| More and more often, I come across cases of | | | | Sweden who looked at the medical records of |
| nonsmokers who develop lung cancer. My attention is | | | | 140,000 breast cancer patients found that there was |
| always drawn to news of this nature because my | | | | an increase of lung cancer 5 to 20 years after breast |
| husband passed away at the age of 51 from brain | | | | cancer treatment. Suspicion is that radiotherapy in the |
| and lung cancer. He never smoked a day in his | | | | chest area may have made the lungs more |
| life.The complacency non-smokers have shared over | | | | susceptible to the disease.Estrogen Replacement |
| the years is no longer a viable option. Smokers and | | | | Therapy: According to researchers at the University |
| non-smokers alike are vulnerable to a disease which is | | | | of Pittsburg, estrogen may fuel the growth of non |
| largely incurable. Among patients with lung cancer, | | | | small-cell lung cancer.What preventative measures can |
| only about 14% live five years after their diagnosis.In | | | | we take?Diet: An apple a day may keep lung cancer |
| the face of a disease that seems to have neither | | | | away. A Finnish study suggests that apples not only |
| rhyme nor reason, what can we do to protect | | | | keep doctors away, but provide protection for the |
| ourselves? First, assess your risk for lung cancer; | | | | lungs as well. This study found that people who ate |
| then take measures to prevent the disease.What are | | | | the most apples were 58 % less likely to develop |
| the risk factors for lung cancer?Gender: | | | | lung cancer. Other studies suggest that lung cancer |
| Unfortunately, women seem to be more vulnerable | | | | risk is lower among smokers and non smokers who |
| to lung cancer. Research has shown that female | | | | ate at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits |
| smokers are more susceptible to the cancer-causing | | | | daily.Beta Carotene: A high intake of beta carotene |
| chemicals found in cigarettes. In another study, a | | | | compounds can lower your lung cancer risk; however, |
| gene linked to abnormal lung cancer cell growth was | | | | studies also show that the beta carotene is only |
| found to be more active in women than in men. It | | | | effective when the compounds are ingested from |
| did not matter whether the women smoked or not.A | | | | whole foods such as peaches, melon, carrots, |
| family history of lung cancer: Evidence suggests that | | | | mangoes, dark leafy vegetables, squash etc. The |
| there is a lung cancer gene which predisposes | | | | opposite effect seems to take place with beta |
| offspring to develop lung cancer. However, the | | | | carotene supplements. A Finnish study reported 18% |
| evidence is far from conclusive as the situation is | | | | more lung cancer cases among heavy smokers who |
| made difficult by the fact that offspring of smokers | | | | took beta carotene supplements. And a National |
| have been exposed to a smoking environment since | | | | Cancer Study on the effects of vitamin A and beta |
| childhood and would therefore have a greater risk for | | | | carotene was halted because smokers taking the |
| developing the disease.Scarring from previous lung | | | | supplements had 28% more lung cancer than those |
| disease: Scarring in lungs caused by tuberculosis or | | | | taking a placebo.Selenium and Vitamin C: Taking |
| other lung disease can be a risk factor for lung | | | | selenium supplements on a long-term basis has been |
| cancer.Second-hand smoke: Exposure to second-hand | | | | shown to decrease the incidence of lung cancer. In |
| smoke has been shown to be a definite risk factor. | | | | one study, people taking 55-200 mcg of the mineral |
| Your risk increases by 30 percent from daily | | | | daily had a 46% lower rate of lung cancer. As well, |
| exposure to second-hand smoke. This is probably the | | | | studies indicate that people who take less than 90 |
| most significant risk factor for lung cancer in | | | | mg of vitamin C on a daily basis may have a 90% |
| non-smokers.Exposure to radon: Radon is an odorless | | | | higher risk of lung cancer than those who take |
| gas than can seep out of the soil into buildings. | | | | 140mg or more.Avoid second-hand smoke and check |
| Worse yet, the gas can seep from the soil into | | | | your house for radon.There are never guarantees in |
| water near residential communities. Radon has been | | | | life, but it makes perfectly good sense to take some |
| implicated as a potential cause of lung cancer.Air | | | | preventative measures as these can not only |
| pollution: Long-term occupational exposure to diesel | | | | improve your overall quality of health and life but also |
| exhaust fumes may increase lung cancer risk by | | | | prevent lung cancer.Copyright 2006 Mary |
| 47%. Air pollution in general is a risk factor in the | | | | DesaulniersA runner for 27 years, retired |
| general population. Swedish researchers estimate that | | | | schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people |
| as many as 1 in 10 cases of lung cancer may be | | | | reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision |
| caused by air pollution in the Swedish capital city, | | | | and purposeful engagement are the tools used to |
| Stockholm.Past Cancer Treatment: Researchers in | | | | turn their bodies into creative selves. |