcumin was as effective in preventing the spread of breast cancer as
Taxol in laboratory mice.
In this study, mice were first induced with breast cancer and then had
their tumors removed in an operation equivalent to a mastectomy in humans.
The mice were then divided into four groups. One was a placebo group,
one received Curcumin, one received Taxol, and the other Curcumin and
Taxol.
After 5 weeks the study showed that half the mice in the Curcumin group
had the cancer spread to the lungs. Only 22 percent of those in the Curcumin
plus Taxol group had seen the cancer spread. 75 percent of the Taxol
only group saw the cancer spread. The placebo group saw 95 percent of
the mice had the cancer spread to the lungs. Encouraging results for
sure.
Human studies of the impact of Curcumin are just beginning. But the early
signs are that this naturally occurring and commonly-used spice may offer
a safe way of preventing cancer and may even aid in the treatment of
Cancer.
Rusty Ford is the Health Editor at http://my-local-news.com. HumanaNatura
thanks Rusty for this interesting article and encourages other articles
on the science of natural healing.
What strategies should we employ to bridge the gap to access for screening
among the uninsured and underinsured?
Some states do conduct screening programs for colorectal cancer, including
offering screening for the under- or uninsured. I'd like to suggest that
you contact your state department of health to find out if such a program
exists in your area. If you're thinking of starting a screening program,
you may want to get in touch with health departments in New York State,
New York City, and/or Maryland, to name a few, which have active state
colorectal cancer screening programs. They may be able to give you some
tips on how to proceed, having learned it firsthand themselves.
I hope this information helps.
What data are currently active colorectal screening programs collecting program specific data? How are they doing it?
Subject: Welcome to the Forum Welcome to the Discussion Forum for the Public Health Grand Rounds
program, " Collaborating to Conquer Colorectal Cancer: Fulfilling the
Promise of Prevention." This online discussion will be facilitated by
content experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and will be active from June 10 ÿffff96 17, 2005. During that time,
we invite you to share your comments on issues raised during the program.
Thank you for your participation.
We also invite you to learn more about colorectal cancer and CDCÿffff92s
efforts to increase screening for this often-preventable disease ÿffff96
please visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorctl/index.htm
Convenience and cost effectiveness increase screening compliance. No
doubt this has been shown with home blood pressure monitors and blood
glucose monitors. So can the FOBT developer be more readily to consumers?
Modern consumers are tuned into immediate results.
If food diaries and time-noted daily testing could be combined, it might
help screen out false positives.
Can non-invasive ultrasound be used to effectively screen for G.I. polyps?
I would take issue with the statement that ÿffff93people do not
like to see the inside of their bodiesÿffff94. Granted your focus
is a different subgroup but most educated people that I know, insist
on it. In fact, they want VHS or DVDÿffff92s of same. Give people
a choice on whether or not they want to see the ÿffff93insideÿffff94
of their bodies or have a copy of the specific details of any test results.
Donÿffff92t assume they do not.
Yes, convenience and cost effectiveness can increase screening compliance.
But with colorectal cancer screening, several issues are in play that
may affect compliance. Some of them are: patients may not understand
that they need to be screened, they're not sure who is at risk, their
doctors may not have recommended screening, there is confusion about
what is a screening test for crc (e.g. some patients think that a digital
rectal exam is a recommended screening test for colorectal cancer, when
it is not.) Additionally, there is reluctance to be screened for crc,
because of the prep that may be involved. And finally, some patients
think that if they are not having symptoms, there is no need to be screened.
The currently recommended FOBT depends on the FOBT stool samples being
examined by a professional, so immediate results generally take a little
time. False positives, according to the guidelines, should always be
followed up with further testing, often using colonoscopy.
Currently ultrasound is not among the screening tests for colorectal
cancer recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other
agencies.
I agree that some people do want to 'see the inside of their bodies',
but some do not. As you say, better not to make assumptions...
Whoops...I should have said, regarding the FOBT:
" ...so results generally take a little time."