The Northern Rivers Times
November 9, 2023
44 HEALTH & SENIORS NEWS
Cancer tumour energy changes and how Lifestyle factors increase risk Article Five In the last article, I discussed angiogenesis processes by tumour cells (creating a line for food and energy) and how important nutrition is. In this article, I will show how tumour cells change our energy production and two common lifestyle factors that can increase risk to us, and the people close to us. Cancer cell energy deregulation Cancer cells are always looking to grow, mutate and invade other regions in the body. To do this, the cells need to have increased sources of energy available. Typically, our body produces energy, requiring oxygen to be present. The energy produced this way is called aerobic metabolism, which makes energy at a slower rate, usually using a combination of lipids and glucose. This will produce energy for our normal activities; however, the tumour derails this process, using glucose as the main source (even if oxygen is present) allowing a higher rate
of energy replenishment (called the Warburg effect). The downside of this process is higher lactic acid production, possible increased inflammatory responses, and, ultimately, the creation of an ideal environment
cardiovascular) helps in multiple ways by enabling the body to help our body find the tumour (discussed in previous articles) and maintaining our bodies natural immune system at the peak of its ability. It will also help our body
consumption of alcohol. These two lifestyle factors cause multiple changes that increase our risks, no matter how little we may consume. Smoking According to the Australian Cancer Council, smoking is
to passive smoke. It has shown that in cases of lung cancer, a person who has a partner who smokes regularly may increase the risks of the non-smoker being diagnosed with lung cancer by up to 30%. Smoking enables the
for a cancer tumour. Unfortunately, this process allows the cells to dodge or evade normal cellular death (apoptosis) due to the tumour having enough energy to sustain defect or mutated cells. Exercise (both resistance and
maintain normal energy processes, reducing the effect of the tumour deregulation. Lifestyle factors Two of the most common lifestyle factors which are associated with several forms of cancer are smoking and
attributed to 20% our our national cancer burden. Smoking is considered (by many countries) as the largest preventable factor causing cancer. Not only does it affect the person who is smoking, it affects those that are exposed
damaging and mutation of cells which then increases the probability of uncontrolled tumour growth. Not only does it affect the smoker and those that passively smoke, it can alter our chromosomes that we pass onto our
children, creating an epigenerational increased susceptibility to multiple cancer types. Would you chose to continue knowing you could be affecting your children or grandchildren? Alcohol Alcohol causes damage to cells in the same process that smoking does. Alcohol increases inflammatory responses in the body, which may help create a perfect microenvironment for cancer tumours. There is now comprehensive evidence that alcohol is also attributed to increased risks of multiple cancer types such as liver, breast, and colon. Both these lifestyle factors do not have to be consumed in excess to increase risk of cancer. Looking at our lifestyle, small changes can have an exponential reduction of the risk of cancer diagnosis. In the next article I will look at some of the common chemotherapy treatments and how the medication used has effects on tumours. Have a great week everyone and stay safe. David
Govt funding breaks “treatment drought” for hardto-treat heart failure Ethical Strategies Government funding breaks “treatment drought” for hard-totreat heart failure A first-of-its-kind medicine for heart failure caused by a stiff heart muscle is now subsidised by the Federal Government for hundreds of thousands of Australians. From today (1 November), Jardiance® (empagliflozin 10mg) is available through the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) for adults living with symptomatic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction – a condition
with a five-year survival rate similar to some cancers, and for which
treatment options are extremely limited. In people with heart
failure with preserved ejection fraction, the heart becomes too stiff
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction means the heart is too stiff to properly fill with blood.
to properly fill with blood, compromising the supply of oxygen to the
body. This debilitating condition accounts for around half of all chronic heart failure cases in Australia, leaving people fatigued, short of breath and at increased risk of being hospitalised and dying. Professor Andrew Sindone, a cardiologist and heart failure expert from Sydney, said the PBS listing of Jardiance for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction “marks a turning point for a life-threatening heart condition which has proven incredibly hard to treat”.
