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A WHO Report Says Cell Phone Use Leads to Brain Tumors

GeekSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:05:10 -0800

Cell phone use causing cancer - certainly not something we haven't heard before and not something that is going away anytime soon. First we learn that the electromagnetic radiation from cell phones doesn't cause cancer and when I asked you if you were worried about your cell phone increasing your risk of getting cancer, most of you said no.

The latest news? Well it doesn't get more legit than the World Health Organization, who have been working on a ten-year investigation called Interphone to see if there were any correlations between prolonged cell phone use and brain tumors. According to CNN the study will be published by the end of the year, and did reveal that those who had cell phones for 10 years or longer had the strongest risk of tumors.

And another recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology supports the link between cell phone use and tumors as well. The CNN article states:

Studies that looked at people who had used cell phones 10 years or longer tended to find the strongest risk of tumors. Researchers found that cell phone users had a 10 percent to 30 percent higher risk than people who barely, if ever, used this technology.

They also touch on Bluetooth devices, which aren't as harmful, but could cause tumors if worn on your ear all day. I don't know about you, but whenever I know I'm going to have a long cell phone conversation, I make sure to pop in my ear piece (not a Bluetooth) so that my phone isn't glued to my head for a couple of hours.

What do you think? Would you consider changing your cell phone habits after learning about these findings?

13 Ways to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

In America, a woman has a one in nine chance for developing breast cancer. While that statistic is extremely depressing, here are some lifestyle choices you can make to help decrease your risk.

Source: Getty

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What Do You Know About Canine Skin Cancer?

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:50:15 -0700

Just because the weather's getting colder in many parts of the country, doesn't mean dog owners can be less concerned with skin cancer. Luckily many cases can be treated successfully when caught early enough so brush up on the facts about the various types of this disease in the quiz below.

Take the quiz

Are You at Risk For Ovarian Cancer?

FitSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:50:38 -0700

September is a busy month. Not only is it National Yoga Month, but it's also Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, over 21,000 women will be diagnosed with this disease. Knowing the risk factors, how you can prevent it, and what the symptoms may be could save your life. Do you know whether the following behaviors decrease or increase your risk of developing ovarian cancer?

Take the quiz

More Evidence That Healthy Living Combats Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:30:04 -0700

Add this to your list of reasons to live healthily: more research is showing that exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding excessive alcohol can help prevent breast cancer. According to data released today from the World Cancer Research Fund charity, at least four out of 10 breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented by healthy lifestyle changes.

The conclusions are based on data culled from 950 research papers around the world. The study found that breastfeeding is also a major factor in reducing one's risk of breast cancer. Here's more from the study:

The charity recommends that both men and women aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18 and 25. . . . The charity also recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and, if alcohol is drunk at all, it be limited to two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman.

If you're looking for ways to prevent breast cancer, it's hard to argue with exercise. Physical activity reduces body fat, thereby lowering cancer-promoting hormones such as estrogen. Researchers have also found that women with a higher body mass index have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Do you count cancer-prevention among your reasons to exercise?

Front Page: Tanning Beds Elevated to Highest Cancer Risk

TresSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:19 -0700

International cancer experts have reclassified tanning beds into the top cancer risk category of "probable carcinogens." The beds are now considered as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. - AP
Microsoft and Yahoo have reached a deal to collaborate on Internet search and online advertising, in hopes of challenging Google. - NY Times
Michael Jackson's personal chef is speaking out about her time with MJ, including the day he died. - AP
US housing prices are on the rise again, showing that the bust might be coming to an end. - WSJ
Terrorists are threatening Sacha Baron Cohen over their portrayal in the film Bruno. - London Times

Increased Cancer Risk in These Polluted Cities

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:03:42 -0700

If you live in a city, you know firsthand about air pollution. Eighty different cancer-causing pollutants ca be found in the air, and they're increasing many individuals' risk for developing cancer. According to the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment released by the EPA, nearly 600 neighborhoods across the US exceed a 100 in one million cancer risk. That means that if one million people breathe toxic air over the course of their lifetime, 100 people would develop cancer solely because of the pollution.

To find out which city's pollution levels are putting their residents at risk for cancer read more.

The chart below shows which areas have an estimated cancer risk greater than 100 in one million. It's no surprise that the major cities are the ones causing the greatest health risks.

Tell me, does knowing pollution is directly connected to increased cancer risk affect where you live?

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Cancer Deadly to Humans and Wild Animals Alike

PetSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:00:18 -0700

It's heartbreaking enough to see your furry friends go through the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but imagine being a wild animal and not having the medical care or love that a family pet would. Cancer not only affects people and pets, but wild animals as well. A new study conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Society shows that cancer accounts for 10 percent of human deaths, and wild animals are dying from cancer at about the same rate.

And although you may want to wish away these similarities as a natural occurrence, take in this fact first: high levels of a chemical called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are found in the St. Lawrence river system, where beluga whales and many species of fish are frequently found hunting for food. Studies show that this (human-produced) pollutant is the leading cause of intestinal cancer in the beluga whale population. Coincidence? I'm not so sure about that. Although there isn't much you can do to monitor signs of cancer in wild animals from your home, you can keep an eye out for common signs of cancer in your pets!

PSA From a Vagina's Point of View

TresSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Time was, vagina was a word you didn't hear often, unlike the word penis. (Where did this come from - vagina phobia? Dislike of the actual word vagina?)

Now, vaginas are having monologues, ads imagine boys having vaginas, and in this PSA for cervical cancer, a vagina has what film theorists call a "point of view." In film theory parlance, anything you see on the screen comes from one character's point of view, unless it's an omniscient perspective. In this PSA for Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, we see a vagina's POV during the dreaded but necessary pelvic exam. What's next? A feature length film on the adventures of Virginia the Vagina?

Women Take Better Care of Themselves Than Men

TresSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

When British scientists discovered, to their surprise, that men have a greater risk of cancer than women, they came upon an explanation that has nothing to do with biology: women take better care of themselves.

The new study looked at cancer that afflicts both men and women and found that men were 40 percent more likely than women to die from such cancer and 16 percent more likely to get it in the first place.

Researchers pointed out that men typically put off reporting symptoms to doctors. Men are also less aware that smoking, excess weight around the waist, and high alcohol intake all increase the risk of cancer. As for their diets, men are better at avoiding diet cola and highly processed "diet" snacks, but they're lazy about getting their vegetables and eat too many calories overall.

Since it's Men's Health Week, now might be a good time to remind the men in your life to schedule a doctor's appointment. Make one for yourself while you're at it!

Do you take better care of your health than the men in your life?

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