Sunday, October 24, 2010

DAY 20 – Breast Cancer & Vitamin D; can we afford to wait?

From renowned experts on Vitamin D, it is clear that Vitamin D deficiency is a world-wide epidemic. In an article published in the March 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver report that nearly 75 percent of all Americans have low vitamin D levels.

There is enormous evidence that low levels of Vitamin D in the blood correlate with a greater risk of many cancers; including breast cancer.

The next 2 paragraphs are taken from the website of the Vitamin D Council (http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/cancerBreast.shtml). The Vitamin D Council is a group of concerned citizens and scientists who believe many humans are needlessly suffering and dying from Vitamin D Deficiency.

“Breast cancer is the most common malignancy of women in the western world. Many factors contribute to causing breast malignancy (it is multifactorial), though heredity is a major one. Certain diets help to prevent it, such as diets high in vegetables and fruit and low in fat. Adequate calcium is very important. The role of vitamin D in both the prevention and treatment of breast cancer is being intensively explored by scientists, and the results thus far have been promising.

No matter what cancer you have, or are trying to prevent, the question is: should cancer patients be left vitamin D deficient? The current research indicates the answer to this question is no, women with breast cancer should not allow themselves to be vitamin D deficient, and neither should their doctors.” –end Vitamin D Council-

I have been recommending testing of Vitamin D blood levels for my patients since 2004. The overwhelming majority of those I have tested, patients and family, have not had healthy levels of Vitamin D.

There is great interest in our Country in reducing the incidence of breast cancer; and rightly so. And it is time to realize that we can do walk-a-thons, and we can, and must, do more. We can make sure that every woman has her Vitamin D level tested. Women should be tested before being diagnosed with breast cancer, and should surely be tested after being diagnosed.

Who do you know that needs to be tested? Have you been tested?

Be clear; this is not just about breast cancer. Every American man, woman and child needs to have a Vitamin D blood test.

Dr. Young

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