Sunshine Could Be a Cancer Fighter

Micki Flowers
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Health Reporter

Vita-Lite is made by Durotest Lighting. It is a full spectrum light, like the natural light of the sun. You can buy at www.full-spectrum-lighting.com

It's a surprising place to look for a cancer fighter, but researchers are looking to the sun!

Health Reporter Micki Flowers reveals why the sun may actually help prevent certain cancers.

We've all heard too much sun can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Now researchers are viewing the sun in a different light! They think a bi-product of sunlight may actually be helpful in the battle against several types of cancer.

Bill McLaughlin is a prostate cancer survivor and a cyclist who rides thousands of miles a year.

"It's just a beautiful way to see the world."

Bill's regular exercise and limited exposure to the sun are also important to his health.

Researchers say when you're exposed to sunlight, your body creates vitamin D.

Lab tests show vitamin D is a potential cancer killer.

"It can cause the cells to either stop growing and just arrest or just sit and not grown and divide, or it can actually kill tumor cells very specifically," said Dr. Candice Johnson, researcher.

Now New York researchers are testing that power on humans, by giving patients like Bill high dose vitamin D pills to see how it affects prostate cancer. That's just the beginning.

"We've already begun planning for trials in head and neck cancer, perhaps leukemia, and we are now beginning a trial here at Roswell Park that will give this drug intravenously with chemotherapy," said Dr. Donald Trump, researcher.

While researchers try to determine if vitamin D works as a cancer fighter, Bills says he'll continue to bike and enjoy the sun, in case it offers a ray of hope for cancer patients.

Diet is another way to get a dose of vitamin D. Foods like milk, cheese, and fish. But doctors say don't overdo it. That can lead to unpleasant side effects.