According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the world's most comprehensive cancer study being conducted in establishing the link between diet and cancer risk has been going on for over a decade and few people hear about it. Over 80 scientific papers based on the study have been published in journals such as the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the Lancet, the Journal of Nutrition.

The study -- called the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) -- is an enormous undertaking involving 521,483 individuals in 10 different European countries. EPIC is unique because the populations being tracked are so diverse in eating habits. But this is precisely what gives the study the advantage it has in making comparisons and noting trends.

According to EPIC, a few of the emerging results found in the link between diet and cancer are:

• Consumption of meat sharply increased risk of stomach cancer and esophageal cancer. For every 100 grams of meat consumed by subjects, risk for stomach cancer more than tripled. The association between meat intake and stomach cancer was considerably stronger among subjects with populations of H. pylori bacteria in their stomachs.
• Two indicators of abdominal obesity, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, were strongly associated with colon cancer risk in both sexes. Men with the largest waist circumference had 39 percent higher risk of colon cancer than men with the smallest, for example, while women in the study with the largest waist circumference has a 48 percent higher risk than women with the smallest waists.
• Blood samples of women with breast cancer were compared to blood samples of women without breast cancer. Women over 60 whose blood was given under non-fasting conditions, high levels of serum C-peptide, that could reflect insulin resistance -- long suspected of contributing to cancer risk -- was associated with a doubling of breast cancer risk.
• The risk for oral and pharyngeal cancers drop by 9 percent for every 80 grams of fruits and vegetables consumed per day.
  

Researchers are beginning to come to some conclusions involving the data they have to date that clearly shows that globally, diets that are high in fruits, vegetables, fiber and fish are associated with greater cancer prevention -- with obesity and sedentary lifestyles much larger factors in increasing cancer risk.

We received an alert from friends of Lynne Smith about important news regarding the cost of a colonoscopy. While it does not make much sense that the same diagnostic procedure could differ in cost by thousands of dollars, depending on the insurance company and institution, that appears to be the case.

Having a colonoscopy is without a doubt one of the best strategies a person can choose to take in cancer prevention or early detection of cancer -- but unless you are aware ahead of time of having a colonoscopy scheduled how the billing system works, you might find yourself needlessly owing thousands of dollars.

This is what happened to two of Lynne Smith's siblings. One owed nothing -- the other owed $2,600 dollars. At the Lynne Smith Fund blog, you will find valuable tips on how to keep the costs at a minimum.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S. For men, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after prostate cancer and lung cancer. For women, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after breast cancer and lung cancer. The CDC has published Basic Facts on Screening available as a PDF document that includes a chart explaining the different screening procedures and estimated cost for each.

But first, visit the Lynne Smith Fund for advice on becoming an informed patient.

Research and cancer prevention programs all suggest that obesity can lead to the development of a number of cancers. In a continuing series of posts looking at alternative weight loss programs, this one is about the Eat QOD diet. Basically, it is a simple dietary practice of eating what you like, within reason, on one day, and the next day is spent fasting, with a maximum caloric intake of about 300-400 calories. On Eat QOD, you lose weight gradually, without setting off the internal starvation alarm that tells your body to horde fat reserves as a survival means -- a cycle ultimately undermining most long-term diet success. According to Eat QOD practitioners, there is a Zen benefit to the Eat QOD fasting diet.

• Many cultures fast to clear the mind and get closer to themselves, to nature, and to higher spiritual powers gained by spiritual fasting.
• You may well feel some of this during the OFF days.
• At worst, you will have more free time, and will avoid after-meal drowsiness.
• At best, you might begin to get more in touch with yourself and with your body.
• You may start to feel truly hungry for the first time, for specific foods.
  

The Eat QOD website is nicely done and offers educational information and resources that include the Eat QOD blog, forum, book, mini-meal recipes and a weight loss charting tool to track your progress.

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.