A new study suggests that accelerated aging, influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors, may be driving the rise in colon cancer cases among people under 50. Researchers found that each additional year of accelerated aging increases the risk of developing cancer precursors by 16%. While traditional risk factors like body fat and smoking weren't directly linked, poor diet, alcohol use, pollution, and stress were significant contributors. The study highlights the importance of early screening, with experts advocating for lowering the screening age to combat the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in younger adults.
A recent study published in JAMA Network highlights a significant decline in cervical cancer deaths among women under 25, attributed to the widespread vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). Researchers, including Ashish Deshmukh from MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center, emphasize this as a major public health success, crediting the HPV vaccine for the reduction in cancer cases.
Oncology dietitian Nichole Andrews suggests healthier pizza toppings to reduce cancer risk by replacing processed meats like pepperoni with vegetables or chicken. Processed meats are classified as carcinogenic by the WHO, linked to colorectal cancer. Andrews recommends five pizza recipes: Veggie Delight with bell peppers and spinach, Mediterranean with olives and artichokes, Margherita with tomatoes and basil, White Pizza with kale and ricotta, and Pesto Chicken Veggie with zucchini and spinach, all emphasizing ingredients that may help prevent cancer.
A new study led by exercise scientist Lee Jones at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center suggests that regular exercise may lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer, particularly of the head, neck, and lungs, and could also contribute to longer survival after a cancer diagnosis. The research, which analyzed data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening study, indicates that while exercise may not reduce the risk for all cancer types, it is associated with a general survival benefit. The findings support the idea that exercise should be part of cancer prevention strategies, although more research is needed to understand the specific biological effects of exercise on cancer risk and survival.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that even one alcoholic drink per week can increase the risk of several types of cancer, including those not related to the liver. Dr. Mike Cusnir of Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach highlights that complete abstinence from alcohol can revert the risk back to baseline levels for non-drinkers. The study identifies seven cancers directly linked to alcohol consumption and suggests that stopping alcohol intake can significantly reduce the risk of oral cancer after five to nine years. This challenges the previous notion that moderate alcohol consumption could be beneficial for heart health.
A report in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that giving up or reducing alcohol consumption can significantly lower the risk of oral and esophageal cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed multiple studies and found that abstaining from alcohol for extended periods could reduce oral cancer risk by up to 55% and esophageal cancer risk by up to 65%. The body metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and alcohol also has genotoxic effects, damaging DNA and potentially leading to cancer. While the evidence for other types of cancer is limited, the report emphasizes that there is no safe amount of alcohol when it comes to cancer prevention, and all types of alcoholic beverages are linked to an increased risk of cancer. Health guidelines recommend limiting alcohol intake to reduce cancer risk.
Cleveland Clinic doctors have reported an increase in advanced stage cervical cancer cases, attributing the rise to pandemic-related delays in routine checkups and changes in pap smear screening guidelines, which now recommend less frequent tests. The early stages of cervical cancer often present no symptoms, making regular screenings crucial for detection. Dr. Robert DeBernardo emphasized that cervical cancer is preventable and linked to the HPV virus, against which there are highly effective vaccines available.
Throat cancer rates have risen sharply in recent years, with HPV being behind many of the cases. Experts agree that HPV-related cancers are a real health concern, but some think the idea of an "epidemic" caused by oral sex is overblown. Most people with HPV will go undetected and remain benign, and even if they do develop HPV-related throat cancer, it is usually treatable. However, people with six or more oral sex partners in their lives were more than eight times likelier to develop HPV-related throat cancer than those who did not engage in oral sex. Experts point to oral sex as the reason for the rise in HPV-related throat cancer, stemming from a cultural shift in how Americans have been having sex since the 1960s.
