Category: Cancer

Cancer – A Simple Explanation

22 July, 2010 (12:14) | Cancer | By: Health news

Every one of us has the potential to develop cancer. Why? Because each of our bodies is replacing its cells constantly, every day. The average adult has approximately 75 trillion cells in their body. That is correct – 75,000,000,000,000 cells. And all of our cells except possibly brain and nerve cells get replaced thousands or hundreds of thousands of times during our lifetime. In seven years this process of cell division and death replaces virtually every cell in our bodies.

This is important to understand because for a cell to divide and makes a copy of itself, it must replicates its DNA, and mistakes regularly occur during this process. One thing common to all cancers is damaged DNA in the cell nucleus, and once this damage to the DNA occurs, it is duplicated with every new cell division. If these mistakes in the cell’s DNA occur only .003% (three thousandths of a percent) of the time, we produce a million pre-cancerous cells every day. And this is a conservative estimate.

Now, if this DNA change or mutation occurs in the wrong place it can disrupt the function of the cell, causing it to lose its ability to survive normally. The DNA of each cell has mechanisms that find these mutations and force the cells to stop dividing – the mechanisms either fix the problem or kill the cell. But what happens if these mechanisms have also been damaged and are not working properly?

Your immune system is your second line of defense against abnormal cells – it also kills off these mutated cells by the millions every day. If the mechanism to repair or stop damage in each cell fails, the immune system then steps in and recognizes mutating cells and kills them.

But what if the immune system cells have been weakened or damaged by the same processes that caused the cell abnormality in the first place? The cell was not destroyed because its internal mechanisms to fix or kill DNA problems were not working. And your immune system is too weak to provide its normal second line of defense and kill the mutated cell. What happens? The mutated cells continue to reproduce with the damaged DNA, and you get Cancer.

Is there anything you can do to stop cancer? Are there any effective Natural Cancer Cures? The answer to both questions is Yes.

First, you need to know that only 3% to 4% of all cancers are caused by inherited genes. That means 96% to 97% are caused by our daily environment and the lifestyle choices we make. We are constantly subjected to toxins in the air we breathe, the water we drink and cook with and bathe in, and in the foods we eat. Some of the toxins we can avoid, some we can not.

Help your immune system any way you can. Feed it fresh, wholesome foods, filter toxins out of your water when possible, make sure you get plenty of vitamins and anti-oxidants, get mild exercise as often as you can, and do not smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol. If your body and your immune system is healthy enough to fight off all the toxins it takes in, you do not get cancer.

Nutrition for Esophageal Cancer

18 May, 2010 (03:35) | Cancer | By: Health news

Nutrition for esophageal cancer patients is very vital as they find it hard to swallow foods and drink liquids including water. Patients might not get enough energy to even eat foods that they might lack energy to fight against esophageal cancer. But eating healthy foods should not be neglected. Patients suffering from esophageal cancer should find ways to incorporate healthy foods and nutrition rich foods in their diet. The selected foods should offer good calories to help the body stay healthy and also to make swallowing easy.

Esophageal cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy or surgery might feel their throat irritated and sore and might avoid eating protein rich meats, vegetables and fruits rich in fibers naturally. Hence, opting to eat soft or moist foods is not considered abnormal or uncommon. Apart from trying to lower the side effects and cure cancer, patients can also do various things to eat and swallow foods easier. Patients need to choose foods that are soft and easy to swallow like puddings, milkshakes, soups, eggs, ice creams and jellies. These offer good calories to keep up the weight of the patients and also offer them good energy to perform day to day tasks and also help in preventing unintentional weight loss.

An excellent method to retain the nutrients of foods is to convert them in the form of purees by mashing them using hand or blender. Oatmeal is also a good option to get enough calories but they should be diluted well with warm water or milk so that they do not get stuck in the throat when consuming them. Beans can also be made into puree as they offer good proteins. They can be mixed with some broth and consumed. Patients can take more time for eating foods in order to munch them properly before swallowing them. Foods can be made into smaller bites or pieces for easy munching.

Nutrition requirements for esophageal cancer patients can differ from one person to person depending on various factors like their age, occupation (sedentary or heavy work), place of living (hot or cold climate), genetic factors and so on. There is no standard nutritional allowances prescribed for esophageal cancer patients but nutritional allowances are determined based on individuals.

Patients who find it very hard to intake or consume any food items can take the advice of doctors and start taking nutritional supplements in the liquid form as they contain huge quantities of calories and nutrition required for survival and recovery. Monitoring patients from time to time is very important to add some nutrients or change them.

Mesothelioma Resource

10 May, 2010 (11:59) | Mesothelioma | By: Health news

Lack of proper mesothelioma resource has been mentioned as the reason behind most of the mesothelioma deaths. Till recently, most of the people were unaware regarding the dangerous effects of asbestos, the distinctiveness of mesothelioma cancer and the treatment options available for it. Many a lives were wasted unnecessarily due to this ignorance. Let us see what mesothelioma resources are and how can they be used to save lives.

Mesothelioma resource stands for a group of connected activities regarding mesothelioma cancer. Information regarding the causes, remedies and prevention of the cancer, detailed inputs related to cancer centers and doctors in the field, details about the services of mesothelioma litigation firms and attorneys, particulars concerning the continuous researches to find better treatment methods and cures for the disease, legal rights of patients etc are clearly the part of mesothelioma resource.

Most of the workers of the infected by asbestos never had any intimation of the approaching danger, till some decades ago. Those days reliable information was there and no curative measures were available. But once the relationship between the deadly disease and asbestos was found out, the governments started imposing severe restrictions up on the mineral. Precautionary measures were undertaken by the factory owners like supplying protective gear, making the workers bath before leaving the work place etc. Thus the relatives were also spared of the risk of inhaling asbestos. Many law firms came into existence for helping the clients to claim compensation. Researchers and scientists started working for better treatment methods.

Mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed only during the advanced stages of the infection. There are four significant stages, the first two having better chances of survival and the last two practically having no chances at all. The treatment imparted by the cancer centers depend on the stages of the cancer. Vigorous treatment measures are successful or partially successful in stage 1,2 and 3 patients. Palliative treatment is given to stage 4 patients. Mesothelioma patients can claim for financial compensation also.

All kinds of information regarding the cancer are available in the Internet, which is a highly reliable mesothelioma resource provider. Information related to treatment, litigation and research are accessible there. It is advisable for the patients to check such resources before deciding on his attorneys and cancer treatment centers.

Global Oncology Biomarkers Market

4 May, 2010 (23:49) | Cancer | By: Health news

Cancer is recognized as a major cause of mortality world over; accounting for 7.4 million (or 13%) of all deaths in 2004. The WHO estimates the incidence of cancer to continue rising to reach an estimated 9.2 million deaths in 2015. The rising prevalence of the disease forms one of the major factors driving the growth of the oncology biomarkers market.

Biomarker are chemical, physical, or biological parameters that can be used to indicate disease states. Oncology biomarkers facilitate high-speed, non-invasive cancer diagnosis; and are believed to enhance early cancer detection and screening. The demand for oncology biomarkers is also increasing because of their ability to trace the exact type of cancer and to target patient-specific molecular structure.

The oncology biomarkers market offers high-growth opportunities with the numerous initiatives to encourage biomarker-based cancer treatment. Government agencies such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) ) are have taken an active interest in the field, especially with the declining success to failure rate of oncology drugs

Market Estimates and Forecasts

The report categorizes the Global oncology biomarkers market as follows: * Oncology biomarkers discovery market * Oncology biomarkers diagnostics market Each section will provide market data, market drivers, trends and opportunities, top-selling products, key players, and competitive outlook. This report will also provide market tables for covering the sub-segments and micro-markets. In addition, the report also provides more than 15 company profiles for each of its sub-segments.

What makes our reports unique?

* We provide the longest market segmentation chain in this industry- not many reports provide market breakdown upto level 5. * We provide 10% customization. Normally it is seen that clients do not find specific market intelligence that they are looking for. Our customization will ensure that you necessarily get the market intelligence you are looking for and we get a loyal customer. * We conduct detailed market positioning, product positioning and competitive positioning. Entry strategies, gaps and opportunities are identified for all the stakeholders. * Comprehensive market analysis for the following sectors: Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Biotechnology, Semiconductor and Electronics, Energy and Power Supplies, Food and Beverages, Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Industrial Automation, and Telecom and IT. We also analyze retailers and super-retailers, technology providers, and research and development (R&D) companies.

Key questions answered

* Which are the high-growth segments/cash cows and how is the market segmented in terms of oral drugs, injectables? * What are market estimates and forecasts; which markets are doing well and which are not? * Where are the gaps and opportunities; what is driving the market? * Which are the key playing fields? Which are the winning edge imperatives? * How is the competitive outlook; who are the main players in each of the segments; what are the key selling products; what are their strategic directives, operational strengths and product pipelines? Who is doing what?

Powerful Research and analysis

The analysts working with MarketsandMarkets come from renowned publishers and market research firms, globally, adding their expertise and domain understanding. We get the facts from over 22,000 news and information sources, a huge database of key industry participants and draw on our relationships with more than 900 market research companies across the world. We, at MarketsandMarkets, are inspired to help our clients grow by providing qualitative business insights with our huge market intelligence repository.

Stages of Breast Cancer

3 May, 2010 (18:13) | Breast Cancer | By: Health news

On confirmation of the breast cancer from biopsy report, the doctors go through an extensive study about the extent or the stage of the cancer that will help to adopt the right type of treatment best suitable for the patient. Whether the cancer is localized or has spread to other parts of the body can be determined by staging that involves different types of screening including the blood test.

Bone scan is done by entering a small amount of radioactive substance into the blood vessel which gets collected in the bones, and the pictures taken confirm the spread of cancer to the bones.

CT scan of the breast cancer is done by taking pictures of the affected area through the X-rays to study whether the cancer has affected the lungs and liver.

Lymph node biopsy is done by inserting radioactive blue dye through a needle near the tumor or the nipple and checked for the cancerous lymphatic cells.

The different stages of breast cancer include -

  • Stage 0 – This stage can be also termed as Ductal Carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which indicates that the abnormal cells of the breast duct have not spread outside or invaded other local tissues. This stage cannot be termed cancerous but if untreated can turn into breast cancer.
  • Stage I indicates the earliest stage of breast cancer where the tumor is not more than 2 centimeters and the cancerous cells have affected only the breast tissue not spreading beyond.
  • Stage II – This may include features -
  • 1. The tumor size not more than 2 centimeters but the cancer has affected the under arm lymph nodes or the cancer is localized.

    2. The tumor size is of 2-5 centimeter and the cancer affecting the underarm lymph nodes.

  • Stage III comprises of three stages like Stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC.
  • In Stage IIIA tumor is 5centimeters length across and the cancer has spread to the under arm lymph nodes. The cancer may spread to the single or attached lymph nodes under the arm and it may also affect the lymph nodes behind the breast bone.

    In Stage IIIB the tumor may be of any size that grows along the chest wall or on the breast skin forming lumps and nodules. The under arm lymph nodes and the lymph nodes behind the breast bone may also be affected.

    In this stage the inflammatory breast cancer may also occur with the breast becoming red and swollen.

    In Stage IIIC the tumor may be of any size with the cancer spreading to the lymph nodes of under arm, behind the breast bone and also including the lymphatic nodes of the collarbone.

  • Stage IV or the metastatic change indicates the spread of the breast cancer to other parts of the body like liver and bones.
  • Cures For Peritoneal Mesotheliom

    28 April, 2010 (18:39) | Mesothelioma | By: Health news

    Mesothelioma cancer which affects the lining of abdominal cavity is called peritoneal mesothelioma. About one-fifth of all the cases of mesothelioma cancer reported are found to be peritoneal mesothelioma. More than women, men become victims of this malady and it is caused due to over exposure to asbestos. The symptoms of the disease start appearing only twenty or thirty years after being exposed to asbestos. Timely diagnosis and treatment is the only way to prolong the lives of the victims. A tissue biopsy is an effective way of diagnosis, whereas other methods like CT scan may give baffling outcomes.

    The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are formation of lumps in abdomen, pain in abdomen, fatigue, fever, collection of fluid in the abdomen, weight loss, lack of proper functioning of digestive system, anemia etc. Before the symptoms of the cancer appear, some patients may experience uneasy feelings. It may also happen that peritoneal mesothelioma is diagnosed while the affected person goes for a check up related to some other health issues like pelvic mass, gall bladder, hernia etc.

    Various stages of this cancer can be found out in the tumor, lymph nodes and metastases system (TNM). General cancers are determined using this system. Localized abrasions, which are shown in the first level, are totally removable. In the second stage, the disease affects the abdominal cavity on peritoneal and organ surfaces. The disease is curable in this stage with the help of strong treatments. The third stage is when the infection spreads to liver and colon thereby affecting their functions. Still the infection remains inside the abdominal cavity. When the infection spreads from the abdominal cavity to adjoining organs the infection reaches the fourth stage.

    Peritoneal mesothelioma patients are administered with strong medication and other treatment methods. Debulking surgery combined with intra peritoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy, intraperitoneal chemotherapy and radiation is the common multimodality treatment opted by doctors. Intake of vital minerals and nutrients is compulsory to make the body cope with the side effects of chemotherapy and other medications.

    The physical health and age of the patient are important factors which determine the success of treatment. Proper treatment and timely diagnosis are vital factors which provide relief to the patients.

    3 Things You Should Do To Cure Mesothelioma

    27 April, 2010 (11:55) | Mesothelioma | By: Health news

    Even if you are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation treatment or alternative treatments for asbestos mesothelioma, you need to make sure your body is in prime fighting condition. The more time and energy, your body requires to deal with other health issues, is more time and energy that it can’t use to eliminate the cancer in your body.

    First, you need to ensure that you are eating the best foods to fuel your body. You don’t want to make things worse for your body by introducing toxic foods or foods that create an extra burden for your body. The simplest way to do this is to increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet. Also eat more natural unprocessed grains such as multi grain breads or crackers. Eliminate as much processed foods as you can. If it comes in a box, a can or a bag, it’s more than likely a processed food. A National Cancer Institute study showed a strong link between cancer and meat consumption, so try to cut out as much meat as possible, especially red meat. Consider switching to a vegetarian diet. And if you really want to do as much as you can, switch to a raw food organic diet.

    Secondly, increase your oxygen levels. Dr. Otto Warburg, a German cancer specialist, won the 1931 Nobel prize for his work on oxygen and cancer cells. He showed that cancer cells can not survive in a highly oxygenated environment. He found that certain foods have enzymes that can dramatically increase your oxygen absorption in your cells. Also, practice deep breathing exercises every day to provide the source of that oxygen that your body needs.

    Thirdly, reduce your sugar consumption. Eating processed sugars such as pop, candy and deserts creates an insulin “shock” to your body because unlike natural fruits, which require time to digest, processed “sugar foods” virtually inject sugar into your bloodstream immediately. Your body reacts by secreting huge amounts of insulin, which not only converts that sugar to fat, but more importantly, it acts to shut down your immune system. Eating one cup of sugar a day, which could be found in a two litre bottle of pop would suppress your immune system for approximately 12 hours! That’s half a day that your immune system can’t seek and destroy cancer cells. That’s also half a day that the asbestos mesothelioma cancer cells can grow out of control.

    Different Cancer Treatments

    23 April, 2010 (18:41) | Cancer Treatment | By: Health news

    Cancer is a disease that weakens a person once they hear it. It is a disease wherein there is only a fifty-fifty chance of getting well. It is sad to know that more and more people across the globe are dying every single day because of cancer. If we are not precautious with regards to proper care of our bodies, then we might be candidates of this disease.

    Who gets cancer? Anyone can get the disease. It is not only a hereditary disease but it may also be acquired or develop by itself if we have poor immune system. Lifestyle attributes to the development of this type of illness. For instance, if an individual is a chain smoker, he is at high risk of getting lung cancer. If he loves to eat carcinogenic food preparations or perhaps have irregular bowel movement, then he is at high risk of colon cancer. There are still so many types of cancer that we really need to know about. Unfortunately, due to having busy lives, some people have taken learning important facts for granted not knowing that it will be very helpful to them.

    Treatment of cancer depends upon the severity. There are several options for a cancer patient to consider. We all have heard of the treatment chemotherapy. Chemotherapy works through the use of chemotherapeutic drugs that will destroy cancer cells. This treatment does not really cure the disease but it helps in alleviating the symptoms. One advantage of chemotherapy is that it has the ability to reach cancer cells that have already metastasized in other parts of the body.

    Another popular treatment is through undergoing surgery. Through surgery, the cancerous part or the tumor is surgically removed. Like for example in breast cancer, the patient undergoes mastectomy which is the removal of the affected breast. Through the surgery, it will prevent the cancer cells from affecting other parts of the body. Cancer surgery will help in removing localized tumors so that follow-up treatment like radiation and chemotherapy will be more effective.

    And lastly, there is radiation therapy. Radiation therapy can be a curative treatment for cancer or it could also be a palliative one. In radiation therapy, the DNA of cancer cells is damaged through the help of protons, electrons and neutrons that will ionize the DNA cells and thus will break its chain. In other words, it helps destroy cells and shrink the tumor. To prevent damage of normal tissues, radiation oncologist will make sure that the external beam radiation are focused on several angles of exposure that will intersect at the tumor and will then receive a much larger and absorbed dose. This type of treatment is proven effective in some childhood types of cancer.

    Before a cancer patient is treated, he needs to briefly talk with his physician in order for him to know the different options that he can take to survive. It is hard to accept that our loved ones or perhaps a dear friend has this disease. Our support and our presence will always be the best treatment that they will ever receive.

    Asbestos Mesothelioma and Sugar

    22 April, 2010 (04:38) | Mesothelioma | By: Health news

    In the fight against asbestos mesothelioma cancer, cutting sugar out of your diet is critical in aiding your immune system. When you eat sugar, a chain of events occurs starting with your insulin level increasing dramatically. With the increased insulin levels, growth hormone levels are also reduced which then suppresses your immune system.

    When your insulin level increases, any excess sugar is stored as fat cells. And of course, more fat cells in your body means that you put greater pressure on your heart to pump more oxygenated blood to the fat cells, which leaves less oxygen to combat the asbestos mesothelioma cancer cells.

    According to one study, eating just 1/2 a cup of sugar or two cans of pop, can suppress 91% of your immune system for up to 6 hours.

    Sugar in the form of granular sugar and syrup such as that found in pop, is called sucrose. When it is present in the stomach it breaks down easily into glucose which is what triggers the insulin reaction. Your body only needs about a teaspoon of glucose in your blood at any time, so when you drink a can of pop, it’s like a dump truck just dumped a load of sugar in your system instantly. Your body goes into an extreme reaction and dramatically increases the insulin in your body to promote fat storage.

    So imagine that in one day, you drank two cans of pop, ate 2 chocolate bars and had an ice cream for dessert. That’s about the equivalent of 1 cup of sugar and that’s not even including the breads and pastas that you ate which would eventually convert to sucrose over time. With that level of sugar in your body, you could be suppressing your immune system for up to 12 hours a day! That’s 12 hours that your body can’t fight the asbestos mesothelioma cancer and that’s 12 hours that the cancer can freely grow without threat from your immune system.

    Natural Cure for Blood Cancer

    16 April, 2010 (20:12) | Cancer | By: Health news

    Blood cancer is a condition where cancerous cells have attacked the blood, bone marrow or lymphatic system. This type of cancer is malignant and has the ability to spread and destroy tissues. In the case of leukemia, the cancer interferes with the body’s ability to make blood. Leukemia attacks the bone marrow and the blood itself, causing fatigue, anemia, weakness, and bone pain.

    It is diagnosed with a blood test in which specific types of blood cells are counted. Treatment for leukemia usually includes chemotherapy and radiation to kill the cancer, and in some cases measures like bone marrow transplants may be required. There are several different types of leukemia, including chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.

    Symptoms of Blood Cancer: –

    * Weakness, Fatigue, Malaise and Breathlessness * Excessive or easy bruising * Bleeding gums or frequent nose bleeds * Recurrent infections or fever * Excessive sweating of body during night * Weight loss * Frequent vomiting sensations * Anorexia * Lumps or abdominal distension due to enlarged abdominal organs * Delirium and confusion * Headaches with occurrence of visual difficulties * Decreased urination and difficulty while urinating

    Natural Cure for Blood Cancer: -

    Chemotherapy: – There are several types of chemotherapy, and each has worked for some people as a real cure even for some with advanced blood cancer. Systemic chemotherapy entails injecting drugs into one’s bloodstream or ingesting through the mouth to disperse it through the patient’s body to fight a cancer that has spread (metastasized) beyond the organ in which it began. * Watch for the symptoms of blood cancer in order to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Common symptoms include high fever and chills, frequent infections, swollen lymph nodes, tiny red spots on the skin, easy bruising and extreme tiredness. * Diet is also considered a very important part of treatment. Visiting an ayurvedic practitioner is important in order to develop the proper diet for your body. The practitioner will determine which of the three humors is the predominant one in your body, and then based on this information, can develop a diet for you that will bring the three humors back in balance.
    Raw Foods: – One way that breaks with traditional cancer cures is through changing the diet into nothing but raw foods. Dr. Jerry Lee Hoover, a proponent of natural cancer cures, suggests that raw diets are easier for your body than chemotherapy. He also says that people should maintain a raw diet until cancer is in remission, because cooked foods exacerbate cancer cell growth, while raw food is still alive and will fight cancer cells. * Consider radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy. It involves the use of high powered beams like gamma rays and X rays to focus on the malignant cancer cells. Radiotherapy is typically administered in a hospital and may be used in combination with surgery and chemotherapy or may be administered alone.

    Resveratrol and Prostate Cancer

    15 April, 2010 (04:41) | Prostate cancer | By: Health news

    When early studies showed that resveratrol and prostate cancer cures were linked, many people were skeptical. However, further studies now back this up which is extremely good news, especially for men.

    Part of the problem is that this powerful antioxidant substance has been over-hyped in the media and as a result lost much of its credibility, which is a shame as it is very important to our health.

    Researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham have announced the results of a study in which mice that were fed antioxidant were 87% less likely to develop the most deadly form of prostate cancer compared with mice not fed with it, showing how beneficial the resveratrol and prostate cancer connection is.

    Another study also shows that a daily supplement of resveratrol can protect against prostate cancer in men, and that’s according to the researchers at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center.

    Resveratrol has already been proven to be a powerful antioxidant that can keep your heart healthy and balance your cholesterol and well as potentially increasing your lifespan.

    With prostate cancer it has been shown to be effective in all the three main stages – initiation, promotion and progression, which is quite an achievement for a natural substance.

    Despite the fact that more research is needed, it is clear that this unique substance primarily found in the skin of red grapes and the Japanese knotweed plant is very beneficial for prostate cancer and overall health.

    With more and more men being diagnosed with this type of cancer, resveratrol is a good way of helping to prevent it occurring and health experts agree that a quality supplement is the best way as you can control the purity and amount you take.

    It is best to take a supplement with other nutrients for increased absorption and effectiveness in which case 20mg a day of the best type – trans-resveratrol is optimal.

    Just ensure they have an enteric coating otherwise much of the benefits will be lost to the stomach acid.

    With more research ongoing, resveratrol has many secrets to reveal to us still but as we already know so much, why not make a point of incorporating it into your daily routine and help to keep yourself healthy and potentially ward off prostate cancer.

    If you would like to learn more about the nutritional supplements I personally take that contain resveratrol, visit my website below.

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