Low level chronic exposure to X-rays increases the risk of skin cancer

In a recent study of radiology technicians, even low level, chronic exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays) raised the risk of basal cell carcinoma. The risk was greater for people with lighter vs. darker hair and eye color. In a study of over 65,000 American radiologic technologists there was a 1.4 times greater risk of developing basal cell carcinoma but not squamous cell carcinoma. The study is published in the July 10th, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Curcumin, the ingredient in Turmeric, may fight melanoma according to preliminary research

Previously, researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have shown that curcumin, the active constituent in Turmeric, helps prevent tumors from forming in the lab. They recently demonstrated curcumins ability to inhibit the spread of breast cancer to the lungs of mice. In this cellular study, the researchers found that curcumin inhibited two enzymes that melanoma skin cancer needs to survive - to remain immortal. This caused the melanoma cancer cells to die. The research appears ahead of print in the upcoming issue of the journal Cancer.