Inside Cancer

What is Bone Cancer and Can it Be Prevented?

2008-11-29T19:00:00.001-08:00

Cancer of the bone or bone cancer is a general term used when cancer cells are seen in the bone. Cancer that begins in the bone is called primary bone cancer. It is found most often in the arms and legs but it can occur in any bone in the body. Children and young people are more likely than adults to have bone cancers.

Primary bone cancers are called sarcomas. There are several different types of sarcoma and each type begins in a different kind of bone tissue. The most common sarcomas are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma.

In young people, the most common type of bone cancer is osteosarcoma, usually occurring between the ages of ten and twenty-five. More often, males are affected than females. Osteosarcoma frequently starts in the ends of the bones; where new bone tissue forms as a young person grows, usually affecting the long bones of the arms and legs. Ewing's sarcoma usually affects teenagers, and is mostly found in people between ten and twenty-five years old.

This cancer forms in the middle part (shaft) of large bones and most often affects the hip bones and long bones in the thigh and upper arm, but can also occur in the ribs. Chondrosarcoma is a type of tumor that forms in the cartilage (rubbery tissue around the joints) and are found mainly in adults. Other types of bone cancer include fibrosarcoma (malignant giant cell tumor) and chordoma. These are rare cancers and most often affects people over thirty.

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. However, symptoms may vary depending on the location and size of the cancer. Sometimes firm, slightly tender lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. Sometimes bone cancer interferes with normal movements and can also weaken or cause bones to break. Tumors that occur in or near joints may cause swelling and tenderness in the affected area. Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, weight loss, and anemia. It is important to check with a doctor when you experience these symptoms, but these symptoms can also be caused by other less serious conditions.

Conventional treatment for some bone tumors may involve surgery, such as limb amputation. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be effective in some tumors (such as Ewing's sarcoma) but less so in others (such as chondrosarcoma). After treatment has been done for bone cancer, it is very important that regular follow-up or check-ups are done with your doctor, to be sure that cancer has not come back and treat it promptly if it does. Check-ups may be physical exam, x-rays, scans, blood tests, and other laboratory tests.

People who have been diagnosed of bone cancer may have many physical, emotional, practical worries. They may worry that removal of a limb or other surgery will affect not only how they look but how other people would feel about them. Patients can be helped to overcome all these through special support groups for youngsters with cancer and their families. The American Cancer Society, for example, is a nonprofit organization that has many services for patients and their families.

All types of cancer are traumatic for everyone involved. The keyword is prevention. There are natural supplements that work. Unfortunately we don't hear much about these supplements unless we investigate and search them out. Most of them fall under the conflicted interest of quack watchers because if it isn't manufactured by the drug companies, it can't possibly work. Sure there is some good being done in mainstream medicine, but when doors continually stay closed to alternative preventions and treatments, it's more than mere coincidence.

Take care of your health and realize you can live cancer free.

Article

Acai Berry Cancer Research

2008-11-29T18:59:00.000-08:00

The Acai berry seems like a magical food that cures everything. It can have positive effects on the heart and the brain, help you lose weight, clean the body of toxins, and much more. It's even been claimed that the Acai berry can fight cancer. But really, can one little berry do all of that? Well, some claims may be exaggerated, but a study from the University of Florida shows that yes, the Acai berry really can help battle cancer!

The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has published an article by Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor at the University of Florida. Professor Talcott had studied the effects of the Acai berry extensively, and he noticed a very unique and amazing property: when he introduced an Acai berry extract to leukemia cells, 86 percent of those cells self-destructed. Talcott believes this may have been caused by the high amount of antioxidants contained in Acai berries. The berries contain almost 30 times the amount of antioxidants in a glass of red wine.

In a follow up study done shortly after Talcott published his finding, six different extracts made from the Acai berry were tested. Out of the six, four were shown to kill a significant number of leukemia cells over a 24 hour period. Different concentrations of the extract were tested, with different ones killing between 35 and 86 percent of leukemia cells.

While the study shows that the Acai berry extract can help defeat leukemia, there's no sure sign that it can prevent leukemia or other forms of cancer and disease. In fact, eating guavas, mangoes, and grapes has been shown to help reduce the number of cancerous cells in a body. Scientists such as Talcott have yet to be certain just how much of an effect foods high in antioxidants have against cancer, but they are certain that they are beneficial. The problem is that metabolism, nutrient absorption, and other factors often increase or decrease the antioxidants' effects. Since these factors can vary from person to person, it's hard to say exactly.

Acai berries have not been fully researched yet; in fact, about 50 percent of the berries contain unidentified compounds, and scientists are uncertain how those compounds affect the human body. One of the main issues found in researching berries is that the berries are perishable and lose much of their potency shortly after being picked. Scientists have only been studying the Acai berry for ten years or so, and there's still much to learn about the fruit.

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How to Detect and Treat Breast Cancer

2008-11-27T07:26:00.001-08:00

It can be very helpful to know more about how to detect breast cancer because when it is diagnosed early it can be treated more effectively.

The breast is composed of a group of glands and ducts protected by a fatty tissue. When cancer occurs the cells start to divide and multiply quickly growing in an abnormal pace. It can start within the mammary glands or ducts and spread to the lymph nodes and the fat tissue around the breast. Although, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst women under 35, only 8,000 women are diagnosed before their menopause, of which 2,000 are in their 20s or 30s, out of 44,000 women diagnosed each year.

There are some factors that can increase the risk of a woman developing breast cancer they are as follows:

* Starting menstruation at a young age, before 12 years old.
* Late menopause, after 55 years old
* Being overweight, in particular after the menopause
* If it is in the family history and/or inherited genes
* Intake of HRT - only while taking it, the risks are reduced after stopping taking it
* Regular intake of more than one unit of alcohol every day
* Having previously had breast cancer

What symptoms you should be alert to?

* Unexpected change in size or anatomy of the breast
* Unexpected changes of the nipple, such as changing position or shape, becoming inverted or developing a rash or discharge
* Skin of the breast appears puckered or dimpled
* Continuous pain in one area either in the breast or under the armpit
* Swelling of the armpit or in the region of the collarbone
* A lump or thickening in the breast or armpit

How can breast cancer be diagnosed?

If you notice any of these symptoms or are concerned about any of them see your GP and he will exam you and if necessary refer you to a breast clinic for further examination and ultrasound scan or mammogram (breast X-ray). In case a lump is found, cells can be extracted with a delicate needle, or a biopsy can be performed to ascertain if the lump is malignant. The earlier it is detected the more effective the treatment can be. Learn how to do breast self-examination, as it makes easier to know your breasts and recognise any unnatural changes on them.

What are the types of treatment available?

Your specialist will decide on the type of treatment that would suit you best depending on the stage of the tumour, your age as well as your overall health condition and other factors. The treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy, either on their own or mixed within any order or combination.

Article

Breast Cancer - How to Prevent Breast Cancer With Early Detection

2008-11-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

If you are a woman, there is one kind of cancer that you always have to be on the look out for, and that is breast cancer. No matter what age you are, you can still get breast cancer. Although it is more common in women that are 40 years of age or older, you should start doing breast exams as soon as you can. This is because you can actually help to prevent breast cancer with early detection. If you are not able to prevent it, you are going to be able to have a better chance of getting rid of it the sooner that you do find it.

They recommended doing breast cancer exams every 3 years. This is after you reach your late 20's and 30's. However, keep in mind that breast cancer is something that you are able to detect yourself. It is always good to keep a close watch on your breasts. Every few days, you should feel them while you are in the shower to check for lumps. These lumps could be signs of breast cancer. The lumps will usually be hard and noticeable.

When it comes to doing breast self-examination, there are a few times of the month that are the best time to check for breast cancer. This is a good way to do early breast screening detection to help you prevent getting it. Although some people still think that you should check for breast cancer every few days, you are really only suppose to check it about once a month. However, do keep in mind that doing it more than once a month is not bad.

The best time a month to check for breast cancer is the day after your period. This is the best time to perform a self-examination, because your breasts are likely to be less tender and sore. If you are a person that has irregular periods, then you can check your beast any time of the month. You will still get the same effect. Just remember, try to do a self-examination when your breasts are not sore. This way you can do a much better job examining without worrying about your breasts being too sore to touch.

If you do not think that self-examinations are the best way to go, for early detection of breast cancer you can always go in and have mammograms. This is a breast X-ray that is able to see the smallest breast tumors. Now the question is, when and how often should you go in for a mammogram? The truth is, it is really going to depend on your age. Not only that, but it is going to have a lot to do with your family history as well. If breast cancer is something that runs in your family, then you are going to want to do mammograms more often than other people. Breast cancer is something that kind of runs in families. Although it is unknown why it does this, it does not change the fact that it does run in family trees.

As you can see, there are a few things that you can do to help you with early detection of breast cancer. Early detection is, of course, the best shot you have at getting rid of breast cancer before it starts and spreads to the rest of your body. Also, breast cancer is not that common in men, but it can happen, thus, men should check themselves as well from time to time with a self-examination. However, they should do this far less often than women.

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3 Popular Breast Cancer Tests

2008-11-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

Around 44,500 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Although the exact cause is still unknown, we know that it begins when the breast tissues start to multiply in a rapid and uncontrolled way. The symptoms of this type of cancer are often difficult to identify but fortunately there are a number of tests your doctor can perform. In this article I will be discussing three of these tests.

1) PHYSICAL INSPECTION:- This is usually the first breast cancer test your doctor will perform. Although most lumps can be found during self examination there are certain abnormalities you may not notice. A trained doctor who has experience examining breasts for signs of cancer is much more likely to spot any of these abnormalities that you may have missed. If they do notice anything they will then be able to recommend further tests.

2) MAMMOGRAM:- This is an x-ray for the breasts. It is very useful for identifying any abnormalities in the breast such as lumps or calcium deposits. These abnormalities may turn out to be early signs of breast cancer so a mammogram is a good way to detect any early warning signs. However, it cannot be used to determine whether these abnormalities are cancerous so if your doctor does notice anything during the mammogram they may call you back for further testing.

3) FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY (FNAC):- This breast cancer test involves inserting a fine needle into any lumps or abnormalities that your doctor has discovered. They will then be able to to determine whether the lump contains fluid (and is therefore non-cancerous) or is solid (and therefore potentially cancerous). If the lump is solid the needle will allow your doctor to extract some of the cells for further examination under the microscope. This examination will then reveal whether or not the cells are cancerous.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types in the UK and can prove fatal if it is ignored. However, when identified early it is usually very treatable. If you notice anything different about your breasts then it is better to be safe than sorry. Go see your doctor and get yourself tested right away. It could be a crucial step towards combating this type of cancer.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Breast cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

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Cancer Alternatives - 5 Things You Should Consider Before Undergoing Chemotherapy

2008-11-19T07:03:00.001-08:00

Since the 1960's, chemotherapy has been the primary treatment for cancer in the United States - despite questionable benefits and the terrible suffering it causes patients who are already experiencing a major health challenge. But would you believe that the only real reason chemotherapy is still around is because consumers are simply conditioned to blindly follow authority without asking their own questions. Furthermore, the undue fear that has been associated with cancer immediately puts most people into a state of shock - in which they will acquiesce to anyone who offers to help them. Well, here are 5-things you should consider before simply going along with convention and subjecting yourself to a treatment most doctors wouldn't even use:

1. By medical standards, chemotherapy is not really that effective. It is estimated that about half of all cancer patients get chemotherapy despite the fact it only appears to be helping about 5% of those people. In some placebo trials with various kinds of cancer, placebos (essentially sugar pills) are effective far more than 5% of the time; leading one to believe that it may be better to take a sugar pill, or just do nothing at all, rather than endure the misery that is chemotherapy.

2. Chemotherapy is a poison that kills healthy cells along with cancer cells. Chemotherapy weakens every part of your body - including the immune system - leaving the body to fight cancer and the effects of poisoning in a weakened state, and leaving the body vulnerable to secondary infections. Chemotherapy is also believed to cause rapid spread of cancer in a large number of cases - perhaps because of its weakening effect on the immune system.

3. In a recent survey, 81% of the oncologists asked said that they would not submit themselves, or their family members, to chemotherapy due to its low success rates coupled with its unpredictable risks and unmanageable side-effects - not to mention the extreme suffering caused by the poisons used. Studies suggest that chemotherapy provides no significant benefit over doing nothing at all - and that chemotherapy toxins may actually make conditions much worse for the patient.

4. Alternative cancer cures are abundant, affordable, and available; though, due to aggressive practice protection laws, the American Medical Association (AMA) is diligent about persecuting and prosecuting anyone who claims to be able to cure cancer without a prescription. Though cancer is a catch-all phrase for over a hundred different disease presentations, the AMA still defends a catch-all therapeutic approach that has never been effective. Seek out alternatives before making a decision on how to treat cancer. You can only make an informed decision if you have information on the subject. We have all been programmed to think and believe that if we get cancer we should go to the doctor and let him do whatever he wants so we don't die. Cancer is survivable; and modern medical approaches are not necessarily the most effective approaches to treating cancer patients. Many alternative approaches to the treatment of cancer have much higher success rates than any approach offered by pharmaceutical companies.

5. No matter what form of treatment you use to address illness, it has always been the body that does the healing - specifically, the immune system. Even if you choose to use chemotherapy, you need to do whatever you can to support your immune system naturally through and after the process. Chemotherapy can't heal you; it can only destroy cells. If your immune system is destroyed in the process, you simply won't heal. Explore alternative health approaches for safe, non-invasive methods of strengthening the body and immune system - if not to cure the cancer, than at least to survive the chemotherapy.

The bottom line is that you alone are responsible for your health; and, if you have a serious, or life-threatening, condition, you need to seriously consider what you want to do about it. Don't let fear decide for you. Fear kills; and it often does so by using stress to limit your mental access to creative solutions to your problems. Not everyone who gets cancer dies from it; but everyone dies. Calm down, breathe, and rationally consider the vast array of alternative approaches available to you. Make your decision knowing that it is the right one, and that you are doing it for the purpose of restoring health and order to your body, mind, and life. What one can do, others can do. Others before you have survived cancer - with and without doctors and medicine. You can too!

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What is a Precancerous Mole?

2008-11-15T04:45:00.001-08:00

Moles that need immediate attention but are not treated immediately can possibly lead to precancerous moles over time. To most of us who are not aware of the medical conditions and cases, we often ask, "What is a precancerous mole?"

Precancerous moles are moles that are not yet classified as cancerous but may develop into being cancerous when not given medical attention at the early stage of skin condition. Precancerous lesion is actually a change in skin growth or appearance that is not cancerous. Moles that appear to have abnormal characteristics must be seen by a dermatologist to assure that the condition is not cancer.

Cancerous moles, on the other hand, are considered malignant melanomas which have been developed from atypical moles. Melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer; it is common in people with fair skin and freckled skin, also in people with dark skin. Exposure to the harmful rays of sunlight and radiation of high technology equipments would increase the cancer formation in the skin. Melanoma that is detected early has a greater chance of being treated and cured.

Melanoma as a skin cancer often spreads to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and through the bloodstream. Once you develop signs and symptoms that point to precancerous moles, a biopsy of mole cell will be necessary to know if it is really cancerous. If the result confirms a melanoma, the physician will do some more examinations to determine how far the cancer cells have spread in the body.

Actually, it is hard to tell the difference between precancerous mole and early stage melanoma. Dysplastic nevus or atypical mole is considered as precancerous mole because they have the characteristics that brought suspicions as being cancerous such as having irregular borders and asymmetrical in form. These may come out to be non-cancerous but may also develop into being a melanoma over time if not treated properly.

Dysplastic nevus is one of the most common forms of precancerous mole. It usually runs in the family and shows irregular characteristics that may eventually lead to melanoma. Although not all dysplastic nevi are cancerous, it would be better that a dermatologist screen it to prevent cancer formation.

Aktinic keratosis is another common type of the precancerous growth in the skin. This is usually linked to longer sun exposure. It usually appears at the face, neck, arms, and hands. Some part of the upper chest and upper back also get affected by this condition. Other parts that get affected but not usually exposed to sunlight are explained as caused by exposure to radiation and chemicals.

Knowing the characteristics of your mole and the causes and effects of it will help to give you a clean indication of whether you need to be seen for a a precancerous mole. Self-monitoring and observation of your skin will help in the early detection of precancerous moles and can even save you from the danger of cancerous malignant melanoma.

Prevention is always the best cure for any kind of disease, especially for this type of skin cancer. The best way to prevent skin cancer from moles is to detect and treat early. Avoiding exposure to sunlight and chemical substances from skin products will also help you prevent the melanoma condition.

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Does Sun Exposure Cause Skin Cancer?

2008-11-15T04:44:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of tales told about skin health. One of the most damaging is that sun exposure causes skin cancer. As you'll see in a moment, this is simply not true.

Melanoma is the form of skin cancer the media likes to refer to when they want to scare the dickens out of the public about the dangers of sun exposure. There are a number of reports of the fact that melanoma has been steadily increasing over the last 20 years. Most dermatologists will say this increase is due to the fact that more people are getting far too much sun exposure in their younger years.

A closer look at the matter, however, reveals a far different story. Skin cancer awareness programs have been effective at increasing the number of people undergoing full-body screening exams, and the result is a huge increase in the number of skin biopsies being performed. It seems that even with biopsies there is still considerable confusion and disagreement among pathologists when it comes to identifying melanoma. It's apparently not a cut-and-dried diagnosis.

Looking at the same tissue, one pathologist will see a benign lesion while another will see it as melanoma. Thus, the dramatic increase in biopsies has led to more melanoma diagnoses, many of which are false, as a new study shows.

The study, conducted by doctors at Dartmouth Medical School, found that there has been a 250% increase in skin biopsies since 1986-which just happens to be roughly the same percentage increase in the number of people diagnosed with early-stage melanoma. These researchers became skeptical about the rise in melanoma after they noticed that over that time there hasn't been any increase in deaths from melanoma or any increase in the number of advanced cases of the disease. (BM] 05;331(7518):698)

Plain and simple, there has not been an actual increase in the overall incidence of melanoma. The apparent increase is due merely to improved detection because of the increased number of screening procedures and subsequent biopsies, which by the way, hasn't led to any increase in survival or cure rates.

Much like cancers of the prostate, breast, and lung, the more doctors look for cancer, the more likely they will find it and the number of false diagnoses will also increase.

If you or someone you know is diagnosed with melanoma, I would definitely suggest getting a second or possibly even a third opinion.

Obviously, excessive exposure that results in sunburn isn't a benefit at all. However, moderate amounts of sunlight, along with a varied diet containing nature's natural protective anti- oxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids (omega-3s) is actually beneficial and has been shown to help prevent many forms of cancer-including skin cancer.

Lifetime sun exposure was actually shown to result in a lower risk of developing melanoma. (I Invest Dermatol 03;120(6):1087-1093) Past studies have shown that individuals who utilize sun exposure reasonably have a lower incidence of colon and breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, hip and vertebra fractures, et cetera.

Over 20 years ago it was discovered that vitamin D has an "anti-proliferative" effect on cells. In other words, vitamin D can stop cells from multiplying out of control (i.e., from developing into cancer). The body has only two sources for vitamin D. The first is from oily foods (vitamin D is fat-soluble) such as oily fish, organ meats, and eggs. The second is from your own skin cells, which use the same "cancer-causing" UV rays from the sun to convert a form of cholesterol into vitamin D.

Not surprisingly, those who consume more fish and omega- 3 foods have a reduced incidence of melanoma, while those consuming more of the omega-6 oils (the vegetable oils that are now so pervasive throughout our food supply) have increased rates of melanoma and other skin cancers.

A couple of other chemicals that your skin makes when it has adequate exposure to the UV rays of the sun. The function of these two vitamin D-related compounds, lumisterol and tachysterol, isn't yet fully understood. It's possible that they're associated with helping prevent blood sugar problems and obesity.

Avoiding sunlight puts you at a far greater health risk than exposing yourself moderately. Dr. William Grant, one of the top researchers on this subject, has studied the relationship between sunlight and health for years. He's found that every year 47,000 individuals in this country die from 16 different types of cancer due to insufficient vitamin D, whereas 8,000 die of melanoma and another 2,000 die from other skin cancers.

Furthermore, pale skin, numerous moles, smoking, a diet high in fat and low in fruits and veg- etables, and frequent sunburns are all stronger predictors of later skin cancer than UV exposure. As with most things, moderation is the watchword. Enjoy your time in the sun every day and prepare your body with an adequate intake of the right fatty acids.

Article

Cancer - Conventional Or Alternative Treatment?

2008-11-12T07:45:00.001-08:00

If you have been diagnosed with cancer by an allopathic (conventional) physician, then the recommended course of treatment is most likely to take the conventional cut-burn-poison route. And you'll be cited the "statistics" of the "cure" rate. These people are all enamored with statistics. You will be given the percentages of patients who have survived these treatments for five years. Meaning they were "cured." Well, five years is 1,825 days and you won't be informed of any patients who died on the 1,826th day because they are off the charts and not counted in the statistics. As soon as 1,825 days of survival have been recorded, the patient is considered cured. This is what is called "lies, damn lies, and statistics." What the conventional medical clique refers to as a "cure" isn't much more than medicine show pitchman babble. The truth is, they haven't cured anything.

You see, Oncologists are obsessed with tumors. They enjoy referring to them as "cancer." So they're delighted to cut them out with surgery, burn them up with radiation, or poison them with chemotherapy, all for a nice fee. This is very much like a farmer tilling, seeding, and cultivating his crop. A nice big crop of cancer cells! Because tumors aren't cancer!! Tumors are there to protect the cancer cells and the only way to cure cancer is to kill those cancer cells and leave their tumors with nothing to protect. This will make the tumors so unhappy, they'll shrivel up and die.

The surgery, radiation, and chemo business doesn't want us to know this. The average cancer treatment costs around $350,000.00. That's a lot of money to leave on the table in favor of offering a cheaper and less profitable treatment that actually cures someone. After all, the cancer business isn't in business for the sheer excitement of it all!

Cutting into tumors releases cancer cells into the bloodstream. That goes for biopsies too. Burning them with radiation won't kill all cancer cells and the survivors will settle themselves into new homes, followed swiftly by their protective bodyguards, new tumors, and many cancer cells are simply impervious to chemotherapy.

There is a very inspiring book around by Dr W. D. Kelley, an orthodontist who was sent home to die of end stage pancreatic cancer. Dr Kelley cured himself and lived another 35 years, meanwhile writing a book about his ordeal. That beats the 1,825 day survival rate of the conventional "cure" by 30 years, doesn't it?

Dr Kelley isn't alone in his victory over cancer. Alternative physicians routinely treat and cure cancer. They have to keep a low profile because they will be effectively silenced if they begin cutting into the cancer money machine too deeply. There is a very very powerful conglommerate of government agencies (surprise, the government doesn't have our best interests at heart), international drug companies, and major treatment hospitals that puts profits first and the devil take the cure! These interests don't want us to learn about the effective alternatives out there.

Most of what we hear about cancer treatments is not the truth. At the very best, we receive an incomplete picture and anyone who develops cancer and believes the propaganda put out by the cancer establishment, is putting his life at risk.

To the cancer establishment, we, as cancer patients, are a profit center. The actual clinical and scientific evidence does not support the claims made by the cancer business. Conventional cancer therapies are in place as the law of the land because they make the most money, not because they heal anyone. Decades of cancer business politics have kept us from knowing this and will continue to do so until we all wake up to the reality.

Article

Green Tea Can Prevent Cancer

2008-11-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

The value of green tea has gone beyond the scientific and medical wisdom. Over the recent past, this tea has gained immense popularity. It has been hyped and given credited for its immense value and health benefits. Association of this herbal tea with health has also become quite vital in educating the society more of their health needs. The tea has been given credited for its ability to help the body ward of cancer.

Doctors have made it clear that, it's true this type of tea helps the body keep cancer at bay. Most health experts involved in this research have noted that green tea works through various channels of our body systems. The compounds in green tea act through different our body pathways nourishing us with medicinal benefits and supplements. How this tea keeps cancer at bay is very interesting yet vital to our health and dietary needs.

Green teas ability to fight cancer is very potent making it a very coveted herbal product. Compounds which include anti-oxidants in green tea contribute highly in proffering our bodies' good health as well as fighting cancer. The compounds found in green tea actively block molecules which contribute to growth and manifestation of cancer in our bodies. These chemicals shut this key molecule which facilitates growth of cancer cells. The aryl hydrocarbon is responsible to the complex nature of cancer by activating some body genes.

Two compounds found in green tea stop the aryl hydrocarbon by shutting down the AH. These chemicals are also found in broccoli, red wine, cabbage and grapes. The research on the benefits of this type of tea has established that, aryl hydrocarbon is a cancer causing hydrocarbon which is associated with cigarette smoking and other harmful health habits. As such, drinking the tea has been unanimously recommended as a very healthy habit which everyone should undertake.

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Breast Cancer - Follow-Up and Outlook

2008-11-11T05:58:00.000-08:00

What happens after all the treatment is done? Most women ask how they will know if their cancer comes back and how they will be monitored during the years ahead. To begin with, many possible tests can be performed. While some are important, such as mammography, others, such as CAT scans and bone scans, do not contribute to longer survival rates and may lead to unnecessary anxiety, additional tests, and biopsies. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has published guidelines, "A Patient's Guide to Follow-Up Care for Breast Cancer." You can view this document on their website. (See asco.org, the "People Living with Cancer" section.)

It is important to see your cancer specialist for regular checkups. Medical oncologists and surgeons often do these checkups, while radiation oncologists may see the patients only for the first one to two years. Sometimes the checkups can be rotated among your team of cancer specialists. Although your family doctor should continue to see you for routine physical exams, it is still important to see a cancer specialist, who will be particularly aware of issues important to breast cancer survivors.

During the first three years after finishing treatment, you should have a checkup no less than every three to six months. During these visits it is important for you to share with your doctor any new symptoms you may be experiencing. For example, do you have any breast lumps or changes in your breast or chest region? Are you experiencing any persistent bone pain? Any problems breathing? Any abdominal pain or bloating that does not go away? Unexplained weight loss? In addition to carefully examining the breasts, your doctor will do a full physical exam.

After the first three years, these visits can be less frequent, perhaps every six to twelve months for the next two years. After five years, an annual checkup is sufficient for a routine exam. However, if you are experiencing any new symptoms, you should let your doctor know and arrange to be seen for evaluation. Although most recurrences happen in the first two to three years, they can happen much later on, even up to ten or more years after initial diagnosis and treatment.

Mammography is an important part of your follow-up. If you are treated with breast-conserving therapy, then you will have a mammogram of the treated breast six months after completing radiation. After that, mammograms are generally done yearly, although your doctor may recommend them at additional times if any questions arise during your clinical breast examination. If you have had a mastectomy, then every year you will need a mammogram of the opposite breast.

Routine gynecological examinations are also important, and women taking tamoxifen need to be especially careful about telling their doctors about any abnormal bleeding.

If you have any symptoms, or if your doctor finds any abnormalities on your physical exam, then appropriate tests will be ordered. These may include blood tests, x-rays, bone scans, MRIs, or CT scans. However, if you are feeling fine and your exam is normal then these tests are not recommended.

The work of identifying a blood test that is sensitive and specific enough to be helpful in follow-up is an active area of current research but, unfortunately, at this time no such test exists. Blood tests called tumor markers CA 27-29, CA 15-3, and CEA are not recommended for routine follow-up because they are often normal when cancer has already spread, and they may be abnormal when there are no clinical signs of cancer. In other words, frequent false positive and false negative results make them unreliable.

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Review of Men's Breast Cancer

2008-11-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

Men's breast cancer is rare, but it happens to approximately 2000 men every year with thousands more reporting benign lumps or non-cancerous tissue growth. Men account for approximately one percent of all breast cancer patients. To learn more about male breast cancer, keep reading.

Male Breast Cancer Symptoms

Typically, any changes in tissue growth or bumps in men are usually benign (non-cancerous). However, that doesn't mean men should feel comfortable in ignoring it.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men are actually quite similar to the symptoms for women. These include nipple inversion, detecting a lump, unexplained tissue growth, change in breast size, skin puckering or dimpling, nipple discharge, itchiness or redness.

Men generally have less breast tissue than women, making it much easier to detect lumps. However, this also means the cancer can spread to other parts of the body more quickly than in women. This is why early detection is so critical for men.

Risk Factors for Men's Breast Cancer

Advancing Age

Men between the ages of 60 and 70 are the most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Genealogy

About one-fifth of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer have at least one immediate female relative who has or had breast cancer.

Prior Radiation Exposure

Radiation exposure to the chest (for example, past treatment for lung cancer) can be a risk factor for the development of male breast cancer.

History of Liver Diseases

Because the liver helps to regulate hormone levels, many men who have endured a liver disease have hormonal problems such as lower levels of androgens. This puts them at an increased risk for developing breast cancer or gynecomastia (benign tissue growth).

Estrogen Treatments

Often men who are being treated for prostate cancer are put on estrogen treatments to help control the disease. These men may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. That said, the American Cancer Society says those risks are small and worth the benefits of improved health for prostate cancer patients.

Klinefelter's Syndrome

Typically, men are born with one Y chromosome and one X chromosome. Klinefelter's Syndrome is when a man is born with two or more X chromosomes (female chromosomes). Approximately 1 in 850 men were born with Klinefelter's.

Men with Klinefelter's usually have higher estrogen levels and lower androgen levels. This typically translates to a more significant risk rate for breast cancer.

Treating Breast Cancer in Men

Men's breast cancer is typically treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy - or a combination of the four treatment courses.

Survival rates, particularly for those cases detected early, are good - 96% for stage I diagnosis, 84% for stage II diagnosis, 52% for stage III diagnosis and 24% for stage IV diagnosis.

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When Should You Get a Colonoscopy?

2008-10-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple decades, colon cancer has really become quite a problem with more and more Americans. This could possibly be due to the baby boomer generation getting into the prime age group for this disease, or it could possibly be a dietary problem that has been an ever increasing issue for quite some time. Let's face it, Americans have horrible eating habits as a whole. I know because I was one of them.

At the ripe old age of 22 I began having terrible stomach cramps and a recurring issue of diarrhea and constipation. After a few weeks I began to become worried that I may have something more serious going on with me, so naturally I signed online and typed in my symptoms into the search box and lo and behold the symptoms I was having were the same as colon cancer!

I immediately set up an appointment with my physician and had all the preliminary tests done to make sure it wasn't some bug or underlying condition that could be cured with a pill. Once all tests were exhausted there was only one more thing to do before he could give me a diagnosis, that was to give me a colonoscopy.

Needless to say I was terrified. I was only 22 years old and just couldn't imagine having cancer at such a young age. I was debilitated by my fears and really couldn't focus on anything else until I knew for sure I was cancer free.

The point I'm getting at here is that the symptoms for colon cancer are the same for other non life threatening diseases such as IBS. My Doctor told me that irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it was only diagnosed after everything else had been tested, including the colonoscopy.

Luckily, I was cancer free, but for every one person that's given an IBS diagnosis, there is 1 other that's given a cancer one in its place. If you have symptoms, get tested, it shouldn't be an option.

By Marc Sumner

Why Bacteria May Be the Cause of Colon Cancer Symptoms

2008-10-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

By Kirsten Whittaker

New research may link one of the species of bacteria that live in our digestive system to the development of colon cancer symptoms. Home to many species, some "good" and others "bad", our digestive system provides these microbes a place to live, and in return they help with digestion and training the body's immune system. In susceptible people, this otherwise harmless organism causes DNA changes that can be a precursor to cancer.

The organism, known to scientists as enterococcus faecalis, (or E. faecalis for short) lives quietly in the digestive system of most of us, and it's true that not everyone develops colon cancer. For reasons scientists have yet to understand, in some people the organism produces an oxygen molecule known as superoxide that cause changes in DNA and prompt some of the gene action tied to cancer.

The research, conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Oklahoma City, looked at how colon cells reacted in the lab to the bacteria in the "fermentation" state. All in all, 42 genes linked to key processes in body cells were altered by the presence of E. faecalis.

"We found that superoxide led to strong signaling in immune cells called macrophages - it also altered the way some cells in the gut grew and divided and even increased the productivity of genes which are associated with cancer." says professor Mark Huycke, the lead researcher.

Experts in the UK also agree that bacteria may be likely culprits in cancers of the colon. Dr. Barry Campbell of the University of Liverpool agrees that E. faecalis could be involved, but he also believes that there are other bacteria in the bowel that play a part in the cell changes that eventually bring on tumors. He insists, "There is not going to be only one culprit. Our own team is interested in a particular type of E. coli with this in mind. There are also many other factors which are involved, such as genetics and environment."

And while the experts figure out what may be the root of the problem, there are things that you can do, right now, to reduce your risk. Living a healthy lifestyle where you eat right, exercise, don't smoke or drink to excess are important first steps. Keeping your weight under control will not only reduce your colon cancer risk, it will have you looking better and feeling better too.

You'll also want to learn all you can about colon cancer if you have a close family member like a parent or sibling with this disease. If you are at increased risk, your doctor will likely advise you to have colon screening tests before the usual age of 50. Don't put these off, and report promptly any change in your bowel habits to your doctor. Waiting in fear does you no good... and may rob you of your chance to fight your disease.

You'll also want to limit your exposure to toxins and radiation. While it takes a lot of radiation to get to a level that might cause cancer, you want to have tests you need but try to avoid exposure to unnecessary radiation.

Each year colon cancer claims nearly 50,000 lives, with over 100,000 patients newly diagnosed with colon cancer symptoms. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and vaccine therapy. Clinical trials are also ongoing and yielding promising new leads all the time.

Spotting Colon Cancer Symptoms is Not Only Accurate But a Whole Lot Faster

2008-10-31T18:42:00.002-07:00

Colorectal cancer will take nearly 50,000 lives the year, and is our country's second largest killer. Screening is available, though there is a significant effort required in terms of preparation and the time needed to perform the test. For most people, the recommendation for your first colonoscopy is at age 50, though it may be sooner if you have risk factors for colon cancer or have noted any potential colon cancer symptoms.

If you've heard horror stories about colonoscopy, the test used today to screen for colon cancers, new technology may just save you from being someone who can tell them. There's a new x-ray alternative that's currently being studied by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) National CT Colonography Trial and is showing itself to be effective at spotting most cancers.

The long anticipated study involved 15 medical centers across the U.S. and compared the accuracy of CT colonography to colonoscopy, the current gold standard of colon cancer diagnosis. The results of this study were published in the Sept. 18, 2008, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

A "virtual colonoscopy" (known technically as CT colonography) is a cheaper, less intrusive 'super' x-ray used for colon screening. The new test was able to pick up nine out of ten people who had large growths or cancers also detected by traditional colonoscopies. Of the false positives detected by the new type of scan, one in four turned out to be correct.

The new screening still involves some preparatory work i.e. cleaning the colon with laxatives or suppositories, just as you do today. You then go to a hospital radiology department to have the test, which takes about 10 minutes (compared to 30-60 minutes for colonoscopy). You lay first on your back and a thin tube is inserted into the rectum, air pumped in and then the table moved though the scanner, taking pictures all the time. You will then go through the scanner again, only this time lying on your stomach. After the two scans, a computer will process the images to create a picture of your lower digestive tract.

Unfortunately, radiologists can more easily misread the virtual colonoscopy. Polyps can be spotted that aren't there, which may lead to unneeded follow up treatment and the terrible anguish of the threat of a serious health problem. However, sometimes the testing picks up other conditions, outside the colon, that wouldn't have come to light that need to be addressed or investigated.

One other concern involves the amount of radiation you are exposed to during the test. The dose is half that of a standard CT scan, but experts worry about what this exposure means over time. Especially since this new test should be done every five years, as opposed to every ten years for traditional colon screening.

The new "virtual colonoscopy" seems to have the most value in getting people in for screening and identifying who may need further follow up. And early detection of colon cancer symptoms does save lives.

By Kirsten Whittaker

Breast Cancer Awareness and Your Cosmetics

2008-10-31T18:42:00.001-07:00

I Love what I do! Researching, writing and doing what I can to help all of us create health and wellness, a great source of abundance.

And in this month of Breast Cancer Awareness I'm so concerned about the lack of information we get on why we must read and UNDERSTAND the ingredient lists of our personal care products that we use daily. Whether it's women's lipstick, baby oil or men's shaving cream we need to know what is going on our skin.

Green washing and slick marketing mislead us to think that the products we are using are safe, but, the billions of dollars at stake do not necessarily lead corporations to put our health first on their list of corporate profit requirements.

We can create a better world through consumer power. Empower yourself daily, redirect your daily spending toward products that are safe for you, your family and the planet. Find products that surround you with health and wellness.

"Consumers believe that 'if it's on the market, it can't hurt me.' And this belief is sometimes wrong." Director of the FDAs Office of Cosmetics and Colors (FDA 1988)

For example:

PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, are common contaminants in petroleum, also called petroleum jelly or paraffin and sold under the well-known brand name of Vaseline.

PAHs and Breast Cancer

Researchers at Columbia University found that the breast tissue of women with breast cancer was 2.6 times more likely to contain elevated levels of PAHs than the breast tissue of women without breast cancer. (Rundle et al. 2000). And this is only ONE chemical source, it does not even begin to address that we come in contact with over 100 chemicals a day using our personal care products.

The words 'natural' and 'organic' can be misleading, they can be used in labeling without any substantiation about what is really in the product. As much as possible purchase certified organic. Certified organic assures you that the product has been through an independent certifying agency that guarantees no genetically modified, pesticides, hormones or synthetic ingredients. You affect the lessening of global warming because sustainable agriculture techniques must be used to produce certified organic products. Who would have thought that using a cleanser and moisturizer could be so important to our planet.

It is astounding that we seem to ignore the connection between our daily chemical environment and our health as we hand over our dollars to corporations that are not holding our health, our children's future and the environment in everyone's best interest. As Breast Cancer Awareness month winds down being AWARE is the keyword to keep in mind throughout the year, every day, when you are at the market, department store or pharmacy. Your health is your responsibility so educate yourself as much as possible about how to create a healthy environment for you and your family.

By Tana Dean

Fighting Breast Cancer

2008-10-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

Jan was thirty-four when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had two children from a previous marriage and had married a wonderful man, Jeff, less than a year earlier. How could she tell him that she might need a mastectomy when they were still honeymooners?

Her husband's first reaction was to try to fix the problem. "Don't worry, honey, we will get a second opinion."

The second opinion confirmed the diagnosis and recommendation: radical mastectomy with removal of the lymph nodes.

Jeff and Jan became distant, each in his and her own world. Jan felt a deep sense of shame and believed that Jeff would not love her after the surgery; Jeff felt helpless. They cut themselves off from the greatest heater of all: love.

After the initial shock, they turned back toward one another as a couple and looked for professional help. They found a nurse therapist who had seen many couples go through treatment and had been inspired by those she had seen triumph in the face of adversity. She helped Jan and Jeff practice the lessons courageous couples had taught her.

She started out by telling them that love is the defiance of despair. She assured them that if they maintained a strong connection through the cancer challenge, they would grow individually and together.

Jan and Jeff decided to redefine the problems they faced as gateways to growth. They decided to avoid attack thoughts as much as possible. They also agreed that peace could be found in the midst of turmoil if they had calm in their hearts. They decided that the decision of whether to have a mastectomy was Jan's. After treatment, she made the decision to exercise regularly and change her diet for health reasons. She joined a spa with a close friend.

Throughout her illness and healing process, Jan worked at noticing the difference between pain and suffering. Pain is a necessary part of life. Suffering is a choice. The pain of breast cancer treatment must be faced in order to heal. On the other hand, Jan realized that she brought on quite a bit of her own suffering by self-attacks. For example, she had thoughts like, "I am defective."

Euripides wrote, "Real friendship is shown in times of trouble." As Jan felt better about herself, she was able to seek support from others. A good friend from her church helped her when she reminded her, "God does not make any junk." As they laughed together, it gave Jan a new perspective on herself; she realized she was hindering her own growth by beating herself up. When those inner attack thoughts started creeping in, she made a conscious effort to replace them with thoughts of gratitude like, "I am grateful for my perfect healing." After a few weeks, she no longer had to work on her positive attitude; it came naturally.

That change in attitude led her toward positive actions like a better diet, regular exercise, and searching for support information on the Internet.

Mother Teresa once said that our best protection is a joyful heart. Jan found that she was drawn to those who could face adversity with a sense of humor like her friend from church. She learned to avoid people who were toxic. Emotions are contagious, and she didn't want to catch bad moods from others.

Although Jan's cancer was serious, it also provided Jan and Jeff an opportunity to deepen their marriage and strengthen their commitment.

How? They learned to banish the half-truths: no more whitewashing a bad day. They learned to be more authentic with one another and to tell the truth with love.

The nurse therapist shared the following ideas with Jan and Jeff to help them learn the secrets of effective communication when handling the life challenge of breast cancer.

1. Forget the Fix-it Approach

By nature, most guys have a common reaction when something is broken: fix it. They replace the broken window, change the flat tire, or get the lawn mower running. Their natural inclination is to stop in and find a way to fix the problem.

There is no easy fix for breast cancer recovery. Jeff had to listen to and learn from Jan and the medical staff before he could help Jan through the recovery. He found out that sometimes, it was something as simple as being there for, and listening to, Jan.

Henri Nouwen wrote, "When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a tender and gentle hand."

Jeff learned to be that tender and gentle hand. Jan also learned to seek out friends who were able to sit with her through the physical and emotional pain. She realized that although people meant well, she actually felt worse after nervous reassurances like, "Get well soon." Jan was already too hard on herself and felt she needed to "just get over it." The acknowledgment that her healing was a process was realistic and encouraging.

2. Accept Reality

Jan learned that love is based on acceptance and not performance. As she learned to accept herself and her cancer, she could open up to the caring of those around her. As long as she was mired in shame and felt bad about herself, she cannot see the looks compassion around her or allow others the opportunity to give from their hearts.

Jan and Jeff needed to work on accepting the situation rather than withdrawing into shame or inadequacy. They learned to talk openly about the cancer and to be gentle with themselves and to one another. They also learned to be open with family and friends, not try to hide behind a false smile.

When she realized that it was up to her to teach others how to treat her, she became more active in letting them know what she needed. Sometimes, she wanted help; and other times, she needed to be left alone.

Jeff realized his role was not that of a protector but that of supporter: he learned to stand behind Jan's decisions during and after the recovery process.

3. Pain Is Unavoidable; Suffering is a Choice

Although life brings pain, internal suffering is often self-imposed.

At first, Jan felt ashamed about her illness; she withdrew from others and suffered in silence. She cut herself off from the healing love of friends and family. She didn't choose to have the pain, but she did choose to suffer alone.

Jan found that it helped her to focus on caring about others. She decided to face her pain, but not give into pity parties. For example, she knew that the nurse who gave her radiation treatments was having a tough pregnancy, so she always asked about her and brought her articles and some things for the baby.

4. Refrain from Lame

Jan and Jeff both learned to avoid lame reassurances. Jeff quit trying to paint a rosy picture by saying things like, "Things are fine, dear," or "I'm sure tomorrow will be a better day." Jan learned to avoid saying she was "just fine" to Jeff when she needed support.

Instead, they told the truth with love and humor. Jan once returned from chemo and told Jeff she hoped that he liked plaid since her chest was marked up that way for radiation.

He laughed and told her, "Why, plaid happens to be my favorite now."

They used humor in defiance of despair.

Many times, friends have no idea of what to say to a woman with breast cancer. Jan learned how to help good friends refrain from the lame by bringing up her condition in an honest and straightforward way when she needed to talk and let them know she did not feel like discussing cancer. She simply told them, "I appreciate your concern, but it would not help me to talk about it right now." She then took the initiative to change the topic to avoid an awkward silence.

5. Don't Reduce a Woman to ABC

In one of her episodes of shame after the mastectomy, Jan exploded at Jeff and told him she would not be measured at an A, B, or C.

Jeff answered her that she was not his A-, B-, or C-cup girl; she was the same Jan that he knew and loved. More importantly, he showed his love and acceptance through involvement in her treatment, giving her a warm hug for no reason, humor, and lovemaking.

6. Change the Meaning of Sex

Jan and Jeff redefined sex as an exchange of affection and decided they both needed lots of that. They learned to talk openly about hormonal changes like lack of lubrication and a reduction of Jan's sex drive. Some positions were painful for them, so they made some adjustments.

7. Make a Bad Day Better

As a family, they developed a "best bad day" tradition. Jeff started this when Jan was having some bad days during chemo. He helped the children do special things for Jan on those days. One child made place mats, and another one decorated a card. They maintain this tradition to support one another through bad days. It is a powerful model for children to learn compassion and altruism.

8. Enough is Enough

Jan and Jeff taught friends and family when enough is enough. People often say nothing, or they overreact when they learn that their mother, sister, or other relative or friend has breast cancer. Jan knew when enough was enough.

When she was ill, Jeff became the gatekeeper. He encouraged the children to make creative items, initiating the "best bad day" activities for all of them. The children were encouraged to express feelings and fears.

9. Remember the Song in Your Heart

True friends and family know the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you cannot recall the words. When she was down, Jan's friends and family reminded her of happy memories, the things she had to be thankful for and all the things they had to look forward to when she was better. Every evening, the family told each other things they appreciated to the other thus making positive deposits in the family's emotional bank account.

10. Celebrate Every Day

The biggest lesson Jan and Jeff learned was to be grateful for every day.

It has been eight years since Jan's cancer treatment, but they continue to live in the present as much as possible and share a celebration of life. They go on dates once a week to nurture their connection and romance. They now have a plaque in the kitchen that reads,

In the depth of winter I finally learned that
There was within me an invincible summer
-Camus

By Dr. Linda Miles

Four Emerging Breakthroughs In Solving Brain Tumors

2008-05-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

Despite significant advances in cancer research and treatment, one form of cancer - brain tumors - remain particularly feared, and for good reason. Because of their location, brain tumors can severely impact an individual's personality, memories and basic motor skills, robbing the patient of their very being. The impact on family and friends is felt greatly, as their loved one may be "lost" to them even earlier than feared. While there are more than 120 types of brain tumors, for the most common and serious adult tumors, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the chances of living 5 years is less than 3%. Most patients will live no more than a year or two despite aggressive therapy.

However, few maladies manage to both simultaneously confound researchers in their mystery, yet hold such promise for the cure and management as prominently as brain tumors. There is strong belief that some significant breakthroughs in brain tumor treatment may only be 4-6 years away. Complementing traditional chemotherapeutic and surgical approaches, four emerging breakthroughs are discussed here which are rapidly transforming the treatment of brain tumors and related conditions.

Gene Therapy
Gene therapy approaches involve the insertion of genes into growing brain tumors, rendering them more sensitive to some chemotherapeutic agents that are relatively non-toxic to the rest of the body. Some promising experiments have demonstrated that with insertion of genes into animal brain tumor cells and administration of chemotherapy, complete destruction of the tumor may be possible without spread of the tumor. Other approaches in gene therapy include substitution of abnormal genes for normal genes, the repair of abnormal genes via selective reverse mutation, and gene regulation (i.e., altering the instructions within a gene to "turn on or off").

Vaccines
One area showing substantial promise in brain tumor treatment is based on an immunotherapeutic approach; that is, using a patient's immune system as an instrument for cancer therapy. This approach is premised on a body's immune response toward cells bearing tumor markers or antigens. One major focus area has been "active immunotherapy", described as the administration of the tumor antigenic material to help "vaccinate" a patient against their own tumor. Other vaccine approaches, including Dendritic cell-based vaccines, Cytokine immunogene therapy, Bacterial and viral tumor vaccines, and GBM-specific molecular pathway vaccines are also being considered. The vaccine approach holds challenges that need to be evaluated against other treatment options that may require crucial patient choices, but they are continuing to emerge as an area of significant promise.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery/Radiotherapy
There is growing usage of stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy among neurosurgeons. The tools, used for the non-invasive treatment of tumors and other brain, head, spine and neck conditions, use sophisticated mechanical systems and image-guided technology to treat tumors, using high, targeted doses of radiation (in a single session) to attack the tumor and minimizing contact with healthy tissue. The image guidance systems direct the radiation to the tumor; some systems shape the radiation beam to map to the exact shape of the tumor, and software can help direct the ideal access points to the tumor.

Dual Agent Drug Therapies
Some of the field's leading researchers have concluded that traditional treatment for many brain tumors has started with a faulty premise; namely, that interventions for brain tumors were simply a palliative effort designed to decrease patient discomfort and increase stabilization. The conclusion is that while these therapies have shown some success on their own, when multiple therapeutic agents are combined, (an approach more commonly used with cancers not as fatal) an increasing number of brain tumor patients are seeing increases in survival. Also, newer drugs are showing the ability to block the growth of tumors by attempting to interfere with their proteins that control tumor growth. And other, specialized treatment regimens are being formulated for patients whose tumors are shown to grow at an accelerated rate compared with typical tumors.

These are but four of the emerging approaches where we may continue to see major breakthroughs in treatment or management of brain tumors. The hope in all these courses is that ultimately, brain tumors may in some cases be curable or at least achieve status as a manageable disease, as with many other serious and chronic conditions such as diabetes.

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Basic Cancer Knowledge

2008-05-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

First cancer were found in Egyptian and pre columbian mumies about 5,000 to 2,400 years ago. They were documented in ancient medical writing, written in papyrus 3,500 years ago. Nowadays, the reason behind cancer still not clearly understood. Scientist believe that cancer is the cell which grow rapidly than normal, assume abnormal shapes and sizes. Many cancer cell will involve (spread) in a vital organ and may lead to death. The spread of cancer more related to the individual's chances to survive.

This cell commonly know in stages:
-Early or localized (a tumor)
-Primary Direct. (curable cancer)
-Direct extension ( a tumor have invaded adjacent tissue)
-Metastasis ( a tumor spread to distant part in the body eg. Blood, heart and etc)

Cancer usually have the tendency to cause death but a benign tumors usually do not cause death.

Cancer cells divide at a higher rate. When the normal fail to recognize the cancer cell rapid growth, the normal cell will slowly die due to the limited growth of useful tissue. As the cancer cell take over the normal tissue, it will spread rapidly depends on the individual's immunity.

Today cancer will kill 25% of the host (human). The most common cancer nowadays:

Men :
-prostate cancer
-lung cancer
-colorecteral cancer
-bladder cancer
-pancreatic cancer.
-Leukemia.

Women:
-breast cancer
-lung cancer
-colorectal cancer
-ovarian cancer
-pancreatic cancer
-leukemia.

Tumors is cell than can be removed by surgery but if the cell spread as cancer cell and sized to other body parts and the chances to remove the cell almost 10% to 0%. Surgery is the method to control not to cure. The possibility the cancer cell to spread again is almost 50%. Today we so many medical technique to control the spread of the tumor such as Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted therapies, Immunotherapy and Hormonal therapy.

The most influences of cancer is carcinogen which is the chemical products such as water chlorine, tobacco smoke, food preservative, and many more. Recently scientist found that viruses from animal can occurs cancer cell to spread in our body (such as bird flu).

To prevent cancer cell, we must live a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking , drink more natural water (life water) and take herbs as a nutritional supplements. Scientist believe by eating more nutritional substance from herbs can prevents cancer cell to live inside our body by almost 75%.

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Know About Causes and Treatment of Blood Cancer

2008-05-12T22:01:00.001-07:00

Blood cancer is an uncontrolled increase in the number of blood cells. To better understand blood cancer, you may need to know a bit more about blood cancer and leukemia.

All blood cells are formed in the bone marrow from stem cells. A stem cell is the earliest stage of every blood cell. If a patient has blood cancer, the cancerous blood cells are either overproduced or simply live longer than normal. The stem cells may produce abnormal cells that do not function properly. For example, if white blood cells are affected, they will not be able to help your body fight infection.

Causes

There are several causes for blood cancer such as to much of radiation that common happen to people that have another cancer. so when you have to radiotherapy make sure you don't to much radiation because can make another cancer such as blood cancer. the other causes of blood cancer is diseases that affect the immune system such as HIV. beside that blood cancer can causes by Contact with a chemical called benzene, one of the chemicals in petrol and a solvent used in the rubber and plastics industry and Genetic disorders like Fanconi anemia, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome and Down syndrome.

A weakened immune system - this may be a result of drugs that suppress the immune system (such as those used for organ transplants), high doses of radiation (such as in radiotherapy for another cancer), or diseases that affect the immune system (such as HIV).

Genetic disorders like Fanconi anemia, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome and Down syndrome.

Treatment

Garlic is a naturally powerful antibiotic that stimulates the immune system and effectiveness of white blood cells and T cells.Garlic is an extremely important natural resource to ensure optimal immunity and protection from germs. It also has extremely resourceful anti cancer properties. Clinical research proves that garlic is very effective in prevention and cure of various types of cancer.

Most people feel confused and overwhelmed when they are told they have leukaemia. It's a very distressing time both for them and their families. An important part of cancer treatment is learning how to talk about how you are feeling, and getting support with the physical and emotional symptoms you are experiencing.

Many everyday activities put you at risk of cuts and scrapes. A low platelet count makes even minor abrasions serious. A low white blood cell count can turn a small cut into a starting point for a serious infection. Use an electric shaver rather than a razor to avoid nicks. Ask someone else to cut up food in the kitchen. Be gentle when brushing your teeth and blowing your nose.

Biological therapy uses special immune system cells and proteins to stimulate the body's immune system to kill cancer cells. Biological agents such as interferons, interleukins, monoclonal antibodies, tumor necrosis factors and colony-stimulating factors are natural substances found in the body that help alter the way the immune system reacts to cancer..

Licorice roots, according to the herb masters around the world are among the two or three most important herbs in the world. The Chinese consider licorice more important an herb than giensing. Licorice root essentially has a powerful potentiating effect on the human reticuloendothelial system, the primary line of defense against microorganisms.

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Appealing Options for Breast Cancer Surgery in India

2008-05-12T22:00:00.001-07:00

Appealing options for breast cancer surgery in India are available. By getting breast cancer surgery in India one can save their hard to earn money. Getting breast cancer surgery in India is very much helpful option for those who can’t afford the price of breast cancer surgery in their native country due to high cost and problems in getting health insurance. Breast cancer surgery in India is available at low cost is at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad etc with the advanced state of the art medical facilities in the best hospitals and with the best cancer surgeons in India. Today’s advanced medical science and surgery techniques in India have engaged themselves in challenging and combating breast cancer which is still considered a dreaded disease. Breast cancer surgery is being provided at a large scale in India to provide relief from breast cancer to Indian and international patients at affordable cost. India is considered to be the best detination for getting the breast cancer surgery due to its latest and advanced medical technology and the best treatment facilities. India has got the best cancer surgeons with high credentials and experience from U.K and the U.S.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it too. Breast cancer is oftenly treated with a surgery or it can be treated with chemotherapy and hormone therapy.An operation to remove the cancer but not the breast is breast cancer surgery. It is also called breast-conserving surgery, lumpectomy, segmental mastectomy, and partial mastectomy. Sometimes an excisional biopsy serves as a lumpectomy because the surgeon removes the whole lump. The surgeon often removes the underarm lymph nodes as well. A separate incision is made. This procedure is called an axillary lymph node dissection. It shows whether cancer cells have entered the lymphatic system. After breast cancer surgery, most women receive radiation therapy to the breasts. This treatment destroys cancer cells that remain in the breasts. An operation to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible) is mastectomy. In most cases, the surgeon also removes lymph nodes under the arm. Some women have radiation therapy after the surgery.After treatment is completed, it is very important to go to all scheduled follow-up appointments. During these appointments, your doctors will ask questions about any symptoms and may do physical exams and order lab tests or imaging tests as needed to look for recurrences or side effects. Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some may last for a few weeks to several months, but others can be permanent. You should never hesitate to tell your doctor or other members of your cancer care team about any symptoms or side effects that trouble you.

Medical tourism for breast cancer surgery in India is serving as an helping link to get low cost medical treatment for breast cancer to global patients. India is a favourable destination for breast cancer surgery is because of it's well developed infrastructure and technology in which is in par with those in U.S.A, U.K and Europe. India has some of the best cancer surgery hospitals and treatment centers eminent facilities. Since India is also one of the most favourable tourist destinations in the world so medication combined with tourism has come into effect, from which the concept of medical tourism is derived. Getting the breast cancer surgery in India gets you with the best cancer specialist hospitals with the best intensive care for your breast cancer surgery in India. India is having a vast resource of medical professionals that can fulfill the expectations of all patients. For more details of breast cancer surgery in India visit http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com or mail at enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

Appealing options for breast cancer surgery in India are available. By getting breast cancer surgery in India one can save their hard to earn money. Getting breast cancer surgery in India is very much helpful option for those who can’t afford the price of breast cancer surgery in their native country due to high cost and problems in getting health insurance. Breast cancer surgery in India is available at low cost is at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad etc with the advanced state of the art medical facilities in the best hospitals and with the best cancer surgeons in India. Today’s advanced medical science and surgery techniques in India have engaged themselves in challenging and combating breast cancer which is still considered a dreaded disease. Breast cancer surgery is being provided at a large scale in India to provide relief from breast cancer to Indian and international patients at affordable cost. India is considered to be the best detination for getting the breast cancer surgery due to its latest and advanced medical technology and the best treatment facilities. India has got the best cancer surgeons with high credentials and experience from U.K and the U.S.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it too. Breast cancer is oftenly treated with a surgery or it can be treated with chemotherapy and hormone therapy.An operation to remove the cancer but not the breast is breast cancer surgery. It is also called breast-conserving surgery, lumpectomy, segmental mastectomy, and partial mastectomy. Sometimes an excisional biopsy serves as a lumpectomy because the surgeon removes the whole lump. The surgeon often removes the underarm lymph nodes as well. A separate incision is made. This procedure is called an axillary lymph node dissection. It shows whether cancer cells have entered the lymphatic system. After breast cancer surgery, most women receive radiation therapy to the breasts. This treatment destroys cancer cells that remain in the breasts. An operation to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible) is mastectomy. In most cases, the surgeon also removes lymph nodes under the arm. Some women have radiation therapy after the surgery.After treatment is completed, it is very important to go to all scheduled follow-up appointments. During these appointments, your doctors will ask questions about any symptoms and may do physical exams and order lab tests or imaging tests as needed to look for recurrences or side effects. Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some may last for a few weeks to several months, but others can be permanent. You should never hesitate to tell your doctor or other members of your cancer care team about any symptoms or side effects that trouble you.

Medical tourism for breast cancer surgery in India is serving as an helping link to get low cost medical treatment for breast cancer to global patients. India is a favourable destination for breast cancer surgery is because of it's well developed infrastructure and technology in which is in par with those in U.S.A, U.K and Europe. India has some of the best cancer surgery hospitals and treatment centers eminent facilities. Since India is also one of the most favourable tourist destinations in the world so medication combined with tourism has come into effect, from which the concept of medical tourism is derived. Getting the breast cancer surgery in India gets you with the best cancer specialist hospitals with the best intensive care for your breast cancer surgery in India. India is having a vast resource of medical professionals that can fulfill the expectations of all patients. For more details of breast cancer surgery in India visit http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com or mail at enquiry@forerunnershealthcare.com

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Prevention Of Skin Cancer - Start Today

2008-05-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

Skin cancer is more prevalent today than ever before. Whether this is because we are simply more aware of the disease or that our changes in lifestyle are the cause of this increase are not completely clear. However, it is clear that many people still ignore advice on how to prevent skin cancer. This article will cover the primary reasons why people develop the disease and prevention of skin cancer tips.

People develop cancer through a combination of their genetic makeup and exposure to some environmental condition. They may be genetically predisposed to not react to mutating cells by destroying them. They may have a profile that makes them more susceptible to the environmental conditions.

In the case of skin cancer, the environmental condition that is thought to cause the disease is ultraviolet radiation. In most cases this ultraviolet radiation comes from the Sun. So it is very hard to avoid being exposed to this radiation. All you can really do is limit your exposure it.

So prevention of skin cancer can work on two levels. Find out if you are genetically predisposed to be more susceptible to ultraviolet radiation skin damage. Limit your exposure to the main cause of ultraviolet radiation.

If you have a family history of skin cancer then this means you are more susceptible. If you have fair skin and burn rather than tan in the sun then you are more susceptible to developing skin cancer. The same applies if you have fair hair and light colored eyes. All these signs indicate that you have less melanin in the body than a person with darker tones. Melanin makes the skin tan in sunlight and to a limited extent prevents the skin from burning.

If you fit into any of these categories then you should be more cautious about your exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This could be direct sunlight or using devices like sun beds. Indeed, if you have a family history of skin cancer then you shouldn't use sun beds and take extra precautions when in the sun. If you burn easily in the sun, make sure it doesn't happen. Protect your skin.

You should still take precautions when in the sun, even if you don't think you are predisposed to developing skin cancer. The best way to prevent skin cancer is to cover up when in the sun. Wear a hat, wear a long sleeved shirt, wear sunglasses and cover the exposed parts of your body with a good sunscreen. The sunscreen should be a 30+ sun protection factor. You should apply it before you are exposed to sunlight rather than when you are in the sun.

Above all, keep this advice in mind. Many problems occur because people think it won't happen to them. This is especially the case when you are younger and the temptation to spend time in the sun is greater, but the affects of ultraviolet radiation build up over time. In later years you may develop skin cancer because you didn't apply sunscreen when you were younger.

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Skin Cancer - Vigilance Can Be Life Saving

2008-05-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The number of new cases of skin cancer is rising each year. Skin cancer affects people of all skin types, and can occur anywhere on the body, however is most common on areas of the skin that has been exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms. Research studies have revealed that any exposure to direct sunlight can cause you severe damage, from sunburn to skin cancer. Increasingly harmful UV rays can penetrate skin layers and cause irreversible damage. Skin cancer is a common form of cancer which can quite often be successfully treated if detected early. This is very important, as even melanoma has a high recovery rate if treated early.

What does skin cancer look like?

Only your doctor can tell you for sure if you have a form of skin cancer, but there are some warning signs you can look for to let you know when you need to see your doctor. You can help yourself by self-examination. Basically you should check your entire body for anything unusual. Get your partner of family member to help in areas you can not see properly.

The first symptom of skin cancer is a tumor on the skin. Since these tumors appear on the skin, they can be detected at an early stage.

It is important to be familiar with your body so that you notice any differences. Moles are extremely common, and the average person has 10 to 40 of them. Even having some unevenly shaped moles is quite common. These are benign growths and they are nothing to worry about.

However, you should be familiar with your moles and their appearance.

The other signs you should keep an eye out for are:

* New moles

* Changes in color or shape in existing moles, or moles that start to bleed

* Moles that continue to grow

* Sores on the mole that won't seem to heal.

Any of these changes could be a sign of a cancerous tumor developing, and you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.

SO REMEMBER!

When you are out in the sun, make sure that you protect yourself. The most important thing is to wear a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. Wear protective clothing, good quality sunglasses, and most definitely a wide brimmed hat. Damage caused by the sun can take quite a long time to actually start showing, so taking care of your skin now, could end up saving your life.

SKIN CANCER IS WIDELY PREVENTABLE, SO TAKE ACTION NOW.

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Find and Cure Melanoma Skin Cancer

2008-04-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

Melanoma skin cancer is a condition that affects millions upon millions of American people every day. It is the result of abnormal cells in the skin that often result from prolonged exposure to the sun, one of the reasons why direct tanning is discouraged and strong sunblock is so strongly encouraged these days.

The cells that have become abnormal spread the condition to the cells surrounding them, creating a condition that can get out of hand fast if not taken care of.

How to Find Melanoma Skin Cancer

The best way to find and cure melanoma skin cancer is to pay close attention to the face and the skin. Melanoma can be indicated by moles that are appearing long after birth, moles that are seeming to grow, marks on the skin that do not seem to be fading, or a mysterious birthmark.

Those who think that they might have symptoms of melanoma should definitely seek a doctor for further examination.

Normal moles or skin abnormalities will not bleed, scale, or grow any bigger. Permanent marks on the body are just that permanent and will not change. If they are abnormal they might however, and that is why they are such a telling indicator of melanoma.

A Doctor Can Officially Diagnose Melanoma

Upon examination, if your doctor determines that your abnormal skin does have the makings of melanoma, they will remove some tissue from the area for further testing.

The tests should help to determine whether or not the cells are abnormal cancer cells or just skin cells that are going a bit out of control.

Melanoma Treatments

In most cases, the treatment of melanoma skin cancer involves a fairly non invasive surgical procedure. They are not difficult to administer, and usually involve the simple removal of moles and other imperfections on the skin.

Depending on how significant the cell damage is, the removal of the tissue may leave a scar on the face, and that is one of the most difficult side effects of the illness and treatment.

If not diagnosed, melanoma skin cancer can get out of hand and spread to other organs of the body. By itself, it is fairly easily treated and can easily be eradicated forever.

An Ounce of Prevention...

You know what they say about prevention; an ounce of it is worth a pound of treatment and that is the case with skin cancer.

A sunblock cream with an SPF of 15 or higher is recommended for everyone every day when exposed to the sunlight, no matter what their skin tone is like.

Melanoma may appear on normal skin, or it may begin at a mole or other area that has changed in appearance. Some moles present at birth may develop into melanomas.

The development of melanoma is related to sun exposure, particularly to sunburns during childhood, and is most common among people with fair skin, blue or green eyes, and red or blond hair.

Skin cancer does not have to be a problem. With global warming becoming more and more of an issue, melanoma is also a bigger issue. Unlike global warming, you can directly contribute to the health of your skin with proper protection and prevention.

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Colon Cleansing is not Some New Fad or Technique

2008-04-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

Colon cleansing is essential to your well-being and for the elimination of waste products and toxins. Doing a cleansing program is preventive healthcare and there is no better place to rid your body of toxins and contamination. Colon cleansing is used to flush fecal matter, parasites, excess colon mucus and other unwanted matter from the colon so as to improve a person's health. Such cleansing is typically done periodically by users thereof.

Colon cleansing is not just for people with constipation, but for anyone who wishes to feel better, strengthen their inner organs and improve their energy and appearance. Colon cleansing is necessary to rid our body of toxins that accumulate as a result of an unhealthy diet, environmental pollution and chemicals, and a constant use of antibiotics.

Natural colon cleansing is a great way to detoxify your body. Cleansing your colon can have tremendous health benefits immediately and over the long haul. Natural colon cleansing is made up of gentle herbs that are only found in nature to break up and flush out the toxins, fecal build up and unwanted pollutants.

After consuming the junk foods the debris of those foods begin to stick to the colon wall adding unnecessary extra weight. Natural colon cleansing is a practical way of colon cleanses. Aside from requiring usually only small changes in dietary habits, it will be free from side effects and the side benefits are that a better diet improves the health of the whole body.

Natural Colon Cleansing is one of the effective way to keep us healthy, help our digestion system and put all the toxins out of the body. Natural colon cleansing involves taking a balanced diet and additionally, a few herbal supplements that help kill the harmful bacteria and in removing excess of toxins. Natural colon cleansing is a simple procedure which might include the use of several supplements, and a few days of consuming plenty of vegetables and fruits.

Colon cleansing products have been known to help with the elimination of Fatigue, colon cancer, IBS, constipation, a big gut and Chronic fatigue to name just a few things. Natural colon cleansing is the most popular method today. The proper colon cleansing program should involve some effective herbs (like aloe leaf, senna, cascara sagrada, ginger, and cayenne pepper) either in the form of pills or as teas.

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