Abortion and Breast Cancer
Contradicting a belief widely promoted by abortion opponents, top scientists concluded that there is no link between ending a pregnancy and developing breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute convened the experts in late February in a charged political atmosphere. Last summer, a fact sheet on the topic of abortion and cancer was removed from the institute’s Web site after it drew heavy criticism from conservatives.
Other findings included:
— Giving birth to a full-term baby at an early age lowers a woman’s lifetime risk of getting breast cancer, as does long-term breast feeding.
— A woman who waits until age 33 to have her first baby has the same risk of breast cancer as one who has no children.
— Women who have been pregnant have lower levels of certain hormones, including estrogen and prolactin.
Source: Chicago Tribune
Tidbits
— Lavender-scented candles and peppermint tea have been shown to help improve mood and promote relaxation in women with PMS.
— Being overweight increases your likelihood of being passed over for promotion by 3,610 percent … and you’re up to 400 percent more likely to be mistreated by a co-worker. That’s the price we pay for living in a shallow world.
— The best mouthwash to put down germs is Listerine Antiseptic or any generic knockoff that lists the same ingredients (thymol, eucalyptol, salicylate and menthol).
— Japanese researchers report that spending 15 minutes a day in sauna can improve blood circulation.
— A device that uses narrow-band phototherapeutic light (ClearLight) to get rid of bacteria associated with acne has been approved for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne.
— Although non-AIDS-related causes of death with HIV account for a substantial minority, AIDS-related mortality has declined and non-AIDS-connected mortality has remained stable.
Sources: Men’s Health; Internal Medicine World Report