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September 16, 2009 (Newswise) - Vitamin D appears to boost health from head to toe, according to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. But, so far, there's no consensus on what level of vitamin D is optimal for good health. Recent reports on vitamin D suggest that it offers many benefits, especially for older adults. Findings point to improved balance, reduction in the risk of bone fractures, and better thinking skills such as planning, organizing and abstract thinking. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders, infections such as tuberculosis, and periodontal disease. Low vitamin D levels also may affect certain cancers, including colon, breast and prostate cancers. Vitamin D is the on...

When Maura Tierney had to leave Parenthood because she needs to undergo treatment for breast cancer, there was speculation about who might replace her since the NBC project would be resuming.

Osteoporosis is a growing concern among breast cancer survivors and their doctors, because certain cancer drugs can cause bone loss.

The diabetes drug metformin has shown success in treating breast cancer when paired with common chemotherapy drugs, a mouse study suggests.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. Although the natural course of DCIS is not well understood, this intraductal carcinoma can become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues. However, not all DCIS will progress to invasive disease, and it is thought that DCIS can be present in some individuals without causing problems over a long period. Unfortunately, it is currently not clear which lesion types are more likely to become invasive. There is also still uncertainly regarding the most effective treatment modality and how this may vary by specific tumor and patient characteristics, leading to difficult decisions for patients and providers.

NEW equipment to study genes in breast cancers and three new breast cancer research projects are on the way for Aberdeen thanks to the efforts of thousands of women in Fraserburgh.

A new study was able to weed out gene-related risk factors for breast cancer (like BRAC1 and BRAC2) and provide the first clear data on the precise risk that obesity poses to women for breast cancer. The study found that gaining 34 pounds anytime after the age of twenty increased the risk of breast cancer by 68%. However, the study also showed that gaining 22 pounds after the age of thirty or gaining 12 pounds after the age of forty doubled the risk for breast cancer. This points out that the older a woman is the less tolerance for inflammation related to the process of gaining weight she has. It is very clear that breast cancer risk increases as problems of leptin resistance, insulin resistance, and IGF-1 malfunction combine with the inflammation of obesity. This study shows that the process of gaining weight is itself cancer causing. In other words, if a woman gained 15 pounds when she was twenty-five and did not gain weight after that she would ha no incre

Doctors say breast milk is best, despite a study finding a formula raises IQ.

Dr. Jennifer Ashton speaks with her brother, reconstructive surgeon Dr. Evan Garfein, about breast cancer reconstruction and the 'In It Together Fund'. For more info e-mail, egarfein@yahoo.com.

Tamoxifen and raloxifene can reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer by up to half, but they increase the risk of blood clots.