Video: Vitamin D deficiency linked to cancer

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SEATTLE - Recent research shows up to 50 percent of kids and adults in America are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency.

A lack of vitamin D has been linked to a whole host of diseases, including cancer.

Dr. Donald Trump, who treats prostate cancer, has noticed a disturbing link

"Seventy percent of my patients have vitamin D deficiency," he said.

The sunshine vitamin is new area for cancer research. A study in post-menopausal women shows high doses of vitamin D cut the risk of cancer by 60 percent.

Another found 72 percent of lung cancer patients with high vitamin D levels who had a summer surgery were alive five years later, as compared to 29 percent with low vitamin D and winter surgeries.

"I am encouraged by that because we obviously need things that are useful in lung cancer," Trump said.

Susan Graham was diagnosed with lung cancer -- the same cancer that killed her mother and sister.

"I got past the 'poor me' and you know, I said 'no, this is not going to get me,'" Graham said. "Took my family, it's not going to get me."

She is cancer-free today and is grateful for every minute of her life. Now, she hopes to join a new study on vitamin D's effect in high-risk lung cancer

Evidence of vitamin D's powerful effects continues to pour in.

Another recent study shows vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States behind heart disease.