That's Fit

Those who work their butts off physically often enjoy a bit of added protection against cancer. And sometimes they don't. Just ask Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau, who was just recently diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Shanteau, 24, won't let cancer stop him from going for Gold in the 200-meter breaststroke -- he plans to delay his surgery until after he competes. Don't worry. The swimmer will be closely monitored and will drop out of the Olympics should his cancer appear to spread. "By no means am I being stupid about this," says Shanteau, who has high hopes for a successful recovery.

According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer, one of the most curable forms of cancer in the United States, will strike about 8,090 U.S. men in 2008. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000.

The American Cancer Society tells us that the hot dogs, burgers, and chicken we take on our picnics should be kept at 140 degrees F or higher and that our cold food should stay chilled at 41 degrees F or colder. Real Simple magazine weighs in on a few temperature matters too.

There are the basics: Normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees F, water boils at 212 degrees, and it freezes at 32 degrees. But what's the ideal temperature for wine? Well, 45-50 degrees F for white wine and 60-65 for red. What about that relaxing bath that's calling your name? Water temp should be 96-104 degrees. Make it any hotter and you may break down your skin's protective barrier, which guards against pollution, germs, and bacteria. Who knew?

Did you know your fridge should be set between 32 and 40 degrees and your freezer should register at a big fat 0? Food will spoil faster in warmer temps, and the quality of food will change if it's too cold. What about green tea? Your water should reach 170 degrees. This is lower than what you need for black tea because green leaves burn more easily. An omelet? You want an internal temperature of 160 degrees. And when your day is coming a close and it's time for a little shut-eye, snuggle in at a nice 68 degrees. A good sleep requires your body temperature to drop by losing heat into the environment. Sticking your arms and legs outside the covers and removing your bedtime socks will help the heat escape.

Protect yourself in the outdoors, says The American Cancer Society (ACS) -- read all about it here -- and protect your picnic food too, say the cancer experts who are sending me an electronic monthly newsletter all about healthy living.

Warm weather poses a big threat of food-borne illness, according to the ACS. So: Keep bacteria away at your next outdoor feast with these five easy steps.

• Wash your hands before cooking and again after cooking, especially after touching raw meat. If you aren't near a faucet, grab a wet napkin or hand sanitizer -- they'll reduce the number of germs on your hands.

• Keep hot food hot. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken should be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer.

• Keep cold foods cold. Even if you've got your food packed in a cooler, tuck it in a shady area. Keep at 41 degrees F or cooler.

• Wash melons before cutting them. This way, less bacteria will slip into the flesh from the rind when you slice them.

• Bring extra plates to cut down on cross-contamination. Use some to handle raw foods and others to handle cooked foods.

I met a woman the other day while waiting to get my annual mammogram. She had a suspicious something she was waiting to have examined and during our discussion about her concerns, I told her about my history with breast cancer. At some point during our chat, she shared that she wasn't so sure diet plays any real role in preventing cancer. Maybe no one can be entirely sure but it does seem a worthy endeavor to clean up your diet just in case. If it turns out diet and cancer have no link -- most evidence, however, supports that fact that they do -- then at the very minimum, you've stepped up your health a bit. There's no harm in that.

Back to the cancer connection, and the evidence that says meals really do matter.

What you eat counts, say the American Cancer Society experts. Food choices not only provide vital nutrients that can help prevent cancer, but they also help people maintain healthy weights. Research suggests that one-third of U.S. cancer deaths each year can be attributed to poor diets and inactivity. Another third is due to tobacco use. The last third: genetic variations and environmental factors.

I don't want to be too heavy or too sedentary. I know both will increase the odds that my cancer will come back.

Most cancer survivors know a healthy lifestyle can help prevent recurrences and increase life expectancies. Yet, new research finds that this group has rates of obesity and physical inactivity similar to those of the general population. This is troubling because maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular exercise is critical for cancer survivors who wish to conquer their diseases and live a long life.

The details of this research, published in the June issue of Cancer, include the following.

• Less than one quarter of cancer survivors were physically active.

• Thirty-four percent of survivors were overweight. Almost one in five were obese.

• The lowest rates of physical activity were found among colorectal cancer survivors, breast cancer survivors, and female survivors of melanoma.
  
  

Kevin Stein, director of Quality of Life Research at the American Cancer Society, says this research underscores the fact that cancer survivors need to pay attention to their health.

"There is a teachable moment when someone is diagnosed," he says, "It's the perfect opportunity to say, 'We all need to eat healthy and exercise, but it's even more important for you as a cancer survivor.'"

If avoiding cancer is a priority for you, check out this AOL Body site.

Cancer is everywhere. Still, researchers and scientists and doctors don't fully understand the disease. Either does the average American. When the American Cancer Society put 1,000 people to the test, these four questions stumped many respondents. Sixty-eight percent got the first one wrong.

Now it's your turn. Which of the following are true?

1. The risk of dying from cancer is increasing in the U.S.

2. Your risk of lung cancer is greater if you live in a polluted city than if you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day.

3. Some injuries can cause cancer later in life.

4. Some or all of the following cause cancer: cell phones, deodorant, antiperspirant, under-wire bras.

A bunch of NCAA basketball coaches and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) declared war on cancer this past weekend by partnering with the American Cancer Society for Coaches vs. Cancer, a nationwide collaboration that empowers coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

The Coaches vs. Cancer concept, spearheaded in 1993, has led to programs such as basketball tournaments in November and Suits and Sneakers -- coaches nationwide were encouraged to wear sneakers with their suits while coaching this weekend to remind fans about eating right, exercising, and making healthy lifestyle choices. There are boutique shopping events in April, golf invitationals in June, and Referres vs. Cancer, a fundraising campaign that began this weekend and concludes with a presentation at the Final Four.

Thanks to the NABC and everyone who has helped since this program's inception to raise $40 million in direct revenue for the American Cancer Society's. Score!

Men and women all over are prepping to walk and run their butts off this October, all in the name of breast cancer and the month dedicated to this deadly disease. There's the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and Susan G. Komen 3-Day, to name a few. These events will raise awareness, funds, even hope. This is all so important. What I like about these charitable causes, though, is that they center around fitness.

There seems no other appropriate way to honor those fighting and losing their battles with breast cancer than by pounding the pavement. Exercise is critical in the prevention of cancer. It helps alleviate the burdens of cancer treatment. And it helps ensure survival of a disease the American Cancer Society reports will strike 178,480 women and kill 40,460 women in the United States during 2007.

If you've not yet registered to make your own strides, consider walking or running in a local event. Or just start walking and running. It's good for breast cancer. It's good for your health.

After decades of focusing in on trying to curb the smoking appetite of Americans, the American Cancer Society will change course, starting this week, and will target health care reforms that look at why so many citizens go without health insurance as cancer rates continue to climb.

Cancer death rates are higher for the uninsured, and that fact is causing the organization to spotlight the challenges of uninsured (or underinsured) cancer patients. I hope this does not mean that prevention tactics are being put aside for good.

Having adequate insurance should be a priority for us all. But then again, 44 million U.S. citizens don't even have it, a staggering amount for the world's richest nation. While prevention is key to any disease, taking take of those who need it (but perhaps cannot afford it) appears to the the front pitch for the organization now. What's your take on this controversial move?

When I was growing up, if there was a kid in the neighborhood that had a trampoline that kid was the most popular person on the block. In the summer, all the local youngsters would head over to double-bounce each other and on hot days, run a sprinkler underneath to cool off. Not only was it great exercise, it was a whole lot of fun.

So I find it disappointing to read that both the Canadian Paediatric Society and Canadian Academy of Sports Medicine have recommended that parents not let their their kids use trampolines at home for recreational purposes. I realize that the bouncy equipment results in loads of injuries each year. According to the information I found, injuries ranged from approximately 20,000 to 60,000 a year in the US based on 5-year period and between 149 and 660 a year in Canada over a 13-year period -- which doesn't sound like much compared to the US numbers but the they are actually pretty similar when looked at on a per capita basis.

Granted that's a lot of broken arms and sprained wrists but rather than suggesting an altogether ban as a solution, I prefer Health Canada's approach which advocates educating kids about the dangers of trampoline use. Basically, parents need to be reasonable and take responsibility for their kids safety. It's important to advise children on safe trampoline use, set strict boundaries and be willing to take the time to supervise but I don't think that it's necessary to prevent your kids from using trampolines at all.

The trend in society has always been toward the bolder and less inhibited, from the changes in swimsuits to what's now allowed on TV -- from generation to generation we're definitely not getting any more conservative! It's a delicate subject for some, as opinions on whether it's good or bad for society as a whole vary wildly.

That being said, menopause happens to all women at some point in their lives, and it's not always a simple or easy change to go through. Of course there's a time and a place for everything, but nowadays it's getting much easier for women to find the support and understanding they need because it's more acceptable to talk about things like hot flashes and mood swings. It used to be so "hush hush" that women were stuck suffering in silence.

I'm still pretty shy when it comes to blurting out personal issues in a public setting (and I'm not going through menopause), but it's nice to know that when I do want to talk about something it's not going to be a big deal or make for some broken social rule. And for those of you who do enjoy announcing "hot flash!" loudly over dinner? More power to you!

To start with.....you stink! Most folks I randomly interviewed today decided they'd rather sit next to someone who stepped in dog doo, than someone who was smoking a cigarette. Isn't that telling? Even if you recently smoked, but already put your cigarette out, you still stink. Gross. I imagine you didn't think it was that bad did you? You were wrong.

Second. It makes you unattractive. No amount of hair styling, fancy dressing, or scrub-a-dubbing can help when you have one of those nasty sticks hanging out of your mouth. Smoking also makes your teeth yellow and skin wrinkly. Mmmmm. That's pretty. If you smoke, just forget bathing or dressing well at all; with a cigarette in your mouth you'll always look bad.

Third. Pregnant women and parents all cringe when they cross your path. They fear your choice will kill their beautiful babies someday and they wish they could zap you away.