Melatonin, Cancer and Your Cell Phone

LONG-TERM mobile phone use could lead to 1,500 new cases of brain tumours a year over the next two decades a study shows.

Dating back to the mid 90s it seems that -

There is strong evidence that pineal melatonin is involved in controlling neoplastic processes. We have reported that physiological, but not pharmacological or sub physiological, concentrations of melatonin enhance intercellular communication in normal C3H/10T/2 fibroblasts. Gap junctional intercellular communication intervenes in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation, and seems to play a crucial role in suppression of tumor promotion. A number of in vivo studies have shown that extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) can act as cancer promoters or co-promoters. In vitro, 60 Hz MF have been reported to block melatonin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation in human breast cancer cells. The mechanisms responsible for the observed interactions of MF at the cellular level remain unknown. In the present study melatonin was added to confluent fibroblasts at a concentration of 10(-10) M. Twenty-seven hours later, a fluorescent dye was scrape-loaded into groups of cells and the transfer of the dye to adjacent cells through gap junctions was quantified. Under these conditions melatonin induced a significant increase of dye transfer; this increase was not observed when the cultures were exposed to the MF for 30 min before the previously reported results suggesting that the in vivo oncostatic action of melatonin could be exerted, in part, through modulation of the levels of gap junctional intercellular communication. Also, the data indicate that ELF-MF could counteract the melatonin-induced enhancement of junctional transfer.

http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/12/2945

Recall too that fluoride seems to be a major contributor to calcifying the pineal gland.
 
Lest we forget about how much the EPA, and the cellular industry, really is withholding from the public!
 
And in other new reports on health risks and your cell phone

Two Swedish scientists, Professor Lennart Hardell and Professor Kjell Hansson Mild, found that longterm users had double the chance of developing a tumour on the side of the brain they held the handset. And, more frighteningly, just one hour a day on the mobile was enough to increase the risk.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/real-life/2007/10/29/mobile-phone-danger-115875-20025730/

It isn't enough to be aware of the cell phone risk to thyroid problems and breast cancer, now its osteoporosis

Do you wear your cell phone on your belt? Well, here's some news for you-the electromagnetic rays from mobiles lead to decreased bone density in an area of the pelvis that is commonly used for bone grafts.

A study by Dr. Tolga Atay and colleagues of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, found that with long-term exposure, electromagnetic fields from cell phones could weaken the bone, potentially affecting the outcomes of surgical procedures using bone grafts.

Complete article - Cellular phones 'lead to bone weakening'

Women who are pregnant and rely on cell phone use may want to know that back in 1994 it was determined that an embryo, and of course the developing fetus, could be irretrievably altered by exposure to extremely low EMF.

Chick embryo development can be irreversibly altered by early exposure to weak extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7802707

ReThink Vaccines

In a series of investigations over seven years in to all the new and commonly-prescribed vaccines (including HPV), autism, immune diseases and allergies, Dr Richard Halvorsen spoke to health officials, researchers, fellow doctors and parents. He discovered that vaccines are being given to children without knowing enough about them. Parents are regularly being misguided about vaccine effectiveness and their safety. Doctors are not being provided with the right information. They even live in fear of being seen to challenge perceived wisdom. Medical researchers often find that impartial vaccine research is impossible – those who dare speak out, risk being discredited.

ReThink Pink

As the pink madness of the October 2009 programming winds down, because today is October 31, I am pleased to provide readers with this very good article from an MD with an open mind.

As more and more doctors and other health professionals start to get the idea that mammogram really isn't good for health or breast cancer screening, sanity will creep slowly back into women's health care.

A Closer Look at Screening Mammography

Until then, become your own best health advocate.

Is Swine Flu Really a Pandemic?

Growing Doubt Among Experts

German Government Flu Expert Advising Pharma 'Lobby Group'
A German government flu expert is advising a group funded by the pharma industry. The European Working Group on Influenza says it wants to raise awareness of the dangers of a pandemic. But epidemiologist Luc Bonneaux says ESWI is a lobby group "that has as much to do with science as McDonald's with healthy nutrition." By Gerald Traufetter more...

Lead Health Issues Remain Major Concern

UPDATE: May 2010 - Heavy Metals Poisoning Part 1


While lead levels in face paint and toys remain a focus, more impetus needs to be placed on the impact of lead and other heavy metals and how they impact people the health of those living in N. Idaho's Silver Valley where EPA is moving ahead with its toxic waste dump adjacent to the National Historic site and Sacred Native lands at the Cataldo Mission.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Before children apply face paint for Halloween, parents should know that some face paints contain lead and other heavy metals, a U.S. advocacy group says.

Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund, says the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sent 10 children's face paints to an independent lab to test for heavy metals and review ingredient labels of Halloween products sold at a seasonal holiday store.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents avoid using cosmetics on their children that could be contaminated with lead, Archer says.

The report, "Pretty Scary," found:
-- Ten out of 10 children's face paints contained lead ranging from 0.05 to 0.65 parts per million.

-- Six out of 10 children's face paints contained nickel, cobalt and/or chromium, which are top allergens in children. The metals were found at levels ranging from 1.6 to 120 ppm -- many of them far exceeding industry safety recommendations of 1 ppm.

To learn more about the study see: www.safecosmetics.org/prettyscary.

To learn more about the issues surrounding the nation's largest lead Superfund site read more here -

Silver Valley Action

Silver Valley Action Photo Album

Petition

Heavy Metal

Even if you do not live in the 1500 square mile area of this Superfund site you can help by supporting the work and signing the petition.

In a related article, Why your doctor should know where you have lived, environmental exposure is listed as a health risk.  This question was always included in the process of taking a complete health history when I worked as a nurse practitioner.  It is part of what I taught my students when I was teaching at the college level.  Why it has been lost in the process over the years is a mystery I am sure, but it is important.  It still is just one part of what a complete health history should include; what you are exposed to in your work is as important, and also what you use at home and in your garden.  Reason why you should have a running copy of your own medical record in your possession, just as people do in other countries.

Alkaline Substances Take Toll on Tooth Enamel

Exposure To Alkaline Substances Can Result In Damaged Teeth

ScienceDaily (2009-10-27) -- It has long been known that acids can erode tooth enamel but a new Swedish study shows that strong alkaline substances can damage teeth too -- substances with high pH values can destroy parts of the organic content of the tooth, leaving the enamel more vulnerable. ... > read full article

Gary Null and Forced Vaccination

Videos of Gary Null's speech against forced vaccination and related Big PhARMA issues.

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.

And about another vaccine issue: A good news article on the need for sckepticism with AIDS vaccine.   I would rather see a study using the 4 supplements that block conversion of HIV to AIDS.

Discord on Mammography Roils the ACS

Ralph Moss is an active educator regarding cancer issues.  I am pleased to see his newsletter this week and read his coments on issues surrounding mammography.

Of concern to me is the focus on the American Cancer Society's resistance to consider the impact on breast cancer rates attributed to mammogram screening.

As Moss writes, "According to a front-page article in the New York Times, the ACS intends to abandon its rigid advocacy of mammography screening of the age 40+ female population."

My concern is that elsewhere throughouit the world where breast cancer rates are lower, many attribute this to avoidance of radiological screening in the under 50-60 age group.

As you know from reading articles here at Natural Health News, Creating Health Institute has been a strong proponent for thermography and ultrasound for more than two decades.

Listen to our recent 2 part series "Pink May Not Be Protective"
Listen to Herbalyoda Says! on Blog Talk Radio
Read more of the many articles here (use blog search), at Natural Healing through Natural Health and at GreenMuze.

Gardasil: an untested failure

UPDATE: 12/14/09  Gardasil causing MS like syndrome in some girls
One more article added to the 32 already on Natural Health News regarding the serious issues with another unnecessary vaccine.
------------------------------------------
Gardasil Researcher Drops A Bombshell
Harper: Controversal Drug Will Do Little To Reduce Cervical Cancer Rates

By Susan Brinkmann, For The Bulletin, Sunday, October 25, 2009

Dr. Diane Harper, lead researcher in the development of two human papilloma virus vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, said the controversial drugs will do little to reduce cervical cancer rates and, even though they’re being recommended for girls as young as nine, there have been no efficacy trials in children under the age of 15.

Dr. Harper, director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at the University of Missouri, made these remarks during an address at the 4th International Public Conference on Vaccination which took place in Reston, Virginia on Oct. 2-4. Although her talk was intended to promote the vaccine, participants said they came away convinced the vaccine should not be received.

“I came away from the talk with the perception that the risk of adverse side effects is so much greater than the risk of cervical cancer, I couldn’t help but question why we need the vaccine at all,” said Joan Robinson, Assistant Editor at the Population Research Institute.

Dr. Harper began her remarks by explaining that 70 percent of all HPV infections resolve themselves without treatment within a year. Within two years, the number climbs to 90 percent. Of the remaining 10 percent of HPV infections, only half will develop into cervical cancer, which leaves little need for the vaccine.

She went on to surprise the audience by stating that the incidence of cervical cancer in the U.S. is already so low that “even if we get the vaccine and continue PAP screening, we will not lower the rate of cervical cancer in the US.”

There will be no decrease in cervical cancer until at least 70 percent of the population is vaccinated, and even then, the decrease will be minimal.

Apparently, conventional treatment and preventative measures are already cutting the cervical cancer rate by four percent a year. At this rate, in 60 years, there will be a 91.4 percent decline just with current treatment. Even if 70 percent of women get the shot and required boosters over the same time period, which is highly unlikely, Harper says Gardasil still could not claim to do as much as traditional care is already doing.

Dr. Harper, who also serves as a consultant to the World Health Organization, further undercut the case for mass vaccination by saying that “four out of five women with cervical cancer are in developing countries.”

Ms. Robinson said she could not help but wonder, “If this is the case, then why vaccinate at all? But from the murmurs of the doctors in the audience, it was apparent that the same thought was occurring to them.”

However, at this point, Dr. Harper dropped an even bigger bombshell on the audience when she announced that, “There have been no efficacy trials in girls under 15 years.”

Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, studied only a small group of girls under 16 who had been vaccinated, but did not follow them long enough to conclude sufficient presence of effective HPV antibodies.

This is not the first time Dr. Harper revealed the fact that Merck never tested Gardasil for safety in young girls. During a 2007 interview with KPC News.com, she said giving the vaccine to girls as young as 11 years-old “is a great big public health experiment.”

At the time, which was at the height of Merck’s controversial drive to have the vaccine mandated in schools, Dr. Harper remained steadfastly opposed to the idea and said she had been trying for months to convince major television and print media about her concerns, “but no one will print it.”

“It is silly to mandate vaccination of 11 to 12 year old girls,” she said at the time. “There also is not enough evidence gathered on side effects to know that safety is not an issue.”

When asked why she was speaking out, she said: “I want to be able to sleep with myself when I go to bed at night.”

Since the drug’s introduction in 2006, the public has been learning many of these facts the hard way. To date, 15,037 girls have officially reported adverse side effects from Gardasil to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). These adverse reactions include Guilliane Barre, lupus, seizures, paralysis, blood clots, brain inflammation and many others. The CDC acknowledges that there have been 44 reported deaths.

Dr. Harper also participated in the research on Glaxo-Smith-Kline’s version of the drug, Cervarix, currently in use in the UK but not yet approved here. Since the government began administering the vaccine to school-aged girls last year, more than 2,000 patients reported some kind of adverse reaction including nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, convulsions, seizures and hyperventilation. Several reported multiple reactions, with 4,602 suspected side-effects recorded in total. The most tragic case involved a 14 year-old girl who dropped dead in the corridor of her school an hour after receiving the vaccination.

The outspoken researcher also weighed in last month on a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that raised questions about the safety of the vaccine, saying bluntly: "The rate of serious adverse events is greater than the incidence rate of cervical cancer."

Ms. Robinson said she respects Dr. Harper’s candor. “I think she’s a scientist, a researcher, and she’s genuine enough a scientist to be open about the risks. I respect that in her.”

However, she failed to make the case for Gardasil. “For me, it was hard to resist the conclusion that Gardasil does almost nothing for the health of American women.”

Copyright © 2009 - The Bulletin

Ginkgo Found to Protect Against Radiation Damage

This is good news for women, and men, who are exposed to radiation via mammogram, MRI and other scans in standard breast screening and therapy.

Of course we hope that more will stand up to the status quo and demand access to thermography, but in the interim, this information certainly can be of help.

It is also good news for our military, now known to be over exposed to DU.

A report published and October, 2009 issue of the International Journal of Low Radiation added evidence to a protective effect for Ginkgo biloba against radiation damage. Ginkgo biloba is a tree species whose leaves have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. Ginkgo leaf extract contains antioxidant compounds called ginkgolides and bilobalides which help scavenge free radicals that attack nearly all components of the cell, including DNA.

In their article, Chang-Mo Kang of the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences in Taegu and colleagues describe their use of an assay for radiation-induced programmed cell death (apoptosis) to evaluate the protective effect of ginkgo extract against radiation exposure that occurs during accidents or occupational overexposure. In one experiment, white blood cells from human donors aged 18 to 50 were treated with one of four concentrations of ginkgo extract or a 9 percent saline solution before being exposed to gamma rays.

The researchers found a significant dose-dependent reduction in apoptotic cells among those treated with ginkgo. While radiation-induced apoptosis occurred in nearly one third of irradiated cells not treated with ginkgo, the number declined to 5 percent or less in cells treated with the herb.

In another experiment, mice were treated with ginkgo extract or saline before and after receiving whole body ionizing radiation. Mice that did not undergo radiation served as controls. Examination of the animals' spleens found that treatment with ginkgo maintained organ size comparable with that of animals that did not receive radiation, while spleens in irradiated animals that did not receive ginkgo were significantly smaller.

In their discussion of the findings, the authors note that cell-damaging free radicals and reactive oxygen species can be generated in excess under numerous conditions, including exposure to environmental chemicals, specific drugs, and during normal aging.

"These results indicate that the radioprotective effects of ginkgo extracts administered prior to radiation are due to the OH radical scavenging activity," the authors write. "Therefore, ginkgo extract should be useful for the protection of radiosensitive organs against free radicals.

Better to Screen You with Thermography, My Dear...

"Rethink" of Cancer Screening Triggers Comments and Controversy
By Nick Mulcahy

October 23, 2009 — In a comment that has triggered widespread media coverage, the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS) admitted that the benefits of cancer screening, especially for prostate and breast cancer, have been oversold.

The advantages to screening have been exaggerated.

"I'm admitting that American medicine has overpromised when it comes to screening. The advantages to screening have been exaggerated," the ACS's Otis Brawley, MD, told the New York Times in an October 21 article.

With this statement, a long-simmering controversy — about how the benefits of prostate and breast cancer screenings are emphasized at the expense of discussion of the harms — seems to have boiled over, at least momentarily. The story has been covered by many major media outlets, including ABC News, NBC Nightly News, CNN, the Jim Lehrer News Hour, and National Public Radio.

Hours after Dr. Brawley's comments were published, the ACS released an official press statement from Dr. Brawley that shifted focus back to the benefits of screening — and away from his earlier candid interview about the downsides of screening.

"While the advantages of screening for some cancers have been overstated, there are advantages, especially in the case of breast, colon, and cervical cancers. Mammography is effective — mammograms work and women should continue get them," reads Dr. Brawley's statement.

The statement also reiterated the ACS's stand that men should make an "informed decision" about whether prostate cancer screening is "right for them."

Dr. Brawley's original comments apparently arose in an interview with the Times about an essay published in the October 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association about the need to rethink prostate and breast cancer screening.

The essay argues that new approaches to screening for breast and prostate cancer are needed, because the current methods have not led to a "significant reduction in deaths" from the 2 diseases.

Explaining the Case for a Rethink

The essay, written Laura Esserman, MD, MBA, and Yiwey Shieh, AB, both from the University of California, San Francisco, and Ian Thompson, MD, from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, calls for a rethink on cancer screening and offers a 4-pronged program for improvement.

They decided to write the essay when they realized how similar prostate and breast cancers and their screening problems are.

A central problem with the screenings for both of these cancers seems to be that they have increased the burden of low-risk cancers without reducing the burden of more aggressive cancers, the essayists write.

We need to refocus and figure out how to tailor screening.

Mammography and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, although having "some effect," have led to the well-documented overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast and prostate cancers, they note.

"We are not saying that screening is bad. It's what you do with the information that makes it good or bad," Dr. Esserman told Medscape Oncology. "We need to refocus and figure out how to tailor screening," she summarized.

The American Cancer Society should not be afraid of Otis's message.
She supports Dr. Brawley for speaking out on this issue. "Otis had a lot of courage. The American Cancer Society should not be afraid of Otis's message."

The messages about cancer screening need to evolve, suggested Dr. Esserman.

"I think people like the simple message that screening is good and are uncomfortable with complexity. I understand that. However, cancer is a complicated disease. We need to expand our messages to say, among other things, that many screen-detected cancers are slow growing and may not need treatment," she said.

Other messages should include the mention of harm and the fact that screening will not find all cancers early, Dr. Esserman added.

With regard to the latter, Dr. Esserman said that a recent study indicates that most stage II and III breast cancers actually turn up clinically, between normal planned screens.

"It's just not true to say that 'if you get a mammogram, all will be well'," she explained.

Problems With Prostate and Breast Cancer Screening

It is estimated that more than 1 million men have been overtreated for prostate cancer since the advent of widespread PSA testing in the mid-1980s.

Furthermore, as the essayists point out, the intensive PSA screening has not resulted in a significant difference in prostate cancer mortality between the United States and the United Kingdom, where PSA screening was not widely adopted.

The essayists also note that although evidence indicates that breast cancer screening saves lives, 838 women, aged 50 to 70 years, must undergo screening for 6 years to avert 1 death. However, this 1 life saved generates "thousands of screens, hundreds of biopsies, and many cancers treated as if they were life-threatening when they were not," they write.

A critic of mammography recently told Medscape Oncology that such mammography facts are in stark contrast with what is most publicized about the screening, namely that "mammography saves lives."

While Dr. Brawley's comments have garnered great attention, another ACS official recently suggested to Medscape Oncology that public education about breast cancer screening is in need of improvement. "We all have to do a better job to best inform the public about the benefits and harms of screening mammography," said Bob Smith, PhD, director of cancer screening at the ACS.

Dr. Esserman believes the time is right to improve both patients' and clinicians' understanding of screening. "If you don't take a hard critical look, then you miss the opportunity to improve things," she said.

A Plan for Improved Screening

In their essay, the authors chart a new 4-point course for breast and prostate cancer screening that will "significantly reduce death and morbidity" from the cancers.

First, more powerful markers that identify and differentiate cancers with significant risk from those with minimal risk are needed.

Second, the treatment burden for minimal-risk disease must be reduced. Methods currently exist to identify low- and high-risk cancers in both the breast and prostate, they emphasize. For instance, in prostate cancer, low-volume lesions with low Gleason scores have a low-risk for death. Minimal-risk disease should not be called cancer; it should be called indolent lesions of epithelial origin (IDLE), they say.

Third, improved tools to support informed decisions are needed. "Information about risks of screening and biopsy should be shared with patients before screening," they write. Currently, an estimated one third of PSA tests take place without even the most basic doctor–patient discussion, as reported by Medscape Oncology.

Finally, a greater emphasis on prevention, including the use of proven cancer preventive agents, such as finasteride for preventing prostate cancer and tamoxifen and raloxifene for preventing breast cancer, is needed.

An estimated $20 billion is spent to screen for prostate and breast cancer in the United States. The essayists call for 10% to 20% of that amount to be invested in an effort to improve screening.

This article grew out of collaboration initiated within the National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network and was supported by grants U01CA111234 and U01CA086402. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

JAMA. 2009;302:1685-1692. Abstract

Authors and Disclosures
Nick Mulcahy is a senior journalist for Medscape Hematology-Oncology. Before joining Medscape, Nick was a freelance medical news writer for 15 years, working for companies such as the International Medical News Group, MedPage Today, HealthDay, McMahon Publishing, and Advanstar. He is also the former managing editor of breastcancer.org. He can be contacted at nmulcahy@medscape.net.

Medscape Medical News © 2009 Medscape, LLC

Vaccine Information

 

44,000 Die in US Annually: No Access and No Insurance

http://pnhp.org/excessdeaths/health-insurance-and-mortality-in-US-adults.pdf

Dangerous, Deadly H1N1 Vaccine Scam

UPDATE: 10/21/09
I've been listening to current news regarding the lack of availability of the "swine" flu vaccine in the various forms, Liquid Tamiflu, and the "approved" masks.

Of course we have been assured from the beginning of this "pandemic" alert that there would be no problem with adequate supply of these products as Secretary Sebelius has repeated many times in mainstream media.

Obviously there is a public health problem that may not be flu but more like manufacturing and distribution.

In light of the lack of liquid Tamiflu, HHS and CDC is authorizing compounding of the liquid by pharmacists.

A second move is the importation of foreign drugs.

Now of course we know that our members of Congress have tried vehemently to stop importing foreign drugs under the guise of many excuses, and they have tried to stop any compounding activity in pharmacies.

Here is a great mixed message and one I hope isn't forgotten quickly.

We have just had another great give-a-way to Big PhARMA in the health insurance "reform" effort in Congress over Plan D in Medicare thanks to Obama.

Now we have a precedent to fight their stupidity for cost saving and health saving action.

And if you'd like information about what to do in the interim, make sure you wash hands frequently with regular - not antibacterial - soap, keep well hydrated, and maintain good levels of garlic, vitamin C and vitamin D (the 3 basics), and cover your mouth or nose if you need to cough or sneeze (then wash your hands).

Make sure to check out all of the information we have here at Natural Health News on this flu conundrum by using the search window at the top of the right column.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL POST DATE 9/7/09

If H1N1 is really Asian flu, or regular seasonal flu, as it seems to be stated by the CDC, one has to wonder what all the flap is about.

Dr. Horowitz provides some enlightening information in his article; things you do have the right to know.

It is also good to be aware of the fact that this is an egg based vaccine so if you have any allergy to eggs be vigilant. The vaccine also contains mercury and aluminum which can cause heavy metal toxicity and other problems.

Flu Scams

WHO Issues H1N1 Swine Flu Propaganda Reports BigPharma Is Testing 'Mock' Viruses In Vaccines
By Dr. Leonard Horowitz
9-6-9

The World Health Organization (WHO) is spreading propaganda like the flu to convince people new, genetically engineered, live "mock" influenza viruses in vaccines are safe.

On August 6, 2009, following news that more than half the world's health professionals will refuse vaccinations this fall, the WHO issued a directive to governments to reassure people the new flu vaccines, still being tested, are "safe." A major U.S. media blitz followed featuring Barack Obama telling Americans to get vaccinated, and network broadcasts maligning vaccination opponents.

"From the White House to Oprah.com, H1N1 swine flu vaccine promoters and promotions, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars, are serving 'BigPharma' advancing a genocidal agenda," reports public health expert and media analyst, Dr. Leonard Horowitz. "Dismissing harmful vaccine side effects that may sicken millions of people following injections of immune-system intoxicating chemicals, heavy metals, viral proteins, and foreign genetic materials reflects gross criminal malfeasance," he says.

A WHO expert committee defended its global vaccination program writing, "Special safety issues will inevitably arise . . . when vaccine is administered on a massive scale," but "manufacturers have conducted advance studies using a so-called 'mock-up' vaccine."

Mock-up vaccines are made from live genetically-engineered viruses that spread like the flu after injection. So the threatening pandemic may include genetic parts, and whole new viruses, from these new laboratory produced pathogens.

Complete article...

School Lunch Improvements Don't Limit Sugar

UPDATE:10/23/09

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Prevention programs may be the best way to fight child obesity, U.S. researchers said.

A study examining regional changes in child obesity between 2000-2005, published in the journal Obesity, found a local obesity prevention program combining state and local community nutrition and exercise programs with media attention, and an evidence-based school health approach in the El Paso, Texas, region, was most effective statewide in decreasing childhood obesity.

The El Paso fourth graders had a decrease of 13 percent in obesity prevalence.

"Data from the El Paso region show us that obesity prevention efforts, when implemented on a broad scale, can be successful," study leader Deanna Hoelscher of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Austin, Texas, said in a statement.

Hoelscher said the results of the study -- called SPAN, or Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition -- illustrated the importance of measuring prevalence at the local level rather than relying on national or state estimates to monitor trends.

--------------------
Yesterday I listened to Charlie Rose interview former FDA honcho David Kessler about his book on food.

While I agree that Big Ag and food manufacturers have been remiss in their efforts to enhance the addictive power of their products with sugar, salt and fat (as trans-fats), as well as the addition - not mentioned by Kessler - of artificial coloring, flavorings, HFCS, aspartame and sucralose, flavor enhancers such as MSG and Senomyx all add to the problem.

What I also did not hear Kessler mention is the direct connection between many of the vaccines to diabetes and to obesity. The Hepatitis vaccine is one of the main culprits. A new study on vaccines shows brain inflammation and injury following this particular vaccine.

Other concerns of mine relate to the use of non-fat dairy products when children need fat for growth and brain function as well as energy.

Then think of the USDA pyramid and its heavy weight on grains and pasts as well as other carbs, not so good when more vegetables and limited whole fruit make more sense.

But then I'm not from Big Ag or the government...

Read more: Childhood Obesity Campaign: Issues in Health

A Different Kind of School Lunch

Light on what happened to the healthy pyramid

School lunches get nutritional makeover
Published: Oct. 21, 2009

Recommendations by the Institute of Medicine are expected to be used to make over U.S. school lunch and breakfast menus, nutrition advocates said.

Margo G. Wootan, nutrition policy director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, said schools shouldn't wait for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's final regulations to implement Institute of Medicine's sensible new school meal standards.

"The USDA should help schools work toward the new standards, so by the time they are required schools are already most of the way there," Wootan said in a statement. "When Congress reauthorizes child nutrition legislation, it also should give USDA and school districts the resources and support they need to make these healthier meals appeal even to the most finicky of young eaters."

The recommendations, which the Agriculture Department will write into regulations, will increase the amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in school meals; reduce the content of sodium and trans fat; and ensure low- or no-fat milk is provided, Wootan said.

The changes will help address the biggest problems in children's diets and foster healthier eating habits, advocates said. However, the Institute of Medicine unfortunately didn't recommend limits on added sugars, Wootan said.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nuts and Berries, good eats for health

Blackberries, Walnuts, Strawberries, Artichokes, Cranberries, Coffee (nothing added), Raspberries, Pecans, Blueberries, Clove (ground/powder).

All of the above foods are high in antioxidants and can act to protect you from environmental pollutants.

These foods are considered to be the Top 10 as listed in a report published in the Clinical Nutrition journal.

These and other antioxidant foods may be helpful to prevent heart disease, premature aging, and cancers.

Check out a traditional Native American food made with cranberries

How the Financial Meltdown Could Have Been Prevented

While Natural Health News is a health-focused blog, from time to time, because of the importance of the information, and potential impact on health, we want to bring some important information to your attention.

More than a decade ago the recent so-called financial meltdown could have been prevented, but no one wanted to act.

This week the following program, which you can view on-line, is important for your consideration, The Warning

as is the following Wikipedia article, Long-Term Capital Management

along with this article from Mother Jones.

It makes you wonder just why we still have Geithner and Summers involved in the financial deliberations in the current White House inner circle.

For many years I have tried to raise the issue of problems with Greenspan and derivatives, yet no one wanted to listen and now a lot of those puffed up egos along the Beltway and Wall Street have been egged.

Confusing you on purpose

B Complex vitamins do reduce heart risks, although a recent report opposes benefits -

A study published by the American Journal of Cardiology last month finds that cardiovascular patients with high homocysteine levels (above 15µmol/l) treated with B vitamins cut their risk of death by a quarter over ten years.

Among those not given B vitamins 32% had died, compared to only 4% of those given high dose vitamins. Homocysteine is now a proven marker for cardiovascular disease risk. For example, a recent meta-analysis concludes “each increase of 5 μmol/L in homocysteine levels increases the risk of CHD events by approximately 20%, independently of traditional CHD risk factors“. Lowering homocysteine levels with B vitamins has also been shown to reduce stroke risk.

Vitamin B12 is also a well established nutrient to help the fight against dementia.

Heart Disease: B-vitamin Pills Have No Effect, Review Finds

ScienceDaily (2009-10-20) -- B-vitamin supplements should not be recommended for prevention of heart disease, say scientists. A new review has shown these supplements do not reduce the risk of developing or dying from the disease. ... > read full article

Another Flu Vaccine Casualty, where was informed consent

It is very disturbing to me as a long-time health care professional as I listen to local friends and read and listen to news report about flu and swine flu vaccines.

So many necessary questions are just not being asked. And required information is being withheld from those who are choosing to get theses jabs.

In a recent case of a severe adverse reaction to just the "seasonal" flu vaccine, the young woman who thought she was doing a good thing found out otherwise. Her comment is however very telling -

"I would've much rather won the lottery and bought that ticket instead of gotten the flu shot if I knew that risk existed," she said.

Desiree Jennings, now dealing with serious neurological injury made this point, "...if I knew that risk existed."

My question is why the person at Safeway who was administering the flu jabs failed to offer required risk/benefit data to Jennings as is required by law under FDA and CDC guidelines.

This basic guideline, a cornerstone of medical care, is known as "Informed Consent".

Flu shot suspected in Redskins cheerleading hopeful's neurological condition

Warning over fibroids treatment

I would really like to have someone justify the use of the procedure at a time when it is well known that fibroids are caused by estrogen excess and there are nutritional therapies and herbal therapies that will correct the problem.

I am referring to the use of B complex vitamins and herbs that balance hormones such as Vitex. Heavy bleeding can be helped with nettle, and vitamin E is also of great help.

None of these nutritional supplements lead to such serious problems in and after pregnancy as related to the surgical procedure. Consider as well generalized nutritional therapy.

I am also sure that the economic effect is much smaller as well.

Fibroids Treatment Warning

UK doctors say a treatment for heavy periods caused by fibroids can seriously harm a subsequent pregnancy.

An Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital study looked at the outcomes of 215 pregnancies following uterine artery embolisation (UAE) treatment.

The researchers found much higher rates of miscarriage, caesareans and heavy bleeding after delivery, and call for caution in recommending the treatment.

The study appears in the journal, The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

UAE has been available as a treatment in the UK since 1995.

Pregnancy problems

The doctors pulled together the data from five small studies carried out in the UK, Czech Republic and Canada.

Fibroids are small, benign lumps of smooth muscle in the womb.

THE UAE TECHNIQUE

A catheter or thin tube is inserted into the blood vessels in the groin which lead up to the womb
A gel is injected
This sets and blocks some of the blood vessels supplying the womb
Fibroids shrink

Sometimes, because of their number, size and location, they cause heavy period pain or difficulty in getting pregnant and treatment is needed.

Doctors at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital say as many as 40% of women of reproductive age have fibroids.

They found that the risk of miscarriage following UAE was 35% compared with a rate in untreated women of 10 to 15%.

The incidence of caesarean sections was much higher at 67% compared with a normal rate of 20 to 25%.

And bleeding after delivery was more than twice as common at 14% compared with 5%.

The babies tended to be smaller and they were more likely to present in an awkward position.

'Increase awareness'

Ertan Saridogan, who led the research, said although a large number of women had already undergone the procedure, there had been relatively little study of its long-term effects.

He said: "We do not offer it as a first-time treatment, but, for some women, surgery and other treatments do not work.

"We want to increase awareness of the pitfalls of this widespread procedure.

"I hope this will inform women before they make their decisions, so they can make an informed choice - they've been going at it blindly without realising what it might imply for their future pregnancies."

Henry Annan, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said he agreed that care should now be taken in recommending the treatment.

"A proper randomised controlled trial of this procedure would take many years - it's important that patients should have some idea of the pros and cons of all the various treatments for fibroids."

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8310263.stm
Published: 2009/10/16 23:01:50 GMT © BBC MMIX

The Importance of Vitamin D

UPDATE: 10/17/09
Make sure you have your high potency vitamin D to carry you through winter and help you defend your health from flu.
-----------------
Originally posted 8/14/09
Vitamin D is more of a steroidal compound than a vitamin that has an amazing range of health benefits.

One of the very important benefits of vitamin D is that it turns on at least 2000 genes. This one fact alone makes it very clear that what happens inside your body at any given time is interconnected, not the lineal concept promulgated in mainstream medicine.

Several years ago I reported on the benefit of vitamin D for people with diabetes, especially Type 1. More benefits of this compound certainly show its worth for Type 2 as well.

What ever you wish to call it, vitamin D is fat soluble and use of it requires your being sure to have healthy saturated fats in your daily food plan.

Critical to health on many levels, especially immunity. Perhaps taking more vitamin C and D will help get you through the flu mania season with less stress, and better health, than unproven vaccines or drugs that are known not to be effective.

More and more people are not getting enough exposure to sunlight and this has a direct effect on your vitamin D level. People of color, the elderly, and people whose custom calls for body covering clothing all are at risk, along with those who live at more northern latitudes, or who do not eat oily fish.

As the darker months of the year are approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, perhaps its time for you to consider testing for your level of vitamin D, or adding it to your supplement plan.

Contact us to find out more about vitamin D home testing for detecting vitamin D deficiency and monitoring of supplemented levels. This test measures total 25(OH)D, the best single measure of overall vitamin D status. Deficiency is often found in people with osteoporosis, heart disease, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, depression, chronic fatigue, or chronic pain.

More on Vitamin D

Health Tip

Consider a better way to boost immune system health in your gut and improve regularity with this health tip from Natural Health News -

Depending where you live and whether or not you pay tax on food, Activia will cost you about $30 each month.

One bottle of high potency, high quality acidophilus/bifidus capsules will cost you about one third to one half this amount. Find it here. And a lactose free product is available too.

Plus you won't have so much packaging to recycle.

Important FLU Data

UPDATE: 10/17/09
Swine Flu Biowapon Connection?
------------------------------
10/6/09
Last evening on the CBS news Dr. John LaPook reported that there are 36,000 deaths each year from flu. His statement is not accurate and you can see some of those facts below in the excerpt from CDC data as reported by Russell Blaylock, MD.

This analysis shows data far different than that perpetuated by the media and CDC.

Please think clearly in this situation and in doing so you will better be able to protect your health.

Complete article
Analysis of material by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Dr. Russell Blaylock. (September 5, 2009)

Critical Observations:
•Doctor visits for flu are down from the level in April

•Total flu hospitalizations are similar or lower than for seasonal flu (yearly flu)

•The number of death secondary to flu and pneumonia is unchanged from yearly rate

•Only two states are reporting widespread infections—Georgia and Alaska. Other states report only regional or sporadic activity, meaning it’s not very contagious.

•There is no evidence that the virus has mutated at all anywhere in the world

•The virus remains susceptible to the drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.

•Only 43,771 cases have been reported in the United States. Because of poor reporting the CDC estimates that true numbers indicate that one million have been infected. Many people did not get sick enough to go to a doctor. Likewise, not all people are tested who go to a doctor.

•Of these 5,011 have been hospitalized and 302 have died.

Death Rates From the H1N1 Flu

•If we use the 43,771 figure and 302 deaths that means the death rate is 0.6%, an extremely low death rate for any flu.

•The percentage of hospitalized patients who died was 6%, again a very low incidence of death.

•Since the CDC estimates that one million have been infected, we must recalculate death rates. Using this more accurate figure, the death rate is in truth 0.03%, which means 99.97% will not die from this flu. Your chances of dying are incredibly low.

Age and Death Rates

We hear a lot about the unusual age distribution with this virus, especially as regards death rates, with the young being more affected than, as with seasonal flu, the elderly (90% of deaths are usually among those greater than 65 years old). The risks of becoming infected are as follows:

•Ages 5 to 24 y/o--------26.7 per 100,000 (0.027%)
•Ages 0 to 4 y/o ---------22.9 per 100,000 (0.023%)
•Ages 25 to 49-----------6.97 per 100,000 (0.0069%)
•Ages 50 to 64 y/o------3.9 per 100,000 (0.0039)
•Over 65 y/o-------------1.3 per 1000,000 (0.00013%)

And the risk of needing to be hospitalized are:

•Ages 0 to 4 y/o---------0.0045%
•Ages 5 to 24 y/o--------0.0021%
•Ages 25 to 45 y/o------0.0011%
•Over 65 y/o-------------0.0017%

This indicates that for all age groups, the risk of being hospitalized are far less than 1% and well over 99% of people will not need hospitalization. This explains why this infection is being downplayed by the virologists themselves, the ones who know most about the dangers of viruses.

The distributions of death also vary considerably by age. Below is the distribution of deaths according to age.

•Ages 25-49 y/o---------41%
•Ages 50 to 64 y/o-----24%
•Ages 5 to 24 y/o------16%
•Over age 65 y/o------- 9%
•Ages 0 to 4 y/o-------- 2%

So, we see that the greatest death rates in the extremely small fraction that die are between ages 25 to 49 and 65% are between ages 25 to 64. The least likely to die are babies up to age 4 years, yet they are targeted for vaccination and as we see from the above data, children below age 2 years get absolutely no protection from the flu vaccines.

Breast Self-Exam is Important

I'm a bit taken by the latest propaganda from cancer and breast cancer groups, the media folks and others in the attempt to down play the importance of Breast Self Examination (BSE).

Of course along with the negative information given out lately about BSE there is always some need to tell you to you get more cumulative, breast-cancer-causing radiation exposure with your annual screening mammogram.

I was happy though to hear that a member of Congress, Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, making a strong point in favor of BSE. She found her own cancer this way.

I urge you, and to young women especially, to read more here, learn about BSE, and include it in your personal care routines every month.

And remember Breast Thermography: For Earliest Detection and Intervention

Women Denied Truth On Breast Cancer Testing
By Sarah Boseley

Women must be told the full truth about breast screening, which may in some cases expose them to surgery and radiotherapy more damaging than the early cancerous tissue it detects, argues a controversial paper in the British Medical Journal today.

The paper says women are being patronised by being denied the proper information on which to make their decision to be screened or not. "The question of whether the benefits of screening outweigh the harms is essentially a value judgment. The problem is that, up to now, this judgment has been made by paternalistic agents of the state rather than by women," the authors say.

While deaths from breast cancer have dropped since screening began, there is no unambiguous data as to what part screening has played alongside the improvements in cancer treatment that took place over the same period.

The number of cancers has risen in recent years, but few realise that this is because screening is detecting them at a very early stage, when cells have just begun to undergo cancerous changes, say Hazel Thornton of Leicester University's department of epidemiology and public health, Adrian Edwards of the University of Wales department of primary care and Michael Baum, professor of surgery at University College, London, who helped set up the screening programme in 1987-8 but is now a consistent critic.

A fifth of the cancers now detected are ductal carcinoma in situ - where cells inside the milk ducts have begun to turn into cancer cells. This disease, the authors write, "has an uncertain natural course and those women who have heard of it find it hard to understand, as do many doctors; it is an early stage of disease that results in a 40% mastectomy rate". Women are faced with a difficult decision: whether to undergo surgery or wait and see whether cancer develops.

Women invited for NHS screening are not told, the paper says, that the US preventive task force found that 1,224 women aged 40 to 74 needed to be screened for 14 years to prevent one death from breast cancer.

"These are pertinent facts for a woman to know when attempting to decide how to manage her risk. The [US] researchers concluded that the age at which the trade-off between benefit and harm becomes acceptable 'is a subjective judgment that cannot be answered on scientific grounds'."

There are tensions between the drive to get as many women screened as possible and promoting real informed choice among women, say the authors. "Most women who are screened have neither suffered nor been educated about the reality of the uncertainties, harms and limitations of screening or the consequences of finding pathology of borderline importance."

Women want balanced information, they say. "Although some doctors may be concerned about admitting scientific uncertainty, honesty can enhance patients' respect for the profession.

A paper in the Lancet today says that women whose ductal carcinoma in situ is detected should undergo radiotherapy after the tissue is removed. Scientists from Cancer Research UK and the medical research council say trials have shown that radiotherapy reduces the chance of recurrence by 60%, while the cancer drug tamoxifen cuts it by only 10%.

SocietyGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

Merck now targeting men with Gardasil, boys weren't enough

UPDATE: 10/17/09
The Risks and Benefits of HPV Vaccination
What your doctor or other health care provider is required to tell you by law, before you get a jab, so you can engage in informed consent.

UPDATE: 10/16/09
We have been covering this issue on NHN since 2008, and of course we are providing the information to alert you to the issues. Today The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the vaccine for use in males ages 9 to 26, Merck said in a statement.
Read an update from Bloomberg News

We do not believe this is a necessary vaccine for any one.
------------------------------
Original post date: 11/13/08

We can't encourage you enough to be very concerned about this vaccine and the mass marketing campaign associated with its promotion and use.

Do the research and get the facts before you get the jab.

Find other Gardasil and vaccine related articles via our search window.

Merck vaccine protects men from wart virus, too
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A vaccine designed to protect women and girls from cervical cancer caused by a wart virus may protect men, too, maker Merck and Co reported on Thursday.

The Gardasil vaccine was 90 percent effective in preventing lesions, mostly sexually transmitted warts, caused by the virus in men, Anna Giuliano of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, and colleagues found.

It was about 45 percent effective in preventing infection with the four strains of HPV that it targets.

"We see 90.4 percent efficacy is reducing external genital lesions in males related to these four types of HPV -- 6, 11, 16, 18," Giuliano said in a telephone interview.

"These are the only data evaluating efficacy of any HPV vaccine in preventing disease in males, and were presented for the first time this week at the European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia International Multidisciplinary Conference," Merck said in a statement.

The human papilloma virus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world. About 20 million Americans currently are infected with HPV, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is the main cause of cervical cancer, which kills 3,870 women a year in the United States and 300,000 globally.

It can also cause other types of cancer, including anal and penis cancer as well as mouth and neck cancer. The CDC estimates that HPV caused 25,000 cases of cancer a year in the United States between 1998 and 2003.

Gardasil and its rival, GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix, are only approved for use in girls and women, but the companies are seeking new markets and some experts say it should be used in boys and men, to protect them and their future sexual partners.

Merck said it remains on track to submit a U.S. application by the end of the year for the use of Gardasil in males ages 9 to 26.

Giuliano's team tested 4,065 young men ages 16 to 26, giving them either vaccine or placebo, and then checking them every six months. Evidence suggests the vaccine has to be given before a person is ever infected with HPV to be effective.

While it protected fewer than half the cases of HPV infection as detected in the blood, the vaccine appeared to prevent the development of genital warts and a precancerous

condition called penile/perineal/perianal intraepithelial neoplasia or PIN.

"This opens up some really important questions for further research," Giuliano said. "The cancers in men, which are HPV related are really only now being understood."

It will also be important to study whether vaccinating men protects female sexual partners, she said.

(Editing by Eric Walsh and Maureen Bavdek)
Copyright © 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

Corporate-backed health care campaign

UPDATE: 10/21/09
Instead of Obama and Congress continuing the give-a-way to corporatopia, how about a turnabout so that the people get to be the focal point in this argument?

Big PhARMA is Big Winner in health insurance reform
-----------------------------
NHN reported on this earlier and now we are seeing NO REAL CHANGE continuing-

and here is one differing opinion a few deviations from the status quo.

Dem officials set stage for corporate-backed health care campaign

At a meeting last April with corporate lobbyists, aides to President Barack Obama and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) helped set in motion a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, primarily financed by industry groups, that has played a key role in bolstering public support for health care reform.

The role Baucus’s chief of staff, Jon Selib, and deputy White House chief of staff Jim Messina played in launching the groups was part of a successful effort by Democrats to enlist traditional enemies of health care reform to their side. No quid pro quo was involved, they insist, as do the lobbyists themselves.

The result has been a somewhat unlikely alliance between an administration that came into power criticizing George W. Bush for his closeness to Big Business and groups such as the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers.

Use link above to read complete article

Stroke-like symptoms after the flu shot

Not only have stroke like symptoms been reported following the current flu shot, so has dystonia. Now the CDC et al is scurrying around to make sure the blame is placed on the victim, once again, but law suits are mounting.

Doctors Back Woman's Claim Of Adverse Reaction To Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Vaccine seems to harm the most those with mitochondrial dysfunction. Remember that aspartame itself is an adjuvant which is why its used in some vaccines, and alters mitochondrial function.

More here -
Nurses will sue New York over mandated vaccinations

Judge blocks vaccine mandate

HI Legislators Question H1N1 Vaccines

Swine Flu Controversy

from Russell Blaylock MD: "Previous studies of flu viruses found that the danger to the unborn is not from the virus, but from the cytokine immune reaction to the virus--that is the mother's immune reaction to the virus. What this means is that pregnant women who take this vaccine (especially since it is to be a two to three part vaccine) will have the same immune effects and may dramatically increase the mother's risk of having a child with autism or schizophrenia. This is accepted in the medial literature and have been done repeatedly in animals exposed to vaccine during pregnancy. We could see a real disaster with this vaccine program. Mothers should be warned. Remember, there is no evidence that the vaccine will protect anyone from the virus."

Learn More Facts About Energy Drinks

A new article has been posted regarding Red Bull and some issues I am sure most people do not consider when they purchase this product. The write notes that France & Denmark have banned it.

For some time we have been writing about energy drinks, and out most recent update gives you information along with the several other articles we have posted about energy drinks here on Natural Health News.

Safe Energy Drink

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/05/germans-ban-red-bull.html
http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/ignorance-and-sports-drinks.html
http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/there-are-healthy-energy-drinks.html
http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/energy-drinks.html
http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/02/new-sportea.html

Make all-natural, electrically charged, concentrated mineral water that energizes and provides mental, emotional and physical support to the body. Just mix two teaspoons into a quart of pure drinking water and drink throughout the day for all day energy.

Other sources -
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15403552/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/wid/11915773//
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jan2007-weekly/us-12-01-2007/p7.htm

Men Get Breast Cancer Too

MONROE, Ohio (Oct. 12) - A husband and wife are both undergoing treatment for breast cancer in a case that illustrates how the disease can strike both sexes. Mike and Barbara Welsh, of Monroe, in southwestern Ohio, each had surgery this year after separate discoveries that they had breast cancer.

Barbara Welsh, 63, had surgery in January, went through chemotherapy and is now starting radiation treatments.

After surgery in July, her 62-year-old husband is determining the next step in his recovery, which may include chemotherapy and radiation. He had a modified radical mastectomy on his right breast.

Barbara Welsh was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Four months later she learned her husband, Mike, also suffers from the disease.

Mike Welsh says he is speaking up about his cancer to make other men aware that breast cancer is not just something that strikes women.

"If I could help 10 people or 100, that's a start," said Welsh, a retired AK Steel bricklayer.

Male breast cancer is still rare, with about 1,900 cases expected to be diagnosed this year, with about 440 men dying from the illness.

Mike Welsh first noticed something was wrong when he got into his car and felt discomfort as he strapped the seat belt across his chest.

After his wife began her treatments, he asked his doctor if men could get breast cancer. His doctor referred him to the Compton Center at Atrium Medical Center, in Middletown, where he got the diagnosis.

The couple, married 41 years, laugh about their experience to help stave off the depression that sunk in after their diagnoses.

"You've got to laugh at it," Mike Welsh said. "You have good days, bad days and better days. We're having fun with it."

He and his wife joke that she glows from radiation treatment that she has begun.
"I'm going to set her outside for Halloween," Mike Welsh said.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

Pink ribbon overkill: Exploitation?

Pink ribbon overkill: Are companies exploiting breast cancer campaigns?
By Aimee Picchi, Oct 12th 2009

Walk into almost any store this month, and you'll be hit with a wash of pink products -- pink clogs, pink vegetable peelers, pink cleaning products, even pink food -- sold in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Consumers, feeling as if they're participating in the effort to find a cure for the disease, are snapping up pink-tinged everything. And, as a result, nearly all big consumer-products companies are tacking pink ribbons onto their products.

Yet not everything is coming up roses. Some breast-cancer advocates, patients and survivors are questioning whether the pink-ribbon movement has gone too far, with companies seeking higher sales from cause-related packaging without pledging much -- if anything -- in return. It's left up to shoppers to read the labels on pink-packaged products and determine whether their purchase will actually help a breast-cancer charity or foundation, they say.

"If the label says, 'Money will go to support breast cancer,' well, what does that mean?" says Barbara Brenner, the executive director of advocacy group Breast Cancer Action. "If it says it will support breast cancer awareness without being specific, it's not going anywhere."

Daily Finance surveyed a display of pink-packaged products at a Kmart store and sought to decipher the language on each item. Perhaps the least informative packaging was a pink Swiffer sweeper, made by consumer-products giant Procter & Gamble (PG). The label sports a pink ribbon accompanied by the phrase "early detection saves lives."

So how does purchasing a pink Swiffer help the cause? It's unclear from the label, because it contains no information about how its purchase will help support breast-cancer causes. And, according to a Procter & Gamble spokeswoman, the company will only make a two-cent donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation if a consumer uses a coupon from Procter & Gamble's brand saver coupon book, which was distributed in newspapers on Sept. 27. Without the coupon, the limited-edition pink packaging on the Swiffer is simply designed to draw awareness to the cause.

The packaging of another product, Herr's Whole Grain Pretzel Ribbons, proclaims that a portion of its sales will be donated to breast cancer awareness and research programs. But there's an asterisk accompanying that statement, which leads to a caveat that Herr's caps its donation at $15,000. A spokeswoman for Herr's didn't immediately return our call seeking a comment.

Capping donations is a particularly prevalent practice among corporations, and it's one that consumers should watch for. According to Samantha King, the author of Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy, "Consumers could be buying a product, and if the maximum has been reached, their product purchase doesn't help."

Do you think companies are exploiting breast cancer awareness month by selling pink products? Yes or No

Part of the confusion about how a pink-ribbon purchase may support the cause can be tied to the fact that no one owns the image or oversees its use, says Brenner of Breast Cancer Action. And because of that, it's difficult to say how much has been raised to help breast-cancer charities, although it's likely in the tens of millions of dollars, King adds.

Of course, some argue that it doesn't matter how the money is raised as long as funds are being donated to help fight the disease. Breast-cancer patient Jeanne Sather, who writes the blog The Assertive Cancer Patient, disagrees.

"Breast cancer is a disease. Not a marketing opportunity," she wrote in an emailed response to Daily Finance's questions. "It also matters that the companies, with a few exceptions, are not donating their own money, they are just passing on their customers' money. Then they are making a profit on top of that --larger than the donation in many if not most cases--and patting themselves on the backs for being good citizens. This is wrong."

Yet that hasn't stopped corporations from thinking pink. And there's a pretty big reason why that's the case. According to a Boston Globe article about criticism of pink-branded products, research has shown that 79% of consumers would likely be swayed to switch to a brand aligned with a cause.

Hershey Co. (HSY), for one, says it's both a way to be competitive and support its philanthropic initiatives. The chocolate maker recently began selling a line of Bliss chocolates with pink packaging, which states that the candy maker will donate $300,000 this year in support of the Young Survivors Coalition.

"We see it not only as a competitive business strategy, but one that fits in with our corporate values," says Hershey spokeswoman Jody Cook. "We know the pink ribbon resonates well with our customer, and our main target for the Bliss brand is women and mothers, so it's a perfect fit."

Still, a purchase of Bliss chocolates won't result in a part of the sale going in support of the charity. Cook says Hershey's donation isn't tied to sales of the chocolates, and that the company is clear on its packaging about its donation. Since it's the first year Bliss products have incorporated pink-ribbon branding, the company has yet to determine how the campaign will affect sales of the chocolates, she says.

Yet while pink corporate campaigns have undoubtedly raised millions for breast cancer research and charities, the sheer number of pink-ribboned products makes cancer patients such as Sather feel exploited. Last year, Sather says, she switched grocery stores to Whole Foods (WFMI) simply because it didn't have "lots of pink schlock."

If consumers really want to help fight cancer, they should consider directly giving money to organizations such as Gilda's Club, Team Survivor or Breast Cancer Action, Sather says. Or offer to help a cancer patient personally, such as doing her grocery shopping, she adds.

Despite concerns raised by advocates, it's unclear when the tide of pink-labeled products will slow down. That's because buying pink may just be too simple for many consumers to resist. As Brenner of Breast Cancer Action says, "People have come to believe that if they just do what they're told by corporate America, whether buying a product or doing a walk, they'll solve the breast cancer problem and not have to think about it."

All contents copyright © 2003-2009, Weblogs, Inc. All rights reserved
DailyFinance is a member of the Weblogs, Inc. Network.

Another Indication That Women Aren't Getting the Facts

Please note that this report was filed three years ago and it is only one indication that more likely than not women haven't been provided with this important information.

More about Vitamin D can be found here and you may contact us for Vitamin D testing too.

And considering that Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C can be useful in attacking breast cancer, in prevention, and also for fighting against the flu, it may be worth you while to act proactively for your health.

We believe that the level of vitamin D should be more than the 32 noted in the second article in this post.

ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2006) — Vitamin D may help curb breast cancer progression, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology.

The authors, from Imperial College London, measured the levels of vitamin D in the blood serum of 279 women with invasive breast cancer. The disease was in its early stages in 204 of the women, and advanced in the remaining 75.

The results showed that women with early stage disease had significantly higher levels of vitamin D (15 to 184 mmol/litre) than the women in the advanced stages of the disease (16 to 146 mmol/litre).

The authors say that the exact reasons for the disparity are not clear, nor is it known whether the lowered levels of vitamin D among those with advanced disease are a cause or a consequence of the cancer itself. However, the researchers' results, taken together with results from previous studies, lead them to believe that lowered levels of vitamin D may promote the progression of the disease to its advanced stages.

Laboratory studies have shown that vitamin D stops cancer cells from dividing and enhances cancer cell death. Vitamin D sufficiency and exposure to sunlight has been shown to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. The body produces its own vitamin D in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. The vitamin is also found in certain foods, including eggs and fatty fish.

It is known that vitamin D treatment boosts the activity of certain key genes and dampens it down in others. One that is boosted is p21, which has an important role in controlling the cell cycle.

Dr Carlo Palmieri, from the department of cancer medicine at Imperial College London and lead author on the paper, said: "This report, while being an observational study, clearly shows that circulating vitamin D levels are lower in advanced breast cancer as compared to early breast cancer. It lends support to the idea that vitamin D has a role in the progression of breast cancer.

"The next step in this research is to try and understand the potential causes and mechanisms underlying these differences and the precise consequences at a molecular level. We also need to look at the potential clinical implications of monitoring and maintaining high circulating vitamin D levels in breast cancer patients. By answering these questions we may be able to improve the treatment of women with breast cancer," he added.

Adapted from materials provided by Imperial College London.
Imperial College London (2006, October 17). New Study Gives Further Hope That Vitamin D Can Fight Breast Cancer. ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2006/10/061017084854.htm

Now we have yet another study reporting much the same information three years later. If you have breast cancer, has anyone suggested that you get the proper test for Vitamin D and encourage you to use it? Please let us know.

Women With Breast Cancer Have Low Vitamin D Levels
ScienceDaily (Oct. 10, 2009) — Women with breast cancer should be given high doses of vitamin D because a majority of them are likely to have low levels of vitamin D, which could contribute to decreased bone mass and greater risk of fractures, according to scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

In a study of 166 women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, nearly 70 percent had low levels of vitamin D in their blood, according to a study being presented Thursday, Oct. 8, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco. The analysis showed women with late-stage disease and non-Caucasian women had even lower levels.

"Vitamin D is essential to maintaining bone health, and women with breast cancer have accelerated bone loss due to the nature of hormone therapy and chemotherapy. It's important for women and their doctors to work together to boost their vitamin D intake," said Luke Peppone, Ph.D., research assistant professor of Radiation Oncology, at Rochester's James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. He is a member of the National Cancer Institute's Community Clinical Oncology Program research base in Rochester.

Scientists funded by the NCI analyzed vitamin D levels in each woman, and the average level was 27 nanograms per milliliter; more than two-thirds of the women had vitamin deficiency. Weekly supplementation with high doses of vitamin D -- 50,000 international units or more -- improved the levels, according to Peppone's study.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests that blood levels nearing 32 nanograms per milliliter are adequate.

This problem is not unexpected, Peppone said, because previous studies have shown that nearly half of all men and women are deficient in the nutrient, with vitamin D levels below 32 nanograms per milliliter. Vitamin D, obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, is well known to play an essential role in cell growth, in boosting the body's immune system and in strengthening bones.

Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include muscle pain, weak bones/fractures, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, symptoms of depression and mood swings, and sleep irregularities, many of which are common for women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center.
University of Rochester Medical Center (2009, October 10). Women With Breast Cancer Have Low Vitamin D Levels. ScienceDaily.
http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/10/091009090431.htm

While the debate rages, Seniors get hit with higher costs

Some Medicare Rates to Rise
Find out what changes to expect -- and what you can do -- if you have a prescription-drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan.

By Kimberly Lankford. October 8, 2009

What is going to happen to rates for Medicare Part D prescription-drug plans next year? Can I switch plans?

Prices for both Medicare Part D prescription-drug plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans are going to rise in 2010. And you have from November 15 to December 31 to decide whether you want to stay in the same plan or switch plans for 2010.

Average premiums for Part D plans are increasing by 7% in 2010, to $30 per month, and average premiums for Medicare Advantage plans are jumping by 22%, to $39 per month. These price hikes may be particularly tough to stomach next year, when Social Security will not have a cost-of-living increase.

And premium increases are only part of the picture. More than 60% of Part D plans will charge an annual deductible in 2010 ($310 is standard) before covering any drug costs, up from the 45% that charged a deductible in 2009, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Fewer Part D plans will provide coverage in the so-called doughnut hole, which begins after you reach $2,830 in total drug spending and extends until your total drug costs for the year reach $6,440 in 2010; within that gap, you generally have to pay all the bills yourself. The plans that do provide some coverage in the doughnut hole cover only the cost of generic drugs; otherwise, you’re on your own.
And be sure to check how each Part D plan treats your specific medications: Co-payments are rising, and many insurers are changing formularies. For example, you could end up with higher out-of-pocket costs if your insurer switches your drug from preferred to co-pay nonpreferred. Ask your doctor whether you can switch any of your drugs to a generic or lower-cost medication; the policy with the best deal for brand-name drugs may not be the best deal for generics.


The Medicare prescription-drug-plan finder is an excellent tool to analyze the costs of Part D plans for your situation. Type in your drugs and dosages, and you’ll see total out-of-pocket costs -- premiums as well as co-payments -- for your medications throughout the year. Or call 800-633-4227 for personalized assistance.

This year’s premium increases come on top of previous cumulative price hikes. Premiums for AARP MedicareRx Preferred, the most popular Part D plan, have risen by 50% since 2006, according to Avalere Health, a health-care consulting firm. Premiums for Humana Enhanced, also a popular plan, have increased by 180% over the same time period.

If you’re struggling to afford the premiums for Medicare Part B, a Part D prescription-drug plan and a medigap policy, consider going with Medicare Advantage, which provides medical as well as prescription-drug coverage through a private insurer (it may also include dental and vision care). Almost 87% of Medicare beneficiaries will have access in 2010 to a low-cost Medicare Advantage plan that charges no premium above the cost of Medicare Part B.

These plans, too, have their drawbacks. Many are boosting premiums and increasing co-payments for doctor’s visits, hospital stays and prescription drugs. You may have to pay much more out of pocket for certain types of treatments, such as chemotherapy, than you would with Medicare and medigap. And be sure to find out whether your providers participate in the plan (the least-expensive plans, Medicare HMOs, have the tightest restrictions on doctors and hospitals).

If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you should receive an annual notice of change in late October that outlines any differences in your plan’s coverage and costs from 2009 to 2010, which should be a key piece of your research, says Donna Burtanger, senior director of Medicare for SilverLink. To find out about prices and coverage for plans available in your area, as well as customer-service ratings, go to the Medicare Options Compare tool at Medicare.gov.

Many people are concerned that Medicare Advantage plans will leave the business if Congress passes a health-care reform plan that cuts back on subsidies to private insurers. If your plan does shut down, you may switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or move back to traditional Medicare. If you do, insurers must offer you medigap plans A, B, C or F regardless of your health (otherwise, the price of a new medigap policy may be based on your health, unless you signed up for Medicare Part B in the past six months).
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This page printed from: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/ask/archive/some-medicare-rates-to-rise-.html
All contents © 2009 The Kiplinger Washington Editors

Cell Phone Updates -Know Your Risks

Most times science is slow to catch up with those of use with a bent as a "futurist". It always seems as if I am way ahead of the pack and in this case I've been educating on cell phone and cell tower risk (also wifi, digital, etc.) for a solid decade and longer.

It's nice now, and a complement to common sense and science that we see these reports.

For The Record, from The Troy Record
Reasons for concern

Hang on to your land line phones. Herb Denenberg in an article for The Bulletin says: “The great cell phone cover-up may be coming to an end. A new report may finally wake the public up to the brain cancer risks of cell phones and force necessary preventive measures.

“A new report, endorsed by a prestigious group of international scientists, finds that there’s a risk of brain tumors from cell phone use, that industry studies underestimate this risk, and that children have much greater risk than adults. The report, therefore sends a message to four billion users worldwide and to the $4 billion cell phone industry that they may be facing the same kind of bad news that first burst on the scene for the tobacco industry.”

Mr. Denenberg was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, and co-authored major legislation.

He goes on to point out that the cancer threat has been recognized by some scientists for decades. Cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation — more specifically, radio frequency radiation which can damage the DNA and lead to cancers or other medical problems.

The study focused on cell phones but cordless phones, talkies, ham radio transmitters, and baby monitors also are sources of radiation.

The report entitled “Cell phones and Brain Tumors: 15 reasons for Concert; Science, Spin and the Truth behind enterphone,” can be read at www.radiationresearch.org and will be updated. The report lists eight simple steps to substantially reduce your or your children’s exposure to cell phone radiation.

If you are concerned about electromagnetic radiation coming from cell phones or cell towers there is also more information from info@emrpolicy.org.

Andy Weil has some similar concerns, at last...
Cell Phones and Cancer: How To Stay Safe at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/cell-phones-and-cancer_b_315714.html