Wednesday, February 27, 2008

article

Early Symptoms Prostate Cancer: The Debate on Whether Diagnostic Testing Is Advisable at This Stage



Early symptoms prostate cancer is very rare. If the condition is at its earliest stage, chances are, there wouldn't be any sign at all. In majority of early stage cases, cancer in the prostate is often diagnosed accidentally either by prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test or a digital rectal examination (DRE) which could be part of a routine checkup. Because of the increased attention given to the disease, most men, especially those who are aged 45 and above, often go for routine tests to make sure that their prostate glands are in good health.

The use of tests to evaluate early symptoms prostate cancer became more common during the 1990s. Statistics have shown that death rates due to cancer of the prostate have declined following the increased use of these diagnostic methods. Despite their apparent usefulness, the scientific community has been divided on whether it is advisable for men to undergo such tests even with the absence of symptoms.

PSA and DRE methods have potential problems attached to them. For one, these screening techniques are not 100 percent accurate. A person's PSA level can become irregular due to reasons other than cancer. Medications and other health factors might cause this, which in turn could result to faulty evaluation. The DRE, primarily used to detect irregularities in the shape, texture and size of the prostate, might also be misinterpreted since the irregularities might be caused by other prostate conditions.

Several medical societies have advised against the use of routine testing during the early stages since inconclusive results might lead to anxiety or confusion. If the results are normal, a patient might get a false sense of security that could lead to neglect or eliminate caution all together. Furthermore, a man who gets a positive result from a PSA or DRE test might opt to get a biopsy despite the minor risks and discomfort associated with the process.

Some experts are recommending that routine examinations be offered to patients only if they are aged 50 and above. Except for men who belong to high risk groups, routine prostate cancer testing is not recommended to men who are below the age of 50. For high risk individuals, like those who have first degree relatives with prostate cancer, testing should be done as early as at age 45. Yearly monitoring is also recommended to these individuals since their chances of having the condition are higher than the ordinary man.

Before deciding on whether to get a PSA or a DRE test to confirm early symptoms prostate cancer, factors such as age and health should be considered. If a man is young and is genetically predisposed, then early tests are recommended since he would have a better chance of treating the disease if it is caught early. If a patient is old and in poor health, then he needs to discuss his options first with his physician. There might not be any need for tests since prostate cancer is a slow developing condition. It might not become a problem and the person might even die of other causes before it can even impact his life.

article

Breast Cancer Statistics - How Breast Cancer Survival Rates Increased 50%



Breast cancer statistics show that over 1.2 million persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide this year, according to the World Health Organization. For breast cancer and prevention, it has long been known that regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the likelihood of having breast cancer. What has not been known or studied has been the effect of regular physical activity on the breast cancer survival rates or likelihood of death in women that already have breast cancer. That is, until now.

The breast cancer statistics and findings as reported by the American Medical Associations Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in May 2005 were astounding! Certain participants in the study of women with Stage I, II or III breast cancer achieved a 50% reduction in the death rate from breast cancer.

Here are these breast cancer statistics: the journal reported that in the study 2,987 female registered nurses had been diagnosed with breast cancer during the years 1984-1998. What the study found was that the women who had physical activity equivalent to walking at a steady pace of 2.0-2.9 miles per hour for 3-5 hours a week had a death rate of only 50% of the death rate of women who had physical activity equivalent to walking less than one hour a week. The conclusion of the breast cancer statistics in the study was that physical activity after breast cancer has been diagnosed may reduce the risk of death from breast cancer. The study found that there was little evidence of any relation between increased physical activity and increased benefit.

It's time to dust off those walking shoes!

As a physical activity, walking can be done almost anytime by anyone anywhere. All that is needed is a good pair of walking shoes. Walking is fun and reduces stress. As for injuries, walking has the lowest injury rate of all the various kinds of exercise.

You can walk with a partner, friend, family member or dog, maybe even a neighbors dog. Or you can walk with your favorite headset and music. If you are walking outdoors with a headset, keep one ear open to hear the sounds around you.

As for basic walking tips:

• As you begin regular walking, take it easy. Standard advice is to check with your physician before starting any exercise program. If it has been years or decades since you walked regularly, perhaps you can begin with 5 minutes of walking and slowly increase your time and distance.

• Walking at a pace of 75-95 steps a minute will have you walking at a speed of about 2-3 miles per hour.

• Walk with your head up, looking out in front of you. Do not walk looking down right in front of you except to navigate any obstacles.

• Really take it easy the first 5 minutes of walking to warm up. Afterwards, gently stretch for 5-10 minutes while your muscles are warm.

• Practice good walking form. Your arms should swing naturally in the direction you are walking, not from side to side across your body. Your foot should strike the ground on your heel, then a rolling motion forward toward the ball of your foot, then pushing off with your toes.

And here are some basic walking shoes tips:

• Buy your walking shoes from a sporting shoes store with large selections. Doing so will give you plenty of choices. And buy your walking shoes later in the day when your feet will be larger.

• Buy cushioned, supportive walking shoes. To see if a shoe is supportive, do this test: take a shoe and turn it upside down. Holding each end of the shoe, try to fold it. If you find the shoe bends in the middle, then that shoe is not a supportive shoe. A supportive shoe should bend where your foot normally bends, near your toes.

• You should allow the width of your index finger between the end of your shoe and the end of your longest toe, or about one-half inch.

• Buy two pairs of walking shoes, one for home and one for the car or workplace. And if one pair gets wet, you can use the other pair that day.

Walking is the closest thing to the perfect exercise. In today's fast-paced society, regular walking can be a welcomed break from the stress of the day. Maybe you will get to know your neighborhood or neighbors better. There may be walking trails you have never seen but wanted to.

Wherever and however you choose to walk, not only can the experience be fun, you will know you are being good to your body in a variety of ways. Besides the incredible breast cancer statistics and findings of the breast cancer study, walking helps with weight control and bone strength, elevates mood, helps build and maintain healthy muscles, joints and heart. With so many great health benefits, why not get started walking today!

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

article

Cure alternative pancreatic vaccine



Our mission is to empower patients with no side effects at our center with the curing of the pancreatic cancer. This information is the basic or the initial information in order to provide support and hope, as well as to facilitate informed decisions.

A new or recurrent diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer often results in fear and confusion for patients and their family members. Understanding treatment options, accessing new and innovative therapies through clinical trials, as well as understanding the role of supportive care and complementary and alternative medicine are essential which are given at our center. We cure the disease with natural and herbal supplements which do not cause any side effects at all.

Our mission is to empower patients with no side effects at our center with the curing of the pancreatic cancer. This information is the basic or the initial information in order to provide support and hope, as well as to facilitate informed decisions.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of cancers. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas -- a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it's a leading cause of cancer death.

Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible. For years, little was known about pancreatic cancer. But researchers are beginning to understand the genetic basis of the disease -- knowledge that may eventually lead to new and better treatments. Just as important, you may be able to reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer with some lifestyle changes.

Cancer cells are always being created in the body. It's an ongoing process that has gone on for eons. In fact, the immune system developed components whose job it is to seek out and destroy cancer cells. It has been around as long as mankind, but the only thing is that it exploded in the recent days with the rapid growth of it. Contributing to this explosion are the huge amounts of toxins and pollutants we are exposed to, high stress lifestyles that zap the immune system, poor quality junk food that's full of pesticides, irradiated and now genetically modified, pathogens, electromagnetic stress, lights and just about anything that wasn't around 200 years ago. All these weaken the immune system, and alter the internal environment in the body to an environment that promotes the growth of cancer.

Cancer is not a mysterious disease that suddenly attacks you out of the blue, something that you can't do anything about. It has definite causes that you can correct if your body has enough time, and if you take action to change the internal environment to one that creates health, not cancer, while at the same time attacking cancerous cells and tumors by exploiting their weaknesses. Cancer tumors begin when more cancerous cells are being created than an overworked, depleted immune system can destroy.

Constant exposure to tens of thousands of manmade chemicals from birth onward, chlorinated and fluoridated water, electromagnetic radiation, pesticides and other toxins, leads to the creation of too many free radicals and excessive numbers of cancerous cells. Alone this would be enough to raise cancer levels, but combined with an immune system weakened by a diet of refined and over processed food, mineral depleted soils, and too much exposure to artificial light at night, the immune system at some point no longer is able to keep cancer in check and it starts to grow in your body.

The risk of developing cancer of the pancreas is usually low before the age of 40, but the risk subsequently increases sharply, with most people diagnosed between their sixties and eighties. Risk factors for the development of this disease include environmental factors, medical/surgical factors, genetic factors, and occupational exposures. • The incidence of pancreatic cancer is relatively low in individuals up to age 50, after which it increases significantly. The age group 65 - 79 has the highest incidence of cancer of the pancreas. • Smokers develop pancreatic cancer more than twice as often as nonsmokers. • Frequency of pancreatic cancer may be associated with high intakes of meat and fat. • Pancreatic cancer is more common among individuals with histories of the following conditions: cirrhosis (a chronic liver disease), chronic pancreatitis, diabetes and a history of surgery to the upper digestive tract. • Long-term exposure to certain chemicals, such as gasoline and related compounds, as well as certain insecticides, may increase the risk of developing cancer of the pancreas. • Possibly 3% of cases of pancreatic cancer are related to genetic disorders.

The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is usually delayed because symptoms are nonspecific. Jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin, is present in approximately 50% of patients at the time of diagnosis and may be associated with less-advanced disease. Other symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, discomfort in the abdomen, loss of appetite, and glucose intolerance.

In addition, the patient may experience pain in the abdomen and back. The pancreas may produce too much insulin, causing such symptoms as dizziness, weakness, diarrhea, chills, or muscle spasms. The patient may not even notice the gradual onset of these relatively nonspecific symptoms. The doctor may interpret them as being caused by something else. So, it is the first thing to take the right decision to cure the disease and be free from it and lead a healthy life.

article

November Is a Great Time to Quit Smoking



November is a great time to try again to kick the smoking habit.

I say "again" because, as a 30-year-smoker who tried to quit for 25 of those years, I'm pretty sure all smokers try to quit again and again.

During November, carrying on the work of journalist Peter Jennings, ABC News is presenting a series of reports on quitting smoking and lung cancer prevention.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and November 17th is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. It's a perfect time for the 51 million Americans who still smoke cigarettes to make a serious effort at quitting so they won't be part of the 160,000 who die from smoking each year in the U.S.

There is help, especially during November

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Quitline Consortium is providing resources to help people quit smoking. There's a national network of quitlines, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which automatically connects callers to their state-based quitlines, and to the Web site smokefree.gov for additional resources on quitting and lung cancer.

ABCNews.com is devoting a portion of its Web site to "Quit to Live: Fighting Lung Cancer." The section includes links to smoking cessation resources; and a "Quitters Blog" documenting peoples' attempts to quit smoking.

The Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout helps smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever.

A big mistake

Smoking cigarettes was the biggest mistake of my life.

To quit, I tried everything from shock therapy to hypnosis. My wife left me in a motel in my underwear for days so I couldn't buy cigarettes. I finally was able to quit during a 10-day hospital stay with a collapsed lung. Something about having a steel rod shoved into my chest with no anaesthetic to reinflate the lung made me really want to quit.

But the damage was done. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and worst of all, allowing my wife's and daughter's lungs to be polluted year after year by my second-hand smoke.

The primary cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoke. Today, lung cancer deaths are falling in states with strong tobacco control laws.

Chemicals and nicotine

The Cancer Society says cigarette smoke contains 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known to cause cancer. The tobacco burns while a cigarette is smoked, exposing the smoker and others to these deadly chemicals, tars and gases.

Nicotine does not cause cancer, but it does keep many people addicted to smoking. Each puff of a cigarette delivers a concentrated dose of nicotine straight to the brain -- and reinforces the need for the next puff.

Even after you've given up nicotine, you may still want to smoke. To maximize your chances of staying smoke-free for good, you need a plan.

The Cancer Society can help you come up with a plan, taking you step by step through making the decision, preparations, and following through.

Moving from one step to the next requires careful thought and preparation. And, no, it won't be easy. But this time, this month, it might just work.

Watch the news. Think about it. Call the quitline. Work on your plan.

It's a great time to try again.

article

November Is a Great Time to Quit Smoking



November is a great time to try again to kick the smoking habit.

I say "again" because, as a 30-year-smoker who tried to quit for 25 of those years, I'm pretty sure all smokers try to quit again and again.

During November, carrying on the work of journalist Peter Jennings, ABC News is presenting a series of reports on quitting smoking and lung cancer prevention.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and November 17th is the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. It's a perfect time for the 51 million Americans who still smoke cigarettes to make a serious effort at quitting so they won't be part of the 160,000 who die from smoking each year in the U.S.

There is help, especially during November

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Quitline Consortium is providing resources to help people quit smoking. There's a national network of quitlines, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which automatically connects callers to their state-based quitlines, and to the Web site smokefree.gov for additional resources on quitting and lung cancer.

ABCNews.com is devoting a portion of its Web site to "Quit to Live: Fighting Lung Cancer." The section includes links to smoking cessation resources; and a "Quitters Blog" documenting peoples' attempts to quit smoking.

The Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout helps smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever.

A big mistake

Smoking cigarettes was the biggest mistake of my life.

To quit, I tried everything from shock therapy to hypnosis. My wife left me in a motel in my underwear for days so I couldn't buy cigarettes. I finally was able to quit during a 10-day hospital stay with a collapsed lung. Something about having a steel rod shoved into my chest with no anaesthetic to reinflate the lung made me really want to quit.

But the damage was done. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and worst of all, allowing my wife's and daughter's lungs to be polluted year after year by my second-hand smoke.

The primary cause of lung cancer is tobacco smoke. Today, lung cancer deaths are falling in states with strong tobacco control laws.

Chemicals and nicotine

The Cancer Society says cigarette smoke contains 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known to cause cancer. The tobacco burns while a cigarette is smoked, exposing the smoker and others to these deadly chemicals, tars and gases.

Nicotine does not cause cancer, but it does keep many people addicted to smoking. Each puff of a cigarette delivers a concentrated dose of nicotine straight to the brain -- and reinforces the need for the next puff.

Even after you've given up nicotine, you may still want to smoke. To maximize your chances of staying smoke-free for good, you need a plan.

The Cancer Society can help you come up with a plan, taking you step by step through making the decision, preparations, and following through.

Moving from one step to the next requires careful thought and preparation. And, no, it won't be easy. But this time, this month, it might just work.

Watch the news. Think about it. Call the quitline. Work on your plan.

It's a great time to try again.

article

Silicon Wristbands - Enhance Your Personality



Wristbands/bracelets are encircling strips that are worn on the wrist to enhance the personality of a person. The term is used to refer to bracelet-like bands of a wristwatch, worn to the cuffs or to the sleeves that cover the wrists. They are also used to decorate the wrists or act as functional bands worn over the wrists by both men and women. One of the best types of wristbands includes the loops of plastic that are placed on the wrists for identification purposes.

With the hype of charity spreading far and wide, silicon wristbands/bracelets are much in vogue in today's world. The bracelets are worn to demonstrate the wearer's support for a cause or charitable organization and are similar to awareness ribbons. Silicon bracelets/wristbands were first made by charitable organizations as a way to demonstrate support for a cause. That particular silicon wristband was yellow "Livestrong wristband" created in 2004 by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Silicon web wristbands/bracelets

The other type of silicon wristband/ bracelet is called web band. It is basically an online band that can be purchased through Internet. Although the band evokes a sense of surprise, yet the cause of purchasing the bracelet is noble. Just the moment you make an online purchase of the web band, the price goes to the cause in question. Not only do the silicon bracelets establish the world of fashion, but they also contribute to the charitable missions of today.

Depiction of colors in silicon wristbands/bracelets

The companies of today make custom bracelets for small organizations that are interested in raising funds for awareness purposes. The most interesting part of silicon bracelets is their color significance.

Following are some of the different colored bracelets depicting different thoughts and ideas:

§Black - denotes mourning on someone's death §Black/white - denotes anti-racism [stand up and speak up] §Dark-blue - denotes anti-smoking, anti-child abuse, colon cancer awareness, pro-peace, diabetes cure and catholic relief services §Electric-blue - cystic fibrosis awareness, anti-drunk driving, organ transplantation, anti-drugs, pro-tolerance, got guts, pro-life, Ford Fan day, and stand strong against wrong day §Camouflage - support our troops §Light blue - autism awareness, arthritis awareness, hurricane relief, prostrate cancer awareness and fight hunger/cultivate peace §Lavender - epilepsy awareness §Green/blue - anti-sectarianism §Dark green - better hearing awareness §Gold - children's cancer awareness §Light green - rainforest preservation, pro-ecology, kidney disease awareness, organ donation, ovarian cancer awareness, army support, genocide ending mission §Orange - self harm awareness, leukemia awareness, and bowel cancer research §Pink - diabetes awareness, breast cancer awareness, chronic pain awareness §Purple - animal rescue awareness, asthma awareness, pancreatic cancer awareness §Red- AIDs awareness program, anti-tobacco, labor party, cystic fibrosis band together campaign, love/hope support program §White - chastity/abstinence, innocence and peace §Yellow - work safe week, Parkinson's disease awareness and all cancers day

Silicon wristbands/bracelets are simply wonderful and add a lot of meaning to the personality of the person.

article

Real Medicine



Immunology began with a cow called "Blossom". She put blisters onto the fingers of her milkmaid, Sarah Nelmes. The milkmaid in turn saw her doctor, Edward Jenner.

Jenner had heard that when you get such blisters - due to vaccinia, the cowpox - you do not get variola, the smallpox.

Jenner speculated that the blisters might contain some mysterious substance, to which he gave the name "virus", which carries the disease.

So he asked a gardener - some people say his own gardener - whether he might experiment upon the gardener's son. Surprisingly, the gardener agreed.

In May 1796, Jenner took some of the fluid from the blisters - some of the "serum" - and transferred it from Sarah Nelmes to nine-year-old James Phipps. The boy developed a blister, too.

In the meantime, Jenner researched the smallpox outbreaks in the area. It was known that whilst most smallpox kills, sometimes the disease is survivable. Such a milder "strain" was highly prized. One could take the "serum" from such cases and use it for "inoculation". People who had been inoculated with a mild strain had a better survival chance.

Two months later, he was ready. He had found the mildest strain, and put it into the skin of James Phipps. IT HAD NO DISCERNABLE EFFECT.

Such is the real medicine. Medicine is a miracle. However, it is not supernatural. Rather, one would say it is natural - but nature at its best.

Nature had shown the way. Jenner was surprised and delighted. From the total absence of side-effects it was obvious that this was a major discovery. One might imagine that the world would beat a path to his door. Fame and fortune seemed to be guaranteed.

Instead came RIDICULE and SABOTAGE. There was - and is - a criminal gang who took over the government of Britain. They immediately decided to halt this progress. Their belief is that as long as there are plagues, epidemics, poverty and despair, people will turn to them and beg of them, and be ruled by them.

Cartoons appeared in the press. They showed people with pieces of cow emerging from their bodies - horns, head, udders. The whole idea of giving a bovine disease to humans had to be made to seem disgusting. Otherwise, people might submit to the treatment and the "miracle" might spread.

When that did not work, two fake doctors took virulent smallpox serum and used it to contaminate the "vaccine" of Jenner. The idea was that Jenner would "vaccinate" and his patients would die. He would be blamed.

What had seemed like a simple task - to spread the good word - had become an ordeal. Jenner was undeterred, but his valuable time was taken up by years of campaigning to try to convince the world of the importance of his discovery.

Eventually, he succeeded. His name became known internationally, and the British government even turned to him for help in the freeing of British prisoners of war.

Napoleon Bonaparte replied to a letter from Jenner, saying "I can refuse nothing to that name", and the prisoners were released.

What then of the cure for cancer? Would such a thing lead to immediate recognition? It would not.

One can expect ridicule, one can expect sabotage. Fame and fortune are unlikely to result from such a discovery.

Suppose in 1962 your mother dies of an alleged cancer. All the internal organs collapse directly after the administration of a chemotherapy dose. Surely it was an overdose?

You spend time pondering. It becomes clear that the disease cannot have been the cancer it was said to be, because the symptoms were all wrong. You begin to distrust doctors.

Then a report says that exactly half of the AIDS deaths were due to cancer, whilst the other 50.0 percent were due to microbes. You realise that AIDS is the collapse of the immune-system. It becomes obvious that it was the immune system that was holding the cancers at bay.

So immunology, which began with Blossom and Jenner, is the study of the control of CELL COLONIES. It relates not just to the "virus", or other microbes that come from outside the body, but also to internally-generated rogue tissue. Such tissue is called "neoplasms", or "cancer".

The worlds of "oncology" (cancer science) and "immunology" converge.

The author has a history as given above. His mother was indeed killed in the manner described, and the reasoning process that led to the convergence of the sciences took place. There was another factor in the story.

At the time of his mother's death, an advertisement had been put in the London Times, asking for help. An Australian living in Paris had been trying to save his wife. She died, but the Australian came to London and spoke to the author - saying that he had found two doctors with an unconventional approach.

According to the Australian, the doctors "believed that cancer was a virus". This might not be true - but it cast immediate doubt upon their work. It is, after all, known that radiation can cause "sarcoma" - a deep-seated cancer. Also, certain chemicals on the skin can cause "carcinoma" - a surface cancer. Neither radiation nor simple chemicals can conjure up a virus.

In the years that followed, it became clear that there are certain viruses - the RETRO-viruses - that put DNA into human cells, thereby changing them. Amongst the retroviruses that cause cancers are the papilloma, polyoma and Epstein-Barr viruses. So certain cases are indeed of viral origin.

The 50.0/50.0 split was a freak. Had the number of cases been an odd number, it could not have been so exact. However, the freak numbers were shouting out that the immune system treats germs and cancers EQUALLY.

So we have found not an answer to the question of the CAUSE of cancer. That is not a particularly interesting question, anyway. Instead, we can see from this result that the CONTROL of cancer is a job for the IMMUNE SYSTEM. The logic leads unerringly to the CURE.

The author appeared on television, being very careful because of the dark forces that would wish to suppress such progress. However, the message went out - the cure is to be found in the IMMUNE SYSTEM. The cure is ANTIBODIES.

The silence was deafening. It was as if the government had issued orders to suppress any further mention of the matter.

As with Jenner two hundred years before, the author had to run a campaign. The search for the cure for cancer had taken thirty-four years, and at the time of writing the spreading of the word of the discovery has taken a further decade.

In answer to one of the author's leaflets, the Head of Science of the BBC replied with thanks. The author was told to watch out for a future broadcast, in which a discovery inspired by the author's tip-off would be broadcast.

It turns out that when a person has bladder cancer, and BCG vaccine against tuberculosis is put into the bladder once a week for six weeks, the condition is cured. The success-rate is seventy to eighty percent.

The author contacted the BBC, and was sent a post-production script of the item. Further research revealed that the original discoverer was one of the two doctors mentioned by the Australian. Forty years of work had paid off. The name is only withheld to protect the doctor from danger.

The author had already decided that the immune system detects rogue cells by means of unfamiliar protein. We can call this protein the "characteristic protein" of the cells.

Medical intervention would involve using a second type of protein, which we can call the "marker protein" or "label protein".

The BCG treatment was therefore known to the author to be effective because the "marker protein" is water-soluble. It is something known as "tuberculin". The alcohol-soluble proteins in the TB germ are called "new-style". It is specifically the "old-style tuberculin" which is of interest.

The author realised that the inside of the bladder is WET. Old-style tuberculin will soak OUT of the vaccine and INTO the fronds of bladder cancer. There is a LABELLING, or MARKING process at work.

Some cases will fail because during the six treatments the patient did not fully empty the bladder. The old-style tuberculin will have been too dilute. In other cases, the patient will have consumed liquid too soon after the treatment. The bladder will have filled up before the transfer of the marker protein was adequate.

In yet other cases, the marker will have had no effect because the immune system will have failed to detect it. It will have been a PASSIVE MARKER. It is essential that the patient has a reasonably recent history of vaccination against TB, using BCG, so that the BCG old-style tuberculin marker will be recognised by the immune system.

A recognised protein, which has a matching antibody, is known as an ANTIGEN.

So to be an ACTIVE MARKER, the BCG requires that the patient is "tuberculin positive". This is tested by putting old-style BCG tuberculin on the prongs (tines) of a plastic comb, and pressing the comb into the skin. Within three days, the immune system will have detected this marker and caused local inflammation. This shows as the appearance of pimples.

Failure of such a "tuberculin tine test" suggests that the patient should first be vaccinated with BCG. Otherwise, the bladder-cancer treatment will fail.

Putting all this knowledge together should, in the absence of sabotage, raise the cure rate to a hundred percent.

What is happening is that the marker protein, being an antigen, attaches to its antibody. The antigen-antibody pair summons the T-cells. These cells are also called "white cells", or "leucocytes", "leukocytes" and similar. They eat up the tissue that contains the marker-antibody pair.

The T-cells are then washed into the lymph nodes. Here they pass on data to the B-cells. It is the B-cells that make the antibodies. Fed constantly with cancerous tissue inside the T-cells, the B-cells eventually develop a new family of antibodies. These new antibodies are CANCER ANTIBODIES.

So it is by STEERING the immune system that the condition is cured. It is because data on the "characteristic protein" is constantly arriving that the B-cells can finally "discover" that protein and make an antibody against it.

By extension, one could take a case of melanoma skin cancer and simply paint it with old-style tuberculin. In a tuberculin-positive patient, the T-cells will constantly deliver data on the melanoma to the B-cells until the immune system latches on.

Any carcinoma that is accessible can simply be treated by painting a marker protein onto the skin. Indeed, it need not be BCG and old-style tuberculin. It is just a marker to summon the immune system - and medical science has a choice of such things. It is just that tuberculin is most widely known and widely available.

Sarcoma can be treated by biopsy, and making what the author calls an "autovaccine". This is a vaccine made from the patient's own tumour.

There are detergents that are used in laboratories to remove DNA from samples. So the biopsy tissue should be ground up, and the DNA removed to prevent it having the power to replicate.

Now the protein from that tumour - with or without the husks of the cells - is treated, perhaps with new-style tuberculin. This is allowed to evaporate dry. Alcohol-soluble proteins will cling, even when the autovaccine is bathed in body fluid.

A certain amount of old-style tuberculin should also be used. This is because it is known to cause a strong reaction in vaccinated subjects.

The autovaccine is injected by sliding the needle sideways into the skin. The top skin layer is like cling-film, the CUTIS. Beneath that is the RETE MUCOSUM, a ripple of mucus where any skin-pigment such as suntan is located. Beneath that is the EPIDERMIS. This is the topmost layer of actual skin, and the place where the immune system is most active. That is where the vacine is placed.

By not going any deeper, one ensures that the reulting swelling will be shallow. A deep-seated inflammation would be more painful, and the abundant body fluids would wash the marker away too fast.

So a lung cancer, for example, could be treated by taking the characteristic protein of that cancer, combined with an active marker, and tucking it into the topmost layer of skin.

What one would expect is that after a little inflammation, throbbing, itching and swelling at the site of vaccination, the tumour itself will display the selfsame signs. That signifies that the immune system has latched on.

All good medicine is of this form - simple but sensible. Bombastic words are used by fake doctors to keep control of the patients by making them feel inadequate. However, it is from the world of simple logic that true progress arises. After all, giving vaccinia to protect against variola is a very simple idea.

Precautions are always necessary. For example, one must ensure that there are no tumours of any large size near any vital orrgan. Immunological treatment makes them swell before they go. So a large tumour in the brain might cause epilepsy, whilst a large tumour in the chest might stop the heart. Such matters must be attended to.

With all safety considerations dealt with, one can rest assured that the tumours will vanish from wherever they may be. Antibodies go wherever the blood goes. These are the "magic bullets" that science was looking for, and they come from nature.

When the treatment is complete, the antibodies stay for a time - perhaps for life. This is, after all, the CURE. One may suffer from some other cancer - but the treatment "levels the playing-field" in that one lives with the same risk as other people. A cancer with the identical characteristic protein cannot recur, however, because of the antibodies that the treatment leaves behind.

Some antibodies - to smallpox and cowpox, for example - are passed on in mother's milk. Others - as described in "Lamarck's Signature" (Steele et al.) - are handed on in the genes. So it is possible that a cancer survivor may pass on the specific immunity to his or her children.

It does not get much better than this.

Charles Douglas Wehner

article

Economy Drives Regulation, Innovation and Investment in Renewable Energy, Water Industry and Healthcare



China's Attempt to Balance the Environment and a Rapidly Growing Economy Drives Regulation, Innovation and Investment in Renewable Energy, Water Industry and Healthcare

July 2006, China-AsiaStocks.com

With China's growth at double digit rates into the first half of the year, the environmental concerns and pollution problems are escalating as quickly as the economy, with an estimated 76 reported pollution incidents in the past 8 months. The impact of rapid industrialization has created massive environmental problems in the water air and soil, creating disease and multiple health problems for people living in the affected areas. China is working to create and restore balance and harmony in their environment through pending law, regulation, and investment in new technology. Public companies Vitasti, Inc. (OTCBB: VITS), CECO Environmental Corp (NASDAQ:CECE), Hendrx Corp (OTCBB: HDRX) and Bridgetech Holdings International, Inc. (OTC.PK: BGTH); in renewable energy, air and water treatment and healthcare discuss how the serious problem of pollution has created business opportunities for their respective sectors. The All China Environment Federation (ACEF) was launched in Beijing in 2005, receiving backing from high-level government officials as part of a movement to show that China is becoming very serious about the environmental damage and repercussions of the rapid economic growth. It's receiving global support as evidenced by The World Bank loan of $668 million to the People's Republic of China to support projects to address environmental problems and developing transport infrastructure. China may be positioning to change its global image from environmental disasters to an environmental leader, as it was recently recognized as the world leading investor in renewable energy. In order to pave the road to change, China is changing policy and legal framework to incite investment and innovation in technology.

Renewable Energy; Regulation and Investment Driving the Sector

China has set a target of twenty percent of its power to come from renewable sources by 2020. That kind of aggressive strategy sets the stage for renewable energy companies to participate in the anticipated growth in wind, solar and energy efficient technologies.

Wind energy technology is on the rise and China's largest wind electric power generator manufacturer, Goldwind Science and Technology Co. Ltd., is currently pursuing a U.S. IPO, following on the tracks of several renewable IPO's. The company plans to go public to finance its anticipated substantial growth as China demands green energy solutions as evidenced by its 6 billion U.S. investment in renewable energy in 2005.

Vitasti, Inc.'s (OTCBB: VITS)Director , Mr. deDelley, a wind farm developer targeting China commented " The stage is set to provide environmentally friendly power to fulfill the needs of a electrically thirsty nation and stave the pollution associated with the massive developments China is experiencing. Our Company, Vitasti/Welwind ,has been moving projects ahead to develop 1000 megawatts of wind powered generation along the coast of the south China sea. All levels of government and industry are accepting the wind technology with great enthusiasm and willingness, making our work easier. "

Mr. deDelley went on to state" With the political and industry relationships Welwind has forged within China we are looking at continued support to advance the projects and to ensure successful wind farms, creation of rural employment, mitigation of pollution, and provide a greatly needed commodity : wind powered electricity."

Chinese officials have announced plans for the country's first energy "basic law" passed by the legislature in two years with a goal of reducing national energy consumption by 20 percent from 2006 to 2010 and creating an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly society. The law would encourage domestic energy exploration and international energy cooperation, optimize energy reserves and emergency response systems, scaling and development of renewable and new energies and enhance energy efficiency.

The China Environment Fund, http://www.cefund.com/, a leading VC fund in sustainable investment in China is investing in energy efficiency, solar and bio-diesel.

China's Water and Air Pollution and Solutions

Recent news in China including the toxic spill into the Desha River have made China's officials and global leaders take action into addressing the urgent environmental and water issues. It's currently estimated that 300 million people, representing one-quarter the population, drink unsafe, water. Additionally, only one third of the 3.7 billion tons of wastewater discharged is treated.

China is taking steps to create law and regulation to address critical water issues including recently ratifying an international treaty to preserve the marine environment and prevent pollution on the high seas.

Global funding to address water problems has been approved by the World Bank. The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors recently announced loans of $668 million to the People's Republic of China in support of four projects to address environmental problems including water treatment and waste treatment.

Hendrx Corp (OTCBB: HDRX), a manufacturer of water purification technology with operations in China describes, "Senior management of our company is evaluating our current capabilities and seeking complimentary engineering, service and reporting capabilities to remedy and prevent future occurrences that will harm the environment. Our objective is to use computer age technology and instant monitoring of contributing factors that may predict future weaknesses and thereby enabling operating management to implement the appropriate safety measures."

According to a Hendrx spokesperson, "In as much as the regulatory agencies have not yet begun to create the inquiries, we expect that we will be able and ready to respond to such inquires as they are forthcoming. Realistically, we don't expect any one entity to be selected to find a solution to the different challenges; rather we expect to be part of a team that will over time solve the total problem."

"Hendrx is in a unique position to be optimistic about our chances to be part of the "problem- solving team" because we already have more than 200 employees in the Fujian province of China. Our technical know how and our reputation is well respected on both sides of the Pacific."

In terms of air pollution, according to a 2006 report by the World Watch Institute, China is home to 16 of the 20 cities with the most polluted air in the world.

According to Phillip DeZwirek, Chairman & CEO of CECO Environmental (NASDAQ: CECE), a world leader in clean air solutions, "CECO Environmental is the largest independent air pollution control company in N.A. and having been in business since 1907 has established a customer base of over 2000 companies including most of the Fortune 500. As many of our customers have established manufacturing operations in China they imported our technology and expertise into their Chinese facilities. Chinese based companies recognized the multiple benefits that CECO's environmental installations brought to these new U.S. owned factories and are now hiring CECO to solve their environmental challenges. The market for air pollution control systems in China is vast and with the imminence of the 2008 Olympics plus the pollution potential from the rapidly expanding Chinese economy the demand for all methods of pollution control is and will be enormous."

Healthcare - The Impact of Air and Water Pollution on Human Health

If you survey any average person on the street that saw Julia Roberts play Erin Brockovich, they can make the instant connection that industrial water pollution can cause multiple forms of cancer. It's no different in China, but the problem is multiplied beyond anything North America has experienced. Last November, for example, a factory explosion resulted in benzene, a cancer-causing chemical linked to forms of leukemia, to run into the Songhua River, effecting millions of people in northeast China. More recently, the Dasha River was contaminated when a truck overturned dumping in 60 tons of potentially carcinogenic coal tar.

According to a 2006 report by the World Watch Institute, (http://www.worldwatch.org/node/3881), "a Chinese research institute found that 400,000 premature deaths are caused every year in China by diseases linked to air pollution."

Bridgetech Holdings International, Inc (BGTH:OTCBB), a medical and healthcare company sees China's environmental situation creating a major impact on the country's healthcare, as well as influencing the product mix their company is bringing to the Chinese market.

According to Michael Chermak, Bridgetech's Chairman & CEO, "Over the near term Bridgetech will specialize in introducing oncology products. This is a direct response to the fact that China is experiencing dramatic changes in the types of cancer and in the overall cancer incident rate. This rate is growing at the unprecedented pace of 3.3 percent per year. The environmental problems associated with rapid industrialization, like coal fired power plants, certainly contribute to this high growth rate. The growth of cancer has affected women most severely. In the last fifteen years the incident rate for women has grown from 89 per 100,000 women to 138 per 100,000. For men it is now at 200, up from 148. "

At present, Bridgetech is very encouraged by developments in China's regulatory system. The government's moves to protect intellectual property and to stem the favoritism and traditional practices in China's product distribution system hold much promise for Bridgetech's future because they will allow the company to introduce the very best in foreign technology with less fear that technology might be unfairly appropriated and because the company will be able to apply professional business practices to more effectively distribute its products throughout China. Faced by the demands of a evolving healthcare system and challenged by sudden changes in the nation's epidemiological profile, China's State Food and Drug Administration recognizes the need to supplement its domestic pharmaceutical industry with foreign medications and is proving a fast track to approval for medications that have undergone the approval process of other regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is another positive development for Bridgetech because these are exactly the types of medications the company is seeking approval for.

The Ultimate Goal

We often hear and use the expression "follow the money" to watch and understand industry trends. In China, it's a case of "smell the water and the air" to understand what is needed and where the money should be going in China.

Ironically, information on disasters and health crises may not always be available to the public if the Chinese government has its way, based on newly drafted legislation that will allow them to fine newspapers up to $12,000 if they report on these types of emergencies without first getting permission.

But we won't be in the dark completely if renewable energy companies like Vitasti have their way. As Vitasti, Inc states, "The country knows that it cannot proceed with the economic development and ignore the environment in future growth"

Consumers in China are readily embracing the environmental movement as evidenced by recent info released by Greenpeace International stating that their surveys showed Chinese consumers were prepared to pay more for environmentally friendly PCs than any other country. It's a step towards the ultimate goal of creating balance and harmony with technology and the environment.

The environmental race is one that China cannot afford to loose and based on recent news, they are making serious efforts to repair the damage of the past and find solutions for the future. The question remains - are they moving fast enough? The outcome of the balancing act of managing rapid economic growth and the environmental concerns will impact the world for generations to come as the pollution moves outside of China's borders.

China-AsiaStocks.com (CAS), a portal within the InvestorIdeas.com content umbrella, does not make recommendations, but offers investors research, news and links to public companies within the China-Asia sector. www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com™ (RES), www.EnvironmentStocks.com (ES) and www.water-stocks.com (WS) offer investors research, news, interviews, articles, blogs and links to public companies within the renewable energy, clean tech and water sectors. We provide a variety of renewable and green content through: Clean Energy News Blog, Renewable Energy Blog and articles by solar expert, J. Peter Lynch, all available on RenewableEnergyStocks.com™ Disclaimer: Portals are compensated by Featured advertising companies. InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp ©Copyright InvestorIdeas 2006

article

Breast Cancer: Steps To Aid In Early Detection



I learned some interesting facts about breast cancer that I feel every woman should know. The sources I used for this article included the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute, and the Avon Foundation's Breast Cancer Crusade.

Early breast cancer isn't usually detected by pain. In fact, when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. That is why regular exams are important. If you have anything that makes you suspect breast cancer, contact your doctor immediately. Don't wait around to see what happens. Let the professional decide. Some symptoms that may indicate breast cancer include, but are not limited to, the following:

Nipple discharge or tenderness

Lumps in breast and/or underarm area

Visual changes which include: size of breast including swelling; inverted nipple; and pitting. Pitting means the skin looks like the skin of an orange. Scaling of the breast skin could also be a symptom.

Early detection of breast cancer is important. There is a 97% five-year survival rate when breast cancer is detected early since this can help prevent it from spreading. Below are some guidelines to early detection. I hope they help save someone's life.

Get a Mammogram

A mammogram is a specialized x-ray of the breast to help detect cancers which cannot be detected by feel. Some women are confused as to how often they should get a mammogram. Here is what the professionals say about mammograms.

At age 40 begin getting annual mammograms by a licensed technician. A mammogram will take about twenty minutes. When getting a mammogram avoid wearing deodorant, powders, or cream under your arms. Sometimes they can interfere with the results. Make sure to contact the center if they do not inform you of the results within thirty days. It is very important that results are compared from one year to the next. Hence, be sure you know where your mammogram film is being held.

Clinical Breast Exam

This is an exam by a health care professional. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam at least every three years and women 40 or older should have an exam each year.

Self-Examination

Starting at age 20 women should begin doing a self-exam. Ask your doctor if you are not exactly sure how to do this or if you are not sure you are doing it correctly. Here are a few guides to follow: Lie down and place one arm behind your head. Using your three middle finger pads press firmly across your breast in overlapping dime-size circular motions. Use three different levels of pressure: light, medium, and firm. This allows you to feel the tissue close to your skin, to feel a little deeper, and to feel the tissue closest to your chest and ribs.

Move across your breast in an up and down pattern, starting from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone, repeating the pressure.

Stand in front of a mirror with your hands pressing down on your hips and look at your breasts for any changes in size, shape, contour, or dimpling. Also, do this with your arms slightly raised. Make sure you check under your breasts as well.

I hope that this information proves helpful to you. I am not a health care provider and by no means a professional on breast cancer. I am simply sharing with every woman possible the importance of detecting breast cancer early and some simple guidelines that might save a life.

My sources for the above information are:

American Cancer Society The National Cancer Institute Breast Health Resource Guide by the Avon Foundation's Breast Cancer Crusade

article

Sunscreen and Skin Cancer- Protecting the Skin Just Got Easier



Astounding ground breaking news on sunscreen and skin cancer is revealed. It is a new sunscreen product that promises to be the cornerstone of every anti-aging skin care regime.


On 7/24/04 the FDA approved a new over-the-counter sunscreen, Anthelios SX, developed by L'Oreal.


A sunscreen that now goes farther than ever before to protect against sun damage and skin cancer. The news world is abuzz with the newest FDA approval of Anthelios SX, a long lasting OTC sunscreen with a new ingredient to the USA market, ecamsule.


It seems like the Fountain of Youth just got a little closer to discovery...


The FDA news release, #P06-103, states "Anthelios SX is a sunscreen product that contains a combination of three active ingredients. One of the ingredients is a new molecular entity (NME), ecamsule. Ecamsule has not been marketed in the United States, but has been marketed in Europe and Canada as Mexoryl SX since 1993. The other two active ingredients, avobenzone and octocrylene, are generally recognized as safe and effective under the current OTC monograph for sunscreens."


ABC News reporter Joy Victory addresses the sunscreen and skin cancer protection by explaining, "For the first time since 1988, the Food and Drug Administration today approved a new type of sunscreen compound that protects skin from shortwave ultraviolet A light and doesn't break down as easily as other products.


Most sunscreens available in the United States protect only against long-wave UVA and both forms of ultraviolet B light. But the new compound, known as ecamsule, has long been available in Europe and Canada. It is made by the L'Oreal cosmetics company.


The new product is considered a superior sunscreen chemical because of its ability to block UVA light -- a harmful, wrinkle-causing form of sunlight -- and because it lasts longer in the sun. The product, Mexoryl SX, contains two standard sunscreen chemicals as well as ecamsule and will be sold as a daily moisturizer cream. It should be on pharmacy shelves sometime this fall, but it's not known how much it will cost. It will be sold under the name Anthelios SX."


Victory wrapped up her report with an interview comment from Dr. Vincent DeLeo, chairman of the dermatology department at Columbia University, reporting that Dr. DeLeo stated that "... the European equivalent was sorely needed in the United States. It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine." Other news organizations are reporting that Anthelios SX will play a very important role in offering additional protection against skin cancer and aging skin care issues caused by sun damage.


Sunscreen and skin cancer protection, a very exciting combination, especially for those concerned about the sun and aging skin care issues. Just think about it, anti-aging skin care just advanced lightyears!

article

How To Get Compensation For Mesothelioma Cancer?



There are various types of cancer. Some of these types are relatively easy to treat and even heal others are more difficult. In average the figure has passed 50% when it comes to full restoration from cancer. But like I said, the variety is large. Mesothelioma cancer is one of the deadliest disease conditions encountered in people living at the areas of industries that manufacture the asbestos and the related materials. The mesothelioma cancer is being treated at the specialized hospitals that take this as a challenge. It is important to note that you won't exhibit signs of mesothelioma until 30-40 years after exposure to asbestos.

There are different stages of the mesothelioma cancer. However, the advanced stages are more difficult to cure. Mesothelioma cancer cannot be called as the lung cancer. If you're hailing from Illinois, you can consult the Illinois mesothelioma attorneys for getting settlement from the defenders.

The cells associated with the development of mesothelioma cancer are seen outside of lung tissues and are also noticed in the areas of abdominal cavity outside of the peritoneal membrane of the body.

Recently subtraction hybridization techniques are being employed in the therapy of these mesothelioma cancer conditions, in addition to the application of the gene therapy.

However, once the cancer stages are in the advanced stages, then the treatment becomes more difficult in reality due to the extensive involvements that are encountered in the affected persons.

Illinois mesothelioma Lawyers are always available like those in case of Chicago to help the victims of asbestos or asbestos containing materials. The lawyers help the affected persons to sue against those who are responsible for such occurrence of cancerous growths.

Many times, the legal representatives come across cases of peritoneal mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma cases due to the long-standing exposure to this asbestos. The lawyers may not get any consultation fees and they often work on the contingent fees, which is a highly negligible one.

The fee may be paid at the end after the winning of the case against the corporation or the firm that is responsible for the cancerous growths in the pleura or the peritoneum. Through out the USA, the cases are often filed in both Chicago and Illinois. The experienced mesothelioma attorneys are famous for the knowledge on the asbestos and they are capable of finding out the responsible persons for the development of such conditions in the victims.

article

The Benefits Of Cancer Information Are Enormous



Finding out you or someone that you love has been diagnosed with cancer is to say the very least a devastating blow. It will become not only a hard road emotionally, physically but also financially. This is why you need to find as much cancer information as you can. This may be in the form of advice and support from doctors, counselors, specific cancer organizations, family and friends including other cancer sufferers as well. Talking to people who have been in the same situation as yourself can be an enormous support and also a wonderful source of cancer information can be shared.

Apart from speaking to people in person there are other ways to gain more info about this situation. There are many books that you can read both for the patient and or families and friends. I suppose the easiest way to find out more is on the internet. In the U.S alone there are many websites that are full of relevant cancer information. To start with you have the American Cancer Society. Obviously there are many different cancers so there will be many different informative sources on all of them and you will no doubt be looking for a particular type for your own circumstances. But in the end every one who is suffering from any one of these cancers will still need the same help and support regarding coping stategies and so on.

This is where speaking to people in the same situation will be helpful. There are forums and chat rooms that will give you the opportunity to speak to some of these people. It can be very positive to speak to someone who has gone through what you are and now have fully recovered. Just being able to talk about medications and treatments with someone who really understands can be an amazing therapeutic comfort. You must remember that having this illness does not only affect your physical side but also your mental side and this needs to be looked after as well.

Another good reason to find as much cancer information as possible is to find out other forms of treatments that may be able to help you either on their own or as a combination along side of the usual forms. Usually at this time in someone's life things become very confusing with all the medical jargon as well as all the emotional turmoil and the often draining effects of medication and treatments to be able to think properly. This is when you should be gathering up as much info as you can and just taking your time reading through it so you can get a better picture of what is going on and how to make the best of it.

If you are someone who has a loved one that has been diagnosed with this type of illness then you should be finding out as much as you can to be able to do the right things emotionally to help support this person. You also can read up on their particular condition so you can help answer any questions when they arise. Support from family and friends is a very important part of recovery for someone suffering from cancer.

article

Green Tea: Raise a Cup to Your Health!



The Western world is just now catching on to what the Asians have known for 4,000 years, that one cup of green tea has an abundance of health benefits. As a matter of fact, for centuries the Chinese people have been drinking green tea as treatment for everything from depression to headaches.

Today, both the Western world and the Eastern world are conducting studies to produce scientific evidence of the health benefits of green tea. One of the most notable of these studies was published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute In 1994, it discussed how the results of an epidemiological study showed that one of the health benefits of drinking green tea is that it can actually reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese women and men by up to 60%.

Research shows that the heavy presence of a particular catechin polyphenol called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is an antioxidant, is the main reason why green tea has so many amazing health benefits. At the John Innes Center in England and at the University of Murcia in Spain, researchers have demonstrated that the EGCG in green tea binds cancer cells to an enzyme, which actually prevents them from growing. Thus, this powerful antioxidant can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and can even destroy the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells.

Another notable study was taken by The University of Purdue, which has also done research on how a particular compound that is present in green tea can stop cancer cells from growing.

As if its cancer fighting properties weren't enough, green tea has yet another great health benefit - its ability to lower cholesterol levels as well as to improve the ratio between good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). On top of inhibiting and fighting cancer cells, the antioxidant EGCG can also lower LDL cholesterol levels and stop blood from forming abnormal clots (thrombosis), which is a leading cause of strokes and heart attacks.

Compared to other Chinese teas like black tea and oolong, green tea has more health benefits. All of these different teas come from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, but green tea is different in the process by which it is made. Green tea owes much of its wonderful health benefits to how the leaves of the Camellia sinensis are steamed. The steaming process of green tea keeps the EGCG antioxidant from oxidizing. Oolong and black teas differ in that the leaves are fermented instead of being steamed, thus creating a less potent form of the EGCG.

Green tea not only offers medicinal benefits, though, it also has fitness benefits. Green tea has been shown to help a person burn more calories than normal. A study taken on green tea has shown that drinking it regularly can help dieters lose weight. In 1999, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that showed that men who took both green tea and caffeine burned more calories than men who only took in caffeine or a placebo.

And it doesn't end there, green tea also has bacteria-destroying properties. Drinking green tea can actually help prevent tooth decay and may even prevent food poisoning because the substances found in green tea can kill the bacteria that cause food poisoning and those that cause the formation of dental plaque.

So raise a cup to your health! Now that we know of its countless medicinal and health benefits, I'd say it wouldn't be a far stretch to say that green tea is nothing short of a miracle, and now I'm off to get my daily fill!

article

Breast Cancer - A Death Sentence Caused By Neglect

The biggest majority of women who concern themselves over developing breast cancer are the ones who do not even bother to do a self examination (Not all)

Self inspection of the breasts should be a main priority for every woman. Breast cancer caught in the early stages of growth will give better odds for the patient to control the disease with the help of today`s modern medicines and technology.

Breast cancer is common among the female species and can be a death sentence if ignored. By neglecting yourself in this department with absent regular check ups then you can expect a painful road ahead - congested of heartache and pain for those close to you as well. Breast cancer is treatable, so now is the time to set a date in the diary for regular self breast examination.

One of the first signs or symptoms of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. You will find that most breast lumps discovered early are rated as 9 out of 10 as being benign. Breast lumpiness can be that of breast change which usually becomes more obvious just before the start of a period, particularly in women over the age of 35

Also cysts/sacs of fluid is not uncommon in the breast tissue causing a feel of lumpiness. Fibroadenoma is a collection of fibrous glandular tissue which is more notably known to occur in younger women If you notice a change in the shape/size of the breast or a lump even thickening then always check this out with your doctor. Other signs to look out for is dimpling of the skin or nipple shape changing, for example, if the nipple turns in or sinks back into the breast. Blood-stained discharge from the nipple or an unusual blemish or rash around the surrounding area needs to be checked out.

A swelling or lump under your armpit can also be a sign. If you have found that you have any of the above symptoms then seek medical attention right away.

Do not worry at this stage because breast lumps as such do not necessarily mean cancer. However the above mentioned inverted nipple or blood stained discharge etc can mean another type of ailment, either way these will need attention

The doctor will examine the breast and if necessary will refer you to a specialist for further checks. If the results from a mammogram or ultra sound shows a cyst, then to have it removed may entail draining it through a fine needle. If the lump is solid then treatment will be with the use of a very fine needle where a sample of tissue will be taken and tested for cancer cells.

This is a disease you can fight but once it spreads, then the breast cancer becomes a battlefield leaving you fighting for survival. Early detection can stop this war.

article

Why Radiotherapy Is Used For Multiple Myeloma?



What is multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a malignant tumour of a type of white blood cell (the plasma cell).

Blood cells of all types are made in the bone marrow, which in adults occupies the central position of bones such as the vertebrae, ribs, pelvis and skull.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells that, as a result, make excessive amounts of antibody (termed paraprotein or 'M' band). In common with all cancers, the plasma cells in myeloma are identical ('clonal'), because they originate from a single abnormal cell that starts to multiply out of control. The protein produced is, therefore, also identical ('monoclonal' meaning the product of a single clone).

The main treatments for Multiple Myeloma

Chemotherapy is nearly always the main treatment for myeloma. Radiotherapy and biological therapy are also used. If you are fit enough, your specialist may suggest intensive treatment using high dose chemotherapy with bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

The aim of your treatment is to try to get the disease under control. When there is no sign of active disease in your body, the cancer is said to be in remission.

What radiotherapy is?

Radiotherapy means using radiation to treat cancer. The radiation used is similar to that used for X-rays.

Why radiotherapy is used for Multiple Myeloma

Myeloma can cause a lot of damage to bones. Radiotherapy can treat areas where there is localised bone damage or pain. The myeloma destroys area of bone until it is full of holes, like a piece of lace. Obviously, this weakens the bone. Sometimes it causes it to break (fracture). Radiotherapy kills off the cancer cells in the bone and shrinks the cancer. This reduces the pressure caused by the cancer growth in the bone and helps to reduce bone pain.

Sometimes, a bone needs to be pinned to keep it stable and stop it from fracturing. This is done during an operation. The surgeon puts a metal pin into the bone to strengthen it and hold it together. This is done if there is a strong risk of the bone breaking before radiotherapy has had time to work. If you have an operation to fix a bone, you might still need to have radiotherapy afterwards to kill off the cancer and strengthen the bone.

If you have pain because of very widespread myeloma in your bones, or other treatments for myeloma are no longer controlling your myeloma, your doctor might suggest hemi body irradiation. This means that half your body is treated with radiotherapy at a time - the top half and the bottom half. The treatment is given in 2 halves because having your whole body treated has too many side effects. The damage to your bone marrow would be so severe that you would not be able to make enough blood cells and would be at serious risk of infection. Hemi body irradiation can make you feel sick and tired. Usually, your radiotherapist will prescribe anti-sickness tablets for you to take before each treatment. It is important to take these. They will make a big difference to how the treatment makes you feel.