Saturday, December 28, 2013
Great Guide On How To Fight Cancer
Detecting cancer at the earliest possible stage is key when it comes to beating cancer. There are many powerful tests and screening procedures that can provide evidence of cancer even before you experience any symptoms. You should also perform regular monthly self-examinations for cancers like testes and breast cancer.
You can significantly reduce your risk of cancer with a healthy diet full of antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage that can lead to cancerous changes. Eat a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, broccoli and blueberries as well as hundreds of other antioxidant-rich foods.
Skin cancer can be very serious, even deadly. Malignant Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that often can't be cured. Be proactive and have your skin checked regularly by your doctor or dermatologist. He or she can see places you can't and examine you for suspicious moles and skin changes.
If you are diagnosed with cancer, then you should remember to try to find out everything you can from your doctor about your illness and its treatment. Ask questions that will tell you what kind of cancer you have, what stage it is in, if it is treatable, where it is located, how far it has spread, and more. This will not only give you ease of mind, but it will inform you on the best ways to treat your cancer.
As stated before, cancer causes the growth of abnormal cells in the body. Once these cells form tumors, they destroy the body from the inside out. Different factors in our environment can lead to cancer, and if you remember the tips from the article above, you can avoid these factors and cancer.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Processed Meat to Blame for Cancer of the Bladder
The very same chemicals that make processed meats like cold cuts appealingly pink and flavorful, while keeping botulism at bay may also raise your risk of cancer of the bladder according to a new report. This year just over 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed with this disease, and more than 2% of the population will develop it over their lifetime.
Pointing a tentative finger at nitrites and nitrates, used as preservatives and to add color and flavor to red meat cold cuts, the researchers agree that more work needs to be done to confirm their findings.
In general, work linking meat and bladder cancer has offered inconsistent results, these latest findings bring modest support for the idea of an increased risk of bladder cancer based on dietary nitrite and nitrate intake.
When it comes to bladder cancer, risk factors that are known to be trouble include smoking and exposure to arsenic.
Still there are other likely exposures, and that's why the team investigated whether compounds found in meat that form during cooking - heterocyclic amines (HCAs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - or during the preservation of some types of meats - nitrates and nitrites - were linked to cancer of the bladder. Nitrate and nitrite are precursors to N-nitroso compounds (NOCs) thought to induce tumors in organs.
It's important to understand that the red meat that's not in the form of a cold cut, things like beef, bacon, hamburger, sausage and steak... were not connected to bladder cancer. Instead it was red meat cold cuts that brought the increased risk.
To complete the work data was used from a study that started in 1995. The research followed 300,933 older men and women (age 50-71) in eight U.S. states; with participants filling out questionnaires on the meat they ate as well as how it was cooked. The researchers matched this data to lab measured meat components and the total dietary nitrate and nitrite intake were calculated based on the values given.
During the eight-year study 854 (less than 0.3%) were diagnosed with bladder cancer. The team saw that the top fifth of participants whose diets were high in nitrites from all sources (not just meat) and those who got a lot of nitrites in their diet from processed meats had about a 30% greater risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer than those whose consumption of these foods was ranked lowest.
People who ate the most red meat were younger, less educated, less physically active and ate fewer fruits, veggies and vitamins C and E than those who ate the least red meat. The biggest meat eaters among us, according to Cross, are more likely to be non-Hispanic, white, a smoker with a higher BMI.
If you're worried about your risk of bladder cancer, there are things to think about...
- Stop smoking - smoking increases your risk of bladder cancer five-fold.
- Eat a healthy diet, low in fried meats and fat.
- Understand the risks and avoid being exposed to substances at work - dye workers, rubber workers, aluminum workers, leather workers, truck drivers and pesticide applicators are especially at risk.
- Lingering bladder infection, one that's chronic, can lead to the development of squamous cell bladder cancers only.
- Parasite infections in third world nations of the organism schistosomiasis have been linked to the development of this type of cancer.
- If you have any symptoms, don't wait, talk with your doctor right away. You may have an abdominal CT scan, biopsy or some other test to see where you stand and get treatment underway.
The good news when it comes to cancer of the bladder is that most cases today are caught early, when treatment is most effective. How well you do depends on the stage of the cancer and how you respond to therapy, but often the outlook is good, and getting better all the time. Follow up and screening to be sure you stay cancer free are also important.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from Daily Health Bulletin and click the link now to discover more about preventing cancer of the bladder and the causes and treatments of other cancers.
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Sunday, December 15, 2013
Green Tea's Fight Against Cancer
By Kerry Gregg
Green tea has long been known for its cancer-preventing and cancer-fighting properties. But with more scientific research coming in every year, we're finding out that drinking green tea is a much more potent fighter in the war against cancer than previously thought.
There have been dozens of research studies that have linked drinking green tea regularly to both a preventative and fighting effect on cancer cells in the body. Scientists believe that it is the high number of the antioxidants epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), flavonoids and polyphenols that help to prevent the formation of cancer cells, kill existing cancer cells and stop the progression of cancer cells.
Breast cancer. Studies on animals suggest that the polyphenols in green tea slow the growth rate of breast cancer cells. In a study of 472 women with varying degrees of breast cancer, scientists found that those who drank the most amount of green tea had the least spread of cancer
Prostate cancer. Researchers in Southeast China found that the risk of prostate cancer declined with an increase in green tea consumption.
Lung cancer. The polyphenols in green tea have been found to slow the growth of human lung cancer cells in laboratory test tubes.
Colorectal cancer. Various studies have concluded that drinking 1.2-4.5 cups of tea per day results in a significantly reduced risk of both colon and rectal cancers - in some studies the risk was dropped by 60%.
Ovarian cancer. Studies have found that 1) there is a distinct correlation between an increase of tea consumption and a decrease in the risk of ovarian cancer, 2) women who drank at least one cup of green tea per day lived longer with existing ovarian cancer.
Skin cancer. Studies have found that EGCG and polyphenols in green tea have certain anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties that may help to prevent the formation and growth of skin tumors.
Stomach cancer. Controlled laboratory studies using test tubes found that the polyphenols in green tea inhibit the growth of stomach cancer cells.
Bladder cancer. One study found that women who consumed green tea had a lower risk of developing bladder cancer. Another study revealed that bladder cancer patients (particularly male) who drank green tea had a substantially better five-year survival rate than those who did not drink green tea.
Esophageal cancer. In animal testing, studies have found that green tea polyphenols slowed the growth rate of esophageal cancer cells.
Pancreatic cancer. Researchers have found that a direct link exists between drinking green tea and a lowered risk of pancreatic cancer. For women, those who drank the most green tea were 50% less likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Men who drank the most green tea were 37% less likely to develop pancreatic cancer.
As studies continue be conducted with findings pointing towards a positive link between drinking green tea and a reduced risk of cancer, there seems to be no doubt among researchers that green tea is the most healthy drink on Earth.
Kerry Gregg is the proprietor and driving force behind http://www.TeaDen.com TeaDen sells a variety of antioxidant-rich organic whole leaf teas and the site also has a wealth of information on the proven benefits of drinking tea, such as cancer prevention, weight loss, and cardiovascular health.
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Sunday, December 8, 2013
Maintaining Your Urological Health
When it comes to men's health issues, urological conditions are often neglected. It is important to note that maintaining your urological health is necessary for overall well being. According to urological surgeons and consultants, some of the common urological conditions that are usually observed in patients include urinary tract infections (e.g. cystitis, pyelonephritis), haematuria (blood in urine), difficulties with passing urine, prostatic enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia), and even urological cancers.
Urological advice is also important in case of erectile dysfunction or loss of libido. In fact, most renowned urological surgeons and consultants offer their advice on several men's health issues, including prostate and bladder function, cancer, sexual function, change of lifestyle and diet.
If you are suffering from any of these urological conditions, do not waste time. Talk to your doctor about them. Delay in seeking medical attention could increase the risk for a more serious condition. According to urological surgeons, most men feel embarrassed whilst talking about their urological health, especially erectile dysfunction and other sexual health concerns. There is no need to cause yourself unnecessary stress. Visit your doctor or a well known urology consultant today and discuss openly your problems. This would help you maintain your urological health and live a healthy life.
Some of the common urological health conditions have been discussed below:
Urinary tract infection: Although women are more prone to urinary tract infection, investigation is advised for men as well. It is important to seek your doctor's advice; the actual cause for infection and any complications involved can be identified with the help of thorough investigations. In most cases, a short course of antibiotics cures the infections.
Bladder Health Concerns: Troublesome bladder symptoms may include incontinence, and difficulties with passing urine. There are several conditions affecting bladder health such as stones in the bladder and urinary infections, but also bladder cancer. Most urological surgeons advise men above 50 years of age to undergo thorough investigation of any bladder symptoms.
Haematuria: Any visible amount of blood in the urine calls for urological investigations to identify the underlying cause or any complications. Sometimes, microscopic amounts of blood may be present in the urine. In case of microscopic haematuria, it is advisable to consult your doctor and undergo a thorough medical examination, particularly if you are 50 years old or have other urological symptoms. In the absence of any urological cause, you may need to consult a nephrologist to get your kidneys examined.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): As men get older, they may suffer from BPH that causes prostate enlargement and even bladder malfunctioning. In many cases, it can be treated with medication; otherwise help of urological surgeons may be needed.
Urological cancer: The problem with prostate cancer is that it shows few, if any, symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. According to the American Urological Association, one in every six men is diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. So, it is advisable to talk to your doctor about the screening and diagnosis of urological cancer if you are 40 or above. Other common urological cancers that are more likely to affect men are kidney cancer and bladder cancer. Blood in the urine and symptoms similar to urinary infections may be caused by bladder cancer. Unlike other cancers, testicular cancer tends to affect young men, and self-examination is recommended. Testicular cancer is not usually painful in the early stages, but occasionally can be confused with a painful testicular infection. If you observe a swelling within or on the testis, seek doctor's advice immediately.
It is always good to be proactive and take a preventive approach when it comes to urological health.
Mark Feneley is a Consultant Urological Surgeons and specialist in men's health issuses and urological cancer in London, UK.
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Sunday, December 1, 2013
Chronotherapy in Cancer Treatment
By Tom Marshal
Chronotherapy refers to the use of circadian or other rhythmic cycles in the application of therapy. Chronotherapy is used in the treatment of asthma, cancer, hypertension, and multiple types of depression and bipolar disorder. Apart from the clinical applications, chronotherapy is becoming increasingly popular in non-clinical settings, for example in the group oriented works, where it is used to increase productivity and performance.
Existence of a circadian clock has been observed in behavioral and physiological patterns in all living organisms (plants and animals). These patterns seemed to regulate themselves very strictly around the 24 hour cycles of day and night and hence early biologists suggested that there was an inner mechanism that regulated these changes. They regulate important bodily functions such as sleeping, hormone production, digestive secretion, and immune activity. Management of the circadian clock is important because disruption of the expression of these genes can lead to the disruption of the cell cycle which is the basis for cancer development. Now, doctors after studying the patient's biorhythms, coordinate the timing of their medical treatments to these biorhythms. This is called chronotherapy. Cancer chronotherapy is one of the latest developments in the treatment of cancer patients.
Cell physiology is regulated along the 24-hour timescale by the circadian clock. This circadian organization is responsible for predictable changes and efficacy of anticancer agents, and possibly in tumor growth. It has been found that often patients receiving chronotherapy reduce what would have been recurring side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. The science of Chronotherapy, i.e., timing medicines or therapies according to the patients circadian and biological clock, to optimize benefits and minimize side effects, has been shown through various studies to have material benefits with health issues such as: cholesterol, asthma, blood pressure, and arthritis.
A cancer is an uncontrolled proliferation of cells because of irregularities in the regulation of the cell cycle. In order to achieve cancerous growths, several mutations must take place to knock out the cell cycle's natural defense against cancer. Several studies have shown a strong correlation between the expression of circadian genes and various cell cycle phases. Therefore, the circadian clock can indirectly control the expression of genes. The hormones are under the influence of the circadian clock as we can monitor the 24 hour rhythmic changes in their levels in the body. Therefore, any disruption of the circadian clock will have an adverse affect on the secretion of these hormones and as a result disrupt cell proliferation rates. As a result, a disrupted circadian clock can lead to a compromised immune system which in turn leads to cancer development.
Cancer chronotherapy works to improve the negative effects on the body. The main ideology behind chronotherapy is that it takes advantage of the fact that normal cells all follow the circadian rhythm when it comes to the cell cycle. As a result, it can easily be determined at which phase the cell cycle in normal cells is at a particular time of the day. However, tumor cells do not follow the 24 hour circadian rhythm and are more often than not at a different phase of the cell cycle than normal cells. Therefore, the treatment is given at the time of day when there will be least damage to host tissues.
Cancer chronotherapy is currently in practice and positive signs are emerging from clinical trials in which this treatment is being used and hopefully in the near future. Chronotherapy concepts appear to offer further potential to improve current cancer treatment options as well as to optimize the development of new anticancer agents.
Tom Marshal is a freelance writer specialized in topics that cover health of the general public. Have you found this article helpful and informative?
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