Health Buzz: Dropping Cancer Rates and Other Health News
A Drop in Cancer Rates
Cancer rates are on the decline for the first time, raising hope that the battle against cancer has reached a milestone, HealthDay reports. A smaller number of lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers in men and breast and colorectal cancers in women is mostly responsible for the decline. And lung cancer death rates have leveled off in women since 2003, according to a new report, published in the December 3 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. From 1999 to 2005, cancer rates dropped 0.8 percent per year for men and women combined.
In September, U.S. News's Katherine Hobson explained what you need to know about mapping the cancer genome. Yesterday, Deborah Kotz reported on whether you still need a mammogram in light of new evidence that some breast cancers disappear without medical intervention.
Melamine Detected in U.S. Infant Formula
The Food and Drug Administration has detected traces of the chemical melamine is samples of popular infant formula in the United States, but officials say the formula is still safe, the Associated Press reports. "The levels that we are detecting are extremely low," Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, told the AP. Parents "should not be changing the [baby's] diet. If they've been feeding a particular product, they should continue to feed that product. That's in the best interest of the baby." Chinese infant formulas have recently been found to contain melamine in much larger concentrations than was detected in U.S. products; the chemical has been blamed for the deaths of at least three Chinese babies and illnesses in 50,000 others.
In September, Deborah Kotz explained that our baby formula worries are not as bad as China's. In April, U.S. News explored whether you should be concerned about bisphenol A in your baby's bottles.
Planning a Healthy Thanksgiving Meal
Taking part in Thanksgiving doesn't have to mean eating unhealthfully, especially if the cook takes special care to reduce the sugar, salt, and fat content in family meals. And that can be accomplished without sacrificing taste, HealthDay explains. "If a recipe calls for a cup of sugar, use two-thirds of a cup," Mary Bielamowicz, a nutrition specialist at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, told HealthDay. "If it calls for a half-cup of oil, shortening or other fat, use one-third cup. And if a recipe says to use one-half teaspoon of salt, use one-quarter teaspoon or omit the salt entirely."
Learn how hosts of holiday dinners can prepare for guests with asthma and allergies. Last year, U.S. News's Nancy Shute explained how to avoid Thanksgiving burns.
—January W. Payne
More on the Holidays
- Cranberry Sauce May Be a Healthy Treat
- An Allergy Checklist for Holiday Gatherings
- Many Americans Can't Afford to Eat Right
- Make Thanksgiving a Feast of Health
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