Pancreatic Cancer Risk, Sodas & Juice
“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers…”
By, Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
Update 2/14/2010
The information in this column is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations by the author. Please consult with your physician before making any lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any other concerns regarding your health.
Welcome to Weekly Health Update
“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readersâ€Â
PANCREATIC CANCER RISK, SODAS & JUICE
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest of all types of cancer. Nearly 45,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed in 2009 in the United States, and more than 35,000 deaths due to this disease occurred during the same year. At the time of diagnosis, the vast majority of patients with this terrible disease are already incurable, and overall, 5-year survival rates remain a dismal 5 percent at this time. Even among the small minority of patients who are diagnosed with pancreas cancer at a relatively early stage, when the tumor is still confined to the pancreas, the 5-year survival rate is only in the 15 to 20 percent range.
The only possible hope for pancreatic cancer cure is very radical surgery, which is often followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. For most patients with pancreatic cancer, however, surgery is not even an option due to the advanced stage of their cancer at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, efforts to prevent pancreas cancer are critically important in decreasing the death rate from this aggressive and treatment-resistant type of cancer.
There are several known risk factors for pancreatic cancer. These include smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and chronic liver disease. Because of the known links between pancreatic cancer, diabetes and obesity, there is concern that regularly consuming foods that significantly elevate the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood may also increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
A new large-scale prospective public health study, just published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, adds further evidence that the regular consumption of sugar-rich foods may indeed increase the risk of developing this deadly type of cancer. In this study, nearly 61,000 patient volunteers within the Singapore Chinese Health Study were followed for up to 14 years by researchers. All of these volunteers were extensively surveyed regarding their consumption of juices, sugary sodas (“soft drinksâ€Â), and other dietary items. Additionally, other lifestyle factors and environmental exposures linked to various types of cancer were assessed within this very large group of patients.
Within 14 years of the beginning of this very large epidemiological study, 140 new cases of pancreatic cancer were diagnosed within this cohort of patient volunteers. When the researchers analyzed all of their data, they discovered that the consumption of 2 or more sodas per week was associated with nearly twice the risk of developing pancreatic cancer when compared to not drinking any sodas at all (fortunately, there appeared to be no link between juice intake and pancreatic cancer risk).
The findings of this study add further evidence to previous similar studies regarding the intake of so-called “high glycemic index†foods and pancreatic cancer risk. As these same sugar-rich foods also directly contribute to the development of both diabetes and obesity, it is not surprising that scientists have begun to identify common biochemical pathways that link excessive calorie intake from sugar-rich foods with all three of these life-threatening diseases.
I will be discussing the known risk factors (and evidence-based prevention strategies) for pancreatic cancer, and for many other cancers, in much greater detail in my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,†which is due to be published in the spring of this year. Meanwhile, if you currently drink sodas containing sucrose or fructose on a regular basis, you might want to seriously consider eliminating these soft drinks from your diet altogether.
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity
Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author
For a somewhat lighter perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Tdv7XW0qg
(Anticipated Publication Date:  March 2010)
(Click above image for TV36 interview of Dr. Wascher)
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Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
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Dr. Wascher’s Archives:
2-7-2010:   Vitamin D, Cardiovascular Disease & Death
1-31-2010:  Concord Grape Juice Improves Memory
1-24-2010:  Mozart, Music, Babies & Health
1-17-2010:  Breast Cancer, Physical Therapy & Lymphedema
1-10-2010:  Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) after Surgery
1-3-2010:    Ginkgo Biloba, Memory & Cognitive Health
12-20-2009: CT Scans & Cancer Risk
12-13-2009: Soy Isoflavones Decrease Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk
12-6-2009:  Salt (Sodium) Intake, Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease
11-29-2009: Exercise & Prostate Cancer Risk
11-22-2009: Genistein (Soy Isoflavone) & Prostate Cancer
11-15-2009: Breast Cancer Treatment & Chronic Pain
1-8-2009:    Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Risk
11-1-2009:  Exercise & Prostate Cancer Risk
10-25-2009: HPV Virus & Risk of Breast Cancer
10-18-2009: Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome (Symptoms after Gallbladder Surgery)
10-11-2009: Vitamin D & Falls in the Elderly
10-4-2009:   Surgery, NSQIP, Complications & Death
9-27-2009   Stress, Heart Disease, Exercise & Death
9-20-2009:   Vitamin D & Colorectal Cancer Survival
9-13-2009:   H1N1 Swine Flu Update
9-7-2009:     Green Tea, Aging & Lifespan
8-30-2009:   Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diet & Fiber
8-23-2009:  Update on Prostate Cancer and Cryotherapy
8-16-2009:   Exercise Improves Lymphedema Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors
8-9-2009:   Breast Cancer Recurrence, Death & Vitamin D
8-2-2009:   Honesty, Dishonesty & Brain Function
7-26-2009:   Coronary Artery CT Scans & Cancer Risk
7-19-2009:   Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Ovarian Cancer
7-12-2009:   Breast Cancer & Metformin (Glucophage)
7-5-2009:    Prostate Cancer & Green Tea
6-28-2009:   Air Pollution & the Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
6-21-2009:   Red Yeast Rice, Statins & Cholesterol
6-14-2009:   Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant & Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
6-7-2009:    Diet, Soy & Breast Cancer Risk
5-31-2009:   Diet and Prostate Cancer Risk
5-24-2009:   Diabetes, Glucose Control & Death
5-17-2009:   Drug Company Marketing & Physician Prescribing Bias
5-10-2009:   Hemorrhoids & Surgery
5-3-2009:     Statin Drugs & Blood Clots (Thromboembolism)
4-26-2009:   Are We Really Losing the War on Cancer?
4-19-2009:    Exercise in Middle Age & Risk of Death
4-12-2009:   Can Chronic Stress Harm Your Heart?
4-5-2009:     Does PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer Save Lives?
3-22-2009:   CABG Surgery vs. PCI in Diabetics with Coronary Artery Disease; Sweetened Beverages and Coronary Artery Disease
3-15-2009:   Depression, Stress, Anger & Heart Disease
3-8-2009:    Coronary Artery Disease: CABG vs. Stents?; Swimming Lessons & Drowning Risk in Children
3-1-2009:    Aspirin & Colorectal Cancer Prevention; Fish Oil & Respiratory Infections in Children
2-22-2009: Health Differences Between Americans & Europeans; Lycopene & Prostate Cancer
2-15-2009: Statin Drugs & Death Rates; Physical Activity, Breast Cancer & Sex Hormones
2-8-2009:   Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Breast Cancer; Stool DNA Testing & Cancer of the Colon & Rectum
2-1-2009:  Obesity and the Complications of Diverticulosis (Diverticulitis & Bleeding); Obesity, Weight Loss & Urinary Incontinence
1-25-2009: Prostate Cancer, Fatigue & Exercise; Does your Surgeon “Warm-up†Before Surgery?
1-18-2009: Cancer and Vitamins; Teenagers, MySpace and Risky Behaviors
1-11-2009: Exercise Reverses Some Effects of Fatty Meals; Vitamin C and Blood Pressure
1-4-2009:   Secondhand Smoke & Heart Attack Risk; Poor Physical Fitness During Childhood & Heart Disease Risk During Adulthood
12-28-2008: Stress & Your Risk of Heart Attack; Vitamin D & the Prevention of Colon & Rectal Polyps
12-21-2008: Breast Cancer Incidence & Hormone Replacement Therapy; Circumcision & the Risk of HPV & HIV Infection
12-14-2008: Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Selenium Do Not Prevent Cancer; Postscript: A Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome
12-7-2008:   Generic vs. Brand-Name Drugs, Stress & Breast Cancer Survival
11-30-2008: A Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome?; Smoking & Cognitive Decline; Calcium & Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Risk
11-23-2008:  Breast Cancer & Fish Oil; Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Treatment; Vasectomy & Prostate Cancer Risk
11-9-2008:    Statins Cut Heart Attack Risk Even with Normal Cholesterol Levels; Statins & PSA Level
11-2-2008:    Radiation Treatment of Prostate Cancer & Second Cancers; Sexual Content on TV & Teen Pregnancy Risk
10-26-2008:  Smoking & Quality of Life
10-19-2008:  Agent Orange & Prostate Cancer
10-12-2008:  Pomegranate Juice & Prostate Cancer
10-5-2008:   Central Obesity & Dementia; Diet, Vitamin D, Calcium, & Colon Cancer
9-28-2008:   Publication & Citation Bias in Favor of Industry-Funded Research?
9-21-2008:   Does Tylenol® (Acetaminophen) Cause Asthma?
9-14-208:    Arthroscopic Knee Surgery- No Better than Placebo?; A Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke
8-23-2008:  Alcohol Abuse Before & After Military Deployment; Running & Age; Running & Your Testicles
8-12-2008:  Green Tea & Diabetes; Breastfeeding & Adult Cholesterol Levels; Fish Oil & Senile Macular Degeneration
8-3-2008:   Exercise & Weight Loss; Green Tea, Folic Acid & Breast Cancer Risk; Foreign Language Interpreters & ICU Patients
7-26-2008:  Viagra & Sexual Function in Women; Patient-Reported Adverse Hospital Events; Curcumin & Pancreatic Cancer
7-13-2008:  Erectile Dysfunction & Frequency of Sex; Muscle Strength & Mortality in Men; Cryoablation for Prostate Cancer
7-6-2008:  Sleep, Melatonin & Breast Cancer Risk; Mediterranean Diet & Cancer Risk; New Treatment for Varicose Veins
6-29-2008:  Bone Marrow Stem Cells & Liver Failure; Vitamin D & Colorectal Cancer Survival; Green Tea & Colorectal Cancer
6-8-2008:  Vitamin D & Prostate Cancer Risk; Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Kidney (Renal) Cancer; Antisense Telomerase & Cancer
6-2-2008:  Acute Coronary Syndrome- Do You Know the Symptoms?; Green Tea & Lung Cancer; Episiotomy & Subsequent Deliveries- An Unkind Cut
3-23-2008:  Age of Transfused Blood & Risk of Complications after Surgery; Obesity, Blood Pressure & Heart Size in Children
3-16-2008:  Benefits of a Full Drug Coverage Plan for Medicare Patients?; Parent-Teen Conversations about Sex; Soy (Genistein) & Prostate Cancer
2-23-2008:  Universal Healthcare Insurance Study; Glucosamine & Arthritis
2-17-2008:  Exceptional Longevity in Men; Testosterone & Risk of Prostate Cancer; Smoking & Pre-malignant Colorectal Polyps
2-10-2008:  Thrombus Aspiration from Coronary Arteries; Intensive Management of Diabetes & Death; Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome?
2-3-2008:  Vitamin D & Cardiovascular Health; Vitamin D & Breast Cancer; Green Tea & Colorectal Cancer
1-20-2008:  Testosterone Levels & Risk of Fractures in Elderly Men; Air Pollution & DNA Damage in Sperm; Statins & Trauma Survival in the Elderly
1-12-2008:  Statins, Diabetes & Stroke and Obesity; GERD & Esophageal Cancer
1-7-2008:  Testosterone Supplements in Elderly Men; Colorectal Cancer– Reasons for Poor Compliance with Screening Recommendations
12-31-2007:  Minority Women, Hormone Replacement Therapy & Breast Cancer; Does Health Insurance Improve Health?
12-11-2007:  Bias in Medical Research; Carbon Nanotubes & Radiofrequency: A New Weapon Against Cancer?; Childhood Obesity & Risk of Adult Heart Disease
