Weekly Health Update: November 2010

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Mammograms Save Lives in Women with Family History of Breast Cancer

Weekly Health Update:

Mammograms Save Lives in Women with

Family History of Breast Cancer

"A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers..."

By, Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

Updated: 11/28/2010

The information in this column is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations by the author. Please consult with your physician before making any lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any other concerns regarding your health.

Welcome to Weekly Health Update

“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”

MAMMOGRAMS SAVE LIVES IN WOMEN WITH FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER

While the debate about whether or not routine screening mammograms can save lives continues in some circles, the clinical research evidence supporting mammograms as a lifesaving cancer screening exam continues to accumulate. Now, a newly published public health study, which appears in The Lancet Oncology, examines the survival benefit associated with routine screening mammograms in women who have a family history of breast cancer.

In this large multicenter prospective clinical research study, which was performed in the UK, 6,710 women between the ages of 40 and 42 were enrolled in this study, and were followed for an average of about 4 years. These women, who had at least some family history of breast cancer, underwent annual screening mammograms as part of this clinical research study. This study used two important control groups to assess the impact of regular annual screening mammograms on the risk of mortality in these young women. The first control group consisted of women who were at average risk for breast cancer (these women, themselves, served as the control group for the enormous UK Age Trial, which included more than 106,000 patient volunteers, and which recently reported a 10-year follow-up of its results). The second control group, against which these 6,710 women with an intermediate familial risk of breast cancer were compared, included young women from another large public health study that was performed in the Netherlands.

Among the 136 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer during the relatively brief course of this ongoing study, 77 percent were diagnosed by screening mammography, while 21 percent were diagnosed when they presented with a new breast lump (or with other clinical signs or symptoms of breast cancer). (Another 2 percent of patients failed to attend their scheduled screening mammograms, and subsequently developed clinical signs or symptoms of breast cancer.)

In this study (and as other studies have shown, even among women who are at average risk of developing breast cancer), breast cancers that were detected by annual screening mammograms were significantly smaller in size, and significantly less likely to be associated with the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes. In addition to these very important breast cancer prognostic factors, women who were diagnosed with breast cancer as a result of annual screening mammograms had much less aggressive appearing tumors under the microscope when compared to women who were diagnosed with breast cancer only after a lump, or other signs of breast cancer, appeared.

Based upon the findings of this newly published study, young women with even an intermediate risk of breast cancer, based upon having one or more relatives with breast cancer, were 20 percent less likely to die within 10 years when compared with a poorly screened, or unscreened, average-risk population of young women. Moreover, this survival advantage appeared to be directly related to annual screening mammograms, once all other breast cancer risk factors among these three populations of women had been considered.

For a complete discussion of the compelling scientific evidence linking routine screening mammograms with a decreased risk of death due to breast cancer, please see the extended clinical section on breast cancer in my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race.

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GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores!

On Thanksgiving Day, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com Top 100 Bestseller’s List for Kindle e-books!

I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit our premier global health information website every month. (As of 9/16/2010, more than 1,000,000 health-conscious people have logged onto Weekly Health Update so far this year!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can.

Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity

Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author

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Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

Dr. Wascher's Archives:

11-28-2010: Mammograms Save Lives in Women with Family History of Breast Cancer

11-14-2020: Low Dose Aspirin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk

11-7-2010: Coffee, Tea, Caffeine and Brain Cancer Risk

10-28-2010: Diet and Lifestyle Habits that Decrease Colorectal Cancer Risk

10-21-2010: The Silent Epidemic of Surgeon Burnout and Depression

10-14-2010: Gum Disease (Gingivitis) and Breast Cancer Risk

10-7-2010: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Breast Cancer Risk

10-3-2010: Mammograms Between 40 and 49 Years of Age

9-26-2010: Vitamin D, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Death

9-19-2010: Fruits and Vegetables Improve Memory

9-12-2010: Low-Carb Diet and Risk of Death

9-5-2010: Non-Compliance with Hormonal Therapy for Breast Cancer and Risk of Death

8-29-2010: New Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

8-22-2010: Lactoferrin Reduces Abdominal (Visceral) Obesity

8-15-2010: Blueberries, Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

8-8-2010: High LDL Cholesterol in Young Adults and Heart Disease Risk in Middle Age

8-1-2010: Physician Error

7-25-2010: Obesity and Cancer Risk

7-18-2010: Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Cognitive Decline & Dementia

7-11-2010: All Forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase Breast Cancer Risk

7-4-2010: Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Cause Discovered?

6-27-2010: Soy, Curcumin & Prostate Cancer Risk

6-20-2010: Green Tea Epicatechin Reduces Heart Damage & CHF

6-13-2010: Diacylglycerol (Diglyceride) Oil Reduces Obesity

6-6-2010: Important New Advance in the Breast Cancer Treatment: Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

5-30-2010: Medical Research Studies & “Spin”

5-23-2010: Soy & Curcumin Reduce Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)

5-16-2010: Coffee & the Risk of Death from Heart Disease & Cancer

5-9-2010: Soy Foods & Stomach Cancer Risk

5-2-2010: Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer & Memory Loss

4-25-2010: Smoking, Teenagers & Tobacco Company Advertising

4-18-2010: Coffee Improves HDL Cholesterol Levels

4-11-2010: Cruciferous Vegetables, Soy & Breast Cancer Risk

4-4-2010: Avodart (Dutasteride) & Prostate Cancer Prevention

3-28-2010: Aspirin & Breast Cancer Survival

3-21-2010: Obesity, Alcohol & Liver Disease

3-14-2010: Nuts, Diet & Obesity

3-7-2010: Walnuts, Cholesterol, LDL & Triglycerides

2-28-2010: Soy Isoflavones & Recurrent Prostate Cancer

2-21-2010: Testosterone Supplements in Frail Elderly Men

2-14-2010: Pancreatic Cancer Risk, Sodas & Juice

2-7-2010: Vitamin D, Cardiovascular Disease & Death

1-31-2010: Concord Grape Juice Improves Memory

1-24-2010: Mozart, Music, Babies & Health

1-17-2010: Breast Cancer, Physical Therapy & Lymphedema

1-10-2010: Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) after Surgery

1-3-2010: Ginkgo Biloba, Memory & Cognitive Health

12-20-2009: CT Scans & Cancer Risk

12-13-2009: Soy Isoflavones Decrease Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk

12-6-2009: Salt (Sodium) Intake, Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease

11-29-2009: Exercise & Prostate Cancer Risk

11-22-2009: Genistein (Soy Isoflavone) & Prostate Cancer

11-15-2009: Breast Cancer Treatment & Chronic Pain

1-8-2009: Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Risk

11-1-2009: Exercise & Prostate Cancer Risk

10-25-2009: HPV Virus & Risk of Breast Cancer

10-18-2009: Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome (Symptoms after Gallbladder Surgery)

10-11-2009: Vitamin D & Falls in the Elderly

10-4-2009: Surgery, NSQIP, Complications & Death

9-27-2009 Stress, Heart Disease, Exercise & Death

9-20-2009: Vitamin D & Colorectal Cancer Survival

9-13-2009: H1N1 Swine Flu Update

9-7-2009: Green Tea, Aging & Lifespan

8-30-2009: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diet & Fiber

8-23-2009: Update on Prostate Cancer and Cryotherapy

8-16-2009: Exercise Improves Lymphedema Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors

8-9-2009: Breast Cancer Recurrence, Death & Vitamin D

8-2-2009: Honesty, Dishonesty & Brain Function

7-26-2009: Coronary Artery CT Scans & Cancer Risk

7-19-2009: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Ovarian Cancer

7-12-2009: Breast Cancer & Metformin (Glucophage)

7-5-2009: Prostate Cancer & Green Tea

6-28-2009: Air Pollution & the Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)

6-21-2009: Red Yeast Rice, Statins & Cholesterol

6-14-2009: Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant & Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

6-7-2009: Diet, Soy & Breast Cancer Risk

5-31-2009: Diet and Prostate Cancer Risk

5-24-2009: Diabetes, Glucose Control & Death

5-17-2009: Drug Company Marketing & Physician Prescribing Bias

5-10-2009: Hemorrhoids & Surgery

5-3-2009: Statin Drugs & Blood Clots (Thromboembolism)

4-26-2009: Are We Really Losing the War on Cancer?

4-19-2009: Exercise in Middle Age & Risk of Death

4-12-2009: Can Chronic Stress Harm Your Heart?

4-5-2009: Does PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer Save Lives?

3-22-2009: CABG Surgery vs. PCI in Diabetics with Coronary Artery Disease; Sweetened Beverages and Coronary Artery Disease

3-15-2009: Depression, Stress, Anger & Heart Disease

3-8-2009: Coronary Artery Disease: CABG vs. Stents?; Swimming Lessons & Drowning Risk in Children

3-1-2009: Aspirin & Colorectal Cancer Prevention; Fish Oil & Respiratory Infections in Children

2-22-2009: Health Differences Between Americans & Europeans; Lycopene & Prostate Cancer

2-15-2009: Statin Drugs & Death Rates; Physical Activity, Breast Cancer & Sex Hormones

2-8-2009: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Breast Cancer; Stool DNA Testing & Cancer of the Colon & Rectum

2-1-2009: Obesity and the Complications of Diverticulosis (Diverticulitis & Bleeding); Obesity, Weight Loss & Urinary Incontinence

1-25-2009: Prostate Cancer, Fatigue & Exercise; Does your Surgeon “Warm-up” Before Surgery?

1-18-2009: Cancer and Vitamins; Teenagers, MySpace and Risky Behaviors

1-11-2009: Exercise Reverses Some Effects of Fatty Meals; Vitamin C and Blood Pressure

1-4-2009: Secondhand Smoke & Heart Attack Risk; Poor Physical Fitness During Childhood & Heart Disease Risk During Adulthood

12-28-2008: Stress & Your Risk of Heart Attack; Vitamin D & the Prevention of Colon & Rectal Polyps

12-21-2008: Breast Cancer Incidence & Hormone Replacement Therapy; Circumcision & the Risk of HPV & HIV Infection

12-14-2008: Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Selenium Do Not Prevent Cancer; Postscript: A Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome

12-7-2008: Generic vs. Brand-Name Drugs, Stress & Breast Cancer Survival

11-30-2008: A Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome?; Smoking & Cognitive Decline; Calcium & Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Risk

11-23-2008: Breast Cancer & Fish Oil; Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Treatment; Vasectomy & Prostate Cancer Risk

11-16-2008: Vitamin E & Vitamin C: No Impact on Cardiovascular Disease Risk; Does Lack of Sleep Increase Stroke & Heart Attack Risk in Hypertensive Patients?

11-9-2008: Statins Cut Heart Attack Risk Even with Normal Cholesterol Levels; Statins & PSA Level

11-2-2008: Radiation Treatment of Prostate Cancer & Second Cancers; Sexual Content on TV & Teen Pregnancy Risk

10-26-2008: Smoking & Quality of Life

10-19-2008: Agent Orange & Prostate Cancer

10-12-2008: Pomegranate Juice & Prostate Cancer

10-5-2008: Central Obesity & Dementia; Diet, Vitamin D, Calcium, & Colon Cancer

9-28-2008: Publication & Citation Bias in Favor of Industry-Funded Research?

9-21-2008: Does Tylenol® (Acetaminophen) Cause Asthma?

9-14-208: Arthroscopic Knee Surgery- No Better than Placebo?; A Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke

8-23-2008: Alcohol Abuse Before & After Military Deployment; Running & Age; Running & Your Testicles

8-12-2008: Green Tea & Diabetes; Breastfeeding & Adult Cholesterol Levels; Fish Oil & Senile Macular Degeneration

8-3-2008: Exercise & Weight Loss; Green Tea, Folic Acid & Breast Cancer Risk; Foreign Language Interpreters & ICU Patients

7-26-2008: Viagra & Sexual Function in Women; Patient-Reported Adverse Hospital Events; Curcumin & Pancreatic Cancer

7-13-2008: Erectile Dysfunction & Frequency of Sex; Muscle Strength & Mortality in Men; Cryoablation for Prostate Cancer

7-6-2008: Sleep, Melatonin & Breast Cancer Risk; Mediterranean Diet & Cancer Risk; New Treatment for Varicose Veins

6-29-2008: Bone Marrow Stem Cells & Liver Failure; Vitamin D & Colorectal Cancer Survival; Green Tea & Colorectal Cancer

6-22-2008: Obesity, Lifestyle & Heart Disease; Effects of Lifestyle & Nutrition on Prostate Cancer; Ginkgo Biloba, Ulcerative Colitis & Colorectal Cancer

6-15-2008: Preventable Deaths after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery; Green Tea & Colorectal Cancer; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) & St. John’s Wort

6-8-2008: Vitamin D & Prostate Cancer Risk; Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Kidney (Renal) Cancer; Antisense Telomerase & Cancer

6-2-2008: Acute Coronary Syndrome- Do You Know the Symptoms?; Green Tea & Lung Cancer; Episiotomy & Subsequent Deliveries- An Unkind Cut

5-25-2008: Early Childhood Screening Predicts Later Behavioral Problems; Psychiatric Disorders Among Parents of Autistic Children; Social & Psychiatric Profiles of Young Adults Born Prematurely

5-18-2008: Can Statins Reverse Coronary Artery Disease?; Does Breast Ultrasound Improve Breast Cancer Detection?; Preventive Care Services at Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers

5-11-2008: Smoking Cessation & Risk of Death; Childhood Traumas & Adult Suicide Risk; “White Coat Hypertension” & Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

5-4-2008: Super-Size Me: Fast Food’s Effects on Your Liver; Exercise, Weight & Coronary Artery Disease; Contamination of Surgical Instruments in the Operating Room

4-27-2008: Stents vs. Bypass Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease; The “DASH” Hypertension Diet & Cardiovascular Disease Prevention; Testosterone Therapy for Women with Decreased Sexual Desire & Function

4-20-2008: BRCA Breast Cancer Mutations & MRI Scans; Bladder Cancer Prevention with Broccoli?; Diabetes: Risk of Death Due to Heart Attack & Stroke

4-13-2008: Breast Cancer Recurrence & Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT); Carotid Artery Disease: Surgery vs. Stents?; Statin Drugs & Cancer Prevention

4-6-2008: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Pap Smear Results & Cervical Cancer; Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection & Oral Cancer; Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & the Risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD)

3-30-2008: Abdominal Obesity & the Risk of Death in Women; Folic Acid Pretreatment & Heart Attacks; Pancreatic Cancer Regression after Injections of Bacteria

3-23-2008: Age of Transfused Blood & Risk of Complications after Surgery; Obesity, Blood Pressure & Heart Size in Children

3-16-2008: Benefits of a Full Drug Coverage Plan for Medicare Patients?; Parent-Teen Conversations about Sex; Soy (Genistein) & Prostate Cancer

3-9-2008: Flat Colorectal Adenomas & Cancer; Health Risks after Stopping Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT); Television, Children & Obesity

3-2-2008: Medication & Risk of Death After Heart Attack; Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Mammogram Results; Selenium: Cancer, Heart Disease & Death

2-23-2008: Universal Healthcare Insurance Study; Glucosamine & Arthritis

2-17-2008: Exceptional Longevity in Men; Testosterone & Risk of Prostate Cancer; Smoking & Pre-malignant Colorectal Polyps

2-10-2008: Thrombus Aspiration from Coronary Arteries; Intensive Management of Diabetes & Death; Possible Cure for Down's Syndrome?

2-3-2008: Vitamin D & Cardiovascular Health; Vitamin D & Breast Cancer; Green Tea & Colorectal Cancer

1-27-2008: Colorectal Cancer, Esophageal Cancer & Pancreatic Cancer: Update from the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology's Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

1-20-2008: Testosterone Levels & Risk of Fractures in Elderly Men; Air Pollution & DNA Damage in Sperm; Statins & Trauma Survival in the Elderly

1-12-2008: Statins, Diabetes & Stroke and Obesity; GERD & Esophageal Cancer

1-7-2008: Testosterone Supplements in Elderly Men; Colorectal Cancer-- Reasons for Poor Compliance with Screening Recommendations

12-31-2007: Minority Women, Hormone Replacement Therapy & Breast Cancer; Does Health Insurance Improve Health?

12-23-2007: Is Coffee Safe After a Heart Attack?; Impact of Divorce on the Environment; Hypertension & the Risk of Dementia; Emotional Vitality & the Risk of Heart Disease

12-16-2007: Honey vs. Dextromethorphan vs. No Treatment for Kids with Night-Time Cough, Acupuncture & Hot Flashes in Women with Breast Cancer, Physical Activity & the Risk of Death, Mediterranean Diet & Mortality

12-11-2007: Bias in Medical Research; Carbon Nanotubes & Radiofrequency: A New Weapon Against Cancer?; Childhood Obesity & Risk of Adult Heart Disease

12-2-2007: Obesity & Risk of Cancer; Testosterone Level & Risk of Death; Drug Company Funding of Research & Results; Smoking & the Risk of Colon & Rectal Cancer

Dr. Wascher's Home Page

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Low Dose Aspirin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk

Weekly Health Update:

Low Dose Aspirin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk

"A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers..."

By, Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

Updated: 11/14/2010

“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”

LOW DOSE ASPIRIN REDUCES COLORECTAL CANCER RISK

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-associated death in the United States (and in many other countries around the world). Diet, obesity, and other lifestyle factors are known to play a significant role in colorectal cancer risk, as I discuss in detail in my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, have been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, the majority of non-aspirin NSAIDs have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and so these drugs are seldom used, today, for colorectal cancer prevention. (In most cases, their use for this purpose has become largely restricted to patients with inherited gene mutations that place them at extremely high risk for developing colorectal cancer.)

While high daily doses of aspirin have been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, this form of cancer prevention therapy also has significant risks, including serious GI tract bleeding and kidney damage. Until very recently, there has been very little high quality research data available regarding the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin therapy on colorectal cancer risk. Now, a newly published study in the prestigious journal, The Lancet, indicates that low-dose aspirin therapy can, indeed, significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

This report actually combines the long-term results from four large prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research studies (the Swedish Aspirin Low Dose Trial, UK-TIA Aspirin Trial, the Thrombosis Prevention Trial, and the British Doctors Aspirin Trial). Altogether, a whopping 14,033 patient volunteers were studied in these research trials, and the average duration of patient follow-up was a very impressive 18.3 years.

Overall, the use of 75 milligrams (mg) of aspirin per day, for 5 years or longer, dramatically reduced the risk of cancer in the upper colon, by about 70 percent. While the incidence of lower colon cancer was not significantly reduced by low-dose aspirin therapy, the risk of rectal cancer was reduced by a very significant 42 percent. Moreover, increased daily doses of aspirin (above 75 mg) did not result in any further decrease in the risk of colon cancer or rectal cancer.

The findings of this very large clinical research study represent a very significant breakthrough in our understanding of the role of aspirin in colorectal cancer prevention and, especially, in the optimization of daily aspirin dosing to maximize this drug’s cancer prevention benefit while simultaneously reducing the known (and sometimes serious) adverse side effects of chronic aspirin therapy.

As always, I must remind readers that they should first consult with their doctor prior to beginning aspirin therapy, as some health conditions may be associated with an increased risk of severe side effects when taking aspirin.

Click the following link to join Dr. Wascher on Facebook

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores!

I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit our premier global health information website every month. (As of 9/16/2010, more than 1,000,000 health-conscious people have logged onto Weekly Health Update so far this year!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can.

Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity

Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author

For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link:

Texas Blues Jam

Send your feedback to Dr. Wascher at:

rwascher@doctorwascher.net