Wisconsin University researchers conducted tests on mice to determine if fasting and a caloric restrictive diet could reduce breast cancer risks. According to the results of the study, there was almost an 80 percent reduction in breast cancer risk through the diet. For two days a week, the daily caloric intake was reduced to 600 calories. The remainder of the days, the caloric intake was normal. Wisconsin University researchers believe the regime, combined with eating normally the rest of the time, could provide a breakthrough in fighting breast cancer.

British researchers want to test out this theory, and are conducting six-month clinical trials to see if they come to the same conclusions. Researchers believe this type of diet may be as effective as it is because of evolution. The human body is structured to support a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, which means the body may work best if it is starved for short periods of time, a result of periodic food scarcity during the time of our ancestors.

According to University of Illinois, UIUC, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, FSHN, researchers report that drinking concord grape juice stops the formation of breast cancer tumors and reduces DNA damage to mammary glands.

"These studies indicate that specific constituents or combinations of phytochemicals in concord grape juice can block the initiation stage of tumor formation," stated Dr. Keith Singletary, Ph.D, FSHN professor. "In a related previous study, we saw a similar effect in what we call the promotion stage, a later stage in the development of cancer.  Taken together, the results are quite interesting and certainly merit additional study."

It is common knowledge that including fruits and vegetables in your daily diet is healthy for you, and that it can help in reducing the risk for cancers. Researchers have been looking specifically to plant substances called polyphenols. Polyphenols help protect against cancer by suppressing oxidative stress, inhibiting DNA damage to human cells, and slowing down the multiplication of cancer cells.  These compounds include anthocyanin pigments, which give fruits and vegetables their blue and purple colors. One food source that is rich in anthocyanins, and related compounds called proanthocyanidins, is concord grapes.

According to the USDA proanthocyanidin database, purple grape juice from concord grapes is higher in proanthocyanidins, on a per serving basis, than any other beverage tested, including red wine and cranberry juice cocktail. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity of concord grape juice is among the highest of all foods.

As a breast cancer survivor, Melissa Etheridge, diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2004, always believed she would win her battle with breast cancer. On Valentine's Day 2005, she celebrated the end of chemotherapy and radiation treatments by performing onstage at the Grammy Award show. Etheridge, a two-time Grammy winner, multi-platinum recording artist, mom, and breast cancer survivor, has released a greatest hits CD, "The Road Less Traveled," with a song dedicated to breast cancer survivors called "I Run for Life." She donates all record royalties from that song to breast cancer charities. The chorus lyrics from that song are:

"I run to hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother, your sister, your wife.
I run for you and me, my friend. I run for life."

Etheridge fans started a Pink Bracelet Fund to raise awareness and money for breast cancer, with all donations going to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Etheridge has always been a very active supporter of many good causes. The breast cancer community can expect Etheridge to be just as vocal and active in the cause for breast cancer awareness, education and research, because women like Etheridge, who stand up front, and live outloud, rock!