AR-News: Cheese may raise risk of cancer in men: study

[jim robertson]

http://www.nationalpost.com/national/story.html?id=36BA78CA-5CAB-472B-8F32-A9853EF534E8

Cheese may raise risk of cancer in men: study
Tests suggest link to female hormones

Tom Blackwell
National Post


Monday, September 08, 2003
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Men who eat a lot of cheese seem to be at higher risk of contracting 
testicular cancer, Canadian researchers conclude in a new study that might 
help explain soaring rates of the disease in recent years.

The cancer has been growing in prevalence over the last few decades -- 
becoming the leading cancer among younger men -- at the same time as people 
are ingesting more dairy products, the Ottawa-based scientists note.

Dairy food contains high levels of female sex hormones such as estrogen, 
considered a possible cause of the testicular illness.

But the study's results do not mean people should be cutting cheese out of 
their diets, only making sure to consume it in moderation, said Michael 
Garner, lead author of the paper.

"Don't deny yourself these things, but be wise about balancing," he said in 
an interview yesterday. "Eat dairy products, but don't over-indulge.... I 
haven't stopped eating cheese."

Testicular cancer is a relatively rare cancer overall, but the most common 
among men between 20 and 45. It has been appearing more frequently in 
countries including the United States, Britain and Scandinavia, with the 
rate increasing by 50% in Canada in the last 30 years.

Treatment has also improved lately, however, with the five-year survival 
rate at over 90%. Lance Armstrong, the American cyclist, picked up a string 
of Tour de France victories after recovering from the illness.

The study, published in the October issue of the International Journal of 
Cancer, is billed as the most comprehensive look yet at the link between 
diet and risk of acquiring testicular cancer.

The scientists examined 686 testicular cancer patients and 744 healthy 
people in a control group who were questioned about their lifestyle as part 
of the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System, a joint 
federal-provincial project in the late 1990s.

They found a "strong association" between consumption of cheese and the risk 
of getting testicular cancer, and a somewhat less significant link with 
dairy products in general.

The apparent increase in risk may stem from the high amounts of the female 
sex hormones estrogen and progesterone in dairy products, the authors say.

There is a growing belief such hormones help cause cancer. Mothers have a 
higher estrogen level during their first pregnancy and first-born sons have 
a higher risk of getting testicular cancer.

It could be that elevated levels of estrogen in the womb predispose someone 
toward the disease, and a factor such as high cheese intake increases the 
chance of getting it, Mr. Garner said.

The large amounts of fat, calcium and protein in cheese might also be a link 
to testicular cancer, the paper says.

A less strong connection with the disease was found with luncheon meat and 
baked goods. The baked goods finding may not be accurate, partly because of 
the wide array of foods included in that category, Mr. Garner said.

Luncheon meats contain nitrates, which are considered a carcinogen, and are 
high in fat.

tblackwell at nationalpost.com

© Copyright  2003 National Post





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cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the 
name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are 
at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people.
-- Ruth Harrison, author of Animal Machines

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