October 1, 2007

12:10: The Health Roundup, with Jay, Jamie and Jimmy.

12:20: St. Joseph’’s Healthcare Hamilton is embarking on a pilot project that will use nursing skills to improve patient access to colorectal cancer screening St. Joseph’’s and HHS are two of the first six healthcare institutions in Ontario to initiate this pilot project. As part of the project, Registered Nurses will be performing procedures on patients as part of the colorectal cancer screening program.
Guest: Dr. David Morgan

12:35: Time for our weekly visit with Shalom Village.
Guest: Pat Morden, CEO of Shalom Village.

12:45: DayNight Pharmacy segment.
Guest: Irene.

Irene talked a new study just released "Alcohol Boosts Breast Cancer Risk".
It's been said that drinking alcohol in moderation is good for your heart, but according to a new study, when it comes to breast cancer, women may want to put down that glass of red wine. The study confirmed a link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk. The Kaiser Permanente Health group looked at records for more than 70,000 women over a 20 year period. It was found that women who drink as little as one drink a day have a 10 percent increased risk, while those who drink three drinks a day or more have a 30 percent increased risk. Researchers say that's similar to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. The study showed that it was the alcohol itself that caused the risk, not the type. Researchers found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer among women who drank wine, beer, or liquor. Still doctors have said that other factors, such as genetics, obesity and age were more in raising the breast cancer risk than was alcohol consumption. Though it is not entirely clear how alcohol contributes to breast cancer, some experts think it raises hormone levels that could potentially cause cancer. According to data published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2002, 4% of all breast cancers about 44,000 cases a year, in the United Kingdom are due to alcohol consumption. Any alcohol consumption will raise your breast cancer risk, women don't have to abstain from alcohol entirely, but they need to be aware of the risks they're taking when they have a few drinks. More public education may be needed, people may not realize the risk.