Alternative Cancer Treatments - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment which essentially involves providing the body with extra oxygen. The word 'Hyper' means 'increased' and 'Baric' refers to pressure. As we all know, Oxygen is one of the gases in the air that we breathe and is essential for life. The air that we breathe normally contains 21% oxygen. Breathing in 100% oxygen under increased pressure within a hyperbaric chamber allows extra oxygen to be forced into the blood stream and dissolved at a much faster rate than if pressure was not used. Another effect is the increased oxygen transport capacity of the blood. Under atmospheric pressure, oxygen transport is limited by the oxygen binding capacity of hemoglobin in red blood cells, which almost reaches saturation at atmospheric pressure, very little oxygen being transported by plasma. However Oxygen transport by plasma is significantly increased under HBO therapy.This extra oxygen can help where healing is retarded due to infection or limited blood supply through tissue damage.

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:

- HBO facilitates the growth of new blood vessels, enabling the transport of additional blood; - HBO augments the body's natural defence mechanisms to fight infection and kill bacteria; - HBO helps reduce any swelling that may occur around an area subjected to radiotherapy.

The treatment is normally painfree and is carried out in specially-designed chambers known as "hyperbaric chambers". There are two basic types of chamber: monoplace chambers and a multiplace chambers.

A monoplace hyperbaric chamber for treating one person at a time and involves the patient lying on a padded stretcher that is then slid into a clear plastic chamber about 2ft in width. Once inside, the door is closed and the chamber is pressurised.

Multiplace hyperbaric chambers can treat several people at a time. The multiplace chamber is the type most frequently used. These chambers are big enough to accommodate sometimes as many as a dozen patients at a time and it is possible to walk into them. Patients either sit on benches or lie inside these chambers. 100% pure oxygen is administered via either a mask or a clear plastic hood. HBO sessions usually last from one to three hours depending on the nature of the treatment program. Treatment sessions within the hyperbaric chamber are normally repeated over several days or even weeks.

HBO therapy is increasingly being used for helping patients who have been subjected to conventional radiotherapy treatment for cancer and are now suffering the after-effects. A major problem with radiotherapy is that, since it not only kills cancer cells but also nearby healthy cells at the same time, it can cause changes in the oxygen supply to tissues in the treated area, since less blood is supplied to the area. The result is that it becomes more difficult oxygen and essential nutrients to reach the tissues. Over a period of time these tissues can become very fragile, break down and ulcerate. Sometimes tissue can even completely die (radiation necrosis).

Studies indicate that HBO therapy can be effective in the following conditions:

- Chronic lymphoedema in breast cancer; - Chronic radiation cystitis; - Pelvic cancer; - Bowel cancer; - Prostate cancer; - Osteoradionecrosis; - Chronic radiation proctitis; - Acute blood loss anemia

I hope that this brief article on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has provided a brief insight into the importance of oxygen in the correct functioning of the body, plus its role not only in the treatment of cancer but also how it can be used in overcoming some of the serious adverse side effects of conventional cancer treatments. Perhaps it will encourage you to further investigate this fascinating subject. As always, you should seek the guidance of a professional medical fractioned before taking any medications or undergoing any form of therapy.

About the Author:
Dr. Bianca Tavares is a medical consultant experienced in traditional and complementary medicine. Her writing about prostate cancer symptoms can be found at Alternative Cancer Treatments.
Posted: 02-08-2006
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com

Apoptosis: New Approaches to Cancer Therapy

This article was translated by mLingua Worldwide Translations, Ltd.

The demise of cells by programmed cell death referred to as apoptosis, a Greek word that means "dropping off" or "falling off" as in leaves from a tree, has been recently a topic of intense interest in biomedical sciences. Apoptosis is a well- defined sequence of morphological changes of cells that shrink and condense and then fragment, releasing small membrane-bound apoptotic bodies, which are phagocytosed by other cells. Importantly, the intracellular constituents are not released into the extracellular milieu where they might have deleterious effects on neighboring cells. On the contrary, cells that die in response to tissue damage or other reasons exhibit very different morphological changes generally called necrosis. The cells that undergo this process swell and burst, releasing their intracellular contents, which can damage surrounding cells and often cause inflammation. Apoptosis refers to a particular morphology in which a chromatin condenses or coalesces to a heterochromatin in one or more masses in the nucleus. It usually settles along still-intact nuclear membrane referred to as margination of the chromatin. One of the essential functions of apoptosis is the elimination of cells in which DNA damages, faulty proliferation or improper adhesion to extracellular matrix that cannot be repaired. In cancer cells, the mechanism of apoptosis induction is broken. Therefore, more and more ideas and hypotheses for selective inducing apoptosis in cancer cells are tested in a growing number of laboratories all over the world. The subject of programmed cell death has been recently discussed in almost 80 000 publications. As it is known, cell apoptosis may be induced by various stress factors (e.g. hypoxia, expression of oncogenes, mutations, DNA damages). On the other hand, apoptosis may be induced via internal or external signals, for instance proteins. Some of such endogenous and exogenous proapoptotic proteins have been found and described. Their genes may be used in modern anticancer therapies.

For example, introducing into cancer cells proapoptotic genes as Bax, Bcl-X5 or E2F-1 significantly increases induction of apoptosis. Some clinical trials concern therapeutic application of a 121-amino acids apoptin originated from chicken anemia virus (CAV). Recent data suggest that apoptosis induced by this protein involves caspases, a family of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases. In vitro results show that apoptin is very active against cancer cells without inducing toxicity to normal cells. This tumor-specific effect may be explained by the nuclear localization of the protein in tumor cells required for its action. Moreover, apoptin is equally active, such as p53-mutant, Bcl-2-overexpressing or BCR-ABL-expressing tumor cells. Other investigations showed that E4orf4 induces apoptosis in cancer cells by linking with 2A (PP2A) phosphatase. Unfortunately, induction of apoptosis by introducing genes encoding proapoptotic proteins has been little known. One possible mechanism is associated with destruction of mitochondrial membranes and, in consequence, disturbing electrons transport, oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis. Finally, the cell dies but the death is slightly different than that during typical apoptosis induced by caspases due to prolonged time of this process. Proapoptotic proteins cannot be directly introduced to cancer cells because there are no specific receptors. They are transported through membranes in complexes by special fusion proteins called ligands.

Other method is introducing them as genes by vectors and this approach has been already successfully applied. Clinical trials are presently underway to test efficiency of new apoptosis-triggering drugs. A large number of adenoviral agents are being constructed, including replication-incompetent and replication-selective oncolytic adenoviruses. One of them is ONYX-015, a replication-competent virus genetically engineered to selectively replicate in and lyse p53-deficient cancer cells. Other agent, INGN 201, was shown to deliver a p53 expression. Preclinical studies in human cell lines and animals with head and neck cancers have shown that the p53 gene is transcribed and translated into p53 protein. Respectively, 5% and 58% of patients receiving three intratumoral injections of INGN 201 in conjunction with radiation therapy for over 6 weeks were shown to have achieved complete and partial responses. Other example may be a gene encoding the proapoptotic Vpr protein that was successfully transferred into cancer cells by the HIV-1 virion. These agents are introduced by intravascular infusion or intratumoral or epitumoral injections. An example of a target therapy against cancer is an intravenous administration of liposomal form of tretinoin (ATRA). Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with ATRA alone or in combination with chemotherapy results in an almost complete remission rate as high as 85% to 95%.

Other proapoptotic anticancer therapeutics is Genasense developed by the Genta Company. Genasense is a phosphothioate oligonucleotide consisting of 18 modified DNA bases. First, the single-stranded DNA molecule must be incorporated into a cancer cell and then target the mRNA by having a complementary sequence to it. This drug inhibits the production of a protein known as Bcl-2 that is widely expressed in many types of cancer. This up-regulation of Bcl-2 blocks the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria thereby preventing apoptosis. Furthermore, Bcl-2 appears to be a major contributor to both inherent and acquired resistance to current anticancer treatments. By inhibiting production of Bcl-2, Genasense enables the cancer cells to be killed by apoptosis when treated with current state of the art therapy. Interesting apoptosis-inducing drug is Velcade jointly developed by NCI and Millenium Pharmaceuticals. Activity of Velcade is mainly associated with reversible inhibition of the proteasome and building up many proteins including BAX. In the normal cells, the BAX protein induces apoptosis by blocking the activity of Bcl-2. When BAX level increases, BAX inhibition of Bcl-2 also increases and the cells undergo apoptosis. Non-clinical studies have demonstrated that cancer cells are more sensitive to the effects of the proteasome inhibition than normal cells.

Selected references
Adachi, S.L.L., Carson, D.A., Nakahata, T., 2004. Apoptosis induced by molecular targeting therapy in hematological malignancies. Acta Haematologica 111, 107 -123.

Ferreira, C.G., Epping, M., Kruyt. F.A.E., Giaccone, G., 2002. Apoptosis: Target of Cancer Therapy. Clinical Cancer Research 8, 2024-2034.

Ghobrial, I.M., Witzig, T.E., Adjei, A.A., 2005. Targeting Apoptosis Pathways in Cancer Therapy. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 55, 178-194.

Hengartner, M.O., 2000. The biochemistry of apoptosis. Nature 407, 770-776.

Lowe, S.W., Lin, A.W., 2000. Apoptosis in cancer. Carcinogenesis 21, 485-495.

Tamm, I., Dorken, B., Hartmann G., 2001. Antisense therapy in oncology: new hope for an old idea? Lancet 358, 489-197.

Tamm, I., Schriever, F., Dorken, B., 2001. Apoptosis: implications of basic research for clinical oncology. Lancet Oncology 2, 33-42.

About the Author:
Radoslaw Pilarski is a PhD candidate working on anticancer properties of Uncaria tomentosa at Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland). mLingua Worldwide Translations, Ltd. provides professional language translations to and from all major Western and Asian languages, software localization and web site translation services. Site offers links to many free translation dictionaries, glossaries, and language tools.
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/24121.html

The Day I Was Diagnosed Having Cancer

Sure you’ll going to be worried learning about this piece of news. It took a lot of courage in me to discuss a sickness that is so close to death. It would mean the end of everything….From the traveling that I enjoy the most. From breezing through the lights and sounds of Los Angeles, the eye-catching Hong Kong-based signature clothes, the scenery of New Zealand to the aroma of my home sweet home. It would mean the end of my sleepless nights of chatting, and writing testimonials in friendster and other forms of letters. It would mean the end of my favorite past time which is malling.It would mean the end of being with my family who cares and loves me so much and it would be the end of hanging-out with my friends. I can’t stand these realities that would soon unfold my future. I’m scared but I know I will survive.

It really is a fact that I upset a lot of people from the time I was born. Given that my name is SMILE, I should have brought smiles to people. Yet, I’ve been so hard-headed, inconsiderate, unforgiving, and most of all—selfish. I’ve been so crazy, oftentimes, fickle-minded. I’ve made decisions based from others’ perception not mine. I’ve been involved with my first boyfriend ever during junior year in College whom I love dearly until this very day. Yet, we are bound to take different paths and choices to make our lives worth living. My only consolation? We remained the best of friends.

On one hand, I often wondered why of all people I was the chosen one. I’m still young, active, and vibrant. But I guess there seems to have no choice but to accept my fate. Whatever reason it was, I don’t know. Let me tell you all time and again, I’m not complaining but yes, I am sad. Wish I could turn the situation into a lighter one but it would not be. I just pray that people will remember SMILE as a human being prone to all inconsistencies. Let my memories stay with you all….

“ATE SMILE, wake up!” shouted Joseph, my younger brother. Oh my goodness! It was just a bad dream! A dream that taught me not just lessons but revelations. All the while, I thought I’m dying with cancer but it was my SOUL and HEART that’s dying. What an eye-opener! Better wipe your tears away now my friends for SMILE is still around. But, I do hope this time a BETTER one.

About the Author:
MS.MERYL SMILE C. MATIENZO, is a B.S PSYCHOLOGY graduate from Letran-Calamba. She was the Vice-President of the Letran Supreme Student Council (2001-2002). She's a Senior Staff writer of the Knight Publication for three years and was a Dean's Lister during her College years. The author also was also nominated in the 2002 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. She now works as a Researcher.
Article Source: www.iSnare.com

What are the three main symptoms to lung cancer?

The main three symptoms to lung cancer that should not be ignored are shortness of breath, pain when breathing or coughing, and existence of a persistent cough, especially if it is accompanied by expectoration of sputum streaked with blood. Additionally, loss of appetite, fatigue, unusual losses of weight are three symptoms, which are indicative of lung cancer.

Because of the non-specific nature of symptoms of Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma tests are imperative to rule out incidence of the disease when lung cancer symptoms show up. Early detection of Mesothelioma cancer substantiated by clear information of patient’s exposure to asbestos can help define the course of treatment.

Early Detection Of Mesothelioma Cancer In Long Term Health Prognosis

The length of time between asbestos exposure and onset of lung cancer symptoms can be between 15-50 years. Therefore a complete medical history and information of possible asbestos exposure are critical in identifying patients who are prone for developing Mesothelioma lung cancer.

During physical tests for Mesothelioma lung cancer, the doctor may check breath sounds to see whether there is any indication of fluid in the chest cavity. A variety of diagnostic procedures also help to determine whether a patient has Mesothelioma lung cancer.

Results from imaging scans, tissue biopsies, pulmonary function tests, and other diagnostic techniques, combined with the findings from a careful medical history help to define the course of treatment in Mesothelioma lung cancer.

There are less common but more uncomfortable symptoms of lung cancer, which are usually associated with advanced stages of the disease. Such lung cancer or Mesothelioma patients may exhibit symptoms like a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the face or in the neck, pain or discomfort under the ribs, and shortness of breath caused by fluid around the lungs.

If you suspect that you or any of your family members have lung cancer symptoms– DO NOT DELAY – consult your physician right away.

About the author:
Jon Butt publishes www.the-mesothelioma-guide.com With the web being packed with mis-information www.the-mesothelioma-guide.com is a leading free resource of Mesothelioma support, advice and legal help along with alternative remedies, natural supplements and more. Helping both you and your loved ones.
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Multiple Myeloma: Commonest Form Of Blood Cancer!

Multiple Myeloma is the commonest form of cancer of blood cells, accounting for 15 per cent of all blood cancers. There are about 2500 new cases per annum in the UK, giving rise to 10-15,000 patients with the condition at any one time. The overall incidence is rising, and is higher in Afro-Caribbeans.

Multiple myeloma is treatable, but it cannot be considered a curable condition.

Types of Myeloma
There is really only one main type of myeloma, but in different people, the cancerous plasma cells make different antibodies. Doctors more often call these antibodies 'immunoglobulins'. In each case of myeloma, only one type of immunoglobulin is overproduced, but this varies from patient to patient. There are 5 basic immunoglobulins – A, G, M, D and E. In myeloma, the commonest one that is overproduced is IgG and the rarest IgE.

Controlling your symptoms
Even if it is not possible to get your myeloma into remission, you can have treatment to help control the symptoms it causes. This may be mild chemotherapy to damp it down. Or you may have radiotherapy to any trouble spots in your bones. Bisphosphonates can also be used to try to slow down the progress of the myeloma. And to reduce the levels of calcium in your blood if this is too high. Your doctor may suggest a treatment called plasma pharesis if the level of abnormal immunoglobulin protein is too high in your blood. Too much protein in the blood can make it too thick and plasma pharesis will take out the excess protein.

Smouldering myeloma
You may also hear the term 'smouldering myeloma'. This is a condition that is much the same as MGUS. The only difference is that the immunoglobulin levels are slightly higher than in MGUS. But they are not rising and the condition is usually stable for long periods of time. There is a risk that the condition will speed up and develop into full blown multiple myeloma.

How does one develop myeloma?
The cause of myeloma is not known. It is not inherited and it is not contagious. In common with other blood cancers there is an increased incidence in patients exposed to radiation.

Organic-chemical exposure may increase incidence, but there are no clear data. A recent report suggests that multiple myeloma patients have a higher incidence of infection (up to 80 per cent or more) by a human herpes virus (HHV8) than do normal subjects (up to 25 per cent); these reports are unconfirmed.

About the Author:
Camry James
As with many other types of cancer, the outcome depends on how advanced your cancer is when it is diagnosed. Knowing the signs early can save your life! Find out more about Multiple Myeloma at http://www.eask.info
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/33606.html
Added: 07 Aug 2006

What Are The Stages Of Lung Cancer?

Once a diagnosis of lung cancer has been made, the doctor will attempt to determine the stage the lung cancer is at. The staging system is somewhat like a measurement system, with the numbers indicating: whether the cancerous tumors are localized or whether the tumors have spread to other parts of the body; the tumor’s size; and whether or not the tumors have spread to the lymph nodes. There are four main stages of lung cancer (Stages 1 – 4) and identification of one of the stages is what helps doctors prescribe an appropriate treatment method.

Different Cancer, Different Stages of Lung Cancer

The staging system is a bit more complicated than simply assigning a number. First of all, the stage numbering system differs slightly depending on whether the lung cancer has been diagnosed as small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer is the more common form and it progresses more slowly than the other type. Non-small lung cancer can be broken down into 4 stages. Stage 1 means that the tumor is local; it has not spread to the lymph nodes. Adding the letter A or B to the stage 1 classification indicates the size of the tumor (“A” means it is less than 3 cm across) and whether it’s larger and growing in a sensitive area (“B”). Stage 2 means the tumor has spread into lymph nodes or the chest wall. Again, an “A” and “B” designation determines the size and the location of the tumor. Stage 3 is more complicated and can mean several things. For example, it can indicate that the tumor has spread, but it’s still only affecting one side of the lung, or that tumors have spread to other nearby body parts such as the chest wall, or that fluid is collecting in the lungs. Stage 4 is of course the worst stage and means that cancerous tumors have spread into a whole other part of the body like the pelvis or liver.

Small-Cell Cancer

In cases of small-cell cancer, there are two stages of lung cancer – Stage 1 and Stage 2. These stages are used to designate whether the cancerous cells are limited in number or whether there exists an extensive amount that have invaded the chest and other parts of the body. When they’re limited in number, patients have a good chance of receiving effective treatment and possibly even resuming a near normal life. An extensive amount however, means treatment options are very limited.

The Staging Challenge

Although the stages of lung cancer seem well-defined, categorizing a person’s cancer into one of these stages is often challenging. Each case of cancer involves so many different factors and the combination of factors can be interpreted in many different ways by different doctors. Proper diagnosis and classification takes time and may take several rounds of testing. CT scans, MRIs, blood tests, bone scans and even testing the pleural effusion (if present) may all be needed.

About the Author:
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for http://www.lifelungcancer.com. To learn more about lung cancer, visit http://www.lifelungcancer.com/stagesoflungcancer/.
This article was posted on February 17, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

The Truth About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast or a tumor, grow out of control and damages nearby tissue. In women, the most common and fatal type of cancer is breast cancer.

Detection

There are often no symptoms in the early stages. Women should be aware of the screening recommendations and follow them. There are varieties of symptoms that may appear as the tumor grows such as:

- The breast changing in size or shape

- Breast skin becomes pitted or ridged

- Thickening or lump in the underarm or breast

- Discharge from nipple or the nipple turns inward

- Skin on the breast becomes red or scales

If you have any of these symptoms, have yourself examined by a medical professional. This does not mean you have cancer but you defiantly want to have this checked.

Before the age of twenty, is very rare to get it and not often diagnosed in women less than twenty-five years old. The chances of contacting climbs steadily after 25 and peaks around menopause age in women. It increases less after menopause but as they age, the risk to older women gradually increases.

Risk Factors

Nobody really knows what causes this cancer. Some of the elements that are thought to increase the risk are:

Gender: There are more cases of women than men

Weight: Overweight women are at higher risk

Age: From 25 to menopause, the chances increases.

Children: If a woman has not had a child, or had a child after 30

Family History: Women that have a family member that have or had it are at risk.

Male Breast Cancer

Yes, it really does happen. It is certainly not as common as in women but approximately one to 1.5% happens to men. Older men most often diagnosed with it and are between sixty and seventy years old. If a man has had previous exposure to radiation, such as for cancer treatment, their risk increases. Approximately 20% of men with a mother, sister or other close female relatives with breast cancer are certainly at higher risk. Some of the symptoms in men includes swelling or a breast lump, retracted nipple or discharge and scaling or redness of the breast skin or nipple.

Statistics

The statistics are frightening. Each and ever year, over 182,000 women and 16,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 400 men and 43,300 women will die from this terrible disease. During their lifetime, one woman out of eight has or will get breast cancer. Most people have family or friends that have or had breast cancer. Always give them your support and encouragement.

Learn more about Breast Cancer and other Health-related issues at Breast Cancer and Health

About the Author:
Joseph Then
Article Submitted On: July 29, 2006
Article Source: EzineArticles

Prostate Cancer Research Studies Vote 'Soy Yes, Dairy No'

Controversy abounds on this topic; however, numerous studies over the past decade have shown a solid connection between the risk of prostate cancer and dairy consumption. A cohort study just published in mid 2005 by the American Journal of Nutrition showed that men with the highest dietary intake of dairy foods were 2.2 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men with the lowest dietary intake of dairy foods.

Prior theories circled around the increase in IGF-1 (insulin growth hormone) seen in milk drinkers. High levels of IGF-1 have been directly linked to various hormonal cancers. Although this theory may still hold some validity, research has uncovered a potential cause that has further heated the debate on dairy and prostate cancer, calcium. The same study referenced above showed a 2.2 times increase in prostate cancer risk for men with the highest dietary calcium intake over those with the lowest. Another study in 2001 observed over 20,000 men, and concluded that men who consumed more than 600mg of daily calcium from dairy products had a 32% higher risk of prostate cancer than men who consumed less than 150mg of daily calcium from dairy products. This came as quite a shock, since the USDA recommends a minimum of 1200mg of daily calcium for men over 50, and 1000mg for men aged 19 to 50. These studies have spurred more medical research into this possible dairy calcium-prostate cancer connection.

Luckily, the news on prostate cancer isn’t all that bad. Several other nutrients, vitamins, and minerals have been given a gold star for their potential to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Fructose (fruit), selenium (seafood, mushrooms, grains), vitamin D (sunshine), vitamin E (nuts, seeds, & greens), lycopene (tomatoes), soy…wait a minute…did we just mention soy in a discussion of men’s health? Oh yes, it seems that a prospective study in the US indicated a 70% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer among men who consumed more than one serving of soy milk per day.

As long as the medical community remains uncertain, there will be no shortage of clinical trials and interpretations addressing the subject of diet and prostate cancer.

About the author:
Alisa Fleming
© Go Dairy Free (2005) - http://www.godairyfree.org/facts/conditions/prostatecancer.aspx
GoDairyFree.org was written and published by Superstar Life, Inc., a company centered on life management, growth, and enhancement.
If you have any questions, or would like to submit a testimonial, recipes, or useful information, please email info@godairyfree.org
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Support Cancer Research, Wear Cancer Wristbands

Cancer is a very serious illness. This dreaded disease has caused many deaths; cancer is a disease that’s characterized by uncontrollable cell division and the danger of these mutant cells to invade the neighboring healthy cells and infect them. There are many types of cancer and most of them are deadly which can cause death, while there are some treatments available; there has been no known cure that’s potently effective just yet. Some treatments can kill the cancerous cells while some control the symptoms such as pain. Millions every year gets afflicted with different types of cancer and millions more die every year all over the world. Cancer has been a serious predicament in the medical world and there are concerns on the probability of finding a cure soon.

There are some major efforts being done to correct this but funds have been dwindling making these researches an effort that needs the aid of many people. Many foundations, colleges and other medical groups are doing intensive scientific endeavors to understand fully the development of cancer and what possible treatments, therapies and cure could be done to prevent cancer and its growth. They are called cancer research. In cancer research they discover new methods of treating cancer with the development of new technology and new discoveries about the disease. With proper funding, cancer researches would be able to flourish and hopefully find the perfect cure.

Many organizations have been doing their best to help fund this research facilities, doing fund raising projects and programs for public awareness. It is essential for the public to take notice of this programs because anyone from anywhere can be afflicted with cancer. Gradually, more and more people have found ways in doing both, raising funds for cancer and spreading awareness. When doing such, you hit the head of a nail twice making it more beneficial for cancer victims. Any method is appreciated as long as it spread awareness and help bring in money to aid cancer research. The current popular method is by selling cancer wristbands, which are inscribed with inspiring and informing statements.

Cancer wristbands have been the craze lately, many are wearing them because they are cool and fashionable and yet they help out in finding a cure for cancer. Remember the ribbons everybody used to wear for AIDS. Cancer Wristbands now are what the AIDS ribbons were then. This stretchy cancer wristbands, usually made from either from rubber or silicone, are a great way to do fundraising. They are one size fits all and don’t cost too much. There is a 100 percent profit in cancer wristbands, which may be donated to cancer researches and also boost cancer awareness. In doing so, you not only get a cool looking cancer wristband, you are also helping out the countless cancer victims all over the world.

Many say that this trend started out when Lance Armstrong came out yellow “LiveStrong” wristband to promote and fund cancer research. That promotion had all the right ingredients to capture the people’s interest. Present was the revered American icon asking the people for help, the item was very affordable, was a good conversation peace and it showed that if you were wearing it, you were concerned about other people and their needs. It was also for a cause everyone wanted to help in and deserved all the help t can get. Soon enough, everyone was wearing them, from high profile people, to entertainers with big names straight to the president.

After that, many cancer wristbands went into the market spreading the word, many organizations joined the bandwagon and produced their own cancer wristbands. It has come to be that the color of the cancer wristband represented which type of cancer was to be benefited; for example, pink bracelets were in aid for breast cancer. Messages and statements would be inscribed in the bracelets empowering the knowledge of the people about cancer and tugging their hearts and the hearts of others to help out for the worthy cause.

Cancer wristbands are not only cool, they also help out, many small organizations can help out by browsing the internet and order them from reputable manufacturers who pledge assistance for every cancer wristband you purchase. You may also do your own fundraising; some sites offer very low prices for wholesale purchases so that you can sell them at a markup price so you can have earnings to donate to research facilities. Be aware, support cancer wristbands to help cancer research.

About the Author:
Michael Sanford updates his website with up to date cancer info at http://www.cancer-resource-center.com/

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

CANCER: New Alternative Therapy

Created in the amazonian forest, by a Brazilian monk, a new natural treatment to cure and to prevent cancer, seems to be an interesting alternative in the fight against cancer. The priest affirms, he has obtained real results in several types to cancer : cancer of breast, cancer of uterus, cancer of stomach, cancer of skin, cancer of prostate, etc. The formula is simple, cheap and easy to prepare it in house and even though extensive clinical studies do not exist on this procedure, it seems to be a sensible alternative to try

ALOE Vera

One of the components of the formula is Aloe Vera (sábila) whose medicinal properties have been investigated for a long time :

“It has been proved that Aloe Vera is effective in cancer in animals. In fact, in 1992, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the use of Aloe Vera for the treatment of soft tissue cancer in animals as well as feline leukemia. There is strong scientific proof that, in vitro, Aloe Vera suppresses the growing of cancer tumor, stimulates immune system response, raises tumor necrosis levels, and promotes healthy tissue”.

“Aloe Vera helps to lower the damage done to the body by treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy, which destroy healthy immune system cells that are very important for the body's recovery. With the use of Aloe Vera, the immune system is boosted, tumors shrink, metastases are reduced so the cancer does not spread, and new”

“In 1997, University of San Antonio researcher Jeremiah Herlihy, Ph.D., conducted a study to observe any negative effects of drinking aloe daily. Rather than exhibiting negative effects, however, test animals receiving daily aloe showed a remarkable reduction in leukemia, heart disease, and kidney disease. Dr. Herlihy concluded, "We found no indication of harm done to the rats even at high levels." In fact, the aloe-drinking animals actually lived 25 percent longer than those in the control group”

Other components are bee honey and "cañazo" (rum, or any distilled liqueur).

HONEY

Medicine may be increasingly high-tech, but the latest wonder treatment which is being offered to patients is — honey.
Last week, it was announced that bandages soaked in manuka honey are to be given to mouth cancer patients at the Christie Hospital in Manchester to reduce their chances of contracting the MRSA superbug and to lessen wound inflammation following surgery. This is just the latest study investigating this particular type of honey's healing powers.
It is used routinely at the Manchester Royal Infirmary for dressing wounds, and other research has found it can fight gum disease, ease digestive problems and soothe sore throats.

All honey contains hydrogen peroxide, a substance once used as a wound disinfectant in hospitals — it comes from an enzyme that bees add to nectar. It also contains the enzyme glucose oxidase, which boosts its anti-bacterial properties.
This was recognised by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, who used honey to help heal burns and sores.

Aloe, bee honey and rum are mixed and a syrup is obtained that must be consumed daily. It is important to use "fresh pulp of the plant Aloe Vera, including the rind. (to retire the thorns). Not to use commercial extracts of Aloe Vera. In order to avoid the poisonous effect of the plant Aloe Vera, the treatment must be alternated : 10 days of treatment, 10 days free or of rest. Never long treatments. The treatment can be used single or complementing chemotherapy processes. An ample and detailed description of the treatment can be found at : “The Miracle of Sharing.Org”

Other Diseases
This treatment also can be useful for autoimmune and digestive diseases. (irritable bowl syndrome, ulcerative colitis, esophagitis, peptic ulcer, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, mouth lesions, sore throat,lupus, etc.)

Remark

All information is general in nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate professional advice and the reader assumes all risks from the use, non use or minuse of this information.

About the Author:
Luis Quiroz Ravines is a Peruvian journalist, founder of the "World Movement of Direct Help to the Poor".
Read full article “CANCER: New Alternative Therapy” by visiting:
http://www.themiracleofsharing.org/
Posted: 22-07-2006
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Orally Administered Beta-Glucan May Prevent Cancer

A recent study has shown that immune stimulation has a significant effect on tumor growth in animal specimens. Safe and effective forms of immune stimulation can enhance cellular immunity, which in turn enhances the activities of T-helper cells and natural killer cells.

Beta Glucan has been shown to increase activation of macrophages, lymphocyte production, and natural killer cell activity. Several studies have indicated that Beta Glucan can also increase levels of IL-1, and TNF-alpha, both of which are instrumental in immune system coordination, and can help the body eliminate tumors more efficiently.

The use of Beta Glucan is of special interest to the cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. This is due to the fact that beta glucans have shown an amazing ability to accelerate recovery in irradiated animal specimens, even when it is given after the radiation dose. It can also stimulate recovery of bone marrow following chemotherapy, something vital to restriction of tumor growth and prevention of infectious complications during treatment.

Although the data provided in this study is still quite premature, and needs to be confirmed with a larger, more controlled trial, it does demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of Beta Glucan as a treatment for cancerous tumors.

About the author:
Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of http://www.immunewellness.com - your source for high quality information about a variety of health products, including Beta Glucan (http://www.immunewellness.com/beta-glucan.htm).
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Diet For Healthy Prostate - Why Soy Is Not Just For Women

Researchers from Canada have found that having a diet of red meat, organ meats, soft drink and bottled water increased the risk of getting prostate cancer. They compared the diets of 80 men with prostate cancer, and 334 healthy men, and the diet just described more than doubled the risk of developing prostate cancer.

So what prostate diet can reduce the risk of prostate cancer? Swedish researchers examined the diet of 1499 men with prostate cancer and 1130 men who were healthy, and they published their findings in the Cancer Causes and Control journal. They found that eating foods rich in phytoestrogens decreased the risk of prostate cancer.

Phytoestrogens are plant molecules that have a weak estrogenic effect. They are made converted in the intestines from plant precursors by bacteria as they digest food. They are taken up by the same parts of the body that process the hormone estrogen.

Interestingly, one of the treatments for prostate cancer by doctors involves using estrogens to reduce the level of testosterone in men with advanced prostate cancer. It does this indirectly, through its effect on the hypothalamus, as less luteinizing hormone releasing hormone is produced by the hypothalamus. This means not as much luteinizing hormone is released by the body, which suppresses the production of testosterone.

High doses of estrogens for men can lead to cardiovascular complications. But phytoestrogens obtained from diet, in less quantities than a drug, and with a milder effect to start with, should not pose a problem. And researchers don't yet know what exactly causes phytoestrogens to have such a protective effect, whether it is similar to that of the estrogen treatment for advanced prostate cancers. And they don't know which phytoestrogens are the most active.

So what phytoestrogen foods could you include in a diet for a healthy prostate? Soy beans and nuts are a good source. Soy and nuts contain a type of phytoestrogen called isoflavones, whilst berries and seeds contain lignans. Foods could include peanuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and berries.

The only possible concerns with soy is that a study in mice found that male mice that had a type of heart disease that people also have, suffered heart failure when fed a soy based diet. Whether this extrapolates to the human population is yet to be established. But it may be wise for those me who have this particular genetic heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, to be cautious about soy products in their diet.

But for other men, soy products could be good news. A meta analysis, which is a study of related studies, published in the International Journal of Cancer, found that diets high in soy lowered men's risk of prostate cancer by 30%.

Another important mineral to consider for men is zinc. Zinc is used by men's bodies to make some of the male hormones, and for general prostate health. A deficiency in zinc can lead to problems with the testicles, the prostate, and the health of the sperm. Foods that are great sources of zinc include seeds like pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower; nuts like almonds, brazil, cashews and walnuts; and foods like lettuce, oats and onions. Raw onion is particularly suggested by Paul Bedson, a natural therapist. He also suggests vegetable juice made of equal parts of beetroot, carrot, and cucumber in cases where the prostate gland is enlarged. Cranberry juice, a cup drunk three times a day, is also recommended in this case.

References:
1. phoenix5.org/Infolink/advanced/estrogen.html
2. Australian Healthy Food, March 2006
3. Australian Healthy Food, November, 2005
4. Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing
5. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=65785&m=1NIE213&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub

About the Author:
Rebecca Prescott
If you're interested in a good health prostate supplement, click here, and check out the prostate health tips. Maca root is another great supplement for regulating and normalizing hormones, for both men and women. If you'd like to see more articles by Rebecca Prescott, check out this site: www.articlehealthandfitness.com/authors/1/Rebecca-Prescott
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Keep Your Colon Clean

Colon cancer is on the rise, with significantly more people being diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease below age 50 than previously. Although colon cancer used to be considered a disease of the elderly, probably because it was diagnosed mostly in older people, it now is seen in those who are much younger. During the 20th century, lifestyles became more sedentary and foods were processed more than before, a combination of factors that may have contributed to unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise that allows chemically-laced food to sit in the colon for longer periods of time. This allows these substances to have a prolonged effect on bowel tissue, which can lead to the growth of polyps, and ultimately, to colon cancer.

Cleansing the internal organs is as important as keeping external skin and hair clean. There are several things a person can do to improve colon health:

1. Eat a balanced diet. Get a nutritious supply of all the core food groups, including dairy, protein, fruits and vegetables, and fats. A well-rounded supply will help to ensure that your body receives all the nourishment it needs to function properly. If you are not getting adequate nutrition, consider taking a daily vitamin and mineral supplement that can add key elements to your diet.

2. Avoid processed foods. Eliminate or at least reduce the amount of food that has artificial preservatives. These include lunchmeats, sausage, ham, and hot dogs, many of which contain sodium nitrites and sodium nitrates, both of which have been shown to play a role in the development of colon cancer. Salt, another common preservative that takes a variety of forms in different foods, also may promote the development of cancer. Cook fresh food instead of buying those that have a longer shelf life due to added chemicals.

3. Drink plenty of water. Try to have at least eight glasses, eight ounces each, of clear water or beverages daily. Fluids help to clean your system by gently washing out offensive bacteria and germs that can harbor in the colon and lead to illness or problems.

4. Get daily exercise. Ask your doctor to
recommend a suitable exercise program that will help you get enough activity to keep your colon working as it should. Don’t overdo it, or you could get injured. Start slow with a walking or swimming program that will you get used to an exercise routine.

5. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables or other types of roughage. Your body needs fiber to keep clean. Fibrous foods act like a brush that sweeps through your body’s organs and passages to get rid of unwanted debris. Fiber gives your colon a necessary workout to keep you from getting constipated. Regular bowel movements help to keep the colon functioning properly.

Don’t forget to have annual medical checkups after you reach the age of 40. With proper care, your colon should do its job the rest of your life.

About the author:
Charles Kassotis
Check out other helpful hints at The Colon Directory at http://www.colondir.com
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