Can we turn cancer on and off within our bodies? The rates of both prostate and breast cancer have increased in recent times and cancer is the second-largest leading cause of death in the U.S. -- but are Americans doing all they can to prevent all the various types of cancer?

It's hard to argue that since 1971, the $200 billion thrown at "fighting cancer" has given very little to the cause. Why is that? We have more cases of cancer than ever, so something clearly is not working, right?

Can taking charge of one's health and turning to a completely holistic nutrition and chemical-free lifestyle (as much as possible) lead to one being able to "turn off" cancer? That's hard to say, but with many of the stories I've read (and patients I've talked to), living a holistic lifestyle can indeed have the greatest impact on cancer -- much more than conventional and even cutting-edge medical techniques and drugs. Have your results been in line with this kind of thinking?

Tomato fruits (yes, they are not vegetables) contain lycopene, a pigment and phytochemical that is extremely healthy and can even be found in higher-end nutritional supplements and holistic cancer-preventing compounds. Is it really that good?

From all I've read, yes it is. Just like blueberries, tomatoes are excellent and natural ways to help ward off cancer while being tasty and ultimately nutritious at the same time.

Guys -- you'll be glad to know that lycopene has been demonstrated to be particularly effective at protecting men from prostate cancer. In addition to saw palmetto, perhaps tomatoes should be a daily part of your diet? Slice one on a few halves of whole-grain wheat bread (without sweeteners) and it makes a very tasty meal. Zing it up with some spicy mustard, and you've got one of my favorite snacks.

Update: this link gives an opposite view on the effects of lycopene -- which should we believe? No wonder there is mass confusion on cancer. (Thanks, hchcec)

University of Ulster, UU, researchers discovered compounds in virgin olive oil that may offer protection in the prevention of colon cancer. "The beneficial nature of the Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil is already well documented. Because the colon is one of the major cancer sites thought to be protected by olive oil, the UU research team studied the potential anti-cancer effects of virgin olive chemical compounds. Olive oil phenols protected cells from DNA damage," said Dr Chris IR Gill, UU lead researcher.

Extra virgin olive oil, high in mono-unsaturated fat and a good source of antioxidants, is one of the few oils that can be eaten without chemical processing. Olive oil has been found to be beneficial in its cancer prevention compounds for almost all cancers. It is believed that olive oil acts as an anti-inflammatory food. Inflammation is connected to the presence of cancer in the body. The UU researchers add more evidence to the body of knowledge about the cancer preventative benefits of olive oil.

We are fisherpeople, who fish the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Each spring, and each fall, the salmon make twice-yearly runs to the sea and back upstream again to where they began in the mountain waters. We wait, and we watch, for the first signs of the salmon's return to the rivers we fish. Today, we believe we observed the first signs for the return of this year's salmon. In a few months, we will have salmon for dinner. Salmon is a super food, high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and low in fat, known for its cancer prevention properties. You do not need to be someone who fishes to serve salmon for dinner, or to benefit from the cancer prevention properties of salmon in your diet. However, when purchasing salmon, ask your local fishmonger for wild salmon. Farm salmon can contain high levels of dioxins and the omega-3 fatty acid levels are lower than found in wild salmon. Generally, Pacific salmon are wild salmon, while Atlantic salmon are farmed salmon. Canned Alaskan salmon is almost always wild salmon. For some ideas on how to serve salmon, here are some salmon recipes.