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Cancer treatment studies: curry and friends




Curry, friendships and physical movement may provide treatment for specific cancers.

Cancer Research UK and Leicester University aims to conduct a two-year trial to investigate if a curry ingredient can improve the treatment of patients with bowel cancer (www.thetelegraph.com.au, 8 May, 2012). They will supplement traditional chemotherapy treatment with pills containing curcumin, a compound found in turmeric—the yellow curry spice. The scientists think that curcumin can boost the ability of chemotherapy drugs to kill bowel cancer cells. Previous studies indicated that it may slow the spread of cancer, improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and protect healthy cells from the effects of radiography. Curcumin is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and it also acts as an anti-oxidant. It has previously been used to help treat liver and digestive disorders, allergies, and even acne. The Cancer Research UK trial will recruit 40 patients with bowel cancer that has spread to their livers. Once bowel cancer spreads to the liver, patients often do not respond to chemotherapy drugs, so it is hoped that the curry treatment may make a positive difference.

Other research in Britain by the World Cancer Research Fund and the National Prevention Research initiative found that young girls with lots of friends were more physically active (www.thetelegraph.com.au, 8 May, 2012). For each additional friend, the girl spent 10 minutes being physically active at the weekend. Each extra friend was also associated with almost four extra minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity after school during the week. Scientists studied the health of girls and boys in the years between primary and secondary school. However, the link between the number of friends and exercise was only noticed in girls.

In an Australian study, teenage girls who joined an obesity-prevention program became more active and sat at technology (computers and television) less. However, they did not significantly reduce their body mass index. The University of Newcastle spent a year tracking 357 girls aged 12-14 from low income areas as they undertook the nutrition and activity program. The program was conducted in 6 schools in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast, and offered sport sessions, nutritional seminars and used text messages for support and encouragement. The aim was to reduce overall body fat. Even though the program did not significantly reduce body fat, there were positive changes to their body composition and there were reductions to screen time in front of technological items. Girls in the program spent 30 minutes less per day on screen activities including computer, television, and video games, compared to other girls not on the program. The aim is now to study the link between extra physical movement and the likelihood of preventing or delaying specific types of cancer.



MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).
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