A new study reveals that women who received childhood cancer treatment may enter menopause much earlier than women who are not childhood cancer survivors. Siblings were studied -- 2,800 women who did receive treatment and 1,000 sisters of cancer survivors who did not. Women who underwent ovary-removing surgery were excluded from the study -- and the study then found that eight percent of cancer survivors experienced early menopause and less than one percent of the sisters experienced the same phenomenon. The risk was highest -- 30 percent -- for those who once received radiation to the lower abdomen and who also received certain chemotherapy agents, such as cyclophosphamide. Researchers say that 30 percent may be an underestimate, however, because the study included mostly women who had not yet reached age 40. The number of childhood cancer survivors over age 40 entering early menopause is still unclear. What is clear are the unfortunate consequences of this finding that could affect family planning, middle age health, thinning bones, other problems associated with menopause.

Celebrities can bring awareness to cancer causes. Celebrities can attract money to cancer fundraisers. Celebrities influence our society in fashion and lifestyle trends. Whether you are one who thinks celebrities have too much influence, and wondering why there seems a global obsession with celebrity -- or you are someone who applauds the efforts of those who have risen to success in fame and fortune and take time to give back, there is no doubting celebrities have power. And even when celebrities aren't trying to make a difference, they do, by the simple fact they are a celebrity.

A news story out of Canada is reporting that young girls, inspired by fair-skinned celebrities like Australian actress Nicole Kidman, are rejecting the fashion standard that a tan makes you attractive and embracing what they are calling the pale and proud of it attitude. When it comes to reducing the rising incidence of skin cancer, this couldn't come as better news. Really good news since it is in the young where a shocking number of new skin cancer cases are being diagnosed, a trend that is fairly recent to our times.

Admittedly, for years I was a sun worshipper in quest of the perfect golden tan. But I noticed as the years went by the sun was changing, the effects were different, it did not feel as good to be out in the sun for long periods of time. I burned too quickly, tanned far less. I thought it was my imagination, or my age, but I have since learned that the ozone is thinning and the result is an altering in the intensity of the sun's rays. I practice sun safety these days.

When I was telling you about Olay's Bring a Buddy free skin cancer screening campaign, I read a heartbreaking personal story about Dr. Maribeth Bambino Chitkara losing Melissa, her sister, to melanoma at an early age. Who worries about the sun when they are young? I didn't, and most young adults don't. A mole on Melissa's right shoulder had become cancerous, and the cancer had spread to many of the lymph nodes under her arm. Despite treatment, between the two years of skin cancer diagnosis and death, the cancer continued to spread throughout Melissa's body, including her brain. The story, although a very sad one in the loss of a cherished and beloved sister and best friend, I recommend it for reading. The full story can be found here.

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Become aware and educated about the risks of skin cancer and sun safety. The sun is changing -- the damaging rays increasing in intensity. Even the very young need to be protected, and no one today can afford the risks from a golden tan.

Sometimes, it is a dizzying stomach lurching head rush roller coaster ride trying to hang on to the handle bar of truth when it comes to the latest in research findings regarding estrogen therapy. It puts women at a higher risk for breast cancer. No, it doesn't show any increased risks for breast cancer. Up and down, loop-de-loop we go.

Originally, studies showed that the estrogen progestin combination of hormone therapy for postmenopausal women did raise the risks for breast cancer. Then, along comes the results from the Women's Health Initiative stating there was no increased risk of breast cancer for women taking estrogen therapy alone, in women who took estrogen therapy for seven years.

Now, a new study, heralded as the study to clear up any confusion, states that postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy and used estrogen therapy for 15 years are indeed at a higher risk for breast cancer. Perhaps we should just accept that hormone therapy is probably not the best solution for any of the reasons women are using it, and seriously start looking at alternative methods. Breast cancer is a high price to pay for any benefit estrogen therapy might provide.

Florida is a sunshine state and dermatologists are concerned about the misconceptions people have about sun safety that are putting them at greater risk for skin cancer. For sun worshippers everywhere, here is the truth about some of the myths:

• Skin cancer is not serious. Skin cancer is very serious and skin cancer diagnosis is reaching epidemic levels in this country. More than one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year.
• A base tan shields you from sun damage during the summer. Any darkening of skin from the sun is due to sun damage to the skin. Dermatologists state there is no such thing as a safe tan.
• Sunscreen is all the protection needed. According to dermatologists, while sunscreen does offer some protection from the sun, UV rays can defeat the strongest lotion and damage skin.
• Dark-skinned people are safe from sun damage and skin cancer risks. Brown skin with lots of melanin protects better against UV rays, but at the same time, dark-skinned people are more prone than others to have moles, and moles that become abnormal are a major risk factor for melanoma.
• Skin cancer is an age-related disease of the middle-aged and elderly. Yes, the chances of being diagnosed with cancer does increase as we age. But dermatologists say the number of young adults and even children with skin cancer appear to be rising faster than it is for adults now. The depletion of ozone in the atmosphere is letting in more UV rays.
• Tanning salons are safer than the sun. Tanning booths can be more damaging to the skin because they use pure ultraviolet light.
  

For information on how to practice sun safety, read skin cancer prevention kits for kids, shading kids from the sun, global warming skin cancer warning, and pediatricians need to educate parents about sun exposure risks.