Study: Weightlifting helps breast cancer survivors

Breast cancer survivors have been getting bum advice.

For decades, many doctors warned that lifting weights or even heavy groceries could cause painful arm swelling. New research shows that weight training actually helps prevent this problem.

"How many generations of women have been told to avoid lifting heavy objects?" Dr. Eric Winer, breast cancer chief at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston, lamented after seeing the surprising results of the new study. "Women who were doing the lifting actually had fewer arm problems because they had better muscle tone."

The study was led by Kathryn Schmitz, an exercise scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the federal government. Results are in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine.

More than 2.4 million Americans are breast cancer survivors, and the study could mean a big difference in their quality of life. Cancer treatment-related arm swelling now appears to be one of many ailments made better by exercise - not worse, Schmitz said.

"Fifty years ago we told people who had a heart attack not to exercise anymore," and people with sore backs to heal with bed rest, Schmitz said. "It was well-meaning advice but it was polar opposite of the truth."

Women who have had radiation to the armpit, or lymph nodes removed to check for cancer, can suffer lymphedema - a buildup of fluids that causes painful and unsightly swelling of the arms or hands.

To avoid it, doctors have advised women to avoid using the affected arm to lift toddlers, carry a heavy purse or scrub floors. Even activities like golf and tennis raised concern.

Women think, "Oh, my God, I need to baby the arm," Schmitz said.

Lifting weights - which boosts mood, muscle mass, bone strength and weight control - was thought to be a bad idea for women prone to lymphedema.

Schmitz challenged that notion with a small study several years ago, finding that weight training did not make lymphedema worse.

Her new study is the first one large and long enough to give clear proof that this is so, and even suggests that weightlifting can help.
It involved 141 breast cancer survivors who had suffered lymphedema. Half were told not to change their exercise habits. The rest were given 90-minute weightlifting classes twice a week for 13 weeks at community gyms, mostly YMCAs.

They wore a custom-fitted compression garment on the affected arm and gradually worked up to more challenging weights and repetitions. For the next 39 weeks, they continued these exercises on their own.

The women's arms were measured monthly. After one year, fewer weightlifters had suffered lymphedema flare-ups - 14 percent versus 29 percent of the others. Weightlifters reported fewer symptoms and greater strength. Rates of change in arm size due to swelling were similar in both groups.

"I found it was really very effective. It not only gave me strength and mobility but it improved my balance and coordination," said one participant, Clare Faber, 66, of suburban Philadelphia. "It really does offer women hope."

Another participant, Gay McArthur, 56, of Smithfield, N.J., has continued weightlifting on her own since the study ended.

"When I first got diagnosed with lymphedema, they said I couldn't lift more than five pounds," she said. But weight training caused no problems and has made her feel better, she said.

It also should save money, though the study did not measure this, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, wrote in an editorial in the medical journal. In the study, the group of weightlifters made only 77 visits to doctors or physical therapists for lymphedema flare-ups versus 195 visits for the others, she noted.

Another part of the study is evaluating whether weight training can prevent a first case of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors; results are expected soon, Schmitz said.

Breast cancer survivors should not rush into weight training - that could trigger problems. Schmitz suggests:

* Have a certified fitness professional teach you how to do the exercises properly.
* Start slow, with a program that gradually progresses.
* Wear a well-fitting compression garment during workouts.
Source: http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/Study_Weightlifting_helps_breast_cancer_survivors.html

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Tanning Beds Pose Serious Cancer Risk, Agency Says

Article date: 2009/07/28
By Rebecca V. Snowden

Tanning beds pose a greater cancer risk than previously believed, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO) agency that developed the most widely used system for classifying carcinogens. The group has elevated tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category – "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1). Tanning beds had previously been classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans."

IARC's decision was based on a comprehensive review of current research, which shows tanning bed use raises the risk of melanoma of the skin by 75% when use starts before the age of 30. The agency also found a link between tanning bed use and risk of melanoma of the eye. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.

The findings are published in The Lancet Oncology.

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Much of this exposure comes from the sun, but it also comes from manmade sources, such as tanning beds. Because of the popularity of tanning among young people, both the World Health Organization and the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection recommend that the use of indoor tanning should be restricted in anyone under the age of 18.

The American Cancer Society recommends people avoid tanning beds altogether.

"This new report confirms and extends the prior recommendation of the American Cancer Society that the use of tanning beds is dangerous to your health, and should be avoided," says Len Lichtenfeld, MD, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. "Young women in particular are the heaviest users of tanning beds, and, as noted in the report, are at the greatest risk of causing harm to themselves."

The report also puts to rest the argument that tanning with UVA light is safe, Lichtenfeld says.

"Previously, the cancer-causing effects of ultraviolet light were thought to be primarily related to UVB, or ultraviolet B radiation. This new report now extends the cancer-causing effects of solar or sun-related radiation to UVA light, as well," he says. In the past 30 years, the IARC has evaluated the cancer-causing potential of more than 900 likely candidates, placing them into one of five groups, with Group 1, carcinogenic to humans, being the highest risk.
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TNF Blockers May Increase Cancer Risk in Kids

Article date: 2009/08/05
By Rebecca V. Snowden

Kids and teens treated with drugs called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers may be at an increased risk for lymphoma and other cancers, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is updating black box warnings for the drugs.

The FDA's decision is based on a yearlong review of the childhood cancer risk associated with TNF blocker drugs, which are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and other inflammatory diseases.

These drugs -- which include adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), and infliximab (Remicade) -- work by blocking tumor necrosis factor, a protein that's overproduced in some immune system diseases. The FDA started investigating the drugs in 2008 after evidence suggested that interfering with TNF may also increase the risk of some life-threatening infections and certain cancers.


This analysis found children and teens taking these drugs had an increased risk of cancer, with cases occurring on average after 30 months of treatment. About half were lymphomas, and some were fatal.

The FDA said it was working with TNF drug manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, and Wyeth, to better understand the childhood cancer risk associated with these drugs.

If your child is taking or considering taking a TNF blocker, discuss the risks and potential benefits with your doctor.

Cancers in children often are hard to recognize. Parents should be sure that their children have regular medical check-ups and watch for any unusual signs or symptoms that do not go away. These may include:
* an unusual lump or swelling
* unexplained paleness and loss of energy easy bruising
* an ongoing pain in one area of the body
* limping
* unexplained fever or illness that doesn't go away
* frequent headaches, often with vomiting
* sudden eye or vision changes
* sudden unexplained weight loss

These symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than cancer, but they should be checked out by your child’s doctor.

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Vietnam's A/H1N1 flu situation

Vietnam confirmed 33 more cases of A/H1N1 influenza, raising the total number of flu patients in the country to 1,211, said a report of the website of Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

Among the newly-reported cases, one patient was a seller of a supermarket in the central Gia Lai province of Vietnam. This is the first supermarket in the country reported A/H1N1 flu case, according to local newspaper Liberty Saigon on Wednesday.

The flu continues speeding wide in schools in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, said the ministry.

So far, 883 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The rest are being quarantined and treated, said the report.

Vietnam confirms 2nd death of A/H1N1 influenza

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health confirmed that a 52-year-old woman in Ho Chi Minh City died of A/H1N1 influenza, becoming the country's second death of the flu, local newspaper the New Hanoi reported Thursday.

The woman was admitted to the Hospital No. 115 on Aug. 6 after having high body temperature, coughing and vomiting, said the newspaper. Her sample was tested positive to A/H1N1 influenza later.

The patient was transferred to Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital on Aug.10 because her condition deteriorated. She died on the same day due to respiratory failure, said the newspaper.

The ministry on Thursday confirmed 64 more cases of A/H1N1 influenza, raising total number of flu patients in the country to 1,275. Vietnam confirmed the country's first death of A/H1N1 influenza in the central province of Khanh Hoa last week.

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Overview of the current Pandemic H1N1 2009 situation

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is continuing to spread throughout Viet Nam. The spread of the virus to all countries, worldwide, is considered inevitable.

It is important to note that this pandemic is currently referred to as of “moderate” severity based upon the global situation. The overwhelming majority of patients are recovering without the need for hospitalization or even medical care, the levels of severe cases are similar to the levels we expect for seasonal influenza, and the health care systems are able to cope with the number of people seeking care.

With the increasing spread of H1N1 in Viet Nam, we expect that there will be a number of people who have serious complications and some will die.

Experience from other countries shows there are certain groups considered to be at “high risk” of serious complications from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. People with a chronic condition, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease such as asthma, diabetes, and cancer are currently among the people considered to be at high risk of serious complications from influenza.


There is evidence that pregnant women are also at high risk for more severe disease – especially those in the second and third trimester. And, a recent report suggests obesity may be another risk factor for severe disease.

Any one who has one of these conditions should seek medical advice if they develop influenza like symptoms.

The symptoms of pandemic H1N1 are similar to seasonal influenza, such as fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.

The virus is transmitted by inhaling infected droplets expelled by talking, coughing, or sneezing; or by touching contaminated hands or surfaces, the same as the normal seasonal flu.

The best protection measures for H1N1 are the SAME as for any influenza virus:

* Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly. You may also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth without washing your hands first.
* Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze by using your sleeve, a tissue, or a mask.
* Avoid or reduce the time spent in close contact with people who appear unwell and/or have a fever and cough.
* Reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible.
* Keep a distance of at least 1 meter between you and other persons especially if they have influenza-like symptoms.
* Improve airflow in your living space by opening windows.
* Practice good health habits including getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
* STAY HOME IF YOU HAVE A FEVER, COUGH and/or SORE THROAT

NOTE: WHO no longer requires countries to report all cases of pandemic H1N1 and many countries are no longer routinely testing for the virus. However, countries are continuing to monitor changes in the virus that may be important for case management and vaccine development.

When there is sustained community transmission, the detection, laboratory confirmation and investigation of all cases, including those with mild illness, is extremely resource-intensive. In some countries, this strategy is absorbing most national laboratory and response capacity, leaving little capacity for the monitoring and investigation of severe cases and other exceptional events. Moreover, the counting of individual cases is no longer essential for monitoring the risk posed by the pandemic virus or to guide implementation of the most appropriate response measures. Despite these changes in reporting requirements.

Given the change in reporting requirements, we will only update the number of globally reported cases on a weekly basis. It is important to keep in mind that the number of cases reported will understate the real number of cases.

Source: http://www.wpro.who.int/vietnam/sites/dcc/h1n1/

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