LIFE EXTENSION WEEKLY UPDATE OCTOBER 19 2001
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
IN THIS ISSUE, OCTOBER 19 2001:
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE:
Night shift work associated with increased breast cancer risk
PROTOCOL:
Breast cancer
LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE: As we see it - Dying from deficiency by Bill
Faloon
LISTEN TO THE LIFE EXTENSION RADIO HOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST NUTRITIONIST OZ
GARCIA; CHAT LIVE WITH DR ANDREW BAER WEDNESDAYS
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE
Night shift work associated with increased breast cancer risk
The suppression of melatonin caused by exposure to light linked with higher
cancer rates may come as no suprise to life extensionists who have been
aware of melatonin's cancer preventive and other benefits for years. Two
studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute this week
confirm that night shift work and exposure to nightime light are both
associated with a higher incidence of breast cancer.
In one study, named as the first prospective cohort study of shiftwork and
breast cancer, data from 78,562 women in the nationwide Nurses' Health Study
was obtained from questionnaires that were completed by participants every
two years. The women were asked questions concerning their health
status,risk factors for cancer, medical history, and whether they had worked
rotating night shifts at least three nights per month in addition to days or
evenings. During the ten year follow up, 2441 women were diagnosed with
breast cancer. Analysis of the data showed that women who worked from one
to twenty-nine years on rotating night shifts experienced a moderate
increase in breast cancer incidence, and those who worked night shifts for
thirty years or more had a greater risk of 36%, compared to the rest of the
group.
In the other JNCI study, 813 women aged 20 to 74 diagnosed with breast
cancer between 1992 and 1995 were matched with 793 control subjects, and
both groups were interviewed on their sleep habits, bedroom lighting and
work shifts. The risk of breast cancer was found to be elevated among those
who did not often sleep from 1:00 am to 2:00 am, the period of night when
melatonin levels are usually highest. Subjects who had the brightest lit
bedrooms also had an increased risk as well as night shift workers, whose
risk rose with the amount of hours per week and years working nights to 60%
greater than that of controls. Interrupted sleep was not associated with an
increased breast cancer risk. The author of the study explains these
findings by noting that exposure to light at night suppresses normal
nocturnal production of melatonin by the pineal gland which could increase
ovarian estrogen production. Elevated estrogen levels are a known risk
factor for breast cancer. The journal's deputy news editor, Katherine
Arnold, noted the possibility that another mechanism of action of melatonin
against breast cancer may involve the p53 gene, a tumor suppressor.
In an accompanying editorial, Jonni Hansen, PhD, of the Danish Cancer
Society in Copenhagen urged further exploration of the relationship between
nighttime light, night shiftwork and cancers that may be melatonin
influenced.
PROTOCOL
Breast Cancer by Andrew Baer MD
Although the cause of breast cancer has not been found, it has become clear
that hormonal manipulation may have a therapeutic impact on the course of
the disease. This is why the tumors, when removed during surgery, are
studied to find whether or not they are estrogen-receptor positive or
negative. If the cancer is estrogen-receptor positive, theoretically there
should be a response to manipulation of estrogen. This is exactly the role
tamoxifen has played as an adjuvant drug therapy in the treatment of the
disease. However, studies have demonstrated that after 2 years, tamoxifen
can cause an increase of estrogen in the blood. This is one reason that
breast cancer cells may become resistant to tamoxifen treatment. Another
reason tamoxifen fails to control cell proliferation is that
estrogen-receptor-positive cells often mutate into a cancer cell type that
does not need estrogen to proliferate. Tamoxifen can cause serious side
effects after two years, and for this reason it has been suggested that
tamoxifen treatment not go beyond a two-year time period. Those using
tamoxifen should also follow the Thrombosis Prevention protocol because
tamoxifen and cancer itself can increase the risk of abnormal blood clots.
Melatonin and vitamin D3 have been shown to synergistically enhance the
beneficial effects of tamoxifen, and for this reason, women taking tamoxifen
should also take 4000 to 6000 IU of vitamin D3 and 3 to 50 mg of melatonin
nightly. While tamoxifen's side effects may limit its use to two years, most
people can take melatonin and moderate doses of vitamin D3 indefinitely. A
few people experience kidney toxicity and abnormal calcium metabolism when
taking high doses of vitamin D3, and breast cancer patients are also at a
high risk for developing blood calcium disorders. For all these reasons,
breast cancer patients who use therapeutic doses of vitamin D3 (4000 to 6000
IU a day) should have a regular blood chemistry panel that will reveal
kidney toxicity and calcium imbalances while these problems are still
reversible.
Breast cancer cells frequently metastasize to the bone, where they cause
severe degradation of bone tissue. The bisphosphonates are a class of drugs
that protect against the degradation of bone, primarily by inhibiting excess
activity of osteoclasts. The osteoclasts are bone cells that absorb and
remove bone tissue so that the osteoblasts can bring together the minerals
calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to form new healthy bone. When
osteoclasts become overactive, they break down too much bone, which can
result in a pathological reduction of bone density.
Among the known inhibitors of osteoclast activity, the bisphosphonates are
the most promising drugs. Clodronate, one of the most investigated
bisphosphonates, has been clinically utilized for over 15 years in treating
malignant diseases. It is the most-used, most effective, and safest drug in
the treatment of hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood). It inhibits
bone destruction, prevents bone fractures, relieves bone pain, and prevents
the development of new bone lesions. Clodronate may even reduce mortality.
Bisphosphonates such as clodronate are potent osteoclast inhibitors that
have opened the way for a nontoxic medical treatment of bone metastasis.
Large-scale studies in humans with breast cancer indicate the benefits of
prolonged administration of clodronate to reduce the frequency of
pathological skeletal events and also the need for radiation therapy.
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LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE, October 2001 issue
As we see it: Dying from deficiency, by Bill Faloon
New scientific studies indicate that too many people are dying from simple
nutrient deficiencies.
Dr. Bruce Ames recently published a paper stating that a deficiency of folic
acid, vitamins C, E, B6 , B12, niacin or zinc causes DNA strand breaks,
oxidative lesions and increased susceptibility to cancer. Dr. Ames compared
a deficiency of any one of these micro-nutrients to the DNA damaging effects
of radiation. When DNA strands are damaged, the body becomes more vulnerable
to cancer.
Dr. Ames stated that a micronutrient deficiency may explain why people who
eat the fewest fruits and vegetables have about double the rate for most
types of cancer when compared to those with the highest intake. Fruits and
vegetables are a rich source of the micronutrients that protect DNA against
changes that can lead to cancer. Dr. Ames' conclusion was:
"Common micronutrient deficiencies are likely to damage DNA by the same
mechanism as radiation and many chemicals . . . Remedying micronutrient
deficiencies should lead to a major improvement in health and an increase in
longevity at low cost."
Dr. Bruce Ames is a well respected expert on cancer. He is a Professor of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California-Berkeley
and developed the internationally recognized "Ames Test" that is used for
determining if a chemical damages cellular DNA.
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LISTEN TO THE LIFE EXTENSION RADIO HOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST, NUTRITIONIST OZ
GARCIA
Oz Garcia was voted best nutritionist in 1997 by New York magazine. His
international clientele includes such celebrities as Winona Ryder, Chynna
Phillips, Donna Karan, Karen Duffy, and Daniela Pestova. He lives in New
York City. Oz will be discussing his new book: Oz Garcia's Healthy
High-Tech Body, and general nutrition topics. Listen live in south Florida
to WJNA radio 1040 AM Saturday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm eastern time.
>From anywhere else in the world, go to
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to listen to the live webcast on Life Extension's website. Call in your
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listening on the topics of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis,
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CHAT LIVE WITH DR ANDREW BAER WEDNESDAY
Dr Andrew Baer's live chat sessions continue this Wednesday with the topic,
"Can we prevent or cure cancer?" From Dr Baer: "The very word instills
fear in most people. We've spent countless dollars trying to find a cure yet
our treatments remain primitive. Oncologists still use chemotherapy
consisting of poisons in an attempt to kill cancer cells while sparing the
healthy ones. This is like trying to kill an ant with a sledgehammer. "
"Are there ways that we can prevent cancer? What alternative therapies exist
and are they effective? Come to Wednesday's chat and find out."
Chat sessions are held at 7:00 pm pacific time and 7:00 pm eastern time. Go
to
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html
and click on Chat Now". To join the chat, simply choose a nickname and
click the 'Connect' button.
Visit our website at www.lef.org to take part in our weekly poll. This week
we want to know: What types of information would you prefer to receive from
the Life Extension Foundation?
If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of
Life Extension Weekly Update, please send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or
call 1 800 841 LIFE x 7716. We want to hear from you.
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
1 800 841 LIFE
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