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* Micronutrient deficiencies likely to be a major cause of cancer *
According to Dr. Bruce Ames of the University of California, a leading expert in Molecular Toxicology and Nutrition, "DNA damage from micronutrient deficiencies is likely to be a major cause of cancer." [More]

A needle replaces the daily pill *
The single biggest complaint about the birth-control pill is the fact that it has to be taken every day, like clockwork. [More]

Aerosols may harm mother and baby *
New research carried out in the UK indicates that air fresheners and aerosols can cause headaches and depression in mothers and diarrhoea and earache in babies. The more frequently the mother uses aerosols, it seems, the more likely she and her baby are to have problems. [More]

Antibiotic use linked to breast-cancer risk *
But researchers urge extreme caution in interpreting results of U.S. study. [More]

Antibiotics, cancer linked *
A study linking antibiotics with breast cancer does not prove that they cause the disease, but should prompt women to make sure they don't use the drugs inappropriately, researchers say. [More]

Apple skin chemical reduces colon cancer risk *
Research presented at the annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference in Seattle has shown that a chemical in apples prevents colon cancer in laboratory and animal studies. [More]

Birth control, from its conception *
Thirty-five years ago, almost to the day, Percy Skuy made a fateful decision. The director of marketing at Ortho Pharmaceutical (Canada) Ltd., a small Toronto health-care company that specialized in family planning, decided to buy an ad in Chatelaine magazine touting Delfen, a contraceptive foam. [More]

Breast cancer up 24 per cent in latest HRT study *
The medical complications associated with hormone replacement therapy continue to mount -- and mount and mount. [More]

Breast exams without the need to squeeze promised *
Thermography is billed as a complement to the traditional mammogram. Is it something you should consider? [More]

Breast-cancer survivors urged to avoid HRT *
Women who have had a bout with breast cancer should not take hormone-replacement therapy, even for a short time, because of the "unacceptably high" risk of cancer recurrence, a study says. [More]

Broccoli compound inhibits breast cancer growth *
In the September 2004 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, researchers report that sulforaphane (SUL), a compound found in broccoli and other vegetables from the cruciferous family, has the ability to disrupt cell growth in late stage human breast cancer cells in cell culture studies. [More]

C-section fight does a U-turn *
Optional cesarean sections are under serious consideration by doctors, a move that would reverse the long battle to limit surgical intervention in maternity care, says ABBY LIPPMAN. [More]

Cancer costing Canada billions *
The disease burdens individuals with expensive treatments and missed work, and hurts the economy. [More]

Cancer Society advises against HRT *
In yet another warning about the dangers of hormone replacement therapy, the Canadian Cancer Society is urging women to avoid hormone replacement therapy for all but the most severe menopausal symptoms. [More]

Carotenoids linked to lower rate of prostate cancer *
The dietary carotenoid lycopene, which gives tomatoes and watermelon their red colour, has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in western countries where the nutrient is often consumed in tomato sauce, pizza and ketchup. [More]

Chlamydia linked to infertility in men *
It has long been established that chlamydia, the most common sexually transmitted disease, is a leading cause of infertility in women. [More]

Choosing hormonal contraception *
There is an amazing array of birth control choices available in Canada... [More]

Colour-coding showed me the way *
Lifesavers come in many shapes and forms. In my case, coloured Post-it notes were the answer. [More]

Delayed effects of HRT *
The headline on Jennifer Blake's article -- Hormones: Worth The Low Risk (Jan. 15) -- might have more accurately captured the latest discussions about hormone treatment of menopausal women had it been printed as a question. [More]

Dietary Supplements Among First Lines of Defence in Treatment of Menopause Symptoms *
Eight leading international women's health experts cite red clover isoflavones for efficacy, safety. [More]

Doctors lash out at cancer society over HRT *
Obstetricians and gynecologists are lashing out at the Canadian Cancer Society, questioning its scientific expertise and commitment to women's health. [More]

Doctors recommend more tests for colon cancer *
Every man and woman over the age of 50, including those at low risk, should be screened for colorectal cancer, according to new guidelines published by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. [More]

Generations of family planning *
Canadian women have been taking the pill since the early 1960s, writes ANDRÉ PICARD. And now age is a major factor in choosing among the dizzying birth-control options. [More]

Getting around that monthly cycle *
Freedom from menstruation is necessary for some, a lifestyle choice for others. [More]

Higher risk of dementia linked to HRT *
Post-menopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's as those who do not, according to new research. The combination of estrogen and progestin also increases the risk of women suffering from stroke, a related study found. [More]

Hormones: worth the low risk *
Trying to make sense of media reports on hormone replacement therapy has become a full-time job for menopausal women. And recent coverage of the Canadian Cancer Society's position on HRT has shed more confusion than clarity. [More]

How do you explain dystonia? *
Having a rare condition with bizarre symptoms can be an isolating experience. Friends can't relate, strangers stare and doctors are bewildered. [More]

HRT debate puts women in quandary *
As controversy continues to swirl around the appropriate use of hormone-replacement therapy and rival groups bicker over their interpretations of data, it is no wonder that women are confused about what to do regarding symptoms of menopause. [More]

HRT linked to higher risk of asthma, study concludes *
Women who are on hormone-replacement therapy have a much higher risk of developing asthma late in life, adding to the long list of health woes caused by the once-popular treatment for menopausal symptoms. [More]

HRT nearly doubles heart attack risk in first year *
Women who take hormone replacement pills after menopause nearly double their risk of heart attacks during the first year of treatment, a landmark study concludes. [More]

Increasing calcium from diet and supplements lowers colorectal cancer risk *
Women who consume more than 800 milligrams of calcium each day may reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer. . . [More]

Lillian Chan at book signing *
The Wellness Options: Guide to Health -- book signing... [More]

New study drives nail in coffin of HRT therapy *
Estrogen-progestin pills may cause an aggressive form of breast cancer and make it harder to find tumors until they have reached a later, less-curable stage, according to one of the biggest, most authoritative analyses yet. [More]

Pill regulations make for a long morning after *
Sarah had a steady boyfriend for several months and they were always careful to use condoms when having sex. Then came a Friday night when they were celebrating the end of exams last December, when "we got a bit too drunk and, you know, carried away." [More]

Radiation for breast cancer not always best *
Older women who had smaller tumours benefit just as much from the drug tamoxifen alone, studies find. [More]

Register breast implants *
There are no mechanisms in Canada at the moment to track the health outcomes of plastic surgery, including breast-implant surgery. Yet, for more than a decade, serious health problems have been linked with breast implants. [More]

Sauerkraut may bring more than Good Luck this New Year's Eve ****
Recent links to curing avian flu have made Sauerkraut a holiday best seller! [More]

Selenium and colorectal cancer risk *
A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has found that selenium intake may be related to a decreased risk of colorectal cancer. [More]

Soy Protein and Diabetes Complications *
Soy protein has many potential health benefits. . . [More]

Soy protein reduces breast cancer risk in women *
A meta-analysis of 14 studies relating to soy consumption and breast cancer in women around the world was published in the April volume of The International Journal of Cancer Prevention. [More]

The real reason women smokers are at greater risk *
Should cancer of the lung be added to the list of health risks women face just because they are women? [More]

Vitamin D deficiency among Canadians compromises bone health *
A substantial number of Canadians are not getting the required calcium and vitamin D and face an increased risk of bone fractures and other chronic conditions, according to medical experts citing recent studies. [More]

Vitamin E shows a heart health benefit in women *
A new study published in the July 6, 2005 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that vitamin E significantly reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. [More]

Well-being and Breast Care *
They used to avoid it, but now masseurs are focusing attention on the breast -- for health reasons, writes JESSICA JOHNSON [More]

What do we make of soy? *
Eating foods rich in soy appears to reduce a woman's chances of getting cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the womb, according to a study of Chinese women. [More]

When it's time to stop having kids *
There comes a point in every couple's relationship when they decide, definitively, that there will be no kids, or no more kids. When that time comes, usually with quite a few years of fertility ahead, birth control choices become different. [More]

Woman to file complaint in bid to get cancer drug *
An Alberta woman with cancer says she is being denied a potential life-saving drug because she is too young. [More]

Women run double risk of lung cancer *
Female smokers are twice as likely to develop lung cancer as their male counterparts, according to a new study. [More]

Women warned to avoid hormone therapy *
Women should not take hormone-replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause, except in rare instances, the Canadian Cancer Society said yesterday in one of the bluntest public health warnings yet issued about the controversial treatment. [More]

Secondary Sites:
Cancer-causing agents found in everyday items, says expert *
It's the little things in your life that will hurt you, says a medical professor from Chicago: your shampoo, your cologne, the baby's powder, the stuff on your garden, or on your neighbour's. Maybe even your milk. [More]

High glycemic load increases stroke risk in overweight women *
A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology examined the association of dietary carbohydrate, glycemic index, and glycemic load with stroke risk among 78,779 U.S. women. [More]

Low levels of folate linked to lower birth rates *
Mothers-to-be with lower levels of the vitamin folate in their body during early pregnancy are more likely to have babies with lower, or less healthy, birth weights, a British study has revealed. [More]

Mediterranean diet and healthy lifestyle add years to life *
Adherence to a Mediterranean style diet, coupled with a few healthy lifestyle habits, can add years of life even among individuals aged 70 to 90 years. [More]

Multivitamin Use Before Pregnancy Reduces Risk of Pre-term Births *
A study published in the November 2004 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology found that the use of multivitamin supplements by women prior to becoming pregnant was associated with fewer pre-term deliveries. [More]

Vaccine can stop lung cancer, U.S. scientists report *
An experimental vaccine wiped out lung cancer in some patients and slowed its spread in others in a small but promising study, researchers say. [More]