According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be about 44,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the United States this year. Further, over 37,000 people will die from this deadly form of cancer. New research out of Australia, however, shows interesting information regarding one possibility on how to prevent pancreatic cancer, and the findings might surprise you.
One Possibility for How to Prevent Pancreatic Cancer
Scientists looked at 700 patients with pancreatic cancer and about 700 members of the general population in Queensland, Australia. They found that those in the study who were exposed to the highest amounts of ultraviolet radiation in the region of their birth had a 24% lower risk of pancreatic cancer than those who lived in areas of less sun exposure.
As if this isn’t confusing enough, given all of the conflicting information regarding the sun and cancer, those participants who were classified as having the most “sun-sensitive skin” had a 49% decreased malignancy than others. And those who had a history of skin cancer and even sun-damage related skin lesions had up to 40% lower risk of pancreatic cancer than those with no skin cancer history or sun-related skin lesions.
Researchers caution that this isn’t reason enough to scald yourself in the sun’s rays.
“This study is very innovative and I applaud the design, but translating it to what’s really going on in pancreatic cancer is a stretch,” says Dr. James D’Olimpio of the Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success, N.Y.
D’Olimpio, a specialist in pancreatic cancer, acknowledges vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory benefits and surmises this could contribute to a lowered cancer risk. But, he warns, “this is a tiny piece” of the larger puzzle on how to prevent pancreatic cancer via vitamin D.
The findings of this study are expected to be presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research conference. According to HealthDay, “studies presented at scientific conferences are not yet peer-reviewed and results are considered preliminary until published in a medical journal.” This study has not yet been published.
Although the study offers some insightful possibilities on how to prevent pancreatic cancer, there is no “final answer” in scientific research. As scientists improve research methodology and even as conditions (like cancer, UV radiation levels, and melanoma research) evolve, so too do the recommendations traveling from the top down.
Good post, but this is a backhanded way of evidencing that vitamin D3 levels had a significant impact on prophylaxis of pancreatic cancer. Some we already know. This is confirmation of same.
It is unfortunately that the mainstream data and reports can never conclude that a very inexpensive, widely available supplement, alone or preferably combined with exposure to the sun, can make a huge difference in the incidence of cancer. The highly profitable and primarily fraudulent cancer cartel can never speak truth to the people- it ultimately reduces their vig.
While they won't say it, their evidence (and ultimately their collapsing crediblity) supports the vitamin D3 conclusion.
It just takes a little common sense, and an understanding of history to ferret out the truth from the disinformation.
Eat a vegan diet and you will never need to worry about skin cancer with any reasonable exposure to the sun.
In fact, your chances of any cancer will be much lower.
People need to have their vitamin d level tested as soon as they can. You need to take the vitamin d3!! There is something going on withe the sun and you must protect yourself.
Don't be so high and mighty with your vegan wonder ways.
My brother who was a raw foods ultra vegan died at 63 from liver disease. It was discovered when he went to the ER because he could barely stand up. He had a tumor the size of a grapefruit around his colon and duodenim. They removed that but ironically his severe veganism exacerbated his liver disease. That was followed by hipato renal failure and six weeks later he was gone. His veganism left his body with no ability to fight his other ailments.
The sun, the flowers, the flower girl, will all help prevent cancer.