DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have gone through a situation you touched on in a recent column on cancer advances, and thought I'd respond. I, too, believe that the pharmaceutical companies are not on the cutting edge of finding a cure. There is so much money involved in the treatment industry, and Big Pharma rakes in billions. If a true cure were found, their profits would collapse substantially. Scientists, on the other hand, would rejoice if they found a cure, since they are not tied to the cash flow like pharmaceutical companies are.

But enough of that. As I write this, a close family member is dealing with terminal cancer. First there was surgery, then the painful "poisoning and burning" from treatments, by which the cancer was supposedly vanquished. Four months later? Stage 4. One round of chemo was followed by an "alternative approach." An acquaintance had endured the same type of cancer 15-plus years ago, went to Mexico for treatment, and has been cancer-free since. Off went my family member, and followed the protocol precisely, expecting that the cancer was then taken care of. Honestly, those very expensive treatments didn't slow it down at all. So now we wait for the inevitable, less thousands and thousands of dollars.

Aggressive malignancies leave very few survivors. Until medicine can decode each individual's genetics and then modify a treatment specifically for that person, cancer will continue to do its deadly deed. -- S.G., via email

DEAR S.G.: The very idea of cancer is an affront to our passion for life. With cancer, a combination of events allows a "nonself" growth to be treated as self and receive all the privileges of membership. The cancer's effective use of bodily resources, its continuous growth and spread, and its ability to skip detection as an invader provide a competitive advantage over normal cells. It has also led to the current strategy of radiation and chemotherapies, which put a careful dose of poison in the system so that the cancer's constant need for sustenance will bring about its earlier demise.

While there may be similarities among cancer types, each individual creates a different spin, and there lies the rub in finding an effective treatment. There is a fine line between providing the correct dose of the right agents to hobble the cancer and destroying the body in the process.

You confess disdain for "Big Pharma," but an equal dose should be directed at bogus alternative methods. They often claim a focus on providing support for our immune systems and allowing the body to successfully weed out the cancer, but this assumes the immune system can tell the difference between friend and foe. Once the cancer has set up shop, however, such enhanced support may also provide succor to the enemy.

Finally, I totally agree with your assessment that the missing element is an ability to genetically decode an invading cancer. We need to identify treatments based on a cancer's Achilles' heel. This will happen, and we are on the road there. Science, including "Big Pharma," is working on this. Your skepticism aside, cancer treatments have made remarkable advances in recent years. In the meantime, it is incumbent on all of us to live in a way that lessens our risks. Please convey my concerns to your family member.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

Dear Dr. Blonz: What is the word on melatonin, a dietary supplement that is supposed to help with sleeping and sleep/wake patterns? Is it a reasonable supplement as a sleep aid? -- O.S., New York, New York

DEAR O.S.: Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pea-sized pineal gland that is located in the center of the brain. It is thought to be a key player in the control of the body's sleep/wake rhythms. The release of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light. The rationale behind taking melatonin supplements for a sleep disorder, such as jet lag, is that it can cajole the body into a more rapid shift to the light/dark cycle of a new time zone. There is some research to support this, but it is inconsistent at best. As a sleep aid, a meta-analysis in the Feb. 18, 2006, issue of the British Medical Journal reported that melatonin does not seem to be very effective for sleep disorders.

For most, there is little danger in trying melatonin, as most studies note an absence of adverse effects -- especially when small dosages (3 milligrams per day) and short-term use is involved. Keep in mind that you are taking a hormone normally produced by the body, so unless specifically instructed by your physician, this is not something you want to be taking on a regular basis.

Other sleep aids that can work include a warm glass of milk (flavored or not) before bedtime and/or a warm bath. Tryptophan is an amino acid that serves as the precursor to a neurotransmitter (a key brain chemical) called serotonin, which encourages relaxation. A metabolite of tryptophan, called 5-HTP, is also available, but again, I would not recommend using this product on a regular basis. Valerian is another herb that is also used to treat insomnia, but the evidence here is inconsistent at best. There is a good discussion of insomnia at the National Institutes of Health at tinyurl.com/7l99b4p.

I want to emphasize that the idea of a sleep aid is to get your sleep/wake rhythm back on track, not to have a pill become an essential part of your nighttime regimen. Be up-front with your physician to alert her or him to your sleep issues and avoid potential interactions between your sleep aid and any medications or health conditions.

Other approaches to consider: A good diet and regular exercise habits help with sleep. They not only help to decrease stress, which is a potent sleep robber, but exercise can help tweak the body toward a regular activity/regeneration cycle. There are a number of relaxation techniques and tapes that may be of help.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I have started using a hemp milk product with my cereal, and the carton states that it is rich in omega-3 fats -- even more so than fish. I also eat fish, but was wondering if this was true, and if hemp or flax oil can be an effective source of omega-3s. -- F.S., Eureka, California

DEAR F.S.: First, some background on fats. The human body requires both omega-6 and omega-3 fats (or fatty acids), but cannot make them on its own, so they are considered "essential fatty acids" that need to be in our diets. Omega-6 fats are the main fatty acid in vegetable oils, including soy, sunflower and corn oil. One type of omega-3 is found in some vegetables, and a different type is found in seafood. As a general rule, there tends to be an excess of omega-6 fatty acids, and an inadequate amount of omega-3s, in the typical American diet.

Fats can be thought of as long chains of carbon atoms. Omega-3 is a term that refers to the location of the first double bond along the carbon chain: in this case, the third carbon. Omega-6 fats have their first double bond on the sixth carbon.

The location of that first double bond is critical in determining what the body does with a fatty acid, and this is particularly important with the omega-3 fats. The two important omega-3 fats are EPA and DHA, which are 20 and 22 carbons long, respectively. These are the omega-3s associated with blood-pressure benefits, anti-inflammatory effects and a reduced risk of heart disease. (There is a list of fish oil benefits at tinyurl.com/3d8fe9l.)

The omega-3 fat found in your hemp milk -- and in other plant sources such as flaxseed, canola, soy and walnuts -- is only 18 carbons long. It is still an omega-3, but the body has to put it through an extensive "lengthening" process to make it into EPA and DHA. This, it turns out, is an inefficient process. Most of the omega-3s of plant origin get burned for energy, with only a small fraction getting converted into the longer-chain varieties.

The bottom line is that if you want the most effective source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fats, fish is the way to go.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I heard about some great benefits of drinking lemonade made from real lemons, especially if it helps you consume the juice from at least two lemons daily. My question is, could that result in a loss of calcium, or have any other harmful effects? -- M., via email

DEAR M.: Regarding calcium loss from the body, there is no basis for concern about adding lemon juice, especially the amount provided by two lemons, to your daily diet. About the only side issue might be for the teeth if the lemon juice (or any acidic food) were allowed to stay in contact with the teeth for an extended period. But once swallowed, it's all good.

Send questions to: "On Nutrition," Ed Blonz, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.