Tag Archives: cancer

You are my Sunshine

My only sunshine. You make me happy when the skies are grey. You’ll never know dear how much I love you. So please don’t take my sunshine away! No one will be taking your sunshine away, because today is the longest day of the year (aka Summer Solstice)! And it’s the first official day of summer!!!

Before you soak up the sun, here are some tips from the CDC on how to protect yourself from UV radiation.

  1. Seek shade, especially during midday hours. If you’re going to the beach, bring an umbrella.
  2. Wear clothing to protect exposed skin. But it’s hot! I don’t think this means you have to wear a turtleneck sweater and long pants, but it is still important that you protect your skin. See #5
  3. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
  4. Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible. Your favorite pair of fraybans (I have some too) might not actually be protecting you from the rays of the sun.
  5. Use sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Click here for a list of the best sunscreens. Make sure to also put some sunscreen on your face!
  6. Avoid indoor tanning. I don’t want you looking like a snookie cookie fresh out of the oven!

Photo by Alyssa Llamas

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the two most common types of skin cancer and they are highly curable. “However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous. About 65%–90% of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light (CDC).” It’s definitely worthwhile to take an extra couple of minutes to put on some sunblock.

Not only can you get a nice tan from the sun, but you can also get vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones. “The body makes vitamin D when skin is directly exposed to the sun, and most people meet at least some of their vitamin D needs this way” (NIH). However, your body won’t produce vitamin D if your skin is exposed to sunshine indoors through a window. So go outside, but not for too long! And make sure to follow those tips mentioned earlier!

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

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Locks of Love

Christmas may be over, but the season of giving should be all year round! And what’s the perf gift that will never go out of style? Hair, of course!

Locks of Love is a non-profit org that provides hairpieces, made from donated hair, to financially disadvantaged children under 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Not only do the kids get a new head of hair, but they also gain self-confidence.

A majority of the recipients have alopecia areata or cancer. Alopecia Areata is an auto-immune skin disease that results in hair loss on the scalp and body. More than 5 million people in the United States are affected by this disease. Unfortunately, its cause and cure have not yet been discovered.

image source: veryaware.com

In 50/50, why did Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character shaved his head before starting chemo? During chemotherapy, rapidly growing cancer cells are killed along with other growing cells, such as those in the roots of your hair. In addition, radiation used to treat brain tumors can also cause hair loss on the scalp.

Guidelines for hair donations:

  • Minimum length is 10 inches measured tip to tip.
  • Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut.
  • Colored and permed hair, OK.
  • Bleached hair, not OK.
  • If for some reason you saved hair that was cut years ago, Locks of Love will accept it as long as it’s in a ponytail or braid and at least 10 inches, of course.

Click here for more information on Locks on Love.

New year. New hair. Check out Allure’s 6 Best Bob Hairstyles.

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

image source: bluntforcedrama

Nuts cure cancer? Goodbye QuickTrim, Hello Nuts? Nuts are the new drug mules?

WAIT A MINUTE. Peanuts are NOT nuts?!

Curious? Check out this video on nut NUTrition!

 

And here’s my soon-to-be-famous Apple Peanut Butter Honey Quesadilla recipe:

1. Thinly slice an apple

2. Warm up a tortilla on a pan (medium-low heat)

3. Spread peanut butter on the tortilla (I prefer crunchy peanut butter, but smooth is fine too)

4. Add the apples to the tortilla

5. Add honey

6. Put another tortilla on top

7. Flatten

8. Enjoy!

Planning on Tanning?

Aw yeah, tans yeah. Even before the Jersey Shore mania began, we had a problem with tanning in this country. Too many teens were using tanning booths or spending hours at the beach, soaking up deadly ultraviolet rays.

However, as of October 9, 2011, children under the age of eighteen have been banned from using tanning beds in the state of California. Uh-oh, Katy Perry said California Gurls have sun-kissed skin….what’s going to happen now?!

Well, I think we should all personally thank Governor Jerry Brown for passing this legislation, because though many teens don’t know it, tanning is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.

The Situation and Pauly D support spray tanning

The Skin Cancer Foundation states, “Close to 2.5 million teens tan indoors in the US every year, increasing their risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent. Indoor tanners are also 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.”

According to the World Health Organization, “One in every three cancers diagnosed worldwide is a skin cancer. “

Have you ever thought about the whole tanning process? Tanning occurs when your skin is hit with Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This can be from natural or artificial tanning. Ultraviolet radiation damages skin cells and puts you at risk for skin cancer. Check out this WHO fact sheet about UV radiation.

You might think that just using a tanning bed once in a while will not be harmful to your health, but the National Cancer Institute says, “Women who use tanning beds more than once a month are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.”

Thus, please ask yourself if looking a little browner is worth risking your life. Tanning beds are NOT safe at any age and you WILL regret using them when you realize how preventable skin cancer is.

HOW TO PREVENT SKIN CANCER:

  • Avoid tanning booths
  • Spray tan! Fake that bronze look. Please don’t overdo it though.  I really don’t support the whole Jersey Shore look, but if you must…
  • Visit a physician or a dermatologist. It is very important to catch skin cancer early on, when it is more easily treatable.

Blame it on the A-A-Alcohol

image source: brisbane times

A recent study conducted in Europe found that for regular drinkers, an extra drink increases overall cancer risk.  The study does not prove that alcohol causes cancer.  Alcohol is still a risk factor for cancer.  This means that drinking alcohol will increase chances for cancer.  Click here for the full article.

Alcohol breaks down the lining of the digestive tract and allows harmful chemicals (which can cause cancer) through.  Excessive drinking can cause other health risks, such as alcohol poisoning, liver disease, stroke, cardiovascular problems, unintentional injuries, and many more.

However, many studies have linked MODERATE drinking to some possible health benefits.  According to the brainiacs of Harvard, moderate amounts of alcohol raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good cholesterol”) and higher levels of HDL can help protect against heart disease.

So what’s a moderate amount?  1-2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.  And what’s considered to be 1 drink?  1 drink = 12 oz beer (1 can) or 5 oz wine (1 glass) or 1.5 oz hard alcohol (1 shot).

This does not mean that you need to start drinking, especially if you’re not 21 yet!  Here are some CONSEQUENCES OF UNDERAGE DRINKING:

  • Alcohol-related car crashes
  • Disruption of normal growth and sexual development
  • Memory problems

Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years (CDC).  If you want to learn more about alcohol prevention and how to get involved, then check out Stop Underage Drinking.

For those who don’t drink or are not yet of age, don’t think you need to start just to protect your heart. Healthy eating and regular exercise will suffice.