Link Between Cancer and Family History

Image credit: Tracie Taylor

Cancer, an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the cells that make up living things, is associated with family medical history. Even in an healthy body, cells could grow into sporadic cancer cells. So, in this case, inside every living things's cells could grow into cancer cells.

Cancer cells may lie dormant for years, or even decades before they grow sporadic and produce the symptoms of disease. Some cancers develop extremly slowly and often escape detection during the life of the patient. Different types of cancer may be caused by many factors, and different combinations of conditions. Also, there is a possibility that the human body immune system might subdue the tumor, or cancer cells without any treatments.

From 6,773.281 million of world population, in 2008, there were 12.6626 million new cancer cases, and 7.5648 million cancer deaths. The risk of getting cancer before the age of 75 years, was 18.6% worldwide. While the risk of dying from cancer before age the 75 years, was 11.1% worldwide.

Denmark was become #1 country with the highest cancer rate, in both men and women. Followed by Ireland in the second, and Australia in the third. The worldwide estimate mortality rate in women was ASR (Age standardised rates) 99.1 people, in 210.8 estimate cancer incidences, per 100,000 people. While in men, the worldwide estimate mortality rate was ASR 139.1 people, in 303.7 estimate cancer incidences, per 100,000 people. (Globocan 2008)

The Worldwide Most Common Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. Lung cancer contributed 12.7%, or 1,608,055 new cases, in 2008. The death rate was 18,2%, or 1,376,579 cases of cancer death worldwide.

A cohort study involving 71,392 non smokers women, in Shanghai, China, indicated a moderate association of lung cancer risk with a family cancer history in general, and not specifically to a family history of lung cancer. (Zhang Y, et al. 2007)

The data from recent cohort study, such as, clinicopathologic data, tumor genotype, family history of cancer, and specifically family history of lung cancer, from 230 cases of never smokers lung cancer patients, was also supported the earlier study. 57% of the cases had a family history of any common cancers, and only 42 out of 230 cases (18%), was presented a specific family history of lung cancer. (Gaughan EM, et al. 2013)

Inherited Breast Cancer

The second most common cancer worldwide, in which also the world most common cancer in women is breast cancer. Breast cancer in women contributed 10.9%, or 1,384,155 new cases, in 2008. The mortality rate was 6.1%, or 458,503 cases of death worldwide.

The following are breast cancer risk factors:

• Age and Gender
  Advanced breast cancer cases are found mostly in women aged over 50 years. Although, men are 100 times less likely than women to get breast cancer, there is a chance for men in getting breast cancer.
• Family History
  A major risk factor for breast cancer, is the family cancer history, in first degree relatives of the disease. The first degree relatives are parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. About 20% to 30% women with breast cancer, have a family history of the disease.
  Benign breast disease (BBD), a common condition marked by benign (non cancerous) changes in breast tissue, especially hyperplasia (an increased cell production in a normal tissue or organ), is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
  In women with a family history of breast cancer, appear to be at increased risk of being diagnosed with BBD, in which is associated with a greatly increased risk of breast cancer. (Webb PM, et al. 2002)
• Genes
  Human genes play a key role in the development of breast cancers. At least four types of breast cancers have been shown to be inherited, among them, Luminal A, Luminal B, Triple negative/basal-like, and HER2 type.
  Breast cancer may also effect several genes, either by the activation of oncogenes (genes carried by tumor viruses), or the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (anti-oncogenes). So, genes are involved specifically as causative factors of breast cancer. (Anderson DE. 1992)
• Menstrual Cycle
  In women who got an early menstrual period, or before the age of 12 years, will have a high risk of breast cancer. Also, in women who went through a late menopause, or above the age of 55 years, will have an increased risk of breast cancer.

Family History and Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer became the third most common cancer worldwide with 9.8%, or 1,235,108 new cases, in 2008. There were 609,051 cases of death have been reported, or 8,1% of the mortality rate worldwide.

Family history is well established to be a risk factor for developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent study was aimed to observe the link between family history and survival from colorectal cancer. The study was using the data from 10,937 patients of the National Study of Colorectal Cancer Genetics (NSCCG), to compare with the data from 10,782 patients of the National Cancer Data Repository (NCDR).

Although the study found no differences between those with and without a family history of CRC, age, sex, tumour stage, and the presence of multiple cancers. But, the study managed to provide the evidence that a family history of CRC, is associated with better survival after a diagnosis of CRC. (Morris EJ, et al. 2013)

Family History and Cancer in Children

A study presented five families of paediatric patients suffering from choroid plexus carcinoma, a rare cancer in the ventricles (small cavities or chambers within a body or organ) of the brain. Choroid plexus carcinoma is often found in infants below two years of age.

The study had found that three families met the criteria for germline TP53 (tumor protein p53, a tumor suppressor protein) mutation testing. From those three family, only one familiy conformed to the criteria of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an inherited cancer syndrome associated with the mutations in TP53 genes.

In the remaining two families, there were no family history of cancers, and the parents were not shown to carry the TP53 genes mutation. (Krutilkova V, et al. 2005)

Although we cannot control from where we get our genes, but, we could control our lifestyle habits to reduce the risk. By keeping a healthy living, and diet will surely minimize the risk of cancer. Just like a quote, What you eat is what you are, being healthy is a choice in life.

Related articles:

• Link Between Gallstones and Diabetes
• Link Between Inflammation and Cancer
• Link Between Passive Smoker and Lung Cancer

Dietary Intake of Vitamin D Against Diabetes and Cancer

NOW Foods Vitamin D-3

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D, or widely known as sunshine vitamin, is technically not a vitamin. Because cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, can be made naturally by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D can also be obtained from foods and supplements.

Nowadays, some fortified foods have added with vitamin D, such as, milk, cereal, yogurt, orange juice, cheese, and margarine. Natural vitamin D is also found in cod liver oil, meat, egg yolk, and several fatty fishes, such as tuna, swordfish, salmon, mackerel, and sardines.

Tolerable Upper Daily Intake Levels of Vitamin D

The following are dietary reference intakes (DRIs), tolerable upper daily intake levels of vitamin D, by the US Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, National Academies :

• Infants (0 to 6 months) => 25 μg (1000 IU)
• Infants (7 to 12 months) => 38 μg (1520 IU)
• Children (1 to 3 years) => 63 μg (2520 IU)
• Children (4 to 8 years) => 75 μg (3000 IU)
• As for people aged above 8 years, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mom => 100 μg (4000 IU)

μg = microgram; 1 μg = 40 International Units (IU) ([PDF] ULs for Vitamins and Elements)

Benefits of Vitamin D?

Unlike the safety of vitamin D that we obtained from the Sun exposure, having excessive intake of vitamin D from dietary supplements, may cause toxicity. The following are several benefits of vitamin D:

• To promote calcium absorption in the small intestine.
• To maintain adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations for bone formation, mineralization, growth, and repair.
• To improve muscle strength.
• To prevent rickets (a disease characterized by a failure of bone tissue to properly mineralize, resulting in soft bones and skeletal deformities) in children, and osteomalacia (a condition which can cause bone pain and muscle weakness), and osteoporosis in adults.
• To reduce inflammation and improve immune function.
• To prevent cancers, diabetes, osteoarthritis progression, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, and secondary hyperparathyroidism (a disorder in which the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone).

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency can occur when the usual intake is lower than recommended levels, for example, the limited of sunlight exposure, especially in the subtropical climate area. Milk allergy, lactose intolerance, ovo-vegetarianism, and veganism, are also associated with vitamin D deficiency.

People with dark skin may also at high risk in developing vitamin D deficiency, due to pigment melanin in dark skin people, will reduce the skin's ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight. The elder people might also experience the same thing as the dark skin people. Due to aging, the skin of elder people cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently as when they were young.

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in children with cancer. Recent clinical study had shown that the incidence of hypovitaminosis in pediatric cancer patients was 72%. Early detection and supplementation could benefit to high risk patients. (Helou M, et al. 2013)

Vitamin D and Diabetes

Dietary intake of vitamin D supplementation is associated with reducing the risk of type 1 diabetes in animals. A study aimed to demonstrate whether vitamin D supplementation, or vitamin D deficiency in infancy, could affect the development of type 1 diabetes.

The data of 12,055 pregnant women who gave birth, in 1966, in Oulu and Lapland, northern Finland, were collected and diagnosed the development of type 1 diabetes, in December, 1997. From 10,366 children who were analysed, 81 were diagnosed with diabetes during the study. The study ensured that vitamin D supplementation for infants could help to reduce the incidence of type 1 diabetes. (Hyppönen E, et al. 2001)

Another study aimed to investigate calcidiol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], associated with insulin sensitivity and beta cell function. The study among 126 healthy people living in California, had shown a positive correlation of calcidiol with insulin sensitivity and a negative effect of hypovitaminosis D on beta cell function. Hypovitaminosis D subjects may have higher risk of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. (Chiu KC, et al.2004)

83,779 women without history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, were studied for the development of type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D and calcium intake from diet and supplements was assessed every two to four years. During 20 years of follow up, there were 4,843 incident cases of type 2 diabetes.

The collected data had shown that daily intake combination of >1,200 mg calcium and >800 IU vitamin D was associated with a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The study suggested that vitamin D and calcium intake will potentially benefit in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. (Pittas AG, et al. 2006)

Vitamin D and Cancer

A phase II study was demonstrated to determine the pain associated with prostate cancer bone metastasis, and muscle strength parameters, in respond to vitamin D supplementation. The patients were given 2,000 IU oral vitamin D, daily for 12 weeks. The study concluded that vitamin D supplementation may be a useful adjunct for improving pain, muscle strength and quality of life. (Van Veldhuizen PJ, et al. 2000)

A trial using calcium and vitamin D supplementation was demonstrated among 36,282 postmenopausal women. 18,176 women received daily 1000 mg calcium, and 400 IU vitamin D3 supplementation. The other 18,106 women received a placebo for an average of seven years.

The trial resulted that the incidence of invasive colorectal cancer did not differ significantly between women assigned to calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and those assigned to placebo. (Wactawski-Wende J, et al. 2006)

Another randomized placebo controlled trial was demonstrated the efficacy of calcium supplement, and calcium plus vitamin D, in reducing cancers risk. The trial was conducted among 1,179 healthy postmenopausal women aged 55 years or older.

The participants were randomly assigned to receive either, only 1500 mg calcium supplement, a 1500 mg calcium plus 1100 IU vitamin D3 supplement, or a placebo, everyday for four years. The trial, which was also registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00352170), had concluded that the improvement of calcium and vitamin D nutritional status, was related substantially in reducing all types of cancer risk in postmenopausal women. (Lappe JM, et al. 2007)

Several Clinical Trials of Vitamin D

Vitamin D and Fracture Incidence

A randomised double blind controlled trial was conducted to measure fracture incidence and total mortality by cause. The trial was involving 2,037 men and 649 women, aged between 65 to 85 years.

The participants received either 100,000 IU oral cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), or a placebo every four months for five years. The trial resulted that four monthly supplementation, with 100,000 IU oral vitamin D, may prevent fractures without adverse effects in men and women. (Trivedi DP, et al. 2003)

However, another trial among 5,292 people aged 70 years or older, were were randomly received daily 800 IU vitamin D3, or a 1000 mg calcium, or 800 IU vitamin D3 plus 1000 mg calcium, or a placebo. Two years later, 2,886 participants were still taking tablets, 451 had died, 58 had withdrawn, and 1,897 had stopped taking tablets.

But, the collected data from all participants did not support the calcium and vitamin D supplementation, either alone or in combination, for the prevention of fractures in elderly people. (Grant AM, et al. 2005)

Vitamin D to Prevent Weight Gain

Obesity in the U.S. has increased significantly during the past several decades. Also, the promotion that obesity is considered as a disease, and no longer as the linked source of the death triangle of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was performed to observe the role of calcium in the maintenance of a healthy body weight.

36,282 postmenopausal women, aged 50 to 79 years, were randomized at their first, or second annual visit to receive a dose of 1000 mg elemental calcium plus 400 IU of cholecalciferol, or placebo daily. The trial resulted that calcium plus cholecalciferol supplementation has a small effect to prevent weight gain. (Caan B, et al. 2007)

Metabolic Effects of Vitamin D in Pregnant Women

Recently randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted in 48 pregnant women aged between 18 to 40 years old at 25 weeks of pregnancy. All participants randomly received either 400 IU cholecalciferol supplements, or placebo, everyday, for nine weeks.

Nine weeks later, the study had concluded that vitamin D supplementation among pregnant women has beneficial effects on metabolic status. (Asemi Z, et al. 2013)

4Life Transfer Factor Scam?

4Life Transfer Factor PLUS with Riovida Web Promotion

What is Transfer Factor?

Transfer factor, a factor derived from leukocyte lysates (white blood cell which have been undergone the destructive process of lysis) of immune donors, which can transfer both local, and systemic cellular immunity to non immune recipients. (NLM-MeSH) Transfer factor was first discovered by Henry Sherwood Lawrence, in 1955.

There is a possibility to transfer regularly immunologically specific, generalized skin sensitivity of the delayed type to tuberculin (a sterile solution extracted from tubercle bacillus which often used to diagnose tuberculosis) in animals, and human subjects, by means of an injection of leucocytes, obtain from sensitive donors. (Lawrence HS. 1955) Transfer factors can be extracted, either from human, or animal white blood cells, cow colostrum, and chicken egg yolk.

According to Kirkpatrick CH. 1993, transfer factors are molecules that educate recipients to express cell mediated immunity, which have the effect of antigen specific. Transfer factors have molecular weights of approximately 5,000 Da, and offer molecular immunotherapy for patients with defective cell mediated immunity.

Transfer Factor Clinical Studies

A prospective, double blind placebo controlled trial was carried out on 29 hepatitis B patients. 13 patients received transfer factor, while 16 others received placebo. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any clinical, or laboratory measurements. Transfer factor did not alter the natural course of hepatitis B. (Ellis-Pegler R, et al. 1979)

A prospective randomized double blind study on 60 cervical cancer patients, after radical surgery and irradiation. Transfer factor preparations were collected from leukocyte donors of patients's husbands. 32 patients received transfer factor while the others received a placebo.

A patient died during the treatment with transfer factor. The cancer recurrence rate was five out of 31 transfer factor treated patients, and 11 out of 28 patients in the placebo group. (Wagner G, et al. 1983)

An open study of transfer factor on 470 multiple sclerosis patients, in New South Wales, confirmed the original observation that transfer factor, had some effect on slowing the course of multiple sclerosis. (Frith JA, et al. 1986)

Clinical trials of transfer factor in malignancy, lead to the conclusion, that transfer factor might not be an effective therapy for cancer. If it does, it may have a role in tumor therapy as an adjuvant (additional treatment, or therapy) to other forms of therapy, such as, surgery, irradiation, or chemotherapy. (Spitler LE, et al. 1987)

A double blind clinical trial of transfer factor vs. acyclovir was carried out on 28 patients with acute stage of herpes zoster. The transfer factor treated group was found to have more favorable clinical course than acyclovir. The study confirmed the immunomodulating properties of transfer factor. (Estrada-Parra S, et al. 1998)

4Life Transfer Factor

4Life Transfer Factor PLUS Tri-Factor Formula

A product of transfer factor supplement by 4Life Research L.C., direct selling, or MLM company that was founded by David and Bianca Lisonbee, in 1998. David Lisonbee had experienced 11 years in building his MLM business called Enrich International. After receiving the transfer factor extraction process patent from the U.S. Patent Office, David Lisonbee had made 4Life transfer factor, the only product available in the world.

All 4Life transfer factor products were derived from transfer factor of cow colostrum, or a transfer factor combination from cow colostrum, and egg yolk. Amazingly, after 15 years in the MLM industry, 4Life Research L.C. had gained $268 million revenues, in 2012, and ranked 45th largest global direct selling company, in 2013. (DSN Top 100)(archive)

Image is courtesy of professionalnetworkers.com.

In above chart, two independent blind studies claimed that 4Life Transfer Factor PLUS Tri-Factor Formula managed to increase in natural killer cell activity (immune system) up to 437%. But, I cannot find both studies were indexed at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, or PubMed.

I am not affiliate with 4Life, or even interest in becoming 4Life distributor. All products above are listed in Amazon.com, in which both of them are sold and shipped by different seller.

Although from Amazon's 4Life Transfer Factor PLUS Tri-Factor Formula verified purchased reviews, most customers are very helpful after consuming, I totally disagree with the chart above. Infact, from a brochure (written in English and Bahasa Indonesia) that I got couple of days ago, 4Life transfer factor is said to be:

900% stronger than other products in increasing immune system.

Moreover, the brochure is mentioned that, 4Life transfer factor is:

30 times stronger than ginseng, spirulina, royal jelly, chlorella, alfalfa, green tea, wheat grass, gingko, chloropyl, bee propolis, maca, grape seed, etc.

In the back side of the brochure is mentioned that:

Scientific abstracts of transfer factor can be read at PubMed:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

PubMed contains biomedical literature from Medline, journal, and life science book via online. (the original text is in Bahasa Indonesia)

I laughed at myself while reading this. There are millions of scientific studies indexed in PubMed. And, I found zero result on clinical studies, which claimed the therapeutic effects of 4Life transfer factor, or the 437% stronger immune system.

I know that 4Life transfer factor may not be a scam, but, the brochure that I read, is a scam. However, for your own sake, whether 4Life transfer factor is a scam or not, the main thing is that, you should consult with your doctor before taking any 4Life transfer factor supplements, in order to give another suggestion, regarding to your medical records.

Below I quote some words from a debating post around the controversy about 4Life transfer factor as another MLM scam.

Testimonial evidence is NOT scientific evidence

Is colostrum from cows good for you? Yes, if you are a baby cow…..

Transfer factor: another MLM scam
http://medicine.com.my/wp/?p=836 (archive).

After all, it's not the only product available in the world now!

Wellness Transfer Factor 60 Caps By Source Naturals