European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes . Thursday october 20,1994 on Washington a longtime cigarette smokers double their risk of pancreatic cancer one of the fastest and least treatable of the cancer killers re searchers say. Debra Silverman of the National can cer Institute said tuesday that the study gives powerful evidence that cigarette smoking causes about a Quarter of All pancreatic cancers in the United states and that a halt to cigarette smoking could save thousands of lives. The study the largest such research of its Type was published wednesday in the journal of the National cancer Institute. It differs from earlier work on pancreatic cancer because it is based on one on one interviews with the cancer patients. Pancreatic cancer is so rapidly fatal that Rii Ost of the earlier studies on causes of the disease relied on interviews with the next of Kin because the patients had already died Silverman said. Cancer of the pancreas has a median survival period of Only three months she said that Means that half of the patients die within three months of diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer has one of the shortest survival periods and poorest  the reason that this cancer has such a poor prognosis is that the disease is Sel Dom discovered before the cancer has spread " " 7 a the pancreas is a key gland in Diges Tion and metabolism. It secretes several essential enzymes and hormones including insulin the Inch Long gland is located behind the stomach. It s a hidden site Silverman said. There rarely Are Early indications of the  by the time pancreatic cancer symptoms appear there usually is Little that can Bei done she said adding that Only 9 percent of the patients Are diag nosed while the cancer is still contained within the Organ. Only about 3 percent of All pancreatic cancer patients live longer than five years. Y .-.,". Pancreatic cancer kills More than 25,000 americans annually and is num Ber five on the list of cancer killers Sil Yerma said -. A. Based on the new study she estimated that 6,750 . Cases of pancreatic cancer could be prevented if cigarette smoking were eradicated. In the study researchers in Atlanta Detroit and in 10 new Jersey counties interviewed 526 pancreatic cancer patients about living habits that May be related to causing the cancer. Cancer the scientists asked the same questions of 2,153 people without cancer who lived in the same areas. The results showed that about 27 per cent of All pancreatic cancers Are caused by cigarette smoking Silverman said. They also showed that the longer one smokes the greater the Chance of getting the killer disease she  who smoke for 40 years have a110 percent greater risk than do non smokers Silverman said. For smokers who quit the habit for 10years or More the risk was 30 percent lower than for people who keep smoking. The statistical improvement for smoke quitters however does not Start until at least 10 years after the last cigarette said Silverman. A cigarette smoking also has been linked to other lethal diseases particularly lung cancer and heart disease. Operation Jet Stream lawyer asks Fra to ban relaxant As danger to liver Washington a a lawyer is petitioning the food and drug administration to take a popular mus Cle relaxant off the Market contending it can cause serious even fatal liver toxicity. Allen Eaton contends that the original maker of Chloro Tazone hid the toxicity from the Agency when the drug was approved for Sale in 1959 and fought later Fra attempts to reveal the danger. Eaton said he uncovered 100 cases of liver damage linked to Chloro Tazone containing products 51 of which came from the files of the manufacturer Mcneil pharmaceutical. What they did was outrageous Eaton said tues Day a Day after filing his citizen s petition with Thesda. F Fra spokesman Jim o Hara said anytime there Are allegations of falsified or incomplete data the Agency takes those allegations very seriously. We will look at it  Mcneil a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson refused to comment on the petition but spokeswoman Clare Castaldo said the company believes its Chloro Tazone products Are Safe. Chloro Tazone is commonly prescribed for muscle pain typically after a car crash or other injury. Mcneil s Paragon Forte dec is the Best seller with 696,000 prescriptions in 1992, but eight other Compa Nies sell generic versions. Or. Sidney Wolfe of the advocacy group Public Citi zen said Mcneil never proved that Chloro Tazone even works because it came on the Market before Fra required manufacturers to prove that their drugs Are effective. / ,. Wolfe publishes a prescription drug guide that puts Chloro Tazone on its do not use list and says patient san jm5 is Given a Bath by air Force staff sgt. Derrick clean the Jet in preparation fora new coat of paint  and sgt. Bernard London at Langley aircraft the Type signed to the the Psi stat lbs a to to p?"6T Roll. Fish Fay Tiri Iivo c i i c in i a i a i no re t or talk i n few t  k n .4., a i _ _ Washingto a diners trolling for a Low fat meal can drop Anchor safely at their favorite sea food restaurant As Long they steer Clear of the calorie packed Fried fish combo a group says. The Center for science in the Public interest which made Waves with studies lambasting chinese italian and mexican fare and movie theater Popcorn says sea food restaurants offer a greater variety of healthful meals than other establishments. Bake it Broil it Blacken it Grill it As Long As you Don t Fry it seafood is a great catch said senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley. The report titled seafood what a catch was re leased wednesday. We found More healthy Low fat and delicious choices available at seafood restaurants than at any other restaurants we be seen she said. The consumer advocacy group also released results of a National poll that found some Public appreciation for its efforts and reported that restaurants Are making their menus healthier because of the prior studies. Despite sodium Levels that were High but below those found in meals at other restaurants the group has Stu died the nutritional leaders were baked broiled Black ened grilled or steamed seafood Hurley said. Flounder cod Haddock sole shrimp scallops crab Sand clams Are the Best choices because of their Low fat and High Vitamin and Mineral  Good meal averaged 723 calories and 18 Grams offal when served with a baked potato and one table spoon of sour Cream a salad with a Tablespoon of Low calorie dressing and two dinner Rolls with half a butterfat. Fried fish was out of the question. A Fried seafood combo -. Almost a Pound of Fried non shrimp clams and scallops served with tartar sauce French Fries Cole Slaw and buttered biscuits weighed in at 2,178 calories and 130 fat Grams. Remt recommended daily allotment for fat is 65 the National restaurant association a Sharp critic or me Center said restaurants must vary their offerings because surveys show patrons Divide roughly into three is Tseh Are concerned about nutrition Thos Earen t and those who Are in Between. V?6 Pini  Many Independent nutritionists in is physicians. Csepi is guilty of shoddy poll ing and nutritional analyses which Are designed not so Ess truth but to Srab headlines the Asso said in a statement