A study published this past August by cancer researchers from Spain suggests that higher levels of Vitamin D (specifically the amount of Vitamin D receptors) can possibly help in early colon cancer cases by blocking a specific colon cancer progression pathway called Wnt/beta-catenin. Higher levels of Wnt/beta-catenin are thought to be responsible for the initiation of many types of colon cancer in humans. The study found that while Vitamin D receptors did not have an effect on the number of colon cancer tumors, higher levels of Vitamin D receptors did decrease overall colon cancer tumor load.

It does appear that in more advanced cases of colon cancers, the Vitamin D receptors are already significantly down-regulated and reduced.

The authors of the study suggest that Vitamin D receptor concentrations may offer addition treatment options in early colon cancers where the amount of vitamin D receptors have not been significantly reduced.

Vitamin D supplementation may also be a way to reduce or limit the growth of early colon cancer tumors by decreasing the overall tumor load of the colon cancer.

Reference:
Larriba MJ, Ordóñez-Morán P, Chicote I, Martín-Fernández G, Puig I, et al. (2011) Vitamin D Receptor Deficiency Enhances Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Tumor Burden in Colon Cancer. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23524. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023524

Fine moustachery and immaculate grooming doesn’t grow on trees.You can’t usually find it on sale the day after Thanksgiving. In fact, its often sought after, and rarely obtained…

November is Prostate Cancer month and also Movember, where men (and women if they can) grow mustaches to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research.

Why is prostate cancer research important? Why is cancer research important?

Here are the facts:

One out of every two men in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage of their life.

One out of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer

This is a cause that I feel passionately about and I’m asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the LIVESTRONG foundation. To help, you can either:

- Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/1123956/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
- Write a check payable to Movember, referencing my name or Registration Number 1123956 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726

The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world’s most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG’s programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please visit
http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/.

Please remember to donate to http://us.movember.com/mospace/1123956/

In case you were wondering what disease followed October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, November is the American Diabetes Month (as well as “Movember” – a prostate cancer awareness campaign where guys get to grow really cool mustaches in order to raise money for prostate cancer). We’ll be highlighting both diabetes and prostate cancer awareness for this month, primarily focusing on…prevention, since I feel that is the most important aspect of medicine. If we can prevent it, then I don’t have to talk to you as a patient about how to treat it or attempt to cure it.

And how cool would that be?

Want more info on American Diabetes Month? Check out the American Diabetes Association

Find out more about “Movember” and raising awareness for prostate cancer.