Showing posts with label Cancer Therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cancer Therapy. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Natural Supplements vs. Pharmaceutical Drugs: The Politics of Surviving Cancer

It is understandable that a medicinal drug having undergone double blind studies, several years of research, and millions of dollars spent on that research, should have a place of credibility. But what if the entire system was flawed to begin with, money and time wasted on treating a symptom rather than working to find a cure or better yet, prevention of the disease? Or what if the system was more than flawed but in many cases left the person in a less healthy state after having completed treatment using a pharmaceutical drug? With all of our knowledge about how the human body works, knowing its intolerance of unnatural elements, why are we, as medical patients, so accepting of the idea that we should be treating ourselves with synthetic drugs that are virtually poison to our body? To relieve one symptom we acquire two or three new symptoms, a new chronic condition we need to deal with and, of course, another prescription medication to fill each month.

Of course, those involved in the area of holistic medicine can never claim to cure, prevent, or treat a disease, even if that is the intended outcome and regardless of the numerous individuals finding themselves to be in a state of improved health. Only drug companies can make such claims. In fact, they own those words. Whether or not that right is deserved is irrelevant. It is worth noting, however, that most natural supplements have endured centuries of product testing.

Because of my interest in finding a holistic approach to addressing cancer, I recently came to distribute a product called Natural Cellular Defense which is a patented liquid detoxification product made from zeolite technology, marketed by the company of Waiora. Initially it was being researched as a cancer drug, however, because it is all natural, it was instead introduced to the market as a supplement. Studies show Natural Cellular Defense has the ability to remove heavy metals and harmful toxins in a safe and effective manner as well as activate the p21 tumor suppressor gene in cancerous cells. It also happens to be 100% non-toxic and is completely safe for all ages. This natural health product alone could conceivably help alleviate the toxins and waste accumulating in the average person, responsible for many chronic diseases. But no matter how many people are helped by taking this natural supplement, we make no claims. It is not a drug.

For years I have been frustrated by the radical and harmful techniques employed when treating tumors in cancer patients and would like to see non-toxic methods given greater attention and legitimacy. There is also far too much time and effort placed on detection rather than prevention of the disease. Prevention is the key, not detection. Detection means the disease has had a chance to manifest itself and take hold. At the very least we should not be poisoning a body with toxic drugs once a diagnosis has been made.

Here is the list of potential side effects of chemotherapy and you be the judge as to whether this sounds like a viable treatment option: Low hemoglobin, low white blood cells, low platelets, infection, need for blood transfusion, need for platelet transfusion, pain, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, skin injury, heart damage, lung damage, liver damage, kidney damage, loss of hearing, small stature, hormonal problems such as low growth hormone or low thyroid hormone, infertility, second cancer, intellectual decline, worsening of neurological symptoms, ineffectiveness, and death.

To understand better the hypocrisy of cancer treatment, consider the following: One of the largest and most prestigious cancer treatment centers in the world, The McGill Cancer Center in Canada, did a study of oncologists to determine how they would respond to a diagnosis of cancer. On the confidential questionnaire, 58 out of 64 doctors said that all chemotherapy programs were unacceptable to them and their family members. The overwhelming reason for this decision was that they believe the drugs are ineffective and have an unacceptable degree of toxicity. Do you imagine these same doctors are recommending chemotherapy treatment to shrink their patient’s tumors? Yes, indeed they are, as they must if they wish to follow standard protocol. There are alternative, non-toxic treatments available to cancer patients, but you must work to find these natural treatments on your own.

Of course, you may find a natural treatment you would like to pursue only to discover the medical profession standing in the way of implementing your treatment plan. A few years ago, I came across a story which is truly heart breaking. It involves a two year old boy named Alexander who was diagnosed with the most common pediatric brain tumor, medulloblastoma. After substantial consideration and thoughtful research by the parents following Alexander’s two brain surgeries, the parents chose for their son a non-toxic therapy, proven to be highly effective in treatment of brain cancer. However, the FDA denied the parents access to this treatment and the parents were informed by their oncologists that without their state of the art chemotherapy, the cancer would soon return. Alexander completed his third month of chemotherapy in December 1998 and died on January 31, 1999. He was just two and a half years old.

For you see, the state-of-the-art chemotherapy protocol recommended by the oncologists had already proven itself to be ineffective in pediatric brain tumors back four years earlier. The exact same chemotherapy drugs provided to Alexander in 1998 had been administered to children of the same age with the same brain tumor as Alexander with similar results. Of course, the parents were never informed about the failure of this therapy. You should note that when the parents hesitated to bring Alexander in for chemotherapy the oncologists were already preparing to take control by court order. The parents wanted to use a non-toxic treatment alternative, proven to be effective, and yet were forced to use an ineffectual, toxic treatment.

I am afraid these parents may have been harmed twice over by the medical establishment for there is also the possibility that the brain tumor was caused by vaccinations containing Thimerosal, commonly used in vaccinations at that time and responsible for numerous cases of neurological disorders in children, such as autism, ADD/HD, and brain tumors.

You can learn more about Alexander’s story by visiting http://www.ouralexander.org/index.htm.

Just how dangerous is chemotherapy?

The following excerpt can be found on the University of Iowa’s website. Their protocol for dealing with “chemo spills” conjures images of a rather frightening scene of contamination because it is, in fact, a serious state of contamination. It reads as follows:

Patients and caregivers shall be taught safe, proper, handling and disposal of waste generated during continuous infusions of chemotherapy.

The following procedures should be implemented immediately if a chemotherapy leak or spill should occur:

1. Put on a pair of disposable latex gloves.

2. If chemo has spilled on clothing, remove immediately and take a shower, scrubbing the exposed skin with soap and water. Watch for redness, blistering, or a burning sensation. Contact your nurse to report the spill. She will give you further instructions if necessary.

3. Remove any and all sharp objects, placing them into your sharps container or any can with a lid such as a coffee can.

4. Soak up the spill with an absorbent disposable material, such as paper towels.

5. Disinfect the spill area with soap and water or a household cleaner such as window cleaner, 409, alcohol, bleach, or liquid carpet cleaner.

6. Put the absorbent material and the gloves into a chemotherapy waste container or garbage bag and carefully mark it. It will be picked up later by the pharmacy personnel.

7. If a spill occurs on a patient's or caregiver's clothing or sheets, these articles should be washed separately from regular laundry in hot water.

8. If a spill occurs on unprotected furniture, the area should be scrubbed with soap and water and rinsed with clean water while wearing protective chemo safety gloves.

9. Patients and caregivers should be taught to use care when handling vomitus or excretions of the patient for 48 hours post treatment and to use good handwashing technique.

Now imagine the “spill” they are referring to as chemicals that an individual with cancer will be taking into their body because that is indeed the case.

By no means do I wish to demonize the medical profession as a whole because there are many quality doctors and instances when prescription drugs may be necessary, however, I encourage caution when taking advice that will affect your health. It is important to consider the possibility that sometimes the medical establishment may be leading us down the wrong path. Natural therapies may not be able to claim to cure or treat disease but sometimes you need to just take a step back and perform your own due diligence, take a look at the results and come to your own conclusion.

Copyright 2006 Paula Rothstein

About the Author:
Paula Rothstein has been involved in the natural health industry for over 10 years with a specific emphasis on promoting products and introducing lifestyle changes which address chronic diseases relating to toxic overload. For more information on detoxification, please visit: http://www.medicinefreeliving.com. Comments and questions may be addressed to: Paula.Rothstein@medicinefreeliving.com.
This article was posted on March 24, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Friday, June 29, 2007

Get Successful Breast Cancer Treatment By Including Complementary And Alternative Therapies

Holistic therapist shouldn't be used in place of medical breast cancer treatment, but it can help treat your emotional needs that will make your overall state of being as well as helping with the side effects such as vomiting and nausea. Sometimes, holistic treatments will prolong a patience life, some times by years.

Chemotherapy along with surgery is traditionally the most common form of treatment for breast cancer. However, recently, holistic treatments have become more popular. The reasons for this are many, but the usually, it is because the patient doesn't want to endure chemotherapy or surgery, or feels there is a better way to combat the disease.

The Problem Of Traditional Breast Cancer Treatment

Modern medicine claims that if the cancer is caught early enough, breast cancer treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy can help the patient lead a long and active life. However, it has been proven that if chemotherapy is used too soon, it may actually shorten the life of the patient.

Another risk of modern medicine is using mammograms as an early diagnostic tool, rather than preventative. Mammograms will sometimes give false positives and leave some women enduring treatments, only to find out later they may never have had cancer at all.

When mistakes happen with traditional breast cancer treatments, harmful side effects may shorten, rather than prolong a patient's life.

Getting Help By Alternate Therapies

Serious heath problems such as breast cancer are being treated more frequently by holistic medicine. Holistic therapies go beyond the traditional remedies that only treat mainly the body. Holistic medicine also treats the mind and spirit as well. It is important to note that, even though you may experience fewer side effects with holistic medicine, you don't choose to forgo traditional medicine, but add holistic practices to it.

Also, it is important to remember that just as there are side effects of chemotherapies and other types of medical treatments, there are side effects to using holistic breast cancer treatments as well. However, there have been many studies done that show patience frequently live longer than what doctors had estimated they would.

Women fighting breast cancer may seek out holistic therapists to detoxify her body. The therapist would use Naturopathy to detect certain toxins in the body. After this, kinesiology is employed to check the body's energy fields. After checking these two items, the therapist can put together a course of treatment that will revolve around natural remedies.

There are many types of detoxifying programs that may be used during breast cancer treatment. One is to cleanse the liver and involves black walnut, wormwood and cloves. There are also detoxifying programs for the mind to help patience achieve a better emotional state.

Holistic therapies help by ridding the body of deep-rooted toxins; also by treating your mind so you can better fight the disease of breast cancer. When a patient is first diagnosed with cancer, it can lead to fatigue and stress within the body and mind. Once you can focus on the treatment, your chances of beating cancer increase. It is important to keep mind body and spirit in good health.

Seeking breast cancer treatment from a holistic therapist is perfectly all right as long as you don't forgo traditional breast cancer medicine. While holistic treatments may take away some of the symptoms traditional medicine have, it should not be a substitute for medical advice. Keeping your mind calm will help in receiving treatments.

Summary:

Holistic therapist shouldn't be used in place of medical breast cancer treatment, but it can help treat your emotional needs that will make your overall state of being as well as helping with the side effects such as vomiting and nausea. Sometimes, holistic treatments will prolong a patience life, some times by years.

About the Author:
Brooke Hayles
Check Out More Helpful Information About Breast Cancer Treatment For FREE!
Visit http://www.breastcancertreatmentonline.com/ > Breast Cancer Treatment Vault now!
Submitted on 2006-10-20
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Sunday, April 08, 2007

The Risk of recurrence in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer disease

Prostate cancer - the most common form of cancer in men is Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death. The Main risk factors include age (incidence increases in men over the age of 65 years). It is more prevalent in the western world and about 10% of cases can be linked to family history. The recurrance Rate of the prostate cancer is high.

Mostly, the Prostate cancer is a continuum; progressing through localized, locally advanced, advanced and hormone-refractory stages In general it is a slow growing cancer. He is primarily under hormonal control i.e. testosterone. The choice of treatments which include watchful waiting, surgery (prostatectomy), radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are dependent on the stage of disease.

1. Most important, that If detected early, using PSA determination, DRE examination and biopsies, and treated appropriately, survival rates are excellent.

2. The most critical focus for the treatment of prostate cancer is to treat those cancers where it is necessary.

3. The Decisions about the best management of prostate cancer can be very complex and depend upon the:

- Pathology of the cancer (unlike other cancers, prostate cancer often progresses very slowly)
- The impact that treatment can have on quality of life, including sexual activity
- Stage of the disease (non-metastatic (localized or locally advanced), metastatic or hormone refractory)
- Age and general health of the patients at diagnosis
- Patient’s preference for treatment
- PSA at diagnosis

4. The treatment options for prostate cancer are:

- Deferred treatment often called ‘watchful waiting’ or 'active surveillance'
- Surgery – Radical Prostatectomy
- Radiotherapy – External Beam and/or Brachytherapy
-Hormonal (endocrine) therapy – Androgen Ablation e.g. anti-androgens, medical castration (LHRHa) or surgical castration
- Chemotherapy
- Palliative Therapy e.g. chemotherapy
- Investigational Therapies

Prostate Cancer Recurrence Rates ***

Prostate cancer is now detected at earlier stages due to heightened awareness and improved screening techniques. Despite definitive therapy, cancer cells may remain and can go undetected for years until they develop into metastatic disease. The risk of recurrence is high, suggesting there is a need to improve treatment approaches. Therefore, it is important to predict pathological stage and risk of disease recurrence early, so that appropriate treatment and/or monitoring can be initiated. The result's of all new treatments will bring us in the future the chance of a lower prostate recurrance.

**You can inform you about the recurrence Rates on:
http://www.prostateline.com/prostatelinehcp/9898_15850_8_0_0.aspx

This gives you an overview with a study case – and the results.

Health-Service-Online
Admin Fritz
http://www.cancer-info.info

About the author:
Fritz Frei
Health-Service-Online bring's the problems of cancer on the point! Everybody can check out the new's of the risk of prostate cancer - the recurrance rate is high and there is most important - to check out this desease early!
Circulated by Article Emporium

Monday, February 12, 2007

Deciding on radiation. Breast cancer.

I opted not to have radiation after mastectomy and chemotherapy. It was advised by my oncologist, surgeon and radiologist. I sought a second opinion from a radiologist at another hospital with the same results; even though I had had a mastectomy, because of lymph node involvement (I had 8 positive for cancer) radiation to the chest and underarm area was advised.

I did my own research and discovered that only one major study had been done to show that there was some benefit from radiation for patients who had a mastectomy. The usual protocol until this study was to use radiation primarily on patients who had a lumpectomy.

Radiation scared me more than chemotherapy. Others have claimed the opposite, that they would prefer not having infusion, but rather surgery and only radiation. One radiologist scoffed at my questions, which is why I sought another opinion. The second radiologist answered my inquiries in depth. He agreed that radiation cannot be completely controlled. This means that other organs can be affected although not targeted. This would only be in a very tiny amount, even though the radiation you receive for breast cancer is considered small, however, that was enough to scare me. Survivors who receive radiation will tell you as much as 20 years later that their lungs, or heart, or something seems to have been damaged, and, it cannot be confirmed, but they name radiation to the chest wall as the culprit.

We have enough to scare us as breast cancer patients, so you may wonder why I would bring this up now. Frankly, I bring it up now because we all know that side effects from drugs and treatment are what we endure for a lifetime. I think we need to be honestly advised of what they are and how dangerous they can be for our future well-being. I am finding that doctors and researchers, even those with the best of intentions are far more concerned with eradicating cancer than the state we are left in when it is gone.

Even winners get wounded in the fight, and as survivors many of us are the walking wounded. Talk to your doctor, get all the facts, take your time and make a decision “you” can live with.

About the Author:
Kathy-Ellen Kups
Kathy's blog can be found at blog.healthtalk.com/breastcancer/ For more information, articles and programs about Breast Cancer and other cancers please visit healthtalk.com/cancer/
Article Source: http://www.articles411.com

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Lung Cancer - RADIATION As A Treatment Option

Because of the advanced stages of some lung cancer, surgery is not an option. This depends on the location of the tumor/tumors or the overall health of the person. In these types of cases, an oncologist will most likely advocate radiotherapy for the treatment. Even though surgery may be an option, you may find the doctor suggesting this type of treatment either before surgery to help shrink the tumor or after the surgery to help eradicate any of the remaining cancerous cells.

Radiation therapy - what is it?
Radiotherapy - is high powered x-rays that are 'beamed' at the location of the cancer cells which in turn destroys the rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately, during this process the radiotherapy kills off both the healthy cells as well as the cancerous cells in that location. However, there are methods of delivering the radiotherapy that will minimize the side effects on the healthy cells.

EBT - external beam therapy or radiotherapy, is a highly focused beam of radiation that is aimed directly at the edges of the tumor site. Due to the concentration, EBT minimizes the chance of damaging the healthy cells. EBT is delivered in 'fractions', i.e. short durations of radiation that are spread out over several weeks time. According to current studies, the best effects are achieved when there are more frequent, shorter fractions than in larger fractions spread out over a longer period of time. Talk with your doctor about which will be the best timing for you.

Often times this therapy will be used to alleviate symptoms even though it won't actually cure by itself. Doctors may prescribe radiotherapy before or after a surgery and is designed to shrink the tumor or make it less active. Doctors may suggest brachytherapy instead of using an external beam. Brachytherapy is a procedure which implants small radioactive seeds directly at the site of the cancer. Brachytherapy can open up blocked airways by reducing the size of the tumors blocking the bronchi or windpipe. Brachytherapy can also help stop bleeding in tumors.

Conformal radiation therapy is another type of therapy. With this therapy a CAT scan helps create a 3-D image of the tumor and shape the x-ray beams precisely to the size and shape of the tumor. When using conformal radiation therapy, the damage to the surrounding tissues is nearly eliminated completely. Intensity modulated radiation therapy can be fine tuned so that it only affects certain areas of the tumor. This form of precision therapy works with a CAT scan to target only the cancerous cells.

Any suspicion that the tumor may have spread, as is often the case with small cell, your oncologist will very likely suggest a course of chemotherapy either before, after or concurrently with radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is localized therefore the beam is focused directly at the cancerous cells. Using radiotherapy in conjunction with chemotherapy, will normally offer a better chance of clearing up the tumor completely and preventing a recurrence. Radiotherapy is rarely recommended as the sole treatment.

About the Author:
Carlie Edwards publishes online articles & useful information for Women. For more info visit Resource Tips For a variety of related topics visit Health-And-Beauty-Worx.Com
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Monday, January 22, 2007

Cervical Cancer 101 what you need to know about

Cervical cancer affects the female body in the cervix region. The womb of a woman finds its opening through the cervix. Many a times the human papilloma virus causes the disease. It is transmitted sexual exchanges. The cervix being the most important organ of the reproductive system requires proper attention as far as cancer onset is concerned. Such a cancer affects the other organs of the cervix region and can cause damage to the reproductive organs. This makes the disease all the more fatal. Such a spread is commonly termed as metastasis.

Although human papilloma virus is the main cause of the disease but it is also diagnosed with women who are in a habit of smoking. The instances of lung and breast cancer associated with the cervical cancer are there. This shows that the susceptibility of women to have cancer is higher by the means of cervical cancer. The disease is indicated by the presences of warts on the area around cervix. But a regular medical check up is required because sometimes the warts may not even appear on the skin and the disease goes undetected.

The common symptoms of the disease are prolonged pains in the thoracic region. Sometimes the leg and the lower back start paining unbearably. Anemia is very frequently associated with cervical cancer. As a result of anemia the patient also experiences a weight loss and fatigue. The person also looses his normal appetite. The detection of this carcinoma by oneself is almost impossible. It is at the later stages only that, with the help of a doctor can one detect it.

The disease is very deadly as its detection is very difficult. Though the doctors can detect it by a simple pap smear but if the treatment is avoided for too long then it may cause a fatal results. The most important thing to note here is that the disease can spread to other parts of the body including the vagina and the other connective tissue. It spreads vigorously and the infection spreads very fast. The disease has the potential to damage the primary reproductive organs and jeopardize reproductive capacity of the woman.

A particular form of papilloma strain increases the vulnerability to disease. Also improper sexual behaviour and inadequate hygiene also caters to the onset of cervical cancer. A drug administered to prevent miscarriage (diethylstilbestrol), if given in great quantities also increases the susceptibility of the disease. The diagnosis of the disease is done by examining the vaginal fluid of the suspected patient and is checked for the strains of cancer.

Chemo-radiation is a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is an effective measure in treatment of cancer. The infected cells can also be surgically removed. But the woman has to make a tough decision regarding jeopardizing her fertility. Thus most women go for the usual medication. A simple approach to prevent the disease is to have clean habits and regular check ups. The disease can be prevented by such steps though it cannot be ruled out after these.

A healthy woman is the most important asset of a family and there fore a woman should keep her self clean and ready to prevent such disease.

About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about cervical cancer. Learn more at http://www.cervicalcancerconcern.com
Circulated by Article Emporium

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Are You At Risk For Breast Cancer?

Each year, millions of women learn that they have developed breast cancer. Despite most commonly being found in women, breast cancer can also be diagnosed in men. That is why breast cancer is often considered one of the most common types of all diagnosable cancers. Fortunately, you if you are diagnosed as having cancer, there are a number of treatment options that may help you become cancer free. However, before that can occur, you need to be diagnosed as having breast cancer.

When it comes to being diagnosed with breast cancer, a large amount of focus is placed on the signs and symptoms. While it is important to focus on the symptoms of breast cancer, they are not the only things that you should keep in mind. Although an exact cause of breast cancer has yet to be determined, there are a number of risk factors associated with the cancer. Determining whether or not any of these risk factors apply to you is one of the best ways, aside from regularly examining your body, to determine whether or not you may have breast cancer or end up developing it in the future.

You may be at a greater risk of developing breast cancer if someone else in your immediate family has also been diagnosed with having it. It has been noted that the BRCA1 gene and the BRCA2 gene have something to do with the development of breast cancer. Research is still being conducted on this; however, it is looking as if damaged cells, which may later account for breast cancer, are being passed down through family members. Therefore, if someone in your family has been diagnosed with breast cancer, there is a good chance that you may also develop it.

Your age may also increase your risk of developing breast cancer. While it is important to remember that breast cancer can occur at just about any age, there are a group of men and women who are more at risk. Those individuals are likely over the age of fifty. That is why it is recommended that all women over the age of forty undergo a yearly mammogram. Until that age, a self breast exam, performed by yourself or by a healthcare professional, should be enough.

When you first started your menstrual cycle, as well as when it ended, may increase your risk of developing breast cancer. It has been noted that those who began their periods before the age of twelve are at an increased risk for developing breast cancer, later on in life. The same, in a way, can be said for menopause. Recent studies have shown that the later a woman begins menopause, the more at risk she is for developing breast cancer. Menopause should begin around the age of fifty-five. If it starts to occur any later, you will want to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and birth control pills have been known to increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. These risk factors are not as high as the above mentioned risk factors, but a connection between breast cancer, hormone replacement therapy, as well as birth control pills has been established. Therefore, if you are currently on birth control pills or are undergoing hormone replacement therapy, it may be a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional. Your OBGYN or primary care physician should be more than willing to give you inside and updated information on the connection between breast cancer and these two widely used medications.

In addition to hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, a family history, late menopause, early menstrual periods, and age, there are a number of other risk factors that have been connected to breast cancer. These additional risk factors include, are not limited to, radiation, and excessive alcohol consumption. Now that you know whether or not you are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, you may be able to better prepare yourself for what you may find, now or in the future.

If, at any point, you notice a lump in your breast or have unexplained breast pain, you are advised to seek medical assistance immediately. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the sooner it can be treated and gone from your life, hopefully forever.

About the Author:
Anne Childs is a contributor to http://www.healthline.com who has also conducted many seminars to raise awareness on http://www.healthline.com/channel/breast-cancer.html, and other conditions which women are most susceptible to.
This article was posted on November 14, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Healing Cancer And Cellular Memory

From the office of Dr. Laurence Magne, author of www.cancer-free-for-life.com

"Cellular memory" is defined as the capacity of living tissue cells to memorise and recall characteristics of the body from which they originated. Organ transplantation has applied the advances of technologically driven orthodox medicine for more than 50 years. However, its only in recent years that the recipients of donated organs have begun to report strange phenomena - atypical newfound memories, thoughts, emotions and preferences that are uncharacteristic, i.e. that "seem not to belong" to the recipient. These phenomena are new and often upsetting to the organ recipient; they are perceived to "belong" to their donor. How could this be, and has the phenomenon of "cellular memory" any applications in medicine?

Host rejection of donated organs is commonplace; with considerable failure rates. Orthodox medicine uses potent immunosuppressive drugs and other technologies to prevent organ rejection. Does the phenomenon of "cellular memory" elicit the cause of organ rejection. If so, are there any applications to prevent or treat organ rejection? To learn more about cellular memory, read Cancer Free For Life.

Holistic medicine views the body-mind-spirit as one and is based upon the theory of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang originates from original Qi. Original Qi or Yuan Qi, originally transformed into the Qi of heaven and earth and underlies the entire infrastructure of Chinese medicine. In its primordial state, the existence of original Qi meant that all things were One. The Qi of Yin and Yang retains this connective or unifying potential.

In Yin-Yang theory, everything within the world is made-up of two opposing forces, each containing the seed of its opposite . The seed or eye grows at equal rates within each sphere until it limits are achieved. This allows a constant state of dynamic flux and balance. Yin-Yang principles guide all things. In the mutual victory or defeat of Yin-Yang, the situation will be of numerous varieties, so, Yin-Yang are the parents of variations. Yin-Yang interaction shapes everything and decides all outcomes. All situations and things of any kind depend on the relative strength or weakness of Yin and/or Yang, i.e. Yin-Yang interaction is the origin of all change or no change; it decides the outcome of everything. Everything on earth and in heaven is created from Qi and the qualities of Qi as described by Yin and Yang are rigorously expressed in all creation.

Therefore, everything contains the essence (seed) of the whole.

Yin-Yang theory is the same as its modern western equivalent; the holographic principle and is the basis of cellular communication with the body-mind in dynamic interplay. The holographic principle prescribes to the theory that "every piece contains the whole" and can be seen in the cellular structure of all living bodies. It is well known that every cell contains a copy of the master DNA blueprint. From these two identical theories, we may conclude that although each organ contains its own function, emotion, spirit and so forth, each organ contains the functional essence of all the characteristics of the u organs and the body as a whole.

Visit www.alternative-health-ebooks.com for more information and articles. This article is available for reprint for your website and newsletter, provided that you maintain its copyright integrity and include the signature.

About the Author:
Dr Laurence Magne
Article Source: ArticleToGo.com

Monday, November 20, 2006

The Truth About Heart Disease And Cancer

Heart disease and cancer are closely intertwined due to the fact that cancer treatments put a risk for heart disease...

Heart disease and cancer are closely intertwined due to the fact that cancer treatments put a risk for heart disease. Having cancer can predispose one to heart disease, the number one known killer. Not only does chemotherapy drugs affect the heart, but further research shows that cancer survivors are more likely to face heart and other cardiovascular diseases as these cancer therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, tend to be toxic to heart muscles and organs as well as killing not only cancer cells but also other cells in the body.

Although at present the number seen on these cases are small, it presents a large potential future risk. Women who have been treated for breast cancer may even be at a higher risk since the treatment takes place close to the heart. However, some solutions may be coming, as a clinical trial for the FDA approved new ExAblate system for treating non-cancerous uterine fibroids is being studied as a treatment for breast and other cancers. This system combines magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound that potentially makes it a more heart-friendly treatment for cancers and other tumors.

Another fact that links heart disease and cancer is that they are perhaps two of the most feared problems in modern society. Emory University in Atlanta, GA scientists shows new research which sheds light on a new class of enzymes that may be both active in both of the illnesses. This enzyme converts oxygen to a destructive form called reactive oxygen and shows to play a role in abnormal cell growth in both heart disease and cancer. This destructive form reactive oxygen has been connected with damage to cells as well as damage to DNA.

The research studied a member of the new class of enzymes called Mox1 and found that it serves as a growth promoter to cells that produce the reactive oxygen. This oxygen in turn causes a quicker than normal division of cells, which is seen in some forms of heart disease and most common in cancer.

This abnormal cell growth results to a devastating effect in both diseases. In cancer it results to the formation of tumors, while in heart disease it results to the formation of plaques on vessel walls.

The experiment on Mox1 involved the cloning of the Mox1 gene which was inserted to mice cells. It showed that once inserted, the cells started to divide more quickly taking on the characteristic of abnormal cells. Tumors resulted when these cells were inserted into mice.

Before this research, reactive oxygen was not known as a causative agent for cancer and through the research it demonstrated that reactive oxygen can be a cause of cancer and the Mox1 enzyme can produce the reactive oxygen. However, scientists also found out that by removing reactive oxygen from the cells will reverse the process. They are hopeful that this new findings will lead to a new way of treating the two.

About the Author:
Joann
Read More On The Truth About Heart Disease And Cancer
Submitted on 2006-08-29
Article Source: http://www.articlesalley.com/

Monday, October 16, 2006

Why Is Sauna Used In Cancer Therapy?

Sauna Therapy Used in Cancer Therapy.
This is a new and experimental procedure. It shows a great promise in some cases when used properly. American researchers favor careful monitoring of the tumor temperature; whereas, the successes reported in Japan make no mention of such precaution. Infrared healing is now becoming the leading edge in the care of soft tissue injuries to promote both relief in chronic or intractable "permanent" cases, and accelerated healing in newer injuries.

Localized infrared therapy using lamps tuned to the 2 ~ 25 micron waveband is used for the treatment and relief of pain by over 40 reputable Chinese Medical Institutes.

Give Your Entire Body A Workout!
The oxygen needs of the body increase by about 20 percent so the lungs, another important eliminator of body wastes, join in the body's quickened pace. (The lungs' rapid exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen is hindered in some sweat baths. In high humidity water condenses on the tiny alveoli where this exchange takes place and breathing may be slightly more difficult. On the other hand, if the air is too dry, as occurs in many American saunas, mucous membranes may become dry and damaged.) Clogged respiratory passages are opened by heat, giving relief from colds and other minor respiratory problems. Sweat bathing is not recommended for those suffering from pneumonia or other acute respiratory diseases. (see Sauna)

Understanding Infra-Red Sauna
Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion, without having to heat the air in between. Radiant heat is also called Infrared Energy (IR). The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum is divided into 3 segments by wavelength, measured in microns or micrometers (a micron = 1/1,000,000 of a meter); 0.076 ~ 1.5 microns = near or close; 1.5 ~ 5.6 = middle or intermediate; 5.6 ~ 1,000 = far or long wave infrared. The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum occurs just below or ¡°infra¡± to red light as the next lowest energy band of light. We can, however, feel this type of light that we perceive as heat. Our sun produces most of its energy output in the infrared segment of the spectrum.

After A Sauna Session
When the bocly is slowly cooled, the effects of heat are reversed--the heart calms, sweat pores close, dilated blood vessels contract and body temperature returns to normal. The German Sauna Society recommends a warm foot bath to re-open closed blood vessels.On the other hand, abrupt cooling brought on by a plunge into snow or icy water creates a more dramatic effect. For this reason, people with weak constitutions should avoid rapid cooling. Vessels near the skin's surface contract, but since the skin's metabolism returns to normal slower than the circulatory system, wastes accumulate that are normally washed out by the blood.

For more comprehensive information on the sauna benefits, please visit http://www.saunadetox/

About the Author:
Penny Halls
The traditional sauna is electric, wood or gas fired. Either way, they are excellent detoxification methods.
Added: 16 Aug 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/34169.html

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Alternative Cancer Treatments - Oxygen Therapy

There is much evidence to suggest that oxygen is a major deterrent to the creation and survival of cancer cells in the body and many emminent scientists and researchers consider the development of oxygen-based therapies as key to the ultimate eradication of cancer. There are now several oxygen therapies available, including the use of hydrogen peroxide compounds (H2O2), ozone therapy and even hyperbaric chambers (as used in decompression chambers for deep see divers).


In order to understand how human tissue absorbs and uses oxygen, we need first to understand the concept of pH. The term pH refers to concentration of the hydrogen proten, which in turn indicates the degree to which body tissue and fluids is either acidic or alkaline.


As a general rule in organic chemistry, acidic compounds tend to expel oxygen, while alkaline compounds absorb it. The contemporary western diet is, to say the least, rich in acid-producing foods, in particular refined sugar, and this is considered to be one of the main reasons that cancer rates have multiplied significantly during the last century.


For this reason, many therapeutic diets are specifically designed to eliminate too much acidity. Indeed most avoid over-consumption of sugars, which can be regarded as a major contributor to the onset and progression of cancer. In general, the majority of today's conventional foods in the West can be considered as acid-forming. This includes meats, bread, grains and cereals. The notable exceptions to this are most fruits and vegetables. It might also be noted that excessive stress and very negative emotions can also cause acidic conditions to arise.


Because it takes about 20 parts of alkaline substance to neutralize one part acid, our bodies are constantly struggling to maintain a balance. In the early stages of imbalance, symptoms may be relatively mild, including things like colds and flu. The body then begins to use up alkalising minerals such as calcium to neutralize the excess acid, which in turn can lead to deficiencies. As acid wastes build up, fat is then deposited to protect vital organs (there is a link between excess acidity and obesity). As the acidity increases, microforms such as yeasts multiply in the body, producing more toxins and yet greater acidity, in a vicious circle. Ultimately, it is believed that this can lead to degenerative diseases such as cancer.


Alternative health clinics will regularly employ acid-neutralizing minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, in their treatment programs to assist with correcting acid/alkaline imbalances. Vitamin D is another key component, being essential to calcium obsorption by the organism.


Guidelines for testing saliva pH, which is considered to be the most reliable signal of ionic calcium deficiency, are given in the book "The Calcium Factor: The Scientific Secret of Health and Youth" by Carl J Reich, MD and Bob Barefoot. These are:


-For the non-deficient and healthy person, pH 7.5 (dark blue) to pH7.1 (blue) i.e. moderately alkaline. - For the moderately-deficient to highly-deficient, pH 6.5 (blue-green) to pH 4.5 (light yellow). - Over half of adults tested have a pH 6.5 or lower, indicating aging and lifestyle defects. - Cancer patients frequently have a pH 4.5, particularly when terminal. - As a point of reference, most children have a pH 7.5.


Other acid-neutralizing minerals are Rubidium, Cesium and Vanadium. There are also several proprietary products available commercially, including oxygen-based products that are aimed at maintaining the correct pH balance in the body.


I hope that this brief insight into the importance of oxygen in the correct functioning of the body, plus its role in the prevention and treatment of cancer, will encourage you to further investigate this fascinating subject, crucial to your health. As always, you should seek the guidance of a professional medical practioner 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: 29-07-2006
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com

Friday, September 29, 2006

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

Thursday, September 28, 2006

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

Thursday, September 21, 2006

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
Article Source: www.ArticlesBase.com

Thursday, August 17, 2006

How Is Leukemia Treated?

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. There are two types of leukemia, chronic and acute, which are treated differently and have different symptoms. Acute leukemia rapidly progresses and needs immediate, aggressive treatment. Chronic leukemia can take months or years to show symptoms and may not need immediate treatment but will require ongoing monitoring.


Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals to treat the cancer. It causes many side effects such as hair loss, nausea and decline of the immune system. The complete course of therapy can be from two to five years including maintenance. This is the most common form of treatment for leukemia with the desired result being total remission. Even without symptoms, ongoing monitoring must occur to guard against relapse.


Radiation therapy is another form of treatment. It is painless and in low doses causes very few side effects. Where the radiation is concentrated and the exposure levels will determine the side effects, if any, and the severity of them. Damage to the skin, swelling and infertility are among the possible side effects.


A bone marrow transplant is an effective way to prolong the life of cancer patients. It is, however, a risky surgery and requires a donor which can be difficult in attaining. These surgeries should be performed at state of the art hospitals specializing in cancer treatment. This surgery has a high mortality rate and is therefore used only in life threatening cases.


Immunotherapy is a means to stimulate the immune system so the body can attack the cancer cells. This type of treatment is still in its early stages and continually under development. It is believed that this type of treatment may prove less harmful than chemotherapy or radiation therapy and may someday supplant these treatments as a method for treating cancer.


Long term effects of leukemia treatments may cause anemia. This side effect can be treated by blood transfusions or platelet transfusions. There are risks with transfusions but it is believed transfusions will help reduce the threat of additional complications such as heart attacks. Doses of antibiotics are also generally prescribed to leukemia patients to help counteract the danger of infection cause by declined immune system or treatment side effects.


There are currently almost 200,000 people in the United States diagnosed with leukemia and an estimated 35,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year. It is the leading cause of death for people under the age of 20. There are many treatment facilities throughout the United States specializing in cancer treatment. Early diagnosis, aggressive treatment, and monitoring will help prolong life and increase chances of a person going into remission.


About The Author:
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for http://www.leukemiaclinical.com. To learn more about leukemia, visit http://www.leukemiaclinical.com/acutemyeloidleukemia/.

Article Submitted On: June 29, 2006

June 29, 2006
Article Source: EzineArticles

Saturday, June 24, 2006

ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF MEDICINE FOR CANCER PATIENT

Alternative forms of medicine like:

Acupuncture can be used for providing pain relief.

Herbal Medicine helps strengthen the body's ability to eliminate cancer cells. They do not however cure cancer, but can definitely prolong the life of a person suffering from cancer.

Homeopathy is effective in providing relief from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Mind and Body Treatment focuses on a persons emotions, behaviour and faith. It is believed that a person must maintain a positive attitude and live a life free of mental and emotional stress. Massage and reflexology have also been found to be effective in strengthening cells and promoting the release of anti-cancer hormones in the body. The Mind and Body treatment has been found to be very effective and powerful in dealing with cancer, and perhaps even preventing it.

Nutrition and Diet has been found to be effective in preventing tissue and cell damage and ensuring the proper immune function of the body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been found to be effective in providing relief from the side effects of the conventional treatments of cancer. Practitioners of this form of medicine recommend the use of herbs like Asian Ginseng, Astragalus and Dong Quai.

Article submited By John D. Samara On the behalf of www.childcancerandyou.org

Global cancer concern india is a ngo in india serving cancer suffering people for cure of different types of cancer like child cancer, throat cancer, breast cancer, bone cancer, prostat cancer etc.

For making donationskindly visit www.childcancerandyou.org

Donation for Cancer Patients , Online Donations, Donate Online for Cancer Patients, NGO india

About the author:
John D. Samara is a journalist and presently working in remote areas of asian sub continents for awareness on Cancer. http://www.childcancerandyou.org
Circulated by Article Emporium