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.

On February 4, Jennifer Ireland, a young wife and mother of two small daughters, took her last breath after a courageous battle with colon cancer. And today, February 14 -- a day reserved for all things love inspired -- you are invited to take part in a live Kansas City, Missouri benefit in honor of this lovely woman.

Join the live webcast of Film Clips -- a celebration of Mairtin de Cogain's soon-to-be-released American film The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Not only a celebration of film, this event will also feature the clipping of every strand of Mairtin de Cogain's hair -- and beard too. Attendees can claim a lock with a donation of $10 that will head straight to the Jennifer Ireland Fund. It all happens between the hours of 11:00 and 2:00 PM on this St. Valentine's Day.

There is so much more to say about Jennifer -- and she and her husband powerfully say it all on the blog they authored throughout their harrowing yet moving journey.

A U.K. researcher confirms what many dog lovers already know -- dogs are good for your health.

Apparently, dog owners are generally healthier than non-pet-owners. They have lower blood pressure and cholesterol, suffer fewer minor ailments, and stray from serious medical problems too. Dogs can prevent their owners from getting sick, help them recover more quickly when they do fall ill, and they can even warn of cancer, heart attack, epileptic seizures, and hypoglycemia, says Dr. Deborah Wells from the Canine Behaviour Centre of Queens University in Northern Ireland.

Wells, whose study is published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, says dogs buffer us from stress -- a well-known cause of illness -- and promote general well-being. Owning a dog leads to increased physical activity and increases development of social interactions -- both of which minimize stress and contribute to human health.

While Wells found those who own both dogs and cats benefit from their pets, dog owners enjoy improved health for much longer than cat owners.

In the United States, mammograms are not recommended for women under the age of 40. Other then an annual check-up and a monthly self breast exam, young women with no family history of breast cancer have no medical tools available for preventing and detecting the disease. But no woman is immune to this disease -- and being female is the single most important risk factor for diagnosis. And young women do get breast cancer. I did. And so did Sharon Rutherford, a 36-year-old Ulster woman who was diagnosed in December.

Rutherford is urging health officials to lower the age for screening in Northern Ireland -- where routine breast screening programs are reserved for women between the ages of 50 and 64. Rutherford says this is inadequate as there is an "absolutely chronic" number of younger women suffering from breast cancer.

Although there is a reduced-age screening program that monitors women beginning at age 40, Rutherford would like to see the screening age reduced to 30. Until then, she is educating women about how they can be vigilant about their own care. She urges women to report to doctors anything that just doesn't feel right. And because doctors may excuse symptoms because women are "too young" for breast cancer -- that's what doctors told her -- women must aggressively pursue medical care. Rutherford kept pursuing the thickening she felt in her breast -- and eventually she was referred for screening.

Rutherford has had a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. And she is now active in the Ulster Cancer Foundation's new support group -- specifically for women under the age of 40.

Due to the recent death of Ryder Cup golfer Darren Clarke's young wife Heather to breast cancer, golfer Padraig Harrington is donating all the prize money he earns from playing in the PGA Championship to breast cancer research. To honor the memory of Heather Clarke, if he takes the trophy, he plans to donate the $1.2-million dollar purse to the breast cancer charity of Darren Clarke's choice.

"Darren has his choice of charity, and I'll donate whatever I win this week." Harrington said. "This is at least a practical way of helping." Many of the golfers in the tournament are wearing black arm bands to show respect.

Late Saturday night, Heather Clarke, only 39 years of age, mother of two small boys, passed away in London's Royal Marsden Hospital after her struggle to survive breast cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.

"I think both Darren and Heather were exceptionally brave and so dignified about what they've gone through," stated Harrington. "It's been terribly hard."

On Thursday, the funeral for Heather Clarke will take place in Portrush and she will be laid to rest at Ballywillan Church. Just ten years ago, Heather and Darren were married at Ballywillan Church.

With the deepest sadness, we post that Darren Clarke has lost his wife Heather after her long struggle to survive breast cancer. It is reported that Heather, who was 39, and the mother of two small boys Tyrone and Conor, passed away peacefully in London's Royal Marsden Hospital.

Heather had been fighting recurrent breast cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.

"Heather's courage and bravery throughout the last two years when she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer has been an inspiration." said Clarke. "Heather never complained once throughout her ordeal and we will all miss her greatly. She was a wonderful and enormously supportive wife, mother and friend."

Three weeks ago, Ryder Cup golf pro Clarke announced on his blog that he was quitting golf to go home to support and care for Heather. "There are more important things in my life than golf and it's now time for me to be at home to continue helping Heather with her battle." Clarke said it was time to go home.

Related posts:
Darren Clarke: golfing under the shadow of cancer.
Tiger Woods and Darren Clarke leave golf course.
Darren Clarke: Shot of the Month trophy will be auctioned for cancer.
Darren Clarke: golf loses pro golfer due to cancer struggle.

On Darren Clarke's blog, he states, that in case you missed the BBC interview, he is quitting golf to go home to support and care for his wife who is battling breast cancer. Heather, his wife, is struggling a lot these days against a cancer attempting to defeat her.

"There are more important things in my life than golf and it's now time for me to be at home to continue helping Heather with her battle."

Heather has been battling breast cancer that has spread to her bones and liver. They have two sons, and while Clarke is a competitive athlete, his first priorities and heart are with his wife.

At the beginning of the year, he wrote in his blog, "I'll sign off for this year by wishing every one of you a very prosperous, happy and successful 2006. These last 12 months have been difficult to say the least, but when I have been able to get out on the course there have been enough signs to convince me that there are good times ahead. It was no coincidence that my late flourish to the season coincided with an improvement in Heather's condition and hopefully that trend will continue next year."

Now Clarke says it is time to go home.

08.13.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke has lost wife after long struggle with breast cancer.

The Marie Keating Foundation slogan is Our Aim is to Enlighten not Frighten and the goals of the foundation are to raise money and make cancer education available for every person living in Ireland and beyond.

Irish singer Ronan Keating lost his mother to breast cancer in 1998, and along with other members in the Keating family, decided to start a foundation in Marie's name as a way to honor her and as a means of preventing other family members from feeling as lost and vulnerable as they felt from their own lack of cancer knowledge at the time of Marie's breast cancer diagnosis.

To spread their educational message about cancer, the foundation has established three Mobile Cancer Information Units which are based in the Eastern, Western and Southern regions of Ireland so that all residents in the Republic of Ireland will have free access to breast cancer information.

Each mobile unit is equipped with take-home printed information on colon, lung, skin, testicular, prostate, cervical, ovarian and breast cancer. There is a nurse onboard to speak with anyone privately about any personal concerns regarding cancer or for a relative, work colleague or neighbor. Dr. MyToe is an educational outreach program designed for senior level Biology students. The Marie Keating Foundation also presents cancer information on the foundation website. The Keating family has put together a very nice foundation website in cancer education.

Victoria's Secret international supermodel, television and film actress Helena Christensen was in Dublin Ireland last week to launch Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to raise money for programs supporting young women under 45 diagnosed with breast cancer. All money raised through the sale of the t-shirts go to Action Breast Cancer, a project of the Irish Cancer Society and Europe Donna Ireland, the Irish Breast Cancer Campaign.

Christiansen told the Irish Medical Times that it is important that women practice self-exams for early signs of breast cancer -- and that women don't ignore any warning signs out of fear. "My doctor from an early age told me to touch myself around the breasts and under the armpits, and not feel weird about it! Especially when you're young, you get a little bit intimidated by your body. It's going through so many changes."

Last year, the sale of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer designer t-shirts raised €240,000 for services provided to young women in Ireland facing breast cancer. Christiansen added that women who felt worried should see their physician and not leave their health to chance. "I've always thought it's better to go to the doctor one too many times than to postpone it."