I named this blog The Cancer Canary, but lately I feel more like a magpie, collecting little bits of info and trying to piece together a bigger picture.
Check out this article in the June issue of Scientific American. It’s about the immune system and UV exposure. Mostly, it is about how plain old 🌞 sunshine can help those who suffer from muscular sclerosis and other auto-immune disorders. However, there are implications for cancer patients as well, as many cancers begin with inflammation.
Surprising Ways That Sunlight Might Heal Autoimmune Diseases | Scientific American
https://share.google/pBPdI6tGG2qqelzym
I came across another article recently about lidocaine being used to induce apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Apoptosis is the programmed cell death that should kill off old and damaged cells. Somehow, it switches off when a person develops cancer, and cells that should die off stop dying off.
This research is drawing a link between this simple topical numbing agent and the ability to trigger cell death. Amazing!
“Lidocaine’s distinct bitter taste arises from its activation of a taste receptor known as T2R14, a receptor found in high concentrations in various cancer cells, particularly those in the head and neck. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania postulated that lidocaine may interact with cancer cells through this receptor.”
Researchers Find the Mechanism Behind Potential Anticancer Properties in Lidocaine
And here’s one from Consumer Reports on how to avoid microplastics:
The Cancer Canary 