DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had an ongoing slow battle with squamous cell carcinoma for nine years. I enjoy a glass of wine each day with my evening meal. The attributes of red wine have often been stated but my oncologist says certain cancers “feed on red wine” and said to drink only whites. I cannot find any information to support this and wonder if it was just his opinion, since I have always preferred reds.
DEAR READER: For the sake of my readers who may not know exactly what squamous cell carcinoma is, I will identify the condition before I answer your question. It is a form of cancer that typically develops on unprotected skin. Rarely it can occur in the digestive tract, genito-urinary tract, lungs and other places. When diagnosed and treated early, it is rare that problems will develop. However, left untreated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious complications.
Most skin carcinomas of this type result from excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays – either from direct sunshine without appropriate sunscreen protection or tanning beds or lamps where I am sure very few, if any, people even make an effort to protect their skin from UV rays. What may not be completely understood is that UV damage is cumulative. The more time a person spends in a tanning bed, under UV lights or in direct sunlight, the greater the risk becomes of developing skin cancer. Other causes for squamous cell carcinoma include exposure to arsenic, drugs prescribed to prevent organ rejection post transplant surgery, and PUVA (psoralen plus ultraviolet A) treatment for psoriasis. This is not to imply that all individuals that have have PUVA treatment will develop squamous cell carcinoma, but that the risk may be increased. Other risk factors include age, having fair skin and/or red hair and being of Europeon descent.
Symptoms include a red nodule, or a flat, scaly lesion. They often present on exposed areas of skin such as on the ears, neck and backs of the hands. Those inside the mouth may be white in color.
Now on to wine colors. In May 2003 research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison performed on mice, stated that resveritol, a chemical compound found in red wine, grapes and some nuts, may have the potential to help prevent certain skin cancers. In August 2011 CBS News reported that Spanish scientists discovered that grapes and red wines contain compounds known as flavonoids block changes in the body associated with causing skin damage; and as far back as 2002 the National Cancer Institute reported on research of antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols that may help inhibit the development of certain cancers. It has been reported that white wine has significantly lower amounts of flavonoids than does red. Generally speaking, the sweeter the wine, the fewer the flavonoids. The bottom line…I cannot find any legitimate documentation on the virtues of white wine over red. My guess is that if you enjoy red wine, try an organic, dry variety – in moderation. If your physician can provide research from a reputable firm, I would love to be better educated but at this stage, I’m on the fence.
If readers have one or more lesions on their bodies that may be questionable, do yourselves a favor. Visit your dermatologist for a “look see”. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to find something simple has progressed unnecessarily to a more complex situation. Should a lesion require treatment, the course of action might include excision of the lesion, laser therapy, or cryosurgery. More extensive coverage might even require radiation or chemotherapy.DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had an ongoing slow battle with squamous cell carcinoma for nine years. I enjoy a glass of wine each day with my evening meal. The attributes of red wine have often been stated but my oncologist says certain cancers “feed on red wine” and said to drink only whites. I cannot find any information to support this and wonder if it was just his opinion, since I have always preferred reds.
DEAR READER: For the sake of my readers who may not know exactly what squamous cell carcinoma is, I will identify the condition before I answer your question. It is a form of cancer that typically develops on unprotected skin. Rarely it can occur in the digestive tract, genito-urinary tract, lungs and other places. When diagnosed and treated early, it is rare that problems will develop. However, left untreated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious complications.
Most skin carcinomas of this type result from excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays – either from direct sunshine without appropriate sunscreen protection or tanning beds or lamps where I am sure very few, if any, people even make an effort to protect their skin from UV rays. What may not be completely understood is that UV damage is cumulative. The more time a person spends in a tanning bed, under UV lights or in direct sunlight, the greater the risk becomes of developing skin cancer. Other causes for squamous cell carcinoma include exposure to arsenic, drugs prescribed to prevent organ rejection post transplant surgery, and PUVA (psoralen plus ultraviolet A) treatment for psoriasis. This is not to imply that all individuals that have have PUVA treatment will develop squamous cell carcinoma, but that the risk may be increased. Other risk factors include age, having fair skin and/or red hair and being of Europeon descent.
Symptoms include a red nodule, or a flat, scaly lesion. They often present on exposed areas of skin such as on the ears, neck and backs of the hands. Those inside the mouth may be white in color.
Now on to wine colors. In May 2003 research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison performed on mice, stated that resveritol, a chemical compound found in red wine, grapes and some nuts, may have the potential to help prevent certain skin cancers. In August 2011 CBS News reported that Spanish scientists discovered that grapes and red wines contain compounds known as flavonoids block changes in the body associated with causing skin damage; and as far back as 2002 the National Cancer Institute reported on research of antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols that may help inhibit the development of certain cancers. It has been reported that white wine has significantly lower amounts of flavonoids than does red. Generally speaking, the sweeter the wine, the fewer the flavonoids. The bottom line…I cannot find any legitimate documentation on the virtues of white wine over red. My guess is that if you enjoy red wine, try an organic, dry variety – in moderation. If your physician can provide research from a reputable firm, I would love to be better educated but at this stage, I’m on the fence.
If readers have one or more lesions on their bodies that may be questionable, do yourselves a favor. Visit your dermatologist for a “look see”. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to find something simple has progressed unnecessarily to a more complex situation. Should a lesion require treatment, the course of action might include excision of the lesion, laser therapy, or cryosurgery. More extensive coverage might even require radiation or chemotherapy.
