Good Nutrition Through All Phases of Cancer by David Haas

Serve, Taste or Trash! Game

Cancer patients have different nutrition needs than the general public. When people have cancer, they must eat enough food to maintain their strength and energy. Good nutrition helps them fight their illness and the side effects of treatment.

Unfortunately, cancer makes healthy eating difficult for most people. Chemotherapy, radiation and other therapies are aggressive in their fight against cancer cells. Along the way, these treatments also damage healthy cells and cause debilitating side effects. Many of them involve diet and appetite

Good nutrition is i.mportant during all phases of cancer, from diagnosis and treatment to recovery. The foods that are recommended for cancer patients, however, are not always the same as those advised for healthy people. Patients should talk to their doctors or dietitians about their special nutrition needs.

Before Cancer Treatment

Most cancer patients consider diet and nutrition in relation to cancer treatment. However, good nutrition starts before treatment. The benefits of nutrition for cancer prevention are well documented. Many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients have amazing anti-cancer effects.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), diets that are filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains may lower the risk of certain types of cancer. From vitamins and minerals to fiber and antioxidants, these foods have numerous cancer-fighting properties.

During Cancer Treatment

Good nutrition is especially important during cancer treatment. Certain treatments cause side effects that make eating difficult. This can make it extremely hard to get adequate nourishment, especially for those who are dealing with mesothelioma treatment side effects and other advanced cancers.

Among the common eating problems associated with cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, mouth sores, dry mouth, sore throat and lactose intolerance. Some patients gain weight during treatment, while others lose too much weight.

Fortunately, many side effects can be controlled. Not everyone has eating problems during cancer treatment, but those who do can take medicines to cope. Doctors and dietitians can work with patients to help them find palatable, nutritious foods. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), patients should eat as much protein and calories as possible.

After Cancer Treatment

Nutrition needs do not end when the cancer treatment ends, but the needs may change over time. A good cancer recovery diet provides important nutrients during cancer treatment and beyond. Research shows that good nutrition and exercise prevents cancer recurrence and promotes lifelong health.

Diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables and sparse in animal fat have been shown to lower the recurrence rates for breast, colon and stomach cancer. Antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E protect the body from free radicals that are linked to cancer and aging.

On another note, overweight is a risk factor for many types of cancer. It increases the chance of recurrence and lowers the survival odds. Diets that are high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in animal protein and fat promote weight loss and overall healthier living.

DAVID HAAS:  Joining the MCA in 2011, David Haas is the Director of Awareness Programs. In addition to researching much of the information available to our site’s visitors, David often blogs about programs available and campaigns underway at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. David is a fitness enthusiast who frequently runs, climbs, and bikes for enjoyment. He is also very involved in outreach associated with awareness about the dangers of asbestos for many different organizations and groups of people.

Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/david/

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb featuring news on divas, drinking and diabetes http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/04/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-kathie-lee-and-hoda

Mr. Divabetic at the NY International Auto Show 2013 video

Gel Manicures And Cancer?

Gel Manicures

The quick drying, long lasting effect of gel manicures obtained through UV lights can increase your risk of cancer due to the typical 10-minute duration your hand is exposed to the nail lamps. The article looked at two cases of women who developed skin cancer on the backs of their hands, allegedly caused by repeated exposure to UV nail lamps.

Credited dermatologists like Anna M. Bender of John Hopkins University, do acknowledge that the lights can pose a health risk, but they offer an easy solution:

“Artificial UV light does elevate your risk for developing skin cancer. So people could use a sunscreen to try to block the UV from their surrounding skin.”

However, these supposed dangers of gel manicures aren’t limited to the fancier nail treatments: many salons use the UV lights for regular manicures as a quick dry solution. So, manicure-loving ladies: you might be jeopardizing your health no matter what.

LISTEN NOW: The Mr. Divabetic Show featuring Kirsten Holly Smith and Holly Clegg http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/03/04/the-mr-divabetic-show-with-kirstin-holly-smith

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundttable Podcast - “LIVE from the RED CARPET SPECIAL” featuring: Ginger.io spokesperson, Peter Smith, diabetes advocate, author and coach, Riva Greenberg, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller, Go2Bra creator, Connie Elder, Pumpwear Inc. & Girly Girl Studio co- owner, Julie De Fruscio, poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, makeup and skin guru, Sue Perez, celebrity photographer, Winston Kerr, Mama Rose Marie and Marilyn from Pasadena, CA who is living with type 1 diabetes.

SHOW LINK:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/02/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-sally-field

Mother Your Diabetes Advice with Mama Rose Marie:

Let’s Talk About Sex!  Here’s a sneak peak of  Divabetic’s upcoming ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ free outreach program focused on ‘Sexual Health & Diabetes’ and presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Sat., Feb, 9, 2013

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in New York, NY, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Alcohol Linked To Higher Cancer Risk

Divabetic

Alcohol-related cancer may seem like something that would affect only heavy drinkers, but according to a new study, having even one drink per day can put you at risk for cancer.

How do you think the cast of ‘Cougartown’ would react to this news? On the show, Courtney Cox’s character, Jules and her friends are always drinking at least one drink or more.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute found that alcohol-related cancer accounted for 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States in 2009 — and even light and moderate drinkers were at significant risk.

The link between cancer and alcohol consumption has been established by previous studies, but this new study quantifies the risk, death rates, and years of life lost in a way previously unseen.

Approximately 560,000 people died from cancer in 2009, the year for which the researchers analyzed alcohol-related cancer death rates. Of those deaths, nearly 20,000 were caused by alcohol-linked cancers, according to the study, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

“People talk about how to prevent cancer, and about avoiding tobacco and eating better, but this an issue that we think has been missed,” says David Nelson MD, study author and Director of the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program at the National Cancer Institute. “20,000 deaths is a large number.” Each of those deaths accounted for approximately 18 years of potential life lost, the researchers report.

Alcohol-related cancer affected men and women equally in 2009, but with different cancers. While women with alcohol-related cancer were most likely to die from breast cancer, men were most likely to have died from oral, pharynx, larynx and esophageal cancer,

While researchers are not exactly sure how alcohol may lead to cancer, it is clear that poor health habits – not just drinking – play a major role in cancer risk. Dr. Nelson says that people who drink a lot often also have a poor diet and/or smoke, which, coupled with alcohol use, puts them at a greater risk for developing cancer.But Nelson thinks the purported benefits of alcohol consumption are overrated when compared to the risks. “Even if you took into account all the potential benefits of alcohol,” he says, “it causes 10 times as many deaths as it prevents worldwide.”

However, notes Jernigan, most people don’t want to hear that going to the bar after work could be setting you up for cancer down the line.

“The message that alcohol could be good for you resonates so much more pleasantly than the message that alcohol can kill you,” he says. “We are deeply ambivalent about alcohol because we want to enjoy it and not think about its health effects.”

The most important thing, Nelson believes, is to make people understand that alcohol is a carcinogen. While it may be impossible to get people to stop drinking, making them aware of the dangers can help them make smarter decisions.

“We spend a lot of time talking about potential cancer-causing agents, but alcohol is missing from the discussion,” he says. “If people really want to reduce their cancer risk, one of the things they can do is avoid alcohol.”

Mother Your Diabetes Advice with Mama Rose Marie:

LISTEN NOW: Diabetes Roundttable Podcast - “LIVE from the RED CARPET SPECIAL” featuring: Ginger.io spokesperson, Peter Smith, diabetes advocate, author and coach, Riva Greenberg, Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller, Go2Bra creator, Connie Elder, Pumpwear Inc. & Girly Girl Studio co- owner, Julie De Fruscio, poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie Gentle RN, CDE, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, makeup and skin guru, Sue Perez, celebrity photographer, Winston Kerr, Mama Rose Marie and Marilyn from Pasadena, CA who is living with type 1 diabetes.

SHOW LINK:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2013/02/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-sally-field

Let’s Talk About Sex!  Here’s a sneak peak of  Divabetic’s upcoming ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ free outreach program focused on ‘Sexual Health & Diabetes’ and presented at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital on Sat., Feb, 9, 2013

Basics In Diabetes Pattern Management – Divabetic

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org

Wednesday’s World Premiere Video: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic salutes breast cancer survivors living with diabetes by rolling out the red tomato carpet at the 2012 American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Central Park, NY.

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk unites communities to celebrate people who have battled breast cancer, educate people about ways to reduce their risk, and brings us all one step closer to a cure and new treatments. Since 1993, nearly 7 million walkers have raised more than $400 million to help fight breast cancer by participating in non-competitive, 3- to 5-mile events.

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! with New Yorkers in Central Park to hilarious results. In the game, you’re given three choices of fruits and vegetables. You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.

Before you decide to “trash” a veggie for good, why not try to eat it raw? Raw veggies can be more appetizing than their cooked counterparts to people who aren’t crazy about vegetables. The flavors of raw veggies can be milder than those of cooked ones. And the texture is crispy, rather than mushy. Let Mr. Divabetic inspire you to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Original music by Douglas Clay: http://www.douglasclaymusic.com

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Anne Hathaway  with guests: Neva White DNP, CRNP, CDE, Cheryl Marco CDE, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, author Dr. Beverly S. Adler,  Mama Rose Marie and Lorraine from Long Island, NY living with diabetes

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/12/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-anne-hathaway

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic rolls out the red tomato carpet at the 68th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Experience Mr. Divabetic’s wellness with a wow programming in Tucson, AZ, Santa Clara, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Savannah, GA and Bethesda, MD in 2013. Get more details at www.divabetic.org 

Dancing With The Stars Co-Host Diagnosed With Cancer

Brooke Burke-Charvet, co-host of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” has revealed that she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will be undergoing thyroid surgery and a thyroidectomy, according to news reports.

Burke-Charvet, 41, was diagnosed after cancer was detected in a nodule in her throat, HuffPost Entertainment reported.

“I’ve booked my surgery,” she said in a video. “It’s taken me a couple of months to really wrap my head around this … Now I’m good. I’m ready to deal with it, and I’m going to be fine. I feel really, really strong. Doctors say this is a ‘good’ kind of cancer to have.”

Thyroid cancer is a lot less common than other cancers, with 56,460 new casesexpected this year, according to the National Cancer Institute. It involves cancer of the body’s thyroid gland, which is located near the bottom part of the throat and plays a major part in the functioning of hormones.

Risk of thyroid cancer is higher for women, people of Asian descent, younger and middle aged people (between ages 25 and 65), people with a family history and people who’ve previously undergone radiation of the head or neck area, according to the National Institutes of Health.

There is more than one kind of thyroid cancer – the most common type, papillary carcinoma, is also the least dangerous, and usually affects women. The most dangerous kind, anaplastic carcinoma, is also the rarest; the form most likely to recur is called follicular carcinoma, according to the A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. The kind that is most likely to run in the family is medullary carcinoma, which is actually when the non-thyroid cells in the thyroid gland develop cancer.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer include the presence of a lump in the neck, problems with swallowing, neck and throat pain, swollen lymph nodes and hoarseness or other voice changes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The disease is typically treated with surgery – thyroidectomy involves surgery to remove the entire thyroid, which is the procedure Burke-Charvet will undergo. Depending on the case, it may also be necessary to remove lymph nodes in the neck, the Mayo Clinic reported. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and radioactive iodine treatments may also be necessary.

Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! with New Yorkers at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Central Park

TUNE IN: Free Diabetes ‘PINK FRIDAY’ Podcast Inspired by Nicki Minaj saluting Breast Cancer Survivors living with diabetes and  raising awareness for Domestic Violence with guests: Connie Frazier RD, CDE, Kathy Gold RN, CDE, Catherine Schuller, Connie Elder, Mama Rose Marie and Leola C., from Grand Rapids, MI living with type 1 diabetes http://ning.it/PUQy9B

See Mr. Divabetic’s nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash!  You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.

Before you decide to “trash” a veggie for good, why not try to eat it raw? Raw veggies can be more appetizing than their cooked counterparts to people who aren’t crazy about vegetables. The flavors of raw veggies can be milder than those of cooked ones.

Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA.

Moderate Exercies Lowers Breast Cancer Risk in Women Living with Diabetes

A new study suggests that women with diabetes mellitus type 2 may reduce their risk for breast cancer if they do moderate physical exercise often.

Physical exercise is good for the health and it’s linked to reduced risk for many types of chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrom, and heartdisease among others.

Torres-Mejía G of National Institute of Public Health, Center for Population Health Research in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico and colleagues conducted the study and found  diabetes mellitus was linked to increased risk of breast cancer, but moderate physical exercise was associated with reduced risk in diabetic women.

The study of 1000 incident cases of diabetes mellitus and 1,074 controls showed that the association between diabetes mellitus and breast cancer decreased as the load of moderately intense physical activity increased. Those having diabetes and a lower  load of physical exercise were nearly 5 times as likely as those who had diabetes, but had the highest load of moderate physical exercise to develop  breast cancer.

The researchers concluded “Moderate-intensity physical activity can substantially ameliorate the increased BC (breast cancer) risk in diabetic women.” By David Liu, PHD

TUNE IN: Diabetes Roundtable Inspired by Taylor Swift  on #BlogTalkRadio  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/09/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-mystery-diva

DON’T MISS: Diabetes Roundtable Goes PINK! Mr. Divabetic salutes Breast Cancer Survivors living with diabetes with the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach, makeup artist Kiauna Hunt and Mama Rose Marie. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/10/09/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-nicki-minaj

REGISTER NOW:  Don’t miss our largest free diabetes outreach event of the year, Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes,  promoting a diva attitude for living well with diabetes. Our goal is to make every woman feel more beautiful inside and out through the help of a team of certified diabetes educators, registered dietitians, and beauty and fashion experts.

Saturday, October 13, 2012, 11 AM – 4 PM

Jefferson Alumni Hall , First Floor Eakins Lounge 10th and Locust Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19107

FREE ADMISSION

Register: 1-800-JEFF-NOW

Look who’s on the red tomato carpet with Mr. Divabetic at Plus Night Out -NYC

Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach event in Philadelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA  and the Taking Control Of  Your Diabetes Conferences & Health Fairs in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX.

For sponsorship opportunities and upcoming outreach event details visit:  www.divabetic.org and Divabetic’s Facebook’s Group and Fan pages.

Kathy Bates Undergoes Double Mastectomy for Breast Cancer

Actress Kathy Bates has undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer, People magazine reported.

“After much consideration, I underwent a double mastectomy,” Bates, 64, told People. “Luckily, I don’t have to undergo radiation or chemo. My family call me Kat because I always land on my feet and thankfully this is no exception.”

Bates also battled ovarian cancer nine years ago, according to the magazine.

Mastectomy is breast-removal surgery; it can either be done as a preventive measure (for people who have a high risk of developing breast cancer) or as a treatment for people already diagnosed with the disease, like Bates, according to the National Institutes of Health.

There are many kinds of mastectomy, each with varying degrees of breast removal. A total mastectomy, for example, means that all of the breast tissue, as well as the nipple, are surgically removed, while a radical mastectomy includes the complete removal of the breast, chest muscles and the lymph nodes, the NIH reported.

Lumpectomy is also an option, where much of the breast is conserved and just the tumor is taken out, according to the Mayo Clinic. Even though efficacy of lumpectomy and mastectomy are about the same, some people may not be able to undergo — or may choose not to undergo — lumpectomy.

Look who’s on the red tomato carpet with Mr. Divabetic at Plus Night Out -NYC

Free Diabetes Podcast inspired by Taylor Swift http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/09/11/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-mystery-diva

Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach event in Philadelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA  and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conferences & Health Fairs in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX.

For sponsorship opportunities and event details visit:  www.divabetic.org and Divabetic’s facebook pages.

Breast Cancer More Likely to Recur in Obese Women

Obese and overweight women with breast cancer are significantly more likely to have the cancer return regardless of treatment, new research suggests.

The study, published in the American Cancer Society’s journal, Cancer, suggests that excess body fat may cause hormonal changes in the body that fuel cancer to spread and recur. “We found that obesity at diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with about a 30 percent higher risk of recurrence and nearly 50 percent higher risk of death despite optimal treatment,” said study author Dr. Joseph Sparano. 

By looking at the participants’ body mass indexes (BMI) – a ratio of height over body weight that scientists use to measure obesity – the scientists found that BMI increases significantly increases a women’s risk of her breast cancer coming back. These women also were more likely to die of breast cancer than their thinner counterparts in the study.

The effect remained despite optimal treatments including chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Women who had hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer that’s found in two-thirds of all breast cancer cases worldwide were most likely to experience these negative outcomes if obese or overweight.

“To me the big news is that it is showing obesity is only related to one subtype [of breast cancer],” Dr. Bette Caan, a senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. who was not involved in the study, said to HealthDay. “It’s the most common subtype.”

Sparano told TIME that overweight and obese people produce more estrogen, which may cause hormone receptor-positive cancers to grow. He also said insulin-resistance found in overweight people may contribute to this effect, or a combination of these factors along with general inflammation.

“Treatment strategies aimed at interfering with hormonal changes and inflammation caused by obesity may help reduce the risk of recurrence,” Sparano said in the press release. Reprinted from CBS News

 

What do you like to eat to stay healthy? The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays his newest food game, Serve, Taste or Trash to reveal the world’s most loved and hated foods.

LISTEN NOW: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Katy Perry  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/07/10/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-katy-perry

Meet Mr. Divabetic on the red carpet at  Central Farm Market in Bethesda, MD, Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes in Philadelphia, PA the American Diabetes Association Expo in Pittsburgh, PA and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Health Fair & Conferences in San Diego, Ca and Austin, TX in Fall 2012. For more glitter, games and glucose advice visit: www.divabetic.org Original music by Douglas Clay: www.douglasclaymusic.com

‘Paranormal State’ Star Ryan Buell’s Pancreatic Cancer

“Paranormal State” star Ryan Buell has announced that he is battling pancreatic cancer, People magazine reported.

The 30-year-old paranormal investigator has been keeping his fans and supporters updated on his goings-on and his condition on his Facebook page. On Monday, one of his “Paranormal State” staff members posted on his Facebook page that he had to be hospitalized because of kidney complications.

“Hey everybody. Last night at the hospital, Ryan underwent a medical procedure and it was successful. He is currently back home resting. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.” Thank you. ~ Cereza, PRS Staff

The Wall Street Journal reported that the incidence rate of new cases of pancreatic cancer has been increasing around one percent each year, according to the American Cancer Society. The cancer is very deadly – the fourth deadliest cancer for men, and the third deadliest for women, according to the National Cancer Institute.

That’s because, unlike many other cancers, catching pancreatic cancer early, doesn’t necessarily improve a patient’s prognosis, the Mayo Clinic reported. Plus, it’s hard to catch early in the first place because symptoms may not arise until it’s too late.

People who are overweight or obese, who have pancreatitis, who have diabetes, who smoke, who are African-American, have a family history of certain medical conditions that could raise cancer risk, or have a family history of pancreatic cancer itself are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are most commonly used to treat the cancer.

LISTEN NOW: Free Diabetes Podcast Inspired by Whitney Houston   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/08/07/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-whitney-houston

What fruits and vegetables are you singing about? The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic visits the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, CA.to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way. Enjoy more videos on Mr. Divabetic’s YouTube channel.

Get inspired to eat more fruits and vegetables. Meet Mr. Divabetic on the red TOMATO carpet in Phildelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association Expo in Pittsburgh, PA and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conference in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX in Fall 2012. Pass the boa! For more glitter, podcasts and glucose advice visit: www.divabetic.org

Breast Cancer Risk Might Be Tied To Breast Size

Researchers say they have found a connection between a woman’s breast size and her risk of  breast cancer.

“There are surprising connections between some of the genes involved in determining breast size and the genes involved in breast cancer,” lead author Nick Eriksson, a researcher with the California-based personal genomics company 23andMe.

In a study published in the journal BMC Medical Genetics, the findings suggest that a woman’s cup size and her risk for developing breast cancer could be connected. However, even the researchers are quick to admit that the connection should be regarded as preliminary at best.

“It’s fair to say that the link is a bit uncertain, and based on current knowledge, it’s not a strong risk factor,” said Eriksson. He suggested that one possible, albeit oversimplified, explanation for the findings could be that larger breast size means more cells that could become cancerous.

But, he added, “part of the complication is that obesity also plays a complicated part in breast cancer risk.”

Indeed, breast cancer specialist Dr. Edith Perez, deputy director at large at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center (who was not involved in the 23andMe research), said that a major limitation of the new study is that researchers did not have complete information about the participants’ weight, which in many cases can directly influence a woman’s breast size. Obesity has also been shown to increase breast cancer risk, particularly after menopause.

In addition, Perez said, the researchers did not control for other factors that can increase risk, such as alcohol use and breast density. The latter trait is largely inherited and has been much more definitively linked to cancer risk than breast size has. Studies have suggested that women with dense breasts are up to five times more likely to develop breast cancer, for reasons that are not yet fully understood.

“The way I look at it is that it’s an interesting finding, but I do not think it will have a big impact on the way we stratify for risk for breast cancer,” said Perez, adding that the fact this is a commercial company’s study (as opposed to an independent data analysis) should be taken into consideration. She said she hoped future research would look at factors that women might be able to change or influence in order to cut their risk for breast cancer, which is currently the second-most common cancer among women in the United States. (Skin cancer is the first.)

Eriksson echoed that the new findings may have more implications for researchers interested in the possible connection between breast size and cancer risk than for women directly. For now, breast size is not a “major factor,” he explained, and certainly nowhere near as significant as obesity or breast density.

The biggest takeaway from the new study may be that when it comes to cup size, a lot depends on the genes.

“Breast size is definitely heritable,” Eriksson said. “But unlike height, where you can look at both parents and get some idea how tall you will be, you have much less data for breast size. A young woman can look at her mom. However, she won’t get the same insights by looking at her dad for his genetic contribution.”

LISTEN NOW: Free Diabetes Roundtable podcast Inspired by Rev Run http://www.blogtalkradio.com/divatalkradio1/2012/06/12/diabetes-roundtable-inspired-by-rev-run