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Sunlight And Cancer

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Two new studies in the February 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute have found that sun exposure may have a beneficial influence on some types of cancer. One study found an association between sun exposure and increased survival from melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer for which sun exposure is a risk factor, while the other found an association between sun exposure and a reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 17

One of two new studies in the 2 February issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that sun exposure may increase chances of survival from the deadly skin cancer malignant melanoma. Solar radiation is a major risk factor for melanoma. 44

Dr Michael Freedman and colleagues at the NCI Radiation Epidemiology Branch point out it is well established that exposure to sunlight contributes to non-melanoma skin cancer. "By contrast, several ecological studies suggest that sunlight may protect against female breast, ovarian, prostate, and colon cancer, all diseases that contribute to a substantially higher proportion of cancer mortality in the western industrialized world." 16

The two types of NMSC, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are both caused by chronic and repeated sun exposure, although the risk of BCC is also increased by sunburn1,2. Risk of melanoma has a stronger association with a history of sunburn or sporadic intense exposure to sunlight than with regular and prolonged exposure3,4. 45

Dr. Mercola believes that sun exposure does contribute to skin cancer, but skin cancers are more likely related to the large distortion most people have in their omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratio. It is the high excess of omega-6 fats in most people’s diet that puts them at a much higher risk of developing skin cancer when exposed to excess sun. 42

"But, even with the potential increase in skin cancer, most skin cancers are relatively benign when compared with breast, colon, and prostate cancers that lack of sun exposure is associated with. So you can’t have it both ways. Avoid the sun and don’t change your diet and you may lower your risk of skin cancer, but increase your risk of far more common and deadlier cancers. 42

"Melanoma and Squamous-Basal Cancers of the Skin - The recent increases in melanoma and squamous-basal skin cancers have been used to justify advising everybody to either stay out of the sun or wear sunblock. However, as shown below, there is reason to believe that these recommendations are flawed. Melanoma, however, has a 20% fatality rate because of its typically early metastasis, producing 6,500 U.S. deaths in 1991 from 32,000 cases." 10

"The literature review and four studies that follow suggest a paradoxical relationship in which melanoma is initiated by severe sunburning, but inhibited by nonburning sun exposure. Koh et al., in their 1990 article on sunlight and melanoma, reviewed a substantial body of research indicating a causative relationship between "blister and peel" sunburning before the age of 20 and melanoma onset later. However, a 1981 study by Colston et al. Also, in 1987, Eisman et al. Consitent with the findings of Colston and Eisman, Vagero et al. Additionally, Crombie observed that melanoma seldom occurs on area of the skin that get regular sun exposure, also suggesting the preventative effect of consistent sunning." 10

Health & Light continues with many more experiments on plants, animals and, lastly, humans. Ott discusses experiments which showed that sunlight absorbed through the eyes had dramatic effects on the pineal gland. It is these which are of the greatest significance as far as cancer is concerned. 15

Skin cancer prevention campaigns advise people to avoid exposure to the sun at midday, cover up and use a high sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen when necessary. There is controversy over whether the way people use sunscreen is effective and whether it increases risk by encouraging people to spend longer in the sun. Evidence from case-control studies is contradictory and prospective studies and clinical trials are necessary10. 45

The study found that the risk of prostate cancer was reduced by 50 percent in men who had high levels of sun exposure during their lifetimes, compared with men who had low lifetime levels. The study, in the June 15 Cancer Research, included 450 white men with advanced prostate cancer and 455 healthy white men. 4

He estimates there have been 23,000 deaths from cancer per year - taking the difference in UV radiation between northern and southern states - which could have been prevented if people had had enough vitamin D [created by exposure of skin to sunlight�s UV-B fraction]. He suggests this year, the figure could be 30,000. 2

"The squamous-basal skin cancer and accelerated aging risks can be mitigated by spreading the exposure over the whole body, while selectively shading the thin, sensitive, and cancer-prone skin of the head and neck. It appears that hats should be used. The dramatic increase in skin cancers over the past decade has been extensively discussed with regard to ozone depletion. In view of the recent suggested link between sunscreen use and increased melanoma incidence, physical shading appears to be the safest way to limit sun exposure." 10

"It would be profoundly important for public health if vitamin D could prevent some prostate cancers," says co-author Dr. Gary G. Schwartz of the Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Carolina. "Vitamin D is safe, inexpensive, and available, and there’s no need to get it from sunlight." 4

There is evidence that the potential benefits of exposure to sunlight may outweigh the widely publicised adverse effects on the incidence of skin cancer. Advice aimed at reducing the frequency of episodes of sunburn may have the net effect of reducing the population’s mean exposure to sunlight. For example, in one study the use of sunscreens was shown to reduced vitamin D concentrations.23 No population data are available on long term trends in exposure to sunlight in Britain to confirm that such a reduction has taken place. The risk:benefit ratio will differ between individuals; for many people the small absolute increase in risk of melanoma could easily be outweighed by the effect of reduced sunlight on mood. 48

The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.

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