(Credit:PCRM) (CBS News) – Hot dog happy Chicago residents are being told that their favorite meat may cause colon cancer. A new billboard has popped up in the skyline featuring a man in a hospital gown looking at his rear next to the words “Hot dogs cause butt cancer: Processed meats increase colorectal cancer risks.”

The billboard is sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a non-profit nutrition advocacy group that focuses on diet as a way to prevent disease and reduce symptoms. Nutrition education director for PCRM, Susan Levin, told Healthpop that recent studies have helped highlight the importance of a healthy diet.

“The evidence is just overwhelming that processed meats do lead to colorectal cancer, or as the billboards say, butt cancer,” she said.

Study: Red meat raises risk of dying, risk higher with processed meats

The American Cancer Society claims that in addition to hereditary factors and age, certain types of diets – especially those high in red and processed meats – can increase risk of getting colorectal cancer. Recently, a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine also showed that daily consumption of processed meats can increase a person’s chance of dying from a chronic disease by 20 percent, Healthpop reported.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be 103,170 new cases of colon cancer in 2012 and almost 52,000 people will die this year because of it.

PCRM claims Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs a year, not to mention the large amounts of bacon, cold cuts and other processed meats eaten at each meal. The group decided to put the billboard in Chicago because hot dog restaurants supposedly outnumber fast food locations in the Windy City.

Using the term butt cancer is certainly a direct way to get the point across, but Levin said the dire need to educate Americans about the risk made the language necessary. according to a survey conducted by ORC International of Princeton, N.J. and sponsored by PCRM, 39 percent of Americans don’t even know what the colon is.

“We’re just trying to be really clear here because it’s too dangerous not to be,” she said.

Recent studies have also tied eating processed meats to increased risks for bladder and pancreatic cancer.

However, some in the hot dog industry are claiming that PCRM is making uninformed statements to promote a vegan cause. “Hot dogs are a great Chicago tradition and part of a healthy, balanced diet. They come in a variety of nutrition and taste formulas and they are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals,” said National Hot Dog & Sausage Council President Janet M. Riley in a press statement. “This group’s claims are an effort to seek attention for their animal rights cause.”

“PCRM is an advocacy group that pitches the adoption of meat-free diets and are clearly leveraging extreme and sensationalized tactics to further their agenda,” said a spokesperson for Sara Lee, which produces Ball Park hot dogs, via e-mail. “We believe that the key to a healthy lifestyle is a combination of a moderate, balanced diet featuring a wide variety of choices and regular exercise. We are joined in this view by many health organizations, researchers, nutritionists and fitness experts.”

In addition, one of the supposedly carcinogenic ingredients of the hot dog may not cause cancer. Research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s 10th annual International Conference showed that colon cancer rates have not have changed since a mandate to reduce the amount of nitrate in hot dogs was put in place in 1978. Sidney Mirvish, professor emeritus at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, said in the press release that this suggests that nitrates may not be carcinogenic.

Another Brigham Young and Harvard University study published in Epidemiology in 2004 involving more than 725,000 men and women showed no connection between red or processed meat and colon cancer, but did add that fish and poltry may lower risk.

While Levin encourages people to eat whole fruits and vegetables, she said she understands the hankering for a juicy, grilled hot dog. she says instead of heading for the typical brands, try a meat alternative like tofu or wheat gluten.

“Once you pile on the relish, sauerkraut and mustard, you can’t tell the difference,” she said.

Symptoms Of a Kidney Stone

Article by Paul Hooper-Kelly

If you were to draw up a profile of the person most likely to experience the agonizing symptoms of a kidney stone, it would be something like this. a male, aged between 25 and 40 who takes very little exercise, loves eating red meat and drinking cola and soda and never drinks pure water. the chances are high he would live in the southern USA — probably in the south western states.

We know quite a lot about the cause of kidney stones, because they are on the increase. this is because they are largely due to what we eat. so, as we get more affluent, we eat and drink more of the very things — such as red meat and soda — that increase the chances of getting kidney stones. That’s why the USA leads the world on the these incidents, having an average of 10% of the population likely to have an occurrence at some point in their lives. the world average is just 4%, with many less developed countries having virtually no cases.

Very often you can have a kidney stone for months — years even — yet be unaware of it. these types of stone are called “silent kidney stones”. But when the stone tries to move down the urinary passage — that’s the narrow tube, called the ureter, linking the kidney to the bladder, you will suddenly be aware you have a kidney stone.

And boy, you certainly know it, because the pain is excruciating. it usually starts in your back — higher than you would normally associate with normal back ache — just under your rib cage. Sometimes you get a little warning in the form of a vague nagging in this area. so, if you get that, and you are in the high risk category, you may want to consider what course of action you should follow to get rid of your stone, before it starts to really cause problems.

If you either ignore, or have no symptoms of a kidney stone, the pain is likely to hit you like an express train. Then the spasms of intense pain may well make you sweat or feel giddy and nauseous and will seem to move through you, from your back to your front and, eventually down to your groin. If that apparent movement occurs, it is a sign the kidney stone is, at least, able to move through the urinary tract, which is a good thing.

Keep a very close check on the color of any urine, throughout the attack. what you don’t want to see is it turning dark red, as this will show the jagged stone has torn the delicate lining of the ureter. this also makes it more likely it will get caught up and jammed on the lining of the urinary tract and cause a blockage. When this happens, the urine cannot flow down the ureter tube into the bladder. this seals off the flow of urine, putting pressure on the tube walls, causing more pain. the urine then backs up into the kidney which, if left untreated, increases the chances of a kidney infection.

The pain may be accompanied by the frequent urge to urinate, which may prove impossible, due to the blockage. this is when removal of the stone becomes a priority. either by surgery, medication or by using a natural home remedy cure. so never ignore the symptoms of a kidney stone attack and take immediate action, if it happens.

About the Author

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Dear Dr. Gott: in your article about abdominal pain, I think you might have missed a likely possibility: gallbladder disease.

I suffered from this for years, and no doctor took me seriously because I didn’t have gallstones. when I finally had my gallbladder removed, I didn’t have any more pain. Estrogen is known to irritate the gallbladder, and a 15-year-old has considerable estrogen in her body.

Dear Reader: Gallbladder disease is another cause of abdominal pain. The pain is typically on the upper right side of the abdomen and may worsen after eating, especially fatty foods.

Nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite may also be present.

There are several types of gallbladder disease that include gallstones, inflammation, infection and blockage/obstruction. two or more of these can be present at the same time. for example, inflammation can lead to blockage, which can lead to infection, or gallstones can lead to blockage, which can then lead to infection.

Symptoms may be reduced by making dietary changes. These can include eliminating suspected food allergens; increasing intake of fiber, fruits and vegetables; and reducing the intake of refined and fatty foods, trans fats, red meat, alcohol and tobacco.

Further treatment depends on which type of gallbladder disease is present.

Gallstones can be treated with medication to dissolve the stone, but this can take up to two years and the stones often recur. Chronic issues with stones and inflammation more often necessitate surgery to remove the stones or the entire gallbladder.

Dear Dr. Gott: your article about the undiagnosed stomach problems sounded exactly like my niece. She suffered for several years until she saw an allergist, who found that she had many food allergies. As long as she avoids those foods, she is pain-free.

Dear Reader: I received three other letters similar to yours. two of those also mentioned H. Pylori, along with the food allergies and sensitivities.

H. Pylori is a common type of bacteria thought to be present in about half of the world’s population.

Most people do not exhibit symptoms, nor do they experience any complications; however, for others, it can lead to potentially serious problems.

Symptoms include weight loss, bloating, nausea, vomiting, frequent burping and an ache or burning pain in the abdomen. Complications include ulcers of the stomach and small intestine, stomach cancer and inflammation of the stomach lining.

Treatment consists of antibiotics and medications to reduce stomach acid. further testing to determine whether the infection has been eradicated may be recommended.

Food sensitivities are food allergies. The different names come into play because allergies conjure up thoughts of hives, rashes, swollen throats and tongues, and classic allergic reactions.

Write to Dr. Gott, c/o NEA-United Media, 200 Madison Ave., Fourth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016.

Stomach Cancer, Symptoms, causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis

Stomach cancer is common throughout the world and affects all races, it is more common in men than women, and has its peak age range between 40 and 60 years old. Stomach cancer mortality is higher in Japan and Chile, presumably because of the different diets in those countries where they are less dependent on red meat.

Over the last 25 years the incidence of stomach cancer in the western world has decreased by 50% and the resulting death rate is less than a third of what it used to be but in less developed countries it is still a major cause of death, probably because in these countries by the time the disease is diagnosed (usually by means of a Barium meal) the stomach cancer is at a very advanced stage.

TYPES OF STOMACH CANCERThere are several different types of stomach cancer, some of which are very rare. the most common types of stomach cancer start in the glandular cells of the stomach lining (adenocarcinomas), this is where stomach acid and digestive enzymes are made, and where most stomach cancers start. when the stomach cancer becomes more advanced, it can travel through the bloodstream and spread to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones. Stomach cancers that start in the lymphatic tissue (lymphoma), in the stomach muscular tissue (sarcoma) or in the tissues that support the organs of the digestive system (gastrointestinal stromal tumors) are less common and are treated in different ways.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSEarly clues to stomach cancer are chronic dyspepsia and epigastric discomfort, followed in later stages by weight loss, anorexia, a feeling of fullness after eating, anemia and fatigue. Blood in the stools may also be present and if the Cancer is in the Cardia (top) vomiting may occur.

CAUSATIONThe exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown although the presence of the Helicopter pylori bacterium seems to be a major factor. Predisposing factors include environmental influences such as smoking and high alcohol intake. Because stomach cancer is more common amongst those with a family history and with people with type A blood, genetic factors are also implicated. Dietary factors, particularly methods of food preservation such as pickling, smoking or salting also have an influence on the prevalence of stomach cancer.

DIAGNOSISStomach cancer is diagnosed through an examination that may include an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series; endoscopy or gastroscopy where a thin flexible tube is passed down the throat so the doctor can see into the stomach, esophagus and upper part of the bowel Barium meals and Barium swallows. Because stomach cancer can spread to the liver, the pancreas, and other organs near the stomach as well as to the lungs, the doctor may order a CT scan, a PET scan, an endoscopic ultrasound exam, or other tests to check these areas.

Stomach cancer can spread (metastasize) to the esophagus or the small intestine, and can extend through the stomach wall to nearby lymph nodes and organs. Metastasis occurs in 80-90% of individuals with stomach cancer, with a five year survival rate of 75% in those diagnosed in early stages and less than 30% of those diagnosed in late stages.

TREATMENTAlthough stomach cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, in many cases surgery is the treatment of choice. even in patients whose disease is not considered surgically curable, resection offers a palliative effect and improves potential benefits from chemotherapy.

The nature and extent of the cancer determines what kind of surgery is most appropriate. Common surgical procedures include, partial and total removal of the stomach. Antiemetics can control nausea, which increases as the cancer advances. in the more advanced stages, sedatives and tranquilizers may be necessary to control anxiety. Narcotics are commonly necessary to control sever and unremitting pain. in some cases of advanced stomach cancer, a laser beam directed through an endoscope can vaporize most of the tumor and relieve obstruction without an operation.

PROGNOSISStomach cancer is curable if detected early, but most people do not seek medical help until the disease is quite advanced, possibly because symptoms occur late and are often vague and non-specific. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidant vitamins (such as A and C) appears to lower the risk of stomach cancer. the rate of stomach cancer is about doubled in smokers so the cessation of smoking is essential.

In the United States and most of the Western world, the 5-year survival rate ranges from 5% to 15%. in Japan, where stomach cancer often is diagnosed early, the 5 year survival rate is about 50%. Five year survival rates for more advanced stomach cancers range from, around 20% for those with regional disease to almost nil for those with distant metastases.

Treatment for metastatic stomach cancer can relieve symptoms and sometimes prolong survival, but long remissions are not common. the survival of inoperable stomach cancer is usually only a few months if untreated. with chemotherapy the average survival is about 12 months. If cancer is found before it has spread, the five-year relative survival rate is about 61%.

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