Breast Cancer Prevention Update

by Donald L. Smith

How many of you have lost someone or know of someone who has died from breast cancer? The numbers are astounding. But did you know that studies reveal that getting a regular dose of sunlight actually can help reduce your risk of breast cancer?

It is unacceptable that little, if any, attention is given to the breast cancer preventative benefits afforded by sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to ultraviolet radiation. While we should applaud spending millions of dollars trying to find a "cure" for breast cancer, we should consider everything that has a chance of reducing the death toll from this disease until a cure is found because the pain of losing a loved one is just too great.

Background

Breast cancer is as old as recorded history. Descriptions of breast cancer were found in Egyptian papyruses and in the Hippocratic Corpus--an agonizing description of the death from breast cancer of Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian of Byzantine even was found in a 6th century document. Therefore, it is probable that women have died from this disease for as long as our species has been here on earth.

In 2000, there were 45,000 deaths from breast cancer and 190,000 new cases diagnosed. This means there was a 4.2 to 1 incidence to mortality ratio for breast cancer, making this form of cancer one of the most lethal. Prostate cancer, for instance, had a comparable 4 to 1 incidence to mortality ratio.

Since the incidence and mortality of breast cancer is increasing, it is projected that at least 50,000 women will die--and 200,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2002. Therefore, any prevention modality that has the potential to reduce this carnage MUST be considered.

The UV Connection

The landmark article "Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Risk: The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study, 1971-1975 to 1992 by Ester M. John et al, that was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention in May 1999 provided valuable information regarding the beneficial "link" between UVR exposure and the prevention of breast cancer.

John reported that "Several measures of sunlight (UVR) exposure and dietary vitamin D intake were associated with reduced risk of breast cancer, with risk reductions ranging from 0.67-0.85.

However, the associations with vitamin D exposures varied by region of residence. The risk reductions were highest for women who lived in the United States regions of high solar radiation with risk reductions ranging from 0.35-0.75. No reductions in risk were found for women who lived in regions of low solar radiation."

The authors concluded their abstract by stating, "These data support the hypothesis that [exposure to] sunlight and dietary vitamin D reduce the risk of breast cancer."

Potential Reduction In Mortality and Incidence

Based upon the results of the John study, increased sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR alone potentially could reduce the incidence and mortality of breast cancer by 35 percent to 75 percent.

This would mean that incidence might be reduced by 70,000 to 150,000 new cases each year and 17,500 to 37,500 deaths could be prevented. Thus, a conservative reduction of 100,000 new cases and 27,500 deaths is within the realm of possibility. All that would be required is for women to increase their exposure to UVR.

Even better, both increasing UVR exposure and making sure that an adequate level of vitamin D-containing foods and/or supplements were consumed could decrease the number of new cases by 150,000 and the number of deaths by 38,000 each year.

One can imagine the excitement that would be generated by the announcement of a new drug that would have similar results.

What About Skin Cancer?

There are approximately 500 women each year who die from non-melanoma skin cancer caused by overexposure to UVR. Since the statistics above show that 27,500 women die prematurely because of underexposure to UVR, we can see that 55 women die prematurely because of underexposure to UVR for every one who dies prematurely from overexposure to UVR.

(Author's Note: Prostate cancer has the same 55 to 1 ratio between the premature deaths associated with underexposure vs. overexposure to UVR.)

For women who increase their sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR and increase their dietary consumption of vitamin D, the ratio is 76 to 1.

A "Common Sense" Approach

The data contained in the John report are unambiguous and convincing. Any women reading this article should use their common sense and increase their dietary consumption of vitamin D and increase their sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR. An indoor tanning salon is an ideal place to do so because the UVR source is not season- and weather-dependent.

Other Information Of Interest

An article in the September 2001 issue of the British Journal of Cancer by Lee et al, titled "Lifetime physical activity and risk of breast cancer" showed that "These data do not support a role of physical activity in preventing breast cancer."

This article in conjunction with the John article conclusively answers the question of whether it is physical activity or UVR exposure that provides protection from breast cancer. It is UVR exposure and the resultant maintenance of optimal vitamin D levels that provides the reduction in the incidence and mortality of breast cancer.

Several recent articles showed that women who worked nights had a statistically valid higher incidence and mortality from breast cancer than did women who did not work the night shift. Although most of the authors did not make the connection, it was obvious to me that the reason for the increase was the resultant decrease in sensible, moderate and responsible UVR exposure because of their work schedule.

Once again, a prudent woman who finds it necessary to work nights should adopt the common sense preventative measure of routinely visiting an indoor tanning salon in order to maintain an optimal vitamin D level.

The Bottom Line

A new "wonder drug" promising to reduce breast cancer incidence by 100,000 cases and deaths by 38,000 would create a buying frenzy of major proportions in the United States. What woman wouldn't want to get a prescription?

Those same women might not immediately resolve to increase their sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR because they have been brainwashed by the dermatology community and the sunscreen industry that any and all UVR exposure is harmful. Yet, the facts clearly and convincingly show that 55 women die prematurely from breast cancer each year because of underexposure to UVR for every one woman who dies prematurely because of overexposure to UVR.

Common sense dictates paying attention to these statistics. Sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR means that overexposure (defined as a dose of UVR sufficient to cause sunburning) should always be avoided.

Author's Note: For those men reading this article, give a copy of this article to the women you love because it just might help save their lives.