A CancerProne System

A Cancer-Prone System
By Michael Russell

Starting from the outside, the key elements in the female reproductive system are the vulva (or outer lips), the vagina (or birth canal), the cervix (a doughnut-shaped structure that is at the entrance to the uterus), the uterus, or womb (inside which a baby grows before birth), the fallopian tubes (along which fertilised eggs travel to the uterus) and the ovaries (where the eggs and various hormones are made). Not all of these organs and tissues are equally liable to cancer. For example, cancer attacks the fallopian tubes rarely; the vulva and vagina, more often; and the ovaries, the walls of the uterus (the endometricum) and the cervix most frequently. Each type of cancer requires specific diagnosis and treatment. Uterine cancer accounts for about four percent of all cancers in women; cervical cancer, for about three percent. Thanks to increased public awareness, early detection the death rate for cervical and uterine cancer has declined in recent decades.

It is not unusual for a serious disease to share the same symptoms with a relatively unimportant problem. This is especially true of cervical cancer and other cancers of the reproductive system. For example, two common symptoms of cancer of the vulva are itching and a burning pain, conditions that can also be caused by vulvar infections. A change in a vulvar mole or freckle, or any bump, growth or ulcer that does not heal within two weeks, may or may not, signal cancer. Cervical cancer is often symptomless, at least in its early stages, but in time, it causes abnormal vaginal bleeding or increased vaginal discharge. The discharge may begin as a watery discharge streaked with blood, but eventually the discharge will contain greater quantities of blood.

Having a symptom of gynaecological cancer does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. It does mean that you should see a doctor for a complete pelvic examination and further tests to rule out the possibility of cancer. Age seems to be the main factor that affects a woman's chances of developing cervical cancer or any other cancer of her reproductive organs. The danger years vary, but fall within the 40-65 year old age span. The years of greatest risk for cervical cancer appear to be between 40 and 49. The odds that a woman will develop any type of gynaecological cancer increase after menopause.

Each reproductive organ also has its own specific risk factors. Studies reveal that cancer of the cervix occurs more often in women who become sexually active early in life, who have contracted a sexually transmitted disease such as genital warts, who have had many sexual partners, whose sexual partners have had many sexual contacts, or who smoke. More cases of cervical cancer also occur among women who use oral contraceptives than among those who rely on a diaphragm, condoms or an intrauterine device (IUD).

Two routine screening examinations are available for women, the cervical smear test (Pap smear test) and the pelvic examination, which may detect gynaecological cancer - or conditions that may lead to it - long before a woman notices anything wrong. In the cervical smear test, a metal instrument called a speculum is used to open up the vagina and examine the cervix. With the speculum in place, the doctor uses a wooden spatula or cotton wool swab to rub off a sample of cells from the surface of the cervix; the sample is transferred onto a glass slide and sent to the laboratory for examination under the a microscope. The test is designed to detect the presence of abnormal (precancer) cells that in some cases may develop into cervical cancer. Even if such cells are found, it does not mean that you have cancer or will get it later; it does mean, though, that more tests and possibly treatment are necessary. If the cervix shows inflammatory changes or if you have had an abnormal smear, the doctor may also examine the cervix with a magnifying instrument called a colposcope. After examining the cervix, the doctor will do a pelvic examination by passing a gloved finger up inside the vagina while pressing down on the abdomen with the other hand. In this way he may be able to detect abnormalities in the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Depending on your age, your past and present sexual habits, whether you are at high risk for developing cervical cancer, will determine how often you should be examined. Generally, any factor that increases the risk of developing cancer increases the need for regular check-ups. Cervical cancer detected early can usually be cured without affecting a woman's ability to have children, but a more advanced cancer might require a hysterectomy - the surgical removal of the uterus and the cervix, which makes it impossible for her to have children.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Cervical Cancer

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The Law Of Attraction And Cancer

The Law Of Attraction And Cancer
By Weldon Underhill

Discussions involving the Law of Attraction or the Secret of Attraction predominately revolve around money and wealth. However, wealth is only one aspect of life. Health is of greater daily concern to us than is wealth but it does not appear to receive the same attention.

The Law of Attraction applies to all aspects of our lives including our health. We attract our state of health just as we attract our state of wealth. This attraction is, for most people, usually by default. While we are usually cognizant of attracting good health into our lives by our activities and philosophies, we are usually totally unaware of attracting disease into our lives. Very few patients with whom I have dealt have stated initially that they knew they created their disease.

Cancer is one of the areas where I spend a lot of time with patients, families and medical staff. As I ponder the Law of Attraction, I often think about the universal focus on cancer. Cancer is a hot topic. The treatment of cancer is a hot issue. The medications for cancer treatment are an expensive issue. Newspapers, radio stations and television stations regularly carry articles and programs about some aspect of cancer. Governments feed more money into cancer research and treatment. Pharmaceutical companies develop more expensive medications for its treatment and make more and more money. Physicians specialize in its diagnosis and treatment. Treatment teams are set up to work with the cancer patient and his family. Public forums are held and even court battles are fought over one type of cancer being given preferential treatment. And the incidence of cancer continues to escalate!

Why? Why, with all the focus on cancer and the enormous amounts of money being spent, does the incidence of cancer continue to rise? With all the expensive treatments, why do people continue to have recurrence of their cancer? Why do some families appear to be magnets for the disease while others appear to be immune?

Certainly, I believe, environmental issues play a large part in the development of cancer. Genetics play a part. Lifestyle, eating habits and smoking all play a part. But what about the Law of Attraction? Does it somehow explain the increasing incidence of cancer throughout the world.

The Law of Attraction requires three steps: ask, believe and receive. According to Law of Attraction, the universe will give us exactly what we ask for. Is not the attention that we give to cancer in a way sending a message to the universe that we are asking for more (is not preparing for it asking for it?)? Is not the ongoing devotion to the business of cancer telling the universe that we believe we are ready to receive more of it. We are receiving it with open arms!

I am not suggesting that any individual wishes to have cancer. Nor am I suggesting that we should stop our research and treatment or our funding for such. That would be foolish. I do notice that very little emphasis is placed on prevention. As a society, if we were not ready to receive cancer, would we not be taking steps to get rid of the environmental and publicly promoted lifestyle and eating habits that we know contribute to cancer?

I believe the Law of Attraction adds a viable explanation to the increasing rates of cancer (as well as many other diseases) in our society. I believe it applies at both the macro level and the individual level. I expect little significant change will occur at the macro level and that it is up to each individual to apply the tenets of the Law of Attraction to their own lives to protect themselves. I do not believe our governments, industry or large institutions have the best interest of the individual in their focus. Thus we must learn to protect ourselves from these diseases by every means possible.

I work in a medical setting with people who span the spectrum from complete happiness to total despair. I have come to appreciate how people create their own reality but seldom ever take credit for it. This has led me to search for materials to help me understand the dynamics and to assist the people I help. And it has enabled me to change my thinking and lead a better more fulfilling and prosperous life.

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Treatments Focusing on Sugars May Help Cure Cancer New Hope for Texas

Treatments Focusing on Sugars May Help Cure Cancer - New Hope for Texas
By Patt Carpenter

It turns out that the key to defeating cancer just may found in sugar...well, at least in the polysaccarides, or sugar molecules, surrounding tumors. That's good news for developed countries like the U.S., in which cancer is a leading cause of death. Texas alone endures approximately 10,000 lung-cancer related deaths every year, many of which are in high-pollutant areas like Dallas, Houston, and Austin. The implications this has for potential lifesaving treatments, and, subsequently, for the health care and health insurance industries, are profound.

According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, altering some of the sugars found on the surface of cancer cells can control tumor growth. Theorizing that changes in the polysaccarides surrounding tumors indicated the stages or aggressiveness of cancers, Ram Sasisekharan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted studies in which cancer-infected mice were given doses of two enzymes and their products predicted to cut the sugar heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans in different places. Heparinase I (hep I) promoted the growth of melanoma tumors, while heparinase III (hep III) inhibited their growth, and prevented subsequent spreading.

Tumors ind to (hence, disrupt) activity of certain signaling molecules involved in tumor activity. The implication is that cancerous tumors can be restricted or encouraged by enzymes released by the body, or, as experiments would suggest, introduced to the body through polysaccaride-based anti-cancer drugs. Though further testing is necessary, such treatments may also come with the added bonus of having relatively few side-effects.

Further research has been done on enzymes' link to cancer growth. Results of a study conducted on lung cancer, released by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and published in the journal, Cancer Research, suggested that blocking the enzyme telomerase -- which prevents the death of cancer cells -- may also slow or halt the spread of most malignancies. Such treatments may be most effective after chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or other treatments are administered to rid the body of most of the disease. Enzymatic treatment, then, can follow, eliminating remaining cancer cells. Such therapies may also be used during the course of treatment to slow malignant growth.

This all makes a little more sense in light of some basic cell biology. In normal cells, the tail end of the chromosomes are called telomores. As cells divide and age, they become shorter and shorter, and, at a certain length, they simply stop dividing and die. Cancer cells, on the other hand, have a certain enzyme, telomerase, that activates and keeps the chromosomes the same length, thereby preventing their death. Malignant cells are so hard to kill partly because they live so long and multiply so rapidly. Enzymatic therapy that would halt this growth would be a major breakthrough in the treatment of nearly all cancers.

Between 1995 and 2000, there were 81,132 lung cancer cases recorded in Texas alone. Ninety percent of those who were diagnosed didn't make it past five years. The rates were higher in counties with higher emissions, especially emissions containing zinc, chromium, and copper. Ominously, a report entitled An Ecological Study of the Association of Metal Air Pollutants with Lung Cancer Incidence in Texas, released by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, concluded that a positive relationship between air pollution and lung cancer existed. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter, produced from the combustion of fossil fuels (such as in power plants, incinerators and motor vehicles) also conferred lung cancer risks.

Undoubtedly, most lung cancer is associated with cigarette smoking, but around 15% of those with this horrid disease are nonsmokers. Such a significant percentage implies that other factors are to blame, such as air pollution (obviously higher in cities like Dallas and Houston), secondhand smoke, asbestos, and Radon exposure. Lung cancer rates are so significant because few people diagnosed are actually cured. If scientists can somehow find a way to treat even the toughest of cancers, there is hope for even the most desperate of patients.

What is so exciting about the possibility of enzymatic therapy for cancer patients is that it's relatively simple. Scientists are discovering the basic processes allowing cancers to exist and grow, and are attempting to cut them off before the malignancies overtake the body. Perhaps, just perhaps, we may even soon stop this often-fatal disease well before it can take hold. Now that would be something.

No one wants to be afflicted with cancer. How you take care of yourself can surely help reduce your risk, and will certainly affect you as you age -- eventually your wallet, as well. If youre a young individual who tries to keep informed and maintain a healthy condition and lifestyle, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly-affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. Visit our website, www.precedent.com, for more information. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly-competitive HSA-qualified plans, and an unparalleled eal time application and acceptance process.

Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com

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Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence with Green Tea

Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence with Green Tea
By Jon Stout

In recent years, lots of research has been performed on green teas ability to prevent and treat breast cancer. The news has been extremely promising; it appears that as we learn more, well eventually determine that green tea is, indeed, one of the simplest things we can do to protect breast health. Since about 13% of all American women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, breast health is a significant concern for all of us.

One study showed that tea helped to ensure that women had an appropriate level of the sex hormone binding globulin on critical days of their cycle. The level of binding globulin is important because low levels of this hormone in pre-menopausal women have been associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Another study showed that one group of Chinese women who were at a higher than average risk of developing cancer, due to angiotensin activity in their blood, were able to lower their breast cancer risk by drinking green tea. This study concluded that even women who drank green tea only weekly were at a lower risk than those who drank it only monthly or not at all.

One study also showed that green tea may be able to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Green tea was shown to increase the concentration of chemotherapy drugs in the cancer cells, compared to women who received chemotherapy without green tea as an adjunct treatment. Green tea was also shown to slow the growth of cancer cells, suggesting that it may inhibit cancer progression and metastasis.

Green teas anti-oxidants are what make it such a powerful health protector. The anti-oxidants in green tea have been shown to be more than 100 times as effective at neutralizing free radicals as vitamin C, and 25 times more powerful than vitamin E, both of which are well recognized as anti-oxidants. In addition, the EGCG in green tea have also been found to be more powerful than BHA, BHT and Resveratol, all of which are considered some of the most potent anti-oxidants around.

And, now theres a study thats shown that green tea may prevent breast cancer from recurring, too. This study, reported by the UK Tea Council, examined many databases that contained information about breast cancer patients and their rate of recurrence.

The study concluded that women who consumed more than 5 cups of green tea per day had a slightly lower than average risk of developing breast cancer than women who consumed a smaller amount or who did not drink green tea at all.

In addition, this study showed that women with Stages 1 and 2 breast cancer who drank green tea daily showed a decreased risk of breast cancer recurrence over women who did not drink green tea.

This is very promising news, both for women who are trying to prevent breast cancer and for women who are already battling the disease. It appears that green tea may be an important part of the treatment of breast cancer, in order to lessen the chances that the cancer will recur later.

Each recurrence of breast cancer is more difficult to treat than the previous ones, and each one increases your mortality risk from the disease. So, while prevention is critical in all women preventing recurrence for those who are already battling the disease is just as critical.

When you combine all the evidence thats out there, its hard to ignore the fact that green tea holds a lot of promise in the fight against breast cancer.

So, if youre at a higher than average risk for developing breast cancer, its wise to consider adding green tea to your diet. Even if it doesnt prevent you from getting breast cancer, green tea has no side effects, and is considered to be completely safe to consume.

In addition to adding green tea to your diet, you should also take steps to ensure that youre living an overall healthy life. This means eating a healthy diet, that includes lots of fruits and vegetables (these are high in anti-oxidants just like green tea) and is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Switch to whole grains and be certain that youre getting an adequate amount of fiber.

You should also exercise. Exercise helps burn calories and maintain a normal body weight. In addition, exercise helps build muscle and keep your body strong, which comes in handy as we age.

Finally, if you smoke, stop. Were all aware that smoking increases our risk for lung cancer, but what many people dont know is that smoking increases your overall risk of cancer. So, smoking may contribute to you having a higher risk of breast cancer, too. Smoking also contributes to heart disease.

Were learning more and more about the benefits of drinking green tea. Its likely that in a few years, well truly understand how this popular beverage keeps us healthy. But, in the meantime, you should get a head start on the road to health by having some green tea today and every day!

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

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A Brief History of Breast Cancer

A Brief History of Breast Cancer
By Michael Russell

Ancient Egyptians first noted and recorded the disease as tumors, or ulcers, of the breasts, concluded that there was no real cure and that the only form of treatment was cauterization with a tool called the fire drill. Since then, there have been many similar cases described by doctors throughout history that concluded that there was no cure; or really effective treatment.

When doctors started to understand the human circulatory system in the seventieth century, they also managed to establish a link between breast cancer and the lymph nodes in the armpits. Between the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, the French surgeon Jean Petit and Scotsman Benjamin Bell were the first ones to remove the lymph nodes, breast tissue and chest muscle in an effort to save woman from breast cancer.

By the 1880s, William Halsted started performing mastectomies. His procedure became known as the Halsted Radical Mastectomy and it remained a popular procedure in the fight against breast cancer right up to the 1970s.

Breast cancer is a cancer of the glandular breast tissue and is found in both male and female patients. Worldwide breast cancer accounts for almost 1% of all deaths, is the fifth most common form of cancer and the most common form found in women.

Although breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women in the United States, it is only the second most common cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer). U.S. women have a one in eight lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer and an almost 3% chance of breast cancer causing their death. Due to our modern lifestyle the experts claim and have also noted, a significant increase in the number of cases since the 1970s.

The breast is composed of identical tissues in males and females. Therefore breast cancer also occurs in males, though it is less common. Although men have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, this risk appears to be rising. There seems to be an increased incidence of breast cancer in men with prostate cancer.

The notable point about male breast cancer is that the prognosis is worse in men than in women and treatment of men with breast cancer is similar to that of the treatment given to older women. Because the male breast tissue is confined to the area directly behind the nipple, treatment for males has usually been a mastectomy.

On a more positive note, most breast cancer symptoms do not turn out to represent underlying breast cancer. These normally turn out to be benign diseases of the breast and only represent the more common symptoms similar to breast cancer itself. However, any appearance of new breast symptom should be taken very seriously by patients and doctors; because of the possibility of an underlying breast cancer that can develop at any age.

As with all types of cancer, the detection and treatment of breast cancer has a far greater chance of a positive outcome by detecting it earlier rather than later.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Breast Cancer

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Chemicals Is There A Direct Link To Cancer And Other Illnesses?

Chemicals - Is There A Direct Link To Cancer And Other Illnesses?
By Lisa Mills

Synthetic chemicals have become a very large part of our every day lives. But what effect do these chemicals have on our bodies? Is there a link between some chemicals and the huge increase in Cancer and other illnesses?

Our bodies are highly efficient at dealing with many toxins by breaking them down and expelling them from our systems. So is there any real need to be concerned? Definitely. Testicular cancer has increased by 300% in recent years and childhood cancers have increased by 26% since 1971. The human baby is at the top of the food chain absorbing a lifetime of chemicals from its mothers body before birth and her milk after birth. It is a sad fact of life that every child born today all ready has a host of chemicals in its body. This may be a factor in the rise of miscarriages.

A chemical of high concern known as artificial musk is present in many items we use on a daily basis. This musk is present in washing powders, fabric conditioners and deodorants amongst other household items. Follow this example to see how this chemical makes its way back into our bodies. You do your daily washing, the washing machine empties its water and the water makes its way to the treatment works. From here it will pass into rivers and either lie in the mud or pass out to sea. Small creatures then ingest this water. Larger fish then eat the smaller fish, thus consuming the chemicals ingested by the smaller creature. The artificial musk is not excreted from the fish and remains in its body fat. Eventually we will eat the fish and also consume its chemical content. Further to this, the sludge from treatment works is spread onto farmland and consumed by cows from which we get milk, butter, cheese etc. This chemical is then added to the level of artificial musk we already have in our bodies and is passed on to our children.

Some of the chemicals we find in our bodies have been proven to cause cancer in animals. Of course this does not mean that they will cause cancer in humans but something definitely is. Many of the chemicals in products we use have not had their safety properly assessed. To make matters worse many chemicals are far more dangerous together in our bodies. Another danger that has not been properly assessed.

The European Union manages a list of chemicals that it classes as of very high concern. You may think that this means manufacturers would not be allowed to put these chemicals in their products. You would be wrong. These chemicals are present in everyones home. Although all these chemicals have a purpose, the sad fact is that there are usually much safer alternatives available. Manufacturers are not being put under any pressure to change the chemicals they use. Many of them simply cannot see the value or state they cannot afford to investigate alternatives. Until the Government introduces legislation to force these companies into action, it is down to the public. Greenpeaces website includes action that the public can take to levy pressure against these manufacturers.

The Government seems to run by the assumption that all chemicals are safe until proven otherwise. It is encouraging scientists to find a cure for cancer rather than encouraging research into prevention. Quite often the finger is pointed at the sufferers lifestyle, but how can this take into account the huge rise in childhood cancers?

The most susceptible time for exposure to carcinogens occurs between conception and birth. The results of this exposure may materialise immediately, i.e. birth defects or not until much later in life in the form of testicular cancer (this cancer has increased by 300% in recent years).

Even if you are supporter of chemicals in our every day lives, it does not take a genius to realise the effect they are having on our environment and our bodies. Cancer, asthma and allergies are experiencing a huge surge in detection and unless we can force the Government and manufacturers to act, this trend looks set to continue.

Lisa Mills is an author based in Essex. She writes for websites and magazines. She also runs a baby gift box website. http://www.newbabygiftboxes.co.uk is a site offering a baby gift box service and other baby gifts.

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