Ovarian Cancer Awareness Bracelet

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Bracelet

Monday, November 5, 2007

A Brief Information About Mesothelioma Cancer

By: Cosmas Hino Prasetyo


What is Mesothelioma?
Most of people known that mesothelioma is an acronym of mesothelium which is thin membranes lining the chest, lungs, abdomen and sometimes the heart. Mesothelieum protects these organs with a dual layered membrane called visceral and parietal membranes which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the visceral membrane. There is a lubricating fluid between it that allows the organs to move. This fluid helps organs move easily between surrounding structure and reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing.

So What Is Mesothelioma Cancer?
Mesothelioma Cancer is a form of cancer which occurs in mesothelium. This cancer cells become abnormal and replicate without control. They will invade and damage tissues and organs and spread throughout the body causing death. It metastasizes and at an advanced stage the disease reach to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs. Mesothelioma cancer will cause fluid to accumulate between the lung lining and the chest cavity.The Cause of Mesothelioma CancerThere are a lot of cases that indicate the cause of mesothelioma cancer but most of them are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos can be found in insulation in many buildings. Asbestos can also be found in floor tiles, roofing, dust, rocks, cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, and textiles. Asbestos consists of fibers that can enter the body through the skin, the mouth, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream. When a person breathes in, the fibers then travel to the ends of the narrow air passages reaching the lining of the lungs and destructing the mesothelial cells (the lining of the lung cells). If swallowed, these fibers can get in to the lining of the abdominal cavity where they play a part in causing a mesothelioma cancer.

The Patients of Mesothelioma CancerPeople in the construction jobs such as in shipyards, insulation, boilermaking, milling plants, fireproofing and heating, automotive repair, and pipefitting are at the risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer. Common cases are found from workers such as Factory workers, miners, railroad laborers, gas mask makers, insulation workers and ship builders. People who have received asbestos exposure of as little as one or two months to very low doses are at risk of mesothelioma cancer. People who wash clothes of asbestos exposed people are at risk.

The Chance of Recovery
It depends on size and location of the cancer, age of the patient and their response to the treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, the five year survival rate is about 10 percent. Most patients only survive for a year after diagnosis or 4 to 24 months from the observance of the symptoms. Some physicians find it hard to detect mesothelioma cancer because its symptoms are akin to other diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. The average age of patients is between 50 and 70 years, three-fourths of patients diagnosed are over 65.

Three Types of Mesothelioma Cancer
Primarily, mesothelioma cancer occurs in three areas, and categorized into:

1. Pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer), mesothelioma of the membrane covers the lungs and chest cavity as well as the lungs
Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer

2. Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs), mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that enfolds the organs in the abdominal cavity.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma

3. Pericardial mesothelioma, mesothelioma of the pericardium. Pericardium is the sac enclosing the heart.Symptoms of Mesothelioma CancerThe symptoms of mesothelioma cancer occur owing to the deposition of fluid in the pleura. The patient would generally feel a pain in the chest region, accompanied by shallow breathing.
Large Pericardial Effusion

The other symptoms are include : respiratory problem, continual cough and pneumonia, weight loss due to accumulation of fluid, abdominal problems and swelling of the neck or face, fever, anemia, difficulties in bowel movements, abnormalities observed during blood clots, fibrosis, pleural effusion, calcified plaques, bronchial cancer, and difficulty sleeping.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Prostate Cancer

By: Don Saunders

Prostate problems will affect ninety percent of all men by the time the reach the age of eighty and in all too many cases the problem will be that of prostate cancer. But just what is the prostate gland and what does it mean to be diagnosed with prostate cancer? Here we look at the ten questions which are most often asked by men who encounter prostate problems.

1. What is the prostate gland and what does it do?

The prostate gland is situated between the bladder and the rectum, partly surrounding the urethra which carries urine from the bladder out of the body, and forms part of the male reproductive system, making and storing fluid which forms part of a man's semen. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut in an adult.

2. What is prostate cancer?


Prostate cancer is a form of cancer which normally appears late in life and tends to be slow growing as a result of which many men, despite having prostate cancer, in fact die of other unrelated conditions. This said, prostate cancer is the second commonest form of cancer in the United States today and in 2006 some 235,000 men were diagnosed with the disease and approximately 27,000 men died from it.

3. Who is likely to contract prostate cancer?

Men in general are at risk of contracting prostate cancer although as it is an age related disease it tends to appear only from about middle-age onwards with the risk of contracting the disease increasing with age. Prostate cancer is more likely to appear in black men and where there is a family history of the disease.

4. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

In the early stages of the disease there are normally few if any symptoms and it is possible to suffer from prostate cancer for many years without even knowing it. When symptoms do start to appear they are likely to include such things as difficulty in urinating, the need for frequent urination (especially at the night), a poor flow or urine which tends to stop and start, painful urination, blood in the urine or semen, pain when ejaculating and pain in the lower back, hips or upper part of the thighs.

5. Are there other conditions which can mask the presence of prostate cancer?

Many older men suffer from an enlarged prostate which places pressure on both the bladder and the urethra and interferes with the flow of urine and with sexual function, producing many of the same symptoms that are seen in prostate cancer. This condition is not however cancer but is a benign condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.

It is also quite common for the prostate gland to become infected and inflamed, again producing similar symptoms, and this also benign condition is known as prostatitis.

6. Is it possible to be screened for prostate cancer?

Yes, although current screening is not foolproof. The two most commonly used screening test will indicate the possibility of a developing problem, which may or may not be cancer, and point to the need for further more specific testing.

The tests currently in use are the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which a doctor carries out an investigation of the prostate gland by feeling it with a gloved finger inserted through the rectum to detect the presence of hard or lumpy areas, and a blood test used to detect the presence of a substance which is known as prostate specific antigen (PSA) and which is made by the prostate gland.

7. How reliable are present screening methods?


Neither of the current screening tests is foolproof and both can easily miss prostate cancers. However, the two tests used together can produce quite reasonable results and are certainly preferable to not screening for the condition at all. Research is currently underway to find a more accurate method of screening.

8. How is a diagnosis of prostate cancer made?

There is really only one way to confirm the presence of prostate cancer and this is by carrying out a prostate biopsy. This involves removing a number of small samples of tissue from various different parts of the prostate gland and examining these under a microscope in the laboratory.

9. How is prostate cancer treated?

If prostate cancer is localized (that is to say confined only to the prostate gland) there are at present three main forms of treatment available.

One option is to do nothing and to simply watch and wait. If this seems an odd course of action it should be borne in mind that many prostate cancers appear at a very advanced age and, as long as the cancer remains within the prostate gland and is slow growing, the best option for an elderly patient might well be to do nothing at all.

Where active treatment is carried out this will often be to either treat the prostate gland with radiation to kill the cancer cells or to simply remove the prostate gland surgically.

In cases where cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland there are a wide range of treatment options available depending on the degree of spread. This is however a complex area and beyond the scope of this short article.

10. What is the best treatment for localized prostate cancer?

This is a bit like asking 'how long is a piece of string' as there are a large number of factors which need to be taken into consideration, not the least of which are the patient's own circumstances and wishes.

In the majority of cases however prostate cancer is slow growing and there is usually no need to rush into a treatment plan. This gives patients time to discuss their condition with their doctor, including taking a second or even third opinion if they wish, and also to discuss matters with their partner and family before making any decision.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

What Do You Eat and Drink: Diet Cancer Links

By: Susan George


Recently there has been a great awareness to the relationship between the diet we eat and cancer. This is especially important since unlike many other risk factors for cancer this is a very much controllable risk factor. Many are interested in knowing the relationship between specific foods, or nutrients, and specific types of cancers. There has been extensive research done on this topic but till this date no study provides the last word on this topic. Any new research finding has to be evaluated in the larger context of available evidence so it is not advisable that you make any diet modifications based on single studies published.

Alcohol cancer link
Findings from various research publications have established that consumption of alcoholic beverages would increase the risk of cancer. Alcohol increases the risk of development of various cancers including cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, and breast, and probably of the colon and rectum. It should be pointed out here that moderate amount of alcohol consumption has been shown to decrease the risk of having a heart attack. So it is suggested that those who are drinking alcohol should do this in moderation. It is recommended that men limit their alcohol intake to a maximum of two drinks per day and women should limit their alcohol consumption to a maximum of one drink per day. It should be mentioned that the combination of alcohol and tobacco have a much greater impact on cancer risk compared to use of one of these agents. Women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer may be suggested to abstain from drinking any alcoholic beverages.

Antioxidants and cancer protection
Some of the products of normal metabolism could have a damaging effect on the tissues and such damages could increase the risk of developing cancer. Some nutrients called antioxidants are very essential to protect the body from harmful metabolic products that are produced in the body. These antioxidants are present in various fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and some phytochemicals. This is consistent with the observation that people, who eat more vegetables and fruits, may have a lower risk for some types of cancer. Antioxidant supplementation has not been proven to decrease cancer risk and more studies are underway in this regard. The best advice would be to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables to decrease the risk of many cancers.


Aspartame cancer link
Aspartame is used in many of the low calorie beverages as an artificial sweetener. There has been some controversy about the risk of aspartame with regard to increasing risk of cancer but the current evidence does not support any link between aspartame consumption and increased cancer risk.

Beta-carotene and cancer protection
Beta-carotene, is an antioxidant and is chemically related to vitamin A. This antioxidant is found in abundance in vegetables and fruits. For some time scientists believed that high doses of beta-carotene supplements might reduce cancer risk. Recently published studies suggest that this may not be true. In two of these studies it was shown high dose of beta-carotene actually increases the risk of cancer and the third study found neither benefit nor harm from them. Consuming vegetables and fruits that contain beta-carotene may still be helpful, but high-dose beta-carotene supplements should not be taken.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Liver Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment


The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It is also known as primary liver cancer or hepatoma and hepatocellular carcinoma is a cancer arising from the liver.The liver performs several vital functions. It processes and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestine. It also makes some of the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding from a cut or injury. Hemangioma (he-man-ge-O-muh) is the most common type of benign liver tumor. It starts in blood vessels and Hepatic adenomas are benign tumors that start from the main type of liver cells (hepatocytes). Women have a much higher chance of having one of these tumors if they take birth control pills, although this is rare. Stopping the pills can cause the tumor to shrink. Hepatic adenomascancer begins in many spots throughout the liver and is not confined to a single tumor. This is most often seen in people with liver cirrhosis and is the most common pattern seen in the United States.

Hepatic tumors also called Liver cancer. Hepatic tumors is are tumors or growths on or in the liver. There are many forms of liver tumors premary is Malignant. Malignant, primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (also named hepatoma, which is a misnomer). These growths can be benign or malignant (cancerous). They may be discovered on medical imaging (even for a different reason than the cancer itself). Most of the time when cancer is found in the liver, it did not start there but spread to the liver from a cancer that began somewhere else in the body. These tumors are named after the place where they began (primary site) and are further described as metastatic. Symptoms can include a lump or pain on the right side of your abdomen and yellowing of the skin. However, you may not have symptoms and the cancer may not be found until it is advanced.

Some researchers believe that cancer starts with damage to DNA the material that contains the instructions for every chemical process in your body, including the rate of cellular growth. DNA damage causes changes in these instructions. Liver cancer also occurs as metastatic cancer, which happens when tumors from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver. In the liver cancer some cells begin to grow abnormally. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a tumor a mass of malignant cells. In the United States, most cancer found in the liver spread there after originating elsewhere. Rather than being called liver cancer, this type of cancer in the liver is named after the organ in which it began such as metastatic colon cancer in cancer that starts in the colon and spreads to the liver.

Causes of liver Cancer

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the main causes of liver cancer. Liver cancer relates to (correlates with) the frequency of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Studies in animals also have provided that hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer. For example, liver cancer develops in other mammals that are naturally infected with hepatitis B virus-related viruses. Finally, by infecting transgenic mice with certain parts of the hepatitis B virus, scientists caused liver cancer to develop in mice that do not usually develop liver cancer.

Metastatic Liver Cancer

Symptoms of liver cancer
Liver cancer is very common larges countries in world wide. Generally is discovered at a very advanced stage of cancer disease for several reasons. In addition, patients from these regions actually have more aggressive liver cancer disease. live cancer tumor usually reaches an advanced stage and causes symptoms more rapidly. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of liver cancer and usually signifies a very large tumor or widespread involvement of the liver and other symptom is weight loss. These symptoms are less common in individuals with liver cancer in the U.S.an additionally symptoms is ascites (abdominal fluid and swelling), jaundice (yellow color of the skin), or muscle wasting.

Treatment of liver cancer

The treatment of liver cancer is overall condition of the patient. First treatment if liver cancer is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is anot effective not some cases of liver cancer but type of chemotherapy is known as chemoembolization is an important part of treatment for HCC. chemoembolization causes many of the same side effects as other forms of chemotherapy, including abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Second treatment is surgery. Surgery is best treatment for localized resectable cancer is usually an operation known as surgical resection. In some cases, the area of the liver where the cancer is found can be completely removed. Alcohol injection has been shown to improve survival in people with small hepatocellular tumors. It may also be used to help reduce symptoms in cases of metastatic liver cancer. The most common side effect is leaking of alcohol onto the liver or into the abdominal cavity.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Advice On Hair Loss Associated With Chemotherapy


Hair loss during chemotherapy can be devastating to many people's view of themselves and result in loss of confidence and motivation. Considering the literal life and death aspects of chemotherapy as cancer treatment, the loss of some of your hair logically should be a minor issue. However, as humans we don't always think very logically, and the emotional impact can be immense as it brings home the battle inside to a very real outside manifestation of illness.

Both men and women fear the chemotherapy induced hair loss as one of the worst side effects of treatment for them emotionally. Whether you hair will fall out, and to what extent it does, depends to a great extent on the type of medication and dosage of the medications that your treatment requires. Unfortunately, it is a frequent side effect of such treatments.

In a general sense the reason it occurs is similar to the same reason that chemotherapy can be effective in the treatment of cancer. The drugs attack rapidly growing cells which includes both cancer cells and the type cells involved in hair growth. The loss of hair is most often temporary and hair will grow again once the chemotherapy has been completed. Your hair will begin to grow again about one to two months after the end of chemotherapy, though the initial color and texture may be different than before.

Hair loss during chemotherapy is not always avoidable, but there are a variety of methods which can assist in coping with the situation. Minoxidil (Rogaine being the best known trade name) does not stop hair loss, but there is some indication that it can slow down the hair loss, and regrowing the hair can occur at a quicker rate. Another more radical procedure is the application of ice packs to the scalp during chemotherapy to slow the blood flow and try to cut down on the damage to the area. There is some indication that this works to some degree in many patients, but it can be uncomfortable, and may have an increased risk of cancer in the scalp for the same reason that it reduces the initial hair loss from the chemotherapy.

You can lessen the visual impact of hair loss during chemotherapy treatments on your life by thinking ahead. Before beginning treatments, you should not do anything that could cause damage to your hair, such as coloring, bleaching or any other chemical process. Try to think ahead and decide if you are going to want to wear a wig during your treatments, or if you are simply going to cut your hair short or if you want to go ahead and shave your hair prior to treatment.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Monday, October 8, 2007

Kidney Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment


Kidneys are part of the urinary tract. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the same size as a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, one on either side of the spine. Urine collects in a hollow space (renal pelvis) in the middle of each kidney. They make urine by removing wastes and extra water from the blood. It passes from the renal pelvis into the bladder through a tube called a ureter. Urine leaves the body through another tube (the urethra). The kidneys are part of the body system called the urinary system.

It is made up the Kidneys, Ureters,Bladder,Prostate (in men) and Urethra.The kidneys filter the blood. As the blood passes through the kidneys, waste products and unneeded water are collected and turned into urine. The urine is gathered in an area called the renal pelvis at the centre of each kidney. From here it drains into the bladder down a tube called the ureter. There are 2 ureters one from each kidney. Another tube called the urethra carries the urine from the bladder out of the body.

Kidney cancer most happens in people over 40. Risk factors include smoking, having certain genetic conditions and misusing pain medicines for a long time. Each kidney has about 1 million nephrons. Inside the nephrons, waste products in the blood move across from the bloodstream (the capillaries) into the urine-carrying tubes inside the nephron. These tubes are called tubules. As the blood passes through the blood vessels of the nephron, all unwanted waste is taken away. Any chemicals needed by the body are kept or returned to the bloodstream by the nephrons. In this way, the kidney helps to regulate the levels of chemicals in the blood such as sodium and potassium. So the right levels are maintained to keep the body healthy.


Causes of Kidney Cancer

Kidneys is a part of urinary system, which removes waste and excess fluid and electrolytes from your blood, controls the production of red blood cells. Different cancers have different risk factors. First is Cigarette smoking increases the risk of getting kidney cancer by about 40%. Cigarette smokers are twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop kidney cancer. Second is overweight person has a much higher risk of getting kidney cancer and last is job increases the risk of kidney cancer.others risk factors is High blood pressureand some Medicines, such as pain-reliever (phenacetin).

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Common symptoms of kidney cancer include is Blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty to deep red) ,Pain in the side that does not go away ,A lump or mass in the side or the abdomen ,Weight loss ,Fever ,Feeling very tired and Fatigue.

Treatment of Kidney Cancer

Surgery is the standard treatment for contained kidney cancer. Arterial embolization is a type of local therapy that shrinks the tumor. Sometimes it is done before an operation to make surgery easier.Biologic therapies are used more frequently. Biological therapy uses the body’s natural ability (immune system) to fight cancer. It uses substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body. Radiation and chemotherapy are not very effective in treating kidney cancer. Chemotherapy is also a type of systemic therapy. Medications such as alpha-interferon and interleukin-2 (IL-2) have been successful in reducing the growth of some renal cell carcinomas, including some with metastasis.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Breast Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment


Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is a cancer of the breast tissue, which can occur in both women and men. Breast cancer may be one of the oldest known forms of cancer tumors in humans.Worldwide, breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer). Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. Today, breast cancer, like other forms of cancer, is considered to be a result of damage to DNA. How this mechanism may occur comes from several known or hypothesized factors (such as exposure to ionizing radiation, or viral mutagenesis). Some factors lead to an increased rate of mutation (exposure to estrogens) and decreased repair (the BRCA1, BRCA2 and p53) genes. Alcohol generally appears to increase the risk of breast cancer.

Breast cancer can also occur in men, although it rarely does. Experts predict 178,000 women and 2,000 men will develop breast cancer in the United States. There are several different types of breast cancer. First is Ductal carcinoma begins in the cells lining the ducts that bring milk to the nipple and accounts for more than 75% of breast cancers. Second is Lobular carcinoma begins in the milk-secreting glands of the breast but is otherwise fairly similar in its behavior to ductal carcinoma. Other varieties of breast cancer can arise from the skin, fat, connective tissues, and other cells present in the breast. Some women have what is known as HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2, short for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, is a gene that helps control cell growth, division, and repair. When cells have too many copies of this gene, cell growth speeds up.

Causes of Breast Cancer

Simply being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer. While men can also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers are found in women age 50 or older. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are linked to changes (mutations) in certain genes. The most common gene changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. Woman with cancer in one breast has a greater chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from the first cancer coming back Many experts now believe that the main reason for this is because they have faster growing tumors. Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian women have a lower risk of getting breast cancer. Certain types of abnormal biopsy results can be linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier in life have a greatly increased risk of breast cancer


Some pregnant women were given the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought to lower their chances of losing the baby. Recent studies have shown that these women (and their daughters who were exposed to DES while in the uterus), have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. Use of alcohol is clearly linked to a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer. Women who have 1 drink a day have a very small increased risk. Those who have 2 to 5 drinks daily have about 1½ times the risk of women who drink no alcohol. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting the amount you drink.Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, especially for women after change of life and if the weight gain took place during adulthood. Also, the risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is in the waist area. Breast-feeding and pregnancy: Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers a woman’s total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy. Women who began having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

1.Lumps.

2.Rash.

3.Breast Pain.

4.Cysts.

5.Nipple Discharge.

6.Inverted Nipple.

Treatment of Breast Cancer

1.Hormonal therapy (with tamoxifen).

2.Chemotherapy.

3.Radiotherapy.

4.Surgery.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

A Brief Information About Mesothelioma Cancer


What is Mesothelioma?
Most of people know that mesothelioma is an acronym of mesothelium which is thin membranes lining the chest, lungs, abdomen and sometimes the heart. Mesothelieum protects these organs with a dual layered membrane called visceral and parietal membranes which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the visceral membrane. There is a lubricating fluid between it that allows the organs to move. This fluid helps organs move easily between surrounding structure and reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing.So What Is Mesothelioma Cancer?Mesothelioma Cancer is a form of cancer which occurs in mesothelium. This cancer cells become abnormal and replicate without control. They will invade and damage tissues and organs and spread throughout the body causing death. It metastasizes and at an advanced stage the disease reach to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs. Mesothelioma cancer will cause fluid to accumulate between the lung lining and the chest cavity.The Cause of Mesothelioma CancerThere are a lot of cases that indicate the cause of mesothelioma cancer but most of them are caused by exposure to asbestos.


Asbestos can be found in insulation in many buildings. Asbestos can also be found in floor tiles, roofing, dust, rocks, cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, and textiles. Asbestos consists of fibers that can enter the body through the skin, the mouth, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream. When a person breathes in, the fibers then travel to the ends of the narrow air passages reaching the lining of the lungs and destructing the mesothelial cells (the lining of the lung cells). If swallowed, these fibers can get in to the lining of the abdominal cavity where they play a part in causing a mesothelioma cancer.The Patients of Mesothelioma CancerPeople in the construction jobs such as in shipyards, insulation, boilermaking, milling plants, fireproofing and heating, automotive repair, and pipefitting are at the risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer. Common cases are found from workers such as Factory workers, miners, railroad laborers, gas mask makers, insulation workers and ship builders. People who have received asbestos exposure of as little as one or two months to very low doses are at risk of mesothelioma cancer. People who wash clothes of asbestos exposed people are at risk.The Chance of RecoveryIt depends on size and location of the cancer, age of the patient and their response to the treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, the five year survival rate is about 10 percent. Most patients only survive for a year after diagnosis or 4 to 24 months from the observance of the symptoms. Some physicians find it hard to detect mesothelioma cancer because its symptoms are akin to other diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. The average age of patients is between 50 and 70 years, three-fourths of patients diagnosed are over 65.Three Types of Mesothelioma CancerPrimarily, mesothelioma cancer occurs in three areas, and categorized into:1. Pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer), mesothelioma of the membrane covers the lungs and chest cavity as well as the lungs2. Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs), mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that enfolds the organs in the abdominal cavity.3. Pericardial mesothelioma, mesothelioma of the pericardium. Pericardium is the sac enclosing the heart.Symptoms of Mesothelioma CancerThe symptoms of mesothelioma cancer occur owing to the deposition of fluid in the pleura. The patient would generally feel a pain in the chest region, accompanied by shallow breathing. The other symptoms are include : respiratory problem, continual cough and pneumonia, weight loss due to accumulation of fluid, abdominal problems and swelling of the neck or face, fever, anemia, difficulties in bowel movements, abnormalities observed during blood clots, fibrosis, pleural effusion, calcified plaques, bronchial cancer, and difficulty sleeping.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Know Your Skin Cancer

By: Juliet Cohen

Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, so a tumor is usually clearly visible. There are three major types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas and most squamous cell carcinomas are slow growing and highly treatable, especially if found early. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It affects deeper layers of the skin and has the greatest potential to spread to other tissues in the body. Squamous cell carcinoma also can spread internally. It is estimated that over 1 million new cases occur annually. The annual rates of all forms of skin cancer are increasing each year, representing a growing public concern. It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common. For localized melanoma, the 5-year survival rate is 99%; survival rates for regional and distant stage diseases are 65% and 15%, respectively.

Skin cancer is an increasingly common condition. This is in part attributed to increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which in turn is thought to be caused by the increased popularity of sun tanning. Solar or actinic keratoses are rough, red or brown, scaly patches on the skin. They are usually found on areas exposed to the sun, and sometimes develop into squamous cell cancer. Moles are clusters of heavily pigmented skin cells, either flat or raised above the skin surface. While most pose no danger, some-particularly large moles present at birth, or those with mottled colors and poorly defined borders-may develop into malignant melanoma. Moles are frequently removed for cosmetic reasons, or because they're constantly irritated by clothing or jewelry. Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. There are varieties of treatments available, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, to treat skin cancer.

Skin Segmentation

The goals of treatment for skin cancer are to remove all of the cancer, reduce the chance of recurrence, preserve healthy skin tissue, and minimize scarring after surgery. Treatment for skin cancer depends on the type and size of cancer, your age, and your overall health. Surgery is the most common form of treatment. It generally consists of an office or outpatient procedure to remove the lesion and check edges to make sure all the cancer was removed. Most skin cancer removal can be done using a local anesthetic. Excisional biopsy – The entire tumor along with a margin of tissue that is not a visible part of the tumor is removed. Incisional biopsy – A portion of the lesion is removed during an incisional biopsy, which is usually performed when the lesion is large. In cryosurgery, tissue is destroyed by freezing to -40 ° C or below. Liquid nitrogen, the only cryogen effective in destroying malignant and premalignant skin tumors, is used. Radiation may destroy basal and squamous cell carcinomas if surgery isn't an option. Biological therapy-Interferon and interleukin-2 are under study to treat melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Skin Cancer Treatment Tips

1. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. And 2 p.m. and during the summer months.

2. Excisional skin surgery is a common treatment to remove skin cancer.

3. Mohs surgery (also called Mohs micrographic surgery) is often used for skin cancer. The area of the growth is numbed.

4. Electrodesiccation and curettage is often used to remove small basal cell skin cancers.

5. Cryosurgery is often used for people who are not able to have other types of surgery.

6. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

7. Use a high-factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 that filters out UVB and UVA and reapply it every two hours.

8. Wear protective clothing - a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and loose, tightly woven clothing

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Saturday, September 29, 2007

Cancer - One in two men and one in three women will get it. What to do?

Lung Cancer


By: Patrick Hamouy
There is nothing that puts more fear in people than a diagnosis of Cancer. Statistically speaking, we now have one in two chances (male) or one in three chances (female) of getting cancer before the end of our life (American Cancer Society statistics for the year 2003). At the beginning of the 20th century, statistics gave us one in 500 chances of getting cancer.

All cancers considered, if you have a primary cancer (in one location only) the most optimistic statistics only give you 28% chances of recovery. If you have metastatic cancer (in more than one location) then your chances of recovery are 0.1% or in other words, one chance in one thousand to recover - (statistics from Dr Philip Binzel book "Alive and Well" published by American Media).

The news is bleak to say the least. However, as we will see later on, this need not be the case.

Ever since I can remember, I have read newspaper articles, heard claims on TV or radio, reporting new "wonder" cures on the war against cancer. Victory against this terrible disease was, according to these reports, just around the corner. Why is it then that so many people are still dying from this disease? Are the 600 UK cancer charities (The largest UK charities being Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Cancer Research Campaign and Institute of Cancer Research) lying to us?

The "American Cancer Society" is the richest charity in the world. All debts paid, it would still have half a billion dollars in the bank!

Linus Pauling, the winner of two Nobel prizes, seemed to think so when he said: "Everyone should know that most cancer research is largely a fraud and that the major cancer research organisations are derelict in their duties to the people who support them."

What is Cancer?

Modern researchers have for many years been exploring the virus connection at a cost of billions of dollars and pounds. The pitiful result is that "no cancer that was incurable 25 years ago is curable today and that, for the most common cancers that kills 90% of patients today chemotherapy is no better than snake oil" (The Cancer Handbook. What Doctors don't tell you publication. By Lynne Taggart).

When you are diagnosed with cancer, what the doctor is really saying is that you have one or several tumours in your body and that at least one of the tumours contains some cancer cells. They see the tumours as the enemy that has to be fought and destroyed and all their efforts are directed against eradicating the tumours.

What is a tumour though? A tumour is only a symptom; it shows that something has gone wrong in your body and that your immune system is no longer available to fight it. Many researchers claim that we all have tumours in our body and that several times in our life we get cancer. However, we do not all die from cancer. The reason is that our body's defence mechanism spring into action when a tumour is formed and gets rid of it or at least neutralises it. If cancer cells are beginning to form, these are killed off by our immune system and all is back to normal.

However if for some reason our immune system is severely deficient and we are unable to fight off the formation of the cancerous cells, then disease spreads.

What needs to be done to fight the tumour is not so much to remove it (surgery), burn it (radiation) or poison it (chemotherapy) as all these will weaken our immune system (damaging both our liver and kidneys to a point where it is difficult for our body to fight off any health problem). But to find out why the tumour formed in the first place and remove the cause.

Fighting it according to Dr Binzel is no good, our body now has in its memory the recipe to form tumours and uses the negative ingredients we feed it with to form new tumours and it will rarely stop doing so unless we remove the cause. The lack of positive ingredients (Vitamins, minerals and essential enzymes) to fight off the tumour is just as important.

Let me compare this reasoning with the simple example of a tooth infection. There is no point in taking painkillers to fix the tooth. I grant you that they will probably relieve the pain but I profess that they will not cure the tooth. What needs to be done is to get rid of the infection with antibiotics or have the tooth removed.

What do cancer cells feed on?

Several factors such as diet, negative emotions/ stress and environmental toxins are usually responsible for the development of cancer. Dietary speaking, cancer cells need food to survive. Dr Otto Warburg received the Nobel Prize for scientifically proving that cancer feed from the fermentation of sugar:

"in cancer cells [the feeding] is replaced by an energy-yielding reaction of the lowest living forms; namely, a fermentation of glucose" (quoted in prevention - May 1968).

Cancer Growth

According to Macrobiotic medicine theory, cancer cells also feed on animal protein (all types of meat, especially chicken but also very much on dairy, eggs etc..)

Detecting cancer

Currently, surgeons often perform a biopsy when cancer is suspected. A biopsy is a way of extracting a quantity of matter from a tumour and test it to see if it is cancerous. The problem with this method is that if the tumour is cancerous and the tumour is punctured, there is a definite risk that the cancerous liquid will spread to surrounding cells and spread the cancer around the body (Roger Delin - medical analyst - Philippines.

Breast cancer is often diagnosed using a mammogram. The main manufacturer of mammographic equipment is a company called "Smarlight Mammographics". They state: "We expected error rates to be around 30%, but the wide range of results (10%-90%) was an eye-opener." Amazing admission from the largest manufacturer of what is considered as the ultimate test to detect breast cancer. Unbelievable !

It is interesting to learn that autopsies have shown that many undetected cancers were present in the body of people who died from other causes. This makes a mockery of medical statistics and confirms that in fact a substantial number of cancers are never detected and do not obligatorily cause death.

A Swedish study has revealed that 15% of major cancers were not revealed before death and around half were of a type normally considered fatal (ref: wddty).

Modern approach and progress on cancer

The modern approach to treat cancer is surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormones and immunotherapy. The percentage of oncologists (cancer doctors) who would not participate in chemotherapy trials is an alarming 75% (due to its toxicity). (John Robbins – "The source of true healing")

The progresses made were, it appears more due to the temporary reduction in tumour size rather than in an increase in the life expectancy for the patient. No mentions were made however of the increased suffering caused by the side effects of the drugs taken.

2- Statistics

Statistics from the American Cancer Society

* 556,500 cancer deaths were expected in 2003 in the United States alone (more than 1,500 a day)

* About 1,334,100 new cancers were expected in the USA for 2003 (excluding skin cancers)

* 17,000,000 Americans developed cancer between 1990 and 2002

* Despite billions of $ and £ being spent on research, there was only a 1.4% decrease in cancer deaths between 1989 and 1995. Very poor considering more cancers were detected (and detected earlier) using sophisticated methods.

*Estimates for 2003 was that 1,000,000 people would get skin cancer

*The cost of cancer for year 2000 was $180.2 billion (USA alone). $60 billion for direct medical costs, 15 billion for indirect morbidity costs (cost of lost productivity due to illness) and $105.2 billion for indirect mortality costs (cost of lost productivity due to premature death).

* About 211,300 new breast cancers diagnosis were expected in 2003

3- What to do to protect yourself or help beat cancer?

The American Cancer Society stated on their web site for the year 2003 statistics that three quarter of all cancers are due to poor Diet and Environmental causes.

I personally would also include "Negative Emotions Stress" as being a major cause of cancer and increase this figure to: "Over 90% of all cancers are due to poor diet, negative emotions and environmental factors" (my own opinion based on years observations).

To protect yourself from cancer or help yourself if you have cancer, you must:

1- Change your diet

2- Work on your emotions

3- Get rid of your (home) environmental toxins

4- Replenish your energy with natural therapies or remedies
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The Four Stages Of Ovarian Cancer


By: Fred Camaros
Ovarian cancer, as in all other forms of the disease, is graded by treating doctors according to its level of advancement. The stages of ovarian cancer are graded one to four, with four being the most serious stage.

Stage one of cancer of the ovaries is the least advanced stage. This is where the cancer has been discovered relatively early in its development and has been confined to the ovaries only. In stage one, as in all the other stages of the disease spread, there are also sub stages, and they run as follows:

Stage 1a: The cancer is contained inside one ovary

Stage 1b: The cancer has spread to both ovaries

Stage 1c: The cancer is contained to one ovary and there is some evidence of cancerous cells appearing on the ovary’s surface.

Stage 1d: The cancer is contained to one ovary and there is some evidence of cancerous cells found in the abdominal fluids.

Stage 1e: The cancer is contained to one ovary and the ovary ruptures either before or during surgery.

In stage two of ovarian cancer, the cancer has spread to be outside the ovaries. The sub stages of stage two run as follows:

Stage2a: The cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or the womb

Stage 2b: The cancer has grown into other tissues in the pelvis. These can be either the rectum or the bladder.

Stage 2c: The cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or the womb as well as other tissues in the pelvis as well as there is some cancer on the surface of at least one ovary

Stage 2d: The cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or the womb as well as other tissues in the pelvis as well as cancer cells are found in abdominal fluid during surgery.



Stage 2e: The cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or the womb as well as the ovary ruptures before or during surgery

Stage three of the ovarian cancer’s development means the cancer has spread outside the pelvis into the abdominal cavity. The cancer is also designated as being stage there if cancerous cells are found in the lymph nodes of the upper abdomen or groin.

The sub stages of stage three run as follows:

Stage 3a: Cancer can be seen under the microscope in tissue taken from the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum)

Stage 3b: Tumorous growths smaller than 2cm are discovered on the lining of the abdomen

Stage 3c: Tumorous growths smaller than 2cm are discovered on the lining of the abdomen, or the lymph nodes in the upper abdomen, or the groin or behind the womb contain cancer.

Stage four is the most advanced of all forms of ovarian cancer, where the cancer has spread into other body organs such as the liver or lungs.
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Prevent Digestive System Cancers


By: Dr Jenny Tylee
Cancer is the growth of abnormal cells. These changes cells grow and they can form into small tumours. The tumours can place pressure on nerves or blood vessels or they can interfere with the function of organs - such as obstructing the intestines. Some cancers grow slowly and it can take years for them to become life threatening - however others can grow very rapidly. Cancers are named according to the type of tissue in which they occur - carcinomas, begin in the tissues of organs (these are the most common gastrointestinal cancers); lymphomas develop in the immune system, particularly in the lymph nodes; sarcomas start on the connective tissue such as muscle or bone.

Cancers can be throughout the digestive tract but the most common sites are the colon and rectum. Symptoms of cancers in the digestive tract include:
• blood in the stool
• difficulty in swallowing
• abdominal pain
• unexplained weight loss
• changes in bowel habits - not related to changes in diet.
You should have any of these symptoms checked by a health professional. If cancers are detected and treated early enough the prognosis is good.

Colorectal cancers begin with changes to the intestinal lining and the development of polyps. While not all polyps become cancerous nearly all colon cancers start as polyps.

Some of the factors that increase the risk of colorectal cancer

• A diet that is high in saturated fats, particularly red meat such as beef, pork and lamb and a diet that is low in fruit and vegetables.
• A diet and lifestyle that increases the level of toxins in the bowel. Toxins cause problems for the body - they irritate tissues, cause cells to breakdown and mutagenic changes to occur.
• Inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel disease, Crohn’s disease all increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
• Smoking - colorectal cancer rates are higher among smokers than non-smokers.
• Polyps - nearly all colorectal cancers start as polyps.
• Hereditary - if other members of your family have colorectal cancer then you are at increased risk.



Your hereditary predisposition is a factor over which you have little control but there is a lot that you can do to reduce the risks associated with colorectal cancer - as well as other cancers. Having a healthy lifestyle and reducing the toxins that you are exposed to and in particular those that you ingest will greatly assist.

One of the most important things that you can do is to have a clean colon. So then what is colon cleansing? Proper and safe colon cleansing is the process of enabling the body to remove the stored and harmful substances by re-establishing the normal balance and function of the colon and the rest of the digestive process. Only through this thorough process is the body able to begin healing and repair and only then can there be a restoration of health and vitality.

The colon performs many vital functions but one of its most important is the effective removal of toxins from the body. There are many factors that are able to interfere with this elimination process. If the process is slowed or the bacterial balance of the colon is destroyed then toxins that are ingested and are a by-product of normal digestion will be absorbed into the bloodstream. The body will attempt to eliminate then through other routes however these can become overwhelmed. When this occurs the body needs to store the toxins. These stored toxins cause damage to tissue and are the basis of many diseases. They need to be eliminated from the body. Effective colon cleansing provides a safe means for achieving the cleansing of the whole body. When the toxins are effectively removed form the colon then the risks associated with the development of colorectal and many other cancers in the body are reduced.

Discover how to properly cleanse internally to gain and maintain your health and reduce your risk of colorectal cancer with safe colon cleansing. Then get on with really enjoying life.
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Blood Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Blood Cancer Cells
By: Juliet Cohen
Blood is a parts of the body. Blood has different components sch as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. The red blood cells (rbc), platelets also called monocytes because it is belong to the “myeloid” group and other white blood cells belong to the “lymphoid” group. Lymphoid cells are affected. Disease progresses quickly. This is most common among children. Blood cancer or Leukaemia is actually a group of diseases, each of which impede with the normal functioning of blood cells and progressively weaken the system.leukaemia is classified as either Acute or Chronic. Blood and urine samples may also be tested for various substances, called tumor markers, which may indicate cancer.

Tumor markers are typically chemicals made by tumor cells, but tumor makers are also produced by some normal cells in your body. Lymphoid cells are affected. Disease progresses over a long period.Usually affects adults, more men than women.Myeloid cells are affected. Disease progresses over a long period of time. More common among adults. One of the major goals of the trial was to compare the two groups in terms of risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a common and sometimes fatal complication of allogeneic transplants in which the patient’s immune system attacks the transplant.

Causes of Blood Cancer

1. Exposure to radiation.

2. Exposure to chemicals.

3. Human T-cell Leukaemia Virus (HTLV)

4. Genetic factors (chromosomal abnormalities).

Symptoms of Blood Cancer

1. Tiredness.

2. Bleeding.

3. Bruising.

4. Fever.

5. Weight loss.

Treatment of Blood Cancer

Chemotherapy is destroy the abnormal cancer cells. If the leukaemia returns (relapses), intensive treatment may be given. This involves a bone marrow or a stem cell transplant.Stem cell transplant involves transplanting stem cells (the most basic type of cell, from which all types of blood cells develop), rather than bone marrow cells. Stem cells can be harvested (collected) from a leukaemia patient’s own blood or from a donor. Bone marrow or stem cell transplants allow much higher doses of chemotherapy to be given. Before transplantation, very high doses of chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy are given to destroy all the bone marrow, both abnormal and normal.
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