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If you had to recommend just a few of your favorite anti-cancer agents, what would they be?
One doesn’t hear the term scientifically-based or evidence based used with lifestyle methods of cancer prevention often enough. Mostly we hear folks saying it is all nonsense.
I hear you have a new book coming out, Hormone Replacement Therapy & The Breast Cancer Epidemic, I look forward to reading it!
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RobertWascherMD (Physician - Surgery - Surgical Oncology (Verified) ) - 02 / 29 / 2012
In terms of lifestyle and dietary factors that have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, there is a rather large number of potential cancer prevention cancer agents that one can consider (for a complete discussion of this rather complex topic, please see my book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race -http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Prevention-Guide-Human-Race/dp/1608446913). Here at Cancer Treatment Centers of America®, Nutritionists and Naturopathic Physicians are experts on how diet and supplements can affect cancer prevention and treatment. The most consistent research findings suggest that the following aspects of what I call a “cancer prevention lifestyle” are associated with the greatest decrease in cancer risk: Mediterranean diet (a diet low in meat and other animal products; rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains; and the modest use of polyunsaturated or monounsaturated cooking oils such as olive oil and canola oil) (http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-center-news/600.cfm) ; avoidance of obesity and diabetes; avoidance of tobacco; and three to five hours of at least moderate physical activity per week. Regarding nutritional supplements and vitamins as cancer prevention agents, most of the available research data with respect to nutritional supplement and vitamin use in patients with a generally healthy diet suggests that there is likely to be very little, if any, benefit in terms of significantly reducing one’s risk of developing cancer. While the data remains contradictory, the only vitamin for which compelling research data is available to suggest a role in cancer prevention is Vitamin D (particularly with respect to colorectal cancer prevention). Vitamin E and beta-carotene, when taken as supplements, may actually have adverse health effects, while several large prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that Vitamin C supplements do not appear to decrease cancer risk (or cardiovascular disease risk), either. In women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer, various anti-estrogen medications can be taken to significantly reduce their lifetime risk of developing this form of cancer. The diabetes drug metformin and the curry spice turmeric have also been shown to have potential anti-cancer effects, and these two agents are currently being intensively studied, as well. In summary, there probably aren’t any “magic bullet” anti-cancer agents available at this time. However, the evidence-based strategies that I describe in A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race have been associated with a 40 to 80 percent reduction in cancer risk in large public health studies from the United States and Europe.
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