#Chlorine and #Cancer: What Can a Water Filter Do for You?

By Vanessa Lausch

Every day, cases of cancer are rising in astounding and unprecedented numbers.
While medical professionals work tirelessly to find a cure for this most deadly of
diseases, the numbers of terminally ill patients continue to climb. Although the
cure for cancer continues to elude medical professionals, it is completely within our
own power to protect our families and ourselves and to reduce our risks whenever
possible.

In recent years, individuals have begun to seriously examine known carcinogens and
to protect themselves from these cancer-causing agents. Sunscreen has become an
important defense against skin cancer, and its use is on the rise. The number of
smokers attempting to quit rises each day, precisely because of new information
about the carcinogenic nature of cigarettes.

The increase in such protective behaviors clearly indicates an increased interest in
protecting oneself from cancer risks. Still, droves of people continue to use and
drink unfiltered tap water, not knowing about or not believing in the insidious
nature of this substance. Whether we like it or not, the water that emerges from our
taps, however pristine it may appear, is filled with carcinogenic compounds. A
simple water filter can now serve as a valuable safeguard against cancer.

Chlorine and Tap Water:
Untreated tap water is filled with such dangerous contaminants as nitrate, arsenic,
microorganisms, and chemicals from pesticide runoff. Once this water reaches a
municipal treatment plant, many contaminants are removed. However, one of the
most dangerous contaminants is actually added to drinking water as a part of the
treatment process.

Chlorine, added as an inexpensive and effective drinking water disinfectant, is also a
known poison to the body. It is certainly no coincidence that chlorine gas was used
with deadly effectiveness as a weapon in the First World War. This gas was known
to severely burn the lungs and other body tissues when inhaled; it is no less
powerful when ingested by mouth. Each day, as we use unfiltered tap water, we are
effectively pouring bleach into our water before we drink it.

This poisonous chemical, accompanied by its byproducts, is now known to cause at
least three types of cancers, among other serious health problems. The U.S. Council
of Environmental Quality recently released a report stating that the risk of cancer is
93% higher among those drinking chlorinated water than among those not drinking
chlorinated water! In the following paragraphs, you can read about the specific
cancer risks of chlorinated water and learn how to protect your family and yourself
from this insidious poison.

Bladder and Rectal Cancer:
Chlorine has long been known to be a leading cause of bladder and rectal cancer.
Once in water, chlorine interacts with organic compounds to create trihalomethanes
(THMs). These THMs are particularly harmful to the body when ingested. When
taken into the body, THMs encourage the production of free radicals. These free
radicals proceed to destroy or damage vital cells in the body. Because so much of
the water we drink ends up in the bladder and/or rectum, ingestions of THMs in
drinking water is particularly damaging to these organs. THMs cause innumerable
cases of bladder and rectal cancer each year.

Bladder and rectal cancer occur when malignant cells, often created by THMs, infect
the inner tissues of the particular organ. Once they have taken hold in the bladder
or rectum, the malignant cells can isolate themselves in the infected area or they
can spread to infect other areas of the body, potentially causing more deadly forms
of cancer. Each year, 13,000 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in women
while 37,000 new cases are diagnosed in men. Of these 50,000 new cases each
year, slightly more than 20% of individuals will die from the disease. For rectal
cancer, more than 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and approximately
55% of those individuals diagnosed will die from the disease.

Ironically, one of the best means of protection against these two types of cancer is
drinking plenty of fluids. However, drinking larger amounts of contaminated water
only exacerbates the risk.

Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is the newest type of cancer to be connected to ingestion of
chlorinated water. Breast cancer affects one out of every eight women in the United
States alone, and it kills approximately _ of its victims.

Recent research has linked this deadly cancer to a buildup of chlorine compounds in
the breast tissue. In a shocking study conducted in Hartford, Connecticut,
researchers found that "women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of
organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue than women without
breast cancer." While chlorine can make its way into our bodies in several ways,
there is no means of access more common or more frequent than the ingestion of
common, unfiltered tap water.

A Simple Solution:
One preventive solution to these three deadly cancers could not be simpler. If
chlorinated drinking water is a leading cause of cancer, then the obvious method of
reducing one's risk of cancer is to refrain from drinking chlorinated water. We
cannot choose whether or not to drink water, but we can choose the type of water
we allow into our bodies.

Municipal water treatment plants add chlorine to water to help make it cleaner and
more pure, but once that chlorine has performed its function, there is certainly no
reason for it to continue its deadly presence in drinking water. A simple home
water filter removes chlorine and its byproducts from drinking water, producing
clean, pure drinking water that can also serve as a useful protection against cancer.
Water filters are one of the only methods of water purification capable of removing
chlorine.

So, what can a water filter do for you? The answer is simple but extremely valuable.
A water filter can protect an individual from cancer, one of the deadliest killers of
the 20th century.

Vanessa Lausch serves as a technical writer for the Aquasana Store, http://www.aquasanastore.com/.

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Common Questions About #BladderCancer Symptoms

By Pieter West

The common symptoms of bladder cancer are painful urination, frequent or unproductive urination, and blood in the urine. Blood in the urine can be obvious red blood or more frequently the urine may appear darker in color, ranging from a slightly rusty color to dark reddish amber resembling tea.

What physician should I see if I am having bladder cancer symptoms?

Depending on how comfortable you are with your family doctor, you can see your them or a urologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract, including bladder cancer symptoms.

How are bladder cancer symptoms diagnosed?

Generally a physician will check your overall healthiness and one or more of the following procedures:

o An in depth physical exam that includes checking the abdomen and pelvis for bladder tumors or other abnormalities. The doctor may also check for bladder tumors via a vaginal and or rectal examination.

o Generally your doctor will collect a urine sample for urinalysis. The urinalysis will show blood cells (red and/or white), cancer cells, and other signs of disease such as chemical abnormalities that can be present with bladder cancer symptoms.

o A common x-ray utilized to show images of the bladder is the intravenous pyelogram (IVP). Dye is injected into a vein and followed as it collects in the urine and travels through the urinary tract and into the bladder. When the dyed urine reaches the bladder, it will make the bladder show up on x-ray. Bladder tumors will be exposed as well.

o An urologist may perform a minor outpatient surgery called a cystoscopy. A small tube with a light at the tip (cystoscope) is inserted into the bladder by way of the urethra (urinary opening). The doctor is then able to view the bladder from the other end of the tube. A doctor can see any abnormalities such as a bladder tumor. Cystoscopy is also used to stage bladder tumors by collecting a tissue sample and examining it under a microscope (this is called a biopsy). With the use of micro-instruments, small tumors can sometimes be removed allowing diagnosis and treatment at the same time.

How do you tell how severe a bladder tumor is?

Once your doctor had performed the tests necessary to diagnose bladder cancer symptoms as cancerous, they will need to determine how severe your cancer is. The only positive way to confirm bladder cancer symptoms are cancer is with a biopsy. With other tests, a doctor may be reasonably sure, but not positive. One component of a biopsy is the staging (extensiveness) of a bladder tumor. There are five stages of bladder cancer symptoms:

o Stage Zero: The least extensive stage - The cancer cells are only in the surface of the inner lining of the bladder.

o Stage One - Cancer cells are found in the deep inner lining of the bladder but have not invaded the bladder muscle.

o Stage Two - Cancer cells have spread to the bladder muscle.

o Stage Three - Cancer cells have spread to through the bladder muscle to the surrounding tissue. This may include the prostate (in men) and uterus or vagina (in women).

o Stage Four - Cancer cells have spread and invaded the abdomen or pelvic walls. Cancer cells may now be present in the lymph nodes, lungs, and other surrounding organs. This is the most extensive stage.

How are bladder cancer symptoms treated?

Depending on the extent and type of bladder cancer you have will determine what treatment options are available to you. Early detection is the key to successful treatment. Consult your doctor immediately for bladder cancer symptoms if you have them.

Need more advice on Bladder Cancer Symptoms? Visit our website at symptom-diagnosis.com to find expert advice, reviews and great information on a range of symptom diagnoses, including the PMS Symptoms.

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Kitchen Water Filter - An Easy Alternative You Can Use to Purify Your Home Tap Water?

By Aaron Reese

Do you have any idea what is in the glass of water that you just poured from your tap? Or the water that you cook with every day? If you did, you would have a kitchen water filter installed by now, and probably one in the bathroom and laundry room too.

It's bad enough that there are thousands of chemicals dumped and leaked into our water every day by industrial factories, farm run-off and household carelessness, but on top of all that we add chlorine to our water too.

Chlorine was used as a chemical weapon in World War I! It is a deadly chemical that even in small amounts, causes cancer with prolonged use. Chlorine is pretty much the same as bleach. Do you really want to drink and inhale bleach every day?

Well, if your water comes from a municipal water treatment facility; that is what you are doing every time you pour a glass of tap water, unless you have a kitchen water filter or whole house water filter.

Chlorine is known to cause Breast Cancer, Bladder Cancer and Rectal Cancer. Clorine in water created trihalomethanes (THMs) that stimulate the production of free radicals in the body which destroy cells and lead to cancer.

The bladder and rectum are particularly at risk from THM buildup because all of the clorine and THMs end up in the bladder, bowel and rectum at some point.

A recent study found that "women with breast cancer have 50% to 60% higher levels of organochlorines (chlorination byproducts) in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer." So it is safe to say that avoiding chlorinated water could significantly reduce your risk of breast cancer.

The best way to protect yourself from cancer and other health problems caused by the contaminants in tap water is to install a kitchen water filter or a whole house filter in your home.

Filtering is the only water purification method that works to remove chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals from the water.

A multi-layered kitchen water filter that incorporates a carbon filter, a sub micron filter and an ion exchange is the most effective filter you can buy, as it removes 99% of the harmful compounds from the water and leaves the healthy minerals intact.

Aaron Reese is a dedicated researcher of critical issues that affect water and health. Visit his water purification website now at http://www.absolute-filtered-water-site.com [http://absolute-filtered-water-site.com] to learn more about the kitchen water filtration systems that he recommends after extensive research.

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#BladderCancer : With Cancer, You Can't Hurry Recovery

by Joe Harry

One year ago today I had surgery to remove my cancerous prostate. Then came radiation and hormone therapy because my cancer was more aggressive than expected - Gleason 9, Stage T3B - and had breached the prostate.

In a culture where the micro-second has become a viable unit of time, one year seems to be an eternity nowadays. We are addicted to the idea of instant closure, have knuckled under to the myth that media time is real time. But biological time, that unerring clock whirring at the cellular level, still has plenty to teach us.

My body, that once-sturdy vessel, sustained a lot of damage in the past year to be rid of its cancer. Incontinence and impotence, deep fatigue and weight gain were among my most constant physical companions.

As spring blossomed, though, so did my spirits. My energy surged, I started running again and even talked about doing a marathon this fall. But in my vernal cheer I forgot one of the most important realities of recovering from serious illness. Complete recovery rarely arrives as a wide and smooth ascent. More often it's a pinched and bumpy road full of ups and downs, with no shortage of switchbacks and dead ends - even one year later.

Most noticeably, in the last month, my energy level has plummeted. (Don't worry, my doctors are on the case.) Typically, my energy falls off the table by mid-afternoon, then dwindles from there, kind of like how the Wicked Witch of the West fizzes and shrivels at the end of "The Wizard of Oz." Sometimes I need a nap right after work. On weekends, I sometimes need a nap at noon, then another at five, leading me to wonder whether I'm turning into a cat.

Even though I haven't received any treatment since February - and there's a good chance I might be cancer-free - I understand that I'm still a cancer patient. I try to embrace the "patience" part of being a patient.

But physical fluctuation brings with it mental frustration. I just want my body and the treatment for my cancer to kiss and make up, already. I'm not complaining, but trying to explain how I feel in this particular ongoing biology experiment of one. These issues aren't about vanity - well, maybe a little - but about wholeness.

As far as the fatigue, one of the culprits could be low testosterone. In April my testosterone level was 364, within the normal range of 241 to 827. But late last month it had tumbled to 202, prompting me to come up with a new medical rule of thumb: It's not good when your testosterone is lower than your weight.

The fatigue also didn't help my running. Neither did the hamstring pull.

My runs were going well. I was pleased to have progressed from baby-stepping to shuffling to walking to running since last July. Six miles felt comfortable, and the goal of a fall marathon seemed reasonable. Now it seems unlikely. The hamstring injury has been stubborn, and with my energy AWOL I'm back to taking long walks.

And walking does put less stress on my bladder than running does. My bladder control keeps improving, and I'm still man-pad free. But if I stand for a long time, or if I bend in an odd way... well, let's just say that I needed to modify the position in which I clip my toenails.

I probably shouldn't be, but I guess I'm surprised and disappointed that erectile function is still a work in progress. My penis is simply a mutt that doesn't come running when it's called, even when it's given a little blue Viagra treat. In addition, when your testosterone level is nomadic, your libido seesaws, too. And when your sex drive is hibernating or absorbed in rereading "The Lord of the Rings" for the sixth time, the idea of the actual sexual act sometimes seems faintly silly.

Despite my current trough, there's good news, too. My weight has dropped from a hormone-induced high of 226 to 209, and my PSA, the number that signals whether my cancer is gone, is still less than 0.1.

I'll fully admit, though, that before my surgery last summer, I didn't expect that I would feel physically diminished one year later. Even so, I still suffer from chronic optimism. But today it's also tempered by cancer-induced realism.

#BladderCancer Perils Of Electric Tobacco

Ever consider the risks of electric tobacco? If you are using the first ideas are most likely the risk of contracting lip, tongue, throat and stomach cancer. They are certainly cancer that have been shown to develop from electric tobacco use.

So many people are unaware that includes a more far varying effect on your body than individuals illnesses pointed out above. It's been proven that can increase greatly the likelihood of developing bladder cancer. What's frightening is the fact that a lot of people now using and individuals who'll soon start using have no clue from the serious effects it may bring lower upon naive customers.

Carcinogins present in tobacco happen to be proven to improve the chance of bladder cancer by as much as 400% in customers versus. individuals who don't use. Much more frightening this risk factor remains for a long time despite the consumer quits tobacco completely. Frightening thought, huh?

What teachers within the tobacco cessation arena need to understand is finding a method to get across the fact simply because electric tobacco is electric it is not harmless. does not just remain in the mouth area. It will get ingested in to the stomach also it will get to your wind pipe and bladder.

."Transitional cell carcinoma is easily the most common bladder malignancy in females in Pakistan. Nearly all women with bladder carcinoma have lengthy good reputation for utilization of electric tobacco. During the time of diagnosis 75% ladies have muscle invasive bladder carcinoma. In females using there's significant correlation between stage of bladder carcinoma and time period of use. Further research is needed to explain the function of electric tobacco in the introduction of bladder carcinoma."

by Nadia Javaid

Does eating and sinking cause bladder cancer? We view lots of evidence that suggests a correlation of bladder cancer and tobacco use. There remains lots of research left to complete prior to the final verdict is within. Within my humble opinion, the data which i have analyzed when preparing to create this short, general article has convinced me that the chance that it will cause bladder cancer far exceeds any scientific information proclaiming that it does not.

As it pertains right lower into it, knowing everything that using certainly does makes using it irrational. Whenever we add the truth that there's much seem evidence that can impact your body as far as of creating bladder cancer, it simply makes sense:

1) If you do not chew, dip or smoke - don't.

2) Should you choose use tobacco in all forms - you should consider locating a good cessation program and quit.

Existence is filled with options. Options require choices. What decision are you going to make?

Zach Malott is Boss of Stop Electric.com, a website that's devoted to helping others to get rid of the addiction of electric tobacco using their lives.

Malott has spent the majority of his existence hooked on electric tobacco. In the look for a way to quit and remain quit, a course developed through the years which has assisted 1,000's who will be ready to quit succeed.Ever consider the risks of If you are using electric tobacco the first ideas are most likely the risk of contracting lip, tongue, throat and stomach cancer. They are certainly cancer that have been shown to develop from electric tobacco use.

So many people are unaware that includes a more far varying effect on your body than individuals illnesses pointed out above. It's been proven that electric tobacco can increase greatly the likelihood of developing bladder cancer. What's frightening is the fact that a lot of people now using and individuals who'll soon start using electric tobacco have no clue from the serious effects it may bring lower upon naive customers.

Carcinogins present in tobacco happen to be proven to improve the chance of bladder cancer by as much as 400% in customers versus. individuals who don't use. Much more frightening this risk factor remains for a long time despite the consumer quits tobacco completely. Frightening thought, huh?

Cystectomy #Bladder Surgery

By Sven Ullmann

The surgical procedure to remove the bladder is known as a cystectomy and is usually performed as a result of cancer of the bladder. You can also have radiation and chemotherapy treatment which is used to treat bladder cancer. If the cancer is in the muscle of the bladder then surgery is performed to remove it.

Cystectomy is considered a very aggressive treatment option and may not be the best option for everyone. Those who have superficial tumors may respond better to a more conservative treatment. A cystectomy is considered a major surgical procedure and the patient is put under general anesthesia. There is a small incision made on the lower abdomen.

The ureters are found, tied, and cut. The ureters connect the bladder to the kidneys, so cutting them frees the bladder for the removal process. The bladder as well as other associated organs are then removed. In male patients the prostate is removed along with the bladder. In women patients the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and part of the vagina are also removed with the bladder removal process.

The bladder of a healthy person collects urine from the kidneys for excretion at a later time. When the bladder has been removed the doctors must come up with a new method to remove urine from the body. In many cases a small portion of the small intestine is removed, cleaned, and tied at one end to become the form of a tube. After this the other end is then used to form a stoma, which is an opening through the abdominal wall to outside the body. The patient is required to wear a bag to collect the urine.

Before the procedure is performed a member of the medical staff will discuss the entire procedure and can tell the patient where the stoma will be on their body and what it will look like. The patient will also get all the information they need on how to care for a stoma and bag. Counseling may be discussed and there may be a period of fasting required as well as an enema.

After going through a successful operation the patient will be given fluid based nutritional drinks until the intestines begin to function normally. You are also given antibiotics to prevent infection of the incision area. When a person's organs are removed it means that there will be major lifestyle changes after the procedure.

After this procedure women are infertile as a result of the ovaries and uterus being removed, but it is more common for women to have a cystectomy are postmenopausal and are far past their child baring days. Men are impotent because the nerves that control penis erection are cut during the removal process of the bladder.

The patient must be fitted with an external bad that connects to the stoma and is used to collect urine. These bags are usually worn around the waist and are easily hidden under clothes. It may take a while to get used to wearing a bag but since there isn't a bladder urine is excreted when it is produced, which is continuously.

Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health [http://www.deservedhealth.com/] - information on health for you and your family. Read more about Cystectomy Bladder Surgery [http://www.deservedhealth.com/cystectomy-bladder-surgery/].

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#Bladder Problems - Both Bothersome And Embarrassing

 by  Neal Kennedy

Bladder problems are rarely serious medical threats (although bladder cancer is certainly an exception), but they are definitely bothersome and annoying because they are often socially embarrassing.
Bladder problems happen more often as we get older. But some bladder problems, like shy bladder and bedwetting, also happen to the young.

This article is intended to provide a general understanding of how the human bladder functions, and the most common bladder problems that afflict people everywhere - both young and old.

The human bladder is a sac-like structure near the bottom of the abdomen. Its major job is acting as a storage area for your urine.

The bladder has a waterproof skin which doctors call the transitional cell epithelium.|A waterproof tissue serves as a lining for the inside of the bladder. The medical name for this lining is the transitional cell epithelium.}

Urine is deposited into the bladder from the kidneys through tubes called ureters. It is eliminated through a tube leading outside the body called the urethra.

Most adult bladders will hold about 400 milliliters of urine.

As mentioned above, bladder problems become more common as people grow older. It can be tougher to control the bladder. This sometimes results in a condition known as incontinence. Incontinence can also happen when there is a medical problem or disease that affects the bladder. There are a number of bladder control products available on the market that help people who have incontinence or bladder control difficulties.

There are several kinds of bladder cancer. The the type that happens most often starts in the lining of the cells inside of the bladder. This variety is called urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) or transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

A bladder infection is a bacterial infection that's also known as a urinary tract infection or UTI. Although UTI can be very distressing, it's fairly very treatable with antibiotics and can be cured quickly if treated properly.
An overactive bladder is a condition that is caused by a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of your bladder. Overactive bladder causes an unexpected and unstoppable need to urinate. OA is also called urge incontinence and is a type of urinary incontinence or unintentional loss of urine.

Bladder Stones - Bladder stones are crystalline masses that originate from minerals and proteins which naturally occur in urine. They are considerably less common than kidney stones.

Bladder Spasms - A bladder spasm may also be called bladder instability. Normally bladder muscles are relaxed and only go to work when you urinate. But when the bladder is unstable, it sometimes contracts quickly and unexpectedly. This contraction is also referred to as a bladder spasm.

Bladder Prolapse - Also called cystoceles. It is more often called fallen bladder or prolapsed bladder. Fallen bladder happens in women when the front wall of the vagina, which holds up the bladder, weakens or grows loose. The bladder may then begin to slip into the vagina. There are four different stages, but the basic result can be urinary difficulties, discomfort, and stress incontinence (which is urine leakage caused by sneezing, coughing, exertion, or some other physical condition).

Enuresis (More commonly known as bedwetting) - Enuresis is, simply put, involuntary urination, usually during sleep. This condition is more common in children and almost always goes away as the child gets older. However, repeated enuresis can be a sign or symptom other physical or emotional problems.

Paruresis - This is a disorder that is also called shy bladder, shy kidney, or bashful bladder. Both women and men can suffer from paruresis, which is a type of social anxiety disorder in which the sufferer is unable to urinate when others are nearby, typically in a place like a public restroom.

Although there are a number of bladder problems may be more psychological than anatomical in nature, it still makes sense to talk to your physician about them. He or she can recommend treatment options or prescribe products that will at least help you cope with these bladder problems if you have them.

Article Tags: Embarrassing Bladder Problems, Bladder Problems, Embarrassing Bladder, Transitional Cell

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio journalist who often writes on issues related to symptoms of bladder problems and bladder control problems. To read more of his articles, visit Bladder Problems.