Food & Drug Administration Admits Medical Radiation Risks, Ignores Mammography Dangers

CHICAGO, IL, February 16, 2010 –/WORLD-WIRE/– The Cancer Prevention Coalition notes with approval that on February 9, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would take stringent action to regulate "the most potent forms of medical radiation," particularly those from increasingly popular CT scans.

Cancer Prevention Coalition Chairman Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. commends the FDA for warning that such radiation is unsafe and equivalent to that of about 400 chest X-rays, 0.4 rads (radiation absorbed dose), and "can increase a person's lifetime cancer risk."

However, says Dr. Epstein, "the FDA remains strangely unaware that radiation from routine premenopausal mammography poses significant and cumulative risks of breast cancer."

This warning is contrary to conventional assurances that radiation exposure from mammography is trivial, about 1/1,000 of a rad, and similar to just that from a chest X-ray. However, Dr. Epstein explains, the routine practice of taking two films of each breast results in exposure of about 0.4 rads, focused on the breast rather than on the entire chest.

"Thus, premenopausal women undergoing annual screening over a ten-year period are exposed to a total of at least 4 rads for each breast, at least 8 times greater radiation than FDA's "cancer risk" level," Dr. Epstein calculates, warning, "Such high radiation exposure approximates to that of Japanese women living approximately 1 mile away from the site of the Hiroshima atom bomb explosion."

This alarming information is not new, explains Dr. Epstein:In 1972, the prestigious National Academy of Sciences warned that the overall risks of breast cancer increase by 1% for every single rad exposure. This totals a 10% risk from 10 years annual premenopausal mammography.

This warning was emphasized in Dr. Epstein's 1978 book, The Politics of Cancer, which states, "Whatever you may be told, refuse routine mammograms, especially if you are pre-menopausal. The x-rays may increase your chances of getting cancer."

A 1993 Swedish study involving 42,000 women showed that those under the age of 55 who received regular premenopausal mammography experienced a 29 percent greater risk of dying from breast cancer.

Based on a detailed review of these and a wide range of other such studies, the late Dr. John Gofman, the leading international authority on medical radiation, published an analysis in his classic 1995 book, Preventing Breast Cancer. He stressed that medical radiation is probably the single most important cause of the modern breast cancer epidemic.

These warnings were further detailed in a 2001 article, with some 50 scientific references, "The Dangers and Unreliability of Mammography: Breast Self Examination As A Safe Effective and Practical Alternative," published in the prestigious International Journal of Health Services. This was co-authored by Dr. Epstein, by Dr. Rosalie Bertell, a leading international expert on the dangers of radiation, and by the late Barbara Seaman, founder and leader of the women's breast cancer movement.

An analysis of several 1993 studies showed that women who regularly performed monthly breast self-examination (BSE), particularly following training by qualified nurses, detected their cancers much earlier than those who failed to do so. That most breast cancers are first recognized by women themselves was even admitted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) as early as 1985, when the organization stated, "We must keep in mind that at least 90 percent of women who develop breast cancer discover the tumors themselves."

The International Journal of Health Services article further stressed that cancer risks from mammography are up to fourfold higher for the 2 percent of women who are silent carriers of a gene known as the A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia), and highly sensitive to the carcinogenic effects of radiation. This accounts for up to about 20 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed annually.

"This wide range of concerns on the still unrecognized dangers of routine premenopausal mammography are critical, especially in view of the current high incidence of breast cancer," Dr. Epstein warns. "Disturbingly, this has increased by about twenty percent since 1975 in spite of routine premenopausal mammography, and its multi-billion dollar insurance costs. Such funds should instead be directed to establishing BSE training clinics nationwide."

Five radiologists have served as presidents of the American Cancer Society, Dr. Epstein notes, warning, "In its every move, the ACS promotes the interests of the major manufacturers of mammography machines, particularly the latest digital machines. These are four times more expensive, but no more effective than the film machines."

Dr. Epstein observes that the mammography industry conducts "research" for the ACS and its grantees, serves on its advisory boards, and donates considerable funds. "In virtually all its actions, the ACS has been and remains strongly linked with the industry."

He quotes an ACS communications director who said in a 1999 article published by the Massachusetts Women's Community's journal Cancer, "Mammography today is a lucrative [and] highly competitive business."

Urging "a national boycott of the American Cancer Society," Dr. Epstein points out, "The prestigious Chronicle of Philanthropy, the nation's leading charity watchdog, has warned the obvious, the ACS 'is more interested in accumulating wealth than saving lives.'"

Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. is professor emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health; Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition; The Albert Schweitzer Golden Grand Medalist for International Contributions to Cancer Prevention; and author of over 200 scientific articles and 15 books on the causes and prevention of cancer, including the groundbreaking The Politics of Cancer (1979), and Toxic Beauty (2009 Benbella Press). To read Dr. Epstein’s columns in the Huffington Post, go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-s-epstein

CONTACT:

Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Chicago, Illinois
Tel: 312-996-2297
Email: epstein@uic.edu
www.preventcancer.com

To subscribe to Cancer Prevention Coalition news by email, visit: http://ens-news.net/lists/?p=subscribe&id=9

This message from Eckhart Tolle about the Swine Flu Crisis should be helpful to many of you.  He has that effect on me.  Thanks to the 'Oprah-Eckhart' team for sending it out.

Eckhart Tolle:

My spiritual liberation occurred in the cauldron of crisis. Crisis can be an overwhelming experience or a tool for awakening.News of the swine flu confronts us everywhere, and the panic it stimulates seems to be as contagious as the flu itself. Ask yourself, are you going to be a carrier of the panic or a vaccine of peace?

Peace and presence can be found in the fear itself. Each time you experience fear, anxiety, panic or insecurity, take a breath. Let that feeling be a starting point for a presence practice.

Relaxation and ease strengthen the immune system. The most important step you can take to protect yourself against the swine flu is to remain calm.

Here is a valuable resource for strengthening your body and spirit during this time of crisis:

A meditation to stimulate the immune system

Wishing you health, peace and calm,

Eckhart Tolle

Here are 10 other choices that will help you kick the soda habit and leave your taste buds satisfied.

Check out what some of the leading authors on health, nutrition and junk food have said about the destructive health effects of soft drinks.  Here's my suggestion and if you haven't guessed its GREEN TEA!

Video Clips:

Dr. Gloria Gilbere explains the effects soft drinks have on

yourbody within minutes after drinking them.

How much sugar is in your soft drink? What are the health effects

of drinking soft drinks? Does diet soda make you gain weight? 

Technorati Tags: soda, soft, drinks, pop, sugar, obesity, diet, diabetes, bottled, water, acid, tooth, enamel, coke, pepsi, artificial, sweetener, green tea, heart, disease, weight, loss

The Truth About Back Pain by Todd Sinett and Sheldon Sinett- Todd is on CBS-TV video telling us how we can help the soreness or pain in our backs. You can hear Dr Sinett give great suggestions. 

Remember to sign up and get all the wonderful bonuses on the virtual book tour- $1327 in better health and wellness bonuses with your copy of his book.

Sign up now for your FREE Access Pass and watch the video.

Todd Sinett writes about his book on The Huffington Post.

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Ideally we should synchronize our sleep cycles with the sun, so we should go to sleep as close to the sun setting as possible.  Most people don't go to sleep at 7 or 8 at night, so he's just saying that if you go to bed in the middle of the night, it doesn't bode well for your health.

Video Clip:

I wrote that important hormones are only reproduced during sleep cycles, so here's another reason to get the right amount of sleep.  Check how you feel when you get 5, 6, 7 or 8 hours of sleep.  You can decide how much sleep you really need to have a sense of well being.

In an article from sleepfoundation.org, it seems how much sleep you really need depends on many factors.

The first thing experts will tell you about sleep is that there is no "magic number." Not only do different age groups need different amounts of sleep, but sleep needs are also individual. Just like any other characteristics you are born with, the amount of sleep you need to function best may be different for you than for someone who is of the same age and gender. While you may be at your absolute best sleeping seven hours a night, someone else may clearly need nine hours to have a happy, productive life. In fact, a 2005 study confirmed the fact that sleep needs vary across populations, and the study calls for further research to identify traits within genes that may provide a "map" to explain how sleep needs differ among individuals.

Technorati Tags: sleep, dr mercola, health, wellness, sleep, hormones, melatonin

Lesley Stahl reported on 60 Minutes- sleep research which showed why humans need sleep and the dire consequences when they don't get enough. 

Not getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night affects our health in many ways including memory and the immune system.  Stahl reports that in this study, healthy young volunteers had their bodies monitored while their sleep was interferred with for 6 nights in a row.  The researchers noticed after testing that the young subjects were in a pre diabetic state.  On the road to diabetes after only 6 nights of interrupted sleep!

Video Clip:

The study also showed that lack of sleep may be contributing to the epidemic of obesity through the work of a hormone called leptin that tells your brain when you're full.  After the six nights of sleep interruption,  the subjects had a drop in their leptin levels which then told the body it was hungry when it really wasn't.  So, they ate and ate more.  So now not only eating too many calories can put the weight on but also not sleeping enough.

Technorati Tags: sleep, lose-weight, cardiovascular, condition, metabolic, disorder, weight-loss, well-being, tired, leslie stahl, 60 minutes, diabetes, heart, disease, obesity, dr oz, anti-aging, high, blood pressure, stroke, memory, loss, immune system, leptin, hormone, sleeplessness

One day last week, I ran out of my juiced ginger that I keep in a spice jar refrigerated(lasts 2 days) and drank green tea alone without the usual ginger…stomach ache.  I juiced more on the spot and my stomach was peaceful again. That's how medicinal ginger is.  So now we can talk about green tea, weight and fat loss.

The University of Connecticut's Richard Bruno, PhD, RD, and colleagues reported in February's edition of The Journal of Nutrition that green tea might block fat and promote weight loss according to preliminary lab tests in mice.

Here's what those preliminary lab tests in mice show:

Less weight and fat gain among mice with an obesity gene, those that ate chow laced with green tea extract gained less weight and less fat. Less fat in the liver. There was less sign of "fatty liver" disease in the mice with the obesity gene that ate chow laced with green tea extract. Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in mice with the obesity gene that ate the chow laced with green tea extract compared to other mice with the same obesity gene.

You would have to drink seven cups of green tea daily to equal a smiliar amount of the tea extract in this study.

In an article about the benefits of green tea from WebMD, a new study shows that drinking green tea may also help to reduce fat.

Here's why:  most teas contain large amounts of polyphenols, which are plant-based substances that have been shown to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties.  However, green tea is rich in a type of polyphenols called catechins which may affect body fat accumulation and cholesterol levels.

Researcher Tomonori Nagao of Health Care Products Research Laboratories in Tokyo suggests:

the catechins in green tea contribute to the prevention of and improvement in various lifestyle-related diseases, particularly obesity.  Catechins may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decrease body fat.

Technorati Tags: green, tea, catechins, polyphenols, antioxidant, cancer, weight, loss, fat, obesity, ginger, benefits, lose, nutrition, stomach, ache, health

At my request, a friend and healer came to visit when I needed some rejuvenation.  I was very stressed out that day.  Being a master of Vibrational Healing, he brought Tuning Forks.  After a 30 minute session I sat up with a smile and felt totally relaxed and calm. 

I want to thank Michael Kopel for his ease and comfortable style.  Here is his explanation about tuning forks and why, in my opinion, they should be an integral part of your doctor's natural healing modalities:

Nitric Oxide and Tuning Forks
– by John Beaulieu, ND, PhD

Landmark research is shedding new light on the effects of music and sound in relationship to healing and energy. In 2002, Dr. George Stefano and I made an exciting discovery: Specific vibrations transferred to cells using tuning forks causes the spiking of nitric oxide. This release of nitric oxide sets off a cascade physiological events that directly influences our health, well-being, state of mind, and consciousness.

To read more on Nitric Oxide and Tuning Forks, go to Omnivos. Michael's site and click on the education link.  Download the free eBook on Nitric Oxide at the bottom of the article by Dr. John Beaulieu.

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Drew DiVittorio Dipl.,(NCCAOM) states that:

"…conditions such as chronic fatigue, environmental and chemical sensitivities, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, headaches, fertility problems, memory loss, and depression are some of the many conditions associated with toxins in the body."

Drew cautions us about fasting on just water or not eating at all:

"Not eating or fasting on water is NOT detoxification.  According to research, the liver needs specific nutrients to detoxify. Depriving the liver during a detoxification program only produces more free radicals which can lead to a healing crisis or poisoning of the body." 

"A safe and effective detoxification program requires specific nutrients to enhance the liver's ability to remove the harmful toxins stored in the body."  Read more on how to rid your body of toxins at Asian Healing Arts Institute blog." 

Video Clip:

On the video below you will hear Dr Mercola's thoughts on Detoxification.

Technorati Tags: detox, chemicals, toxins, drew, divittorio, green tea, antioxidant, vitamins, catechins, phytochemicals, mercola, doctor, metabolic, health, diet, nutrition, natural, wellness, asian, healing, arts, institute, body

It is no wonder that tea is the beverage most commonly enjoyed by centenarians around the world. Tea is full of powerful antioxidants that improve concentration, gently boost energy, and make people happier. The free radical-inhibiting property of tea is more potent than that of vitamin E, and tea is a proven preventive and treatment for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The polyphenols in tea, especially the catechins, are powerful antioxidants that help ward off diabetes and cancer.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Radha Maheshwari, professor of Pathology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and Rajesh Loganathan Thangapazham, a graduate student, have shown that green tea has antitumor effect in breast cancer cells. The recently concluded study was published in the Journal of Cancer Biology and Therapy, December 2007, Volume 6, Issue 12.

Read more about the effects of green tea on cancer.

I wrote about some of the detrimental health effects of diet drinks, and the caffeine in coffee as well acts as a central nervous system stimulant causing you to experience stress, anxiety, a racing mind, and even insomnia, making it difficult to relax and calm yourself.  Read Dr Mao's report on other benefits of tea.

Green Tea is usually the only liquid I drink(with added fresh organic juiced ginger).  My favorite is Mr. Itaru’s Special Green Tea Blend, “Gen Mai Cha".

In Dr Mao's Secrets of Self Healing, you will find several other self healing protocols.  Read what A. Meierding, an Amazon reviewer, had to say about Dr Mao's latest book, Secrets of Self-Healing:

Secrets of Self Healing contains an unbelievable amount of information! It really opened my eyes to the fact that we all have the innate power to heal our own bodies. There is of course, a time and place for doctors, but the point is that you can't just expect doctors to "fix" every ailment. A case in point: last week I felt myself coming down with a cold, so I flipped to the remedies for cold & flu. I made myself the tea from garlic, ginger, and scallions, got right under the covers to sweat out the pathogens, as suggested, and the next day I felt an amazing improvement. But to really hit home the point, I could have followed Dr. Maoshing Ni's advice for keeping my immune system strong and never become ill in the first place! I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to discover natural ways to get in good health and stay in good health.

Technorati Tags: tea, secrets, self, health, healing, dr mao, food, medicine, longevity, cancer, dadamo