Battling Cancer

I’ve been vaguely reading the hype regarding water bottles and a potential cancer link. Recently I decided to do some digging into the topic.

Here’s what I found:

BPA is the chemical causing the concern.

Bisphenol A is used to make hard clear water bottles (not the opaque ones), baby bottles, five-gallon water bottles and it is used to line the inside of some food cans.

Identifying BPA plastic containers:

If you pick up a plastic container it will have a triangle with a number in it. This identifies the type of plastic.

The Green Guide lists all plastics and their correlating recycling numbers (1-7), including those which may cause or are listed as potential carcinogens through the leaching out of chemicals.

By the way, those listed to avoid are:

#3 PVC Polyvinyl chloride. Used for clear cling wraps.
#6 PS Extruded polystyrene. Used to make Styrofoam.

and

#7 PC Polycarbonate which contains BPA.

Recent concerns regarding BPA:

• “National Toxicology Program, an office within the National Institutes of Health, acknowledged in a draft report that the chemical might cause cancer and other serious disorders. The chemical mimics estrogen in the human body, scientists say.” Source: The Washington Post.The report also indicates the chemical BPA may have effects on fetuses, infants and children at current exposure levels.

• Per the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports: In 2005, 109 of 119 recent research studies showed harmful effects from low level exposure of BPA. The 11 studies which found no harm were conducted by chemical companies. The FDA response was to claim no indication of safety concerns and was based on two chemical company research results.
• Degradation of the plastic increases leaching of BPA. Degradation is caused by heat, and chemicals, and acidic materials (like apple juice). Avoid sun exposure, and utilizing the dishwashers.

In the meantime, it is recommended that consumers utilize a stainless steel water bottle, not unlike this one that supports breast cancer, that is available on Amazon.com for less than six dollars.

If you use a stainless steel bottle, check to be sure the stainless steel bottle doesn’t have a plastic epoxy coating inside.

Or per recommendations from Consumer Reports, use plastic bottles that are considered safe: those without the #7 PC markings or those with the ” recycling codes 1 (PET) or 2 (HDPE), and polypropylene, 5 (PP). ”

Or stick to glass containers.

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Friday I’ll be giving away three books donated to the site by gracious authors, publicists and/or donors. All that is necessary for a chance to win, is to post a comment with a way to reach you. Winners will be chosen by random.

1. If Only In My Dreams by Wendy Markham. Best selling author, Wendy Markham a.k.a. New York Times best selling author, Wendy Corsi Staub is a busy writer, not only does she write women’s fiction as Wendy Markham, but she writes bestselling mystery/thrillers as Wendy Corsi Staub. Along with her young adult books she is releasing a new young adult paranormal series set in the Lily Dale spiritualist community of southern Western New York.

From Booklist. “Clara McCallum finally gets her big break as an actress when she’s cast as the romantic lead in a World War II-era epic, but the good news is accompanied by a frightening diagnosis of breast cancer. Though her doctor tells her it’s treatable, Clara can’t bring herself to tell those close to her and instead opts to go forth with filming. Her decision has unforeseen consequences when she boards a train for the set and ends up in New York in 1941 and meets the real-life Jed Landry, the soldier her character falls in love with in the movie. When Clara finds herself falling for Jed in the past, she’s torn between saving his life and returning to the future to undergo treatments to save her own. ”

From Publisher’s Weekly. “The fantastic setup is balanced with convincing period details and strong characters, and the story’s conclusion is unexpectedly real and refreshing. ”

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Since Wednesday’s post on Cancer in the News, I’ve talked to several authors and publicists regarding books featured here. Next week, thanks to their generosity, I will be giving away books.

Until then, here is a sneak peak.

I will be giving away a copy of New York Times, best selling author, Sherryl Woods’ new release, Seaview Inn.

From Publisher’s Weekly, “New York PR exec Hannah Mathews is in remission from the same disease that claimed her mother’s life months before: breast cancer. She heads south in an attempt to persuade her 85-year-old grandma, Jenny, to sell the Seaview Inn, the Florida Keys resort owned by her family for decades, and move into a retirement home. Spry and headstrong, Grandma Jenny isn’t ready to be put out to pasture, intending to spruce up the inn and reopen for business. Hannah’s daughter Kelsey, turns up pregnant; she plans to drop out of college, live at Seaview and put her baby up for adoption. Surgeon Luke Stevens, Hannah’s high school crush, shows up shortly thereafter, fresh from a stint in war-torn Iraq and carrying his own set of emotional baggage. A seasoned romance novelist of more than 100 titles, Woods is a master heartstring puller, and her endearingly flawed characters must deal with their plethora of problems in a predictable but satisfying manner.”

Additionally, check out Sherryl’s blog, Just Between Friends, where she recently held a contest and donated funds for the Susan G. Komen:For The Cure, in honor of a survivor or in memory of a loved one who lost the fight against breast cancer, and features stories from the contest on the blog.

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Source: CBC News

Death count mounts in breast cancer test fiasco

Last Updated: Friday, February 22, 2008 | 5:30 PM NT
CBC News

The number of deceased patients involved in a controversial series of breast cancer tests in Newfoundland and Labrador is significantly higher than previously thought, officials said Friday.

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