No one used to talk about cancer. It was the C-word, and social restrictions limited discussions to doctors and patients, and patients only with their closest family members. But—and fortunately—times have changed, and now with the world online, news and conversations about cancer are everywhere. The problem today is information overload, and Ciao, Cancer! is going to start filtering it for you, pulling out the gems in a weekly post called, “The Cancer Beat”.

I had just finished my first cup of joe yesterday—a morning ritual of great importance to me—when I stumbled upon a Reuters story that said there was no link between coffee consumption in men and prostate cancer. Coffee, in this case, was vindicated, but I wasn’t aware that it had been a suspect, at least not for several years. A number of recent studies have shown that coffee—and most likely caffeine—has a protective effect against certain types of cancer; others show no association between coffee and a broad range of cancers. Since I consume so much of the stuff, I thought I’d best do a little digging, and I must say that I was pretty surprised by what I learned.

A 24-minute TED video featuring William Li, director of the Angiogenesis Foundation, on how nutrition can fight cancer.

TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) is a global set of conferences curated by the American private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate “ideas worth spreading”.

On Monday, the New York Times published a story, “What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D“, stating that “a huge part of the population…[is] deficient in this essential nutrient”, which “promises to be the most talked-about and written-about supplement of the decade.” While there’s truth in the title, it itself is deficient. Mine is a stretch, but it got your attention, and the potential consequences of not getting enough Vitamin D are truly dire. The good news is that reducing your risk of diseases related to Vitamin D-deficiency requires only the tiniest–but consistent–bit of effort.

One of the first things people want to know when they learn I had cancer is how it was discovered. There’s an element of personal concern in this question that’s perfectly natural—if I get cancer, will I know right away?—and I think what folks are hoping to hear is that all cancers in their earliest stages present clear, distinguishable symptoms that will prompt them to follow up with a medical professional. Unfortunately, this is not the case with many cancers, and all people, especially those at higher risk due to things like long-term exposure to carcinogens (tobacco, for example), a family history of cancer, or age (cancer risk naturally increases as we get older), should take a proactive approach to cancer detection and prevention.

Since I started working out with Captain Quinn six weeks ago, I’ve noticed some real changes in my body. There’s less fat, more muscle, and a significant increase in endurance. This Saturday, I hopped on my bike and raced out to Coney Island, about 11 miles, and, after a lovely conversation on the boardwalk with a Ukrainian grandfather who wanted to teach me Russian, I raced back. I thought I’d feel fatigued when I got home and sore the next day, but neither was the case. I gotta say, I feel kind of proud (and grateful to my über-cool instructor and classmates).

Now that regular exercise has become part of my norm, I’ve decided to take another step and look into my nutrition. I remember someone telling me that they were tracking their calories via a tool they found on Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG.COM site, and on Saturday, after my ride, I checked it out.

In just about an hour from now I’ll be kicking back on the deck of my friend’s Brooklyn apartment and celebrating the Fourth of July. We’ll do it in the quintessential American style–by having a barbecue, drinking beers, eating apple pie, and watching fireworks. But while I’m enjoying the smoky flavor of my steak this afternoon, thanks to a few articles I had the misfortune of stumbling upon a few days ago, I’ll be wondering if what I’m eating is going to kill me.