CANCERISME

Stop Smoking Aids

2008-05-18T05:00:00.001+08:00

Stop smoking aids continue to flood the market, giving hope to those who have been unsuccessfully trying to quit for years. While many of the products available will help you reduce your cigarette cravings for a period of time, the majority of them are not successful at helping you quit for good. In fact, most stop smoking aids only work 20 percent of the time!

On the other hand, Nicocure pills work 97 percent of the time. The reason behind this incredible success rate is that they take an entirely different approach to the situation. Most products give you small doses of nicotine throughout the day in hopes that your addiction will subside. Our pills were designed by people who realized that in order to quit, you have to remove nicotine from your system entirely. Plus, the active ingredients in Nicocure pills are all-natural, so you don't have to worry about trading one addiction for another.

People are often concerned about the withdrawal symptoms like weight gain, tension, and fatigue that go along with quitting "cold turkey." Our pills eliminate these painful and frustrating symptoms by reproducing the effect that nicotine has on your body. The result is a smooth, relaxed transition from smoker to non-smoker.

Nicocure pills are more effective and safer than any other product on the market. Our faith in this product is so strong, we are willing to offer you a money-back guarantee. If you try our pills for 20 days and you are unhappy with the results, you can send back the remainder of your pills to receive a full refund. To get started, you can order your supply of Nicocure today!

Stroke Can Cause Brain Damage in Three Minutes

2008-04-26T23:28:00.007+08:00

Strokes can cause brain damage within 3 minutes , scientist reported , casting doubt on the common public perception that all stroke can be medically treated within 3 hours.

The findings shows that prevention is the best strategy for one of the top killers of the developed world, said Dr Tim Murphy, a neuroscientist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

“There’s a lot of thinking, if I’ve had a stroke I’ve got to get to the hospital and I’ll be OK as long as I get there in 3 hours”, said Murphy.

Some people can be helped within that time, but “I’m saying there are structural that happen very early on, and so the best thing is to manage risk factors and alter lifestyle”, Murphy said.
About 80% of stroke are ischemic and are caused by a clot blocking blood flow to the brain, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada, which helped to fund the research.
Such stroke are most treated by clot-busting drugs (trombolytic therapy), if given in hospital within 3 hours.

“But the reality is, not everyone is a candidate for clot-busting drugs, they don’t always work”, said Murphy.

Murphy said, researchers induced stroke in laboratory mice by blocking blood flow to the brain of the animals. At the same time, they used a high tech imaging technique, two-photon excitation microscopy, to create a “movie” that revealed the impact.

The mice experienced a “massive electrical discharge, called ischemic depolarization, a wave of activity that spreads across the brain”, and then experienced swelling in the brain nerve cells, called neurons, said Murphy.
Normal connections between such cells are “a beautiful chain of wiring between one neuron and another that look like trees with elegant branches”, said Murphy.
“After a stroke, they’ll look like sausages (or) like beads on a string and there’s no neuronal activity.”

Murphy said research shows quickly replacing the blood flow to the lab mice can reverse most nerve-cell damage, but some six percents of the connections can never return to normal.

The three-minute window before brain damage from a stroke doesn’t give people enough time to even call for help, said Murphy.
“We can’t treat in three minutes.”

But the findings may help people undergoing surgery that can trigger ischemic stroke, he said because the three-minute window shows the urgent need for preventive measures.
Risk factors for stroke include smoking, being overweight, physical inactivity, alcoholism, diabetes, stress and cholesterol, said the foundation.-AFP

Busted! 5 Major Eating Mistakes

2008-04-16T00:29:00.003+08:00

By Holly McCord, RD, with Gloria McVeigh, Prevention
Ever get the guilty feeling that you're being watched as you toss the double fudge brownie mix into your grocery cart? Well, you are!

We checked with some of the top US nutrition experts, who admitted they secretly spy on the rest of us as we make real-world choices in restaurants and grocery stores. Here are their top five gripes.

1. We can't tell the good fats from the bad ones. "Most people still don't get that some fats are actually good for you," says Alice Lichtenstein, DSc, an American Heart Association spokesperson. "You want to avoid saturated and trans fats, but you need more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Good sources are fish, nuts, avocados, and soybean and canola oils."

Smarter: Fit in good fats. "If you keep track of total calories, you don't have to worry about how much fat you eat, just what kind," explains Dr. Lichtenstein. Grandpa Po's Slightly Spicy Nutra Nuts use only canola oil (160 cal, 10 g fat, 1 g sat. fat, 2 g fiber, 60 mg sodium); at healthy food supermarkets.

2. We supersize to save money. "People think that supersizing a restaurant meal is a money saver, but it's not a health bargain if it has way too many calories," says Karen Weber Cullen, DPH, RD, research nutritionist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Smarter: Judge with your palm, not your purse. A serving size is about what fits into the palm of your hand (larger for men than women, smaller for children). For most meals, pick one protein, one starch, one veggie, and one fruit based on the serving that will fit into your palm.

3. We think anything liquid has no calories. "What freaks me out is the amount of sugared soda and juice we drink," says Judith Stern, ScD, RD, professor of nutrition and internal medicine at the University of California, Davis. "I'd like to see all the sugared drinks sent out into space, where they could orbit the Earth forever." Sugared drinks balloon your calorie intake and squeeze out more nutritious foods.

Smarter: Try a cup of tea. Available in myriad varieties, the calorie-free brew promotes heart health, staves off several types of cancer, strengthens bones and teeth, and protects the skin.

4. We don't know how "hungry" really feels. "If you don't know when you're hungry, you don't know when you're full, so you won't know when to stop eating," says Elisabetta Politi, RD, nutrition manager of the Duke University Diet & Fitness Center in Durham, NC.

Smarter: Tune in with mindful eating. Here's how.1. Before you eat, relax, and rate your hunger from 1 (hungriest) to 7 (fullest).2. Eat slowly, pausing often to rate how your hunger changes.3. When finished, rate yourself one more time. Try to stay between 2 1/2 and 5 1/2: not too ravenous when you start and not completely full when you stop.

5. We have a microwave addiction. Many women come home from work and pop a frozen entrée into the microwave. "Eating too many heavily processed foods can leave you short on fiber and antioxidants such as vitamin C," explains Jo Ann Hattner, RD, clinical dietitian at Stanford University Medical Center.

Smarter: Complement a frozen entrée with a green salad, a 100 percent whole wheat roll, and fruit for dessert. Stock up on the freshest fruit for maximum flavor.

2008-03-18T21:56:00.000+08:00

RED WINE – Cheers to your health, but too much drink and nobody knows your name.

In the US of early 90’s, the TV series 60 minutes aired a report on a phenomenon known as French Paradox – the fact that the French have a lower rate of heart disease compared to Americans, despite the diet higher in fat.

The one thing that American diet lacks in comparison to the French diet is red wine. In the following this report, Americans increase their purchase of red wine by 39%.

Actually, drinking small amount of alcohol (not necessarily a red wine) can reduce your risk of heart disease. Cancer Research UK is one authority that concurs. However, this applies only to men above 40 and women who have been through menopause.

The maximum you should be drinking is 2 units per day for women and three units per day for men. A standard 175ml glass of wine (of 11 to 12% volume) contains two units. Premium pint of beer (5%) contains three units. Beyond that, the harm (heart disease, cancer)out does the good.

There is actually some science behind the supposed benefits of red wine. Red wine is rich in resveratrol. It is part of the plant’s defence system against disease.

Resveratrol has been shown to reduce tumour incidence in animals. Scientists are studying resveratrol to learn more about its cancer preventive activities in man. This research is in its infancy.

Even when resveratrol proven to be an anti cancer, the amount you get in each glass of red wine is so minuscule, you’ll probably need hundred glasses o wine daily to ap its anti cancer properties!

In years to come, it may be possible to take a tablet of resveratrol. It is more practicable. Too much alcohol put you at risk of cancer of the mouth such as , larynx(voice box), oesophagus(food pipe), liver, breasts and perhaps colon.

Smoking and drinking together increase your risks even more. Well, how does alcohol cause cancer? There a re several ideas supporting the question.

Alcohol is converted in the body into a chemical called acetaldehyde. This causes cancer by damaging out DNA and preventing it from being repaired. Alcohol can also increase the level of oestrogen in the body and this maybe how alcohol can cause a breast cancer. Alcohol can cause cirrhosis of the liver and this is in turn causes liver cancer.

Finally, reduces the amount of folate in our blood. Folate is a B vitamintht our cells use to create a new DNA correctly. Lack of folate can lead to mistakes in DNA and this may lead to cancer.

Hence, drink by all means and be merry. But drink wisely and be the aesthete, not the alcoholic.

Global Cardiometabolic Risk

2008-03-15T04:06:00.002+08:00

Globally, excess abdominal fat which is characterised by an increasing waist circumference is strictly prohibited. Adipose tissue OR fat cells can be regarded as an endocrine organ directly contributing to cardiovascular risk which can definitely effects vascular, metabolic, inflammatory and other functional aspect of cardiovascular system.

There are several risks that can be reduced as below;

High LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Hypertension
Elevated blood glucose
Smoking
Abdominal obesity
Mortality
Diabetes
Lipids
Blood pressure

Let’s took a glance of the risks factors again;

Excess intra-abdominal fat (per high waist circumference) – Men more than 35.4 inches ; women – more than 31.4 inches
Body Mass Index (BMI) – BMI = 27 to 30 is overweight, BMI > 30 is obese. For Asians,: BMI = 23 to 27 is overweight , BMI > 27 is obese.
Low good cholesterol (HDL) - In men, les than 40 mg/dl (1.02 mmol/l); in women, less than 50 mg/dl (1.28 mmol/l)
High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) - More than 100 mg/dl (>2.56 mmol/l)(prior or current heart disease/diabetes); (more than 130 mg/d(>3.3 mmol/l) (two or more risk factors); more than 160 mgdl(>4.10mmol/l) (zero to one risk factor)
High triglycerides (TG) – A least 150 mg/dl (1.68 mmol/l)
High blood sugar – Fasting glucose higher than 140/90 mm Hg (130/180 if diabetic)

In additional of the lists above, there are few risks that is considered as “non-modifiable” risk factors could hlp increase a person’s risk of developing a heart disease;

A family history of heart disease (before 55 ears of age in a first-degree male relative (for e.g: father) or before 65 years of age in a first-degree female relative (for e.g:mother)
Age (45 years of age or older for men and 55 years of age or older for women)

What's a Normal Blood Pressure?

2008-03-12T00:53:00.003+08:00

A wealth of information is available about blood pressure, and sometimes the most important points get lost or confused. Although we often hear announcements in the press about new or revised blood-pressure guidelines, the basic facts haven't really changed much over the past several decades.

Blood pressure is measured by two numbers. The systolic pressure (the "top" number) is the highest pressure inside your arteries, measured at the moment when your heart is contracting.
It's the active part of a heartbeat. In contrast, the diastolic pressure (the "bottom" number) is the lowest pressure in your arteries, measured while your heart is relaxing between beats.

Experts have long debated whether the systolic or diastolic pressure is more important for health. The current evidence suggests that the systolic is a little more important, but the simple answer is that both numbers matter.

Let's review some of the basic facts about blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or below. I'm often asked, "What is a normal blood pressure for my age?" The answer is much simpler than most people realize: Less than 120/80. While it's true that blood pressure tends to rise with age, that's no reason to feel complacent: Such a rise will always carry with it an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and other complications of high blood pressure (hypertension).

Blood pressure normally varies throughout the day, often by 40 points or more. Exercise and stress are especially likely to increase it, while relaxation and sleep will usually lower it. Standing up or talking, for example, can increase blood pressure by 10 or more points. Even simply worrying about blood pressure will increase it. If your blood pressure is only high when you're exercising or when you're at the doctor's office, that's okay. But if it's high even part of the time in routine situations, that is abnormal and deserves treatment.

High blood pressure is anything above 120/80. However, mild elevations beyond those numbers only slightly increase the risk of significant health problems. We generally don't prescribe medication to bring down blood pressure until the systolic reaches 140 or the diastolic reaches 90. The exception is for people with diabetes or impaired kidney function, in whom we use medication for anything above 130/80. That's because people with diabetes and kidney disease are already at higher risk for heart attack and stroke.

Treating high blood pressure takes more than just medication. If your blood pressure is ever above 120/80, you can improve your overall health by lowering it, even if you don't need medication. Losing weight, exercising regularly, and limiting your sodium (salt) and alcohol intakes are proven ways of reducing blood pressure. Such treatments don't cost any money and the only side effect is likely to be improved health!

Does Running Burn More Calories than Walking?

2008-02-25T01:35:00.002+08:00

Is it a myth that runners burn more calories than walkers? It just makes sense - all that sweating and huffing and puffing must mean more calories are being burnt, right? Actually, the difference in calories burned per mile or kilometer is very small, and there is no difference at higher walking speeds.

Measuring Calories Burned

Research on the metabolic equivalents (MET) of various activities ranks each activity by calories per kilogram per hour. Just sitting quietly burns 1 MET. If you weigh 150 pounds, that is 68 calories per hour.

A runner and a fast walker, both at a speed of 12 minutes per mile or 5 miles per hour, achieve the exact same 8 MET. Their calories per mile and calories per hour are identical.

Walking at various speeds burns between 2 and 8 MET. Running at various speeds burns 8 to 18 MET. That sounds like quite a difference, but you have to take into account the length of the workout. Do they run for a set number of miles, or do they run for a set period of time? It makes all of the difference.

Calories per Mile

Between the speeds of 5 and 9 miles per hour, runners expend almost the same calories per mile. The METs are higher for faster speeds just to reflect that they will go more miles in that same hour. This assumes they will run for an entire hour, rather than doing a set number of miles.

Walkers also see very little difference in calories per mile at walking speeds between 2.5 and 4 miles per hour. While they burn the same calories per mile as runners if they can go 5 mph, they burn fewer calories per mile at slower speeds. They can easily make up that difference in a workout by going further in distance.

Read full article at http://walking.about.com/od/calorie1/a/calorieswalkrun.htm

Whole grains may curb belly fat, inflammation

2008-02-25T01:30:00.000+08:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Cutting calories helps people lose weight, but doing so by filling up on whole grains may be particularly heart-healthy, new research suggests.

In a study of obese adults at risk of heart disease, researchers found that those who trimmed calories and increased their whole-grain intake shed more belly fat and lowered their blood levels of C- reactive protein or CRP.

CRP is a marker of chronic, low-level inflammation in the blood vessels, and both abdominal fat and CRP, in excess, are linked to heart attack and stroke.

In contrast, dieters in the study who mainly ate refined grains, like white bread, were able to lose weight, but they trimmed less fat from the middle and showed no change in CRP.

The findings offer yet more incentive for Americans to opt for whole grains over highly processed versions, according to the researchers.

"This is the first clinical study to prove that a diet rich in whole grains can lead to weight loss and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases," Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, the senior researcher on the study, said in a statement.

She and her colleagues at Pennsylvania State University report the findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In general, experts recommend eating whole grains -- such as oatmeal, brown rice and barley -- rather than refined grains, like white bread and other products made from white flour. Whole-grain foods retain more of the nutrients and fiber components of the grain.

This fact might explain why dieters in the current study showed added benefits when they ate whole grains, according to the researchers. For example, fiber-rich foods may have kept participants' blood sugar levels more stable throughout the day, and this, in turn, may have lowered their CRP levels.

Alternatively, CRP might have dropped because of the antioxidant nutrients that are present in whole grains but depleted in refined ones.

The study included 50 obese men and women who had metabolic syndrome, a collection of several risk factors for diabetes, heart disease and stroke -- such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar.

All of the study participants cut calories for 12 weeks, but half were instructed to strive for whole grains, while the rest were told to choose refined grains. The whole-grain group was told to look for products with "whole grain" listed as the first ingredient on the label.

In the end, the average weight loss was about 8 to 11 pounds in both groups. However, the average CRP level dropped by 38 percent in the whole-grain group, while remaining unchanged in the refined-grain group. In addition, while both groups showed a similar change in waistline size, the whole-grain dieters showed a greater reduction in the percentage of fat around the middle.

The researchers recommend that consumers look at labels and be careful to choose products that are good sources of whole grain.

"There are a lot of foods around that claim they contain whole grain but are not really major sources of whole grain," Kris-Etherton said. She suggested looking for foods like oatmeal, breakfast cereals made from whole grains, whole-wheat pastas, granola and popcorn.

As a general rule, she said, consumers should buy grain products that are at least 51 percent whole grain. Products that put health claims about whole grains on their labels are required to contain at least that much whole grain.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2008.

The Cancer Cure That Worked: 50 Years of Suppression

2007-11-07T12:19:00.000+08:00

Essential reading for all people interested in health

This book is one of the most thought provoking books you will ever read. Royal Raymond Rife was one of the greatest minds in modern science.

He developed methods to search for and eventually to destroy pathogens including cancer. Rife developed the worlds most powerfoul live cell microscope that is unequaled to this day. Why are we not using this technology?

This book will envoke rage and sadness at the medical/pharmaceutical powerhouses of the day. Rife's work is being carried on today underground without government support without his records or any of his own equipment. It is unconscionable that the technology this man developed is not being utilized in every medical research lab/hospital in this country or the world for that matter.

If this could happen to R.R. Rife with the magnitude of his discovery, it is without question occuring today as you are reading this review. The people who conspired to destroy Rife may be gone but the financial institutions that gave them the power are still alive and well and more powerful then ever. This is one of the few books which can cause a paradigm shift in a persons perspective on the health/medical establishment.

Celebrities supporting Cancer Research UK

2007-11-02T00:48:00.000+08:00

Celebrity support is an important element in helping Cancer Research UK to raise vital funds and awareness for our world-class research work towards beating cancer. Here are some recent highlights from the Celebrity Team:

Stars add sparkle to environmentally-friendly Christmas cards

Popstars Westlife, McFly and Lemar, footballer David James, actress Arabella Weir and presenter Linda Barker have all personally designed unique Christmas cards that will be sold exclusively in Cancer Research UK shops this year.

McFly’s card, drawn by Tom Fletcher, features a rock star snowman, complete with punk hairstyle and a guitar, and Arabella Weir’s card, drawn with her eight-year-old son Archie, depicts a seasonable snowball fight.

All profits from the environmentally friendly cards will go towards funding Cancer Research UK's life-saving work and will be sold in 600 Cancer Research UK shops throughout the country. The cards will be sold in packs of 12 and will cost £3.49.

New Types Of Treatment For Prostate Cancer

2007-10-29T11:46:00.001+08:00

New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. These include the following:

Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy prostate cancer cells. This type of treatment is also called cryotherapy.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Biologic therapy
Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body’s natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy.

High-intensity focused ultrasound
High-intensity focused ultrasound is a treatment that uses ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) to destroy cancer cells. To treat prostate cancer, an endorectal probe is used to make the sound waves.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

4 Type Of Prostate Cancer Standard Treatment

2007-10-29T11:28:00.001+08:00

1. Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is closely monitoring a patient’s condition without giving any treatment until symptoms appear or change. This is usually used in older men with other medical problems and early- stage disease.

2. Surgery
Patients in good health are usually offered surgery as treatment for prostate cancer. The following types of surgery are used:

Pelvic lymphadenectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the lymph nodes in the pelvis. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If the lymph nodes contain cancer, the doctor will not remove the prostate and may recommend other treatment.
Radical prostatectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the prostate, surrounding tissue, and seminal vesicles.
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): A surgical procedure to remove tissue from the prostate using a resectoscope (a thin, lighted tube with a cutting tool) inserted through the urethra. This procedure is sometimes done to relieve symptoms caused by a tumor before other cancer treatment is given. Transurethral resection of the prostate may also be done in men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy because of age or illness.

3. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

4. Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. In prostate cancer, male sex hormones can cause prostate cancer to grow. Drugs, surgery, or other hormones are used to reduce the production of male hormones or block them from working.

Hormone therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer may include the following:

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists can prevent the testicles from producing testosterone. Examples are leuprolide, goserelin, and buserelin.
Antiandrogens can block the action of androgens (hormones that promote male sex characteristics). Two examples are flutamide and nilutamide.
Drugs that can prevent the adrenal glands from making androgens include ketoconazole and aminoglutethimide.
Orchiectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both testicles, the main source of male hormones, to decrease hormone production.
Estrogens (hormones that promote female sex characteristics) can prevent the testicles from producing testosterone. However, estrogens are seldom used today in the treatment of prostate cancer because of the risk of serious side effects.

Possible signs of prostate cancer

2007-10-22T02:19:00.001+08:00

Possible signs of prostate cancer include a weak flow of urine or frequent urination.

These and other symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
Frequent urination (especially at night).
Trouble urinating.
Pain or burning during urination.
Blood in the urine or semen.
A pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.
Painful ejaculation.

Prostate Cancer Stage

2007-10-19T23:20:00.001+08:00

Stage I
In stage I, cancer is found in the prostate only. It cannot be felt during a digital rectal exam and is not visible by imaging. It is usually found accidentally during surgery for other reasons, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Gleason score is low. Stage I prostate cancer may also be called stage A1 prostate cancer.

Stage II
In stage II, cancer is more advanced than in stage I, but has not spread outside the prostate. The Gleason score can range from 2-10. Stage II prostate cancer may also be called stage A2, stage B1, or stage B2 prostate cancer.

Stage III
In stage III, cancer has spread beyond the outer layer of the prostate to nearby tissues. Cancer may be found in the seminal vesicles. The Gleason score can range from 2-10. Stage III prostate cancer may also be called stage C prostate cancer.

Stage IV
In stage IV, cancer has metastasized (spread) to lymph nodes near or far from the prostate or to other parts of the body, such as the bladder, rectum, bones, liver, or lungs. Metastatic prostate cancer often spreads to the bones. The Gleason score can range from 2-10. Stage IV prostate cancer may also be called stage D1 or stage D2 prostate cancer.

About Prostate Cancer

2007-10-18T11:50:00.001+08:00

Prostate cancer occurs when the cells of the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably. When caught and treated early, prostate cancer has a cure rate of over 90%.

Yet being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be a life-altering experience. It requires making some very difficult decisions about treatments that can affect not only the life of the man diagnosed, but also the lives of his family members in significant ways for many years to come.

More than 218,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and each and every one of them will need to make very personal and individualized decisions about treatment options and diet and lifestyle changes. Most importantly, each and every one of them will have to find a strong, knowledgeable team of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to help guide him through the process at each step of the way.

How to Fight Cancer & Win

2007-10-06T16:37:00.000+08:00

Book Description

Maximize your chance of recovery from cancer - and learn how to prevent it - with this down-to-earth, practical guide that has saved and improved lives since its first publishing in 1992. This accessible book presents scientific guidelines and documented facts for the successful treatment and prevention of cancer and other health problems, and is a must-read for everyone, from those looking for a cure for cancer to those looking for a roadmap to surefire prevention.

About the Author

William L. Fischer has been involved in medicine, health care, and natural healing for over 30 years. After working with several of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in his native Germany, he moved to the United States and began publishing books on natural healing. For him to obtain the most comprehensive information available, his research has taken him around the world to such diverse places as Iran, The Far East, Europe, and Egypt to study natural healing techniques and practices of other cultures. He is the author of over a dozen books including the following: How to Fight Prostate Cancer & Win; Breakthroughs in Arthritis; Secrets to a Healthy Heart and Low Cholesterol; and Eye Secrets to Better Sight

Crazy-Sexy-Cancer Tips

2007-10-06T16:21:00.000+08:00

Book Description
Actress and photographer Kris Carr thought she had a hangover, but a Jivamukti yoga class didn’t provide its usual kick-ass cure. A visit to her doctor confirmed her “liver looked like Swiss cheese,” covered with cancerous tumors. She entered trench warfare (wearing cowboy boots into the MRI machine, no less), vowing, “Cancer needed a makeover and I was just the gal to do it!” She began writing and filming her journey, documenting her interactions with friends, doctors, alternative “quacks,” blind dates, and other women with cancer—sadly a growing group. These include hip, young women such as illustrator-author Marisa Acocella Marchetto (Cancer Vixen), Glamour writer-editor Erin Zammett (My So-Called Normal Life), MTV personality Diem Brown (Real World/Road Rules Challenge), model Sharon Blynn (founder, Bald Is Beautiful), and music manager Jackie Farry, among others.

The Learning Channel is broadcasting the premiere of Carr’s unforgettable documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer on August 29, 2007 @ 9:00-11:00pm (ET/PT).

CRAZY SEXY CANCER TIPS gathers the lessons learned and advice offered from Carr’s own journey, as well as the experiences of her cancer posse. Full-color photos accompany personal stories and candid revelations in this scrapbook of advice, warnings, and resources for the cancer patient. Chapters cover your changing social life, dating, sex, and appearance; essential health tips on how to boost your immune system; recipes; medical and holistic resources; and information on young survivor support groups. The resulting book is a warm, yet informative tool for any woman newly diagnosed with the disease and for those who love them.

Customer review

What's great about this beautifully produced book is that it's not just for so-called female cancers, but for any woman with any kind of cancer - even the kind that usually hits 60-something men. Once you've read the clinical books on cancer, pick this one up. It'll give you all sorts of fantastic tips on everything from handling losing your hair to "cancercations." Best of all, you'll feel less alone.

Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do

2007-10-06T15:58:00.000+08:00

Author : Greg Anderson & O. Carl Simonton

Book Description
This definitive guide, revised and updated with over 25% new material, empowers cancer patients and their loved ones to move beyond their disease. Greg Anderson, a cancer survivor, has designed this book for the recently diagnosed, those with recurring symptoms, and those who are well but have a lingering fear that the disease may strike again.

Informative and inspiring, Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do goes hand-in-hand with the patient's medical treatment and is an invaluable roadmap to recovery. Filled with practical, healing "action steps" that have been used by thousands of cancer survivors, the revised edition also contains important new information--including recently approved medical treatment options, updated cancer research, and Internet resources--geared toward making sense of the fast-changing world of cancer treatment and recovery.

* Preface by Kenneth Cooper, M.D., M.P.H.
* Foreword by O. Carl Simonton, M.D.

"Expert instruction and loving encouragement--the wisdom of someone who has made the journey from near death to a healed life."--Bernie Siegel, M.D.

Customer Review
My mother was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. I bought this book for her thinking there would be some practical things within in which she might find helpful. It is all that AND MORE! Mom says the book has given her a completely new attitude towards her cancer. She now feels SHE is in control and can deal with whatever may come. I highly recommend this book for ANY cancer patient, but especially those newly diagnosed with the disease.

4 Foods to Fight Breast Cancer

2007-10-05T04:20:00.001+08:00

What to Eat

Fish:
Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat that's believed to have anticancer properties. Aim for two to three servings a week.

Cruciferous vegetables:
Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are powerful cancer fighters and appear to contain chemicals that turn on your body's natural detox enzymes. Eat them raw or slightly steamed (cooking breaks down the protective chemicals). Shoot for five servings a week.

Berries:
The more colorful, the better! These fruits are rich in antioxidants, which protect cells from damage, and strawberries and raspberries contain ellagaic acid, which has been shown to protect against breast cancer in lab studies. Sneak these in wherever you can...toss some in your smoothie or even have some with dessert.

Whole grains:
Lowfat sources of fiber, such as quinoa, unbuttered popcorn and cereals like All-Bran and Fiber One, may regulate your levels of estrogen and insulin, two hormones that both have been linked to breast cancer. Aim for 25 grams per day.

What to Watch

Red meat:
You don't have to forgo the occasional burger (thank goodness!), but eating more than 1.5 servings of red meat per day can nearly double the chances of developing breast cancer. Limit your intake to three servings of lean cuts (such as filet mignon, flank steak or sirloin) a week or fewer.

Alcohol:
As few as two drinks a day may increase breast cancer risk by 20 percent, possibly by raising estrogen levels. There's nothing wrong with having some wine with dinner, but it's safest to average no more than one drink a day. (Savor it! I mix soda water in my white wine to make one glass last through dinner.)

Read more....
http://health.yahoo.com/breast-cancer-awareness-2007/healthyapproach/499/4-foods-to-fight-breast-cancer

The Prevention of Lung Cancer

2007-06-20T03:40:00.001+08:00

Encouraging behavior modification is a significant first step to ultimately reducing the high number of lung cancer deaths each year. Yet, that is only part of the solution. On the latest research front, scientists are studying methods to actually prevent the development of lung cancer through natural and synthetic materials. In addition, researchers believe that legislation designed to dissuade people from starting to smoke, coupled with efforts to help people quit, will have a positive impact on the number of new lung cancer cases in the future.

Studies have confirmed that 85 to 95 percent of lung cancers are smoking related. Therefore, the primary way for people to reduce their risk of developing the disease is to quit. To non-smokers, this may seem easy; however, as many smokers who have tried to quit will attest, this is extremely difficult. The addiction to nicotine has been likened to that of heroin, perhaps even more powerful. This may account for why so many smokers fail numerous attempts to quit, as well as the strong rationale to increase assistance for those people who desire to quit smoking permanently.

While the risk for former smokers remains elevated – as compared to a non-smoker – the risk continues to fall with the number of years of smoking cessation. After 10 years of abstinence, a person who has quit smoking reduces their risk anywhere from 30 to 50 percent.
“By learning how to prevent and also to more efficiently treat lung cancer, we can extend the lives of those diagnosed today, while preventing the need to treat it in the future.”
- Paul Bunn, Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Past-President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
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What is Chemoprevention? For individuals who demonstrate the greatest risk, researchers are currently conducting several new trials to test the use of natural and synthetic substances to prevent development of the disease. This new research has been coined, chemoprevention. These methods, including the use of chemotherapy, vitamins, diet, and hormone therapy, are being tested to not only reduce the risk of cancer, but also to reduce the chance that the cancer will recur (or come back). Some of these are being tested as single agents, while others are being tested in combination.

Because of the long lasting effect that tobacco’s cancer causing carcinogens have on the bronchial epithelium (lining of the lungs), each trial participant’s lung cancer risk – which correlates to their smoking history – is assessed. However, since not all smokers develop lung cancer, and not all patients diagnosed with the disease smoked, the risk assessment is not sufficient. Therefore, additional research to identify reliable proteins or gene biomarkers will be helpful in determining a person’s actual risk.

Today, we can detect changes in the cells of the base lining of the lungs from normal to pre-cancerous (dysplasia). There are already many treatments under investigation that may be used to successfully treat these dysplastic cells. In addition, new studies are helping investigators determine at what point chemoprevention becomes an appropriate option for pre-treating lung cancer.

When Smokers Quit – What Are the Benefits Over Time?

2007-06-07T20:07:00.000+08:00

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.

12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.

1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.

10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's.
The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.

15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

Lung Cancer Causes ---> smoking!!!

2007-06-05T20:52:00.001+08:00

Cigarette smoking is the most significant cause of lung cancer. Research as far back as the 1950s clearly established this relationship.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer.
A person who smokes more than 1 pack of cigarettes per day has a risk of developing lung cancer 20-25 times greater than someone who has never smoked.
Once a person quits smoking, his or her risk for lung cancer gradually decreases. About 15 years after quitting, the risk for lung cancer decreases to the level of someone who never smoked.
Cigar and pipe smoking increases the risk of lung cancer but not as much as smoking cigarettes does

About 85% of lung cancers occur in a smoker or former smoker. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the following factors:

The number of cigarettes smoked
The age at which a person started smoking
How long a person has smoked (or had smoked before quitting)

Why Quit Smoking?

2007-05-30T18:19:00.000+08:00

Your Health

Health concerns usually top the list of reasons people give for quitting smoking. About half of all smokers who continue to smoke will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. Nearly everyone knows that smoking can cause lung cancer, but few people realize it is also a risk factor for many other kinds of cancer as well, including cancer of the mouth, voice box (larynx), throat (pharynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, stomach, and some leukemias. For the first time, the Surgeon General includes pneumonia in the list of diseases caused by smoking.

Smoking increases the risk of lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These progressive lung diseases – grouped under the term COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) – are usually diagnosed in current or former smokers in their 60s and 70s. COPD causes chronic illness and disability and is eventually fatal.

Smokers are twice as likely to die from heart attacks as are nonsmokers. And smoking is a major risk factor for peripheral vascular disease, a narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood to the leg and arm muscles, as well as cerebrovascular disease that can cause strokes.
Smoking also causes premature wrinkling of the skin, bad breath, bad smelling clothes and hair, and yellow fingernails and hair, yellow fingernails and an increased risk of macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness in the elderly.

For women, there are unique risks. Women over 35 who smoke and use birth control pills are in a high-risk group for heart attack, stroke, and blood clots of the legs. Women who smoke are more likely to have a miscarriage or a lower birth-weight baby. Low birth-weight babies are more likely to die or to be impaired.

Lung Cancer

2007-05-29T14:02:00.001+08:00

More than 87% of lung cancers are smoking related. However, not all smokers develop lung cancer. Quitting smoking reduces an individual's risk significantly, although former smokers remain at greater risk for lung cancer than people who never smoked. Exposure to other carcinogens such as asbestos and radon gas also increases an individual's risk, especially when combined with cigarette or cigar smoking.

More Americans die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined.
Approximately 172,570 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2005, accounting for 13% of all new cancer cases.
An estimated 163,510 Americans will die in 2005 from lung cancer, accounting for 28% of all cancer deaths.
Annually, lung cancer kills more men than prostate cancer and more women than breast cancer.
While overall cancer incidence rates are declining, lung cancer incidence rates among women continue to rise.
Between 1960 and 1990, deaths from lung cancer among women increased by more than 400%.
An estimated 79,560 women in the U.S. will die this year from lung cancer.
An estimated 93,010 men in the U.S. will die this year from lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer among African American men and women, and kills more African Americans than any other cancer.

How can a lupus patient help prevent disease activity?

2007-05-26T05:11:00.001+08:00

SLE is undoubtedly a potentially serious illness with involvement of numerous organ systems. However, it is important to recognize that most patients with SLE lead full, active, healthy lives. Periodic increases in disease activity (flares) can usually be managed by varying medications. Since ultraviolet light can precipitate and worsen flares, patients with systemic lupus should avoid sun exposure. Sunscreens and clothing covering the extremities can be helpful. Abruptly stopping medications, especially corticosteroids, can also cause flares and should be avoided. Patients with SLE are at increased risk of infections, especially if they are taking corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications. Therefore, any unexpected fever should be reported and evaluated.

The key to successful management of SLE is regular contact and communication with the doctor, allowing monitoring of symptoms, disease activities, and treatment side effects.

What are the symptoms of lupus?

2007-05-26T04:53:00.001+08:00

In discoid lupus, only the skin is involved. The skin rash in discoid lupus often is found on the face and scalp. It usually is red and may have raised borders. Discoid lupus rashes are usually painless and do not itch, but scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Over time, 5 to 10% of patients with discoid lupus may develop SLE.

Patients with SLE can develop different combinations of symptoms and organ involvement. Common complaints and symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, arthritis, ulcers of the mouth and nose, facial rash ("butterfly rash"), unusual sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity), inflammation of the lining that surrounds the lung (pleuritis) and the heart (pericarditis), and poor circulation to the fingers and toes with cold exposure

More serious organ involvement with inflammation occurs in the brain, liver, and kidney. White blood cells and blood clotting factors also can be decreased in SLE, thereby increasing the risk of infection and bleeding.

Over half of the patients with SLE develop a characteristic red, flat facial rash over the bridge of their nose. Because of its shape, it is frequently referred to as the "butterfly rash" of SLE. The rash is painless and does not itch. The facial rash, along with inflammation in other organs, can be precipitated or worsened by exposure to sunlight, a condition called photosensitivity. This photosensitivity can be accompanied by worsening of inflammation throughout the body, called a "flare" of disease.

Most patients with SLE will develop arthritis during the course of their illness. Arthritis in SLE commonly involves swelling, pain, stiffness, and even deformity of the small joints of the hands, wrists, and feet. Sometimes, the arthritis of SLE can mimic that of rheumatoid arthritis (another autoimmune disease).

Inflammation of muscles (myositis) can cause muscle pain and weakness.

Inflammation of blood vessels, (vasculitis) that supply oxygen to tissues, can cause isolated injury to a nerve, the skin, or an internal organ. The blood vessels are composed of arteries that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins which return oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs. Vasculitis is characterized by inflammation with damage to the walls of various blood vessels. The damage blocks the circulation of blood through the vessels and can cause injury to the tissues that the vessels supply.

Inflammation of the lining of the lungs (pleuritis) and of the heart (pericarditis) can cause sharp chest pain. The chest pain is aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and certain changes in body position. The heart muscle itself rarely can become inflamed (carditis). It has also been shown that young women with SLE have a significantly increased risk of heart attacks from coronary artery disease.

Kidney inflammation in SLE can cause leakage of protein into the urine, fluid retention, high blood pressure, and even kidney failure. With kidney failure, machines are needed to cleanse the blood of accumulated poisons in a process called dialysis.

Involvement of the brain can cause personality changes, thought disorders (psychosis), seizures, and even coma. Damage to nerves can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness of the involved body parts or extremities. Brain involvement is called cerebritis.

Many patients with SLE experience hair loss (alopecia). Often, this occurs simultaneously with an increase in the activity of their disease.

Some patients with SLE have Raynaud's phenomenon. In these patients, the blood supply to the fingers and toes becomes interrupted upon exposeure to cold, causing blanching, bluish discoloration, and pain in the exposed fingers and toes.

What causes lupus?

2007-05-26T04:44:00.001+08:00

The precise reason for the abnormal autoimmunity that causes lupus is not known. Inherited genes, viruses, ultraviolet light, and drugs may all play some role. Genetic factors increase the tendency of developing autoimmune diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis , and immune thyroid disorders are more common among relatives of patients with lupus than the general population. Some scientists believe that the immune system in lupus is more easily stimulated by external factors like viruses or ultraviolet light. Sometimes, symptoms of lupus can be precipitated or aggravated by only a brief period of sun exposure.

Dozens of medications have been reported to trigger SLE; however, more than 90% of this "drug-induced lupus" occurs as a side effect of one of the following six drugs: hydralazine (used for high blood pressure), quinidine and procainamide (used for abnormal heart rhythm), phenytoin (used forepilepsy), isoniazide (used fortuberculosis), d- penicillamine (used for rheumatoid arthritis). These drugs are known to stimulate the immune system and cause SLE. Fortunately, drug-induced SLE is infrequent (accounting for less than 5% of SLE among all patients with SLE) and usually resolves when the medications are discontinued.

It also is known that some women with SLE can experience worsening of their symptoms prior to their menstrual periods. This phenomenon, together with the female predominance of SLE, suggest that female hormones play an important role in the expression of SLE. This hormonal relationship is an active area of ongoing study by scientists.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

2007-05-26T04:23:00.001+08:00

What is lupus?

Lupus is a condition of chronic inflammation caused by an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex system within the body that is designed to fight infectious agents, for example, bacteria, and other foreign invaders. One of the mechanisms that the immune system uses to fight infections is the production of antibodies.

Patients with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood that target tissues within their own body rather than foreign infectious agents. Because the antibodies and accompanying cells of inflammation can involve tissues anywhere in the body, lupus has the potential to affect a variety of areas of the body. Sometimes lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus. When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Both discoid and systemic lupus are more common in women than men (about eight times more common). The disease can affect all ages but most commonly begins from age 20 to 45 years. It is more frequent in African-Americans and people of Chinese and Japanese descent.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

2007-05-25T00:40:00.001+08:00

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

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

What is Mesothelioma?

2007-05-24T01:53:00.001+08:00

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that begins in the tissue that line different organs and spaces inside the body. This tissue, called mesothelium (mez-uh-thee-le-um), protects organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move during breathing.

Mesothelium surrounds the lungs, the stomach, the heart, and other organs. Tumors can start in any of these places. These tumors can be benign or they can be cancerous. The information that follows covers only those that are cancerous.

There are three main types of mesotheliomas. The most common (50%-70%) is the epithelioid type. This type has the best outlook. The other two types are less common. The treatment choices for all three are the same.

About three out of four mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. These are called pleural mesotheliomas. Another 10%-20% begin in the abdomen (peritoneal mesotheliomas). Those starting around the heart are very rare. This cancer can also start in the tissue around the testicles, but this is also very rare.

There are also benign (not cancer) tumors that can start in the mesothelium, but the information here applies only to malignant (cancerous) mesotheliomas.

What Is Cancer?

2007-05-24T01:47:00.000+08:00

Cancer occurs when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Normal cells divide and grow in an orderly fashion, but cancer cells do not. They continue to grow and crowd out normal cells. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all have in common this out-of-control growth of cells.

Different kinds of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That’s why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their kind of cancer.

Sometimes cancer cells break away from a tumor and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymph system. They can settle in new places and form new tumors. When this happens, it is called metastasis (meh-tas-tuh-sis). Cancer that has spread in this way is called metastatic cancer.

Even when cancer has spread to a new place in the body, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it is still called prostate cancer. If breast cancer spreads to the lungs, it is still breast cancer. When cancer comes back in a person who appeared to be free of the disease after treatment, it is called a recurrence.