Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
Robin Roberts is recovering nicely from her breast cancer surgery last Friday. She says she feels quite sore but believes that much of her success came from the many thoughts and prayers from fans everywhere.
The Good Morning America host recently announced her breast cancer on the air after discovering a lump in her breast last month. She hoped that by going public with her diagnosis more women would be inspired to perform monthly self check on themselves.
Roberts is currently at home with her family while she recovers from her surgery. She will soon receive test results that will determine the rest of her treatment, but she remains hopeful and optimistic that she will soon be back at work in America's living rooms.
Lee Hazlewood, well known for his famous song, "These Boots were Made For Walkin'" has died. Hazlewood was 78 and died of kidney cancer.
Hazlewood was best known for his anthem of independence that Nancy Sinatra made so famous. It is a theme song for many women everywhere who have needed to strap on a pair of boots and do some walking. Hazlewood and Sinatra collaborated on a number of other projects, but none that received the notoriety of the Walkin' song.
The songwriter was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005. He passed away quietly at his home over the weekend.
Skin care is not just a woman's domain when it comes to long term skin health. Men need to be aware of the various products and methods that are required to prevent against skin damage and skin cancer. Many spas are now offering skin care regimes targeted specifically at men, but with a bit of research and dedication it is easy to create your own regime at home.
First it is best to find a line of skin care products that are not too harsh on the skin. So many products that are available for men are filled with heavy scents and harsh astringents. Men's skin, especially in the neck are, is every bit as sensitive as a woman's skin. A good shaving gel and a clean sharp blade are the best way to begin skin care. Next follow up with a good sunblock with at least an SPF factor of 15. Men of all ages need to be aware of sun protection. Skin care diagnoses outnumber those of prostate and lung cancer. Moisturizing the male skin is as important as shaving. Many moisturizers also contain sunscreen, making this step an easy combination with sun protection. Exfoliating the skin is also a must for men. Many men shy away from this step, thinking it to be far to feminine for them. However, by sloughing off the dead skin cells to promote new cell growth many precancerous cells are removed from the face. While shaving is a natural exfoliant for the face, the neck area still needs to be addressed.
A skin care regime need not be expensive or time consuming, but a daily commitment to it is every bit as important for a man as it is a woman.
A British study could raise a ruckus for those who enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer at the end of the day. After polling nearly 500,000 people in 10 different European countries, a group of researchers with the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) have come to the conclusion that two servings of alcohol per day actually increased the study group's bowel cancer rate by ten per cent. BY increasing that daily intake to 3 or 4 servings, the cancer rate increased to 25 per cent.
Some factors that came in to consideration with the study was the strength of the alcohol consumed. The stronger the drink, the more likely the drinker was to get cancer. Another factor was time. The participants were followed over a six year period, during which nearly 2,000 developed bowel cancer.
The researchers are quick to say that awareness of alcohol consumption is a key factor in the study. Daily alcohol consumption coupled with smoking is unhealthy. Large servings of alcohol are also a danger. for more information, click here.
Robin Roberts of Good Morning America has shared some deeply personal news with readers and viewers alike: she has cancer. While preparing for a tribute show for her colleague and friend, Joel Seigel, the hostess discovered she had a lump in her breast.
After visiting her doctor and getting a biopsy, her worst fear was confirmed. She is in the early stages of breast cancer. Her immediate thoughts were, "This can't be. I am a young, healthy woman."
Roberts is tackling the issue head on. By sharing her story with the public, she is setting a stellar example of facing her fears head on. She will soon be undergoing surgery and follow up treatments and her prognosis is very good. To send Roberts your support, click here.
Hilary Swank is not your average Hollywood celebrity. She is private, talented and driven to do good things. One of her current projects will benefit the charity Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign. This charity collects hair from woman and then creates wigs for patients who have lost their hair to cancer therapy.
Swank, who is currently sporting long locks, will have to grow enough hair to produce an 8 inch pony tail. As per the Pantene requirements, she will not be able to use permanent dyes on her hair and cannot have more than 5% gray in her hair. The actress reports that she is looking forward to donating her hair to a good cause and sporting a new look.
Meat eaters in England and Ireland might have to switch to raisin bran or be forced to eat paler sausages soon. The European Union has determined that Red 2G, a common food coloring agent in burgers and sausages, is too carcinogenic for the meats.
When consumed, the Red 2G breaks down to analine in the intestines and is thought to cause cancer. The dye has been banned in many other countries for some time. However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently reached the conclusion that even a small amount of the coloring was toxic enough to cause concern, thus the ban of the Red 2g.
The plight of not having insurance or adequate insurance is not a situation many people can understand unless they have actually been there. That feeling of knowing a broken wrist could set you back financially or that a doctor's visit will eat up your monthly budget is a terrible one. Cynthia Campbell knows the feeling all too well. Campbell is battling stage IV cancer and will lose her temporary insurance policy as of July 20.
Temporary insurance policies are handy when you are in between jobs or waiting for a newer, better policy to take effect. But temporary policies to not smile upon too many claims and can often be hard to renew, as in Campbell's situation.
Currently Campbell is interviewing for several nursing positions that will provide full coverage if she is hired. Although she needs to rest and will require additional care for her cancer, it could be her only chance for adequate health coverage.
When it comes to sunscreen basics there still seems to be some confusion over when and how much to apply to the arms and shoulders of our kids. Some parents believe that too much will be detrimental or that there are time when no protection is needed at all. Below is a quick rundown that reveals the truth about basic sun protection.
All sun expsosure, even if it produces a tan, is harmful for the skin. Any sort of tan damages the skin. Over time the more sun exposure a child receives, the more likely he/she will develop skin cancer.
An umbrella does not eliminate the need for further sun protection such as sunblock. The sun's rays are reflected by the ground and will cause a burn despite the fact that you are sitting in the shade. Shade is still a great form of protection, just don't forget to lather up with sunscreen.
UVA rays do penetrate glass windows. This makes riding in the car a situation where sunscreen is still needed, especially for youn, delicate skin.
Most adults and children get enough Vitamin D from sources other than the sun. So the myth that too much sunscreen inhibits the body's ability to produce Vitamin D is not applicable.
Sunscreen is needed even when it is cloudy outside. Up to 80% of the sun's UV rays are able to penetrate cloud cover.
Parents need to lather on the sunscreen just as much as kids. Grownups will still receive up to 75% of their sun exposure after they reach adulthood. It is imperative to cover up our children and then continue to protect ourselves for a life of healthy skin.
The above are just some basic facts about sun protection, but when followed the likelihood for serious skin cacncer problems can be reduced or eliminated.
What does it take to prevent a person from buying a pack of smokes? It doesn't seem that banning cigarette commercials from television has done the job. Nor does it appear that ending the reign of ads like Joe the Camel has deterred younger people from taking up the habit. Could it be that slapping higher taxes on cigarettes makes a difference?
Currently 43 states have implemented a higher cigarette tax since 2002. The average amount of taxes went from just $0.43 per pack to $1.07. With every increase states have seen a decrease in younger people buying smokes. The higher taxes are giving the participating states more revenue to channel into health care a smoking prevention programs.
Just think if cigarette taxes were raised a bit more. What then? Fewer kids buying smokes and more revenue for health care? Sounds like a good thought to me.
The television industry just might owe a bit of its success to the tobacco industry. Cigarette producers were one of the earliest and most consistent advertisers on TV. Big tobacco had large pools of money and were able to take a chance on the new medium of television when it first debuted in the 1940's.
At a time when many sponsors were financially unable to buy advertising spots or unwilling to try TV ads, tobacco companies found opportunities to attach strings to their endorsements. Many shows were required to feature characters smoking during the shows. Stars were expected to use cigarettes and show their enthusiasm for the products. Popular shows such as I Love Lucy showed Lucy happily fetching a smoke for husband and exclaiming, "You see how easy it is to keep your man happy?!"
After television gained popularity and many consumers began to question the health of cigarettes, the products were banned from the air waves. For a more in depth look at this piece of television history, click here.
Every year 4.5 million people die from smoking related to deaths. Of that staggering number nearly half of the deaths are in developing countries where medical care and health education are limited or non-existent. One of the fastest growing smoking populations is among teens in both rich and poor countries across the world. With the above statistics and the growing trend of younger smokers, the overall death toll for smokers could likely reach one billion before the end of the century.
Many governments are flummoxed by how exactly to handle this problem. Singapore, Australia and Thailand have implemented tougher anti-smoking campaigns and have found success in cutting the number of smokers within their borders. Other countries are hoping that drastic measures such as much higher taxes on cigarettes, a ban on public advertising and banning public smoking will help.
The concern for smoking related deaths has prompted representatives from nearly 150 countries to meet and discuss possible solutions to the problem. With so many minds mulling over the issues perhaps some solutions can be found.
When I slather sunscreen on the shoulders of my fair haired toddler, I trust that the claims on the bottle are accurate. I believe that by frequently covering is pale skin in cream, his epidermis will be safe, healthy and cancer free. It turns out this might not be the case.
A recent study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington-based nonprofit, found that many of the most popular sunscreens do not provide any protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and break down too fast in the sun. Most consumers rely on the SPF number when buying a sunscreen, the higher the number the better the protection. But what continues to slip through the cracks is the sun block's ability to protect from UVA rays. The UVA rays damage skin without leaving a burn and are the main cause of skin cancer.
There is hope on the horizon. The FDA is addressing the UVA issues and is hoping to have some standards in place by the end of the summer. This is good news to those of us who heavily rely on sunblock as a protective effort to sun damage.
Have you ever stopped to wonder just how it is that celebrities become associated with a certain cause? I sometimes ponder whether or not it is part of their contract: "must find a cause to endorse one a certain level of fame is achieved." Not every celebrity has a cause or a charity, but it seems there are more famous people with foundations than not.
If you have a charity or a foundation that is in need of a famous name, here is the link for you. This site offers a wide range of celebrity types to levels of fame. the categories vary from reality television personalities to hometown heroes. The fees range from $5,000 to $200,000.
It could be that many famous people are just too far out of the typical fundraiser budget, but the lists make for some interesting reading. It is also good to know that so many people are interested in lending their name to a cause.
Over a million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. Among those who are developing skin cancer at higher rates are adults. This fact seems a bit out of line to me; as a mother I am constantly slathering my kids in sunblock. I carry a tube in my purse and diaper bag, another tube lives in my car and there are several containers sprinkled throughout our house. Sunblock is not just a summertime accessory, it is a year-round necessity.
As mentioned by Brian White on our sister site, That's Fit, a recent study revealed that adults in some states are more negligent than in others. I was a bit surprised to learn that Utah is the worst culprit when it comes to sunburns, while Kentucky ranks in the bottom 10 states. I thought the beach states or the higher-altitude states like Colorado would rank higher. But regardless of rank, the fact that adult sunburns are the rise is alarming. Prevention is so easy and painless, the consequences too harsh. By simply donning a wide-brimmed hat, wearing longer sleeves, applying sunscreen, and not playing in the sun during the prime exposure hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., sunburns can be significantly reduced.
Robin Roberts is recovering nicely from her breast cancer surgery last Friday. She says she feels quite sore but believes that much of her success came from the many thoughts and prayers from fans everywhere.
Lee Hazlewood, well known for his famous song, "These Boots were Made For Walkin'" has died. Hazlewood was 78 and died of
Skin care is not just a woman's domain when it comes to long term skin health. Men need to be aware of the various products and methods that are required to 
A British study could raise a ruckus for those who enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer at the end of the day. After polling nearly 500,000 people in 10 different European countries, a group of researchers with the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) have come to the conclusion that two servings of alcohol per day actually increased the study group's 
Robin Roberts of Good Morning America has shared some deeply personal news with readers and viewers alike: she has cancer. While preparing for a tribute show for her colleague and friend, Joel Seigel, the hostess discovered she had 
Hilary Swank is not your average Hollywood celebrity. She is private, talented and driven to do good things. One of her current projects will benefit the charity 
Meat eaters in England and Ireland might have to switch to raisin bran or be forced to eat 
The plight of not having insurance or adequate insurance is not a situation many people can understand unless they have actually been there. That feeling of knowing a broken wrist could set you back financially or that a doctor's visit will eat up your monthly budget is a terrible one. 
When it comes to sunscreen basics there still seems to be some confusion over when and how much to apply to the arms and shoulders of our kids. Some parents believe that too much will be detrimental or that there are time when no protection is needed at all. Below is a quick rundown that reveals the truth about basic sun protection.
What does it take to prevent a person from buying a pack of smokes? It doesn't seem that banning cigarette commercials from television has done the job. Nor does it appear that ending the reign of ads like 
The television industry just might owe a bit of its success to the tobacco industry. Cigarette producers were one of the 
Every year 4.5 million people die from smoking related to deaths. Of 
When I slather sunscreen on the shoulders of my fair haired toddler, I trust that the claims on the bottle are accurate. I believe that by frequently covering is pale skin in cream, his epidermis will be safe, healthy and cancer free. It turns out this might not be the case. 
Have you ever stopped to wonder just how it is that celebrities become associated with a certain cause? I sometimes ponder whether or not it is part of their contract: "must find a cause to endorse one a certain level of fame is achieved." Not every celebrity has a
Over a million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. Among those who are developing skin cancer at higher rates are adults. This fact seems a bit out of line to me; as a mother I am constantly slathering my kids in sunblock. I carry a tube in my purse and diaper bag, another tube lives in my car and there are several containers sprinkled throughout our house. Sunblock is not just a summertime accessory, it is a year-round necessity. 
