Saturday, November 17, 2012

Causes of Pancreatic Melanoma Consist of Consuming Soda

Are you drinking soda a couple of times a week? Then you are indulging in one of the possible causes of pancreatic cancer, one of the most rapidly fatal of the cancers, according to new research.
The research involved an analysis of data collected on 60,524 Chinese adults and looked at the role sweetened carbonated drinks and juices play in the development in this type of cancer in Asians. Earlier work has previously looked at the effect on Americans and Europeans.
The participants came from the Singapore Chinese Health Study that collected data on diet, physical activity and medical history among other things.
Those who drank two or more carbonated sodas (diet sodas and sports drinks were not included in the work) a week tended to be younger men who smoked, drank alcohol, ate calorie laden foods and were less active overall. These participants also ate more red meat, causing the researchers to adjust for dietary factors such as this.
"But the adjustments did not change the link between soda and the risk of pancreas cancer," explains study author Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota's division of epidemiology and community health. "We suspect sugar is the culprit, but we cannot prove it from this study,"
Generally a serving of carbonated soda is 20 ounces and has 65 grams of sugar. As a comparison, a typical serving of a fruit juice, like orange juice, is 8 ounces and has 21 grams of sugar. Quite a difference.
Carbonated drinks are the leading sources of added sugar in the US diet, contributing to both high blood sugar and hyperinsulinemia (a higher than normal amount of insulin in the blood).
The pancreas is a gland deep in the abdomen (between the stomach and spine), surrounded by other vital organs like the liver and intestines. This pear-shaped gland is about 6 inches long and produces insulin (and other hormones) that help to regulate blood sugar.
This organ, like others in the body, can develop cancer though the causes remain unknown. It's most common in smokers and those who are obese, with risk increasing as you age. This form of cancer is slightly more common in women than in men.
Tragically, 95% of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer won't be alive in 5 years.
When it comes to treatment, the picture is bleak - usually by the time this cancer is found, its quite advanced and has had time to spread to nearby organs.
In about 80% of cases the tumor cannot be removed, leaving chemotherapy and radiation as the most likely recommendations to shrink the size of the growth and prolong survival.
If the findings of this most recent study are confirmed by future work, this could provide a solid, sensible way to prevent a dangerous, deadly form of cancer.
Limiting drinking soda as well as eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, exercising regularly and quitting smoking are all changes you can make to reduce your risk. In the case of the causes of pancreatic cancer, prevention is always the best, safest option.

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