A Healthy Start

Friday, November 8, 1996

UCLA doctor John Glaspy takes an innovative approach in the
fight against breast cancerBy Tiffany Lauter

Daily Bruin Contributor

reast cancer is expected to claim the lives of 44,560 women (and
260 men) this year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Although the risks of a few types of cancer has declined due to
advances in technology, the incidence of the most significant forms
of the disease, such as breast cancer, has increased. This increase
is especially apparent in countries where risk factors such as
unhealthful dietary habits and greater exposure to dangerous
chemicals are more common.

Countries such as Japan, which is considered low risk in
comparison to the United States, have recently experienced a
dramatic increase in breast cancer. "Cases are skyrocketing in
Japan," said Dr. John Glaspy, associate professor of medicine at
UCLA.

Glaspy is the current director of UCLA’s Bowyer Oncology Center.
He has recently been selected as one of the top 150 doctors in Los
Angeles by Los Angeles Magazine for his ongoing dedication to
patient care and his vision in research and education.

This vision has led him to analyze the sudden rise in cancer
rates among Asian countries.

According to Dr. Glaspy, when families migrate from low- to
high- risk countries, they assume the health risks of the new
country. He points to problems associated with environmental
factors such as diet.

The average amount of fat eaten in the U.S. is high, unlike
Japan where it is traditionally low.

Dr. Glaspy has studied changes in the Japanese diet over the
last 10 years.

"Basically, the U.S. is exporting breast cancer to Japan, it’s
part of our trading agreements," Glaspy said, laughing.

His observations indicate that as McDonald’s became a fixture in
Japanese cities, the incidence of breast cancer began to rise.
Japan’s youth have different dietary habits from their parents and
grandparents. Glaspy fears that the women of this younger
generation are more at risk than older Japanese women, who have
diets low in fat. He believes that their healthier eating habits
may be linked to their low mortality from breast cancer.

These observations led Dr. Glaspy to explore diet-based
treatment in American breast cancer victims after chemotherapy and
bone marrow transplants have failed.

He encourages these patients to change their diet to one
consisting of low-fat, soy-based foods, based on his theory that
these foods block the enzymes required for cancer growth.

"By changing body fat composition, we may be able to shrink
tumors," he said.

Glaspy’s research patients maintain quarterly appointments to
measure any changes in breast fat composition.

Enid Nagler, a 44-year-old mother of two, is considering joining
Dr. Glaspy’s research project.

She thinks that there are two types of cancer patients, "those
who need communication and follow-up, and those who have had it!
They are sick and tired of being poked and probed and just want to
move on with their lives."

She views the nonintrusive diet-based project as a way to move
on in her eight-year struggle with breast cancer.

So far, Nagler is impressed with the care she has received at
UCLA.

"There is a lot of communication among the different doctors. I
do not feel I am receiving one doctor’s opinion, but many, because
I know they all share their viewpoints," she said.

Nurse Manager Sheila Stinnett, also of the Bowyer Oncology
Center, is equally optimistic about the project. She says that diet
therapy for breast cancer victims is a simple, easily implemented
program to help women, and that Dr. Glaspy is very supportive of
his research patients.

"(The) doctor is willing to go out and talk to women to share
what he knows. He also has a knack for surrounding himself with
excellent staff who are committed and enthusiastic about their
work," she said.

Since the project has just begun, no measurable results have
been obtained. At this point, only 150 women are enrolled in the
limited UCLA program, but Glaspy foresees a broader application of
his research in the near future.

JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin

(l.) Dr. John Glaspy, medical director of UCLA’s Bowyer Oncology
Center and head of a medical research project involving soy and
fish oil diets. At right is Enid Negler, who is considering trying
the fish oil treatment experiment that Glaspy is directing.