Melanoma Progression Seen to Be Affected by Stress Levels

Another reason to encourage relaxation and stress relief at the spa—melanoma has been found to progress more rapidly in those that are stressed.

Stress appears to hasten the progression of aggressive or advanced melanoma skin cancer, but commonly prescribed blood pressure drugs may slow the disease and improve the quality of patients’ lives, according to an Ohio State University study.

In laboratory tests, the researchers exposed samples of three melanoma cell lines to the stress hormone norepinephrine and looked for changes in the levels of certain proteins released by the cells: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which stimulates the growth of new blood vessels to feed a growing tumor; and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), which play a role in tumor growth.

When exposed to norepinephrine, all three melanoma cell lines increased production of the three proteins. In C8161 cells—the most aggressive and advanced form of melanoma—there was “a 2,000% increase in IL-6. In untreated samples from this cell line, you normally can’t detect any IL-6 at all,” Eric V. Yang, a research scientist at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, said in an OSU news release. “What this tells us is that stress might have a worse effect on melanoma that is in a very aggressive or advanced stage, and that one marker for that might be increased levels of IL-6,” Yang said.

The researchers found that norepinephrine molecules bind to receptors on the surface of cancer cells, which stimulates the release of the pro-cancer proteins. Further tests showed that common beta-blocker blood pressure drugs significantly reduced melanoma cells’ production of IL-6 and the other two proteins. The drugs did this by blocking the receptors on the surface of the cancer cells.

The findings, published in the February issue of the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, suggest that beta-blockers may help slow the progression of melanoma, Yang and colleagues said. Each year in the United States, almost 48,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed and nearly 8,000 people die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

More information

The American Academy of Dermatology has more about melanoma.

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There are circles we are grateful for in all times – a circle of friends or family – that come together to simply be in each other’s company, share experiences or interests. They keep us connected and grounded to what is really important. Willow Stream The Spas At Fairmont launches the Gratitude Circle, an initiative that allows spa goers the chance to make an impact in their communities while doing something healthy for themselves.

“Over the past year we’ve noticed an increase in ‘circles’ spending time together in our spas,” explains Anne McCall Wilson, Vice President Spas, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. “We decided that we wanted to show our gratitude for their choosing to spend their time with us and the Willow Stream Gratitude Circle was born.”

The Gratitude Circle encourages local spa guests to pass on the great feeling they have when they leave the spa to their favourite local charity. The concept is quite simple; spa guests register their unofficial group of friends at their local Willow Stream Spa. They can register their book club, golf team or neighbourhood gardening group, or just their group of girlfriends. They then select a registered charity or not-for-profit to receive a percentage of spa sales every time they spa. Willow Stream then issues a charitable donation of 10% of their total spa bill (including treatments, retail and meals, excluding taxes and gratuities) to the charity of their choice, each quarter.

“We believe Willow Stream’s Gratitude Circle provides guests with another way to get engaged in the community,” says McCall Wilson. “And since Fairmont has a longstanding tradition of being an integral part of their communities, Willow Stream Gratitude Circles simply continue this tradition. Our goal is to have 100 circles registered by the end of the year. We’ll keep everyone updated through group threads on our Facebook and Twitter pages.”

To register with Willow Stream’s Gratitude Circle, guests can call their local Willow Stream spa or email willowstream.spa@fairmont.com indicating their contact information, local spa preference, and a spa experience coordinator will follow up to complete the registration process.

Launched in 2001, Willow Stream A Fairmont Spa is the award-winning signature spa brand of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Willow Stream Spas guide their spa guests to find their energy. Willow Stream has ten locations – Fairmont Scottsdale (Arizona), The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club (Florida), The Fairmont Banff Springs (Alberta, Canada), The Fairmont Empress (Victoria, British Columbia), The Fairmont Southampton (Bermuda), The Fairmont Acapulco Princess (Mexico), The Fairmont Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Fairmont Mayakoba in the heart of the Riviera Maya near Playa del Carmen, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace (Montreux, Switzerland) and Fairmont Singapore (Asia).

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What better way to send the message that you care about the recipients of your holiday gifts this year — give them a gift of health! No matter what their age, there are many gift ideas that will help your friends and family live healthier, high quality lives.

Eating well and taking care of our bodies has increasingly become the subject of public health and media messages. Fortunately, there are numerous products on the market that can help us to do so.

When it comes to eating well, gifts might include books or a magazine subscription related to healthy cooking, a basket of novel healthy foods, kitchen gadgets or machines that can make healthy foods (such as a blender for smoothies, an air popper for popcorn, a grill basket, etc.). Why not gather copies of your favorite healthy recipes or find some online and create a personalized recipe file or notebook?

Consider theme gifts with several related items included. This might be a set of pottery bowls and a healthy soup cookbook. It could be a bread machine with a whole grain bread cookbook. How about a wok with healthy stir-fry sauces, special whole grain rice, and healthy recipes?

A welcome gift might be healthy cooking classes or a healthy food-of-the-month club. A personalized gift might be a certificate that promises that you will make a healthy meal for them sometime in the future. For a larger gift, find a personal chef in the area or a caterer who can prepare one or more day’s worth of food. This is a special gift for new parents, someone who does not enjoy cooking, older adults who find cooking for themselves difficult, or a family with both parents working. You could also give a gift certificate for a meal at a healthy restaurant or health food store.

We all know how important it is to be physically active. Consider giving books, videos/DVDs, or magazines on topics related to being active. This could include topics such as dancing, kayaking, hiking or cross country ski trails, bike repair, running or strength training. Music-based audio tapes are a great accompaniment to physical activity. Many people enjoy walking tapes or books on tape. For some activities there are special boots, shoes, clothing, gloves or protective gear that make a welcome gift.

Then of course, there are all the gadgets related to sports or working out — bats, balls, rackets, nets, hoops, weights, yoga mats, exercise balls or bands, pedometers, jump ropes, bike and biking gear, hiking gear, and others. For enjoying outdoor winter activities, try snowshoes, cross country or downhill ski equipment, sleds or skates.

For parents of small children, it is often difficult for the parents to get out and exercise because of child-care issues. A solution might be finding ways to take the children along. Related gifts might be backpack child carriers for hiking, attachments for bikes that can allow you to bring children along, or jogger strollers. Mom or dad can then multitask and get in their cardio and strength training all at once.

Several interactive computer games are available that make physical activity especially fun. They are a creative way to get children more active. How about the gift of classes related to physical activity (aerobics, yoga, tai chi, dancing, swimming, kickboxing, spinning, Pilates, etc.) or membership to a gym. Consider giving a gift certificate for them to spend time with a personal trainer or dietitian can help to personalize goals for improved eating habits and physical activity.

A larger gift for the whole family might be a treadmill, elliptical machine, rowing machine, stair machine, stationary bike (or a stand to convert your road bike to a stationary one for the winter).

Another great family gift — to plan a family vacation that involves being active — biking, hiking, rafting, snorkeling, kayaking, etc. How about the gift of membership in a club related to outdoor activities (hiking, skiing, etc.) or a season pass.

Since stress counters our health goals, think of ideas that encourage friends and family to relax. This might be a spa gift certificate for a massage or a meditation class. It could be a promise to watch someone’s children while they take a break to do something relaxing (like time to read or take a bubble bath) or for time to exercise.

Recordings of relaxing music are a great gift idea. How about tickets to a concert of relaxing music? There are many books on the subject of relaxation as well. A much-appreciated gift might be a certificate for time at a local day spa.

So put on your thinking cap. Pretend it is you that is the recipient and ponder what you would like as a gift that would help you to reach your health goals. In fact, this might just be the list you give to people who ask you what you want for a gift at the holidays!

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