My mom's best friend died from pancreatic cancer just three months after her diagnosis with the disease. One of my co-workers lost her mother to the same disease just weeks after diagnosis. Another co-worker's husband lost his battle with pancreatic cancer after a 15-month all-out fight. And a family friend has somehow been surviving this deadly disease for years now. He's the exception, defying the odds rarely in favor of long-term survival.

About 33,730 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006. Many of them -- 32,300 -- will die from the disease that is rarely caught early. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.

Over the years, every dentist I have taken my children to see advocated in favor of fluoride for the prevention of tooth decay. Now, a National Academy of Sciences panel has concluded that the maximum amount of fluoride allowed by the federal government puts children at risk for developing mottled pitted teeth, weakened bones leading to fractures, and can even affect IQ scores.

According to this study, fluoride poses numerous health risks, including a link to a rare bone cancer in boys. The report is recommending research to clarify the relationship between fluoride and cancers.

The New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation states that the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, never approved fluoride ingestion. It was grandfathered in before the FDA drug testing laws were enacted. Routine fluoride supplementation is no longer recommended by the Canadian Dental Association, the Western Australian Health Authority's Dental Section and the German Scientific Dental Association. Belgium has banned the sale of fluoride supplements. In the U.S., fluoride is routinely added to municipal drinking water. Dentists give out fluoride tablets to parents for children who live in an area where the drinking water is not fluorinated.

At this time, eleven unions representing over 7,000 EPA scientists, engineers, lawyers and others are asking for a moratorium on the fluoridation of drinking water. Dentists are asking parents not to panic. If you are a parent, who do you believe?