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Sen. Arlen Specter has recurrence of Hodgkin's disease
By Sue Mueller
Apr 16, 2008 - 12:07:48 PM

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WEDNESAY APRIL 16, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Washington Post reported that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said in a statement released April 15 that his cancer has returned. The five-term senator underwent treatment for Hodgkin's disease in 2005 and was later given a clean bill of health.

Hodgkin's disease is also known as Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system that is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell.

Specter, 78, said doctors diagnosed an early recurrence of Hodgkin's, but he did not experience any symptoms.

Symptoms of the cancer often include the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or other immune tissue. Other symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, or night sweats.

Specter said the recurrence of Hodgkin's disease would not stop him from running for reelection in 2010.  He has served five terms in the Senate representing the state of Pennsylvania.

Hodgkin's disease is expected to be diagnosed in 8,220 and to kill 1,350 people in 2008 in the United States, according to cancer.gov.

For more information on the story, read Specter Says His Cancer Has Returned
 
Still, there is some good news for today.  New research showed vitamin D and calcium help prevent colon cancer.

Researchers at Emory University conducted a trial and found more evidence to suggest that taking vitamin D and calcium supplements may lower risk of colon cancer.

The clinical trial of 92 patients showed supplementing diet with vitamin D and calcium increased the level of a protein known as Bax.

High levels of Bax might be pushing precancerous cells into apoptosis or programmed cell death, Veronika Fedirko said.

The results were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in San Diego.

Previous studies have already shown that calcium and vitamin D tend to reduce colon cancer risk.