Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month: Tips to Lower Risk
Posted by Lynne Eldridge MD at 9/10/2007 5:00 AM 
Categories: Pesticides, Leukemia, Firefighters and Cancer, EBV virus, Lymphoma, Head Lice, Fruits
Categories: Pesticides, Leukemia, Firefighters and Cancer, EBV virus, Lymphoma, Head Lice, Fruits
September Is Leukemia And Lymphoma Awareness Month
Hearing the words leukemia and lymphoma, invoke a certain vision in many peoples minds. Cancer -- in young people. Cancer -- and children. Cancer -- in those who were basically "doing everything right."
Those who have developed leukemias and lymphomas way heavily on our hearts. Why? Perhaps it is the age at which these cancers often present. Blood born cancers are the leading form of cancer in children. Perhaps it is the lifestyle issue. Unlike lung cancer, with 87 percent of cases attributable to smoking, many of these people never smoked. But, I believe, what drags us down the emotional mineshaft the most, is that many of these cancers may be preventable through education and awareness.
We don't expect anyone to live in a bubble (we certainly do not), or change their lives overnight (we don't). Yet, making a few changes, perhaps a small change today, may lower the risk for both you, and your children.
Tips For Leukemia/Lymphoma Prevention:
- Avoid home and garden pesticides. Children who live in homes where home and garden pesticides are used, have up to a seven-fold increase in leukemia. Adults exposed to herbicides and insecticides are more likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Even dogs that live in homes where chemical lawn weed killers are used, are twice as likely to die from lymphomas. Thankfully, many nurseries now carry organic products. Toss a few of the old products today to make room for the new. The price difference is worth every penny.
- If your child develops mono (clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis), take extra cancer prevention measures, especially diet, very seriously. It is felt that Hodgkins disease is a precursor to mono in roughly 40 percent of cases worldwide.
- Offer your child fruit several times daily. The regular consumption of oranges, orange juice and bananas in the first two years of life is correlated with a lower risk of childhood leukemia.
- If your child develops head lice, consult your holistic medical provider to discuss treatment. Children exposed to medications to treat head lice have double the risk of developing leukemia.
- Don't smoke - especially if you are pregnant. Exposure to smoke during pregnancy, raises the risk of leukemia in genetically predipsosed children.
- Weigh the risks and benefits of any x-ray procedure, including CT scans, with your medical provider. Some studies, though not all, have found an increased risk of leukemia in those children exposed.
- If you work with chemicals at work, check the material safety data sheets (MSDS). Occupational exposure to chemicals accounts for between 2 and 8 percent of cancer deaths in the US. Many of these are leukemias and lymphomas.
And, in honor of the firefighters from 911, and to protect firefighters throughout America, avoid PBDE treated plastics when possible. PBDE is a flame retardant that releases very toxic, carcinogenic compounds when burned. The Swedish based store IKEA has banned this in their products for this reason.
And finally, put on a smile! Unlike progress with many cancers, we have made tremendous strides in the treatment of certain childhood leukemias and Hodgkin's disease, with survival now the expected outcome -- not the exception.
For further information, visit www.avoidcancernow.com. A portion of the proceeds from sales of our book, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer", go to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Hearing the words leukemia and lymphoma, invoke a certain vision in many peoples minds. Cancer -- in young people. Cancer -- and children. Cancer -- in those who were basically "doing everything right."
Those who have developed leukemias and lymphomas way heavily on our hearts. Why? Perhaps it is the age at which these cancers often present. Blood born cancers are the leading form of cancer in children. Perhaps it is the lifestyle issue. Unlike lung cancer, with 87 percent of cases attributable to smoking, many of these people never smoked. But, I believe, what drags us down the emotional mineshaft the most, is that many of these cancers may be preventable through education and awareness.
We don't expect anyone to live in a bubble (we certainly do not), or change their lives overnight (we don't). Yet, making a few changes, perhaps a small change today, may lower the risk for both you, and your children.
Tips For Leukemia/Lymphoma Prevention:
- Avoid home and garden pesticides. Children who live in homes where home and garden pesticides are used, have up to a seven-fold increase in leukemia. Adults exposed to herbicides and insecticides are more likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Even dogs that live in homes where chemical lawn weed killers are used, are twice as likely to die from lymphomas. Thankfully, many nurseries now carry organic products. Toss a few of the old products today to make room for the new. The price difference is worth every penny.
- If your child develops mono (clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis), take extra cancer prevention measures, especially diet, very seriously. It is felt that Hodgkins disease is a precursor to mono in roughly 40 percent of cases worldwide.
- Offer your child fruit several times daily. The regular consumption of oranges, orange juice and bananas in the first two years of life is correlated with a lower risk of childhood leukemia.
- If your child develops head lice, consult your holistic medical provider to discuss treatment. Children exposed to medications to treat head lice have double the risk of developing leukemia.
- Don't smoke - especially if you are pregnant. Exposure to smoke during pregnancy, raises the risk of leukemia in genetically predipsosed children.
- Weigh the risks and benefits of any x-ray procedure, including CT scans, with your medical provider. Some studies, though not all, have found an increased risk of leukemia in those children exposed.
- If you work with chemicals at work, check the material safety data sheets (MSDS). Occupational exposure to chemicals accounts for between 2 and 8 percent of cancer deaths in the US. Many of these are leukemias and lymphomas.
And, in honor of the firefighters from 911, and to protect firefighters throughout America, avoid PBDE treated plastics when possible. PBDE is a flame retardant that releases very toxic, carcinogenic compounds when burned. The Swedish based store IKEA has banned this in their products for this reason.
And finally, put on a smile! Unlike progress with many cancers, we have made tremendous strides in the treatment of certain childhood leukemias and Hodgkin's disease, with survival now the expected outcome -- not the exception.
For further information, visit www.avoidcancernow.com. A portion of the proceeds from sales of our book, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer", go to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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