Cancer Form

Information About Cancer Treatment

2014-03-25T16:45:00.001-07:00

Information About Cancer Treatment

Cancer is medically defined as a class of diseases where a single or a group of cells undergo uncontrolled growth in an abnormal way invading or destructing the other adjacent cells. These abnormal cells might also sometimes spread to other locations of the body through lymph or blood. Cancer treatment is one major achievement in the field of science that aims at increasing the life span of affected patients, controlling the spread of the disease to other locations of the body and to reduces its symptoms.

Though the existence of Cancer can be traced back to as early as 1600 BC, it has been one of the untreatable diseases until lately. Cancer is one of the many diseases in which huge amount of funds are invested for performing research and experiments for various treatment options. After many years of study and clinical trials, finally there are many methods currently that can help contain the spread of the disease and help affected patients lead a better life.

There are many standard and alternative options of Cancer treatments available due to continuous research and long efforts. The standard methods of treatment include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation methods. Along with the standard methods, there are any alternative methods of treatment which aim at providing a relaxation from the disease symptoms.

Surgery

Most of the types of cancer form a tumor except for few like leukemia. These tumors can be removed by means of surgery to eliminate the cancerous growth from the body. Sometimes in cases of extended damage done by the tumor, the whole organ is removed by means of surgery as a means of preventing further spread or growth. Normally breast cancer and prostrate cancer are treated by this method. This kind of treatment can be used effectively for tumors that do not metastasis or spread across the body. Cancerous growth that has already spread to other parts of the body cannot be contained by means of surgery. Normally a 'Staging' process is carried out prior to surgery to determine the spread levels of the disease to the other parts of the body. This helps decide the level to which surgery might be useful in treating the disease.

Chemotherapy

In some cases, drugs are administered to stop the spread or growth of the cancerous cell. These drugs are given orally or through intravenous methods to kill the abnormal cells and to keep the disease under control. This method of cancer treatment is known as Chemotherapy. The dosage and the frequency of the drug administration or the chemotherapy process is generally decided by the doctor depending on the patient's health condition and staging results. There are no fixed dosage levels for this process of treating cancer. Though effective, this method has an advantage of being a temporary solution. The drug that is administered does fight the disease and tries to recover the cells, but the effects of it are short-lived. The dosage and the frequency increases with time in this type of treatment method. It is also to be considered that Chemotherapy has its own side effects which might vary based on the patients' health.

Radiation Therapy

Like other types of cancer treatments, the Radiation therapy also aims at destructing the diseased cells and in preventing their spread or growth. In this method, high energy x-rays are used instead of drugs to destroy the abnormal cells. These x-rays damage the DNA of the diseased cells thus killing these cells. The method of radiation therapy is in general done at regular intervals so as to provide enough timelines for the other normal cells that also get damaged to recover well. As we saw the radiation therapy method does hurt other normal cells also along with the diseased ones. The damage that is created on the cancerous cells is more than that created in normal cells and hence the normal cells do not suffer destruction like the diseased cells and recover soon.

Hormone Therapy

In some cases, hormones that help in growth of the tumor are counter attacked by giving drugs that act to inhibit such hormonal actions. This method is followed in the hormonal therapy where hormones that help increase the disease effects and symptoms are inhibited by administration of anti-effect drugs. As an example, estrogen is known to promote growth of diseased cells in breast cancer and hence treatment for breast cancer through hormonal methods includes administration of anti-estrogen drugs to the patient.

Modern Methods

There are many new cancer treatment methods that have been recently uncovered by the medical field. Immunotherapy and Transplants are the most popular of all. Immunotherapy is based on the foundation that a strong immune system helps the body fight diseases. In this method, drugs that would help improve the body immunity are prescribed to help the body equip better to fight the disease. Transplants are also common methods of treatment which are normally used in cases of Bone Marrow transplant or stem cell transplant. Other popular but still under research techniques include the Proton therapy, Gene therapy and Biologic therapy.

Alternative Methods

Alternative or complementary methods of treatments are also available for cancer which is mostly targeted as a means of relief from side effects and pain rather than as a cure. Reiki and Acupuncture offer various methods of treatment that helps patients alleviate pain and other discomforts. The Gerson therapy and the Bovine cartilage are also often used as alternative methods of treatment of cancer.

Though there are many modern and standard treatment methods, the spread of the disease is a key factor in the cure possibility rate. Thus it is important that we equip ourselves with basic knowledge about the symptoms and the prevention techniques for cancer to get rid of it completely. Remember if detected early, cancer is not fatal and can be completely cured.

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Lung Cancer - A Quick Insight

2013-12-17T16:14:00.002-08:00

Lung Cancer - A Quick Insight

Cancer is a broad term used to describe malignant neoplasm of any nature, usually involving malignant growth and tumors. The word malignant here means: Occurring in severe form, usually fatal, invasive with metastasis (the shifting of affected cells form one part of the body to another). Unlike benign growths which are opposites of Cancers, cancers are quite invasive and life threatening even with the use of several modern-day therapy and advanced therapeutic equipment. Carcinoma (Cancers) affects virtually all tissues and organs of the body and although with varying severity and frequency, parenchymatous (soft-tissued) organs and those with actively dividing cells are the most frequent victims.

Malignant tumors (carcinoma, cancers) display certain features that make them highly detrimental to life. These features include: Tissue atypism (non-typical cells), multi-cellularism and multi-layered cell structure, perpetual growth, self-regulatory and highly invasive and destructive growth with survival in virtually any body tissue. Several known and unknown causes are involved in cancer formation and growth. Some of the several known causes include: Metaplasia (i.e. pathological change in number, size and location of cells) usually due to chronic tissue inflammation, inhalation, ingestion and direct body contact with cancerogenous substances (carcinogens) most of which are usually deliberate (e.g smoking, drinking, eating over-exposed foods, living near industries in air polluted with heavy metals etc) and Genetic predisposition (heredity).

Of all cancer cases, cancer of the lungs is one of the most widespread, occurring in virtually all parts of the world. However, there are some ways by which malignancies of this nature can be cut down and possibly avoided. Some of the most efficient methods are early cancer screening, as this will cost less money and time plus better health benefits. In the less- and underdeveloped world today, massive amount of carcinogens (substances that are cancerous in nature) are present in the air as a result of excessive emissions of toxic gases and substances from exhaust of outdated vehicles and industries; insufficient equipment and facilities, inadequate expertise, negligence and ignorance are major predisposing factor to such deadly diseases as Cancer of the Lungs. However, in more developed countries, smoking and some respiratory disease (usually viral) are the leading factors causing Lung cancer.

Testing is carried out on body fluids and tissues in specialized laboratories by screening for tumor marker genes, level of TNF (Tumor Necrotic Factor), biopsy of suspected growths, blood test for level of Leucocytes (White Blood Cells that fight diseases in the body) and tissues cells for features of malignancies (cancer) highlighted earlier in this article.

Presently, there are some methods to control the growth of and possible treat cancers and improve the quality of life of affected patients. Based mainly on Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Hormonal therapy, Surgery, Gene therapy and Phytotherapy; these methods are divided according to the purpose and time of treatment into 3 broad categories which include:

1. Palliative treatment: That involves mainly chemotherapy aimed at alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of patient's life

2. Adjuvant treatment: Is a treatment administered after surgery performed on cancerous areas especially when metastasis (defined above) is involved.

3. Neoadjuvant treatment: Also used to ensure long term survival of patients but in this case, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or hormonal therapy are administered before surgery.

Others include Gene therapy which involves molecular-biological methods and biotechnology; and Phytotherapy that deals with the use of herbs and their extracts, medically/pharmacologically registered for cancer treatment.

General symptoms and signs:

If you are experiencing any of these signs contact your health provider immediately. These symptoms/signs are some of, but not limited to, those of lung cancer.

- Cachexia (wasting and general weight loss) especially in smokers

- Sudden weight loss of unknown cause

- Constant long-term fever and feeling of not being well

- Swollen and painful (or even painless) lymph nodes

- Respiratory disease occurring for a long time and could present itself with chronic or rarely acute dyspnoea (discomfort in breathing), chest pain, cough (with or without sputum), upper back pain, pain during breathing etc.

- Signs of jaundice (yellow coloration of the skin and eyes accompanied by itching of skin)

- Swollen abdomen (Ascites), dehydration and paleness of the skin in General

- Cardiovascular problems (problems with the heart and blood vessels)

Although, the above signs are markers that something wrong is going on in the body, if however such signs are recurrent and affect mainly the lungs and its surrounding then Ultrasounds and CT scans maybe be carried out to rule out possibilities of malignancies (such as cancer) as a cause of illness.

Ways to cut down Lung cancer development include:

- Avoiding overexposed foods and drinks especially those made from unknown sources and those sold on or close to highways as these harbor heavy amount of cancerogens

- Avoid inhaling exhaust fumes coming from bad and heavy-duty vehicles.

- Locating residential buildings far away from industries and industrial area

- Avoid dust as possible

- Be well aware of the general medical history of your past generation/family line.

- Go for routine/well-scheduled medical check-up and cancer screening at well accredited Oncology Specialist hospitals and teaching hospitals. Consult good medical experts (including professional Medical Doctors, Pharmacists and Nurses) today to be on a safer side.

Some methods to control the growth of and possibly treat cancers and improve the quality of life of affected patients are based mainly on Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Hormonal therapy, Surgery, Gene therapy and Phytotherapy; these methods are divided according to the purpose and time of treatment into 3 broad categories which include: 1. Palliative treatment: That involves mainly chemotherapy aimed at alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of patient's life 2. Adjuvant treatment: Is a treatment administered after surgery performed on cancerous areas especially when metastasis (defined above) is involved. 3. Neoadjuvant treatment: Also used to ensure long term survival of patients but in this case, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or hormonal therapy are administered before surgery.

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How Does Skin Cancer Form

2013-01-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

How Does Skin Cancer Form?

By Paul Bright, eHow Contributor

Sun Damage

Skin cancer, the most common form of cancer, usually forms with inappropriate exposure to the sun. In the case of basal cell carcinoma, cancer can form from intermittent exposure, like during vacations. For squamous cell carcinoma, it can develop from an accumulation of overexposure to the sun over a long period of time. Overexposure can create pre-cancerous areas in places like the back of the neck, forehead and on the cheeks. Within 5 years, lesions can appear in those places that were damaged the most.

Other UV Rays

Although the sun's ultraviolet rays are a leading cause of skin cancer, man-made rays are just as deadly. UV rays from tanning booths can also cause skin cancer if you overexpose himself. One of the highest risk groups for this exposure is adolescents who frequently use tanning booths and then overexpose themselves to the sun.

Physical Defects

One of the first signs in the formation of skin cancer come from unusual moles on the skin. It is common for you to get new moles and spots on your skin over time, but moles that change colors or shapes are not typical. Basal cell carcinoma moles tend to be darker than other moles. Dysplastic nevi, which have irregular borders and are larger than other moles, are more likely to develop into cancerous melanoma moles. Unusually shaped growths can also indicate skin cancer.

Skin patches are also an indicator of skin cancer. These patches can occur anywhere that there has been overexposure. Skin cancer on the lip can be indicated by a scaly, deep-red formation. Basal cell carcinoma patches are also dry and scaly, appearing slowly over time on the back. These patches can actually migrate to the ears and eyes.

Squamous Cells

Squamous cell carcinoma starts off as solar keratosis. This appears as rough, reddened bumps along sun-damaged skin. These usually show up on the ears, face back and scalp. Keratosis that has progressed deeper into the skin will be larger and thicker. Squamous cells can also take the form of Bowen's Disease. These are scaly patches appearing on the lower half of the body.

Liver Cancer is the Most Usual Form of Cancer Worldwide

2012-11-05T17:50:00.002-08:00

Liver Cancer is the Most Usual Form of Cancer Worldwide

Liver cancer is the most usual form of cancer worldwide. Primary liver cancer starts in liver due to the malignant cells.

This cancer is fractioned into various types established upon the type of cells that become dangerous to health or cancerous. The most usual form of primary liver is known as Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

This cancer starts in the fundamental type of liver cells called hepatocytes and demonstrates in both children and adults.

is a type of cancer that starts in the little cannular bile ducts within the liver. Hepatoblastoma is a not very common type of liver cancer impacts children of 4 years of age or less and can be successfully treated.

or hemangiosarcoma are very scarce cancers that begin in the blood vessels of the liver with a very high rate of development.

Most people do not notice any signs or early symptoms of the main liver disease.

However, the symptoms of liver disease includes loss in weight without exerting any effort to do so, loss of appetence, pain in the upper abdomen, sickness and bloating, liver is enlarged and swelling of the abdomen.

Physically you may experience discoloration of your eyes that looks like yellow in color as well as the skin.It is unclear yet as to what causes all cases of liver cancer while others are already been known.

An instance of this is chronic infection with hepatitis viruses can have an impact to become liver cancer. Liver disease takes place there are development of mutations on the liver cells in their DNA. DNA is like a programmer within your body, it acts as a supplier of commands for every chemical processes within the body.

On the other hand, mutations in the DNA will cause alterations in these commands. Consequence is a growth of cells that are not controllable and will gradually form into bulk of malignant cells called tumor.

The treatment for liver disease is dependent on the extent of the disease as well as your age, overall health and personal preferences. The main purpose of any treatment is to eliminate the cancer.

When that is not possible, the focus may be on preventing the tumor from developing.

In this scenario, the aim of treatment is to make the patient feel comfortably while having the liver disease. The remedy includes surgery to remove a portion of the liver, Liver transplant surgery, Freezing cancer cells, heating or inflaming cancer cells, Injecting alcohol into the tumor, and there many other treatments for liver cancer.

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Mushrooms for Cancer From Around the World

2012-09-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

Mushrooms for Cancer From Around the World

These days, the buzz in alternative and complimentary cancer treatments is all about mushrooms. It seems unlikely. Mushrooms can be slimy, poisonous, and down right fungal.

But science is taking a serious look at medicinal mushrooms and how they fight cancer, tumors, chronic fatigue syndrome, and autoimmune diseases. More studies are coming out everyday showing that medicinal mushrooms strengthen immunity, fight cancer, and shrink tumors.

If you are searching for mushrooms for cancer treatment, this article gives you a brief overview of mushrooms from around the world that have proven efficacy in the fight against cancer.

In the research on medicinal mushrooms, science is proving what Eastern Medicine has known for centuries. Mushrooms have been used extensively in China and Japan for thousands of years. Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine use mushrooms like Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, and Lion's Mane to promote longevity and keep the body systems healthy and strong.

Mushrooms promote the flow of "chi" throughout the body, increasing energy, removing toxins, and creating an overall feeling of well being. Science is taking a serious look at mushrooms in the fight against cancer. More studies are being performed on the anti-cancer effects of wild mushrooms. In many parts of the world, derivatives of wild mushrooms are being used to treat cancer.

One of the most famous medicinal mushrooms is the Reishi, also known as Ganoderma lucidum. This mushroom is known as "The Mushroom of Immortality" and has been prescribed for at least 3000 years in Eastern Medicine.

In 1990 the Japanese government officially listed Reishi mushroom as an adjunct herb for cancer treatment. Reishi is being used with favorable results in cancer research centers around the world. Reishi is perhaps one of the world's most well-known, widely used medicinal mushrooms. It is available in the whole form, which is a thick, shelf mushroom, and also in tincture, powdered and pill form.

Chaga, also known as Inonotus obliquus, is being used around the world for treating cancer. Historically, the mushroom has been used in Poland and Western Siberia for centuries Russian folklore tells of a fungus that grows on birch trees that is effective in treating a variety of cancers. Chaga "tea" is an infusion of the mushroom given to cancer patients.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has reports that Chaga has been used to successfully treat cancer. Chaga is proving to be one of the most important medicinal mushrooms for cancer treatment.

One of the most widely available mushrooms for cancer treatment is Tramates versicolor, also known as the Turkey Tail mushroom. It grows prolifically throughout North America and is used commercially around the world to fight cancer. PSK, known as "polysaccharide Kureha" is a derivative of the Turkey Tail mushroom.

In scientific studies, PSK's anti-tumor activity is enhanced in combination with radiation and chemotherapy. Improved survival rates in patients who take PSK are widespread. In one study the rate of cancer deaths within 5 years was 21% with PSK and 52% without.

Three important mushrooms for cancer from around the world include the Reishi, Chaga, and the Turkey Tail. These are all available online and at local health food stores. If you are looking to improve your overall health and wellness, be sure to include medicinal mushrooms in your diet or supplement with teas, tinctures, and pills.

Sonora St Cyr - Professional Healer and Herbalist

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How Cancer Forms And How It Can Be Stopped

2012-06-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

How Cancer Forms And How It Can Be Stopped

One of the worst bits of news a person will ever get from a doctor is the diagnosis of cancer. There are many risk factors for this disease and you may never totally avoid it. However, there are some things to know about how cancer forms and what can be done to stop it.

Cancer forms in the body when otherwise healthy cells become abnormal in the way that they divide and reproduce. These new cells form at a rate more rapid than they are dying off. These cells form a tumor. Not all tumors are considered cancerous.

Some are classified as benign. However, cancerous tumors continue to grow and may affect healthy cells and tissue located in the same area. Without intervention, the tumor can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body.

The key to stopping cancer is early detection. Individuals should have frequent checkups with their doctor for early detection.

These checkups should include screening tests such as mammograms for women and colonoscopy for both men and women. If there is no family history of cancer and other risk factors are low, most doctors recommend that mammograms begin at age 40 and colonoscopy begin at age 50. Patients with family history of cancer should speak with their doctor about when to start screening tests.

It is possible to lower one's risk of cancer by eating a healthy diet. This includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables and healthy fats.

These foods help to provide the body the needed vitamins and other nutrition that can help to keep cancer away.

On the other hand, diets that are high in refined carbohydrates such as white sugar or flour, hydrogenated fats and bad cholesterol can make the body more susceptible to diseases such as cancer. Many people find it easier to make the changes to a healthy diet by making gradual changes and substitutions of healthy foods for those that are less healthy.

The number one risk factor for cancer, especially lung cancer is smoking. If you currently smoke, make a plan to stop. Your doctor may be able to provide a prescription that will help to make quitting smoking easier.

In addition, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can cause damage to the liver. The liver serves as a filter that removes many harmful substances from the body. If it is unable to function properly, there is an increased chance of developing cancer.

Understanding how cancer is formed can help you to avoid unhealthy habits that increase your risk of developing the disease.

In addition, early screening is a key to stopping the damage that can be caused by cancer. If you have questions about what you can do to prevent cancer, you should talk with your doctor.

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5 Commonly Asked Questions About Mesothelioma

2012-06-14T00:48:00.000-07:00

5 Commonly Asked Questions About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an uncommon type of cancer in which the malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac lining most of the body's internal organs.

Most people who develop the disease were exposed to asbestos inhalation at their place of work. The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ {the visceral layer} and the other layer forms a sac around it {the parietal layer}.

The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against surrounding structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial lining that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the lining that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women. Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of the cancer begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

1-How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, this disease is still a relatively uncommon type of cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. It occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

2-What are the risk factors?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, the disease has also been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems.

Apart from causing mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a non cancerous, long standing chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney. Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the long run.

3-Who are the people at risk of developing the cancer?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople.

Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure. The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed this type of cancer. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases. There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing this cancer, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

4-What are the common Symptoms

Symptoms may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a build up of fluid in the abdomen.

Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include intestinal obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, low blood levels{anaemia}, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a definitive diagnosis.

5-How is the diagnosis made?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure.

A complete physical examination must be done , x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI can also be ordered for. A CT Scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

To confirm a diagnosis, a biopsy must be done. Biopsy involves the removal of a sample of the cancerous tissue for examination in the laboratory by a surgeon or medical oncologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy.

To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary. If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

The cancer is localised if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

By: Bello kamorudeen

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Reason Why There Is So Much Skin Cancer Today

2012-06-14T00:46:00.000-07:00

Reason Why There Is So Much Skin Cancer Today

The cause of skin cancer and melanomas does not lie entirely with the sun. If it did our ancestors would not have survived and we wouldn’t be here. It was almost unheard of 100 years ago and it’s been slowly increasing over the last 40 to 50 years. Cases of melanomas have doubled in the U.K. in the past 30 years.

The sun hasn’t got any stronger and the ozone layer is still intact, but the foods we consume on a daily basis have changed vastly. It’s the sun, combined with nutritional deficiency that causes skin cancer. It’s the irritation caused by the sun burn that will determine where the cancer will take hold, but it’s the nutritional deficiencies and other lifestyle factors that causes it to grow, that’s why it keeps appearing after treatments. The only ways to cure any skin cancers or melanomas are to address the underlying causes.

Cancer is not a 100 different diseases as we have become to believe but one disease in over 100 different locations. All cancers have mostly common causes. Remember that many people get skin cancer in areas of the body that don’t see a lot of the sun, like the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. Also dark skin people get skin cancer just as much as fair skin people. The reasons why a person develops any cancer are well known, and to cure it, all these issues you must address.

The underlying causes are our lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, the use of too many toxic chemicals, many of which are know to be carcinogenic, our sedentary lifestyle, which because of it, our built in defence system which is our immune system has become sluggish and lastly emotional stress which does have a major health impact on the human body, including cancer.

Melanomas can be very aggressive so if one wants to cure themselves, they need to address all the factors mentioned above. Today we consume many foods which are not suitable for human consumption. For instance, processed foods which nearly all contain fat, salt or refined sugar and those 3 items are known contributors to cancer. The toxic chemicals we use on a daily basis which are mostly in personal care products and are absorbed into our body through our pores. Then we can thank the ubiquitous automobile for our lack of exercise. We need exercise to rid the body of toxins, as it boosts the immune system making it work more efficiently.

Emotional stress or unresolved conflict, not letting go of a problem, which might be the loss of a close friend, a business crisis or bankruptcy can have a major effect on the immune system and all cancers are simply disease of a weak immune system.

There is no mystery about the causes of skin cancer or any other cancer. If you want to achieve a permanent cure, it is essential to eat freshly grown food everyday which is of paramount importance, remove all toxic chemicals, and get some exercise. If you are in the sun use some common sense and cover up during the hottest part of the day. That is the only way to become free of the disease….for good!

Skin cancer and melanomas are an entirely preventable and curable disease and our modern medical approaches are not necessary the most effective approach to healing cancer patients.

By: Alan-nz

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Signs Of Skin Cancer

2012-06-14T00:44:00.002-07:00

Signs Of Skin Cancer

A survey of the American Cancer Society says that three out of every four American families have at least one family member diagnosed with cancer. A cancer diagnosis affects not only the cancer patient, but also their family, friends & co-workers. Any kind of relationship with a cancer patient should provide them with some amount of support, proving you to be an understanding person, who is able to appreciate their situation.

A cancer diagnosis can be a real crisis; everything seems to going in a haphazard way. There is also a need to provide a superficial feeling of ‘the helping hand’, as you struggle to comprehend your own feelings. Escorting a cancer patient to navigate the maze of details like finding an oncologist, understanding their treatment options, furnishing health updates etc are a few of the important functions that you ought to perform.

Below are some tips to help you cope when someone you love is diagnosed with cancer:

• One way to keep the mind free from being vulnerable and besieged is to offer support. Taking things in a pragmatic way such as driving them to treatments or doctors’ appointments, running errands, baby-sitting, doing household work etc helps a lot. Ask them what they are most concerned about not being able to do.

• Some questions posed at the doctor if and when you accompany your loved one to their appointments will definitely not go amiss.

• Don’t get startled if any change occurs in their behavior and mood.

Cancer medications, sickness, and stress can cause your loved one to become arrogant or morose. For example: - Generally this kind of behavior is seen in skin cancer patients. So you need to maintain some amount of tolerance while dealing with a cancer patient.

• Keep them as active and independent as possible, which will help your loved one to regain a sense of confidence and control over their life.

• Be practical and realistic in terms of daily requirements. Get enough sleep, eat properly, and take some time off for yourself, because you will not be able to work in times of help or need if you are exhausted and sick.

Take care of yourself and your needs; it will be easier to meet the needs of your loved one.

• Ask other family members and friends to help. They will appreciate the opportunity to do so.

• Maintain a positive attitude.

• Accept that there are things that are beyond your control.

• Be assertive instead of aggressive. Assert your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of fuming, being belligerent or passive.

• Fight stress, learn to relax. Exercise regularly.

• Avoid confrontation; feel at ease with their answers.

Join a support group for friends and families of cancer patients.

Remember that you are not alone if someone you love is diagnosed with cancer. You are likely to experience a conflicting range of emotions, including disbelief, anger, relief, worry and even guilt. Fears of mortality, puzzling family roles, having your own needs met, and uncertainty about the future can surface when your loved one is diagnosed with cancer. These are customary feelings which may prove to be a problem. It will hence be beneficial to talk to others who are undergoing the same problems. These were some common points led down by American cancer society.

By: Deborah Smith

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Dangers Of Lung Cancer

2012-06-14T00:44:00.001-07:00

Dangers Of Lung Cancer

The cause of lung cancer has been seen to be the abnormalities in cells. The body of human beings automatically regulates the production and growth of cells when the body needs them. If there is uncontrolled growth of cell in the tissues of the lungs, then final results may be developing of lung cancer.

Symptoms of lung cancer vary depending on the location and the spreading effect of the tumor but one cannot easily identify early warnings of lung cancer. The best thing one can do is consult a doctor in cases of a new persistent cough or the worsening of an existing chronic cough, if there is blood in his sputum, chest pains and difficulties in breathing and unexplained weight loss

Cancer of the lungs can be categorized into primary lung cancer and Mesothelioma. The primary lung cancer is cancer that starts in the lungs while the Mesothelioma or also referred to as secondary lung cancer normally results when the origin of the cancer was from another part of the body spreading to the lungs. The causes of lung cancer can be through smoking, radon gas, asbestos or viruses not forgetting the genetic risk.

Smoking: Smoking of cigarettes is the leading cause of lung cancer. In the developed world, cigarette smoking accounts for more than 80% of lung cancer related deaths. People who start smoking at a tender age are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer earlier in life due to the high exposure period. Non-smokers can also develop this type of cancer when they inhale smoke released by smokers found in their midst. All these modes are equally dangerous that is, the active pipe or cigar smoker and the passive smoker.

Radon Gas: This gas is natural in occurrence and is known to pass from the soil to building foundations. Exposure to these gases will very much vary as per the locality and the underlying soil and rocks in that area.

Asbestos: Individuals who have had prolonged contact with asbestos stand a higher chance of developing lung cancer especially in the event they do smoke for the combination of asbestos and tobacco will tend to act as one thus increasing the risks. Heavy exposure to asbestos may result to far greater risks of developing lung cancer.

Viruses: In early times, viruses where thought to only cause lung cancer in animal. However, recent studies show that they can cause cancer I humans too. These viruses include JC virus, simian, papillomavirus and others.

To prevent lung cancer, people should stop smoking.

By: DouglasGrahame

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mesothelioma Symptom Relief And Palliative Care For Breathlessness

2012-06-14T00:43:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma Symptom Relief And Palliative Care For Breathlessness

Mesothelioma symptom relief is the central focus of care for the mesothelioma patient deemed incurable. Pain management will vary with each patient. The mesothelioma patient’s pre-existing conditions and exacerbating conditions are factors in determining the best mesothelioma symptom relief and palliative care plan available. However, there are similarities in mesothelioma treatment and symptomatic relief for pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Almost every cancer patient, mesothelioma cancer patients included, experiences painful difficulty breathing during the last stages of cancer. Medical studies have indicated that as many as 70% of terminal cancer patients experience painful difficulty breathing. With diseases such as pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and lung cancer, painful breathing and shortness of breath occurs during all of the cancer stages, not just the terminal stages.

Difficulty breathing is frightening for the mesothelioma patient, the caregiver and family members. The fear of imminent death and helplessness suddenly becomes unexpectedly more real. Mesothelioma symptom relief for breathing difficulties should include emotional care as well as physical symptom relief. Relaxation techniques should be taught, and it should be stressed that there needs to be adaptations to daily activities to reduce breathing difficulty. Lifestyle changes will be in order to control mesothelioma breathing difficulties, and the most stubborn mesothelioma patients need to be convinced that this is the best mesothelioma treatment for them. Defining a new lifestyle as a “well deserved vacation” can help instigate a transition.

Mesothelioma symptom relief for physical pain from breathing difficulties can be provided by learning, advising and providing for the patient the best position of their body for proper air flow. A fresh stream of air from a window or a fan can provide mesothelioma symptom relief during breathing difficulty. Teaching the patient hyperventilation techniques can be very useful for the patient’s self-monitoring of their mesothelioma treatment. A mesothelioma patient with trouble breathing needs to learn how to purse their lips at the first sign of breathing trouble, stay calm, relax their shoulders, back, neck and arms, then “flop” themselves into relaxation. Until this technique is mastered, learning how to breathe out slowly is an important step in breathing management.

Mesothelioma patients must realize that anxiety breeds anxiety. If a patient is afraid that they are going to die at the moment they are experiencing breathing difficulty, their body will respond by producing more anxiety, and more breathlessness. This is an emotional and physical response, not merely emotional.

Oxygen is sometimes prescribed for mesothelioma symptom relief; however physicians report that some patients become unnecessarily dependent on oxygen. For other patients, oxygen is their lifeline of mesothelioma treatment. Oxygen therapy also requires a review of whether intermittent or continuous therapy provides the best relief for their mesothelioma symptoms. Mesothelioma treatment with oxygen therapy will also consider whether to use oxygen tanks or an oxygen concentrator.

There are also medications for mesothelioma symptom relief of breathlessness. Anxiolytic drugs Lorazepam, Diazepam, Midazolam, and Methotrimeprazine can be prescribed for mesothelioma treatment of breathlessness. Benzodiazepines are anxiolytic drugs that have a sedative effect and use muscle relaxation as pain treatment of breathlessness.

Mesothelioma symptom relief for breathing requires educating the patient, the caregiver and the family in palliative care. Mesothelioma treatment for pain also requires monitoring and adapting mesothelioma pain treatment plans to meet the patient’s medical needs, as well as their emotional needs. Listening to the patient’s perception of pain is crucial to determining the appropriate pain management treatment for mesothelioma symptoms. The patient feels the pain. With mesothelioma symptom relief and palliative care from knowledgeable and loving caregivers, the patient can enjoy the last years of their life as pain free as medical science allows.

By: Avi Solutions

http://mesothelioma-cancer-best-information.blogspot.com/2009/02/mesothelioma-symptom-relief-and.html

Do Bacteria Cause Cancer

2012-06-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Do Bacteria Cause Cancer?

By Frank Vanderlugt

Microbes are all around us, on our skins, in our nasal passages and in our intestines, and even in our blood and tissues.

Usually they exist in harmless balance with the immune system. Some are even beneficent : bacteria in the human intestine help digest food, produce vitamins, and crowd out toxic pathogens. In fact, the human body contains more bacterial cells than somatic (body) cells.

Mitochondria, organelles which produce energy within human cells, have their own DNA and are thought to be descended from free-living bacteria. Bacteria are highly integrated into functions of the entire human body.

The mainstream medical community is now willing to accept that a few type of bacteria or viruses may indeed be responsible for a few forms of cancer, such as Kaposi's sarcoma, stomach and cervical cancer, but they are unwilling to recognize that infectious agents may be inextricably linked to the development of most other tumors as well.

Yet, there scientific evidence dating back more than one hundred years which points to an bacterial cause cancer, a pleomorphic (many-formed) bacteria, related to or resembling mycoplasma, which has been seen in microscopic slides of numerous tumors.

At the beginning of the 20th century, bacterial genesis of cancer was considered a mainstream theory, and papers about it were published in the Lancet. However, it was eventually sidelined despite a large body of substantiating evidence.

Over the past century hundreds of independent researchers have noted a link between bacteria and cancer in both animals and humans, but their findings were treated as a scientific curiosity and rarely followed up by the general medical establishment.

However, the theory never went away, and individual scientists continued searching for ways to identify and eliminate the suspect bacteria.

In 1890 the German physician and bacteriologist Robert Koch formulated a standard criteria still in use today for judging whether a given bacteria is the cause of a given disease.

"Koch's Postulates," while not always valid, provide a useful benchmark for disease investigators.

Koch's postulates are as follows:

The bacteria must be present in every case of the disease.

The bacteria must be isolated from the host with the disease and grown in pure culture.

The specific disease must be reproduced when a pure culture of the bacteria is inoculated into a healthy susceptible host.

The bacteria must be recoverable from the experimentally infected host.

However, Koch's postulates have their limitations, which even Koch recognized. They may not hold if:

The particular bacteria (such as the one that causes leprosy) cannot be "grown in pure culture" in the laboratory.

Animal test subjects are immune to the infection.

In addition, a usually harmless bacteria may cause disease if:

It has acquired extra virulence factors making it pathogenic.

It gains access to deep tissues due to trauma, surgery, an IV line, etc.

It infects a patient with a compromised immune system.

Not all people infected by a bacteria develop serious disease; subclinical, low-grade infection may be more common than clinically obvious, symptomatic infection.

The different species of infectious agents linked to various cancers fit fairly well within Koch's postulates, since they can be isolated from tumors and grown in a petri dishes or cell cultures, and they sometimes produces tumors when injected into test animals.

However, many are also found in lower concentrations in healthy subjects, and it appears that these microbes only cause disease when their host is weakened.

The host's immune system limits the amount of damage any infectious agent can cause. For instance, H. pylori stomach infections can lead to stomach ulcers and gastric cancer, but many people are asymptomatic carries. Not every woman who has been infected with HPV develops cervical cancer.

Similarly, we should not expect all carriers of other "cancer microbes" to become ill. Also, these bacteria may have the potential to produce diseases besides cancer, since H. pylori can cause stomach ulcers as well.

History

Probably the first official mention of "cancer microbe" occurred on December 3, 1890 when William Russell, a pathologist in the School of Medicine at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, gave an address to the Pathological Society of London. He described histopathologic findings of "a characteristic organism of cancer" that he observed microscopically in fuchsine-stained tissue sections from all forms of cancer that he examined, and also from some cases of tuberculosis, syphilis and skin infection.

The microbe was seen both around and within tissue cells, and ranged in size from barely visible to one and half times the size of a red blood cell. Russell felt that the large size of some of these organisms was suggestive of a yeast or fungal infection.

Russell tentatively called the microbe a possible "blastomycete" (a type of fungus); and called the round forms "fuchsine bodies" due to their bluish-red staining qualities.

Nine years later in 1899, Russell published a report in the Lancet on "The parasite of cancer," and stated that finding the suspect bacteria present in diseases other than cancer presented a "stumbling block" to the idea of a definitive function for the organisms.

Cultures yielded numerous species of bacteria, and injection of the bacteria into animals gave ambiguous results. Subsequently, many scientists concluded that Russell bodies were merely the result of cellular degeneration.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the scientist Royal Raymond Rife pioneered the use of radiofrequency devices to kill bacteria. Rife discovered that a certain spectrum of radio waves was lethal to bacteria, while harmless to human tissue. He also invented a new form of microscope which used monochromatic light, and was accurate enough to see viruses without the use of electron microscopy.

Working from a laboratory in La Jolla in the 1930s, Rife claimed to have a 100 percent success rate in treating cancer. Rife's lab was shut down due to political pressure by the American Medical association , most of his papers were destroyed, and currently the only known example of his microscopes exists in a museum.

Rife's discovery of radiofrequency devices to kill bacteria was picked up by Hulda Clark, a Canadian scientist, who began her work in the 1960s. Clark also claimed that many other diseases, including diabetes, allergies, epilepsy, Crohn's disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, are caused by bacteria and parasites such as liver flukes.

She improved on Rife's technology, and invented a small raidofrequency device she called the "Zapper" that she claimed eradicated bacteria and other parasites from the body. Instructions on how to build the devices were made available to the public, and can be found on the Internet today.

Clark was harassed by the American authorities until she left to set up her cancer clinic in Mexico, where in 2001 the authorities forbade her from offering alternative treatment for cancer. Like Rife, Clark claimed an extremely high success rate in treating cancer, nearly 100 percent, but no independent analysis of her claims, or those of Rife, exist.

In the 1960s, Dr. Virginia Livingston antagonized the scientific establishment by claiming to have found the microbe responsible for causing cancer, naming it "Progenitor cryptocides", which means "hidden killer". She felt that that the microbe had an intrinsic, symbiotic function in the human body, that was responsible for initiating life and for healing of tissue, and that the microbe was ultimately responsible for eventual degeneration and death of all life.

When the cultured organism was injected into animals, it caused tumors to develop in some, but not all, of the test subjects.

In 1974, Livingstone became the first scientist to discover that both cancer bacteria and cancer cells produce the human hormone HCG. This hormone, normally secreted by the human fetus to protect it from the maternal immune system, also protects cancers from immune system attack.

Livingstone concluded that bacteria secrete mutagenic factors such as actinomycin-D with damage human cell DNA, and that they can also interchange genetic material such as bacterial growth factors with human cells. Vaccines targeting HCG-producing and cancer-promoting bacteria deprive cancer cells of a key source of HCG.. As the levels of HCG are lowered, the immune system's ability to launch an assault on cancer cells increases.

Livingstone cultured patients' own bacteria from blood and urine to create "autogenous" vaccines to stimulate the immune system. She published many articles and books, such as "Cancer, A New Breakthrough" (1972); "The Microbiology of Cancer" (1977); and "The Conquest of Cancer" (1984).

Her research has been confirmed by other scientists, such as microbiologist Eleanor Alexander-Jackson, cell cytologist Irene Diller, biochemist Florence Seibert, and dermatologist Alan Cantwell, among others.

Milton Wainwright, a microbiologist at the University of Sheffield, UK, has written extensively about the bacteriology of cancer in recent publications such as: "Nanobacteria and associated 'elementary bodies' in human disease and cancer" (1999); "The return of the cancer germ; Forgotten microbiology - back to the future" (2000); "Highly pleomorphic staphylococci as a cause of cancer" (2000); and "Is this the historical 'cancer germ'"? (2003).

Currently, one of the most well-known popular proponents of the link between cancer and bacteria is Dr. Alan Cantwell, who has written numerous articles and books on the subject. Cantwell isolated and reported cell wall deficient bacteria in breast cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and Hodgkin's disease. He states, " If a disease like cancer is indeed caused by microscopic bacteria, it would indicate physicians have been unable to see what was quite plain for some nineteenth and twentieth century scientists to observe using simple light microscopy.

And with powerful electron microscopes there is now little excuse for not "seeing" bacteria."

Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma, the oldest suspect in the bacterial theory of cancer, has also been implicated as a direct cause or a signficant cofactoer in a host of other degenerative and inflammatory diseases.

Mycoplasmas are frequently found in the oral and genito-urinary tracts of normal healthy subjects, with females four times more frequently infected than males, which just happens to be the same gender-skewed incidence rate as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and other related auto-immune disorders.

In 1997, the National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, published the article, Mycoplasmas : Sophisticated, Reemerging, and Burdened by Their Notoriety, by Drs. Baseman and Tully who stated:

"Nonetheless, mycoplasmas by themselves can cause acute and chronic diseases at multiple sites with wide-ranging complications and have been implicated as cofactors in disease.

Recently, mycoplasmas have been linked as a cofactor to AIDS pathogenesis and to malignant transformation, chromosomal aberrations, the Gulf War Syndrome, and other unexplained and complex illnesses, including chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn's disease, and various arthritides."

The first strains of mycoplasma were isolated from cattle with arthritis and pleuro-pneumonia in 1898 at the Pasteur Institute. The first human variety was isolated in 1932 from a wound abscess.

The first connection between Mycoplasmas were identified as a cause of rheumatoid diseases in 1939 by Drs. Swift and Brown. In the late 1950's a specific strain was identified as the cause of atypical pneumonia, and named Mycoplasma pneumonia.

The association between immunodeficiency and autoimmune disorders with mycoplasmas was first noted in the mid 1970s in patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia (an autoimmune disease) due to infection with four species of mycoplasma localized in joint tissue.

Since that time, more than 100 different mycoplasma species have been identified and recorded in plants, animals, and humans.

There are hundreds of studies from scientists all around the world linking various species of mycoplasma with cancer.

The research of Dr Shy-Chung Lo at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C., confirms the multistage, malignant transformation of embryo cell lines persistently exposed to mycoplasma infection as well as animal models so exposed.

According to research by P.J. Chan, published in Gynecologic Oncology (1996), "The oncogenic potential of mycoplasmas was only recently realized when they were shown to cause chromosomal changes and in vitro cell transformations through gradual progressive chromosomal loss and translocations." Chan and colleagues also report the prevalence of mycoplasma DNA in ovarian cancer.1

In 1993, a research team led by C. Ilantzis at the McGill Cancer Centre, Montreal, Canada analyzed cancer-related markers which are specific to various organs in the body. These markers, called "organ-specific neoantigens" (OSNs), elicit specific immune responses. After analyzing OSN proteins from human colon adenocarcinomas, researchers found the OSNs to be mycoplasmal in origin.2

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(1). Chan P.J et al Prevalence of Mycoplasma Conserved DNA in Malignant Ovarian Cancer Detected Using Sensitive PCR-ELISA Gynecologic Oncology 1996 pp. 258-260(3)

(2). C Ilantzis, DM Thomson, A Michaelidou, S Benchimol Identification of a human cancer related organ specific neoantigen Microbiol Immunol, 1993;37(2):119-28

Microscopic Findings

The "cancer bacteria" have a variable appearance, both in tissue samples and in cultures. They can appear as cocci (spheres) 0.1 micrometer in size (a micrometer is 1/1000 of a millimeter), called "ultramicroscopic" since they can still be seen by an ordinary light optical microscope.

Scientists have used the term "nanobacteria" to describe extremely small bacteria which range from .05 to 0.2 micrometer in size. Viruses, which measure 0.01 to 0.02 micrometers, can be viewed only with an electron microscope. The smallest forms of bacteria pass easily through a standard viral filter with pores 0 .2 micrometers in size, which microbiologists assumed (until recently) would catch all bacteria, which tend to be much larger.

Once these tiny cocci are placed in a petri dish and the resulting culture is observed over time, the bacteria also produce larger rods and branching, fungus-like strands.

Mycobacteria are known to exist in different forms, and the tuberculosis microbe, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a good example of this complex life cycle. Some forms of the bacillus are round "coccoid" forms; other forms are more typically "acid-fast" and "rod" forms. All mycobacteria form a phylogenetic link or bridge between the bacteria and the "higher" fungi. "Myco" is Greek for fungus. This is the origin of the term "mycobacteria." Mycoplasmas also have a flowing plasma-like structure without a cell wall - hence "plasma".

Unlike common bacteria, the suspected cancer microbe Mycoplasma has no cell wall. It invades tissue cells, and uses the cell to replicate itself, much like a retrovirus. When the Mycoplasma breaks out of the cell, it takes a piece of the host cell membrane with it. When the immune system attacks the Mycoplasma, it may also mistakenly attack the host cell, causing an autoimmune condition. It can invade the Natural Killer cells of the immune system, causing immune system disorders. Because it can hide deep within cells, it is extremely difficult to detect and eradicate.

Treating Mycoplasma With Antibiotics

Antibiotic treatment must be tailored to the specific bacterial infection. Many bacteria, especially mycoplasma, are unaffected by many common antibiotics. However, some targeted treatments which are known to kill specific cancer-causing bacteria have proven effective, at least in the early stages of disease.

Mycoplasmal infections are treatable with long cycles of high-dose antibiotics such as doxycycline and tetracycline, followed by a long period of low dose antibiotics. Due to their lack of cell walls, mycoplasma are unaffected by penicillins. Since the organism is a slow-growing, intracellular species with a long life cycle, several long term courses of antibiotics may be necessary. The infection may need to be treated for several months or years, much the same protocol as for Lyme Disease.

No clinical trials have been published in regards to the treatment of cancer with antibiotics against mycoplasma.

Vaccines Against Mycoplasma

Maruyama vaccine is similar to BCG vaccine, both of which are made from mycobacteria tuberculosis isolates. Both have been used extensively as immune system stimulants in cancer patients. Murayama vaccine is made from mycobacteria tuberculosis isolates, and BCG is derived from an attenuated bovine tuberculosis bacillus. However, BCG has more side effects than Maruyama vaccine.

Maruyama vaccine, invented by Dr. Chisato Maruyama more than 50 years ago, can be used by itself or in combination with standard therapies. Some Japanese physicians claim to have achieved complete remissions in poor-prognosis cancers, but no large scale clinical trials exist. No negative side effects from the vaccine have been reported.

Murayama vaccine is approved by the FDA to treat terminal cancer patients. Some forms of health insurance will cover the cost if the vaccine is used as part of standard therapy, because it is officially approved only as an immune system stimulant to counteract the side effect of bone marrow suppression caused by radiotherapy.

Maruyama vaccine is supplied by The Research Institute of Vaccine Therapy for Tumors and Infections Disease, Nippon Medical School Hospital in Tokyo, as long as the patient supplies a request from their physician. It is not expensive, approximately 9000 yen (100 USD) for a 40 day course of treatment.

According to an article published in Cancer Detection And Prevention, 2003, by Tetsuo Kimoto M.D., Ph.D., Maruyama vaccine does not have direct cytotoxic effects on tumors, but rather causes their encapsulation by collagen fibers.

This leads to the containment and sometimes necrosis (death) of tumors and their metastasis. Survival time increased in both animal and human subjects with tumors, and Kimoto stated that Murayama vaccine "may benefit patients in whom the tumor is inoperable and resistant to conventional chemotherapy." 1

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(1). Tetsuo Kimoto M.D., Ph.D The antitumor effects of Maruyama vaccine (SSM) Cancer Detection and Prevention Volume 22 Issue 4 Page 340 - August 1998 .

Herpes Virus

Cervical cancer, caused by the human papilloma virus, strikes more than 10,000 U.S. women each year, killing more than 3,700. A new vaccine against the virus, Gardasil, was approved by the FDA in 2006. The vaccine is effective against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause approximately 70 percent of cervical cancers and against HPV types 6 and 11, which cause approximately 90 percent of genital warts.

Less well known is the fact that HPV is also implicated in squamous cell head and neck cancers, especially cancer of the tonsils. 1,2 Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center tested tumor tissues from 253 patients with head and neck cancers and found 25 percent of the cases were HPV-positive. In 90 percent of those HPV-positive tumors, HPV16, the type of virus most often associated with cervical cancer, was present.3

Multiple studies confirm the link between HPV and head and neck cancer. Approximately 31,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, which causes 8,500 deaths annually.

The vaccine against HPV only works if it administered before infection, indicating the importance of immunization before potential exposure to the virus. Also, Gardasil does not protect against less common HPV types not included in the vaccine, thus routine and regular pap screening remain critically important to detect precancerous changes in the cervix to allow treatment before cervical cancer develops. It is a preventative measure, not a treatment for existing cervical or head and neck cancer.

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(1). Paz IB et al., Human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancer. An association of HPV 16 with squamous cell carcinoma of Waldeyer's tonsillar ring. Cancer 1997 Feb 1;79(3):595-604.

(2) Klussman JP et al., Human papillomavirus-positive tonsillar carcinomas: a different tumor entity? Med Microbiol Immunol (Berlin) 2003 Aug;192(3):129-32. Epub 2002 Sep 14.

(3). Gillison ML, Koch WM, Capone RB, Spafford M, Westra WH, Wu L, Zahurak ML, Daniel RW, Viglione M, Symer DE, Shah KV, Sidransky D, Evidence for a causal association between human papillomavirus and a subset of head and neck cancers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2000 May 3;92(9):709-20

Stomach Cancer

In the December 2000 edition of the Journal of The National Cancer Insitute, a research team led by Columbian pathologist Pelayo Correa reported that antibiotics, vitamin C, or beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A) can reverse precancerous stomach conditions caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Stomach cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, and is most common in countries such as Colombia and China, where H. Pylori infects more than half of the population in early childhood. In the U.S., where H. pylori is less common, stomach cancer rates have decreased since the 1930s.

The two main risk factors for stomach cancer are H. pylori infection, and a diet low in vitamin C and beta carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. There is also ample evidence that a diet including fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in those nutrients, protects against stomach cancer.

In 1992, the researchers studied 631 patients with aberrant gastric cell growth, which falls into one of three successive premalignant stages--multifocal nonmetaplastic atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia.

Patients received either a placebo pill, a vitamin C or beta-carotene supplement, or antibiotics against H. pylori. Some others received a combination of drugs and supplements.

The scientists took stomach biopsies of the patients after 3 and 6 years of treatment. Patients with atrophy were roughly five times as likely to experience regression of this premalignant cell growth as those getting a placebo.

Among those with metaplasia, the volunteers who were taking supplements or drugs were three times as likely to improve as those getting placebos were. However, patients with dysplasia, the last stage of stomach disease before cancer, showed no significant improvement with any of the treatments. "The earlier in the process [that we intervened] the better the chance of regression," Correa said. 1

This study is encouraging because it shows that treating carcinogenic bacteria produces clear benefits against precancerous conditions. However, once the tissue damage caused by infection had progressed to the premalignant stage, the antibiotics produced no benefits, and would likely produce no improvement in cases of outright malignancy either.

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(1). Correa, P., et al. 2000. Chemoprevention of gastric dysplasia: Randomized trial of antioxidant supplements and anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 92(Dec. 6):1881-1888

Lymphoma

The common antibiotic doxycycline effectively treats a type of ocular lymphoma associated with chlamydia infection, according to a study published in the October 4 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

A team of researchers led by Andres J. M. Ferreri, M.D., of the San Raffaele H Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy, gave 27 patients with ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) a 3-week course of doxycycline therapy, whether they tested positive or negative for chlamydia.

The researchers observed for tumor progression every 6 months, and found that doxycycline caused caused lymphoma to regress in patients regardless of whether they tested positive or negative for chlamydia.

The study suggested that doxycycline is a useful therapy even in patients where other treatments have failed, and it is a valid alternative to chemotherapy and radiation without causing the same toxic side-effects. Patients treated with doxycycline had a 66% rate of disease-free survival. 1

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(1). Andrés J. M. Ferreri, Maurilio Ponzoni, Massimo Guidoboni, Antonio Giordano Resti, Letterio S. Politi, Sergio Cortelazzo, Judit Demeter, Francesco Zallio, Angelo Palmas, Giuliana Muti, Giuseppina P. Dognini, Elisa Pasini, Antonia Anna Lettini, Federico Sacchetti, Carlo De Conciliis, Claudio Doglioni, Riccardo Dolcetti Bacteria-Eradicating Therapy With Doxycycline in Ocular Adnexal MALT Lymphoma: A Multicenter Prospective Trial Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2006 98(19):1375-1382

Cautionary Note On Indiscriminate Use Of Antibiotics

So far, no antibiotic treatment has been discovered that is successful in treating most types of cancer, and a study linking antibiotic use to an increased risk breast cancer appeared in the February 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, which examined 10,000 Washington state women, found that those who took more than 25 courses of antibiotics over an average of 17 years had double the risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not take antibiotics. Women who took between one and 25 prescriptions over the same period had a one-and-a-half times increased risk for breast cancer. 1

Correlation does not always imply causation, and this study raises intriguing questions as to the mechanism of this effect. Perhaps it is due to direct cellular damage by the antibiotic. Maybe the disruption of the body's normal bacterial homeostasis by antibiotics causes proliferation of pathogenic bacterial species.

It could be that women with poorly functioning immune systems (due to genetics or poor living conditions) are more prone to infections as well as cancer. A need for antibiotics may indicate an underlying inflammatory or infectious condition which is responsible for the development of cancer.

However, the study illustrates the perils of using broad spectrum antibiotics indiscriminately. This practice evidently does not ward off cancer, and cannot be recommended.

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(1). Roberta B. Ness, MD, MPH. Jane A. Cauley, DrPH Antibiotics and Breast Cancer--. What's the Meaning of This? Journal of The American Medical Association Feb 2004 291:77, 880-881

Antibiotics To Treat Cancer

In 2006, researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that siomycin, a poorly known antibiotic first discovered in the 1960s, caused cancer cells to undergo apoptosis (cell death) while leaving normal cells unharmed. This is due to a direct effect on the FOX M1 gene, which is activated in tumor cells and causes their rapid growth. Siomycin is currently being evaluated for possible clinical trials. 1

Neomycin, another old antibiotic first discovered in 1949, inhibits angiogenesis (development of blood vessels) of prostate tumors, and prevents them from growing and spreading in animal subjects, according to researchers Hu and Yoshioka in the Sept 2006 edition of the Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences. 2

In both cases, the action of these antibiotics is due to a direct chemotherapeutic effect, not antibacterial action. However, both of these agents show promise for the development of chemotherapy without the current horrendous side effects.

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(1). Senthil K. Radhakrishnan, Uppoor G. Bhat, Douglas E. Hughes, I-Ching Wang, Robert H. Costa and Andrei L. Gartel Identification of a Chemical Inhibitor of the Oncogenic Transcription Factor Forkhead Box M1 Cancer Research 66, 9731-9735, October 1, 2006

(2). Hu G-F. Neomycin inhibits angiogenin-induced angiogenesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 9791-9795, 1998

Integrated Treatment Clinics

Livingstone-Wheeler claimed an 82% success rate in her book "the Conquest of Cancer".

One of the largest clinics offering treatment based on the bacterial hypothesis of cancer is the Livingstone Wheeler Foundation Medical Center, San Diego, California. Livingstone-Wheeler claimed an 82% success rate in her book "the Conquest of Cancer". Here, patients are given vaccines and other measures purported to enhance immunity to the pleomorphic bacterium believed to be the cause of cancer.

BCG vaccine is used along with a multifocal treatment program: vegetarian diet, vitamins, antioxidants, detoxification, nutritional counselling, support groups. Patients are monitored with tests of immune function and vitamin levels.

However, a 2001 study by the Centre for Alternative Medicine Research at the University of Texas found poor outcomes the 191 clinic patients followed, approximately half of whom had metastatic cancer. Only 28 patients out of 193 were found to be still alive five years later, giving a five-year survival rate of 14.5%, no better than conventional therapy for advanced cancer. These results refute Livingstone's claims of success.

However, other practitioners have had better results. The Issels Clinic, founded in 1951 in Germany by Dr. Josef Issels, specializes in immunotherapy (along with other alternative treatments) and and has a significant success rate documented by independent studies.

Since the late 1960s, German public health insurance has covered treatment at the Issels Clinic. From 1981 until his retirement in 1987, Dr. Issels served as expert in the Federal German Government Commission In The Fight Against Cancer.

In the Clinical Trials Journal (London 1970) a peer-reviewed study showed that Issels treatment plus standard therapy (chemo and radiotherapy) improved the five-year survival rate of patients with metastatic cancers to 87%, as compared to 50% with standard therapy alone.

In 1959, A. G. Audier, M.D., from the University of Leiden, Holland, reported that Issels therapy produced a 16.6% cure rate in 252 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma, which has only a 2% cure rate by conventional therapy.

This was confirmed by a study in 1971 by John Anderson, M.D., from King's College Hospital, which found a 17% cure rate for metastatic melanoma. The Issels clinic has documented long term cures (greater than 10 years) of advanced metastatic cancer, including astrocytomas (malignant brain tumors) and melanomas, which are virtually incurable by conventional treatment.

There are two Issels Medical Centers in the United States, in Phoenix, Arizona, and Santa Barbara, California.

Summary

Evidence for a causal link between infection and cancer appears to be overwhelming, but so far no universally applicable treatment has been developed from this knowledge.

In some cases, such as intraocular lymphoma, eradication of infection cures cancer; but in other cases, such as gastric cancer, it has no effect once the disease has progressed from pre-malignant to cancerous. So far, some success has been achieved by immunotherapy, but be sure to look for a reputable clinic with proven results, since patient outcomes vary greatly between practitioners.

This is definitely a field to watch closely, since new discoveries are being made constantly.

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