Sunshine decreases risk of breast cancer
Rushda:
August 5th, 2007
A new study has shown that women who don’t get much sunlight are more at risk ffrom developing breast cancer. The key componant of sunlight which has such positive effects is Vitamin D and it is said that those who stay out of the sun are less likely to get adequate amounts this cancer-fighting chemical.
There has been similar evidence in the past for such findings but it has been largely anecdotal: it had been shown previously that breast cancer is less common amongst those women who live nearer the equator, where sunlight is more plentiful. Now, scientists have found that the lower the level of Vitamin D in a woman’s bloodstream, the less likely she is to develop breast cancer after her menopause. Over a thousand women took part in a trial and those that were given Vitamin D supplements were found to have less than half of the chance of developing breast cancer compared to those who were given a placebo. The researchers say:
“Our findings of decreased all-cancer risk with improved vitamin D status are consistent with a large and still growing body of epidemiologic and observational data showing that cancer risk, cancer mortality, or both are inversely associated with solar exposure, vitamin D status, or both”
This is great news for those who love spending time in the sun. Interestingly however, while the results show that sunlight is good for fighting against breast cancer, it has also been shown in the past to increase risk of developing skin cancer, and so women have always been advised to be very careful in self-tanning methods and to put suncream on whenever exposed to prolonged sunlight. It is a difficult decision: the longer spent in the sun, the less chance of breast cancer but an increased chance of skin cancer. Will women now have to choose between the two? Most experts feel that a comfortable amount of sunlight each day will be ultimately the most beneficial.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
[…] Posted by as Uncategorized A new study has shown that women who don’t get much sunlight are more at risk ffrom developing breast cancer. The key componant of sunlight which has such positive effects is Vitamin D and it is said that those who stay out of the sun … article continues at Rushda brought to you by cancer.medtrials.info and medtrials.info […]
August 6th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Those worried about the choice simply have to look at the relative statistics.
I’m UK based so can tell UK readers that female breast cancer deaths are around 12,347 annually while total skin cancer deaths are 2000.
Reducing the Breast Cancer deaths by 50% would save 6000 breast cancer deaths annually and would not, (if people act sensibly) increase skin cancer deaths at all.
Short regular LIMITED sun exposure primes your skin cells to fight skin cancer. as shown in this research
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?type=article&article_id=218392932
DCs metabolize sunlight-induced vitamin D3 to ‘program’ T cell attraction to the epidermal chemokine CCL27″. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17259988
If you include the other cancers that thrive in Vitamin D insufficient bodies the odds are 30 to one in favour of having optimal vitamin d status most easily acquired by regular short sun bathing sessions when your shadow is shorter than your height. 15-20 mins is all you need to raise 4000iu Vitamin D3. (your daily usage) to store more for the Winter or to rectify a deficiency situation then you need to allow the skin to cool down and the Vitamin D to be absorbed before having another 15mins in the sunshine. The total max your body usually can make in a day is around 10,000iu so 45-50mins in total in 3 sun sessions is the maximum exposure that may ever be necessary.
August 18th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
[…] Though spending moment in the sun is generally considered a poor thing as far as skin cancer goes, it can help prevent breast cancer. A study shows that women who stay inside more often are at a high risk for breast cancer than those who spend moment outside. What’s more, breast cancer is less prevalent closer to the equator, where sunlight is more common. The key ingredient is the valuable Vitamin D that exposure to the sun provides, though I would be interested to know whether it makes a difference whether public get natural vitamin D from the sunlight or whether similar health benefits could be derived simply from staying inside and taking vitamin D supplements. I tend to think that society who get outside are generally healthier overall than those who are housebound. […]
November 29th, 2007 at 1:16 am
My mother has breast cancer, but i have to tell you she is a woman that’ in love with the sun, she has everyday long walks…but she’s still sick…
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March 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
[…] Though spending time in the sun is generally considered a bad thing as far as skin cancer goes, it can help prevent breast cancer. A study shows that women who stay inside more often are at a high risk for breast cancer than those who spend time outside. What’s more, breast cancer is less prevalent closer to the equator, where sunlight is more common. The key ingredient is the valuable Vitamin D that exposure to the sun provides, though I would be interested to know if it makes a difference whether people get natural vitamin D from the sunlight or if similar health benefits could be derived simply from staying inside and taking vitamin D supplements. I tend to think that people who get outside are generally healthier overall than those who are housebound. […]