Cancer Pearls

Food for Thought:Cancer Pearls . . .

CAT SCANS DONE IN 2007 PROJECTED TO KILL 15,000:  A recent study projected 29,000 excess cancers as a result of CAT scans done in 2007.  Quoting from the article “These cancers will appear over the next 20 to 30 years and by the authors’ estimates, will cause approximately 15,000 deaths annually.”  TAKE HOME:  If your doctor orders a CAT scan, ask him if you really need it and tell him about this article.  It was published in a prestigious medical journal he probably receives at home.  Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169 (22): 2049-2050.

OBESITY AND HIGH LEVELS OF CIRCULATING INSULIN INCREASE CANCER RISK:  The link between obesity and cancer has alfready been established, but the precise mechanism is still being researched.  Obesity causes high levels of circulating insulin, which may help explain this connection.

Insulin is required to shuttle glucose from the blood into cells, where it gets burned up as energy.  Obesity promotes insulin resistance, where cells become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, causing the pancreas to produce more and more insulin.  The problem is, insulin promotes cell growth and it is this growth promoting effect that stimulates cancer cells to grow.  Since it is in a pre-diabetic state that one experiences highest levels of insulin — before the pancreas tires out and starts making less insulin — people who do not yet have diabetes may be at highest risk.

High blood sugar levels and high levels of circulating insulin go hand-in-hand. Blood tests that allow you to zero in on insulin resistance include fasting blood glucose — anything above 90 mg/dl warrants proactive attention.  Hemoglobin A1C (aka glycated hemoglobin) gives an accurate take on your 3 month average blood glucose level.  Anything greater than 5.5 should trigger concern for chronically elevated insulin levels.   For example a Hemoglobin A1C of 5.6 calculates out to an average blood sugar level of 114 mg/dl.  Good ways to reduce circulating insulin levels include excercise — especially the muscle building sort — and a diet free of processed foods, especially processed carbs (sugar and flour).

What else?  Chronically high levels of physical and emotional stress can promote elevated blood sugars and insulin resistance via the stress hormone cortisol,  just as sure as a diet of RC Cola and Moon Pies.  So pay attention to your stress levels and make sure you get enough sleep.  It all adds up.  It all counts.

TAKE HOME:  A fasting blood glucose above 90 mg/dl or a Hemoglobin A1C above 5.5 should trigger proactive dietary and lfestyle changes.