House Call, MD

by Kelly Erickson, MD | erickson@myhousecallmd.com

We all know what “cancer” is, but when you or a loved one hears it as a diagnosis in the physician’s office, the word suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.  Not only may you become overwhelmed with emotions and the notion of mortality, but also with an entirely new vocabulary.  The number of words the medical community has conjured up to describe cancer is astounding.  As scary as it sounds, your understanding of cancer and the terms we use to describe it are paramount to your personal decisions and treatment.  Here we will explain the basics of cancer as well as outline some of the most commonly used terminology in the field of oncology (a.k.a. cancer…and the vocabulary lesson begins).

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Green tea’s medicinal use reaches far back in the history of mankind.  It’s about time someone sorted through all the green tea urban legends, separating the voodoo from the scientifically-proven applications…and that’s exactly what the American Academy of Family Physicians did.  You’ll be amazed to see what they found.

Scientifically-Proven Uses:

1. Cancer: High intake of green tea (i.e. 3-10 cups per day) has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 20%, the risk of colon cancer by 18%, and the risk of stomach & esophageal cancer by 50%.  Some conflicting evidence exists, however, so the final verdict is still out, but green tea seems to be a promising way to reduce the risk of cancer.

2. Genital & Anal Warts:  Yes, this is (shockingly) true.  Green tea extract in topical cream form (called Veregen) has been proven effective in the treatment of genital and anal warts caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).  Research is being done to see if this same compound can be used for the treatment of cervical disease caused by HPV.

3. Stroke: Individuals who consume five or more cups of green tea per day significantly reduce their risk of stroke.

The Voodoo:

1. Weight Loss: Studies looking at weight loss with the consumption of green tea show mixed results, at best.  The weight loss seen in some studies is believed to be related to the caffiene in the tea which increases your metabolism at high doses (which subsequently leads to weight loss).  Other studies have not seen any weight loss with high doses of green tea (i.e. it didn’t work).  We recommend hitting the gym for 30 minutes a day rather than trying to consume over 10 cups of green tea…it seems a bit more reasonable.

2. High Cholesterol & Triglycerides: Studies found that green tea does NOT reduce an individuals cholesterol or triglyceride levels.  Stick to your low cholesterol diet!