Cancer Data Base: 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Cure cancer with Yourself

What is cancer?
Cancer is a serious disease that can sometimes cause death if not treated. There are many forms of cancer. Breast cancer, bladder cancer and lung cancer is a common cancer. Cancer usually begins when abnormal cells grow out of control.
How does cancer affect my life!
I lost my aunt a few years ago due to a long battle with cancer. He received treatment and the doctor gave her clean bill of health after cancer removal. Nearly 10 years passed, during my aunt happy, energetic and just loves life. Until one day he returned to the news-check, worse, they discovered that the cancer had reappeared. That was the turning point of my aunts lived. I certainly can remember the sick and bed ridden.He tubes everywhere. She can not bathe themselves. They said. Shortly after re-diagnosed, my aunt died in the summer of 1996. It was then that I dedicated to cancer research. I know that road. I want to teach themselves how to cure cancer.
I dedicate myself and through my research I have been able to help others. Despite what the doctors tell you, cure the cancer itself is not possible. Take it from me, I know, I could save my mother's life. If you know someone who battle cancer, I encourage you to call the resources to treat cancer Read Yourself. Check it out

Curing Cancer Diet Foods you should eat and foods to avoid

The main reason why so much cancer today is because our diets have changed before that he had not changed for thousands of years. Wrong diet is the single factor most important in the development of all cancers. While the cancer may be difficult to overcome for some people, do not need the death penalty. The answer is to "heal yourself with our natural food becomes your medicine as food therapy plays an important role in the cure for cancer. Food is our medicine and nature has equipped us with an amazing array of fruit and vegetables are good to protect us from cancer and possibly also vice versa .

Cancer is just a lack of disease, because the deficit is allowed to develop cancer. What is needed to heal is a little self control by making changes in our diet to consume food that stimulates our desire that causes cancer, eating foods that nourish the body that make us healthy. That's the only real way to permanently remove the cancer. Today we no longer grow our own food, a person does that for us and most of these foods in western societies is available in supermarkets. Even more importantly, most of these foods are not processed and processed foods that lack nutrients.

There are close links between cancer and diet of processed foods. People who do not eat health experts, they are business people for one U.S. dollar to make and no matter how they are doing. They lace their food with added chemicals and preservatives so it lasts longer and is to maximize profits. We might think we eat healthier because information on the container and while some aspects of food labeling is regulated, most of what the label is pure marketing. Manufacturers of food is always emphasized that the good and ignore the negative to trick you into buying their product. This is a western society we have created our processed foods, and then we advertise that our faith should we all when in fact give us obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, a disease that does not use 40 to 50 years ago.

It is often mistakenly believe that we are smarter than nature, and we can take food and make it better. No matter what it says on the package, we can not, we can not fix nature. With this in mind, the best foods to cure cancer is to achieve is that fresh food grown, not processed in any form, is not included, and, if possible, is organic produce.

How a healthy diet designed to handle the increased power of the immune system, our built-in system improvements and strengthened the immune system to strengthen the body to attack cancer cells and remove them safely and without side effects. It works for all cancers and in every part of the body. What you do is right the reason why the cancer first appeared, which is very important.

Typical Western diet is not known for providing quality health care because a lot of mistakes. They are too much salt, too much refined sugar, and processed foods too much, too much fat is wrong and too many chemical additives. State of every cell in our body is controlled by the foods we eat and if your diet consists mainly of foods that have been processed, then that is conducive to cancer.

refined sugar, in particular, should be completely eliminated as it was discovered a few years ago is the main source of energy for cancer cells. Unfortunately at this time, refined sugars found in many foods in the diet of modern humans

Friday, December 24, 2010

Mouth Cancer Operation - Video

Mouth Cancer well known as Buccal Mucosa in Scientific Language. Here is a operational treatment video. It includes how the mouth, jaw is slit open and the infection is scraped out and then the mouth and jaw is sticthed back.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Understanding the Direct Relationship Between your Diet and Cancer

Although the impact is difficult to measure, it is evident that diet is a factor when considering most, if not all types of cancer. Furthermore, diet may also be effective in preventing cancer. There is no concrete explanation of the relationship between cancer and your diet; however it would be obviously beneficial to maintain a well-balanced and nutritious diet. The insight regarding the diet- cancer link first appeared in 1913. Until recently, the phenomenon had been amazingly ignored. The scientist became involved, mainly with the assistance of animals, to determine the relationship. Coincidently, the risk for cancer will certainly decrease if you were to consistently eat healthy meals as well as take vitamin and/or mineral supplements. It is extremely important to live a healthy lifestyle.

There are obvious techniques that people should live by such as regular screening and self-exams that is crucial for identifying potential cancer cells. Healthcare physicians recommend that you actively practice these techniques, yet you must also obtain knowledge of the risk factors that contribute to cancer. For many years, the National Cancer Institute has promoted a program that encourages Americans to eat more fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, 60%-70% of cancer is the result of dietary risk factors. Extensive research has also concluded that one-third of cancer deaths within the United States are due to nutritional factors.

The suggested risk factors include being overweight or obese, having a low intake of fruits and vegetables, low physical activity and smoking or alcohol abuse. Therefore, cancer is believed to be related and associated with an individual’s lifestyle. Specifically, the American Cancer Society has estimated that women who are 40% or more over the ideal body weight have a 55% greater cancer risk. Contrarily, the men who are 40% over weight have a 33% greater risk. Ironically, it has been noted that cancer occurs at different rates in different countries. This merely suggests that people from different countries have different eating patterns.

No matter what the consensus is on the relationship between diet and cancer, fiber is actually agreed upon as one of the most important preventive measure to cancer. With an increase in fiber intake, it is possible to consume less fat and calories. The fiber-rich foods enhances the intensity of our diets and contributes to satiety. You are able to obtain fiber in a variety of ways. Fiber is found in vegetables, fruits and grains. These items are discharged in two categories: soluble and insoluble. Ideally, it is recommended to increase the intake of breads, cereals, legumes (beans and peas) and of course, more fruits and vegetables.

Although it is highly sensitive at this point, the American Institute for Cancer Research has identified foods that are promising for preventing cancer. First of all, the institute suggests that beans and legumes may lower risk of prostate, breast and pancreatic cancer. Berries are expected to lower the risk of skin, bladder, and lung or breast cancer. More over, the cruciferous vegetables possibly lower the contingency for lung, stomach, colorectal, prostate and bladder cancer. Cancer of the bladder, colon, stomach, pancreas and esophagus may be prevented by consuming green tea. Finally, prostate cancer may be avoided by eating tomatoes. Additionally, it is suggested by the American Institute for Cancer Research that consuming whole grains may lower the risks for all cancers.

In conclusion, there are five dietary guidelines that may save your life from Cancer. It is recommended that you eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday. And again, you should eat high fiber foods to include limiting the fat intake. You should always stay or become physically fit. Last, but not least, limit the consumption of alcohol. Bottom line, improving your diet and overall lifestyle generally protects your body against cancer.

Cancer – One in Two Men and One in Three Women Will Get It. What to Do?

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).

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).

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Walking tall, the 6-year-old girl whose cancer was cured in three hours

Recovering: Darya Egorova had faced the threat of having her leg amputated

Diagnosed with bone cancer, Darya Egorova faced the very real threat of having a leg amputated.

Less than a year later though, the six-year-old is back on her feet and free of the disease - thanks to a revolutionary procedure that took only three hours.

She has become the first person in Britain to have a cancerous bone removed, treated with very high doses of radiotherapy and reinserted all in the same hospital.

Her family, who are from Russia, were distraught when they were told the options available in their home country for their daughter, who loves sport and dancing.

But a charity stepped in to fund the new procedure in Britain.

Last night Darya's mother Irina, 41, said: 'Given the surgical options my daughter was offered outside the UK, what surgeons have done is truly a miracle.

'We came here full of fear but we received such kindness and generosity from the British people. We are eternally grateful.'

Darya was able to attempt to walk with crutches only two days after the operation, and left hospital within a week. Until now, doctors have had to send bone tumours by motorbike to another hospital to be treated before putting them back.

Now, the Harley Street Clinic in London has the facilities to carry out the full operation in one place. The move shortens the procedure by at least an hour and means less risk of complications and pain.

Darya, who was diagnosed with cancer last autumn, could have had the tumour removed in Russia-but this would have meant a larger piece of bone being removed, leaving her ankle immobile.

The £70,000 operation was funded by Russian cancer charity Grant Life.

Four inches of bone - including a two-inch tumour - was removed from the shin bone of her lower right leg. After half an hour, it was replaced without the tumour.

Over the next two years, healthy bone will grow through the dead bone and bring it back to life.

Praise for Daily Mail cancer article

The Daily Mail often gets it in the neck for its alarmist stories and features on cancer. (There's even a Facebook group listing its many tales).

But the latest Mail article on the subject, What REALLY raises the risk of breast cancer? We asked an expert to weigh up the evidence on the various theories has been praised by the World Cancer Research Fund.

WCRF's head of communications, Richard Evans, pays tribute to the Mail for running an "informative piece that will hopefully make a real difference in giving women the information they need to reduce their breast cancer risk."

It followed a WCRF press release revealing that UK breast cancer rates are four times higher than those in eastern Africa.

Evans says the Mail "worked with our colleagues at Cancer Research UK to look at different lifestyle factors that have been reported as increasing breast cancer risk."

The resulting article "gets across the message that women can reduce their breast cancer risk by maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, reducing the amount of alcohol they drink and breastfeeding their children."

Sources: WCRF blog/Daily Mail

Monday, June 21, 2010

Multi Vitamins For Women Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

We've all heard (time and time again) that a daily vitamin is important in ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs. One each day is supposed to help improve your overall health and protect against heart disease, perhaps even cancer. Now, a new observational study suggests that this "healthy" habit might actually increase your risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in U.S. women, though the rates have fallen in recent years.

This latest research involved more than 35,000 Swedish women (aged 49-83) who were cancer free and filled out a self-administered questionnaire that asked for information on multivitamin use and other breast cancer risk factors.

The women reported their own use of vitamins, though they didn't provide any information on what brand they took. During the ten years of follow up, 974 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, 293 of these happened to the 9,017 women who said they took multivitamins daily.

The team found that women who reported taking vitamins each day were 19% more likely to have breast cancer than those who didn't take any multivitamin. These findings held even after adjustments were made for things like family history, getting older, body mass index, smoking and alcohol use.

There are lots of multivitamins on the market today. These preparations typically include 3 or more vitamins and dietary minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc) as well as some other nutritional elements.

You can find multivitamins in many forms... tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders and liquid... so you can choose the one that's right for you. Your doctor will tell you that you should never buy a multivitamin that has more of a nutrient than your body can take in - more is not better. Never take more than directed on the label as you risk serious, potentially life-threatening, side effects.

So... how can something that's supposed to be good for you, be trouble?

The researchers aren't sure, but theorize the folic acid that's part of many multivitamin products might increase breast density, and this might stimulate the development of cancer. Other work has linked iron and zinc to increased cancer risk, though there have been studies that showed no association - so the question is still open for debate.

The new research also found that vitamin C, B-6 and E didn't appear to have any impact on breast cancer risk. Calcium, in fact, seems to offer some protection against breast cancer.

Getting essential vitamins from your diet is the best way to give your body the nutrients it needs. If you have concerns about your nutritional status, talk to your doctor about the foods you eat, and the ones you avoid. You might think about taking supplements that address specific deficiencies, instead of a multivitamin that gives you lots of things, many of which you might not even need.

Workplace May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

Important news for women - being exposed to chemicals and pollutants before her mid 30s may greatly increase a woman's risk of breast cancer after she goes through menopause according to a new study. The research involved 556 postmenopausal Canadian women who'd been diagnosed with cancer of the breast between the ages of 50 and 75 years old. There was also a control group of 613 women of the same age group, who were free of breast cancer.

The team measured the women's occupational exposure to almost 300 substances. After accounting for the usual factors linked with an increase risk of breast cancer, the team found a link between breast cancer and some of these substances.

The risk of breast cancer after menopause was highest in the women who'd been exposed to these substances before 36 years old.

The risk went up for each added decade of exposure before this age. So twenty years of exposure... say starting in the teens, would be expected to double a woman's risk.

The exposure to acrylic fibers at work had a seven fold increase risk of cancer of the breast. The risk was almost double among those exposed to nylon fibers. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (in petroleum products) before the age of 36 tripled the risk of breast cancer according to the study authors.

These finding are consistent with the thinking that the tissue of the breast is more sensitive to harmful chemicals if the exposure occurs when the breast cells are still active - before a woman reaches her 40s. This is also thought to be a factor in the increases in cancer of the breast in developed countries.

The incidence of breast cancer in the United States is one in eight, about 13%, or 13 out of every 100 women over the course of a lifetime.

Your own personal risk may be higher or lower, depending on family history, reproductive history, lifestyle and environment. Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most often diagnosed cancer in American women - one in four cancers are of the breast. As of 2008, there are almost 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. alone.

Experts commenting on the study do express caution. Positive associations like those found between chemical exposure and cancer of the breast can appear just by chance, and will only carry serious weight when supported by evidence from later research. The team also calls for more detailed studies that focus on specific chemicals in terms of risk for breast cancer.

To reduce your risk of breast cancer, whether you've been exposed to any of the substances identified in the research or not, here are some things you can do for yourself...

- Control your weight - being overweight, especially after menopause, increases your risk. More fat in the body produces more estrogen, which is what increases the risk of cancer developing and growing.

- Eat healthy - while no food can keep you from getting cancer of the breast, eating well can make your body strong and healthy, keeping your risk as low as possible. It's a good idea to limit red and processed meats and animal fats (fat in cheese, ice cream and milk). A diet that's low in fat, loaded with fruits and veggies is generally a good bet.

- Exercise - doing 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity on five or more days of the week is key, and evidence is growing that this can reduce your risk of cancers.

- Limit alcohol consumption

- Don't smoke

- Limit stress/anxiety - while there isn't clear proof stress/anxiety can increase your breast cancer risk, anything you do to reduce stress and make your life better plus make your immune system stronger will help.

- Estrogen exposure - through being overweight, drinking too much or taking combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

- Recent oral contraceptive use - using these medications may slightly increase your risk of breast cancer, but only for a short time. If you've stopped taking birth control pills more than ten years ago, you don't appear to have any increase risk.

What Kind of Radiation Should You Choose After Lumpectomy For Breast Cancer?

Just a quarter of a century ago, almost all patients had mastectomy, even if their breast cancer is small. But over the past few decades, it has been demonstrated that for small cancers, lumpectomy followed by radiation treatment is just as good as mastectomy, at preventing breast cancer recurrence. Traditional proven radiation is external beam radiation directed to the entire involved breast for 6-7 weeks, 5 days a week (M Tu W Th F). Depending on the size and extent of the cancer, radiation may include the chest wall and axilla (armpit) on the same side as the involved breast. In some cases, the area treated may also include on the same side supraclavicular lymph nodes (nodes above the collarbone) and internal mammary lymph nodes (nodes beneath the breast bone near the center of the chest).

Recently, some patients with very early small cancers may consider Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI). Instead of treating the whole breast, APBI only delivers radiation to the focal location of the lumpectomy site. This is because most recurrences occur at or near the site of previous cancer. Currently, the most commonly used regimen involves only 5 days of radiation total. A balloon is inserted into the lumpectomy site, in the office with local anesthesia. On the fifth and final day of radiation, the balloon is pulled out. The most established model Mammosite has been used in more than 35,000 women in the United States, and results with 4-year followup data have been good. Despite its convenience, APBI is not for everybody. Some general guidelines exist to determine who is "suitable" for APBI as of 2010. As we gain more knowledge with longer use of this treatment modality, the guidelines may change in the future. The "appropriate" criteria are: patient age 50 or more, unifocal (single) cancer, invasive cancer size no more than 2cm, pure DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) no more than 3cm, total tumor size (invasive and DCIS) no more than 3cm, margins clean of tumor, no lymphovascular invasion seen under microscope, and no cancer spread to lymph nodes. Women with hereditary breast cancer, such as BRCA 1/2 carriers, should not consider APBI.

The above are only general guidelines. Again, it should be emphasized that traditional whole breast radiation is an established treatment with much longer track record than APBI. No two breast cancer patients are exactly alike, and therefore the decision making process is different and unique for each individual person. Regardless of any one else's advice, you should make the choice that you personally will be able to live with for the rest of your life.

Critical Background You Need to Know About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a disease that affects both men and women. Most people don't know that men can get cancer of the breast, too. Breast cancer is not just one disease but a little group of diseases with cells growing out of control. Just about all tumors are really clumps of abnormal cells. Tumor cells often break off and go some other place to form; this is called metastasis (spreading). Even cancer of the breast can spread to other parts of the body.

Tumor size alone does not mean that it is or isn't cancer. Even the smallest tumor can be cancerous and the truth is that by the time a lump is big enough to be found, it has probably been there several years already, growing. Once the body's immune system can no longer handle the cells in the body, the cancer grows out of control and begins to destroy. Today's cancer treatments are based on reducing the cancer cells.

The risks for cancer of the breast include: gender, age, family medical history, ethnic background, alcohol use, weight gain, sedentary life, toxic exposure. There are some that can't be changed like: sex, age, family history, and first period before age 12.

Are there warning signs for breast cancer? Yes; nipple discharge, inverted nipples, and Paget's disease of the breast. Mostly there are no warning signs because early breast cancer doesn't have any pain.

There is more than one type of cancer of the breast, including something called inflammatory breast cancer. Noninvasive cancer of the breast is a cancer that is encapsulated and has not spread. Invasive breast cancer has already begun to spread to other spots in the body. Inflammatory cancer of the breast starts when cancer cells block lymph glands and cells. It causes inflammation of the breast and makes it swollen and tender. It can be mistaken for a breast infection and possibly be overlooked until it has developed more.

Male cancer of the breast is more common in the older men and usually is noticed with a lump in the breast.

The National Cancer Institute is trying to develop a vaccine against breast cancer. It would only be effective in preventing a new cancer from developing. Tests have recently been developed to be able to genetically determine if a person is or isn't prone to cancer of the breast. These would be the people first chosen to be vaccinated.

Many new treatments have been developed in recent years. There have been new types of chemotherapy and radiation treatments developed that don't have the devastating side effects of previous ones.

Early detection through mammograms and special breast scans has saved many thousands of women from death. It is now recommended that women who have a family risk factor get their first mammogram at least by age 30. Government agencies may try to change the recommendations but women must insist on guarding their lives by testing for early detection.

Hearing a biopsy that comes back as positive for cancer of the breast is a devastating sentence for a woman.

Breast Cancer Awareness Pt 1 - Tips For Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast cancer is a terribly frightening illness, that is why taking cautious steps to breast cancer prevention is very important. Worldwide, 1 woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 29 seconds and every 75 seconds 1 woman in the world dies from breast cancer. This is the condition most women fear more than any other disease. This is largely because they think there is nothing they can do about it; they feel powerless and do not understand the power of today's prevention strategies.

Most women know if they want to reduce their risk of osteoporosis they can get enough calcium in their diet they can get some exercise or get enough vitamin D; if they want to reduce the risk of a heart attack they can make sure their cholesterol is not too high and they can also get some exercise. But most women do not think there is anything at all that they can do to help prevent breast cancer but the good news is that is there heaps they can do in efforts to breast cancer prevention. For example make sure that you get enough vitamin D in your body. Vitamin can help reduce the risk of several types of cancers, such as Prostate cancer, Colon cancer, Lung cancer.

Every time our skin is exposed to sunlight the cholesterol in our skin is converted into vitamin D, but for the average person who works indoors they do not manufacture enough vitamin D in their body. You can ask your doctor to do a blood test on you to measure the amount of vitamin D and most people are actually deficient.

If you have dark skin you are going to need to spend more time outdoors than a fair-skinned person will to receive enough sunlight to produce and efficient amount of vitamin D. if you use sun screen this will inhibit your body from being able to produce vitamin D. It is important not to get sun burned, however please remember that some sunlight is vitally important for good health because of vitamin D.

Women who are vitamin D deficient at the time of being diagnosed with breast cancer are 94% more likely to have their cancer spread and they are 73% more likely to die from breast cancer in the next 10 years than women who are not vitamin D deficient. So vitamin D is a vital instrument when it comes to protecting yourself against this disease.

Interestingly, overweight people are commonly vitamin D deficient because it is a fat soluble vitamin; this means the vitamin ends up being stored in their body fat and not their bloodstream where they need it.

Environmental chemicals are a known potential cause of this condition. According to the Silent Spring Institute, in the USA a total number of 216 different chemicals and radiation sources are internationally recognized as causing breast cancer. Have a look at the kind of chemicals you have around your home and chemicals you put on your body; moisturizers, perfumes, shampoo, cosmetics, toiletries, personal care products, insecticides, and cleaning chemicals. A lot of these things contain chemicals called endocrine disrupters or oestrogen mimics. They actually behave like oestrogen in your body; they have a very powerful effect. Oestrogen in excess can fuel the growth of breast tumors.

When it comes to breast cancer prevention you have to stay on top of your game. Not knowing can how to reduce the risk is no excuse because the information is widely available.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

What Counts Most When Losing Weight, Reduction in Fats Or Carbohydrates?

During the last thirty years we have blamed various food groups as the problem in weight gain, from starches in foods, breads and lately the fats. The food you consume contains nutrients, fat, carbohydrates and protein. To the surprise of many it is not the amount of food you eat that causes weight gain, but when one of the nutrients plays havoc chemically with our body. The key to weight loss is to eliminate foods that are at fault. Today it is possible, there are so many specialized and varied foods on the market that will have reduced or eliminated the nutrient that is causing the problem.

Many believe fat is the cause of are weight gain. It is broken down into triglycerides and is stored in fat cells by the body. The fat is burned very slowly and only after all other sources of energy are used. This works against weight loss and can lead to heart problems and cancer. Fat is very dense, contains more than 9 calories per gram, twice that of carbohydrates or protein. If we replace it with carbohydrates or protein we can lose weight. Reducing your fat intake will reduce calories. Studies have shown that diets low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol lower blood cholesterol levels lowering the risk of heart disease. The foods we eat today all have labels on them showing the various ingredients so that we can make a wise choice. We should not try to eliminate fat completely because it does provide the body with many vitamins that aid in the absorption of nutrients. There are good and bad fats and ones from vegetable oils and fatty fish are considered necessary.

Some people believe carbohydrates that are consumed in large quantities are the problem. Carbohydrates can make us fat because they force the body to over produce insulin. To keep our blood sugar at optimum levels, the body converts blood glucose from carbohydrates into fat and pushes them into fat cells. It can also prevent the cells from releasing the fat for energy. The carbohydrates can make the body overproduce insulin, our blood sugar goes down and our body tells us to eat more as a result. If the food we intake is a carbohydrate than the cycle of fat retention begins again. We become resistant to insulin and gain weight. The answer is to cut back significantly on carbohydrate use and you will notice a quick weight loss. Over the last twenty years the amount of carbohydrates in our diet along with the percent of calories from them has increased. Much has come from sweetened fruit juices and soft drinks. Interestingly our calorie intake has risen significantly but the calories derived from fat have decreased about 6 percent. That leads carbohydrates to be the problem in many diets. If we reduce carbohydrates our calorie count goes down which causes weight loss. Just like fat we do need some in our diet for energy. The sugar in these products or glucose is required to fuel different parts of the body. Many of these foods are nutritious but make sure you use ones that are low in fat to help your overall health.

The best way for a person to lose weight and to maintain it, is a healthy ratio of fats along with nutritious carbohydrates. Your diet should contain all food groups supplying you the essential vitamins and nutrients needed for a healthy lifestyle. For many it may mean change, which could be a drastic reduction in carbohydrates or fats in their new eating habits. Most people over consume carbohydrates but we are fortunate today in that most foods we purchase at the supermarket are labeled with the contents for us to read. This allows us to avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates or fats.

The author has been using fitness and diet techniques for over 20 years and has a Bsc from Boston University.

Experts back initiative to ensure fair treatment for older cancer patients

A review of recently published research has uncovered significant differences in the standards of treatment of older cancer patients with haematological cancers. Many older cancer patients are not treated as aggressively as younger patients in Europe; experts believe that this is because of ageism, or age discrimination. By 2030, a third of the population will be over 65 years old and 60% of all cancers occur in this population; this figure is expected to increase to 70% in the next 20 years.^1,2

ecancermedicalscience announced today the launch of a public health initiative working with experts and patient groups to uncover the reasons why older cancer patients are not getting the treatments they deserve and to make recommendations that will ensure that patients get equal access to treatments, irrespective of age.

The initiative will raise awareness of the impact of social isolation and deprivation in the elderly on their cancer prognosis and the importance of the social care policies for older cancer patients. It will investigate whether we need to develop or adapt tools that assess biological age to assist treatment decisions and identify educational needs for physicians, carers and families to help better management. It will promote changes in clinical trial design, which at the moment typically include patients an average of 10 years younger than the actual patient population. This will be essential for developing the next generation of cancer clinical guidelines specifically for older patients.

Professor Mario Boccadoro, Department of Haematology, University of Torino, Italy, commented, “The situation in myeloma has totally changed. The newer drugs available are improving patient survival, but if you look at this survival according to age, it is in those under 60 years old. Patients over 75 years old are not started on the newer more tolerable treatments, so this improved survival is not seen in this age group yet. The cost to treat older patients in the same way would be no different, but their quality of life would be significantly better. I suspect the elderly are discriminated against.”

Professor Richard Sullivan (Kings Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre, London), said: “We have to formulate cancer treatment guidelines for the elderly and educate so that these are used far wider than they are now. Clinical research also needs to be re-orientated to encompass the reality of clinical practice where we are seeing ever increasing numbers of elderly patients across the spectrum from the fittest to the most frail. We need more studies in the older patient population, we need assessment tools tailored to each type of cancer, and we need to develop multidisciplinary guidelines for the best treatment strategies based on biology of the patient and the status of their disease not their chronological age.”

Professor Gordon McVie, Managing Editor of ecancer, commented. “I am 65 years old this year. If I get diagnosed with cancer, I am worried that I might not get the treatment that I deserve, and my chances of getting cancer are going up every day. Cancer care of the elderly is a massive issue. No matter what your age, you deserve the best treatments. That’s why we at ecancer are taking on this initiative to ensure we can make a change.”

ecancermedicalscience will start the campaign by conducting a pan-European survey of oncologists and haematologists to explore the psychological and emotional reasons behind why older cancer patients are treated differently. The results of this survey will be published later this year.

Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL); how can we do better with fewer side effects?

Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) was one of the earliest cancers to be successfully treated with chemo/radiotherapy. Although successful, in the majority of patients, this form of therapy is associated with significant toxicity. A number of groups are investigating the possibility of reducing therapy, minimizing toxicity and maintaining a good outcome. A group from Koln (abs no333) will present evidence that 2 cycles, instead of 4, of the standard chemotherapy (ABVD) and a lower radiation dose (20Gy instead of 30Gy) are sufficient to achieve a similar rate of remission and prolonged survival with reduced toxicity.

Another study (abs no1628) demonstrates that all four components of the chemotherapy (ABVD) are necessary. Although the majority of patients are cured when diagnosed with early stage HL, a small proportion of patients does not respond and have a poorer outcome. For this subset of patients, an Italian group (abs no 73) using FDG-PET scanning (a way of scanning the cancer and measuring its metabolic activity) after 2 courses' is able to predict outcome. Therefore patients in the non-responsive group may have their treatment intensified to provide cure.

Multiple Myeloma; now a chronic disease

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common blood cancer with an incidence of approximately 4-5 new cases per 100.000 people per year. In Europe there were estimated to be 31,883 new cases of MM and 21,677 MM-related deaths in 2002.

One of the major complications in MM is bone involvement by the cancer cells leading to pain and a risk of fractures. The Medical Research Council (MRC group from UK) will report on the benefit of the drug Zolendronic acid compared to Clodronate for the delay of bone disease and prolongation of survival.

Proteasomes are intracellular complexes that break down proteins. Proteasome inhibitors are new and potentially effective drugs in MM and the use one of these, Carfilzomib, in patients with relapsed or refractory MM will be discussed. The results of a large international trial employing classic chemotherapy with the addition of Lenalidomide, a class of drugs called immunomodulators (IMIDs), will be updated.

Italian and Dutch groups will discuss the role of genetic markers in predicting the clinical outcome, following specific treatments.

Maintenance therapy after autologous stem cell transplant remains a controversial issue. Data, derived from a large randomized trial, about the role of Thalidomide in this setting, will be presented. Finally the HOVON group will report on their experience with allogeneic stem cell transplant using a new treatment strategy.

New strategies for patients with Lymphoma

In spite of treatments, which include the humanized monoclonal anti-body Rituximab, a number of patients with a form of Lymphoma called Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLCBL) will relapse. Gisselbrecht et al (abs No 1059) demonstrate a critical role for autologous stem cell transplantation in the management of patients with relapsed DLBCL whose initial treatment included Rituximab.

Visani et al (abs no 469) demonstrate a potentially important role for a new drug, bendamustine, in patients with relapsed lymphoma. They identify a new, and well-tolerated, transplant regimen for evaluation in patients with high-risk lymphoma.

Ruggeri et al (abs no 1699) provide new data demonstrating an important role for umbilical cord blood transplantation in the management of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. This approach may be important in treating children with high-risk ALL who lack a family (sibling) or unrelated stem cell donor.

Stadler et al (abs no 1817) explore the role of delayed donor lymphocyte infusion as a strategy for delivering curative immunotherapy in patients transplanted for high-risk leukemia. Their important study demonstrates an encouraging safety profile and a new approach to treatment.

Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT) and immunotherapy

The factors determining the numbers of stem cells mobilized by the cytokine GCSF in normal donors remain undetermined. Martin-Antonio et al (abs no 2096) have identified polymorphisms (inherited differences) in the stromal adhesion molecule VCAM-1, which has a significant impact on the numbers of CD34+ progenitor cells, collected after administration of GCSF. These data may assist in the identification of new stem cell collection strategies.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Jedema et al (abs no 680) have examined mechanisms of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Importantly they identify immunotherapeutic mechanism, which may contribute to the eradication of resistant leukemia stem cells, and potential mechanism of resistance.

Galski et al (abs no 1170) have examined mechanisms of resistance to TKIs in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. They identified a potential role for drugs, which modulate the activity of the multidrug transporter p glycoprotein in overcoming resistance to TKIs and immunotherapeutic killing by NK cells (a type of lymphocyte).

Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Berger et al (abs no 1693) demonstrate clinical activity of a new proteasome inhibitor MLN 9708 in preclinical models of high-risk lymphoma identifying a potentially new treatment modality in this common hematological malignancy in which drug resistance is frequently documented.

Granulocytes (White Cells)

An increased risk of malignant transformation (Myelodysplastic Syndrome, MDS, or Acute Myeloid leukemia, AML) is well documented in patients with congenital neutropenia (CN, people born with an abnormally low white cell count)). Zeidler et al (abs no 1765) identify molecular and clinical factors predicting the likelihood of development of MDS or AML.

Marks et al (abs no 2188) report important data identifying a potential benefit for the use of voriconazole (an anti-fungal drug) as primary prevention of systemic fungal infection in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

New Throat Cancer Treatment

Throat cancer is one of the cancers which occur in the throat. This is disease is found with different names like vocal cord cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the glottis. This is the cancer which is found in both men and women.

The throat cancer is the cancer which appears in the upper part of the throat. It is the cancer which appears in the throat that is vocal cords, voice box (larynx), or other areas of the throat. This cancer spreads not only occurs in the other parts of the throat also. This is cancer which can occur in both men and women. This cancer involves the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that have mutated from normal tissues. This growth can kill when these cells prevent normal function of vital organs or spread throughout the body, damaging essentials systems.
For more information meet: dr jack
This throat cancer has some alternate names like vocal cord cancer, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the glottis, cancer of the pharynx, vocal cord cancer and others. This cancer as it occurs to the throat and the parts related to it so it is named after it. This cancer also occurs when the normal cells undergo a transformation whereby they grow and multiply without normal controls. This cancer involves tumors on the tonsils, vocal cords, voice box (larynx) and at the base of the tongue.
The main cause for the exposure for this cancer is the consumption of the tobacco that plays a significant role in many of the cases. The causes for this cancer are the heavy smoking of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, excessive use of alcohol is also one of the causes for its occurrence. But if the man is addicted to both smoking and consuming alcohol then he is at higher risk of getting the disease. But this is more occurred in men than women. This disease can occur to any age but mainly occurs to the age group who is above 45 of age. This can be controlled with herbal products Some of the other factors for the occurrence of this cancer are the enlargement of the thyroid gland called chronic goiter. This cause may be due to the radiation exposure and the family history of cancer or the genetic predisposition.

The symptoms of the hoarseness, sore throat, neck pain, difficulty in swallowing, swelling in the neck, unintentional weight loss, cough, coughing up blood, abnormal breathing sounds, numbness or the paralyses of the muscles in the face, swelling of the jaw, shortness of breath, chest pain and many other reasons also. This cancer also has some of the common symptoms like fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, malaise.
The above symptoms are not to be considered as a serious one as these may also be the causes for some of the common health upsets also. But if the person is adult then he has to undergo a medical checkup and have a take care of his health.
The signs and tests can be done when an examination of the neck and the throat may show the cancer of the throat. The symptom may appear bloody or lump on the throat which appears on the outside of the neck. Biopsy and the analysis of tissues that appear abnormal may conform the presence of the cancer tumor.
If you experience any of the above throat cancer symptoms it is advised that you see your healthcare provider for a more thorough check so the proper diagnose and treatment can be apply in the initial stage.
the best way of preventing this cancer is to quit smoking and preventing the consumption of tobacco. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight and heavy drinking. We should cultivate a habit of taking healthy diet that is the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. Keeping the health fit by doing the exercises, meditation, yogasanas, cultivation of morning jog or walk, having the nutritious food in the diet, protecting ourselves from bad atmosphere may make us to be free from the diseases also.
Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medication to reduce their risk. But yet the treatment must be aimed at destruction of the cancer and prevention of its spread to other parts of the body. The treatment of the cancer depends on certain issues like the age of the patient, general health condition, the size of the tumor, extent of the cancer and others.
This is the cancer which may be found at its advanced stage. So it is an urge need that the patient should be careful while choosing the correct physician for his treatment. This treatment is aimed at destruction of the cancer and prevention of spread of the cancer to the other parts of the body. The earlier it is diagnosed the earlier it is treated.
Treatment is aimed at destruction of the cancer and prevention of spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. The earlier throat cancer is diagnosed, the better the prospect of recovery. If the treatment is not given then it can grow and can cause to death. So it is better to get treated at its initial stage. The treatment needs long term recovery but if have a hope of conquering it then you can have it. You should be mentally firmed and be prepared to achieve in curing it.
The people who come to our center have a hope of curing the disease and becoming healthy. We support you with this attitude of yours as we use the alternative supplements which are natural and cure the disease with no side effects with miraculous improvements in your health condition. We make you feel ease and get away from your suffer.

Homeopathy Treatment for Prostate Cancer by Dr Harshad Raval Md Homeopathy India

Prostate cancer and homeopathy treatment.

Prostate cancer is an abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells that results in the formation of a tumor in the prostate gland. Prostate, the walnut sized gland, is a part of the reproductive system which lies deep in the pelvis. It is located in front of the rectum and underneath the urinary bladder and surrounds the urethra, (the urine tube running from the bladder, through the prostate and the penis). It contains gland cells that produce some of the seminal fluid, which protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen and supports the ejaculatory ducts, or sperm tubes. The prostate continues to grow till a man reaches adulthood and is maintained after it reaches normal size as long as male hormones are produced.

Prostate cancer begins most often in the outer part of the prostate. It is the most common cancer in men older than age 50. In most men, the cancer grows very slowly. In fact, many men with the disease will never know they have the condition. Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself, and the majority of patients with this type of cancer can live for years with no problems. In some cases, it may spread from the prostate to nearby lymph nodes, bones or other organs. This spread is called metastasis. Most Prostate cancers originate in the posterior prostate gland, the rest originate near the urethra. Often the disease has no symptoms until the disease is well advanced. However, as the tumor grows, it may spread from the prostate to surrounding areas like lymph nodes, bones or other organs. This may result in back pain. Men with prostate cancer may experience any of the following symptoms.

A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;
Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;
Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
Painful or burning urination or bowel movement;
Difficulty in having an erection;
Painful ejaculation;
Blood in urine or semen; or
Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

It is advised to consult a doctor immediately if you have experienced any of the above symptoms. Men aged 50 and above have the chances of developing prostate cancer. Those who have a family history of prostate cancer should consider screening at age 45.

Prostate cancer can be staged as ‘A,B,C,D’. Stage A and B cancers are curable. Stages C and D are treatable, but their prognoses are discouraging.

Stage A - This is the very early stage without any sysmtoms, in this stage cancer cells are confined to the prostate. It can be identified with PAS tests and Biopsy. This type of cancer is usually curable.

Stage B – In this stage, it is known that cancer is in several places within the prostate. It is detectable by PAS.

Stage C - In this stage, cancer cells can be found throughout the prostate as well as near by tissue or the bladder. This stage is determined by Digital Rectal Exam, or CT/ MRI scans, and/or Sonography. Some Stage C cancers are curable.

Stage D : At this stage, cancer has spread beyond the prostate and nearby lymph nodes, distant bones, organs such as liver, lungs and also to other tissues. This is usually determined by bone scan, Prostascint scan or other studies. Stage D cancer is not curable but treatable.

Treatment

Treatment depends on individual circumstances such as the man’s age and general health, extent of the cancer etc. Elderly patients with minor sysmptoms., early stage cancer, or coexisting illness may be treated conservatively.

There are many different ways to treat prostate cancer. It is advisable to get advise from two or more doctors before making a final decision about the treatment. Treatment includes Prostatectomy and Hormone Therapy or anti-antrogen drugs, Chemotherapy and Radio Therapy.

Hormone Therapy: Hormone therapy, is used either alone or in combination with surgery or radiation. It is based on the fact that prostate cancer cells frequently use the male hormone , testosterone as a Fertilizer and the absence of this hormone may lead to the death or weakening of prostate cancer cells. So It is used to stop the production of testosterone hormone and hence a person with Stage C and D cancer can have their life extended and improved by the use of hormonal therapy.

There are side effects associated with Hormone therapy. They include hot flashes, weight gain, erectile dysfunction, decrease in muscle mass and strength, personality changes, decreased mentation and osteoporosis.

Prostatectomy : Patients in good health and under age 70 is usually offered surgery as a treatment option. Various types of surgical procedures are done depending on the stage of prostate cancer and patient’s over all health.

Prostatectomy is the most common treatment option for localized prostate cancer. It involves surgical removal of prostate gland and some other near by tissues and reattaching the urethra and bladder. It will prevent further spread of the cancer. If the prostate cancer is in the early stages, prostatectomy can treat the cancer completely. This is done either through a surgical incision in the lower abdomen or the space between the scrotum and rectum.

These procedures also produce side effects like impotency, Urinary incontinence, narrowing of the urethra and difficulty in urination.

Radio Therapy: It is a form of treatment which uses high levels of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing and dividing thus reducing damage to healthy cells. It is more effective for early stage prostate cancer.

Good nutrition is an important part of recovering from the side effects of radiation therapy.

Slight skin changes will be visible after radiation. Skin may become red, swollen, warm and sensitive, as if in a sunburn but it is temporary. The long term effects include, slight darkening of the skin, enlarged pores, increased or decreased sensitivity of the skin and a thickening of tissue or skin.

Chemotherapy: It is a combination of drugs which is effective to kill or slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cells. Chemotherapy is usually prescribed to men with advanced prostate cancer. Chemotherapy drugs are carefully controlled in both dosage and frequency so that cancer cells are destroyed while minimizing the risk to healthy cells. As the drugs circulate throughout the whole body, they can effect the healthy cells also.

The side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lowered blood counts, reduced ability of the blood to clot, and an increased risk of infection.

HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT:

CROTALUS : cancer with haematuria.

CONIUM : On every emotion, with itching of prepuce.

SEPIA : discharge during stool.

KALI BHICH : pain during chronic prostates.

SILICEA : While straining at stool.

NITRIC ACID : Discharge after stool.

NUX VOMICA : discharge during stool.

THUJA : When the discharge is greenish and thick.

STAPHISAGRIA : prostatic discharge after sexual excesses.

SELENIUM : discharge during stool.

Homeopathy Dosage Directions

Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Leukaemia (Blood Cancer)

Leukaemia is generally known as Blood Cancer.

Q. 1: What is leukemia?

Ans.: Leukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All cancers begin in cells, which make up blood and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells replace them.

Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. Leukemia is cancer that begins in blood cells.

Normal blood cells

Blood cells form in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft material in the center of most bones.

Immature blood cells are called stem cells and blasts. Most blood cells mature in the bone marrow and then move into the blood vessels. Blood that flows through the blood vessels and heart is called the peripheral blood.

Q. 2: What are the types of leukemia?

Ans.: The types of leukemia are grouped by how quickly the disease develops and gets worse. Leukemia is either chronic (gets worse slowly) or acute (gets worse quickly):

* Chronic leukemia—Early in the disease, the abnormal blood cells can still do their work, and people with chronic leukemia may not have any symptoms. Slowly, chronic leukemia gets worse. It causes symptoms as the number of leukemia cells in the blood rises.

* Acute leukemia—The blood cells are very abnormal. They cannot carry out their normal work. The number of abnormal cells increases rapidly. Acute leukemia worsens quickly.

The types of leukemia are also grouped by the type of white blood cell that is affected. Leukemia can arise in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. Leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is called lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid leukemia or myelogenous leukemia.

Q. 3: Who is at risk for Leukemia?

Ans. : No one knows the exact causes of leukemia. Doctors can seldom explain why one person gets this disease and another does not. However, research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop leukemia. A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.

Studies have found the following risk factors for leukemia:

* Very high levels of radiation —People exposed to very high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to develop leukemia. Very high levels of radiation have been caused by atomic bomb explosions (such as those in Japan during World War II) and nuclear power plant accidents (such as the Chernobyl [also called Chornobyl] accident in 1986).

Medical treatment that uses radiation can be another source of high-level exposure. Radiation used for diagnosis, however, exposes people to much lower levels of radiation and is not linked to leukemia.

* Working with certain chemicals—Exposure to high levels of benzene in the workplace can cause leukemia. Benzene is used widely in the chemical industry. Formaldehyde is also used by the chemical industry. Workers exposed to formaldehyde also may be at greater risk of leukemia.

* Chemotherapy—Cancer patients treated with certain cancer-fighting drugs sometimes later develop leukemia. For example, drugs known as alkylating agents are associated with the development of leukemia many years later.

* Down syndrome and certain other genetic diseases—Some diseases caused by abnormal chromosomes may increase the risk of leukemia.

* Human T-cell leukemia virus-I (HTLV-I)—This virus causes a rare type of chronic lymphocytic leukemia known as human T-cell leukemia. However, leukemia does not appear to be contagious.

* Myelodysplastic syndrome—People with this blood disease are at increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia.

In the past, some studies suggested exposure to electromagnetic fields as another possible risk factor for leukemia. Electromagnetic fields are a type of low-energy radiation that comes from power lines and electric appliances. However, results from recent studies show that the evidence is weak for electromagnetic fields as a risk factor.

Q. 4: Does leukaemia run in families?

Ans.: An increased risk of leukaemia can run in families. If one person in the family has leukaemia, the other members have three times the normal risk of getting the same type of leukaemia.

Q. 5 : What are symptoms of leukemia?

Ans.: Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. Depending on the number of abnormal cells and where these cells collect, patients with leukemia may have a number of symptoms.

Common symptoms of leukemia:

* Fever or night sweat

* Frequent infections

* Feeling weak or tired

* Headache

* Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)

* Pain in the bones or joints

* Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from an enlarged spleen)

* Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck or armpit

* Weight loss

Q. 6: How many common types of leukaemia?

Ans.: There are four common types of leukemia:

* Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, CLL) accounts for about 7,000 new cases of leukemia each year. Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are over age 55. It almost never affects children.

* Chronic myeloid leukemia (chronic myelogenous leukemia, CML) accounts for about 4,400 new cases of leukemia each year. It affects mainly adults.

* Acute lymphocytic leukemia (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL) accounts for about 3,800 new cases of leukemia each year. It is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It also affects adults.

* Acute myeloid leukemia (acute myelogenous leukemia, AML) accounts for about 10,600 new cases of leukemia each year. It occurs in both adults and children.

Q. 7: Is leukaemia a children's cancer?

Ans.: About half of all cases of acute lymphocytic leukaemia are in children under 10 years old, with another quarter of cases occurring in adolescents. However, the other main types of leukaemia normally occurr in people over 50. There are many cases of leukaemia in the Asian subcontinent each year amongst children, with many of higher age groups,as well.

Cervix Cancer

Q. 1: What is cervix?

Ans.: Cervix is the lowest part of uterus which is an organ that only women have, and it is where a baby grows and develops when a woman is pregnant. During pregnancy, the uterus has an enormous increase in size. When a woman is not pregnant, the uterus is a small, pear-shaped organ that sits between a womans rectum and her bladder. The cervix connects the uterus with the birth canal (the vagina). The cervix can both be visualized and sampled by your doctor during a routine pelvic examination in his or her office.

Q. 2: What is cervical cancer?

Ans.: Cervical cancer starts in a woman's cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. The uterus holds the growing fetus during pregnancy. The cervix connects the lower part of the uterus to the vagina and, with the vagina, forms the birth canal.

Cervical cancer develops when normal cells on the surface of the cervix begin to change, grow uncontrollably, and eventually form a mass of cells called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

At the outset, the changes in a cell are abnormal, not cancerous. Researchers believe, however, some of these abnormal changes are the first step in a series of slow changes that can lead to cancer. Some of the abnormal cells go away without treatment, but others can become cancerous. This phase of the disease is called dysplasia (an abnormal growth of cells). The precancerous tissue needs to be removed to stop cancer from developing. Often, the precancerous tissue can be removed or destroyed without harming healthy tissues, but in some cases, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) is needed to prevent cervical cancer. Treatment of a lesion (a precancerous area) depends on the following factors:

* How big the lesion is, and what type of changes have occurred in the cells

* If the woman wants to have children in the future

* The woman's age

* The woman's general health

* The preference of the woman and her doctor

If the precancerous cells change into true cancer cells and spread deeper into the cervix or to other tissues and organs, the disease is then called cervical cancer.

There are two main types of cervical cancer, named for the type of cell where the cancer started.

* Squamous cell carcinoma, which makes up about 80% to 90% of all cervical cancers

* Adenocarcinoma, which makes up 10% to 20% of all cervical cancers

Q. 3: What are the signs of cervical cancer?

Ans.: Women with cervical cancer may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, women with cervical cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer.

Most women do not have any signs or symptoms of a precancer or early stage cervical cancer. Symptoms usually do not appear until the cancer has spread to other tissues and organs.

Any of the following could be signs or symptoms of cervical dysplasia or cancer:

* Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods

* Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual

* Bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination

* Pain during sexual intercourse

* Bleeding after menopause

* Increased vaginal discharge

Testing for Cancer with a Biopsy

A biopsy is a medical procedure in which a tissue sample or a group of cells is removed for laboratory examination. There are several types of biopsies available, designed to compliment an array of different conditions and parts of the body. Many of these procedures are performed with a needle and syringe, requiring no sedation. In some cases, the removal of tissue will necessitate surgery. Biopsies are typically conducted alongside other diagnostic processes. This will yield a more accurate diagnosis. A microscopic evaluation of biopsied cells can definitively determine the presence of cancer, but imaging tests are usually needed to determine the stage and behavior of the cancer.

Biopsy Types

Needle Biopsy

Needle biopsies are frequently performed to analyze growths that can be felt through the skin. Such growths may include lumps in the breasts or testes. There are four main types of needle biopsy:

Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA): In this procedure, a long, fine needle pierces the skin and is inserted into the suspicious tissue. A syringe is then used to extract cells from the tissue. Typically, the cells will be sent to a laboratory for a microscopic evaluation. When a cyst is drained with FNA, and the material is not sent away for laboratory evaluation, the procedure is called a cyst aspiration. FNA is relatively painless and can be performed in minutes.
Core Needle Biopsy: When solid tissue is biopsied, or when larger amounts of tissue are needled for evaluation, a hollow core needle is used to perform the procedure. This needle will extract a column of tissue from the suspect area. Sometimes, a small incision must be made in order to make way for this larger needle. When biopsy necessitates an incision, local anesthesia is used.
Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy: This procedure is similar to a normal core needle biopsy. However, in a vacuum-assisted biopsy, a special machine is used to draw even more cells from the suspect tissue.
Image-Guided Biopsy: When the suspect tissue cannot be felt through the skin, but is still a candidate for a needle biopsy, an image-guided biopsy is performed. In this procedure, the standard needle biopsy is guided with the aid of various imaging technologies, such as computed tomography (CT scan) or ultrasound.

Skin (Cutaneous) Biopsy

A skin biopsy is performed to remove cells from the skin, or other tissues on the body’s surface. Most skin cancers are diagnosed with a skin biopsy. There are several types of skin biopsy procedures available:

Shave Biopsy: This procedure can be performed with a small scalpel or a curved razor blade. With the tool, cells are scraped form the surface of the skin, after which they are sent away for analysis. You will not need stitches after this procedure. Shaving the skin is not the same as making an incision through the skin.
Punch Biopsy: In a punch biopsy, a physician will use rounded knife, ranging in size from 1mm to 8mm, to remove sections of the skin below the surface. Most punch biopsies are performed to extract tissues located about ¼ of an inch into the skin. Following a punch biopsy, the wound is usually stitched to ensure proper healing.
Incisional Biopsy: This procedure is performed to extract tissues located below the skin, into the subcutaneous fat. To extract these tissues, an incision is made with an elliptical scalpel, after which the wound will be stitched.
Excisional Biopsy: This procedure is a type of incisional biopsy in which the entire lesion or tumor is removed. In most biopsy procedures, only a portion of the suspect tissue is removed for analysis. Because an excisional biopsy removes all of the suspect tissue, it can sometimes provide curative, as well as diagnostic results. Many melanomas, though, are located on the face and cannot be completely excised in such a manner.

Curretage

In this procedure, the suspect tissue is scraped using a round curette blade. Sometimes this tool is used in a skin biopsy, but it can also be used to scrape cells from bone and other internal tissues.

Surgery

When suspect tissues are inaccessible using common biopsy procedures, a surgical biopsy is required. During a surgical biopsy, an incision is made through the skin, allowing the physician to access suspicious cells located within the body. This procedure is essentially the same thing as a needle, skin, or curretage biopsy; however, it utilizes a surgical incision as a means to penetrate the suspect tissue.

A Brief History of the Biopsy

Ernest Henri Besnier, the famed French dermatologist, introduced the word “biopsy” to the medical community in 1879.
The first biopsy used to diagnose a disease was performed in Russia in 1875 by M.M. Rudnev.
Historical evidence suggests that the Arabs may have been performing diagnostic biopsies as early as the 12th century AD. The Arab physician Abulcasim reportedly used a needle to extract material from a goiter (a swelling of the neck due to thyroid gland abnormalities). He used this material to characterize, or primitively diagnose the goiter.

Cancer Data Base