From the many news reports on the recent pancreatic cancer study, it’s enough to make one drop that soda can in fear. Although it’s probably a good idea to put the soda down, the stories on a study linking fructose to pancreatic cancer cell growth are overly alarming.

Here are the study basics: UCLA researchers added glucose to one set of pancreatic cancer cells and fructose to another set of cells. Fructose and glucose are both simple sugars. Previous research has shown that cancer cells metabolize sugar at faster rates than healthy cells and the scientists in this study were looking at the different actions of the two sugars.

After letting all the cells sit, the study found that both sugars led to increased cancer cell growth but the cancer cells metabolized the sugars in two different ways. In the case of fructose, the pancreatic cancer cells used the sugar to generate nucleic acids, the building blocks of RNA and DNA, which the cancer cells need to divide and proliferate. When metabolizing glucose, the cancer cells generated far more lactate and carbon dioxide, as well as fatty acids, which play a role in cancer growth.

Glucose and fructose both increased cancer cell growth at similar rates.

The study was published in Cancer Research and you can read about it here.

The findings are interesting but more research is needed before it can be used to make recommendations on public health. This is one study, and it is a cell study. Also, what this study did show is that both sugars increased cancer cell growth.

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You likely know by now that being overweight or obese increases your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. In fact, AICR estimates that over 100,000 cancer cases a year are caused by carrying excess fat.

That’s a sobering statistic, and the latest numbers on childhood obesity suggest that number will keep growing. After all, children who are overweight or obese tend to grow into overweight and obese adults.

But you can help ensure a brighter, healthier future for your kids. How? By treating yourself right.

Think about it: Children model their parents’ behavior, so every time you prepare a healthy meal or make time for getting active, you’re instilling those same habits in your kids.

The Obesity Society recommends that parents keep only healthy foods in the house and choose the restaurants the family visits.

Anyone who’s unthinkingly polished off a bag of potato chips while watching their favorite program knows that eating in front of the TV encourages “passive overeating” – that’s why it’s a good idea to serve meals at the dinner table whenever you can.

Encourage kids to get and stay active any way they can. Planning family activities that revolve around walking, biking, hiking or swimming can help less active kids get their hearts pumping.

First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a nationwide campaign called Let’s Move! to help stop childhood obesity. The website’s got lots of ideas for getting kids interested in health and nutrition.

AICR has our own children’s website called the Taste Buddies, filled with games, quizzes and kid-friendly information to help kids learn that eating better and moving more can be fun.

Children, Diet, Physical Activity Hide

Now that summer has arrived, people are spending more time outside in the sun. Just before you go out for the day, remember to put sunscreen on exposed skin. It’s a simple preventative measure against skin cancer that only takes a few minutes. This week’s AICR eNews features a piece on how you can prevent skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, SPF of 15 or higher should be used and reapplied every 2 hours.

If you’re worried about getting enough vitamin D, only 5 to 10 minutes of sun exposure without sun block a few times a week is enough for most people. You can also get vitamin D from some foods. The foods that naturally contain it in high amounts include salmon and tuna. The foods that most Americans get their vitamin D from are fortified such as breakfast cereals, orange juice brands, and milk products.

To learn more on what foods contain vitamin D, visit the Office of Dietary Supplements here.

Cancer Prevention, Skin Cancer, Vitamin D Hide

Yesterday, news of the President’s Cancer Panel’s report on environmental contaminants possibly leading to cancer splashed across all the major news outlets. The President’s Cancer Panel is an advisory group consisting of two scientists (normally three but one place is still empty).

In a letter to the President, the Panel writes that “the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated.” You can read the full report here.

Examining the link between environmental pollutants and cancer risk is important, and one that does need more research. But in writing a 240-page report, the Panel failed to mention basic lifestyle factors that research clearly shows can prevent the majority of cancer cases. Scientists estimate that about one-third of the most common cancers could be prevented by eating a healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight.

Tobacco use is a separate risk factor that is itself responsible for one-third of all cancer deaths. AICR’s 2009 report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, determined how patterns of diet, physical activity and weight affect the risk of different cancers. You can read a summary.

These are choices people can make today that will help lower their risk of cancer.

What do you think of the findings of the Panel’s report? Do you think cancer prevention policies should focus on healthy lifestyle habits, environmental contaminants, or both?

Cancer Prevention, Research Hide

Blogging from a conference of the Society of Public Health Educators (SOPHE)

What are Public Health Educators talking about?

As at many health related conferences, the talk is about developing environments in neighborhoods, workplaces and schools to promote good health.  That is – encourage more physical activity and access to healthy food. Just about every researcher and practitioner is talking about how to engage the community and neighborhood to help drive these changes.  This may seem obvious, but it hasn’t always been done.  Read about AICR’s Policy Report Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, which includes recommendations for government, schools, industry, health professionals and others.

Interesting research tidbit: One of the speakers today mentioned a simple initiative of posting signs and prompts around the workplace to encourage more use of stairs in the building.  This has shown moderate effectiveness with anywhere from 2-9% increase in stair use.  While not a huge change in behavior, it’s an easy intervention for inspiring some change.  And an easy way to incorporate more physical activity – which lowers risk for cancer  – into your day.

Do you choose stairs or elevators when given the choice?

Cancer Prevention, exercise Hide

Great short piece on America Public Media’s Marketplace Morning Report on a story that hasn’t gotten the attention it should:  How the new healthcare legislation broadens our national approach to diseases like cancer by placing an unprecedented amount of focus on prevention. Take a listen.

Understand: More and better prevention efforts are sorely needed and long overdue.  But if there’s one thing our policy report made clear, it’s that government can’t do it alone.  All levels of society – industry, schools, health professionals, the media, individuals – helped get us to where we are now, and must play a role in the kind of sweeping societal changes needed to make it easier for everyone to make healthy, cancer protective choices.

How are our policy report’s 49 recommendations addressed in the new legislation?  What, exactly, remains to be done?  It’ll take some time to tease out those answers.

In the meantime, count on the American Institute for Cancer Research for practical everyday advice that’s based on research your generosity makes possible — research that reveals how you can help protect yourself from cancer.

Behavior Change, Cancer Prevention, Diet, exercise, Prevention Policy, Research, Weight Hide

Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to eliminate childhood obesity in a generation could have a major impact on cancer rates when today’s children become adults.

AICR estimates that approximately 100,000 cancers occurring in the US every year are caused by excess body fat.  Add physical activity and a healthy diet to weight management, and we could prevent about one-third of the most common cancers.  And what better prevention strategy than helping children adopt healthier behaviors?

The campaign focuses on four factors: Healthy Choices, Healthier Schools, Physical Activity and Accessible and Affordable Healthy Food.  This combination of policy changes, health professional action and family involvement envisioned by the First Lady is an important step toward helping children live healthier lifestyles.  And healthier lives will lead to fewer children becoming obese and remaining obese as adults.

AICR’s major report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention addresses many of these same issues  as to how policy changes can influence the behaviors that affect cancer risk and other chronic disease.

What do you see happening in your community to help children lead healthier lifestyles?

Cancer Prevention, Diet, exercise, Physical Activity, Weight Hide

Yesterday, at an event at the Headquarters of the Pan-American Health Organization (the regional office of the World Health Organization in the Americas), we launched the Spanish summary of our major report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention.

Launch of AICR/PAHO Spanish Summary, PAHO HQ

Press Questions at AICR/PAHO Summary Launch

The summary was published jointly by AICR and PAHO, and adapts the report’s global policy recommendation to Latin American countries.

The launch event here in DC was well-attended, and over 30 countries participated via web. A lively discussion followed (the Q and A session went on for over 30 minutes) including the comments of the Deputy Health Minister of Panama, who participated by phone.

AICR Vice President for Programs Deirdre McGinley-Gieser spoke briefly to fit the new summary into the wider context of AICR’s ongoing mission, and to express how excited we are to partner with PAHO, an organization that can help effect the kind of changes that could lower cancer rates in the Americas and save millions of lives.

You can read about the AICR/WCRF Policy Report here.

The Spanish summary is available on PAHO website.

Cancer Prevention, Diet, Physical Activity, Prevention Policy, Weight Hide

February 4th is World Cancer Day - an annual global awareness-raising initiative organized by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) that shines a spotlight on the small, everyday changes that can lower cancer risk.

AICR welcomes World Cancer Day 2010 as an opportunity to share the vital, life-saving, evidence-based message that we are not powerless before this disease. The evidence is in, and its shows that steps can be taken, by anyone, at any age, to help protect against cancer.

AICR President Marilyn Gentry shares her thoughts on this important day.

Meanwhile, AICR is marking World Cancer Day by launching two translated summaries of our major policy report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention. This report translates the scientific evidence into clear recommendations that show how all levels of society – government, individuals, schools, workplaces, the media, and more – can work together to reduce cancer incidence around the globe.

Working with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), we’ve produced a Spanish summary of the policy report that tailors recommendations to Latin American countries and regions.

We’ve also partnered with the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) to produce a Portuguese summary that speaks to the policy makers in Brazil and other countries where cancer rates are rising.

We’re launching both translations today, at events in Washington and Rio de Janeiro.  We’ll keep you posted.

Behavior Change, Cancer Prevention, Diet, exercise, Physical Activity, Prevention Policy, Research, Weight Hide