Prostate Cancer

PROSTATE CANCER:-

Prostate cancer is the cancerous growth of the cells inside the prostate . It usually grows slowly over many years . However , in later stages, the growth usually speeds up. In the prostate, the hormone testosterone is converted into DHT, which stimulates the growth of the cancer cells. As the cancer grows , it can spread outside the prostate – usually into the surrounding lymph nodes and bones.

Perhaps one of the greatest areas of health concerns for men over the age of 45 is their prostate , Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that last year more than1,80,000 new cases were diagnosed in the U.S and that more than 32,000 men died from the disease , making it the second -leading cause of cancer death among men in the country.

The urologists at the Vattikuti Urology Institute specialize in the world's most state-of-the -art treatments of prostate cancer.

The Vattikuti Urology Institute has performed more robotic procedures than any other hospital in the world .Surgeons at the Institute developed the Vattikuti Institute Prostatectomy, (VIP) and were the first in the world to perform the procedure on an outpatient basis. Some of the following questions that the physicians are frequently asked and their answers may help you to better understand various topics about the prostate cancer.

RISKS AND WARNING SIGNS:---

Who is at risk for prostate cancer?

Although prostate cancer generally occurs in older men, younger men can get it too. African -American males and those men who have a family history of prostate cancer have a higher risk of getting it.Therefore , screening and early diagnosis are especially important for individuals at risk.

Are there any warning signs?

Unfortunately , there are no early warning signs of prostate cancer . It usually grows very slowly, and due to its location , many men do not have any physical symptoms .

Frequent urination
Blockage of urinary flow
Dribbling at the end of urination
The need to get up out of bed and urinates at night.
Urinary leakage
Straining to empty the bladder.

These symptoms are usually due to benign prostate enlargement , and do not necessarily represent symptoms of prostate cancer.

SCREENING AND DETECTION:---

How is prostate cancer detected?

Early detection of prostate cancer is critical to successful treatment. Most prostatic cancers are initially detected through an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE) .A DRE is a gloved finger examination of the prostate through the rectum. The PSA test is a blood test that is used to help screed for prostate cancer .The only conclusive form of detection is biopsy. This is usually done with the aid of ultrasound.
by: DrMani Menon


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Fight Cancer With Good Nutrition

Can we eliminate one of the most devastating illnesses known to modern mankind, an illness that has touched all of our lives in one way or another? We all know someone who lives with it, who has survived it or who has died of it. Some of you are currently living with it and some have miraculously survived it. I lost my father to it. I’m sure by now you know what I’m talking about; Cancer...




With all of our knowledge and all of the scientific breakthroughs we still have not found a cure for this debilitating illness. Why do doctors continue to be baffled and why does the treatment have to be so horrific? Cancer is a word no one wants to hear. The treatment alone can kill and can be draining on your system, so much so that many people opt to not have treatment at all. We have not even mentioned the costs associated with cancer treatment which can be astronomical. The “standard of care” consists of body altering surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy infuses poisoning chemicals that destroys the immune system and despite how sick they make you feel the cancer can grow so rapidly that your immune system never gets a chance to repair itself. If we know that ingesting chemically laden foods and breathing chemically laden air can cause cancer why would we want to put additional chemicals into our body in order to cure it? Two to five percent of the 350,000 people a year who undergo in-hospital chemotherapy treatments die as a direct result of the toxicity from the treatment itself. That’s 7000 to 17,500 people too many. Twenty one percent of patients receiving high-dose chemo die as a complication of the treatment. You or a loved one could be part of this statistic.

Don’t become a statistic! We need to get to the root of this evil before it strikes. Cancer can be a merciless adversary. One way that we can inhibit it and even stop it in its tracts is to keep our bodies as clean as possible. Clean by consuming the right foods and keep our bodies as free of toxins as we possibly can. Toxins cause irritation. Free radical damage is what occurs as a result of constant irritation in our body. These free radicals tear at the cell’s membrane, and in some cases, damage the cell’s DNA structure. When the DNA structure is interfered with, mutation can occur, which leads to the formation and growth of cancerous cells.

According to Dr. Russell Blaylock “The typical Western diet, high in red meats, bad fats, food additives and carbohydrates is a perfect cancer brew”.

Fighting cancer is a war and it involves life-style choices and changes of old habits. Changing old habits is never easy but it can be simple. This quote from Dr. Khalid Mahmud makes a lot of sense “Eat God-made foods, not man-made foods”. Remember the old adage, KISS (keep it simple, stupid) these words of wisdom can protect you from the ravages of cancer by just making a few simple changes in your everyday diet. According to Dena McDowell, MS, RD, for the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center agrees that eating the right foods actually helps prevent cancer. "There is a strong connection between what you eat and whether you develop cancer in your lifetime," says McDowell. The American Cancer Society Nutrition Guidelines calls for a diet that is as plant-based as possible.

Studies indicate that people who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables have much lower cancer rates than those who eat few or none. Vegetarian’s have the highest cancer immunity and have about half the cancer risk of meat-eaters.

Start with eating at a minimum of five but on average seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. As you continue to change you’re eating habits your taste buds will change and good nutritious healthy foods will taste better to you than chemically laden, poor quality foods.

Eating foods that contain ample nutrients have been shown to prevent cancer. The damaging effects of free-radicals are minimized by nutrients known as anti-oxidants. These include Vitamins A, C, and E, calcium and vitamin D, the B vitamins and folic acid, the minerals selenium and zinc and beta carotene. The higher the amount of antioxidants you consume the better. A unit of measurement that defines the antioxidant value of foods is called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity).

Use healthy fats such as olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish and green plant food sources, especially spinach, flaxseeds, mustard greens and algae’s. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have an anti-carcinogenic effect in the laboratory.

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of anti-oxidants that quench free radicals. They contain bioflavonoids (plant chemicals) that have anti-cancer properties, bioflavonoids turn on phase II enzymes that rid our body of cancer-causing toxins. Fruits and vegetables also contain fiber that binds the toxins excreted into the intestines, these toxins are then not absorbed back into the system. Studies indicate that people who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables have much lower cancer rates than those who eat few or none. Vegetarian’s have the highest cancer immunity and have about half the cancer risk of meat-eaters. Scientists have learned that various components of plants (phytonutrients) can attack cancer cells at all levels but at the same time have no harmful effect on normal cells. These phytonutrients strengthen normal cells so that toxins or free radicals cannot affect those cells preventing cells from becoming cancerous. This is especially important in preventing secondary cancers that can be created in the wake of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Turmeric is the spice most often used in curry powder. It has an active ingredient called curcumin that has shown resistance to colon, breast, liver, oral, skin, and stomach tumors in laboratory testing on animals.

Yogurt with live probiotic cultures consumed in high quantities has been linked in some population studies to reduced risks of cancer, particularly of the breast and colon.

Green Tea is the best source of catechins in the human diet, containing about three times as many catechins as there are in black tea. The catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer and may also repair cellular damage caused by free radicals. Green tea has been shown to inhibit or block cancer development in colon, liver, breast, and prostate cells. Studies done in Asia show that frequent use of green tea can lower the risk of many common cancers including the recurrence of stage 1 breast cancer.

Grapes, especially red and purple varieties, contain high levels of resveratrol, which belongs to a classification of plant chemicals called polyphenols. Resveratrol has been shown to slow the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the formation of tumors in lymph, liver, stomach and breast.

Variety is certainly the spice of life. Pay attention to the colors of the fruits and vegetables you choose—green, red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, and white—as nature has imbued each with unique nutrients and phytochemicals that deliver a more complete nutritional benefit when consumed together. Think of assembling a rainbow of colors on your plate; it’s more pleasing to the eye and will give you a good balance of phytonutrients at each meal. I created NV so that we all could have a rainbow of essential fruits, vegetables, fiber, probiotics, turmeric, phytochemicals, carotenoids, ellagic acid, resveratrol, and antioxidants. NV has an ORAC value of 6880 per serving, that’s huge! NV has all the essential nutrients needed to prevent the onset of cancer.

Dr. Steve Nelson of the Synergy Wellness Clinic states that “If people don’t supplement, consume a nutritious diet, apply homeopathic therapies and pay attention to their bodies they are going to continue to get sick”. No one knows for sure if cancers are ever eradicated in your body. Sticking to a nutritious diet and supplementing with NV is so important since a dormant cancer can be reactivated by a bad diet. If we start right now we can improve our chances of having a healthy future.

Wouldn’t it be nice if future generations could say “once upon a time people got cancer” like we think of the black plague? The time is now to make that a reality.

by: Denise McKinley R.N.

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What You Need to Know About Colon Cancer

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is a disease characterized by the development of malignant cells in the lining of the first and longest portion of the large intestine. These cells have lost the normal control mechanism for growth. It is also termed as colorectal cancer because in time it can affect the rectum too. The rectum is the continuation of the large intestine into the pelvis that...

terminates in the anus.

The Causes and Symptoms

Primarily, there are two causes of colon cancer: the sporadic case and the genetic case. Exposure to the carcinogenic agents in the environment constitutes the sporadic case. It can induce mutation, and in time, it can also turn into a cancer. Specific carcinogens for colon cancer are still unidentified, but they can be narrowed down to the dietary factors of the person. Some of the probable causes of colon cancer include:

1) Diets that are high in fat and alcohol can predispose people to this disease.
2) Age and smoking habits of the person. A person over the age of 50 is more likely to have the disease than those who are under 50. Smoking individuals have risks too.
3) Patients who suffer from inflammatory diseases of the colon like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis also have increased risks.
4) Genetics like familial cases are also factors that help spread the disease.

Symptoms of colon cancer are related to the release of bowel and wastes of the affected person. They may occur alone or in combination. These symptoms are as follows:

1) Change in the bowel habit of the affected person
2) Blood in the stool
3) Bloating or persistent abdominal distention
4) Constant constipation
5) Feeling of fullness after just having a bowel movement
6) Presence of ribbon stools
7) Persistent and chronic fatigue and anemia
8) Abdominal discomfort
9) Unexplained weight loss, resulting from a systemic disease
10) Nausea and vomiting, which can occur rarely

The Treatments Available

Treatment of the colon cancer first depends on the stage of the cancer. It can be curable when caught at an early stage, but if detected at later stages, when metastases are present, it is less likely to be curable. Up until now, surgery is still the primary treatment of colon cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy or the combination of both may be recommended on the patient, depending on their cancer’s stage and other medical factors. It can also be a challenge to determine how aggressive the treatment for the patient is because this type of cancer primarily affects the elderly; it is rare for young people to develop this disease. Some elderly people are not recommended for chemotherapy after the surgery because it can have ill effects on their health.

These are among the summarized treatments of colon cancer that are practiced today:

1) Surgery in the colon area
2) Chemotherapy
3) Radiation therapy
4) Immunotherapy
5) Vaccine for colon cancer
6) Treatment of liver metastases that can spread to the colon area
7) Support therapies
by: James Pendergraft
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Fight Cancer With Good Nutrition

Can we eliminate one of the most devastating illnesses known to modern mankind, an illness that has touched all of our lives in one way or another? We all know someone who lives with it, who has survived it or who has died of it. Some of you are currently living with it and some have miraculously survived it. I lost my father...

to it. I’m sure by now you know what I’m talking about; Cancer.

With all of our knowledge and all of the scientific breakthroughs we still have not found a cure for this debilitating illness. Why do doctors continue to be baffled and why does the treatment have to be so horrific? Cancer is a word no one wants to hear. The treatment alone can kill and can be draining on your system, so much so that many people opt to not have treatment at all. We have not even mentioned the costs associated with cancer treatment which can be astronomical. The “standard of care” consists of body altering surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy infuses poisoning chemicals that destroys the immune system and despite how sick they make you feel the cancer can grow so rapidly that your immune system never gets a chance to repair itself. If we know that ingesting chemically laden foods and breathing chemically laden air can cause cancer why would we want to put additional chemicals into our body in order to cure it? Two to five percent of the 350,000 people a year who undergo in-hospital chemotherapy treatments die as a direct result of the toxicity from the treatment itself. That’s 7000 to 17,500 people too many. Twenty one percent of patients receiving high-dose chemo die as a complication of the treatment. You or a loved one could be part of this statistic.

Don’t become a statistic! We need to get to the root of this evil before it strikes. Cancer can be a merciless adversary. One way that we can inhibit it and even stop it in its tracts is to keep our bodies as clean as possible. Clean by consuming the right foods and keep our bodies as free of toxins as we possibly can. Toxins cause irritation. Free radical damage is what occurs as a result of constant irritation in our body. These free radicals tear at the cell’s membrane, and in some cases, damage the cell’s DNA structure. When the DNA structure is interfered with, mutation can occur, which leads to the formation and growth of cancerous cells.

According to Dr. Russell Blaylock “The typical Western diet, high in red meats, bad fats, food additives and carbohydrates is a perfect cancer brew”.

Fighting cancer is a war and it involves life-style choices and changes of old habits. Changing old habits is never easy but it can be simple. This quote from Dr. Khalid Mahmud makes a lot of sense “Eat God-made foods, not man-made foods”. Remember the old adage, KISS (keep it simple, stupid) these words of wisdom can protect you from the ravages of cancer by just making a few simple changes in your everyday diet. According to Dena McDowell, MS, RD, for the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center agrees that eating the right foods actually helps prevent cancer. "There is a strong connection between what you eat and whether you develop cancer in your lifetime," says McDowell. The American Cancer Society Nutrition Guidelines calls for a diet that is as plant-based as possible.

Studies indicate that people who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables have much lower cancer rates than those who eat few or none. Vegetarian’s have the highest cancer immunity and have about half the cancer risk of meat-eaters.

Start with eating at a minimum of five but on average seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day. As you continue to change you’re eating habits your taste buds will change and good nutritious healthy foods will taste better to you than chemically laden, poor quality foods.

Eating foods that contain ample nutrients have been shown to prevent cancer. The damaging effects of free-radicals are minimized by nutrients known as anti-oxidants. These include Vitamins A, C, and E, calcium and vitamin D, the B vitamins and folic acid, the minerals selenium and zinc and beta carotene. The higher the amount of antioxidants you consume the better. A unit of measurement that defines the antioxidant value of foods is called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity).

Use healthy fats such as olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish and green plant food sources, especially spinach, flaxseeds, mustard greens and algae’s. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have an anti-carcinogenic effect in the laboratory.

Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of anti-oxidants that quench free radicals. They contain bioflavonoids (plant chemicals) that have anti-cancer properties, bioflavonoids turn on phase II enzymes that rid our body of cancer-causing toxins. Fruits and vegetables also contain fiber that binds the toxins excreted into the intestines, these toxins are then not absorbed back into the system. Studies indicate that people who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables have much lower cancer rates than those who eat few or none. Vegetarian’s have the highest cancer immunity and have about half the cancer risk of meat-eaters. Scientists have learned that various components of plants (phytonutrients) can attack cancer cells at all levels but at the same time have no harmful effect on normal cells. These phytonutrients strengthen normal cells so that toxins or free radicals cannot affect those cells preventing cells from becoming cancerous. This is especially important in preventing secondary cancers that can be created in the wake of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Turmeric is the spice most often used in curry powder. It has an active ingredient called curcumin that has shown resistance to colon, breast, liver, oral, skin, and stomach tumors in laboratory testing on animals.

Yogurt with live probiotic cultures consumed in high quantities has been linked in some population studies to reduced risks of cancer, particularly of the breast and colon.

Green Tea is the best source of catechins in the human diet, containing about three times as many catechins as there are in black tea. The catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer and may also repair cellular damage caused by free radicals. Green tea has been shown to inhibit or block cancer development in colon, liver, breast, and prostate cells. Studies done in Asia show that frequent use of green tea can lower the risk of many common cancers including the recurrence of stage 1 breast cancer.

Grapes, especially red and purple varieties, contain high levels of resveratrol, which belongs to a classification of plant chemicals called polyphenols. Resveratrol has been shown to slow the growth of cancer cells and inhibit the formation of tumors in lymph, liver, stomach and breast.

Variety is certainly the spice of life. Pay attention to the colors of the fruits and vegetables you choose—green, red, yellow, orange, purple, blue, and white—as nature has imbued each with unique nutrients and phytochemicals that deliver a more complete nutritional benefit when consumed together. Think of assembling a rainbow of colors on your plate; it’s more pleasing to the eye and will give you a good balance of phytonutrients at each meal. I created NV so that we all could have a rainbow of essential fruits, vegetables, fiber, probiotics, turmeric, phytochemicals, carotenoids, ellagic acid, resveratrol, and antioxidants. NV has an ORAC value of 6880 per serving, that’s huge! NV has all the essential nutrients needed to prevent the onset of cancer.

Dr. Steve Nelson of the Synergy Wellness Clinic states that “If people don’t supplement, consume a nutritious diet, apply homeopathic therapies and pay attention to their bodies they are going to continue to get sick”. No one knows for sure if cancers are ever eradicated in your body. Sticking to a nutritious diet and supplementing with NV is so important since a dormant cancer can be reactivated by a bad diet. If we start right now we can improve our chances of having a healthy future.

Wouldn’t it be nice if future generations could say “once upon a time people got cancer” like we think of the black plague? The time is now to make that a reality.
by: Denise McKinley R.N.

Read Full Article...>>>

Protecting children from ultraviolet

Children are in a dynamic state of growth, and are therefore more susceptible to environmental threats than adults. Many vital functions such as the immune system are not fully developed at birth, and unsafe environments may interfere with their normal development. But most environmental hazards are preventable: reducing exposure is the most effective way of protecting children's health.
Ultraviolet radiation and ozone depletion...

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one component of solar radiation. It is progressively filtered as sunlight passes through the atmosphere, in particular by the ozone layer.

As the ozone layer is depleted, the protective filter activity of the atmosphere is reduced and more UV radiation, in particular the more harmful UVB, reaches the Earth's surface. In the year 2000, the ozone hole over the Antarctic reached its biggest size ever covering 11.4 million square miles - an area more than three times the size of the United States. For the first time it also stretched over populated areas exposing local residents to extreme levels of solar UV radiation. Local authorities warned residents in Southern Chile that they could sunburn in less than seven minutes and should avoid spending time outdoors in the middle of the day.

Sustained ozone depletion and enhanced levels of UV radiation on Earth will aggravate UV effects on the human skin, eyes and immune system. Children are at especially high risk of suffering damage from exposure to UV radiation.
Health effects of sun exposure: a global concern

UV radiation causes sunburn and skin cancer and accelerates skin ageing. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to inflammations of the cornea and the conjunctiva in the eye, and causes or accelerates cataract development. A health issue of growing concern is that UV radiation can reduce the effectiveness of the human immune system. Consequently, sun exposure may enhance the risk of infection and could limit the efficacy of immunization against disease. Both of these act against the health of poor and vulnerable groups, especially children of the developing world, as many developing countries are located close to the equator and hence exposed to very high levels of UV radiation.

Skin cancer has become the focus of intervention campaigns in Australia, Europe and North America. Many believe that only fair-skinned people need to be concerned about overexposure to the sun. Although it is true that darker skin has more protective pigment, the skin is still susceptible to the damaging effects of UV radiation. The incidence of skin cancers is lower in dark-skinned people, nevertheless skin cancers occur and are often detected at a later, more dangerous stage. The risk of other UV-related health effects, such as eye damage, premature ageing of the skin, and immunosuppression is independent of skin type. For example, a 10% decrease in total stratospheric ozone is predicted to result in between 1.6 and 1.75 million additional cases of cataract per year worldwide.
Skin cancer incidence on the rise

Between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and approximately 132,000 malignant melanomas occur globally each year. With a sustained 10% decrease in stratospheric ozone, an additional 300,000 non-melanoma and 4,500 melanoma skin cancers could be expected world-wide, according to UNEP estimates. Currently, one in five North Americans and one in two Australians will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime.

People's behaviour in the sun is the main cause for the rise in skin cancer rates in recent decades. An increase in popular outdoor activities and changed sunbathing habits often result in excessive UV exposure. Many people consider intensive sunbathing to be normal and unfortunately, even many children and their parents perceive a suntan as a symbol of attractiveness and good health. However, a suntan is merely a sign of UV damage and represents the skin's defence to prevent further harm.
Children require special protection

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children, including all developmental stages from conception to age 18, have the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to a safe environment. Children require special protection as they are at a higher risk of suffering damage from exposure to UV radiation than adults, in particular:

* A child's skin is thinner and more sensitive and even a short time outdoors in the midday sun can result in serious burns.
* Epidemiological studies demonstrate that frequent sun exposure and sunburn in childhood set the stage for high rates of melanoma later in life.
* Children have more time to develop diseases with long latency, more years of life to be lost and more suffering to be endured as a result of impaired health. Increased life expectancy further adds to people's risk of developing skin cancers and cataracts.
* Children are more exposed to the sun. Estimates suggest that up to 80 per cent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV is received before the age of 18 .
* Children love playing outdoors but usually are not aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation.

Caring for children in the sun

According to an Australian study, four out of five cases of skin cancer are preventable by sensible behaviour. Encouraging children to take simple precautions will prevent both short-term and long-term damage while still allowing them to enjoy the time they spend outdoors. Parents should serve as role models, and it is their responsibility to ensure that their children are protected adequately. Always keep infants of less than 12 months in the shade and make sure your children:

* Cover up with protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
* Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15+.
* Limit their time in the midday sun.
* Seek shade.
* Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours.

Shade, clothing and hats provide the best protection for children -- applying sunscreen becomes necessary on those parts of the body that remain exposed like the face and hands. Sunscreen should never be used to prolong the duration of sun exposure.
Sun protection is relevant in all settings

Sun protection is not only necessary on the beach or at the swimming pool but applies to all outdoor settings. In many situations sunburn arises because people do not realize the need for protection. Children can be exposed to intense sunlight on the balcony at home, on weekend trips or a visit to the zoo, during breaks at kindergarten or school, and during outdoor sporting activities.

Particular attention should be paid in the mountains, as UV levels increase by approximately 8 per cent with every 1000 meters altitude. Although UV radiation is most intense under cloudless skies it may be high even on an overcast day. Many surfaces such as snow, sand and water reflect the sun's rays and add to the overall UV exposure.
Sun protection programmes can make a difference

Sun protection programmes to raise awareness and achieve changes in life-style is urgently needed to slow down and eventually reverse the trend towards more and more skin cancers. An effective campaign can have an enormous impact on public health: the regular use of sunscreen with sun protection factor 15 or higher up to the age of 18 could decrease the frequency of skin cancer in Australia by more than 70 per cent. Beyond the health benefits, effective education programmes can significantly decrease costs in the health system and strengthen the economy. Current prevention campaigns in Australia invest approximately US$ 0.08 per person per year, while the direct costs of skin cancer treatment have been estimated at US$ 5.70 per head of the population during the same period of time.
WHO's Activities to promote children's sun protection

INTERSUN Project

INTERSUN, WHO's Global UV Project aims to reduce the burden of disease resulting from exposure to UV radiation. The programme encourages and evaluates research to fill gaps in scientific knowledge, assesses and quantifies health risks, and develops an appropriate response through guidelines, recommendations and information dissemination. Beyond its scientific objectives, INTERSUN provides guidance to national authorities and other agencies about effective sun awareness programmes. These address different target audiences such as occupationally exposed people, tourists, school children and the general public. The programme is working towards the development of a framework for children's sun protection education that comprises an educational package as well as recommendations on best practices.

Global Solar UV Index

The UV Index (UVI) was developed by WHO, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Meteorological Organization as part of an international effort to raise public awareness of the risks of sun exposure. It is a simple measure of the intensity of the sun's ultraviolet rays at the earth's surface, and in many countries is presented as part of the weather forecast. INTERSUN promotes the harmonized use of the UVI, and advises governments to employ this educational tool in their health promotion programmes. WHO encourages dissemination channels such as the media and tourism industry to publish the UVI forecast and promote sun protection messages.

Global School Health Initiative

WHO's Global School Health Initiative seeks to mobilize and strengthen health promotion and education activities to improve the health of students, school personnel, families and other members of the community. Schools are vitally important settings to promote sun protection, and play a significant role in increasing awareness and changing behaviour among children and the people taking care of them. As part of the WHO Information Series on School Health, INTERSUN is preparing a document that will describe the essential steps in setting up a school initiative on sun protection.

Task Force for the Protection of Children's Environmental Health

In response to new knowledge about the special vulnerability of children and to growing concerns about the health impact of unsafe environments, WHO set up a Task Force for the Protection of Children's Environmental Health in July 1999. Its objectives are to raise the awareness of member states and the general public, to assist countries in mitigating the effects of environmental threats and to develop methodologies for risk assessment and the dissemination of information. Protecting children from harmful ultraviolet radiation is one of the topics covered by the Task Force's activities.

For more information contact:

WHO Media centre
Telephone: +41 22 791 2222
E-mail: mediainquiries@who.int

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Cancer Prevention

At least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer.
Tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world today. It causes 80-90% of all lung cancer deaths, and about 30% of all cancer deaths in developing countries, including deaths from cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, oesophagus and stomach. A comprehensive strategy including bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, tax increases on


tobacco products, and cessation programmes can reduce tobacco consumption in many countries. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, adopted in May 2003, aims to curb tobacco-related deaths and disease.
- Tobacco Free Initiative

Dietary modification is another important approach to cancer control. There is a link between overweight and obesity to many types of cancer such as oesophagus, colorectum, breast, endometrium and kidney. Diets high in fruits and vegetables may have a protective effect against many cancers. Conversely, excess consumption of red and preserved meat may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, healthy eating habits that prevent the development of diet-associated cancers will also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet, will considerably reduce cancer risk. National policies and programmes should be implemented to raise awareness and reduce exposure to cancer risk factors, and to ensure that people are provided with the information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.
- WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

Infectious agents are responsible for almost 22% of cancer deaths in the developing world and 6% in industrialized countries. Viral hepatitis B and C cause cancer of the liver; human papilloma virus infection causes cervical cancer; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of stomach cancer. In some countries the parasitic infection schistosomiasis increases the risk of bladder cancer and in other countries the liver fluke increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma of the bile ducts. Preventive measures include vaccination and prevention of infection and infestation.
- Infectious diseases health topics

Exposure to ionizing radiation is also known to cause to certain cancers. Excessive solar ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of all types of cancer of the skin. Avoiding excessive exposure, use of sunscreen and protective clothing are effective preventive measures.
- Ultraviolet radiation

Asbestos can cause lung cancer; aniline dyes have been linked to bladder cancer; and benzene can lead to leukaemia. The prevention of certain occupational and environmental exposure to these and other chemicals is another important element in preventing cancer.
- Occupational health

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