Sunning Away Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates one in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer -- only 38 percent will survive more than five years. A new study shows where women live could put them at higher risk.

Enjoying the sunny outdoors can do more than give your spirits a boost. New research shows regular sun exposure may also boost the power of the immune system to ward off some cancers.

Cedric Garland, Ph.D., Professor Community and Family Medicine, University of California, San Diego: "The secret is the duration of exposure. The skin produces vitamin D during approximately the first 10 minutes of exposure."

Dr. Garland says the vitamin D produced during those 10 minutes builds a barrier against the growth of cancer cells. He found a dose of sunshine cut the risk of colon cancer in half and reduced breast cancer risk by as much as 60 percent. His newest research suggests there's also a link between climate and ovarian cancer.

Cedric Garland, Ph.D.: "In particular, women 45 to 54 years old in the northern half of the country were five times more likely to die of ovarian cancer than women in the same age group in the southern half of the country."

Washington, DC, had the highest death rate from ovarian cancer. Next came South Bend, Indiana and Madison, Wisconsin. The lowest death rate was in El Paso, Texas. Tampa, Phoenix and Charlotte, North Carolina also had low numbers. Dr. Garland says you can still get the benefits of sunlight without moving south.

Cedric Garland, Ph.D.:
"Maintain a diet that contains an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D."

If you're lucky enough to live under sunny skies year-round, Dr. Garland says limit your exposure and protect your face with a hat and sunscreen. You certainly don't want to risk getting skin cancer while you're trying to avoid ovarian cancer.

The researchers did find two exceptions to the link between sunlight and ovarian cancer. For reasons they don't know, San Diego and Los Angeles had high death rates from ovarian cancer despite their sunny weather.