There are many things we tend to write off as normal signs of getting older. The aches and pain, the slow-but-steady weight gain, feeling cold all the time, getting the occasional sniffles. Sometimes I wonder if these are things I should pay more attention to, but I tend to cast that thought out of my mind because going to the doctor is inconvenient. And usually, ignoring symptoms is ok, but there are some that, according to the Mayo Clinic, you should never ignore, including:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fever
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained changes in bowel habits
• Mental status changes
  
• Severe headaches
• Loss of vision, movement or speaking control, even if it's short-term
• Flashes of light
• Feeling full after eating little
• Hot, red or swollen joints

I definitely agree that these should be cause for alarm. My dad started to exhibit several of these symptoms a few months before he passed away, but explain them away as normal aging. Don't make the same mistake.

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer deaths could be cut by 50 percent if we all lived by lifestyle guidelines guaranteed to eliminate many cancers. None of this is new news, but it comes as a new study. In the annual Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts & Figures 2006, the advice remains the same, and we all know it by rote. Stop smoking, exercise, lose weight, eat nutritional food, protect yourself from the sun and go in for early diagnostic cancer screenings. We have been told, we understand -- we get it already. Enough.

Tell us something we do not know that can help us. Tell us about the causes of cancer we cannot be blamed for -- that we did not bring upon ourselves in our errant lifestyle choices -- because the underlying message in how to cut cancer deaths in half, is one of blame. Tell us what causes the other 50 percent of cancer deaths. Tell us what you are doing with the millions in dollars publicly and privately raised, that is new news. You might start with the toxic chemicals saturating our environment; the carcinogens allowed in the products sold; or in the modified enhanced foods that come to market. We are not quibbling with you about the known lifestyle choices that can lead to a dramatic 50 percent reduction in cancer deaths -- we agree -- but we want to know more about what we do not know. Information that is new news and not simply a nag-fest in recycling the obvious, because that's too easy, and it's lazy. Too many of us are out here living by the rules set to prevent cancer and are dying of cancer anyway, and we want to know why.

In December, a woman asked Dr. Weil if turmeric can prevent breast cancer. Dr. Weil cited research done by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston that reported curcumin, an active component in turmeric, does seem to have properties in preventing breast cancer. That study focused on the spread of breast cancer to the lungs. Using mice, the researchers discovered curcumin prevented the spread of breast cancer to the lungs in 50 percent of the mice; when Taxol was used in combination with curcumin, the prevention went up to almost 80 percent. In conclusion, the suggestion was made that women with a family history of breast cancer should be advised to include curcumin in their diet.

During Dr. Weil's discussion on curcumin, he states that people whose diets are rich in turmeric have lower rates of breast cancer as well as prostate, lung and colon cancers. Curcumin seems to be a cancer prevention spice for cancer. I became a fan of Dr. Weil when he first became a public celebrity and authority on health and nutrition because of his traditional and modern approach to medicine. In his expert opinion, he argues that isolating a single compound limits the amount of knowledge we can learn from the study of food, herbs and spices because the synergy of all active elements are missed in the equation. In the case of curcumin, he says, "I wish researchers would get off the reductionistic bandwagon and come around to appreciate the inherent complexity of nature. Whole turmeric extracts are the way to go; I always recommend them to patients rather than products containing isolated curcumin." The whole will always be stronger than its parts, and it is the interconnection of all parts that give the truest definition to the whole.

Jane Plant, one of Britain's leading scientists, a bestselling author, and five-time breast cancer survivor speaks out against the cancer risks of dairy products, and in favor of a cancer prevention plant-based diet. Professor Jane Plant claims that milk contains growth factors and hormones that can promote cancer. Her controversial message that breast cancer can be treated, and even prevented, effectively by simple changes in diet has been met with huge acclaim from hundreds of thousands of sufferers of breast cancer around the world. She has written four books, Your Life In Your Hands - Understanding, Preventing And Overcoming Breast Cancer; Eating for Better Health: The Plant Programme; Understanding, Preventing And Overcoming Osteoporosis and Prostate Cancer - Understand, Prevent And Overcome.

According to Dr. Plant, a plant-based diet and lack of dairy is the norm in Far Eastern countries and the incidence of being diagnosed with breast cancer are half that of western nations. As an example, when Chinese and Japanese women move to Europe or the United States and adopt the western diet, they begin to experience a dramatic increase in breast cancer rates. As a breast cancer survivor, and cancer-free for eleven years, Dr. Plant will take part of The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation White Lies campaign launch as a featured speaker, along with Heather Mills McCartney and Dr. Campbell of The China Study.

The China Study, called the "Grand Prix of epidemiology" by The New York Times, is a compelling book that challenges much of the information we have been taught, and live by, when it comes to nutrition, good health and cancer prevention. The book is the culmination of 40 years in biomedical research by the author, T. Colin Campbell, PhD.

"We must know why misinformation dominates our society and why we are grossly mistaken in how we investigate diet and disease, how we promote health and how we treat disease. The real science has been buried beneath a clutter of irrelevant or even harmful information - junk science, fad diets and food industry propaganda."

According to Dr. Campbell, much of the common information we have been taught is wrong. The truth is, synthetic chemicals in the environment and in food are the main cause of cancer; inherited genes are the most important factors in your vulnerability to the ten leading causes of death; vitamins and supplements will give you long-term protection against disease; and controlling your intake of protein, carbs, fat, cholesterol and omega -3 will maintain long-term health.

Dr. Campbell is project director of the China-Oxford-Cornell Diet and Health Project. The project, known as the China Study, is a 20-year study of nutrition and health. Because there is too much information in The China Study to discuss in a single blog post, on April 18th, I am going to start a weekly review of Dr. Campbell's book. This will give everyone, who is interested in joining the discussion, time to obtain a copy from the library, or purchase a copy of the book. Please indicate your interest as a comment following this, and I will contact you with details. For now, we will call this the TCB book club.

Dr. Campbell will join Heather Mills McCartney as featured speakers for The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation White Lies campaign launch.

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.

In 1996, Tammy Faye Messner, a Christian singer and television personality, was diagnosed with colon cancer. In 2004, the cancer had spread to her lungs, and was diagnosed as inoperable lung cancer. Today, she continues to struggle with the ravaging side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, difficulty swallowing food, weakness and weight loss. Messner, who is in grave health, continues in her faith with hope and prayer. On her website, named Tammy Faye, Messner keeps her friends and fans updated on her health and life on the Cancer Therapy pages, offers daily inspirational thoughts on the Daily Feature pages, and invites visitors to email her on the Talk to Tammy page.

In 2004, at a book signing of her best-seller, I Will Survive... And You Will Too, Messner asked the fans in the room to grant themselves permission to cast off the things that are holding them back, to forgive themselves and others, to be happy with themselves whoever they are, to persevere in the face of opposition, and to show each other unconditional love.

Over the years, life has brought several memorable challenges and controversy to Messner. She has applied the same advice as she gave to her fans, and has risen to meet every obstacle and each day with an open honesty, innocent sweetness and inner strength that has proved deeply genuine over time. In her last update, on February 17th, even though cancer is taking its toll, Messner remains hopeful and comforted by her faith when she asks visitors if they might pray for her. A request easily granted.