Cancer Ezine

Colon-Liver Cancer: Medically Written-off Patient Lived Longer After Chemotherapy And Herbs

2009-01-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Colon-Liver Cancer: Medically Written-off Patient Lived Longer After Chemotherapy And Herbs was written by Chris Teo, Ph.D. from cacare.com

Sometime in June 1992: Ben was diagnosed with colon cancer. He underwent an operation to remove the cancerous portion of his colon. With the threats of cancer put aside, Ben’s life was back to normal. He obtained a job in a factory. For three years, he worked very hard. Life was both a physical and mental stress.

In July 1995, Ben lost his appetite and then had severe pains in his abdomen. A CT scan showed the cancer had spread to his liver. His earlier operation did not cure his cancer. He had to undergo chemotherapy.

Ben wrote about his experience below.

My Death Sentence

"I was informed by the doctor of the very bad news -- CANCER of the liver at an advanced stage. There would be no medicine for me. I was advised to prepare my will as soon as possible. I was stunned for a moment. My wife, Cindy and I broke down. I thought, "I am going to die". Confused and sad I felt helpless. I refused to eat and talk. When relatives and friends came to see me, I broke down. What about my daughter in Australia? She was preparing for her final year examination. Should I inform her? I could not decide. I simply cried and cried."

Chemotherapy

"After my first chemotherapy that evening, I thought I was dying. I suffered nausea, weakness, loss of appetite and was in a confused stage. Just imagine, five more chemotherapy sessions to go."

"After my second chemotherapy, I reluctantly went for the third. A young doctor assigned to me did his job in about 20 minutes. It nearly killed me. Normally, it takes about three hours. I felt tightness around my chest and that night I felt as if my chest was going to burst. Psychologically I was badly affected. When I thought of my fourth chemotherapy, fear and depression affected me. I suffered loss of appetite, restlessness and there was the phobia of going to the hospital. What is going to happen this time? My doctor assured me he will get another doctor with more experience to do the job. Still feeling frightened, I managed to finish the whole six courses of chemotherapy sessions. Praise God! He helped me to be positive."

Herbs

20 July 1995: "I started taking the rodent tuber extract at night. My appetite improved the next day. I managed to finish a big bowl of porridge. After four days, the intake of the rodent tuber was increased to twice daily. My appetite continued to improve. Bowel movements were regular. A herbal Mixture A was introduced to me to be taken together with the rodent tuber extract. Physically I felt a bit stronger."

25 August 1995: "I took Mixture B (liver powder) together with Mixture A and the rodent tuber extract. The appetite improved tremendously. I was stronger physically after a few days. There was great improvement for the next few weeks. My appetite was good. I was able to sleep and my bowel movements were regular."

Path to Recovery

27 September 1995: "An ultrasound showed that the necrotic cells are dying off. The doctor encouraged me to continue taking the rodent tuber extract and the Mixtures A and B. I am still taking them. I lost a little bit of hair. I experienced PAIN many times, in the hospital and at home. The pain came without any warning. Each time I was in pain, I could not walk, sit or sleep. Pain killers were of little help. The doctor told me to try to bear the pain. Too many pain killers would affect the kidneys. Sometimes the pain was unbearable. I nearly gave up a few times. The doctor told me he had done his best and encouraged me to keep on praying to God to heal me."

March 1996: "I am glad that I can participate in the CA Care Group and shared my experiences with those who were present. I know their sufferings very well. I encouraged them to think positively and not give up."

My health

"My hair had grown more bushy, black and shiny. Even the gray ones have disappeared! The veins in my arm, once hardened and dead as a result of chemotherapy, are now becoming alive again. The skin pigmentation caused by the chemotherapy has now disappeared. I have nice, clean skin! Praise and thank the Lord!"

Ben had lived! He outlived his doctor’s doom prediction. His daughter returned home after graduation. He celebrated Christmas 1995 and continued living a strong and healthy life. For Ben, the fight against cancer was not over as yet. He had to continue to eat rightly and lead a happy, stress-free life.

In the early morning of 29 October 1996, Ben passed away. The doctors gave Ben two months to live after his liver diagnosis. But Ben got to live a happy life for a year, three months and eighteen days. It is not the length of time that mattered. What is more important is the quality of life Ben had. Ben lived a full happy life. He did not take life for granted. He anticipated and made preparations for his departure. He enjoyed whatever time he had with Cindy, having daily picnics and enjoying Penang’s natural spots under those shady trees. Ben even designed his own grave! He taught Cindy how to manage the chores of daily life without him like paying utility bills, taking care of the car, etc. When he departed, it was neither a sudden good-bye nor a slow painful death. Perhaps on this point alone, we take consolation that many people who were on the herbs died without much pain and their death came easily and peacefully.

Extracted from the author's book: Cancer Yet They Live!

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Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer- Coping With Skin Reactions

2009-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer- Coping With Skin Reactions was written by Carol Kornmehl from RTSupportDoc.com

Radiation therapy is a simple, painless, and generally well-tolerated tool for treating and even curing breast cancer. One of the most common side effects of radiation therapy to the breast (after a lumpectomy) or to the chest wall (after a mastectomy) is skin irritation. The reaction and its extent differ for every woman. Because radiation therapy is often such an important part of breast cancer treatment, it is important to know how to mitigate its side effects in order to gain the greatest benefit from the therapy.

Coping with Skin Irritation

Radiation-induced skin reactions are more likely to occur in people who received chemotherapy shortly before or during radiation therapy and in women who have a prominent fold under the crease of the breast. In fact, this area and the underarm are the most common areas of the breast to sustain a skin reaction. Most skin reactions resolve within a few weeks of completing radiation therapy.

Skin reactions are almost inevitable for women receiving radiation to the chest wall after a mastectomy. As a result, many radiation oncology facilities give such women a one-week prophylactic break halfway through the course of treatment, to reduce the severity of skin reactions.

The severity of a skin reaction varies from person to person. It can become more noticeable as the course of treatment progresses. Faint pinkness of the skin, brisk redness, sun burnt sensation, dryness, itching, peeling, darkening like a suntan, blistering, and moist oozing can occur.

When the reaction is severe, such as a brisk redness that evolves into blistering and moist weeping of the skin, women receive a treatment break, usually lasting a week or two. This rest is usually sufficient to alleviate the worst symptoms. When necessary, doctors can prescribe therapeutic creams. Radiation can be resumed once the reaction resolves.

Treating the Reaction

During radiation therapy, women can avoid chafing the irradiated skin by going braless or by wearing a cotton sports bra without an underwire that fits well below the crease of the breast or the irradiated skin of the chest wall. Women who can go braless altogether, should. If that is not a comfortable solution, women should wear a bra as infrequently as possible to reduce the likelihood and/or the degree of a skin reaction. Also, aerating the irradiated skin helps minimize skin reactions.

Over-the-counter moisturizing creams without alcohol and fragrance can reduce the extent of a skin reaction. Often, radiation oncology teams prescribe these creams at the beginning of radiation therapy.

Women should also try to be kind to the irradiated skin, which can be easily inflamed. Radiation oncologists suggest:

Do not rub, scrub, or scratch the skin in the treatment area; instead, pat the skin dry and massage physician-prescribed anti-itch creams or ointments onto the affected area.
Avoid sun exposure to the irradiated skin. When going outdoors, wear protective opaque clothing such as a cotton tee shirt.
Steer clear of tight-fitting blouses and bras over the area unless instructed otherwise.
Use only lukewarm water and mild soap recommended by the radiation oncology team on the treated area.
Avoid using ice packs or heating pads on the treated skin.
Steer clear of commercial deodorants and skin care products not endorsed by the treatment team.
Do not shave the underarm on the treated side with a non-electric razor.
Avoid skin care products for at least two hours before radiation treatment.

Although a number of people who undergo radiation therapy do experience skin reactions, most get past this temporary side effect. By working with their radiation oncology teams, people pass the metaphorical finish line of the course of radiation therapy, usually victoriously. Most importantly, they derive substantial benefits from radiation therapy and move on to leading productive, cancer-free lives.

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Colorectal Cancer Part 5: Review Of Medical Literature: Not All Patients Benefit From Chemotherapy

2009-01-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

Colorectal Cancer Part 5: Review Of Medical Literature: Not All Patients Benefit From Chemotherapy was written by Chris Teo, Ph.D. from cacare.com

After surgery, microscopic cancer cells are still left behind in the body. As an "insurance policy" patients are told by their oncologists to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy (or both). The idea is to kill whatever cancer cells are left behind. But how effective is this? How valid is the assumption that chemotherapy can just do that?

I invite you to read the following research papers and give them some serious thought. Form your own opinion as to what you would want to do in the event that you suffer from early stage (Stage 2) colorectal cancer.

Scholefield J.H. in an article: "Challenges in colorectal cancer." (Book review. New England J of Medicine. September 2000. Vol: 343:893.) wrote:

"Colorectal cancer presents some of the most challenging problems for basic scientists, clinical investigators and practitioners. Surgery remains the centre of attention."

Question: All these years, why is the treatment of colorectal "most challenging?" Has the treatment protocol for colorectal cancer not been worked out yet?

Moertel, C. G. (in Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. New England J. of Medicine. April 1994. Vol: 330: 1136-1142) wrote:

"Radiation therapy plays only a palliative role. In the past, chemotherapy resulted in only infrequent and usually transient shrinkage of the tumour. Its use is scarcely justified in view of the discomforts and costs of the treatment. However, now there have been some advances."

Question: The author is a renowned oncologist from the famous Mayo Clinic. It is most amazing to note that "in the past chemotherapy resulted only in temporary tumour shrinkage." Even shrinkage is infrequently achieved. But then, we were made to believe that chemotherapy was necessary. Was it a mistake then? Was undergoing chemotherapy in the past unjustifiable? What about the present? Is it going to be another mistake down the road? The author is implying that perhaps now, it is okay -- we are seeing some advances? Chemotherapy, even today is not a pleasant experience while some patients said they suffered badly. Besides, it still cost a lot of money. Has the present situation change?

Buyse M & Piedbois P. (in: Should Duke’s B patients receive adjuvant therapy? A statistical perspective. Semin. Oncol. 2001.(Suppl. 1): 20-24) wrote:

"The benefit of adjuvant therapy, e.g., 5-FU + leucovorin, is a matter of debate for patients with Duke’s B colon cancer. Five separate trials failed to show a significant benefit of adjuvant 5-FU + leucovorin compared with surgery alone."

Benson, A. B., et al. (in: American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations on adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer. J. of Clinical Oncology, August 2004. Vol: 22: 3408-3419) wrote:

"Direct evidence from randomized controlled trials does not support the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage II colon cancer. Therefore the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for medically fit patients with stage II colon cancer is not recommended."

Figueredo A. et al. (in: Adjuvant therapy for stage II colon cancer: A systematic review from the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-based Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group. J. of Clinical Oncology, August 2004. Vol: 16: 3395-3407) wrote:

"The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy are small and not necessarily associated with improved overall survival. Patients should be made aware of these results."

With the above research results would cancer patients take a pause and think seriously enough before they "follow" what their oncologists may want them to do?

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Breast Cancer - Estrogen Dominance And The Imbalance Of Hormones

2009-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer - Estrogen Dominance And The Imbalance Of Hormones was written by Jackie L. Harvey from SalivaTesting.com

Estrogen Dominance is a term coined by the late John R. Lee, M.D., author of a number of books on the topic of women’s hormones. The theory of Estrogen Dominance describes a condition where a woman can have deficient, normal or excessive estrogen but has little or no progesterone to balance its effects in the body. Even a woman with low estrogen levels can have estrogen dominance symptoms if she doesn't have any progesterone. Basically estrogen dominance reflects hormones that have gone out of balance. Out of balance hormones can affect women from 14 to 94.

How do we become estrogen dominant? Our food chain is laced with toxic pesticides, herbicides and growth hormones – a sea of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. If we are overweight, our body’s store of excess fat can be converted into estrogen. Insulin resistance also leads to estrogen dominance. Then there is estrogen found in ERT, HRT and Birth Control Pills.

Estrogen dominance also occurs in men. As men age, estrogen gradually rises, while saliva levels of progesterone and testosterone gradually fall. We often find men of fifty having higher saliva estrogen levels than women of fifty! A sign of estrogen dominance in men is the tendency for some to develop breasts.

An imbalance of hormones in our bodies results in hormone-related health problems such as PMS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, infertility, post-partum depression, weight gain, increased blood clotting, thyroid dysfunction, even breast and uterine cancer in women and in men breast cancer, prostate problems and prostate cancer.

Estrogen Dominance can be detected by taking a saliva test. This simple test can accurately reveal hormone levels. Men can also take this simple at-home test to determine if their hormones are out of balance.

A saliva test evaluation will either move a man or woman to take action to bring balance to their own hormones or cause them to sit back and reflect on their good hormone health. Those over 50 can take an annual saliva test to keep track of their hormone levels.

Men and women who experience hormone imbalance feel unwell – bringing balance to their hormones is often a key to their wellness. There are safe natural alternatives available to drug therapies. Women and men must become more informed about their own hormone health.

This Article Is Copywright 2006 Jackie L. Harvey & Saliva Testing com

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Breast Cancer

2009-01-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer was written by Radoslaw Pilarski from uncariatomentosa.com

Epidemiology

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second most common (after lung cancer) cause of death in this group. However, to some extent, it concerns men as well.Different countries in the world have varying incidence of breast cancer. The West Europe countries and the USA have the highest incidence rates, adequately 35-60/100 000 and 65/100 000, whereas the Far East countries have the lowest rate (i.e. in Japan it is five times lower than in the USA).

Risk factors

Risk factors point to increased risk, that is at higher probability of falling ill among specimens of a given population. The most important risk factors include:

1. Woman's age

Incidence of breast cancer increases with age.

2. Ethnic/geographical factors

These factors, although they have been taken into consideration for years, are extremely difficult to interpret. High breast cancer incidence occurs in the USA and in West Europe, low - in Asian, Far East and African countries. Breast cancer is usually developed in Caucasian women living in a quite cold climate in the highly developed countries. It is dependent upon the influence of the following factors: race, climate, nutrition style, types of the undergone diseases, lifestyle and culture style, family planning, age of the first pregnancy, number of children, breastfeeding's popularity, etc. Black and yellow women become ill more rarely.

3. Family factors

The more affected relatives and the closer degree of kinship to them, the bigger probability of suffering from cancer. The risk increases, if these tumours occurred in one’s mother and sister under the age of 35 . Genetically determined breast cancer, which amounts to 10% of all the breast tumours, most often being the result of BRCA1, BRCA2, p53 and ATM genes mutation. Breast cancer can also occur in the course of some inheritably associated syndromes, among others in Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Lynch II syndrome, Cowden's disease, Peutz-Jaeghers syndrome, ataxia-teleangiectasia, Klinefelter syndrome

4. Age of first menstruation and menopause

Appearance of first menses before the age of 12 significantly increases (by about 40%) the risk of breast cancer. Natural menopause appearing after age 55 increases risk of breast cancer twofold. Thus, the most important factor is the total number of years of ovulation activity.

5. Age of first pregnancy and delivery

Women who give birth to their first child in the age of between 20 and 30 have a lower risk of breast cancer. Nulliparous women are more exposed to breast cancer, by almost 50%.

6. Breastfeeding

Women with much lower risk of falling ill protected from breast cancer development by breastfeeding. Even relatively short time of breastfeeding gives some protection

7. Ionising radiation

High doses of X radiation (applied during routine "X-rays") can cause breast cancer. It is worth to stress that the contemporary mammography apparati expose a woman to a minimal dose of radiation.

8. Alcohol and diet

Excessive alcohol consumption for a long period of time increases the risk of breast cancer development, because the liver damage impairs estrogen metabolism (high estrogen concentration increases the risk of falling ill). It is suspected that one of the factors, which increases the breast cancer risk, is food with high content of saturated fat

9. Obesity

Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer development, as it is more difficult to find breast changes in obese people . moreover, fat cells produce estrogens

10. Exogenous hormones (hormone contraceptives)

It is believed that oral contraceptives (which include mainly estrogens), even if they are connected with breast cancer, act as a factor facilitating and accelerating the development of the disease, which has already appeared, rather than a factor causing genetic mutations and evoking disease. It is also believed that pills that are made only of progesterone and so called „minipills" don't increase the breast cancer risk. The pills may increase the risk in genetically loaded women or women using oral contraceptives for at least 8 years until first pregnancy. It is believed that preparations which include progesterone alone, don't affect the risk for breast cancer appearance. However, preparations that include progesterone and estrogens may influence the tumour appearance. The risk is growing for women taking hormone medications longer than 8 years.

Treatment

Breast cancer is treated locally or generally, although some patients may undergo both types of treatment. Local treatment consists in surgical removal or destruction of the lesion. General treatment (chemotherapy, hormone therapy) aims at inhibiting the tumour process or decreasing the size of tumour before operation and it is also applied in significant disease progression instead of surgery. Surgical treatment is the most common way to treat breast cancer. Patients in I0 and II0 clinical progression are qualified for the surgical treatment . The most often performed surgery is the modified breast amputation by Patey's way (excision of the breast gland together with the axillary lymph nodes, without removing the breast muscles). Some patients are qualified for breast conserving treatment.

Such possibility exists in the following cases:
TisN0M0
T1N0M0
T1N1M0
T2N0-1M0 (tumour not bigger than 3cm in a mammographic measurement)
Possibility of removing the tumour with a margin of healthy tissue
Satisying cosmetic effect foreseen
Patient's consent to breast conserving treatment
The lack of contraindications
The absolute contraindications include:
Multicentric cancer
Cancer relapse after the previous breast conserving treatment
Previous undergoing of breast irradiation
No possibility of getting the margin of healthy tissue
The relative contraindications include:
Pregnancy
Foreseen unsatisfying cosmetic effect
Connective tissue disease (collagenosis)
Breast Conserving Treatment (BCT) includes replacing tumour within healthy tissues and regional axillary lymph nodes. The following ways of breast tumour removal are distinguished:
Tylectomy
Removing the tumour with a margin of at least 2cm. If the margin from the muscles' side is smaller than cm, the tumour must be removed together with fascia,
Wide excision, lumpectomy
Removing the tumour together with the bulk unchanged tissues margin of 1 cm. This margin can be smaller from the muscles side, but then fascia has to be removed.
Excisional biopsy, tumourectomy
Removing the tumour without margin, but with the intention of removing all the bulk suspected tissues. After BCT surgery, all patients are exposed to supplementing radiotherapy. Breast gland is irradiated with a total dose of 50 Gy, 2 Gy per fraction (25 fractions during 5 weeks). Additionally, the site of tumour removal is afterloaded with 192 Ir with the 10 Gy dose.
Radiotherapy - uses high energy radiation to destroy the cancer cells and to prevent them from further growth and fissions. There are two kinds of radiotherapy: exterior (source of radiation is located outside the human body) and interior (special containers with the radiation material are placed in the tumour site). Another kind of radiotherapy is brachytherapy which involves placing thin tubes in breast. The radiation is directed through these tubes straight to the tumour cells. Nowadays brachytherapy is applied after breast conserving treatment. It happens that radiotherapy is applied before surgery to decrease the size of tumour and/or to facilitate the tumour removal.

Chemotherapy involves the application of medicines that are aimed at tumour destruction. In breast cancer chemotherapy is usually composed of a few types of medicines, which are administered either directly to vein or in the form of pills. Regardless of the way of administering, the medicines get inside blood and flow with it through the whole body, which also results in negative effects for this therapy (nausea, vomiting, hair falling out, neutropenia, menstruation disorder, earlier menopause).

Copyright 2006 Radoslaw Pilarski

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Does Caffeine Increase Your Risk Of Colo-rectal Cancer?

2009-01-18T12:07:00.000-08:00

Does Caffeine Increase Your Risk Of Colo-rectal Cancer? was written by Jon Stout from goldenmoontea.com

Colon and rectal cancer is the third most common cancer for both men and women in the US. This year, nearly 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer and over 50,000 people will die from the disease. Some strides have been made in prevention, and fewer cases are being diagnosed each year.

In the past few years, colorectal cancer screening has been responsible for reducing the number of incidences and deaths from this disease. Colo-rectal screening allows doctors to find small polyps in the colon and rectum and remove them. Left in the colon, these polyps often turn into cancer. Colo-rectal screening also helps doctors find cancer in earlier stages, when treatments are more likely to be successful. In addition, colo-rectal cancer treatments have improved, reducing the mortality rate from this form of cancer.

But, as with any serious illness, we are also consistently looking for ways to prevent colo-rectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the most important steps you can take to prevent colo-rectal cancer are:

Get tested – In most cases, it is recommended that you get your first colo-rectal screening at age 50. However, if you have a family history of the disease, it may be recommended that you begin at an earlier age.

Eat right and exercise – The American Cancer society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, and limiting your intake of high fat foods. Some studies also suggest that folic acid and calcium supplements can lower your risk. In addition to eating properly, it’s also important to get regular exercise. Thirty minutes of exercise a day 5 days a week can help lower your risk of many diseases, including colo-rectal cancer. Being overweight is a risk factor for colo-rectal cancer, so be sure that you maintain a normal weight.

Stop smoking – Smokers have a 30-40% greater likelihood of developing colo-rectal cancer than non-smokers. Most people know that smoking increases their risk of lung cancer, but many are unaware at how significantly smoking increases your colo-rectal cancer risks.

Are other lifestyle habits increasing my risk?

There have been questions about other habits and whether or not they can increase your risk of colo-rectal cancer. One of the most commonly questioned habits is drinking caffeine.

One study, reported by the UK Tea Council, attempted to answer this question. The study observed men and women beginning in the early 1980s, and continuing on until 1998. The study observed dietary habits, other factors, among them caffeine consumption through drinking coffee or tea. Throughout the course of the study, just over 1400 cases of colo-rectal cancer were observed.

The study noted no increase in the incidence of colo-rectal cancer in those people who drank tea or coffee over those who did not consume these caffeinated beverages. So, researchers concluded that drinking tea and coffee with caffeine is perfectly safe and does not increase your colo-rectal cancer risk.

However, one additional finding in the study is particularly interesting. While the study did not find that drinking caffeinated beverages increased your colo-rectal cancer risk, it did find that drinking decaffeinated coffee seemed to actually lower your risk of rectal cancer over those people who never drank decaffeinated coffee.

This finding is surprising, as little research has been performed on any health benefits associated with decaffeinated beverages. Why the decaffeinated coffee offered protection is unclear, as is whether this protection extends to other decaffeinated beverages, such as tea.

As with most research conclusions, more studies and conclusions are needed before we fully understand the ramifications of drinking coffee and tea, whether caffeinated or not. As years go on, we’ll have better direction on how to use such beverages to protect our health and reduce our risks. In the meantime, it appears that drinking your favorite caffeinated beverages is safe.

This is good news for coffee and tea drinkers, whose beverage consumption mostly consists of these two drinks.

And, there’s reason to believe that there might be health benefits associated with these beverages. Both coffee and tea are good sources of anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are important because they neutralize the free radicals created by our bodies during the digestion process. Left unchecked, these free radicals cause disease and aging. But, with the proper dose of daily anti-oxidants, we can prevent the damage that free radicals can do.

If you’re interested in increasing your anti-oxidant intake, start by ensuring that your diet is loaded with fruits and vegetables. Some of the best fruit and vegetable sources are blueberries, artichokes, asparagus, tomatoes, strawberries and pomegranates.

But, the easiest way to get your daily anti-oxidants might just be to drink one of the world’s most popular beverages. That’s right, tea; particularly green tea, offers some of the best anti-oxidant protection you’ll ever find. Green tea’s most important anti-oxidant is EGCG, which has been linked with preventing, and even treating many forms of disease.

Green tea has been linked to preventing cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. It is also thought to naturally regulate blood sugar and help in weight management. It’s likely the world’s most perfect beverage – low in caffeine and rich in protection.

Preventing cancer is something all of us are concerned with. Even if you have a higher than average risk of developing colo-rectal cancer, it seems you’re safe drinking your coffee and tea. However, your best bet for beverages just might be decaffeinated coffee and green tea to prevent this and other forms of disease.

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Preventing Colon Cancer Through Diet

2009-01-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

Preventing Colon Cancer Through Diet was written by Michael Russell from colon-cancer-guide.com

Colon cancer, although non-infectious, has been sometimes called the plague of our time due to the increasing number of lives it has ended or debilitated. Cancer is genetic; therefore, if your parents had it or your uncle had it, chances are you will have it too. If you can't run from it, you will have to face it and fight. Your best weapons will be screening, early detection and possible prevention. Prevention is key for everyone whether or not they have a history of cancer. Plus, it is easy to do. Since the disease presents itself in the large intestines, which is part of the digestive system, the prevention is closely related to diet. One thing you should keep in mind is "Keep it Natural".

Remember your mother saying "Eat your vegetables"? She was absolutely right. Eat your fruits too. What's cooler is that they are color-coded so it is easy to follow. The red, yellow, orange and green fruits and vegetables are rich in Antioxidants. Some of these are oranges, strawberries, peppers and carrots. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are also very rich in these natural cancer fighting chemicals. Generous amounts of unprocessed grains help a lot too. The "bad food" you would want to avoid as much as possible is saturated fat. The problem nowadays is that there are so many products on the market that contain saturated fat. Meat has saturated fat so eat only your recommended daily allowance. Many non-animal foods have high fat content such as your favorite cakes, pastries, ice cream and cookies. Make sure you read the food labels to see how much fat you're getting. Food such as these increase your risk of colon cancer because when these fats are broken down by the digestive juices and bile, the by-products are known to cause neoplastic growths in the colon where they get dumped. Increasing fiber in your diet helps flush out these toxins and clean your colon.

It would surprise many but increasing your intake of calcium might help lower your risks of colon cancer. Calcium is one of the basic minerals in the body and is necessary for bone strength and the regulation of many chemical processes of the body. However, studies on animals have found that a lack of calcium has led to excessive cell growth in the colon. Although it is not clear if it would have the same effect on humans, calcium is still important in so many other ways that you should still get enough of it. All adults must have 1000mg of calcium per day. Women, especially during pregnancy and after menopause have a greater risk for osteoporosis and should have 1500mg of calcium per day. Adequate calcium can be given by drinking a quart of milk per day. If you can't drink this much milk, try mixing it in your food or eat other dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. Also rich in calcium are seafood and shellfish and many green leafy vegetables. If still not enough, your physician may recommend calcium supplements for you.

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Prevent Colon Cancer With 5 Easy Ways

2009-01-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

Prevent Colon Cancer With 5 Easy Ways was written by Sandra Kim Leong from detox-cleansing.net

Research studies are now going on how best to prevent colon cancer as more and more people are diagnosed with this condition today. It is found that colon cancer usually starts in the large intestine, also known as colon, or the rectum. Colon cancer then develops from dead cells that have been accumulated in a lump over a period of time. The risk to getting colon cancer increases if you have a genetic medical background of parents or close relatives who have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Research also showed that that colon cancer is aggravated by unhealthy diets such as ready meals and fast food.

Hence, it is vital that you seek the advice of your doctor should you feel the discomfort of colon cancer symptoms. The symptoms to look out for include unhealthy bowel occurrence such as diarrhea, constipation or bowel infection, severe pain in abdomen, blood in the stools, narrow stools, anemia, intestinal obstruction and drastic loss of weight.

Prevention is still better than cure. So you really should consider the following 5 ways on how best to prevent colon cancer:

1. Adopt healthy habits. Colon cancer usually develops over a length of period before it actually shows. Hence you should not wait till you notice the symptoms of colon cancer before starting to adopt healthy habits. Eat healthy meals, exercise and have an adequate amount of sleep.

If your diet contains too much high fat and red meats with little fiber, you are definitely at a high risk of developing colon cancer. Fat accumulates on the walls of the intestine and rectum, forming lumps of dead cells. You should therefore adopt a balanced natural diet which includes lots of green vegetables, fruits and water.

Exercise helps by flushing out harmful toxins and waste matter which if left accumulated in your body can cause cancerous growth.

2. Know your family medical history. It appears that colon cancer is a genetic disease that is hereditary. As such, if you belong to the high risk category due to your family history, then you should take extra precautions by leading a healthy lifestyle.

3. Stop smoking. Chain smoking increases your chance to developing colon cancer. Inhaling tobacco can easily transfer carcinogen (a cancer agent) to your colon and rectum, thus resulting in colon cancer. Hence, do not hesitate to find ways to quit smoking.

4. Reduce exposure to radiation. Excessive exposure to radiation has been found to cause colon cancer. Radiation rays are harmful and can render healthy normal cells abnormal. By all means, avoid unnecessary X-rays, CT scans, mammograms so that you can best prevent colon cancer.

5. If you observe that you are experiencing symptoms like skin allergies, weak immune system, poor movement of bowels, bloating, etc, then it may be that you have too much toxins in your body. Consider colon cleansing as a way of detoxification. There are a couple of ways to perform colon cleansing. These include consuming herbs for colon cleansing and colon hydrotherapy.

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Breast Cancer - Ductal Lavage

2009-01-15T12:07:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer - Ductal Lavage was written by Michael Russell from breast-cancer.treatment-and-guides.com

One diagnostic technique being studied to detect early stage breast cancer is Ductal Lavage. Ductal lavage was first thought of by George Pappanicolou - since he felt that all breast cancers start in the ductal system, then why not test cells from the ducts for cancer. He tried to extract fluid and cells from the duct but it was difficult and not many other researchers had an interest in what he was trying to do in the 1950s.

20 years later, some other doctors picked up where Pappanicolou had started and began studies of ductal lavage on the west coast. Dr. Pappanicolou was actually the developer of the pap smear test for cervical cancer, so the ductal lavage technique is often referred to as a "pap smear" for the breast.

Now we know that over 95% of breast cancers start in the cells lining the breast ducts and that it can take 8 to 10 years for cells to grow into a 1 cm tumor that can be felt or seen on a mammogram. A ductal lavage (lavage is French for wash or rinse) consists of flushing cells out of the breast duct using suction and a saline wash.

The procedure involves little to no discomfort. A doctor will apply an anesthetic cream that will numb the nipple area. A breast pump is used to determine which 1-2 ducts will be flushed later in the procedure. When the ducts to be flushed have been located, more anesthetic is put in the duct and a catheter is placed. Salt water is flushed through the catheter into the duct and the cells collected to be looked at by a pathologist.

When a pathologist looks at the cells, he or she is looking for abnormalities which could suggest that cancer might develop at a later date. Women may want to consider preventive measures if abnormalities are found to be present in the breast. Those can include careful monitoring with mammography, clinical breast exams and breast self-exams; prophylactic mastectomy (preventive breast removal) for women at very high risk of breast cancer and the use of the drug tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen.

The presence of abnormal or atypical cells in a woman's breast does not mean she will develop breast cancer. Studies show that most atypical cell do not become cancer. Because of those findings, ductal lavage is recommended to be performed only on women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer. That would include women with a strong family or personal history of breast cancer, those who carry the BRCA gene mutations and those who have had non-cancerous conditions from prior biopsies. (Lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical hyperplasia)

The procedure is currently available in a few locations across the US., but as more doctors complete the training for the procedure it will become more widely available. In most cases a woman must meet some eligibility requirements in order to have a ductal lavage performed on their breasts.

Dr. Susan Love is one of the biggest advocates for the procedure in the United States. She feels that ductal lavage can help physicians better understand the development of breast cancer along certain groups of women and in addition, help identify women most likely to develop breast cancer based on hereditary and environmental factors.

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Why Should You Consider Using A Breast Form Over Getting Reconstructive Surgery?

2009-01-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

Why Should You Consider Using A Breast Form Over Getting Reconstructive Surgery? was written by Dan Payne from truekare.com

Breast forms can be useful for a number of reasons. They have been identified as an important alternative to reconstructive surgery post mastectomy surgery. Reconstructive surgery is less advantageous because it requires more surgery. Not only must a patient go through one reconstructive surgery, but further operations may be required in the future. Also, for cancer patients, if doctors find that the cancer has advanced, breast reconstruction may interfere with the treatment. Not to mention the common side effects implants may have. With some implants, most commonly saline implants, Capsular Contracture may occur (Imaginis- the Breast Cancer Resource). This is when the scar around the implant begins to tighten and squeezes down on the soft implant inside. This can have a negative effect by causing the breast to feel hard. These are just a few reasons why reconstructive surgery is sometimes frowned upon. Surgery can, however have its positive aspects. A lot of times you can have the reconstructive surgery directly following your mastectomy. This means you would not have to go under the knife twice; they would do this process while you are still under. Implants are also preferred over breast forms because they are permanent and can seem like less of a hassle.

Prosthesis, or breast forms, is an excellent alternative to surgery. They mirror the approximate movement, feel, and weight of natural tissue. It is very important to have a properly weighted breast form because it provides the balance your body needs for correct posture. Very few problems occur when using breast forms. Some have said that they feel a bit heavy at first (American Cancer Society). However, this does fade as you get used to them. Also, some forms may cause some skin irritation. This also can be resolved by putting the breast forms into a bra with a pocket.

Common questions that arise include, what kind of bra would I need to wear with a breast form? The answer is that you can wear any type of bra you prefer. You may even wear the bras you were wearing before mastectomy surgery. Many wonder whether or not others will be able to tell if they are wearing them. Breast forms are very inconspicuous. They are under your clothing and therefore look no different from natural tissue breasts. Aside from the initial heaviness at first, they aren’t even all that noticeable to you, the wearer. Questions are sometimes asked regarding the possibility of wearing the breast forms while swimming in the summer. No problem! Most breast forms do fine in the pool with chlorine. Swimming should not affect them. As far as swimsuits go, there are plenty of suits that will hide the breast forms well. A string-bikini may not be the best choice. However, a suit that covers your chest more fully, would keep them unnoticeable to others.

Overall, we see that there are answers out there. And for those who do not want to go under the knife again, there is a great alternative. Breast forms can fit practically any body type and any lifestyle. The cons of using breast forms are fewer than the cons of getting reconstructive surgery. Breast forms aren’t permanent and can always be changed to fit you. However, both of these options are out there and should be considered. What makes you happy and comfortable should come first and foremost.

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The Truth About Breast Cancer

2009-01-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Truth About Breast Cancer was written by Joseph Then from thehealthyportal.com

Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast or a tumor, grow out of control and damages nearby tissue. In women, the most common and fatal type of cancer is breast cancer.

Detection

There are often no symptoms in the early stages. Women should be aware of the screening recommendations and follow them. There are varieties of symptoms that may appear as the tumor grows such as:

The breast changing in size or shape
Breast skin becomes pitted or ridged
Thickening or lump in the underarm or breast
Discharge from nipple or the nipple turns inward
Skin on the breast becomes red or scales

If you have any of these symptoms, have yourself examined by a medical professional. This does not mean you have cancer but you defiantly want to have this checked.

Before the age of twenty, is very rare to get it and not often diagnosed in women less than twenty-five years old. The chances of contacting climbs steadily after 25 and peaks around menopause age in women. It increases less after menopause but as they age, the risk to older women gradually increases.

Risk Factors

Nobody really knows what causes this cancer. Some of the elements that are thought to increase the risk are:

Gender: There are more cases of women than men

Weight: Overweight women are at higher risk

Age: From 25 to menopause, the chances increases.

Children: If a woman has not had a child, or had a child after 30

Family History: Women that have a family member that have or had it are at risk.

Male Breast Cancer

Yes, it really does happen. It is certainly not as common as in women but approximately one to 1.5% happens to men. Older men most often diagnosed with it and are between sixty and seventy years old. If a man has had previous exposure to radiation, such as for cancer treatment, their risk increases. Approximately 20% of men with a mother, sister or other close female relatives with breast cancer are certainly at higher risk. Some of the symptoms in men includes swelling or a breast lump, retracted nipple or discharge and scaling or redness of the breast skin or nipple.

Statistics

The statistics are frightening. Each and ever year, over 182,000 women and 16,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 400 men and 43,300 women will die from this terrible disease. During their lifetime, one woman out of eight has or will get breast cancer. Most people have family or friends that have or had breast cancer. Always give them your support and encouragement.

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Breast Cancer: Steps To Aid In Early Detection

2009-01-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer: Steps To Aid In Early Detection was written by Donna Rivera from todaysmodernwoman.com

I learned some interesting facts about breast cancer that I feel every woman should know. The sources I used for this article included the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute, and the Avon Foundation’s Breast Cancer Crusade.

Early breast cancer isn’t usually detected by pain. In fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. That is why regular exams are important. If you have anything that makes you suspect breast cancer, contact your doctor immediately. Don't wait around to see what happens. Let the professional decide. Some symptoms that may indicate breast cancer include, but are not limited to, the following:

Nipple discharge or tenderness

Lumps in breast and/or underarm area

Visual changes which include: size of breast including swelling; inverted nipple; and pitting. Pitting means the skin looks like the skin of an orange. Scaling of the breast skin could also be a symptom.

Early detection of breast cancer is important. There is a 97% five-year survival rate when breast cancer is detected early since this can help prevent it from spreading. Below are some guidelines to early detection. I hope they help save someone's life.

Get a Mammogram

A mammogram is a specialized x-ray of the breast to help detect cancers which cannot be detected by feel. Some women are confused as to how often they should get a mammogram. Here is what the professionals say about mammograms.

At age 40 begin getting annual mammograms by a licensed technician. A mammogram will take about twenty minutes. When getting a mammogram avoid wearing deodorant, powders, or cream under your arms. Sometimes they can interfere with the results. Make sure to contact the center if they do not inform you of the results within thirty days. It is very important that results are compared from one year to the next. Hence, be sure you know where your mammogram film is being held.

Clinical Breast Exam

This is an exam by a health care professional. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam at least every three years and women 40 or older should have an exam each year.

Self-Examination

Starting at age 20 women should begin doing a self-exam. Ask your doctor if you are not exactly sure how to do this or if you are not sure you are doing it correctly. Here are a few guides to follow: Lie down and place one arm behind your head. Using your three middle finger pads press firmly across your breast in overlapping dime-size circular motions. Use three different levels of pressure: light, medium, and firm. This allows you to feel the tissue close to your skin, to feel a little deeper, and to feel the tissue closest to your chest and ribs.

Move across your breast in an up and down pattern, starting from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone, repeating the pressure.

Stand in front of a mirror with your hands pressing down on your hips and look at your breasts for any changes in size, shape, contour, or dimpling. Also, do this with your arms slightly raised. Make sure you check under your breasts as well.

I hope that this information proves helpful to you. I am not a health care provider and by no means a professional on breast cancer. I am simply sharing with every woman possible the importance of detecting breast cancer early and some simple guidelines that might save a life.

My sources for the above information are:

American Cancer Society The National Cancer Institute Breast Health Resource Guide by the Avon Foundation's Breast Cancer Crusade

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Recognizing And Battling Breast Cancer

2009-01-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Recognizing And Battling Breast Cancer was written by Susan Jan from breast-cancer-treatment.info

Breast cancer occurs due to the irrepressible growth of cells in the breast that invades the nearby tissues and spreads throughout the body. These collections of irrepressible growth of tissue are called tumors or malignant tumors. However, not all tumors are cancerous.

Breast cancer has been diagnosed in large numbers in North America and Europe. In 2001, about 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States alone. Every woman has a 1 in 8 risk of developing breast cancer, but the risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower, barely 1 in 28.

The risk of getting breast cancer is generally higher among older women, women with a family history or previous history of breast cancer, women who had radiation therapy in the chest region, women who started their periods before 12 years old, women who had menopause after 50 years old, women who never had children or had them age 30 or older, or women with genetic mutation. In recent times genetic mutations for breast cancer have become a hot topic of research.

The breast cancer tumor has the following symptoms: lump or thickening that appears on the breast or underarm, changes in the breast's shape, nipple turned inwards followed by colorless discharge, red or scaled skin or nipple, or ridges on the breast skin.

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean she has breast cancer. In such a case she should undergo a breast cancer personal check-up. It is estimated that 95% of breast cancer is detected through personal check-up. The breast cancer personal check-up includes checking for lumps in the breasts after each menstrual period, puckering the skin, and checking for nipple retraction or discharge. For consistent result, every woman should do a breast cancer personal check-up at the same time every month. Various other techniques such as mammography, thermography, ultrasonography, computerized tomography scan etc, can also help detect breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatments include surgery that removes cancerous tissues, with breast conservation therapy (BCT) being one such surgery. Other breast cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and biologic therapy. Radiotherapy is a common breast cancer treatment, and radiation treatment and chemotherapy may follow surgery to ensure the destruction of the stray cancer cells.

Even after undergoing many or all of these breast cancer treatment measures, unfortunately almost half the women suffer from a recurrence of the disease.

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X-Rays And Breast Cancer Risks Considered

2009-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

X-Rays And Breast Cancer Risks Considered was written by Lance Winslow from WorldThinkTank.net

Have you have chest X-Rays? Well they can lead to Breast Cancer, or rather they can greatly increase the risks they say. A recent report in the UK says the women who are genetically susceptible to breast cancer can greatly increase their risks by getting chest X-rays.

The report States the Following; A chest X-ray could increase the risk of getting breast cancer; More than 1 in 500 with the susceptible gene face a dramatic rise in threat; Women with the BRCA1 and 2 mutation should opt for MRI scans. At least one medical cancer professor states that although this study appears to have proper data showing this there are limitations to the study because those women who are more apt to be in the hospital for another reason might have other issues involved as well.

Nevertheless the study shows the tens of thousands of women have increased their chances for breast cancer thru chest X-rays in the past. There is more information here and in much greater detail than this article shows.

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=936332006

One research project prior the Lancet Oncology study shows the opposite for BRCA mutations and this does also cause a question to the study X-ray issues and further finds that mammograms appear to not have the problems like the X-rays do. Go do some research on this yourself if you feel that this issue concerns you. Consider this in 2006.

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Exercise And Breast Cancer

2009-01-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

Exercise And Breast Cancer was written by Sherri L Dodd from momlooksgreat.com

Taking every opportunity to distribute my marketing material for my new book, I stopped by a children’s clothing store one Sunday afternoon. Upon leaving the parking lot, my six year old son caught a glimpse of "those ribbons with two lines". In my half-engaged attention, I acknowledged his observation that there were "more than three" on this one particular car. From his persistence to gain my feedback, I began to focus on our conversation. I informed him that I was not exactly clear of what he meant by the description of this two-lined ribbon. "You know…the red one…the boob problem…and the…". Ground zero! I realized that he was speaking of the Awareness Ribbons that so emphatically adorn various vehicles these days. I started to chuckle at his innocence in remembering my recent 15-minute explanation of breast cancer as "the boob problem". After we enjoyed the moment, I struck a more serious note to remember that the disease is far from funny and can leave heartache and devastation in its vicious path. In fact, according to Dr. Susan Love, breast cancer affects 110 women every day.

My first encounter as a Personal Trainer with a recovering breast cancer client came quite a few years ago and meeting her was quite an experience. If you have ever met a breast cancer victor you will notice that their eyes reflect a beautiful understanding of life. My encounter with my client came while I worked at a swim and racquet club. Even the way she approached me was filled with grace. Wanting to strengthen her body after the illness, she inquired about a weight training routine. She had a beaming, yet subtle smile with each simple question that she asked of me. To look at her would never disclose of her recent pain. Her hair was a typical short style of a middle-aged woman and her legs still presented the years of tennis that kept her fit. I was honored to take the position as her trainer and we worked together on a program toward rebuilding her body for not only the purpose of strength and endurance, but to attain a touch of inner peace as well.

Recovery from breast cancer is not so different a program than simply exercising to avoid such a catastrophic event in a woman’s life. If you have followed fitness for any amount of time, visited your doctor or taken a class in school, the informative path to righteous living is well paved with getting the blood flowing and the heart pounding. In turn, you increase your chances of avoiding disease (heart-related, cancer, diabetes). Likewise, if you have successfully battled the disease and yearn for a method of attack against it recurring or simply want to lessen the unpleasant after affects, the all-knowing finger will be pointing in the same direction…the local gym. Even as early as the 1980’s, research was proving that aerobic exercise improved fatigue levels and nausea in post cancer patients. Fast forward to present and the benefits have multiplied over the years. Subsequent studies indicate that weight training, aerobic exercise, and fitness emphasizing mind and body (i.e., yoga) all have a substantial impact of up to 25-50% improvement on pain, fatigue, overall optimism, the general fitness level of the individual and how much a person can improve their quality of daily life, complete with energy-draining tasks.

It is clear that exercise plays a tremendous role in helping breast cancer survivors feel better. So what are the details of program design? First and foremost, you want to stay clear of stress on the surgical or stitched area. Next, and just as important, begin with the usual 10-15 minute warm-up, no matter if you are doing weight training sets, a cardio routine or a number of yoga poses. It is after this warm-up that variety begins. For resistance/weight training exercises, you will want to start the initial phase of your program with a lowered weight volume but with up to double the repetitions. Elastic tubing and bands are also a good start for the first phase. Though you may not be directly working the muscle tissue in your surgical area, many muscles work together in stabilizing another muscle’s contraction. The lesser weight will insure that your wound is not overexerted to soon. The standard 2-3 sets are appropriate with 15-20 repetitions.

Another area of exercise is that of cardiovascular training. Cardio machines such as the treadmill or elliptical machines are acceptable and can be used for 3-4 days per week. In your initial phase of a recovery fitness routine, you may want to follow an interval program where you begin the session with a higher-intensity minute followed by a low-intensity minute totaling up to thirty minutes. As your condition improves, you can reduce your low intensity minute to 30 seconds and eventually eliminate it all together.

Finally, mind and body exercises such as yoga go a step further in fitness. Not only are you strengthening your body, you are also tapping into inner peace with each slow and controlled breath. Ideal for achieving relaxation, this type of training can be utilized for as little as 5-15 minute a day and still present positive results.

While breast cancer awareness has reached far heights as that of former president, Bill Clinton, who signed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, it does not stop the fact that the disease continues to take more and more lives. While a cure is currently elusive, preventative measures are not. Engaging in a fitness program that includes healthy eating, routine exercise and positive mental development is a safe bet of increasing longevity.

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Shifting Paradigms In Hormonal Therapy Of Breast Cancer

2009-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

Shifting Paradigms In Hormonal Therapy Of Breast Cancer was written by Scott William from medicineworld.org

Until recently tamoxifen occupied the central stage in adjuvant (post operative) hormonal treatment of breast cancer. Tamoxifen has been the unchallenged hormonal therapy of choice for adjuvant treatment of early stage breast cancer for over two decades.

Things have changed now. A new group of hormonal drugs that has been introduced few years ago has almost replaced tamoxifen as the treatment of choice for early stage breast cancer. This new group of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors has been shown to be more effective than tamoxifen over and over again.

This new group of drugs however is not effective in premneopausal women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Tamoxifen still remains the hormonal treatment of choice for women with breast cancer who have hormone receptor positive early stage breast cancer.

This new group of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors acts by inhibiting an enzyme called aromatase, which is responsible for production of small amounts of estrogen in post-menopausal women. Estrogen production from the ovaries in premneopausal women is not depended on aromatase hormone, and that is the reason why this drug is not effective in premneopausal women.

Three drugs belonging to the group of aromatase inhibitors are currently FDA approved and available for treatment of breast cancer. These drugs are anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara) and exemestane (Aromasin). All these are active drugs are generally considered to be equally effective.

Aromatase inhibitors may be useful even if a woman has already been started on tamoxifen. Aromatase inhibitors can be taken for five years after completion of five years of tamoxifen. A clinical trial (MA-17) has shown that if Femara is taken for another extra five years after completion of five years of treatment with tamoxifen, this would result in improved outcome. Other trials (ABCSG trial, ARNO trial 95, and ITA trial) have shown that it is beneficial to switch from tamoxifen to aromatase inhibitors after two to three years of treatment with tamoxifen.

Aromatase inhibitors have already shown to be superior to tamoxifen in the treatment of hormone receptor positive metastatic (cancer that has spread to distant organs) breast cancer. In this situation Femara is currently the drug of choice and tamoxifen have moved to second or third position as an option for hormonal therapy.

One thing is clear. The very foundation of tamoxifen as the hormonal treatment of choice is shaking and the aromatase inhibitors are here to stay.

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Green Tea And Breast Cancer

2009-01-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

Green Tea And Breast Cancer was written by Elizabeth Radisson from BreastCancer.OurGoodHealth.org

Green tea provides numerous health benefits and while many have not been scientifically proven, some have been. Most recently, the claim that green tea helps fight and prevent breast cancer is being researched. Interestingly, the Chinese have been using green tea medicinally to treat disease for over 4000 years.

Green tea contains the polyphenol EGCG, that is an antioxidant that inhibits cancer cells from reproducing. Polyphenol is known to kill cancer cells while not harming healthy ones. Green tea is loaded with healthy minerals among others such as aluminum and fluoride and is rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, other polyphenols and tannins. Green tea lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and prevents blood clots from forming. Green tea has been proven to effectively help strengthen the immune system. It has also seen to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases and infection. Studies show green tea to be a helper in preventing prostate cancer and a helper in reducing the risk of esophageal cancer in chronic smokers. Popular belief is that green tea will help prevent tooth decay and will aid in losing weight.

Green tea and black tea are different despite coming from the same camellia sinensis plant. Green tea, becoming popular throughout the world, is not fermented, whereas black tea is. Oolong tea comes from partially fermented tea leaves.

Green tea has been tested in experiments with rats. The studies indicated that rats drinking green tea had tumors reduce in size and others slow in development while the rats that drank just water saw no reductions or slowing of tumor growth of any kind. This kind of result sets up great hopes for green tea as a cancer fighter, though there are no conclusive results on humans and years of study are required before any determination can be made.

Three to four cups of green tea daily are needed to be considered effective as a cancer preventor in humans, but green tea in capsule form is not seen to be as effective. You should drink your green tea without milk and sugar. Three to four cups daily seems like a lot to drink, but people routinely drink that much and more coffee and soda in one day. Green tea does contain caffeine, which can be problematic. It has less caffeine than the same amount of coffee, but drinking large quantities could cause insomnia and disrupt your sleep patterns.

Grocery stores typically carry both caffeinated and decaffeinated green tea products in a large variety of flavors. Women with breast cancer may want to consider drinking green tea to help fight the cancer.

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Color Cancer: Vegetable-state Terminal Cancer Brought Back To Life By Herbs

2009-01-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

Color Cancer: Vegetable-state Terminal Cancer Brought Back To Life By Herbs was written by Chris Teo, Ph.D. from cacare.com

Poh is a 54-year old female. She had a 14 cm tumour in her distal sigmoid colon. She underwent surgery. The cancer was staged as Duke’s C. About two weeks after surgery, Poh underwent twenty-five times of radiation treatment and at the same time took the oral chemo-drug, Xeloda. Within a week after being on Xeloda, Poh became uncomfortable, her heart beat rapidly and she had difficulty breathing. The doctor stopped her Xeloda and replaced it with UFT. Before Poh could even finish a course of UFT, her legs started to weaken and her entire person lost strength. She could not walk and had to be confined to the wheelchair.

MRI of her brain did not show any evidence of metastasis. There were, however, disc bulges at C5/C6, L3/L4, L4/L5 and L5/S1. This was diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis.

Poh’s husband and son came to seek our help on 4 November 2005. Tears welled up in his eyes as he related his wife’s story. He said: "After the surgery, my wife was alright. She was normal -- could walk around perfectly, could eat and do the normal chores in the house. It was only after she started radiotherapy and took the oral chemo-drugs that her condition deteriorated. This happened within about two months after the surgery. Everybody I asked told me to do all these."

Poh was indeed in bad shape. She was put on morphine and had to lie in bed unable to move by herself. If she gets up, she will feel breathless. At one time, she had to be admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for twelve days. The family spent about RM 50,000 for her treatment. With anger and frustration her husband said: "I spent money is okay, but how could she end up like this?"

Poh was then a living vegetable.

After one week on the herbs, Poh was able to wake up from her bed and walked ten steps with the help of her husband! Her daughter said she was thrilled when she was able to stand up. Her case was not be hopeless after all. On 3 February 2006, i.e., three months on the herbs, Poh was able to walk into our centre! As of this writing (a year after being on herbs) Poh is doing fine. She leads a normal, pain-free life.

Story extracted from the author’s book: Getting It Right.

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Breast Cancer

2009-01-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer was written by Steve Valentino from i-BreastCancer.com

Breast cancer is a cancer that affects the breast tissue. The primary victims of this type of cancer are females. Statistics show that approximately one out of 11 to 12 women of the Western world are affected by breast cancer. Medical researches have tried aggressively to find a solution to detect the problem earlier or to treat the problem. About 20 percent of the women affected by breast cancer still fall prey to it and eventually die. In fact, breast cancer ranks second in cancer deaths for women.

Most breast cancer starts in the cells that line up the ducts. There are occasions where the cancer cells originate from the lobules, and then spread to other tissues.

Many breast cancer diagnosis starts in the checking of lumps I the breast. Although most cases of lumps are benign, meaning they are not cancerous, but doctors often ask a patient to undergo biopsy to make sure that cells are not malignant. Most of the lumps are caused by cysts. These lumps may cause pain and swelling of the breast accompanied at times by clear or cloudy discharge in the nipple which happens before the menstrual cycle period is about to begin in a woman. The symptoms may lead to the person to seek a medical check-up.

Male Victims

Breast cancer is not limited to women though; male victims are present as well. The breast of both male and female have identical tissues, so a man is also prone to acquiring the cancer. It is believed that females are more prone to men because the breast of a woman constantly goes through growth changing hormones, thus the cells are more exposed to cancerous change.

Breast Cancer Awareness

As more and more people fall ill to breast cancer, the month of October has been deemed as breast cancer month, to commemorate those who passed away from the cancer, the family and friends survived by the deceased. A pink ribbon is the symbol that a person is joining in the commemoration.

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Lower Your Risk For Breast Cancer And Heart Disease

2009-01-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

Lower Your Risk For Breast Cancer And Heart Disease was written by Jackie L. Harvey from SalivaTesting.com

Many postmenopausal women are looking for alternatives to hormone therapy, especially in light of the recent Women’s Health Initiative research findings concerning the risks of combined estrogen and progestin therapy. Of particular interest are phytoestrogens, which have been gaining popularity due to their "natural" status, alleged health claims, and availability in a wide range of foods and supplements.

What are Phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that have some similarities to estradiol, the most potent naturally occurring estrogen. However, phytoestrogens tend to have weaker effects than most estrogens, are not stored in the body, and can be easily broken down and eliminated.

Observational studies have found a lower prevalence of breast cancer, heart disease and hip fracture rates among people living in places like Southeast Asia, where diets are typically high in phytoestrogens. In North America, knowledge of these reported health effects has stimulated great interest in the health benefits of phytoestrogens. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the sale of soy foods, a major source of phytoestrogens, has increased dramatically in the past decade.

Dietary Sources of Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens consist of more than 20 compounds and can be found in more than 300 plants, such as herbs, grains and fruits. The three main classes of dietary phytoestrogens are isoflavones, lignans and coumestans:

Isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein and equol) are primarily found in soy beans and soy products, chickpeas and other legumes.
Lignans (enterolactone and enterodiol) are found in seeds (primarily flaxseed), cereal bran, legumes, and alcohol (beer and bourbon).
Coumestans (coumestrol) can be found in alfalfa and clover. Most food sources containing these compounds typically include more than one class of phytoestrogens.

The Skeletal Effects of Phytoestrogens

Much of the evidence concerning the potential role of phytoestrogens in bone health is based on animal studies. In fact, soybean protein, soy isoflavones, genistein, daidzein and coumestrol have all been shown to have a protective effect on bone in animals who had their ovaries surgically removed.

In humans, however, the evidence is conflicting. Compared to Caucasian populations, documented hip fracture rates are lower in countries such as Hong Kong, China and Japan where dietary phytoestrogen intakes are high. Yet reports suggest that Japanese women have a greater risk of sustaining a vertebral fracture than Caucasian women.

Several studies have explored the effects of soy isoflavones on bone health, but results have been mixed, ranging from a modest impact to no effect. Most of these studies have serious limitations, including their short duration and small sample size, making it difficult to fully evaluate the impact of these compounds on bone health.

Ipriflavone Supplements

Ipriflavone, a synthetic isoflavone, has shown some promise in its ability to conserve bone in postmenopausal women. Ipriflavone has also been shown to have a protective effect on bone density in pre-menopausal women taking gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a treatment for endometriosis that triggers bone loss.

However, a definitive three-year study of more than 400 postmenopausal women concluded that ipriflavone did not prevent bone loss. Additionally, the compound was linked to lymphocytopenia (a reduction in lymphocytes) in a significant number of study participants. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.

Risks and Benefits Are Unclear

Some studies suggest that, unlike estrogen, phytoestrogens do not appear to target breast or uterine tissue. This suggests that they may act more like SERMS (selective estrogen receptor modulators such as raloxifene and tamoxifen) than actual estrogens. However, in other studies high isoflavone levels have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Clearly, additional research is needed to further evaluate the effects of phytoestrogens before judgments regarding their safety and usefulness can be made.

Key Points

Based on information available at this time, it is reasonable to make the following conclusions concerning phytoestrogens and bone health in postmenopausal women:

Moderate amounts of foods containing phytoestrogens can be safely included in the diet but do not expect it to help build bone. Keep to the basic rule – eat the least processed forms.
Due to a lack of evidence and concerns about safety, supplementation with synthetic isoflavones (ipriflavone) is in question.
Postmenopausal women are encouraged to view evidence concerning phytoestrogens and bone health as conflicting and incomplete. For women who are estrogen dominant increasing their phytoestrogen intake may not improve their bone position.

This Article Is Copywright 2006 Jackie L. Harvey & Saliva Testing com

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Regain Lost Confidence By Buying A Mastectomy Bra

2009-01-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

Regain Lost Confidence By Buying A Mastectomy Bra was written by Joyce Dietzel from my-bra-store.com

Surviving the surgical procedure mastectomy doesn’t end after going through the operation. A woman still needs to confront the difficult challenge of living a normal life despite the noticeable changes done on her body. The loss of a part or the whole breast usually leads to a significant loss of confidence and self-esteem. As part of the recovery process to regain the lost confidence in one’s health, there are a number of alternatives available to women.

Surgical reconstruction of the breast is often not opted by many women right after mastectomy because of the inevitable trauma that comes with these kinds of procedures to both the body and the mind. Usually, it takes several months that can stretch to several years before these women are ready to undergo the knife again. Still, there are some who are adverse towards surgical augmentations. There are a number of feasible options for these women. Short-term alternatives available are breast prostheses and mastectomy bras.

A mastectomy bra is especially intended to keep the breast prosthesis secure for women who have gone through mastectomy to treat breast cancer. These are particularly designed with no underwires for maximum comfort. This bra permits the prostheses to move like the regular set of breasts as the wearer moves. In truth, there is not much difference between a mastectomy bra and a regular bra. However, one will note that a mastectomy bra has built-in stretch pockets in the cup area for one to place the breast prostheses.

Losing a part or the whole breast can somehow strike a feeling of imbalance which stems from symmetry and proportion that most human beings take for granted. To regain a sense of balance, the mastectomy bra promises a number of advantages.

It aids body posture because of the ultimate support that it provides.
It gives some form of protection to the wounds and scars which are a result of the surgery.
It can somehow reduce the chances of obtaining back problems, neck and shoulder aches.

It is certainly good news for the women out there who still want to feel sexy and feel confident about their bodies despite having gone through the surgery. A fabulous way to wear breast prostheses is to wear it with a sheer mastectomy bra with lace trimmings. On the other hand, there are mastectomy bras in posture styles which are specifically designed with full crossover backs to give the front more support.

Mastectomy bras have kept up with the latest styles done on regular bras. A number of brands that offer stylish mastectomy bras are Playtex, Jodee and Amoena, which are known to carry this type of bra in a variety of designs and fabrics ranging from the lacy ones to sporty ones.

Although this type of bra may not be readily available in malls nationwide, there are specialty stores which carry a variety of mastectomy products and accessories as well as the professional service of a mastectomy fitter.

This fitter is sufficiently trained and experienced to assist their customers in choosing clothes that have the perfect fit given the current condition of these customers. Nordstrom’s in fact allows the addition of prostheses pockets to normal bras for a minimal fee and sometimes for free on all bras sold there. There are also online stores like the sites below.

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Breast Cancer - Recurrence

2009-01-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer - Recurrence was written by Michael Russell from breast-cancer.treatment-and-guides.com

One of the issues that every breast cancer survivor must deal with is the possibility of the cancer coming back. We call this a recurrence and even though rates of breast cancer recurrence are lower and survival rates much higher, there is still that chance that the breast cancer will come back after the initial occurrence and treatment. There are three ways in which breast cancer can recur.

The first type of recurrence is called a local recurrence. when cancer recurs locally, it will come back in the original breast area. This is because of a failure of the original treatment. Even when there is a mastectomy, a local recurrence can happen because it is impossible remove all the breast tissue, skin and fat from the area. If even one cancer cell remains after the initial treatment, a local recurrence can happen.

The second type of recurrence is regional in nature. By regional we mean that the cancer has come back outside of the original breast and lymph node area. This is considered to be more serious than a local recurrence, but not as serious as a distant recurrence. The areas in which regional spread of the disease occur include the chest muscles (pectoral), the lymph nodes surrounding the neck area, the internal breast lymph nodes in the breast bone and rib areas and in the lymph nodes above the collarbone. This type of recurrence is rare.

The third and most serious type of recurrence is called a distant recurrence. This is also referred to as a metastasis. The areas where distant spread can occur are most likely to occur are bone (25%), liver, brain, bone marrow, lungs or other organs. Sometimes this is referred to as metastatic disease or Stage IV breast cancer. The survival rate becomes much lower once metastasis occurs, with a life expectancy of 18 months on the average after discovering it.

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer may include bone pain, shortness of breath, lack of appetite, weight loss (possible indication of liver metastases, neurological pain or weakness and headaches.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, you should be aware of the symptoms of metastatic spread. These symptoms can include bone pain (bone), weight loss (liver), loss of appetite (liver), headaches (brain), neurological pain or weakness (brain/spine) and shortness of breath (lungs). However, keep in mind that having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you should panic. A good rule of thumb is the "three week rule". If you have a pain or other symptom that lasts more than three week, see your doctor. If you have an unrelenting pain or constant pain, see a doctor. Cancer pain does not go away compared other types of pain which will come and go. Like back pain caused by muscle spasms and/or non-cancer related disc problem.

If you suspect you have a recurrence of breast cancer, see your doctor. They will schedule some diagnostic tests like a CAT scan, bone scan, or MRI to try to find the root of your symptoms. Usually surgery is not a treatment option, but there are many other treatments, like radiation and/or chemotherapy that could possibly put a recurring cancer back into remission. There are amazing advances in treatment being made all the time.

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Colon Cleansing

2008-12-31T12:07:00.000-08:00

Colon Cleansing was written by JP Richardson from coloncleansingforum.com

Colon cleansing is one of those dirty subjects that nobody feels like talking about. This is unfortunate, since it is a process that can truly benefit those who undergo it. If more people would be willing to get the word out, then we could see a number of health benefits that it would be responsible for. Here is some information about colon cleansing, and how exactly it can be helpful for you.

There are three main types of colon cleansing that you can do. The first is the more manual variety. This is when water is pumped through the colon and drained to clear all of the unwanted fecal matter. This is also known as an enema, and many people have a slight aversion to this method.

Another type of colon cleansing is the herbal, natural variety. This is when you change your food intake to a certain recommended diet. By taking in all of the necessary materials and ingredients, you will have a slight laxative effect and be able to cleanse your colon. This can be a pill, a dish, or any other thing that you would ingest as normal.

Oxygen-based colon cleansing is another method that is becoming much more popular as time goes on. It chemically dissolves all of the waste in the colon that is causing blockage or irregular activity. This is usually more expensive, but very quick, effective, and unobtrusive.

No matter what method you choose, the end results will be essentially the same. Your colon naturally holds a large amount of stagnant waste, and when you get done with colon cleansing treatment you will be free of all of this waste. It isn't unheard of for someone to lose 10 to 30 pounds of waste as a result of a colon cleansing session.

But if the body naturally stores all of that waste, isn't it meant to be there? This is not always the case. Many people suffer from bowel conditions such as diarrhea or constipation. If you maintain a healthy colon by cleansing it on a regular basis, you can get rid of many of these problems.

Do these benefits sound appealing to you? A quick cleansing of the colon can provide you with relief from so many different things, that you have almost no reason to avoid it. If you want to find supplies for some of the more popular methods of colon cleansing, you can simply look on the internet. Many different sites are devoted to bringing you the most effective methods and supplies on the market, so if you just find those sites then you will be in business.

Colon cleansing definitely isn't for everyone. Before you commit to a certain method, you should do plenty of research. Make sure that your conditions are perfect and that it is a necessary and viable option. Don't use it just because of some slight stomach discomfort ñ consult a doctor and see if you are experiencing something natural or whether you do have a problem that can be helped with colon cleansing.

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How To Make Life Easier For All Who Suffer From Breast Cancer

2008-12-30T12:07:00.000-08:00

How To Make Life Easier For All Who Suffer From Breast Cancer was written by Terry Weber from originalsbyweber.com

I am personally aware of how hard it was to see, Ann, one of my daughters, struggle with the pain of the treatments for her breast cancer. After many long months in the hospital, Ann, in 1995, was relieved of all of her pain as she left us and went to be with the Lord. Her parents, her husband her brothers and sisters, her two children, her friends, her many young autistic students - - all of us, still miss Ann very much.

But, today, because of the many improvements in breast cancer prevention and care, thousands of lives are being both helped and saved worldwide, every year. In this way, other families are spared the heartache our family has experienced with our loss of Ann. But, much more research needs to be done and research, as you know, costs lots of money.

If you know anyone with breast cancer, you have first hand knowledge of the pain, the upset and the struggle that must be endured with today's ways of treating this kind of cancer.

Back in '95 I'd have given anything and paid any price to simply reduce Ann's agonizing pain. One of the aims of breast cancer research is to find better ways to diagnose and treat those with breast cancer. So far, there is no sure cure, but there are lots of newly discovered and less painful treatments available. These have been discovered by intensive research and then put into practice. In this way the suffering of breast cancer patients is much less in many ways.

Ann's husband has this to say about his wife:

"Ann was diagnosed via a mammogram in October 1993 shortly after we got home from our year in Israel. By the time she was diagnosed her cancer was stage 4 metastasis and had spread to her hips and liver. She had a mastectomy and then radiation and chemotherapy. In June of 1994 she had massive chemo with stem cell transplant at the University of Pennsylvania. In fact, she had her stem cell infusion on July 5. I well remember how we watched the July 4th fireworks from a hospital room overlooking the Delaware River. She seemed to do a bit better for a while after that.

In June of 1995 I was invited to a conference in Cambridge England. Ann went with me and we spent some time in London. We took a wheelchair with us because she could not walk for any long period of time. By the end of the trip she was not feeling well and when we got home we immediately called her oncologist. She entered the hospital the next day. The cancer had reinvigorated and had spread pretty widely. She was in St. Luke's until she died in August. There are a lot of things that she endured. I had to give her injections every day for almost a month before her stem cell procedure. I don't remember how many major and minor surgeries-mastectomy, catheter placement, catheter removal, etc. She spent over three months in the hospital during her treatment. She endured it all with grace and courage. She mostly worried about the kids and me. She was a remarkable person and I miss her very much."

Before her marriage Ann, who was 43, had been an excellent, and dedicated teacher of autistic children. Those who worked with Ann and the children were often filled with astonishment and praise for the way Ann so lovingly cared for "her kids." She treated each one as a special person and did her very best to comfort, teach and help them in every way.

Even after her marriage, she and her husband often invited the children to spend a weekend with them in their home. In this way Ann tried to help the children's parents so they could have a couple of day's relief from the constant care that autistic children always require.

So, if you would like to donate some of your money toward breast cancer research, here is an easy way to do it: order one or more of my useful, comfortable and very special PINK SLEEP MASKS. I guarantee and promise you that 25% of the money you send for this special sleep mask will be given directly to one or more of the Breast Cancer Research Foundations for you and we all thank you for your help.

Terry L. Weberhttp://www.originalsbyweber.com website

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Do What Your Body Needs - A Natural Colon Cleanse

2008-12-29T12:07:00.000-08:00

Do What Your Body Needs - A Natural Colon Cleanse was written by Rudy Silva from coloncancerawareness.info

Most people wonder where they should start when they are ready to start improving their health. There is so much information on getting healthy and every practitioner or health guru wants you to start with their program. So here's what do you need to do and where you'll find this information.

If you go back and read many of the books written during the 50' to 80's you will find that most of the natural health healers always recommended you start with the colon.

If you go to your health food store you will find numerous colon cleansing products and in health magazine you will finds many advertisements on colonics.

If you first concentration on improving your colon health, you will do your whole body a favor and you will start to feel and be healthier. Because your colon serves your whole body with nutrients and information, you can make a big impact on becoming healthier.

Every part of your body is reflected in the colon. This means that every spot on the colon corresponds to some part of the body. It is through this spot that nutrients and information is sent to that part of the body. Can you imagine if that spot that represents your brain is filled with toxic matter and filled with layer after layer of toxic material that has built up over the years.

When the brain spot on your colon is corrupted, then toxins move readily into your brain and in addition traumatic life incident can readily move into the brain and settle there forever. The toxins in the brain make you senile in old age and the traumatic feeling can activate a heart attack when your heart immune system weakens.

Can you then imagine all parts of your colon walls being covered with toxic matter or being constantly exposed to toxic matter that stays there for 3-5 days because you were constipated? You could expect toxins to be flooding all parts of your body and weaken those parts to the point of failure when you get older.

It is my opinion that if you do anything for your health that you concentrate colon cleansing. This can be done by always eating and living a lifestyle that gives you a natural colon cleanse. Here are three things that you can do as a natural colon cleansing.

Change the way that you eat and not what you eat by helping your body during its normal body cycles. The body detoxifies from 8 am to noon, so don't eat any heavy food during this period. Eat only fruits and vegetables and their juices. This helps to detoxify your colon and other areas of your body.
Eat more fiber since this helps to keep your colon clean and free of constipation and of other disease. Get your fiber from fruits and vegetables. For those of you that are over 60, since you may have diverticulosis, avoid these foods, seeds, nuts, black berries, cucumber, tomatoes, wheat, and rye. Avoid those foods with seeds since they my get lodged in the diverticula pockets and cause inflammation.
Use a colon cleanse once a year that helps to dissolve built up toxins along the colon walls. Once such product is Oxypowder.

Keeping your colon in good health is your key to your overall health. Plan to remove toxic matter from your colon. Eat a diet high in fiber to keep your colon strong and healthy. And, assist your body to detoxify by eating foods and liquids that digest quickly from 8 am to noon.

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