Cancer

Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue, and often has the ability to spread throughout your body. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, but survival rates are improving for many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening and -treatment. 

Causes

Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA within cells. The DNA inside a cell is packaged into a large number of individual genes, each of which contains a set of instructions telling the cell what functions to perform, as well as how to grow and divide. Errors in the instructions can cause the cell to stop its normal function and may allow a cell to become cancerous. Most gene mutations occur after you're born and are not inherited. A number of forces can cause gene mutations, such as smoking, radiation, viruses, cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens), obesity, hormones, chronic inflammation and a lack of exercise. 

Cancer and Melatonin

Numerous studies suggest that melatonin deficiency is linked to significantly higher cancer rates. Studies also show that melatonin plays a vital role in immune functions. Since melatonin suppresses cancer cell growth and multiplication, healthy melatonin levels can have a significant impact on cancer and cancer treatment.

Melatonin acts as a differentiating agent in some cancer cells and lowers their invasive and metastatic status by altering adhesion molecules and maintaining gap-junction intercellular communication. In other cell types melatonin alone, or with other agents, induces programmed cell death.

In a randomized study with advanced cancer patients with poor clinical status or chemotherapy-resistant tumors, it seemed melatonin enhanced tumor response rate, prolong survival time, and prevent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and asthenia.

Another study discovered a strong correlation between light wavelength, melatonin production, and immune response. Low wavelength (blue) light at night was shown to suppress both melatonin production, and in turn, the body’s general immune response.

Melatonin deficiency is linked to significantly higher cancer rates.

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS DISRUPTION TIED TO CANCER

There is an alarming link between shift workers, who commonly suffer from melatonin deficiencies, and cancer risk. Studies have shown that female shift workers have a statistically significant 48% increase in the risk of breast cancer. Studies show that shift work cause deficiency of melatonin and a subsequent disruption of the circadian rhythm. This in turns causes internal desynchronization and sleep disturbance which are linking shift work with cancer development and obesity. Other studies have demonstrated significant links between melatonin deficiency and risks for colon and prostate cancer.

Female shift workers had a statistically significant 48% increase in the risk of breast cancer.

HOW CIRCADIAN EYEWEAR CAN HELP PREVENT AND TREAT CANCER

Circadian Eyewear is a melatonin-treating medical device which eliminates the blue wavelengths from reaching the retina. Wearing Circadian Eyewear two hours before the scheduled sleep time can help entrain the circadian rhythms, regulate sleep duration and quality, and help the timely production and secretion of melatonin.

Since melatonin is shown to suppress cancer cell growth and multiplication, it is vital to optimize melatonin levels to help prevent and treat cancer. Melatonin supplementation may be one tool for managing cancer and other immune risks, but the surest, most natural remedy for melatonin deficiency is either staying in total darkness or providing light regulation by blocking the blue lights to optimize natural melatonin secretion at night.

Circadian Eyewear Collection

RESEARCH REGARDING CANCER TIED TO CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS 

Numerous studies over the past 50 years have demonstrated the relationship between blue light and melatonin production. Test subjects working a simulated night shift while wearing glasses which block the blue wavelengths, continued making melatonin much as they had when kept in darkness. The subjects not wearing blue light blocking glasses had a delay in their melatonin production and produced significantly less melatonin than the subjects wearing the glasses.

Experiments on mice have demonstrated the positive effects of melatonin supplementation and the negative effects of melatonin deficiency. Tumor in mice was markedly reduced and the severity of any visible tumors was lessened in melatonin-treated animals. Furthermore, it was noticed that melatonin supplementation had a strong correlation with longevity.

Research from PubMed 
Decreased toxicity and increased efficacy of cancer chemotherapy using the pineal hormone melatonin in metastatic solid tumour patients with poor clinical status.

Circulating Melatonin And The Risk Of Breast And Endometrial Cancer In Women  Breast cancer therapy based on melatonin 

Does Current Scientific Evidence Support a Link Between Light at Night and Breast Cancer Among Female Night-Shift Nurses? 

Night work and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Extended exposure to dietary melatonin reduces tumor number and size in aged male mice.

Research from The NCI Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine  
Melatonin, Chronobiology, and Cancer   

Research from Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology (Science Direct)  
Photoimmunomodulation and melatonin. 

Research from Current Biology 
Chronically Alternating Light Cycles Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Mice  

Research Sources

The data suggest internal desynchronization and sleep disturbance as mechanisms are linking shift work with cancer development and obesity.

“Shift disrupted” mice were less active, gained excessive weight, and developed breast cancer an average of 8 weeks sooner than the control mice.