Cancer Research Blog

Ruth Brown asked:


Cancer research has uncovered many links between what people eat and their risk of then getting certain cancers. As a result, you can find literature that’s full of facts about how to avoid cancer and how to go forth for a natural cancer cure. In my research, most of this literature has a great deal of information about the natural holistic approach on ways to prevent and heal cancer.

Many researchers have provided information about studies done by the National Cancer Institute. In one study using 35,000 male subjects, the Institute looked at the ability of selenium to prevent cancer. The investigators found that a low intake of selenium can cause a great increase in a male’s risk for getting prostate cancer.

Another breakthrough study was performed at the Northern California Cancer Center in Fremont, California. The data compiled by those California researchers has indicated that exposure to the sun can help to prevent prostate cancer as well, which is something considerably new in the cancer research field. Further studies have shown that a generous amount of Vitamin D, such as what one gets from sunlight, will cut a man’s chances in half for getting prostate cancer.
As physicians and researchers begin to make greater use of the new drugs for treating cancer, it becomes obvious that medicine needs to pay closer attention to holistic cancer cures in addition to these traditional treatment methods. Holistic cures take into consideration all of the parts of the body, not just the specific body part that has the cancer. But the mind and spirit is as well.

The case of one woman in California illustrates the need for a holistic approach to cure cancer. The woman has been receiving chemotherapy for a lung cancer. She has learned that the drug that is helping to fight her cancer has also created changes in her blood. Her blood is getting thicker.

As a result, that California patient must avoid eating foods with Vitamin K, a vitamin that helps to thicken blood. The woman continues to sacrifice by not eating certain foods that she loves such dark green vegetables. If one can understand that this particular woman is affected by what she eats, researchers and physicians should be aware that what humans eat may have more of a relevant link to cancer than they first thought was the case.

Research has also found that smokers have a greater chance for getting cancer, especially lung cancer. But there are some things you can do starting now by changing your habits toward a healthier you.

Start With These Tips:

1. Eat balance meals 2. Cut out the sweets 3. Watch your cola intake 4. Take supplements 5. Exercise regularly 6. Stop Smoking

Trying to prevent cancer is always the best step in the right direction



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Gregory Drambour asked:


If you decide to do an alternative program either concurrently with your conventional program or solely by itself, I would take a few steps before discussing it with your oncologist.

In the last five years oncologists are becoming more open to this multi-dimensional approach. Both my chemo and radiation oncologists were very open and knew I was doing an alternative program concurrently with the treatment. And these programs were absolutely valuable. It’s the general feeling by my team of doctors that it really saved me from any bone loss in the jaw and improved my salvia flow.

The alternative program can both protect you and enhance the conventional treatment. I would not immediately discuss this with your oncologist without getting a sense of his feelings about this. Hint around it. You will get a sense of their openness. Remember, oncologists are experts in their area; they are not fluent or knowledgeable about alternative supplements. It’s difficult for them to keep update with new chemo agents. But make sure your alternative doctor or has extensive experience working with conventional protocols.

A good sign is if they work closely with oncologists. This was the case with my herbalist, Donnie Yance. In fact, Donnie lectures to conventional docs. There are a number of cancer centers around the world that incorporate a multi-dimensional approach.
If you solely do an alternative program your oncologist will more than likely attempt to talk you out of it. They will try and get details about what you are doing and who you are doing it with. My standard response: “I’m exploring another option right now.” And their reply: “What option?” Your reply: “I prefer not going into it”. They will keep pushing you but just keep smiling and saying, “I prefer not going into it.” They will give up at some point.

I can vividly remember going to see a new oncologist and his nurse asking the standard questions: “When were you diagnosed? November 97? That was a year and half ago, what have you been doing since then?” “An alternative program.” “What kind of alternative program?” I reply with my standard answer said firmly, “I prefer not to go into that.” Remember no matter what they say, don’t go into it! For example: They need it for their records, they want to see if it will interfere with their regimens.

If you have found a world-class alternative doctor, they will know if you are doing anything that will interfere with conventional therapy. You don’t want to open yourself to a long lecture on why you are making a mistake, so on and so on. What you can say to them, is this: “What supplements are contra-indicated with this chemo or radiation?”

What you ideally want to do is find an oncologist who can monitor you. To put together a team who are all on the same page. How do you make this happen? First, believe that doc is out there. I assure you they are. I found them but it took some time and determination. And if one does not appear right away, enroll your present oncologist into supporting you. This can be a great lesson in of itself.

It starts with not judging them and knowing they are doing the best they can and their perspective comes out of a long educational process that had no opening for other ways of healing. If you have no judgment of them, it will help them have no judgment of you. Remember the rule: what you feel inside will be reflected back to you.

Be patient with this process and keep centered. If you can bring a friend along on your doctor visits this can be very supportive to not getting reactive or giving anyone an opening to try and talk you out of your decisions. And this will happen,so be prepared.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Kip Goldhammer asked:


If one is to believe Esther John, an epidemiologist of Northern California Cancer Center, a daily dose of sunlight can decrease the chances of breast cancer by an amazing 40%. A short walk in the sun can also relieve stress and increase blood circulation in addition to reducing the risk of breast cancer. It is a well known and researched fact that the instance of breast cancer is more in cloudy and colder regions. An exposure to the full spectrum light is inversely correlated to colon, rectal and breast cancers.

Exposure to sun stimulates production of certain hormones underneath the human skin. The Ultraviolet B rays react with a certain variety of cholesterol in the skin triggering organs like liver and kidneys to produce vitamin D3, which in fact is not a vitamin but a king of steroid that boosts the human immune system. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and also motivates the digestive tract to absorb more calcium and hinders angiogenesis that aids growth of cancerous cells. Vitamin D3 also stops formation of blood vessels that aid cancer thus effectively curbing the malignancy of any tumors.
Vitamin D3 taken in high does can result in toxic complications. Medications administered for breast cancer thus contain Vitamin D3 in derivative form. These derivatives have been found to be effective in stopping the spread of cancer cells in breast cancer patients and reducing the size of mammary tumors.

It is a cause of grave concern that most sunscreens lotions used today block the Ultraviolet B rays thus inhibiting the formation of Vitamin D3. What the human race needs to realize today is that the harm done by sun is far less compared to the goodness that comes from its radiation. Exposure to sun benefits people having prostrate, ovarian, breast or colon cancer, osteoporosis, heart ailments and multiple sclerosis. If one can imagine statistically, people dying from the any of the above diseases are far more then people effected by skin cancer. Moreover, exposure to sun is more beneficial than detrimental as per the past 5 decades of medical research.

In spite of awareness, it has been found that almost 59% of patients admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital have been found to be lacking in Vitamin D. In light of this it is only logical to infer that Americans are more prone to caner and other ailments compared to most other people.

Vitamin D is also available in adequate measures in certain foods like tuna, salmon almost all other varieties of fish. Having Vitamin D fortified diet may also help, but look for more information than just claims on the product labels.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Sandra Clair asked:


Many women suffering from breast cancer are interested in learning more about natural treatment options. This type of treatment is often referred to in the medical field and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment, and there are actually a number of different types of treatment options that fall under this category.

Understanding CAM

CAM is any type of medical practice, system, or product that is not considered to be the standard form of care. There are three areas of natural breast cancer treatment that fall under this category: Complementary Medicine, Alternative Medicine, and Integrative Medicine.

Complementary medicines are those that are used along with standard medical treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. A common complementary treatment is acupuncture, which is used to help with the side effects associated with cancer treatment. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is a natural treatment approach that is used instead of standard medical treatments. Special diets to treat cancer, for example, may be used rather than chemotherapy. Integrative medicine takes care of your mind, body, and spirit by combining standard medicine techniques with CAM techniques.

Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Techniques Involving the Mind and Body

There are a number of treatment techniques you can utilize to help ease the pain and assist in the treatment process. Some of these techniques include:

Biofeedback - using machines to learn how to affect certain bodily functions you are normally not aware of, such as your heart rate.

Meditation - focusing breathing or repeating words or phrases in order to calm your mind.

Yoga - using special stretches and poses with special attention given to your breathing.

Hypnosis - creating a state of relaxed and focused attention and concentrating on certain ideas, feelings, or suggestions to assist in the healing process.

Creative Outlets - special therapy such as dance, music, and art.

Imagery - imagining certain pictures, scenes, or experiences in order to help the body heal.

Biological Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options

It is also possible to treat your breast cancer by taking advantage of things found in nature, such as herbal products and dietary supplements. These can include certain foods, vitamins, herbs, and special dietary plans. Soy products are one additive that have shown a great deal of promise when it comes to preventing and treating breast cancer.

You should also include whole grain foods, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, low-fat dairy products, flaxseed, green tea, as many herbs as possible, and either virgin oil or canola oil in your diet. All kinds of herbs are good to add to your diet because they increase your intake of phytochemicals, which may help to fight cancer.

Body-Based Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Body-based treatment options are those that work on one or more parts of your body. These techniques manipulate the body in order to achieve a greater level of health. Massage involves manipulation of the tissues, while chiropractic care manipulates the skeletal system and joints. Reflexology, which utilizes pressure points in the feet and hands to affect parts of the body, is another type of treatment.

Deciding if Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options are Right for You

Before deciding to start a treatment program, it is important to discuss it with your doctor. There are certain foods and supplements that can actually interfere with other forms of treatment, so you want to be sure the plan you are following is safe.

Your best option is to consult a professional that is trained in natural strategies. Your doctor or nurse might be able to refer you to a specialist. If not, contact your local cancer center or hospital and ask for names of professionals that might be able to help you. Before working with the person, however, make sure he or she is licensed to practice in your state. Your health is important, so you need to be sure to have the best care possible.



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Keith Londrie asked:


Life-threatening malignancies in one or both breasts is termed as breast cancer. Breast cancer can be both noninvasive, the one that does not spread and invasive which has high chances of spreading.

Ductal carcinoma and Lobular carcinoma are both noninvasive, if left untreated it can develop in to invasive. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma which spreads in the wall of the duct and the wall of a lobules respectively.

History of breast cancer can be traced back to 1600 B.C. it is considered as one of the oldest known tumors. In Papyrus writing tumors or ulcers of the breast and its cure were mentioned. For very long time there was no cure for the condition. Then in 1749-1806 the Scottish surgeon Benjamin Bell and the French surgeon Jean Louis Petit were the first one to remove the affected breast tissue, and underlying chest muscle.

There are different stages through which carcinoma of breast occurs. They are: 1. Onset of the carcinogenic cells. 2. Cancer is either 1- 2 inches long and spread to lymph nodes only. 3.Cancer has spread to tissues near the breast. 4. Cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

The ways in which you can kick off the breast cancer are: 1. Surgery: Depending on the stage and onset of the cancer, removal of lymph is necessary to remove the cancer cells. This process is termed as lumpectomy. In advance cases the removal of entire breast will only help the situation and it is termed as mastectomy. 2. Systemic therapy uses medication to treat the damaged cancer cells in the body. Immune therapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are the types of systemic therapy. Chemotherapy are used before and after surgery.

Neo-adjuvant type of chemotherapy is given before surgery for reducing the size of the tumor. Adjuvant chemotherapy is suggested after surgery to reduce the recurrence. Chemotherapy has many side effect. The hormonal treatments include tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors are specially given to pre menopausal and postmenopausal women to decrease the level of estrogen in their body. 3. Radiation therapy involves high powered gamma rays or x-rays that precisely work on the target the area that needs treatment. These rays are effective in destroying the cancer cells and prevent recur from the place where the tumor was removed. The main purpose of this therapy is to prevent recur. Radiation therapy is done by linear Accelerator. Radiation therapy is usually done after surgery of breast cancer and an essential treatment for breast conserving therapy.

With all these therapies and self confidence anything and every problem can be chopped off.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Verlyn Ross asked:


The purpose of this article is to describe very briefly the prostate gland; its functions and potential diseases associated with it.

General Prostate Cancer Information - about half the population has a prostate gland but how many people actually know what it is? What it does? And what conditions can affect the prostate?

The prostate is found in all males in the mammal category of the animal world, including humans. It makes up a part of the reproductive system of the male and is an exocrine gland. This means it secretes the fluid it makes into ducts. The prostates function in life is to produce, store and secrete a clear fluid during moments of orgasm. This fluid helps carry the sperm out of the body and makes up about one third of the volume expelled during ejaculation.

The prostate is located at the outlet of the bladder and surrounds the urethra (tube your urines passes through); it also sits against the outer wall of the rectum.

Disorders associated with the prostate

Amyloid

Normally affecting men who are more senior in age, Amyloid (known as Corpora amylacea) is a dense collection of calcified protein based matter that collects in the prostates ducts making it difficult for the prostate to release fluid.

This condition can also mean there are other underlying issues in the prostate region.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a build up of inflammation in the prostate, over time the inflammation can make the prostate swell in size causing the tubes carrying urine to become blocked making it difficult and painful to urinate, if urination is possible at all.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Similar to Prostatis, Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the name given to a condition where the prostate becomes enlarged, this is not caused by inflammation but can be a natural occurrence over time and mainly affects the older male population.

This condition can block the urinary tubes or stop urination being possible all together.

Prostate cancer

For you to possess prostate cancer information is critical to you if you are male and over 50. Prostate cancer is the most dangerous of all prostate problems and is the most common cancer affecting older men. Prostate cancer is also a condition that can kill quite easily; this is because the cancerous cells flourish and multiple out of control, moving into other part of the body like the bones and nearby internal tissue.

The most common symptoms associated with prostate cancer are that it can cause pain in the lower abdominal region during urination, difficulty urinating and cause a lack of ability to gain an erection. There are many other symptoms involved with prostate cancer, but they are more subtle.

Summary

It is commonly suggested that men who are more senior in age should have regular rectal exams from their doctor so the prostate can be checked. As mentioned earlier, the prostate sits against the outer wall of the rectum.

For those who are younger in age it is important that they are educated about the affects the prostate has on the body. If we can educate the younger generation it will mean that greater emphasis is given to finding a cure and make it easier for men to stop suffering in silence.



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Verlyn Ross asked:


The exact cause of this disease has not yet been discovered. No one can explain why one man develops prostate problems along with cancer and the other man does not. Cancer cannot be caught from another person. It is not contagious. However, there are some risk factors that make it more likely for some men to develop this disease.

Age is the number one cause of prostate cancer. It is rare to find a man under the age of 40 to have the disease. The chances of that happening are 1 in 10,000! As a man grows older, his risk factors rise dramatically. Most men who develop the disease are over the age of 65.

Family history is another risk factor for prostate cancer. If a man has a father or brother who has had the disease, he is more likely to develop it. Race is another deciding factor. This dosease is found in more African-American men than white or Hispanic men. Asian and American Indian men have a smaller risk of developing this disease.

A little known risk of developing prostate cancer is men with prostate cells called (PIN) prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. These cells look abnormal under a microscope and men with these cells are considered high risk.

Diet is another factor is deciding who develops prostate cancer. Scientists have proved that those men who have diets rich in fats and red meats are more at risk of developing cancer. Men who have a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to have a lower risk of developing this disease.

This is just a few of the prostate cancer risk factors but the good news is you can control some of them. Obviously you cannot control your race, or your family history and you cannot stop the aging process. You can help yourself by changing your dietary habits and taking better care of your body.

Scientists who have studied prostate cancer are looking at possible links between the disease and smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and a virus passed through sexual intercourse. All of these are being studied and with no final conclusion, at this time. Scientists are also studying a link between vasectomies and prostate cancer. At this time, this link has not been proven.

Most men who have risk factors like the ones listed above do not mean you will get prostate cancer. Men who do get this disease often do not have any risk factors except their age. One in three men are likely to develop prostate problems or cancer whether they have more than one risk factor or not.

If you think you may have a high risk for developing prostate cancer or have symptoms of the disease, you should talk with your doctor. Your doctor may suggest you see an urologist who specializes in urinary problems and problems with the male reproductive organs. They should be up-to-date with all the newest information, research, and treatment plans for thils disease.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Susan Dean asked:


Finding out you or someone that you love has been diagnosed with cancer is to say the very least a devastating blow. It will become not only a hard road emotionally, physically but also financially. This is why you need to find as much cancer information as you can. This may be in the form of advice and support from doctors, counselors, specific cancer organizations, family and friends including other cancer sufferers as well. Talking to people who have been in the same situation as yourself can be an enormous support and also a wonderful source of cancer information can be shared.

Apart from speaking to people in person there are other ways to gain more info about this situation. There are many books that you can read both for the patient and or families and friends. I suppose the easiest way to find out more is on the internet. In the U.S alone there are many websites that are full of relevant cancer information. To start with you have the American Cancer Society. Obviously there are many different cancers so there will be many different informative sources on all of them and you will no doubt be looking for a particular type for your own circumstances. But in the end every one who is suffering from any one of these cancers will still need the same help and support regarding coping stategies and so on.

This is where speaking to people in the same situation will be helpful. There are forums and chat rooms that will give you the opportunity to speak to some of these people. It can be very positive to speak to someone who has gone through what you are and now have fully recovered. Just being able to talk about medications and treatments with someone who really understands can be an amazing therapeutic comfort. You must remember that having this illness does not only affect your physical side but also your mental side and this needs to be looked after as well.

Another good reason to find as much cancer information as possible is to find out other forms of treatments that may be able to help you either on their own or as a combination along side of the usual forms. Usually at this time in someone’s life things become very confusing with all the medical jargon as well as all the emotional turmoil and the often draining effects of medication and treatments to be able to think properly. This is when you should be gathering up as much info as you can and just taking your time reading through it so you can get a better picture of what is going on and how to make the best of it.

If you are someone who has a loved one that has been diagnosed with this type of illness then you should be finding out as much as you can to be able to do the right things emotionally to help support this person. You also can read up on their particular condition so you can help answer any questions when they arise. Support from family and friends is a very important part of recovery for someone suffering from cancer.



Posted by Nikhil Gupta

Paul P. Winyesci asked:


Here are some recent news (Sep. 06) on how to treat breast cancer:

Trials and research on how to treat the desease are not limited to North America. A University of Edinburgh scientist has evolved new procedures to analyze the affecting of radiation therapy after breast cancer surgery. New procedures can help doctors determine who would benefit from receiving radiation therapy as a follow-up to surgery. These new techniques will require doctors to check tissue samples from breast cancer surgeries to decide who should receive also radiation therapy.

A new test to be conducted internationally will track 3700 women to observe the benefits of radiation therapy in women who has a medium risk of recurrence. The study will also follow this group of women to discover if there is a considerable risk of core damage for those who have undergone announcement therapy. In short, it is important to determine if radiation therapy has any significant impact on the recurrence of cancer in low risk cancer patients.

The innovative trial will seek to identify a molecular signature in breast cancer that may help to decide if radiation therapy is necessary to prevent recurrence. Tissue from breast cancer surgeries will be used for extensive study in the future. Scientists are concerned about the long-term effect on the heart from issue and chemotherapy. The protein brain natriuretic peptide will also be researched to see if it is a premature sign of cardiac damage. Electrocardiography and echocardiography will also be used to identify any untimely signs of cardiac trouble.

This striving study would also like to look into the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. They will look at the impact of issue and chemotherapy, breast reconstruction and other quality of life areas. It will include women from all over the world. More than 120 breast cancer centers around the world have already signed up to take part in this project.

The study could have an impact on the cost of breast cancer treatment. If it can be determined if radiation therapy will not increase survival rates of those patients who are low risk, it could save the medical community and patients thousands of dollars. It’s important to remember that, the health and survival of patients are the main concern of any trial or research carried on throughout the world.

The research may decide if women who were considered low-risk for recurrence of breast cancer would benefit from radiation therapy.

This new international trial is being sponsored and funded by the University of Edinburgh and Lothian Health Board as well as the United Kingdom Medical Research Council. The European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer and Breast International Group will coordinate the efforts of the trials around the globe.



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Trevor Mulholland asked:



For one the most usual signs include need to other prostate specific antigen psa test that can be to decrease by other hand is primarily used to decrease by 50 percent accurate.


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