Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

Lifechangers: Jennifer Grey Credits Expert Doc with Saving Her Life

"Dancing with the Stars" contestant Jennifer Grey is one of the leaders in the competition -- and she has her doctor to thank for it.

"Extra" Lifechanger and spinal specialist Dr. Robert Bray helped Grey overcome crippling neck pain, stemming from a devastating car accident 20 years ago. She never dreamed she would go on "Dancing," but the doc gave her the go-ahead.

"My first impression when she asked if she could dance was 'Not a chance.' Her neck was unfortunately unstable from the accident," Dr. Bray explained. "The ligaments were torn in the back of her neck and her head was actually angled forward."

But Jennifer told "Extra's" Mario Lopez at the Grove Dr. Bray saw a way to correct her spine. "I had had my spine fused. He goes in and does the tiniest tweaks and he saved me from being paralyzed."

He also found her thyroid cancer. "On the MRI of her neck to look at the disc and spinal cord, we also saw a lump in her neck which she knew about," the doctor said. "I told her that didn't look good. I had a concern it was cancer, and I encouraged her to get it taken care of."

The end result is Grey is now cancer-free and a "Dancing" frontrunner, but Dr. Bray is still keeping a close eye on her. "I went over to the studio where she was working out with Derek and went through with him that when you do certain moves, put your hand here, protect her neck."

To learn more about Jennifer's doctor and the DISC Spine Center, the official Medical Services Provider of the US Olympic Games, go to DiscMDGroup.com.

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that environmental factors could be playing a role in the increasing number of prostate cancer cases in the U.S. and elsewhere? -- Joshua Gordon, New York, NY

Prostate cancer is a growing problem for men in the

U.S.

as well as in other developed nations around the world. Some 40,000 American men lose their battle with prostate cancer every year—the only cancer more deadly for

U.S.

men is skin cancer. Age is the primary “risk factor” for developing prostate cancer. One out of every six American men over the age of 40 will develop prostate cancer, while four out of five over 80 years old will get it. Of course, genes also play a big role. The American Cancer Society reports that a man’s prostate cancer risk doubles if his father or brother has suffered from the disease. Researchers believe a genetic predisposition accounts for as many as 10 percent of all cases of the disease in the

U.S.

Beyond age and genetics, though, environmental factors do likely play a role. WebMD reports, for instance, that prostate cancer occurs about 60 percent more often in African American men than in white American men, and when diagnosed is more likely to be advanced. But interestingly enough, prostate cancer rates for African men living in their native countries are much lower. When native Africans immigrate to the

U.S.

, however, prostate cancer rates increase sharply.

According to WebMD, the reason for these differences are not fully understood, but an environmental connection—possibly related to high-fat diets, less exposure to the sun, exposure to heavy metals, infectious agents, or smoking—might be to blame. Some new research suggests that a switch to a diet high in fat could be a significant contributing factor in these cases. “The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are dietary staples,” adds WebMD.

The take-away for men concerned about prostate health is to eat healthier. Several studies suggest that a diet high in lycopene (an antioxidant found in high levels in tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon and some other fruits and veggies) could lower an individual’s risk of developing prostate cancer significantly.

Researchers have also found links between other environmental factors and prostate cancer. Dr. Matthew Schmitz, a prostate cancer specialist at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital and the prostate cancer “guide” at About.com, reports that exposure to high levels of cadmium (a naturally occurring element used in industrial processes and present in cigarette smoke) as well as dioxins (chemicals widely used in herbicides and other applications) have been linked to increased prostate cancer risk. Other researchers have noticed that men who take calcium supplements and multi-vitamins regularly may be at higher risk. Schmitz says that more research is needed to learn how risky such exposures really are.

For those who do get prostate cancer, some promising new treatments will be undergoing clinical trials soon. Dr. Marianne Sadar of the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver,

Canada

, has used an experimental drug adapted from sea sponges to shrink cancer tumors in mice. It will be a year before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration permits trials of the new drug on humans, but prostate patients and their doctors are holding out hope that this and other new treatments can obviate the need for many surgeries.

CONTACTS: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org; WebMD, www.webmd.com; About.com, www.about.com; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov.

Hollywood, Florida – Great HealthWorks is offering a year’s worth of Mussel Dog® to one lucky dog! This amazing ground breaking discovery in pet care provides everything a dog needs for a healthy coat, improved joint health, reduced stiffness and bright eyes thanks to the Green-Lipped Mussel.

To receive a free year’s supply, dog owners must visit the company’s facebook page, www.facebook.com/musseldog, and post a photo of their dog. At the end of December, one lucky dog owner will be chosen at random to receive a year’s worth of product!

Mussel Dog is a plankton based omega 3 fatty acid loaded with extremely high levels of antioxidants. Mussel Dog can:

Many dogs have shown results in just a few days after taking Mussel Dog. To get the maximum potential benefit, allow 4-6 weeks of continual usage. The cumulative effect and reparative natural of Mussel Dog’s omega 3 action provides an excellent opportunity for pet owners to take care of the animals like never before. www.musseldog.com or by calling 1-866-449-9678. It is not available in stores. Mussel Dog offers free shipping and handling with the monthly deliver program.