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Archive for the ‘Cancer’


Educate Yourself About Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast cancer prevention is important for women to learn about, especially since breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women. The American Cancer Society’s web site reports that over two-hundred thousand women were diagnosed with this disease in 2006 and there are over two million women in the United States who have received treatment for breast cancer. With numbers this staggering, preventing cancer should be a priority for all women.

Thanks to all the new treatments available to women, death rates from breast cancer have declined in the last several years. When deciding how to go about lowering your chances of developing breast cancer, you should consider your risk factors. A risk factor is something that can increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.

Some risk factors can be controlled but others are considered irrepressible. Uncontrollable risk factors are age, gender, family history, genetic make-up, race and even personal medical history. Lifestyle risks usually fall in the “controllable” category.

These are things such as not exercising enough, being overweight, eating a diet high in fat, using birth control and smoking. It is important to take a look at your own lifestyle and family history to determine if you are susceptible to any of these risk factors.

There are certain medications available to women who fall under high risk factors for breast cancer. The drug Tamoxifen has been used in the United States for over twenty-five years to help in the fight for breast cancer prevention. The drug is taken once daily as a pill and interferes with the female hormone estrogen, preventing it from attaching itself to cells in the breast tissue.

This medication can also be used to treat women already diagnosed with breast cancer because it can slow down or cease the growth of cancerous cells. Tamoxifen has even been associated with helping prevent a recurrence in women who previously suffered from breast cancer.

A more common way to prevent breast cancer is through mammograms. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast and is the most common form of prevention. Women who are over forty years of age should get mammograms on a yearly basis.

For women in their twenty’s and thirty’s, the American Cancer Society’s web site recommends getting clinical breast exams at least every three years from a medical professional. This test is performed using the tips of the fingers to check the entire breast area and under the arm.

In addition to mammograms and clinical breast exams, women should also perform breast self exams each month to recognize any signs of lumps or abnormalities in the tissue.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is able to help women who fall within the lower poverty levels, are uninsured or underserved gain access to screenings for breast cancer. This program is called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

The CDC’s web site touts it has served more than two million women under this program since its inception in 1991. In 2000, Congress expanded this service by opening it up to women who are on Medicaid. This breast cancer control act, formally titled the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, is a way to help women, who may have little access to quality health care, have a chance at breast and cervical cancer prevention.

Breast cancer prevention can be a simple way to help you live a healthier life. Although not all risk factors are controllable, there are ways to help you recognize the warning signs of cancer. Be smart and know your body so you can live cancer free.

Visit Mike Selvon cancer prevention portal for more information on breast cancer prevention, and leave a comment at our cancer prevention blog. Don’t forget to claim your FREE self help ebook on dealing with cancer.

A Quick Guide To Prostate Cancer And What To Look For

Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. The male hormone testosterone contributes to the growth of cancer. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body - because of this can cause various urinary problems.

About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 have prostate cancer. The most common cancer in American men, excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs can be symptoms of cancer.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate, get checked right away.

A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or oncologist.

A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine, which may or may not be related. Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection.

Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate gland is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed. OHSU is beginning a study of acupuncture as a treatment for hot flashes for men with prostate cancer or prostate cancer survivors.

Impotence is a potential complication after a prostatectomy or after radiation therapy. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis.

Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes.

The first step in managing your prostate health is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. If possible eliminate all hormone-containing foods like meat and dairy from your diet. Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost.

Consider taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements every day. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions. Drink freshly made carrot juice every day that you make in a juicer or juice extractor.

Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad. Make smoothies with fruit only, using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost. Many men have lowered their PSA levels by eating a diet of living foods.

Because prostate cancer is a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn more about prostate cancer. If you do choose invasive conventional treatment, you can always change your diet and do non-invasive natural treatments too.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

From A Nurse - Prostate Cancer Symptoms Treatments And Diet

Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured. Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer that can take years before it becomes deadly.

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible.

There are a few symptoms to be aware of. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another symptom.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection. Keep in mind that experts report that PSA tests are not reliable and they are looking for better ways to diagnose prostate cancer.

A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). The approaches to treatment include: just ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms.

Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate gland is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken. An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with sweet carrots. Eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids. Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, and refined, packaged and processed food.

Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost. Drink plenty of pure filtered water, a minimum of a quart a day. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not contained in food; it’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts. A good dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that aren’t alive. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions.

Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. Because prostate cancer is a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer. If you’ve already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, pick the option that’s best suited to you and your continuing good health.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

Gaining The Edge On Cancer Control

Cancer control has taken America by storm. Thanks to better treatment options and earlier detection, cancer rates have declined significantly within the last couple of years, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Preventing any type of cancer can be accomplished through a healthy diet and healthy habits, but there is the chance none of these will help. Genetics could be the case for patients suffering from bone cancer because doctors are unsure as to what really causes this disease.

According to the ACS, there will only be a little over two thousand cases of bone cancer in the United States for 2007. Of that number, only a thousand will actually die from the disease. Bone cancer can begin in the bone, but most often the cancer started in another organ and spread.

In this instance, the cancer cells were malignant and filtered easily to other parts of the body. In these situations, patients end up receiving the same type of therapy as was used for the original cancer because the cells are the same.

Bone tumors get their name according to the region of the bone the cells are infecting. Bone tumors can be benign or malignant. If a bone tumor is benign, the patient will not see the cells spread to other parts of the body. There are several types of bone tumors, but the two most common forms are osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer found in patients between the ages of ten and thirty. There is the possibility that individuals between the ages of sixty and seventy will develop osteosarcoma, but rarely does one see this cancer in someone who is between the ages of thirty and sixty.

Males are also more susceptible to this common form of bone cancer than women. Chondrosarcoma affects the bone cartilage and usually occurs in patients after age twenty. Risks for developing this type of bone cancer continually rise as a person gets older and men and women are at equal risk of developing this disease.

Bone cancer protection is difficult to define mainly because there is no scientific method used to prevent it. There are risk factors associated with bone cancer such as having a previous disease or receiving treatment for a specific disease, like radiation therapy.

Age can also play a role in who develops bone cancer. Because it is hard to practice cancer control when it comes to the human bone structure, everyone is at risk for developing this disease at some point in their life.

The most common diagnosis for bone cancer is pain. As the tumor grows, the pain worsens for the individual. Detecting the pain is the first part of bone cancer control. The next important step is detecting it. This can be done through x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, bone scans or PET scans.

Once the cancer is found and defined, a patient needs to work on a treatment. Normally treatments for bone cancer are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. It is important when practicing any kind of cancer control that you discuss all your options with a doctor so you can find the right treatment for your body.

Cancer control may be easier when discussing breast and prostate cancer, mainly because the detection methods are better, more people are quitting smoking and treatment methods are more advanced. Researchers are constantly working on ways to prevent and treat bone cancer. As more discoveries are made, hopefully the numbers will decline too as they did for other cancers.

Visit Mike Selvon cancer prevention portal for more information on cancer control, and leave a comment at our cancer prevention blog. Don’t forget to claim your FREE self help ebook on dealing with cancer.

Cancer Prevention Is Easier Than You Think

Cancer prevention is not like rocket science. It begins with taking a look at your lifestyle and deciding where to make changes. Change can be as simple as adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet or it can mean putting down your pack of cigarettes for good. Whatever you choose to do as a means to ward off cancer, remember to tailor your prevention methods to fit your body.

The first step in the fight against cancer is to take a look at your family history. The University of Texas’ MD Anderson’s Cancer Center web site reports that five to ten percent of cancer cases can come from a person’s genetic make-up. The flip side of this statistic is that ninety percent of cancer cases can be controlled by the individual.

If someone in your family has battled cancer, researchers are now able to perform specific tests to find out if you carry altered genes which can cause certain types of cancers. The responsibility of getting the necessary tests and screenings lies with the individual.

Part of cancer prevention comes with heeding this responsibility and not ignoring the warning signs cancer gives to its victims. Research like this will help you to know if you should focus your efforts on breast and cervical cancer prevention or arthritis cancer prevention.

Aside from genetics, the most important part of cancer prevention is eating a well-balanced diet. This means incorporating more fruits and vegetables, meats that are low in fat and plenty of heart-healthy whole grains into your diet. Certain vegetables, such as tomatoes and broccoli, carry antibodies that support cancer prevention of the prostate for men.

If you can’t eat all your servings at one sitting, try to snack on them throughout the day. And because today’s society is surrounded by processed foods, reading nutrition labels is important when going to the store. Avoid foods that tend to be high in saturated fats, high fructose corn syrups and hydrogenated oils of any kind.

Exercising may not be an activity you thoroughly enjoy, but it is important to find time as a way to prevent cancer. Medical research suggests doing some form of activity for at least half an hour several times a week to keep your body in good shape.

To make exercising fun, find activities you enjoy such as hiking or gardening. Even simple tasks, like shopping at a mall, can be a form of physical activity. Being creative is the best way to keep your workouts fun and entertaining, leaving you less likely to forgo a brisk walk after dinner for the couch.

Cancer prevention involves changing habits, especially the bad ones. The University of Texas’ MD Anderson Cancer Research web site reports that 87 percent of lung cancer victims were smokers.

The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation’s fall 2006 newsletter conveyed that even second-hand smoke can increase a person’s risk of heart disease by twenty-five to thirty percent and can increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer by twenty to thirty percent.

More and more research comes out every year about the harmful affects of smoking, and stopping this degenerative habit is a crucial part in the fight against cancer.

Cancer prevention means making significant lifestyle changes. Simple decisions, such as snacking on fresh fruit and vegetables, can help you find room for healthier food choices. Getting your family involved in exercising helps physical activity become more fun and less of a chore for your loved ones.

Taking small steps towards big transformations will aid you in the fight against cancer and provide you with the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

Visit Mike Selvon cancer prevention portal for more information on cancer prevention, and leave a comment at our cancer prevention blog. Don’t forget to claim your FREE self help ebook on dealing with cancer.

About Pain Prevention During Cancer Treatments

Pain prevention is important when a patient is diagnosed with a disease. Illnesses, like cancer or arthritis, are accompanied by severe pain. This makes it extremely difficult for an individual to maintain a sense of normalcy in their daily life because they are unable to perform daily task. Doctors and medical specialists can help you find the right regiment to alleviate any pain you experience from a disease.

Debilitating diseases, such as arthritis and cancer, share a common connection when it comes to pain. Patients who suffer from arthritis, which is an inflammation of the joints, often need physical or therapeutic exercise. This type of arthritis pain control helps to increase joint flexibility and muscle mobility.

Cancer treatments often have the same affect, leaving the person feeling weak and helpless. Cancer treatment has different effects on people, depending on the type of disease. Individuals respond to treatments based on how far the cancer has advanced, and pain prevention should be individualized.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, it is important to set up a plan with your physician to develop a pain prevention plan. This will help you handle the changes your body will experience as you take treatments needed to eradicate the cancer from your body.

Therefore, when you first experience a pain in your body, you should tell your doctor where the pain is located, how severe it is, how long the pain lasted and if you experienced a recurrence of it in the same location. Providing all of this to your health care provider will allow them to set up solutions to help you manage the pain.

For individuals suffering from arthritis, there are a slew of medications available to help relieve the pain. Patients may have several different methods which make up their arthritis pain prevention plan. This could be incorporating anti-inflammatory drugs along with therapeutic exercises.

The same mindset is used when it comes to cancer prevention, and doctors have to try different medications on a person before finding the winning remedy. The National Cancer Institute suggests a three-step medication plan for pain prevention in cancer patients. The first level is for treating mild to moderate pain, and uses anti-inflammatory drugs or medications with acetaminophen.

If the pain continues to persist, doctors go to level two or level three pain medications. These could include doses or morphine to relieve severe and lasting pain. Other remedies, such as radiation therapy, can be added to pain medication treatments to help manage the cancer.

Depending on the severity of the disease, pain prevention methods may need to include physical and emotional therapies as well. Physical therapy, hot and cold massages and breathing methods are all used to help weak muscles.

Psychological support is also a method used to help cancer patients cope with the incapacitation they feel from the disease. The emotional support is important when coping with the feeling of helplessness patients feel when they can’t perform simple task like dressing themselves.

Your doctor will have to help find a pain prevention method that will fit your condition. Because all cancers react differently in patients, the pain your experience will be different than other patients with the same illness.

It is important to maintain constant communication with your physician about your pain so they can help you find a treatment and provide you with a sense of normalcy.

Visit Mike Selvon cancer prevention portal for more information on pain prevention, and leave a comment at our cancer prevention blog. Don’t forget to claim your FREE self help ebook on dealing with cancer.

Your Must-Know Guide To Prostate Cancer

Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself; most of the patients with this type of cancer can live for years without any problems. Men have traditionally been less likely to seek medical attention than women, especially for minor problems which often serve as warning signs for more serious underlying illness. The second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. is from prostate cancer.

Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. Prostate cancer is simply a malignant tumor of the prostate gland. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly; most men will never even know they have the condition.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. There are other symptoms that may not be mentioned here. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs can be symptoms of cancer.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate, get checked right away. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.

A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine, which may or may not be related. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread).

There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or oncologist. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Thoroughly discuss all your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary - don’t be afraid to ask.

Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Urinary incontinence can be one of the possible complications of surgery. The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial.

Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes.

An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

For an easy fiber boost, mix in two tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds in raw applesauce, from 2-3 apples, made in your food processor. Consider taking cod liver oil or fish oil supplements every day. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.

Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 — the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and sub-lingual — dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 - especially if you can’t get a daily dose of 15 to 20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3. Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad.

Make smoothies with fruit only, using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost. Eat at least one, preferably two organic apples with the skin on every day. Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost.

Evidence indicates that many patients detect cancer at an earlier stage because of annual screening, so make sure to get a good exam. Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments