Evidence that Chest X-Rays and CAT Scans Can Pick Up Some Cases of Lung Cancer
At the top of your lungs
One of the hardest things about being a doctor is telling one of my patients that they've got cancer. And lung cancer is one of the worst, because most of the time we don't know it's there until it's progressed beyond the point of no return. If we could catch it earlier on, there'd be a much better chance of curing it. So far, though, there aren't really any screening tests out there specifically for lung cancer. But that may change pretty soon.
There's been some evidence that both chest x-rays and CAT scans can pick up some cases of lung cancer. In fact, yearly screenings in smokers over 50 showed that the two methods caught the same number of cancer cases. Sadly, neither test seemed to lead to a better survival rate -- at least not yet.
Finally, the National Lung Screening Trial is underway. This huge study (50,000 people) may just give an answer to our prayers, and help us find a good way to screen and detect early stage lung cancer, and maybe boost the chances of people surviving this deadly disease. This study kicked off in full swing back in February 2004, and it's supposed to continue on for eight years. So we still have a while to go before the study is finalized, but here's hoping the results are so good that they publish some early findings.
Now, we all know that one of the main causes of lung cancer is smoking, but that's not the only health problem this habit can cause. It can also lead to a dangerous condition called an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Luckily, there does seem to be a more successful screening test for this condition. Find out more below...
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Screening Works to Prevent Aneurysm Death
Abdominal aortic aneurysms sound pretty scary, for good reason. These triple A's happen when the large blood vessel near your abdomen swells up to the point where it could burst. If they aren't caught in time, they can rupture, which tends to turn fatal pretty quickly. When we do catch them early on, they can be repaired with surgery before they have a chance to burst.
The general recommendation has been for men ages 65 to 75 who smoke (or smoked in the past) to get a screening test every year. Now there's some science to back up that recommendation.
A big study in Denmark found that ultrasound screening for these aneurysms paid off. For every 352 screenings, a life was saved -- and those are great results for a screening test. So if you fit that at-risk profile, talk to your doctor about an ultrasound.
And speaking of blood vessel health, inflammation and high cholesterol can get in the way of good blood flow. These conditions also raise up your risk of cardiovascular disease. But there's a super simple, drug-free solution that can keep your blood vessels trouble-free. I'll tell you more about it below.
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Diet Cuts Cholesterol and CRP
In the January issue of my newsletter, I told you how high cholesterol isn't the No. 1 risk factor when it comes to heart disease. That's not to say it's not important -- it is. But an even more important heart disease risk factor is inflammation, which both promotes the formation of artery damaging plaque and its sudden rupture, which can instantly block off an artery and cause a heart attack. One of the best markers for inflammation is a substance called C-reactive protein (CRP). The good news is that you can control it -- and cholesterol -- both of these dangerous conditions with a few easy, and tasty, changes to your daily diet.
Here're a few simple tips:
Focus on a plant-based diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (become a veggie expert!)
Get enough healthy fat -- olive and small amounts of butter
Opt for moderate amounts of natural or organic meat and dairy foods
Eat fish a least once a week
Add some soy protein to your diet if you like it
To get all of these healthy foods, try my daily favorite five: a handful of nuts, a square or two of dark chocolate, a mug of tea (black, green, or red), a serving of berries, and a glass of wine (or concord grape juice). You'll get plenty of fiber and plant sterols, which lower cholesterol, plus a satisfying dose of healthy fats and disease fighting antioxidants, which douse inflammation and please your palate to boot.
In the study that pitted a diet including these foods against a popular cholsterol lowering "statin" drug, participants saw their LDL cholesterol (that's the bad kind) and their CRP drop by around 30 percent -- same as the drug, but cheaper, tastier and whole lot more fun (and without the risk of dangerous side effects).
If you've got cholesterol or inflammation woes, try taking care of them with diet changes first, before you turn to expensive prescriptions. And don't be afraid to top that off with a little exercise.
For more recommendations on keeping your heart in good working order -- including specific proven supplement strategies -- refer back to the January 2006 issue of America's Country Doctor. Subscribers can download it for free by visiting www.AmericasCountryDoctor.com and logging on with the username and password listed in your most recent issue.
Until next time,
Dr. Alan Inglis
House Calls
