About Cancer

FACT: Almost 30,000 men each year die just from prostate cancer

What are the alternatives for treating cancer? Invasive Surgery, chemo therapy, radiation, Gamma Knife, Proton Beam Therapy, "natural cures."

Deeply invasive surgery used to be the only kind of therapy going for things like breast cancer, brain cancer or prostate cancer. Until just recently, most patients took months to recover from even minor invasive surgery for cancer, and some never did recover. The reputation for invasive surgery is so bad that some patients have been known to just give up and die when told "an operation" was their only hope.

When one man's wife had a cancerous lump show up in one breast her doctors insisted that both her breasts be removed so that cancer wouldn't show up unexpectedly in the other one. That was bad enough, but then they insisted that all 6 of their daughters have genetic testing performed "to determine if they also should have both their breasts removed, as a preventative measure!

This is PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE?

Chemo therapy was the next step up from invasive surgery for treating some cancers. I remember seeing the needle slip out on one early patient, and that liquid chemo killer boiled down her arm, leaving a strip of raw skin behind. Chemo is much advanced from that primitive time, thank goodness, but it still works on the same principle: kill everything in sight - and hope that only "good stuff" is regenerated. Today's physicians specializing in applying chemo therapy are also more adept at applying this therapy, and most of them now listen to their patients so that the program may be modified as needed. Cancer is seldom the ONLY problem a patient may have. Having something like: heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, can require many modifications.

Radiation therapy was a huge step forward. At first it worked rather similarly to sticking your head in the microwave where everything inside an area as thick as your fist would get zapped with sizzling bolts of energy - more or less right on the cancer tumors - with the intent to do murder to the black-eyed invader. Even though almost as much of the healthy tissue in surrounding areas was also destroyed, it was still a giant step forward. Today, with rapid advances in modern technology -- and where applicable -- radiation therapy can work wonders.

Gamma Knife: ".. can improve survival rates for patients with malignant brain tumors that cannot be removed through surgery alone. This noninvasive procedure replaces a surgeon's scalpel with 201 precisely focused beams of cobalt gamma radiation, having minimal effect on healthy surrounding tissue. The Gamma Knife has been especially beneficial to patients considered poor surgical candidates due to age, health factors or inability to tolerate general anesthesia. In addition, this advanced technology has been found to be beneficial to children who are candidates for this approach."

The theory behind Proton Beam Therapy is to strike hard at just a small cluster of cancer at a time, and let the body recover between strikes. " -- the patient is exposed (overall) to 500 percent LESS radiation than your traditional X-ray therapy," said Dr. Sameer Keole, a radiation oncologist working at ProCure in Oklahoma City, OK.

Natural cures? Well, they really have helped a lot of people -- but if you really believe in any of them then you should have begun using them long before you knew that your cancer was there. Consult with your physician about possible conflicts before using any natural cures while involved in treating cancer.

Proton Beam Cancer Treatments

SAVES LIVES!

Here's How It Started In The Beginning..

Using high-energy protons for medical treatment was first proposed by scientists in 1946. But it wasn't until 1990 that the first proton therapy facility in Loma Linda California was opened to the public. As the nation's first available, hospital-based proton treatment center for cancer, the Loma Linda University Medical Center still offers proton therapy for prostate, lung and brain cancers. "We treat more patients worldwide than any other center of our kind, having delivered over hundreds of thousands treatments."

No invasive surgery is required with proton beam therapy. Although it is related to radiation therapy for cancer, it is incredibly more precise. That precision of proton beam therapy spares most of the patient's healthy tissue and therefore it results in far fewer - short-term or long-term - side effects in cancer patients. Unlike radiation treatment, protons only travel a specific distance. This allows doctors with the right equipment to control the depth of the radiation and deliver the payload right where it is needed -- without damaging or destroying nearly as much healthy tissue as X-ray beam therapy does. The proton beam process starts by injecting protons into the center of a cyclotron buried beneath the building, where they are met by a series of circular, angled magnets. The magnets are rapidly toggled so as to polarize -- and depolarize -- causing the protons to hurl around in a circle at about two-thirds the speed of light.

From there, the protons are split, generating a beam that flies through a maze of delivery systems throughout the ProCure building.

Isaac Asimov and other science fiction writers of 70 years ago worried about a human backlash against robots as they took over menial, drudge work. They were wrong. There has been no backlash because robots are too precious to waste on menial drudge work. Robots are doing precision work in the medical field that is so sophisticated that human beings might not ever acquire that degree of precision. Consequently, robots are both needed, and appreciated. In fact, there are dreams alive in the medical field for building newer and better robots.

When Chris Chandler was a child he was confined in a hospital for several long weeks. There he dreamed that someday, someday he would improve health care in a major way. That opportunity to make an impact came with Proton Therapy for treating cancer. "In the last 30 years I've never seen anything as exciting as Proton Therapy."In the treatment rooms, the proton beam comes out of a snout-shaped funnel that shoots it through a brass aperture that has been custom-designed for each patient. The apertures are shaped exactly like the brains, prostates, and other body parts, according to which kind of cancer is being zapped.

The biggest problem with Proton therapy seemed to be getting the patient to hold perfectly still while the therapy beam zings its loaded cargo directly into the cancer cells. This problem was solved by molding a board for each patient that fit them perfectly. Movement is not only restricted, movement would invite discomfort. For treating patients with cancer in the brain, a form-fitted mask might be necessary to keep the head from moving about. Consequently, holding perfectly still is a piece of cake for the mature patient. Also patients know that the zap happens so fast they won't feel a thing. The point of entry is so tiny, so narrow that the body can eliminate the dead cells and repair itself quickly.

Depending on the type, size and location of the cancer different delivery systems are required. With one the robot will fire its beams of protons while the delivery system revolves around the patient. This facilitates multiple strikes that are not hampered by bone or cartilage density that might deflect or dissipate the beam of protons. "Now we are developing a chair for newer treatments. These will make the treatment session be much more comfortable, especially for our younger patients," Chris Chandler said.

The newest treatment room at ProCure is the first in the world to provide inclined beam technology. Patients lie down on a board that has been molded to form a perfect fit for their reclining points of contact.

The patient is perfectly still, and a tiny speck of gold that has been permanently implanted in the patient's body then helps to guide the proton beam right to the specified target with uncanny accuracy.

Other facilities are currently in the works.. One in Chicago is expected to be open in November of this year. Another facility in progress is found in New Jersey and is expected to need only 27 months to finish.

Each of them will build on pockets of excellence: Chicago (for example) will focus on treating breast cancer while the one in Oklahoma City is concentrating on prostate cancer and brain cancers -- among other things.

Visionaries like Chris Chandler began putting investment packages together so that other proton beam treatment centers were soon scheduled to be built at great cost and time investments. It wasn't that easy, or quick, to build a working proton beam treatment facility. The one in Pennsylvania took 11 years to build. However, each time a new facility was built, newer and better methods were being learned and so the facility in Florida required only 7 years to build instead of that initial 11. Chris was actively involved in speeding up the construction process.

"The patients are our partners in helping other networks hit the ground running," said Chris. As a result patients would feel like they were an important part of the team and they were dedicated to treating and curing their cancer. Learning from the experiences of the patients involved showed better ways of setting up the reception areas and the service areas. Consequently, construction leaped forward at fast-track speed when Chris became co-founder and Senior Vice President of the ProCure cancer-fighting proton beam therapy facility to be built in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

To facilitate usage of the newest equipment so it could be accessed and utilized in the most efficient manner each room was pre-designed, engineered and pruned around the concept of integrating the comfort of patients and the most modern technology available. The resulting work flow is not only natural but also friendly. Constructing new units now are almost a cookie-cutter operation and construction times have dropped down to just a little more than 2 years.

ProCure, broke the previous world record for construction of a proton beam treatment facility by more than 9 months. Its doors opened on July 8, 2009 From the first shovel to treating the first patient, ProCure was finished in just 27 months of construction and the very latest efficiencies and innovations were built right into the development process - from the design of the center to the training and certification of the medical professionals that would care for ProCure patients. It is the only unit of its kind in Oklahoma and in fact, there are still only 6 others like it, nationwide.

The ProCure facility in Oklahoma City is intricately associated with the very best health care organizations This affords patients with the absolute best options, convenience and equipment for various kinds of treatment -- chemo, radiation, proton beam -- all in one place. Patients who come to the ProCure Center for therapy can take a few, comfortable steps next door to receive all the additional care they might need at the INTEGRIS' state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility.

Meet The Staff,

Yes, the treatment center is equipped with the most advanced proton therapy technology available today and is on the leading edge of doing better. But more importantly, a team of experienced radiation oncologists and highly skilled medical professionals are exceedingly friendly and dedicated to providing the most exceptional patient care team available.

Taking its cue from the extremely successful proton treatment operation in Loma Linda California, ProCure has assembled teams of naturally cheerful staff that work to create an environment of warm, fuzzy wonderfulness with each patient.

As soon as patients enter the building a member of the team comes hurrying out to greet each one by name with either a delighted hug or a warm and friendly handshake. The stress seen in many cancer treatment waiting rooms is replaced here by buoyant confidence to the point where success is expected, not just prayed for, though prayers are always welcome.

John Henderson, Chief Operating Officer at the Oklahoma City ProCure site says: "To get on any one of our teams at ProCure, applicants will be meeting for deep interviews in each department. Before they are hired, most of our applicants will be interviewed face-to-face by up to 6 team leaders. We are looking for staff members that can meet patients with a real smile of welcome, someone that patients will know instinctively are genuinely good people, determined to do everything in their power to keep patients comfortable and cheerful. You can't fake that kind of attitude through 6 long interviews to get the job or maintain it on the job."

Any eye will notice that the frightening stress level seen in many cancer treatment waiting rooms is replaced by buoyant confidence at ProCure. In the 5 weeks that I've been coming to ProCure to support my friend I have never seen anyone finish a small drink before a team rep is out there, picking them up, urging them to come on in and complete their daily treatment. Laughing, joking, secure, all the patients feel right at home here, and safe.

For shepherds, family and friends of the patient the waiting room offers three kinds of chairs -- and several recliners -- for friends and family of the patients for the typical treatment that only lasts about 20 minutes at the most. One chair even rotates so visitors can choose to face the light, or the soft music. Coffee, pure water, several kinds of tea, and various juices are available to quench the thirst. Titles for the small library run from coffee table picture books to violent murder and mass mayhem, but you will also see a large selection of titles that explain cancer for the layman. A large variety of magazines is within reach of almost every seat.

Every Wednesday at noon the ProCure patients in Oklahoma City meet for the purpose of graduating cancer patients back into the normal world. Impromptu entertainment is often furnished by the patients and galvanizingly funny humor is the order of the day from the departing alumni.

We had 3 graduates recently that received their parchment of successful completion and big coins with their graduating sequence numbers on them. Each of the coins presented to graduates is almost twice as big as silver dollars used to be a hundred years ago. Each sequentially numbered coin is struck especially for ProCure. The basic design has symbols and emblems intended to be an inspiration for the graduates for many years to come.

Two graduates remembered their support teams with a fondness usually reserved only to those that pass through enemy fire together. The third graduate was a tiny babe so small he was still dressed in swaddling clothing. His mother spoke for him, saying that now he would have a chance for a normal life. His mother personally thanked each member of his team that was present.

A returning graduate said he started therapy with a PSA of 16.1 Now his PSA is so low it almost can't be measured. INCREDIBLE!

Another recent "graduate" from Procure was a 5 year old that came in with 'incurable' cancer and was weakly confined to a wheel chair. Just a few days after graduation his happy parents reported that he was outside playing kickball with his siblings.

The results and success rates are astounding. I have watched my best friend revive from "barely able to walk" daily improve to the "Let's go hiking!" level in just a matter of weeks. I have made 6 new friends that gravitated to ProCure to keep cancer from destroying their life. They too have began reviving in about the same time frame. You can almost feel the excitement in the air the very minute you step through the door. Success at ProCure is not just prayed for, it is expected.

Medical practitioners may request general information about ProCure treatments by calling 888-847-2640.

Anyone that feels an urge to become a patient at ProCure should first ask their personal physicians for a preliminary study to see if proton therapy is an indicated treatment option for their cancer. They may then request a consultation by calling (888) 847-2640

Newsletters, Magazines and newspapers may use this article to be published for free if it is published under the "Lin Stone" byline. Please use the contact email address or call him at 1 405-360-0028

THE END.

Colon cancer is one the most prevalent forms of cancer among the American population. Although inappropriate diet and unhealthy lifestyle considerably increase the risks of developing colon cancer, many forms of the disease occur on the premises of underlying genetic predispositions. Statistics reveal that more than 5 percent of colon cancers worldwide are caused solely by genetic dysfunctions and physiologic abnormalities. Depending on their underlying cause, colon cancers can be either acquired (sporadic colon cancers), or genetically-inherited.

Most cases of colon cancer occur due to formation of polyps in different regions of the large bowel (colon). Colonic polyps are prominent soft tissues that can easily become malignant. There are many different types of hereditary colon cancers and many of them are primarily caused by colonic polyps. The most common types of genetically-inherited colon cancers are adenomatous polyposis and Gardner's syndrome. Non-polyposis colon cancer is also common among hereditary forms of the disease. Unlike other types of genetically-inherited colon cancers, non-polyposis colon cancer doesn't always involve the formation of polyps. Uncommon forms of hereditary colon cancer are Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and juvenile polyposis.

Unlike non-hereditary forms of colon cancer, which are usually developed by people with ages over 50, hereditary colon cancers can occur in young people as well. In fact, some forms of genetically-inherited colon cancers are predominantly developed by very young children and teenagers.

People who have a family history of colon cancer should pay regular visits to an oncologist, as it is very important to timely reveal the signs of large bowel disease in order to maximize the chances of recovery. Discovered in its incipient stages, colon cancer can be effectively overcome through the means of surgical intervention or specific therapies. However, if colon cancer is discovered late, patients' prognosis is generally uncertain.

Colonoscopy is a very common and reliable method of revealing traces of colon cancer in patients. Through the means of colonoscopy, doctors can quickly spot potential signs of abnormalities at the level of the large bowel. Colonoscopy is very useful in the process of diagnosing hereditary or sporadic forms of colon cancer, as it can easily reveal the presence of malignant colonic polyps or extended tumors. People who have blood-relatives affected by colon cancer are very exposed to developing the disease as well. Thus, they should receive frequent examinations with colonoscopy in order to timely discover signs of malignant activity at the level of the large bowel.

Both acquired (sporadic) and hereditary colon cancers are life-threatening diseases and they need to be discovered as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of morbidity. Colon cancers have an unpredictable pattern of evolution and their development is strongly influenced by genetically-inherited abnormalities. While lifestyle improvements and healthy diet can diminish the risks of developing sporadic colon cancer, people with underlying physiological abnormalities of the large bowel are very vulnerable to developing hereditary colon cancer regardless of their actions.

There are many known facts and a great deal of fiction about what causes cancer- and most people will know a little of both, most families have experienced cancer near at hand so its not surprising that people have gathered information along the way, picked up from word of mouth, the television and magazines, unfortunately, not all information passes around is entirely accurate and the myths that circulate can result in people believing wrongly about the causes and control of the disease. Well in this article I'm going to give you some real facts about cancer so you can be certain and not listen to all the myths going around.

This may cause people to suffer unnecessary guilt and anxiety about whether or not they caused their own cancer and about how the course of the illness will run, for example, it is commonly supposed that having cancer implies a lingering and painful death, which is not true.

Understanding the facts about cancer

Cancer is not one but different diseases with different causes: for example, chemicals in tobacco smoke cause lung cancer but these do not cause breast cancer.

Cancers are caused by substances known as carcinogens: materials that are found commonly in the environment to which our bodies are exposed, over a period of time. Two centuries ago a man named Percival Potts linked the development of cancer of the scrotum to chimney sweeps but it was not until the twentieth century that scientists found a carcinogen in soot.

Studies by scientists over the years have shown that certain groups of people are more prone to some kinds of cancers than other people, genetics (family history) and environmental issues both play a part in this disease pattern.

Cancer rates differ in countries around the world, by comparing Japanese people with people in the UK it is known that the Japanese death rate for stomach cancer is double that of people in England and Wales, whist the death rate for breast cancer is very much higher in the UK

There is sufficient, proven evidence available to accurately pinpoint the cause of some cancers deriving from what people eat, their behaviour, how they live and the relationship with their work, for example, asbestos is known work-related carcinogen.

Unfortunately people seem to remember the fiction rather than the fact and this can increase their anxiety. If you are unclear, ask the medical team to repeat the information.

Myths of cancer

Cancer always means a premature death, Correction: No, a diagnosis of cancer does not always mean a death sentence, particularly if the tumour is found at an early stage. Many types of cancer that were incurable 20 years ago are now completely treatable

Cancer is caused by injuries such as knocks and bumps, Correction: This is definitely not true; however, there is a slight connection in that a painful knock may make the person more aware of the tender area and that leads to them feeling a lump that was already there.

Cancer is contagious, meaning it can be caught from someone else by touching them or giving them a hug, Correction: it is impossible to catch most cancers through everyday contact with another person do don't be afraid to visit friends and relatives in hospital and give them a special hug of comfort

Cancer is hereditary in families, Correction: few types of cancer are hereditary, some rare forms of can be inherited

Cancer is caused by stress, Correction: There is no evidence that links the development of cancer to any mental or emotional upset

Women are more at risk of developing cancer than men, Correction: figures show that the risks are similar and the main types of cancer are the same. Men and women die fairly equally from cancers of the stomach, large intestine and pancreas. The differences is found in the cancers linked to specific, gender- related organs, such as the prostate gland in men and ovaries or womb in women.

If you are in any doubt with facts about cancer and you are not quite sure about them you can always contact a health care professional for their advice.

There's no denying it: the chemicals that make up skin-care products give us females a boost in self-esteem and appearance-and make us smell nice. But over the years research studies have suggested that at certain exposure levels, some of these ingredients may contribute to cancer development in humans.

Because cosmetics contain a variety of chemicals, it's unlikely that one specific chemical will be identified as a definite cause of cancer. Still, many chemicals in skin-care products disrupt hormones. These disruptors block or mimic hormones such as estrogen, throwing off the body's hormonal balance. Because estrogen can make hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer grow, many women seek toiletries that limit their exposure to chemicals that act like estrogen.

While many ingredients go into cosmetics and personal-care products, two groups of chemicals are being studied for links to breast cancer:

- Parabens (for example, methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben) are chemicals commonly used to preserve cosmetic products, including makeup, moisturizers, hair-care products, personal lubricants, and shaving creams (most major brands of antiperspirants and deodorants don't contain parabens). Parabens are absorbed through the skin and exhibit weak estrogen-like properties. And some conditions that increase the body's exposure to estrogen (like not having children, late menopause, obesity, etc.) have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

- Phthalates (for example, DEP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP) are chemicals commonly used to hold color and reduce brittleness in nail polish and hair spray. Fragrances in personal-care and cleaning products also contain them. As hormone disrupters, phthalates do not mimic estrogen, but they can disrupt the balance of other hormones that interact with estrogen, including testosterone.

The Controversy

In 2004 U.K. researchers found evidence of parabens in breast cancer tumor samples. This study added clout to an already popular belief that the parabens in underarm deodorants and sunscreen can move into breast tissue and fuel the growth of malignancies.

No direct evidence of a causal link between parabens and cancer, however, has been shown since then. A 2005 review of the data available at that time concluded that parabens would not increase the risk of any estrogen-mediated endpoint, including effects on breast cancer and that we are exposed to many phytoestrogens already in our diet that are naturally occurring endocrine-active chemicals.

The American Cancer Society agrees that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support a claim that use of cosmetics such as antiperspirants increases an individual's risk of developing breast cancer. Specifically, they note the following about the 2004 study:

- The researchers looked only for the presence of parabens in breast cancer samples. The study did not show that parabens caused breast cancer development in these cases - it only showed that they were there.

- Although parabens do have weak estrogen-like properties, the estrogens made in the body are hundreds to many thousands-fold stronger. So, natural estrogens (or those taken as hormone replacement) are much more likely to play a role in breast cancer development.

- Parabens are widely used as preservatives in shampoo, lotions, other cosmetics, and even foods. This study did not investigate the source of the parabens found in the breast tissue - it's not clear if they came from antiperspirants or some other source.

A review in 2008 mined various studies for answers to the following questions:

- Are there experimental or biological arguments supporting a potential link between the use of deodorants/antiperspirants and breast cancer?

- Does the use of deodorants/antiperspirants have any effect on the increase in the risk of breast cancer?

- Could a causal relationship between the use of deodorants/antiperspirants and breast cancer be accepted?

Their findings? "No scientific evidence to support the hypothesis was identified and no validated hypothesis appears likely to open the way to interesting avenues of research."

Many women's and environmental health advocacy groups disagree. As do many breast cancer survivors who blog about or otherwise address the subject. They take issue with conclusions that cosmetics harboring parabens and phthalates pose little or no hazard to the public. They note that while current studies do not causally link parabens with tumors, neither do these studies demonstrate that parabens are safe.

Women's Voices for the Earth, a women's environmental justice group from Montana, launched a campaign seeking the removal of toxic chemicals from beauty and skin products. As a result, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics emerged as a coalition to pressure the cosmetics industry to phase out the use of chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens. Specifically, this coalition has developed a voluntary agreement called the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Companies that sign the compact agree to make all their products "free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation, or birth defects." If a product is made from a chemical on a suspect list, the company will develop a plan to replace that chemical with a safer alternative within three years and publicly report its progress. The slogan of their campaign, "Because We're Worth It!" was meant to prick the conscience of those who disregard women's health concerns for the sake of profit.

Countering this movement, unsurprisingly, is the mainstream cosmetic industry. They argue that parabens, like most cosmetic ingredients, are safe based on their long-term use and safety record and recent scientific studies.

Larger Studies Needed

The American Cancer Society has concluded that larger studies are needed to find out what effect, if any, parabens might have on breast cancer risk.

Toxicologist Philip W. Harvey, PhD, also calls for more research into the safety of parabens in cosmetics that may spur growth of estrogen-dependent tumors. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence of a harmful effect," he told WebMD in 2004. "These chemicals are being directly applied daily, by very large numbers of people, and the long-term health effects of exposure are essentially unknown."

Risk Minimal?

American Cancer Society epidemiologist Michael Thun, MD, says even if the parabens do promote estrogen-dependent tumor growth, the risk from cosmetic use is "minuscule" compared with other known tumor promoters. Dr. Harvey cited animal studies suggesting that paraben exposure is 500 to 10,000 times less potent as a tumor promoter than taking oral estrogen or being obese. "The risk at an individual level is tiny, compared to other known risks," Thun told WebMD.

Thun advises people not to worry about using antiperspirants, but adds that regulators must take these findings seriously when reviewing the safety of consumer products. "If this substance is in multiple cosmetics and is being absorbed through the skin, it needs to be looked at more closely," he said.

FDA Stance

In response to public health concerns regarding parabens in cosmetics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reassessed the appropriateness of the use of parabens in consumer products. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), of which the FDA is a non-voting member, concluded that due to the very low levels of parabens contained in consumer products, it was "implausible that parabens could increase the risk associated with exposure to estrogenic chemicals."

Currently the FDA takes the position that parabens do not pose a health concern for consumers. However, they will reevaluate this stance if new evidence emerges that contradicts the current evidence.

Steps You Can Take

To reduce your exposure to parabens and phthalates in cosmetics, many groups advise the following:

- Visit the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) "Skin Deep" website to search for cosmetic products. Each is given a hazard score based on the ingredients' links to cancer, allergies, and other issues. The EWG is a U.S.-based environmental health advocacy organization.

- Search the website of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics for companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and learn about the products they make.

My Take

I wish there were simple answers. With all the distress caused by the controversy, I wonder, as one article title expresses, can rumor cause cancer? Are we overly stressed when told to avoid so many things in everyday life? Do we breast cancer survivors who struggle in a weak economy find ourselves in a Catch 22 by either paying extra for natural cosmetics (as well as organic foods) or facing possible recurrence?

Should the American Cancer Society only partner with companies who have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics in their "Look Good...Feel Better Program"? I pose the question without a clear answer, since this free program has helped so many cancer patients (including me) with their self-esteem.

Because I have been through cancer twice, my personal motto is "Why take a chance?" If I have the money to spend, I shop for skin-care products without parabens and phthalates, often buying online to read more easily the ingredient list. I also pass up those small bottles of shampoo, conditioner and hand lotion that hotels offer as amenities, not only for environmental reasons, but for my own cancer-free peace of mind.

But I'm also practical and do realize that many factors in my environment can contribute to breast cancer recurrence, and that parabens and phthalates are only possible culprits. Those who can't afford to pay or look for products free of these chemicals should not feel guilty or anxious by using regular cosmetics. Maybe the compromise is to use them less often or in smaller amounts. As one wise aphorist once noted: All things in moderation.

What produces a lung cancer diagnosis? The physician evaluates a person's medical history, smoking history, exposure to environmental and occupational substances, and family history of cancer as well as a physical examination and chest X-ray to find the cause of the symptoms. Other tests may also be performed as needed.

Patient's history - If the doctor suspects lung cancer, they will: Investigate your medical history; Perform a thorough physical examination; Order further specialized medical tests. As part of your medical history, your doctor will ask: If you smoke or have smoked previously; Your occupation and

place of work; If you have been exposed to occupational hazardous substances or radiation; Whether you have a family history of lung cancer.

Diagnosing Lung Cancer
Screening helps to discover cancer at an earlier stage when it is treatable by a series of tests performed before a person shows any symptoms. Early detection of abnormal tissue or cancer proves favorable of curing the cancer completely as opposed to detection during symptoms when the cancer might have spread.

There are several ways of diagnosing if someone is in the early stages of lung cancer. A physical examination and history taking: A physical examination checking for general signs of health or ill health such as disease and unusual lumps, bumps and anything else that seems atypical. The doctor will also get the history of personal health habits, any past illnesses and treatments given for those illnesses.

Laboratory tests: Procedures for testing samples of tissue, blood, urine, and other substances in the body. The tests will also help to diagnose the disease as well as assist in the planning, management and monitoring of it.

Sputum test: This can show evidence of cancer cells in the lungs. To ensure a more accurate diagnosis with a single sputum collection, the sputum is usually collected over a three-day period.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy: An examination using a small flexible lighted tube to pass into the nasal canal and then into the appropriate bronchus (airway) down to the cancer. If cancer is detected then a small piece of the cancer is removed for a biopsy examination so the exact type of cancer can be determined and appropriate treatment given.

Percutaneous needle biopsy: This examination involves inserting a thin needle through the skin and chest wall into the tumor. This test is for tumors that are close to the surface of the lung and often used in conjunction with a CAT scan to assists in guiding the needle into the tumor.

Excision or surgical removal: This process can lead to further diagnosis of the suspected tumor via a small incision into the chest. A small thin video camera is inserted into the chest to assist in removing a small block of lung tissue using a mechanical surgical stapling device or laser with this clinical procedure.

Mediastinoscopy: This test helps evaluate how extensive the tumor is by looking into the mid portion of the chest through a small incision made just below the collar line. Samples are taken from the lymph nodes in the central part of the chest (mediastinum). The chance of surgically curing the lung cancer is automatically eliminated if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

Mediastinotomy: Unlike mediastinoscopy, the chest cavity is opened by cutting through the sternum (breastbone) and/or the ribs allowing the surgeon to reach and test more lymph nodes by removing samples of mediastinal lymph nodes. This is a complex test, and the patient has to undergo general anaesthesia.

Thoracentesis: A sample of fluid surrounding the lungs is taken using a needle to check for cancer cells.

Thoracotomy: To test for malignancy the chest wall has to be opened so this procedure is performed in hospital as a major operation.

Thoracoscopy: A procedure using a thin, lighted tube connected to a video camera to monitor and view the space between the lungs and the chest wall.

Bone marrow biopsy: With a needle a sample of bone is removed usually measuring about 1/16 inch across and 1 inch long. This is often taken from the back of the hip bone. Microscopically the sample is checked for cancer cells. This procedure is performed predominantly to diagnose small cell lung cancer.

Blood tests: A complete blood test checks for an accurate number of different cell types by showing whether you have anaemia or other related problems. Blood chemistry tests show abnormalities in organs and other parts of the body. Blood tests are repeated regularly especially if someone is undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy drugs affect the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and sometimes cause lots of problematic side effects. If cancer has spread to the liver and bones, it might cause certain chemical abnormalities in the blood and exacerbate any problems already suffered by the patient.

Other Tests and Procedures to Detect Lung Cancer Include:

Chest x-ray: Chest x-rays account for about half of all x-rays obtained in hospitals. The x-rays are typically performed to obtain an assessment of the lungs, heart and chest wall. A chest x-ray is the first test a physician will order to look for any tumor or spots on the lungs. If it is normal there is a high probably there is no lung cancer, but if anything suspicious is spotted, the doctor will order further tests. Pneumonia, heart failure, emphysema, other medical conditions, and lung cancer can all be located with a chest x-ray.

CT Scanning or Computed Tomography also known as CT or CAT Scan: This equipment is to obtain multiple cross-sectional images of organs and tissues of the body. A CAT scan is especially useful for diagnosing tumors as it is far more detailed than a conventional chest x-ray. It shows different types of body tissue including the lungs, heart, bones, soft tissues, muscle, and blood vessels at the same time.

Modern CT scans capture images of the chest from many different angles using a method called spiral (or helical) CT. With the assistance of a computer, it processes the images to create cross-sectional pictures or "slices" of the area causing concern. The images can then be printed out or examined on a monitor. To achieve a better picture, after the first set of scans are taken an intravenous injection of a radio-contrast agent is administered to help outline the structures within the body. A second set of pictures is then taken so they can be examined together.

Information on the size, shape, and position of a tumor are provided by the CT scan. This helps discover any enlarged lymph nodes, which could contain cancer, which has spread from the lung. When looking for early lung cancers and to ensure patients receive the treatment they need as soon as possible, CT scans are much more sensitive than an ordinary routine chest x-ray. In looking for tumors in the adrenal glands, brain, and other internal organs usually affected by lung cancer spread a CT scan is also useful.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy released from the radio waves is absorbed and re-released in a pattern shaped by the type of tissue and the disease being investigated.

A pattern of radio waves is given by the tissues and organs forming very detailed images of the parts of the body using a very sophisticated computer. This can also produce slices parallel with the length of the body just as a CT scanner produces cross sectional slices of the body.

Positron emission tomography (PET): This scan uses glucose, which is a form of sugar containing a radioactive atom. Large amounts of radioactive sugar are absorbed by the cancer cells and a special camera is then able to detect the radioactivity.

To discover if someone is suffering from early stage lung cancer a PET scan is a very useful test. It is often used to discover if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. PET scans are valuable in ascertaining whether a shadow on a chest x-ray is cancer or not. PET scans are also helpful when a doctor thinks the cancer has spread, but isn't sure where the spread may be.

Because PET scans scan your whole body sometime they are used instead of several different x-rays. Bone scans: A radioactive substance (usually technetium diphosphonate) is injected into a vein. The radioactive substance builds up in bone areas suspected of having cancer metastasis, (spread). Due to the small amount of radioactivity used this does not cause any long-term effects.

Bone scan results need to be read in conjunction with results of other tests performed as other bone diseases can also cause abnormal scan results. Bone scans are usually performed on patients with small cell lung cancer and also in non-small cell lung cancer patients when other test results or symptoms suggest the cancer has spread to the bones - lung cancer diagnosis

Cancer prevention is not some kind of rocket science. It is easier than you may think. Cancer prevention involves changing habits, especially the bad ones. It means making significant lifestyle changes. Cancer prevention is an important and active area of public health research. Cancer prevention and risk-reduction strategies can greatly lower the physical, emotional, and financial burden of cancer and improve the overall health of cancer survivors, including lowering the risk of the cancer coming back or the formation of a second cancer. Cancer prevention research in the Department of Foods and Nutrition has been ongoing from many years, however recently the strength of this area has grown.

Cancer

Cancer is not something that happens to someone else. Cancer is not something to pussyfoot around with. Cancer has been around as long as mankind, but only in the second half of the 20th century did the number of cancer cases explode. Cancer thrives on sugar and refined grains. Cancer grows rapidly where there is low oxygenation of cells. Observational evidence shows associations between alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and obesity and increased incidence of certain cancers. Remember, the more underlying conditions causing cancer that you correct, the better your chances of beating it.

Prevention

Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer. Prevention means avoiding the risk factors and increasing the protective factors that can be controlled so that the chance of developing cancer decreases. Prevention of cancer is always better than spending lots for its curing.

Research

Researchers have found that carotenoids in dark green leafy vegetables are effective in inhibiting the formation of breast and skin cancer tumors, and preventing lung and stomach cancer. Research shows that you can greatly reduce your risk of developing cancer by not smoking/stopping smoking, being sun smart, eating healthy and being physically active Drinking less. Research suggests that up to 35 percent of cancers are related to poor diet. According to research, only 60 percent of women follow breast cancer screening guidelines, 30 percent of men and women follow colon cancer screening recommendations, and only 40 percent of men regularly get tested for prostate cancer.

Supplements

Supplements aid your body to make it more healthy and leave it up to the body to take care of the cancer. Supplements can make up for this by giving the body a consistent supply of essential compounds. Supplements While some supplements may help, nutrients from foods prove more effective. If a doctor is not tied in and blinded by the medical/drug industry, he or she finds that a comprehensive approach to fighting cancer using powerful supplements that deal with the many different issues in cancer, works much better than only using drugs and other treatments that harm the body. Not using natural supplements to fight cancer is like being in a life and death struggle, and choosing to fight with one hand tied behind your back.

Cancer prevention does not have to be a hard task. Cancer prevention is a lifelong plan including smart choices in our day to day lives. Cancer prevention is important to having a long and healthy life, and it is something not to take lightly. Cancer prevention and early detection begins with knowing your cancer risk; then, doing something about it. Cancer prevention is a life- long commitment to a long- life of healthy living and it's never too late to start.

Breast cancer is growth of abnormal breast cells and this can be caused by damage to DNA which is the brain of the cell. This leads to the cells mutating several times which in turn leads to them being out of control. DNA damage can be caused by radiation, genetic defects, free radicals, electrical fields, chemicals, drugs, metabolic stress or viruses and it is this damage that precipitates the cancer.

The mutations mount up and turn on oncogenes which are often diagnosed as atypia, dysplasia, or hyperplasia and are not always cancerous. The damaged cells are not really any threat to life without a catalyst to promote them. Oestrogen for example is a promoter of breast cancer as it brings nutrients to the cells. Most things that promote the cancer are eaten and slip by hidden and the promoted cells are called carcinomas. Some research does show that these cells can exist without causing life threatening cancer and sometimes are reversible without invasive treatment.

Cancer cells are not invasive unless they spread out in the surrounding tissues and form a tumour. This means they are fed by the blood and start to grow. This is what is known as an invasive carcinoma. It is possible that individual cancer cells can separate from the tumour and travel to other parts of the body however a breast cancer that stays in the breast may not be life-threatening. No one is to know however when the cells reach a stage where they start to travel.

If the breast cancer cells get to the liver, lungs, bone marrow, or the brain and continue to grow then of course they will be life threatening. The body tries to stop the cells spreading by locking breast cancer cells into lymph nodes and sending immune system cells out to consume the travelling cancer cells. If cancer cells however are in the axillary lymph nodes then the cancer is aggressive or metastasized carcinoma. 90% of cancer deaths are from these metastases.

The good news is that not everyone with damaged DNA will get cancer because the cells do have the capacity to repair themselves or shut down. A healthy lifestyle, good nutrition and supplements may sometimes stop damage.

Raised immunity has the capacity to eat potential cancer. Our system already has special immunity cells in it because the way we live often causes cells in the body to mutate in some way even when we are healthy. So the stronger the immune system the more these mutated cells are thrown out of the system but building immunity is sometimes not enough because cancer cells often trick our immune system into not attacking them. Because cancer cells are full of life and don't die off like other cells the body often does not recognise them.

There are many different kinds of breast cancer because there are lots of cells that can 'go wrong' such as ducts, lobes etc. Most breast cancers however start in the duct cells. Slow growth cancers can double in size every 42-100 days and quick growing breast cancers can double every 21 days Post-menopausal women, who account for 60-80 percent of all breast cancer cases, usually have slow-growing cancers which rarely metastasize. These statistics however are what makes breast cancer so scary.

A microscopic examination of cellular tissue can diagnose the cancer. The first breast surgery is usually a biopsy which is taken when there is something suspicious on a mammogram or a lump. There is no other way to rule out cancer. If further surgery is needed then a pathologist needs to investigate the cancerous cells to determine the treatment. A number of pathologists will usually form an opinion.

Lymph glands are often removed from the armpit to work out which stage the cancer is at but this can cut some of the nerves to the arm and research shows that it does nothing to treat or cure breast cancer. It can cause numbness, pain, slow circulation, swelling and increase infection risk and a lack of cancer cells in the lymph nodes doesn't necessarily mean that the cancer hasn't metastasized. A positive finding means that it is somewhere else in the body as well.

Treatment is often to remove the tumour, use radiation to eliminate any other cancer cells in the breast, chemotherapy to kill other cancer cells in the body. However if one has chemo the possibility exists that some cancer cells survive, mutate and become immune to any further chemo. The chemo also sometimes affects hormones such as tamoxifen which is used to check metastatic growth.

Alternative treatments for breast cancer include caustic poultices to burn the cells away, nourishing and stimulating treatments to build immunity and a detox to eliminate cancers in the whole body. Exercise and specific nutrition is important as well as supplements such as phyt-oestrogens, energy healing, Reiki and counselling on an emotional level to attempt to prevent it recurring.

It is also important to buy your pink ribbon each year until such a time that we have overcome this scourge that has not only debilitated so many powerful, wonderful people but also killed so many.

And whilst on the subject of the big "C" don't forget Ovarian cancer. A pap test will not detect ovarian cancer so we need to be on our guard. Symptoms to watch for are pelvic or abdominal discomfort and pain or discomfort, strange but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as wind, nausea, indigestion, frequent and urgent urinating when you don't have an infection, unexplained weight gain or loss, pelvic or abdominal swelling, bloating and feeling full, ongoing fatigue and unexplained changes in bowel movements. If you have a number of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks get a pelvic / rectal exam, CA-125 blood test, and transvaginal ultrasound to make sure you do no have Ovarian cancer!

In recent years, scientists have given much attention to natural and alternative therapies for preventing and treating cancer. One of the most promising natural remedies is green tea. In study after study, green tea has been shown to prevent heart disease and several forms of cancer.

Green tea first gained notice because of the significantly lower incidence of many serious illnesses in the Asian culture. Asians consume large amounts of green tea, and have a far lower risk of heart disease and many forms of cancer. Consider, for example, the statistics on lung cancer. Japanese men have a significantly lower risk of both heart disease and lung cancer than American men, even though 75% of them are smokers.

Asian cultures also have lower risks of breast cancer and almost all forms of digestive system cancer. They are less likely to suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure, too. It's almost certain that their green tea consumption has an effect on their health.

But, why is green tea such a health protector? Well, the answer seems to be in its powerful anti-oxidants. Research has proven that anti-oxidants are one of the most important keys to preventing cancer and many other diseases.

Green tea, like other forms of tea, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea differs from black tea because of its processing. Black tea is fermented during processing; green tea is not. This difference is important because the lack of fermentation leaves the tea's anti-oxidants in their more natural state, which makes them healthier and more protective.

Anti- oxidants are important because they combat free radicals in our bodies. These free radicals are created when converting the food we eat to energy. If they are not kept in check, they damage our cells and DNA. This leads to a higher risk of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Anti-oxidants seem to have a scavenging effect on abnormal body cells, which scientists believe is the key to them preventing cancer. The anti-oxidants may rid the body of these rogue cells before they can develop into something more dangerous, like cancer cells.

There have been dozens of studies linking green tea with different forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and esophageal cancer. However, until recently, there has not been any evidence that green tea can prevent ovarian cancer.

However, one study reported by the UK Tea Council, over 60,000 Swedish women were examined and interviewed regarding their dietary habits, including their consumption of green tea. The women were between the ages of 40 and 76. The study followed the women for over 15 years, and concluded the following:

o The women who drank green tea on a regular basis were far less likely to develop ovarian cancer

o The more tea a woman consumed, the lower her risk. In fact, each additional cup of green tea per day above 2 decreased risk by an additional 18%

This is very promising news for women. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women (not counting skin cancer). It is the fifth most common cancer death in women. It is estimated that about 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed this year and about 15,000 women will die this year from this form of cancer.

The rate of this cancer is reducing. The American Cancer Society reports that the incidence of ovarian cancer has gone down about 0.07 percent each year since 1985. Most victims of this form of cancer are over the age of 55, and it is slightly more common in Caucasian women than women of other ethnicities.

If green tea can help reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer, this is a simple way for women to protect their health. Reproductive cancers can be particularly frightening to women, and we are regularly looking for ways to prevent them.

It's important for all women to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Both of these are very important to preventing all kinds of disease. In addition, it's critical to have regular gynecological care. Women who regularly visit their gynecologist and get routine testing as often as the doctor recommends are taking important steps in protecting their reproductive health.

Many reproductive problems, including cervical and ovarian cancer often do not show symptoms until they are far advanced, when they are much more difficult to treat. So, seeing your doctor regularly can help ensure that problems are detected early on, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

And, try some green tea. There's no downside to adding green tea to your diet. It's healthy and delicious and has no side effects. You can drink it hot or cold, and today it's easy to find it in a variety of flavors.

In addition, green tea extract is available in tablet form, so that you can get an even higher dose of green tea each day. You certainly have nothing to lose by adding green tea to your diet and you may be gaining a long healthy life!

Cancer is a complex, devastating illness which is responsible for the deaths of millions of people each year. For decades, scientists have been attempting to uncover some of the secrets of cancer in order to find a cure. While, so far, a cure has been out of reach, there appear to be some natural remedies which can prevent or slow cancer growth. One of those remedies is a beverage which is commonplace in many Asian households--tea.

The History of an Anti-Cancer Tool

Tea has been a dietary staple for 500,000 years. People in India and China appear to be among the first to have enjoyed this beloved beverage. But it's one variety in particular--Camellia sinensis--which appears to have a number of health benefits associated with it. That variety is also known as green tea.

What Makes Green Tea Special

Green tea is unique in that it is produced from unfermented leaves and it contains a high concentration of polyphenols, which are chemicals that can serve as antioxidants. Antioxidants are essentially on a search-and-destroy mission against free radicals, compounds which compromise DNA and destroy cells. Free radicals are often to blame for the development of cancer as well as heart disease. The antioxidants immobilize free radicals and inhibit the damage often associated with them.

Medicinal Uses of Green Tea

For years, Asians have used green tea to promote a healthy lifestyle. It helps to promote good digestion, improve concentration, and promote the excretion of urine. In addition, a number of studies in human beings, animals, and in laboratories suggest that green tea can be effective in combating a number of ailments.

Green Tea's Effect on Cancer of the Pancreas and Colon

In an article entitled, "Green Tea Consumption and the Risk of Pancreatic and Colorectal Cancers," researchers B.T. Ji, W.H. Chow, A.W. Hsing, J.K. McLaughlin, Q. Dai, Y.T. Gao, W.J. Blot, and J.F. Fraumeni, Jr. examined the question of green tea's effectiveness as an antidote to certain types of cancers.

The Columbia University researchers conceded that the effect of green tea on cancer risk is uncertain, although a number of animal studies seem to indicate a positive effect.

In order to test the hypothesis that drinking green tea can, in fact, lessen cancer risk, the researchers conducted an extensive study in Shanghai, China in order to see whether green tea consumption had any impact on cancers of the colon, rectum, and pancreas.

The research team found that the greater the consumption of green tea, the lesser the risk of cancer. As a result, it appears that green tea may, in fact, lower the incidence of both colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Yet, it should be noted that other similar studies have produced conflicting results. As a result, scientists recommend additional research before a definitive statement can be made about green tea as a colorectal cancer prevention tool.

As far as pancreatic cancer is concerned, another study showed that those individuals who consumed the most green tea were far less likely to develop the disease. It appears that the reduced risk is most pronounced in women, who cut their pancreatic cancer rate in half by drinking large amounts of green tea.

In contrast, male green tea drinkers were 37 percent less likely to develop the disease. However, it should be noted that it is impossible to tell from this particular study whether green tea was solely responsible for cutting pancreatic cancer risk.

Green Tea and Other Cancers

But what about other cancers? How effective has green tea been in preventing other forms of the disease? To begin with, cancer rates are often lower in Japan and other nations where green tea consumption is high. Animal studies also indicate that the polyphenols in green tea are effective antioxidants which kill cancerous cells, stopping them in their tracks.

A study of bladder cancer patients found that those who consumed green tea had a much better five-year survival rate than cancer patients who did not drink the beverage. In addition, animal studies appear to confirm that the chemicals in green tea stop the growth of breast cancer cells.

One study of nearly 500 women with breast cancer found that those who drank green tea did not see their cancer spread as much as those who did not consume green tea. Yet, those who were in the later stages of breast cancer who drank green tea saw little or no improvement in their condition.

Animal studies also indicate that green tea can prevent the growth of cancer cells in the esophagus. But studies in human beings have yielded mixed results. For instance, one study showed that green tea could help prevent esophageal cancer--especially in women, while another indicated that the tea could actually increase the incidence of such cancer.

Consequently, additional research is needed before scientists can determine conclusively whether green tea can act as a cancer preventative.

The effects of green tea on lung and prostate cancer remain unclear. However, the beverage does seem to prevent the onset of skin cancer. There is also some evidence to suggest that it can inhibit the growth of stomach cancer cells.

It appears that green tea may be effective in the fight against inflammatory bowel disease. This is significant because people who suffer from this disease are at a greater risk for colon cancer. Specifically, green tea appears to reduce the inflammation characteristic of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, two forms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Green Tea and Chemotherapy

There have been lab tests to indicate that green tea can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and tamoxifen. But the positive effect has not yet been demonstrated in studies of human beings. In fact, green tea and green tea extracts are not recommended for prostate cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.

The Final Word

Although scientific studies at this point are not altogether conclusive, there is strong evidence to suggest that green tea can be effective in preventing cancer. That may be particularly true for colorectal and pancreatic cancers. At this point, a number of doctors agree that, for most people, the health benefits of drinking green tea far outweigh the risks.

Many folks have the mistaken impression that cancer is a dangerous enemy that rarely strikes, but when it does so, it attacks with rapid and lethal power. In fact, researchers agree that cancer cells emerge in our bodies all the time, and are the result of simple errors in the reproduction of normal body cells. In most cases, cells of the immune system, which are well programmed to spot such aberrations, destroy these cancerous cells before they have time to do lasting harm.

Scientists believe that a cancerous cell becomes dangerous only when physical irritants like cigarette smoke in the lungs create a large number of distorted and polluted cells, similar to scar tissue, and sometimes called squamous cells. The immune system cells in this mess of scar tissue and smoke cease to recognize the first cancer cells in this toxic clutter, and in time it's too late for the immune system to destroy them without medical help.

Another possibility is that some cancer cells can wrap themselves in estrogen receptors. This means that the tumor is disguising itself at a biochemical level as an embryo. An embryo is a collection of rapidly growing undifferentiated cells. What saves it from the attack of mother's immune system is its estrogen receptors, which are attracting lots of estrogen, saying to the immune system "Don't hurt me, I'm your baby!"

Scientists are still discovering different chemical signatures by which cancer cells can hide from the ever present immune response. But the frequency of the estrogen receptor in cancer cells suggests it is a common strategy. It also explains why estrogen based hormone therapies always show a significant cancer risk. ( I find it rather interesting that our word Cancer is the astrological sign for the mother.) Patients with compromised immune systems because of age, ill health, or immune system diseases like AIDS are also extremely vulnerable to cancer. But remember that most of have an immune system that is tough enough and smart enough to defeat cancer.

Unfortunately, many cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy and radiation, because they target all of the body's cells that are reproducing, are very destructive to the immune system, because immune cells are constantly reproducing and dying out as they fight infection and destroy tumors. So paradoxically, many cancer treatments damage the very system the body needs to recover from cancer.

In addition, these treatments are so toxic that they produce cancerous in many lab experiments and hospital patients. Nearly all of these chemicals are so dangerous they are labeled as carcinogenic. The big challenge in oncology has been to keep the patient alive through these treatments long enough for the cancer to be destroyed. Some physicians are convinced that the high rate of recurrence for their patients is connected to the high toxicity of these treatments.

Fortunately, great progress is being made in refining these treatments. Dosage reductions, aiming radiation and chemotherapy more precisely at the tumor mass, even hormone based chemotherapy, all have made these treatments safer and more effective than ever.

Even greater strides can be made in cancer treatment, however, can be made if patients are willing to explore and clear the underlying cause of their tumor from the subconscious mind. Hypnosis is obviously the ideal medium for this exploration, because it can be experienced by most people easily, and helps us safely connect to subconscious motivations.

There are three problems however, that are inherent within this process. First, the client must be willing to accept that at least part of the cause of their condition lies in their own subconscious mind. This is a tough journey for many Americans, who are accustomed to taking no responsibility for their health, and might even be offended at the suggestion that something they did may be the cause of this condition.

Empathy requires the health professional to treat these feelings as delicately as possible. I reassure my clients that "YOU didn't do this. Rather this disease is a product of feelings and experiences and beliefs from your distant past, which have become stored in your body. Hypnosis can help us to access these programs and clear them, freeing your immune system to work with your treatment program to stop this cancer."

The second problem is finding a hypnotherapist whose training is sufficient to actually help discover and clear these underlying conditions. Most medical doctors, including psychiatrists, even if they have some familiarity with hypnotic work, have no training in the in-depth strategies required to access the cause and fix it. Even most hypnotherapists have little training in these complex techniques. If you know someone suffering from cancer, get help in finding a trained hypnotherapist experienced in this work.

The final problem is finding medical doctors who are willing to recommend these methods to their patients. It's easy to understand their skepticism. Most doctors have little or no training in psychological causation. And where have the skilled practitioners been whom they could recommend. Should they send their dangerously ill client to some new graduate of a cheap training program who specializes in smoking cessation? No, they need to know someone who has the background and gets results. Meanwhile, don't wait for your physician's endorsement. As one of my former breast cancer patients said to me, triumphantly, "I knew I could heal my breasts and not lose them when I started taking responsibility for my body. I decided that my body and I had made this disease together and we could fix it together!"

So far in several articles, I have described the use of hypnosis in addressing and healing the underlying causes of cancer, thus freeing the immune system, if it isn't too damaged by the disease or medical treatments, to destroy the cancer. But hypnosis can do much more than this as an adjunct to medical treatment. Hypnosis can be used to direct both the cells of the immune system and the agents of chemotherapy to go after the cancer with greater strength. One of my successful clients used hypnosis to direct her body to take all the chemo she was taking directly into the tumor. The doctor's were amazed at how quickly her ovarian cancer responded to the treatment, and how mild her chemo side effects were.

Hypnosis can also be used to rebuild the immune system, and to counter the other effects of chemo, like anemia, nausea, hair loss, etc. Hypnosis can also increase the success and reduce the recovery time from surgery. I've also written on hypnotic anesthesia and surgery. If you are facing the challenge of cancer, only your doctor knows what medical procedures are best. But whatever your Doctor says, use hypnotherapy with a skilled and well trained practitioner and you will vastly increase your chances of not just surviving cancer, but thriving again in a healthy active life. Good luck in your recovery!

Many women consider their breasts to be their defining feature and cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of the world. As the name signifies, cancer of the breast, or breast cancer, is a type of cancer. It is predominantly a female disease and it is one of the most common forms of cancer. In the United States alone, approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, though the figure is somewhat lower in countries like Canada and Australia. It is also a major cause of cancer deaths in women. The majority of patients are women who have crossed the menopause stage. Birth control pills also increase the chances of its occurrence as do treatments like HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Being overweight and the excessive consumption of alcohol also contribute significantly to it. The occurrence of breast cancer in family members can increase the chances as there is a gene which can be inherited.

What is Breast Cancer? Simply put, cancer of the tissues in breast is called breast cancer. It usually surfaces in the form of a lump or tumor in and around the breast. Every lump found in the breasts is not necessarily an indicator of breast cancer; sometimes it may not be associated with breast cancer at all. It is normal for lumps to be formed, especially during the growing up stage. They can also be formed as a result of hormonal changes and they are usually temporary.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

It is not possible to detect this disease in the starting stages. The symptoms start appearing slowly and slowly as the disease progresses. They could be anything like:

. A lump or swelling in the breast or adjoining area like the underarm.

. Increase or decrease in the shape or size of the breasts.

. Dimpling or change in the color of the skin

. Discharge from the nipples.

Factors that increase the risk of Breast Cancer

. Contraceptives.

. Hormone therapy.

. Overweight.

. Alcohol.

. Age factor.

. Genes.

. Dairy products.

How To Detect Breast Cancer

Early detection of breast cancer is vital to cure the disease. The sooner it is detected, the better. The chances of curing it are more if detected in the early stages. It is very difficult to cure it in the advanced stages. There are many ways to find out if you are suffering from breast cancer. A few of them are:

. Medical examination of breasts and armpits by a doctor, at least once in a year.

. Mammogram, especially if you are above 40 years of age.

. Ultrasound, can be done separately or combined with other tests.

. BSE (Breast Self-Examination).

. Biopsy.

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurs broadly in two places, lobules or the milk ducts. They are:

. Invasive lobular carcinoma - Cancer originated in the lobules, but has now spread.

. Invasive ductal carcinoma - Cancer, which originated in the milk ducts but has spread.

. Lobular carcinoma in situ - Cancer in the lobules.

. Ductal carcinoma in situ - Cancer in the milk ducts.

Treatments available for Breast Cancer

There are various options available for its treatment. Some of them are:

. Surgery.

. Radiation Therapy.

. Chemotherapy.

. Hormone Treatment.

Prevention of Breast Cancer

The most important aspect of this dangerous and fatal disease is prevention. The various treatment options are costly and damaging to the body. The old saying prevention is better than cure is aptly applicable to this disease. Prevention of breast cancer is more important than its cure. Routine medical examinations and immediate medical advice in case of suspected symptoms can greatly reduce the chances of breast cancer spreading.

Cancer, the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body, is not one single disease but instead a group of diseases. This illness is the second leading cause of death among Americans; causing one of every four deaths in the United States.

Some cancers, if caught in early stages need not be fatal; others spread quickly and can result in death. There are many types of cancer, but the most common types are: Breast, Colorectal, Lung, Prostate, Skin and Testicular. All of these involve the malfunction of genes that control cell growth and cell division. That means your cell will not be able to communicate properly (similar to you trying to talk to someone that does not speak your language) and as a result there will be a lot of mis-communcation.

There is no single cause. Instead cancer can be caused by external factors (smoking, radiation, and infectious organisms) and internal factors (inherited genes, immune conditions, etc.) While some of the causes are outside of most people's control, other factors, like smoking, are lifestyle changes that an individual could make to improve their health.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in a single year (2004) more than 180,000 cancer deaths will be as a result of tobacco use. Research indicates that another one-third of the 563,700 cancer deaths in the same time period will be related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, being overweight or obese, and other lifestyle factor that if changed, could have prevented the onset or spread of this dis-ease.

Can you prevent, nay even survive it? According to the ACS, the 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers diagnosed between 1995 and 2000 is up by 64%.

There are some simple steps that may result in not only reducing your risk, but ultimately saving your life:

- Nutrition and exercise: There is strong scientific evidence that a healthy diet, combined with regular physical activity, is not only are needed to maintain a healthful body weight but will also reduce cancer risk. Some studies have found that people eating diets high in vegetables and fruits, and low in meat and/or animal fats have reduced risk of some the most common cancers. Can not get any fresh fruits and vegetable? You are allergic to fruits and vegetables? Try nutritious supplements in form of glyconutrients (see http://dexlen.myglycostore.com).

- Tobacco use cessation: Some of the most dangerous types of cancer are related to tobacco use (not only smoking cigarettes but smoking cigars or pipes, and chewing tobacco). As mentioned earlier, tobacco use has been linked to almost 200,000 deaths yearly. Quitting smoking or any tobacco habit can be incredibly difficult but will add 15 to 20 years to your life.

- Protect skin: Skin cancer may not always be fatal, but it's still incredibly prevalent. In 2004, more than 1 million cases of skin cancer were diagnosed - many could have been avoided by merely wearing sun block, hats, sun glasses, and avoiding sun tanning.

- Reduce stress: It's difficult to chart the correlation between stress and cancer. Some studies indicate that individuals that developed cancer were in particularly high stress positions in life. There are many theories that suggest that cancer is similar to an immune system disease and stress is a major factor in lowering the body's natural immunity.

Cancer does not need to be a death sentence. There are many advances taking place every year in medicine to extend the life of cancer patients. But perhaps the greatest opportunity isn't with treatment of the cancer, but rather the prevention of the cancer in the first place. By making a few behavioral changes to your life you can substantially reduce the risk of cancer and improve the quality of your life.

Bladder is another important part of our body that helps in disposal of wastes from our body. Bladder is responsible for collecting and storing urine till it is finally disposed off from our body. The occurrence of cancer in bladder is known as bladder cancer.

Types of bladder cancer

Depending on what cells are affected by bladder cancer, the bladder cancer is known as urothelial cell cancer or squamous cell cancer. There are other types of bladder cancer too and sometimes the same kind of bladder cancer might be known by two or more different names too.

Cause of bladder cancer

Exposure to chemicals (as used in certain types of factories) and smoke (tobacco smoke) can lead to a greater risk of bladder cancer. So, the risk of bladder cancer is higher in smokers (and this is besides the fact that smoking can really increase the risk of lung cancer). However, not many smokers pay heed to the advice about quitting smoking. Like a number of other types of cancer, the bladder cancer too occurs mostly in older people i.e. people who are above the age of 50. The exact causes of bladder cancer are, however, a matter of research and the researchers are continuously working towards getting an answer to this.

Symptoms of bladder cancer

As you would have thought, the symptoms of blood cancer are associated with the process of urination. Pain in the bladder or frequent urge for urinating are other symptoms which might indicate bladder cancer. However, none of these symptoms can be conclusively related to bladder cancer. These symptoms could very well be caused by other conditions or infections. Getting worried about bladder cancer without having gone through proper diagnosis can do nothing but harm your peace of mind. So, if you feel that you have such symptoms you must immediately consult a qualified doctor.

Diagnosis of bladder cancer

The diagnosis of bladder cancer starts with urine tests. The doctor may perform/ prescribe other tests in order to diagnose bladder cancer. X-rays, blood test, intravenous urogram and biopsies could also be used for testing bladder cancer. Again, catching bladder cancer in early stages can really help in combating this dreaded condition.

Treatment of bladder cancer

Based on how bad the bladder cancer is (and also the type of bladder cancer), the doctor will draw out your treatment plan. The treatment can range from surgery to radiotherapy or chemotherapy. There are a few other treatments for bladder cancer but really it all depends on the type of cancer, the stage of cancer etc.

Cancer is devastating. It's a terrible disease that ends the lives of millions and ruins the lives of our families and friends.

My family has been affected by cancer and it's made me think about things I do not want to think about. In a strange way, via a mixture of fear and anger its motivated me to help the people closest to me and further improve my health, for now and for the future.

I thought twice about writing an article about this very sensitive, and for me personally, emotional topic.

Some of the content is controversial.

Cancer can get us very emotional, especially if someone says the wrong thing at the wrong time.

I will attempt to tread carefully and sensitively and I will share some of what I have learned through my family's experiences and what I have researched so that others may benefit.

Nearly all of us get affected by cancer in some shape or form during our lives and yet we still haven't found a reliable cure.

There are so many different types of cancers and it's a very complex area, BUT some people are beating it and then going cancer free for many years to come.

There are so many success stories.

But officially we still can't find out how to cure it.

There has to be an answer for the many and not the few. (I pray)

Some of the things that mankind have managed to accomplish have been astounding, all of the technology that has been created is mind blowing yet this cure still evades us, as do many others.

In order to find the cure for cancer, researchers need to really find out, and agree, on what cancer actually is.

Easier said than done.

Some people think cancer is a gene issue.

Cancer is different from all other diseases which makes it so difficult to control.

It can affect different parts of the body and it can spread throughout the whole body as the cancer cells replicate out of control.

Cancers are thought to be mutating cells.

What triggers the mutation?

It's thought that cancer triggers are thought to include - genetic factors, lifestyle factors (diet, smoking, alcohol, exercise), infections and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals.

Others believe it's triggered by nutritional deficiencies or chronic inflammation and acidity.

In this article I'm going to discuss a few different theories about the cure for cancer, all from respected sources, but none widely accepted as of yet.

(Below I use the term "theory" loosely, more of an approach)

Cancer Is a Fungus Theory? Dr Tullio Simoncini

It has not yet been widely accepted by the medical profession, but the first theory on how to cure cancer is based on the assumption that cancer is a fungus.

I was introduced to some of the work by an Italian doctor called Tullio Simoncini by Phil Richards (a nutritional expert).

Simoncini's research has led him (and now a lot of other people too) to believe that cancer is a fungus caused by a yeast like organism known as Candida.

You may have heard of it, you can get tested by your GP or get a test done yourself for £50-60, they are available online.

Normally the immune system is able to keep candida under control but when candida changes into a strong fungus, health problems, maybe cancer will soon occur, suggests Simonicini.

Simonicini used sodium bicarbonate (an anti-fungal and alkalising agent) to treat many cancer sufferers successfully.

I will quickly give you a bit of general information about fungus and what it is.

Fungi is the primary tool used by nature to return living things to the basic elements they were made with.

Fungi help the rotting process and the breakdown of the tissue, so this means that some people who have massive candida growth, are literally "rotting from the inside out", their bodies are eating themselves.

Scary thought.

Fungal spores are literally everywhere and can get into our body in a variety of different ways, most easily via our food and the air we breathe.

We are normally able to cope with this but when the immune system isn't working to its full potential and the body isn't well oxygenated then these fungal spores can begin to grow.

?Did you know? - People who smoke inhaling fungal spores with every cigarette which can obviously lead to lung cancer.

Mike Lambert a doctor from the Isle of Wight had this to say about Candida:

'Fungus, and Candida in particular, thrive by eating the body of its host (yours) by dissolving it. It also needs your body to breed, as it can't do this on its own. '

Simoncini believes that cancer is not caused by cellular malfunction like most people believe but it is down to a Candida fungal infection which the body simply cannot control.

Simoncini in 1983 treated a man who was given just months to live due to lung cancer.

Simoncini cured him, he said that he then believed this would be the big breakthrough, but in this instance realised how corrupt the medical organisations were. The authorities refused to approve his findings and he was banned from the Italian Medical Order for curing someone of cancer!

Interestingly Milton White, MD called cancer 'A chronic, infectious, fungal disease'. During this research White found fungal spores in every sample of cancer tissue he studied.

I have heard of doctors describe cancerous tumors as having tentacle like "spores" myself.

Is cancer a fungus? The similarities I see are: they both have spores and they both feed on glucose and work anaerobically, so they have some similarities that's for sure. That maybe so, but the experts can not agree, so we will have to wait and see what unfolds in the future.

It may be that certain fungi can trigger certain cancers.

Acid & Alkaline PH Theory by Dr Otto Warburg

The second theory I want to cover today of that of a scientist called Otto Warbug.

Dr. Otto Warburg, winner of the 1931 Nobel Prize for his studies in cell respiration, believed that a person's level of health and vitality has a direct correlation to the levels of oxygen in his or her blood stream.

He carried out research proving that viruses, bacteria and cancer cells can not survive in an oxygenated environment.

He also said that disease thrives in an acidic or low oxygen environment.

Dr Otto Warburg also found that alkaline bodies absorb up to 20 times more oxygen than acidic bodies.

This theory would suggest an alkaline diet would be very useful in the prevention of cancer.

(So that's two theories which basically recommend the benefits of being alkaline as oppose to acid.)

If you want your PH levels tested to see if you are acid or alkaline you can buy PH testing strips cheap online for about £10.

Chronic Inflammation & Vitamin C Theory by Linus Pauling

Having low levels of vitamin C or "scurvy" over a long period of time can cause massive inflammation throughout the body, leading to many illnesses including cancer.

Linus Pauling, who is the only person to have won TWO (unshared) nobel prizes, probably the greatest American scientist of all time, believed that MEGA doses of vitamin C can cure heart disease, cancer and infections.

A high dose is considered above 2000mg a day, some people I know take more like 5000mg a day, but this is NOT advisable for the majority of us, side effects include diarrhoea!

You should take vitamin C regularly throughout the day, work out a high dose which will work for you 500-2000mg a day.

To back up the vitamin C theory, a very large number of studies have shown that increased consumption of fresh fruits is associated with a reduced risk of most types of cancer.

This also ties in with the PH theory, as acidic tissue is often found to lead to inflammation and inflammation can lead to chronic inflammatory conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and stroke.

Can you see the link, it is a bit complicated, but when your body gets chronically inflamed from the internal environment having low oxygen and having acidic tissue, eventually this will lead to many problems and maybe even cancer.

(This still does not explain why some babies are born with cancer, it is suggested that this is caused by environmental toxins they are exposed to during pregnancy.)

You should know all of these cancer "theories" (Acid & Alkaline, Fungus, Vitamin C) have been ridiculed at some point and still have not been accepted in the mainstream medical profession or widely adopted as of yet.

Interesting all the same.

So What are the Solutions?

Most of these initial solutions are based on a logical common sense approach, to help prevent cancer.

Chemotherapy(and other such treatments) can cure it.

As we have already suggested, sort your lifestyle out and cut out toxins.

Use anti fungal supplements, other substances which have proved effective in treating fungal infections, which in theory should help to treat cancer include sesame oil, apple cider vinegar and aloe vera.

Follow an alkaline diet or use alkalising salts, encouraging the PH of the body to increase, thus reducing inflammation.

In order to be more alkaline then you should eat a diet rich in foods like good fats, green leafy vegetables, herbs and spices and organic high quality meats.

Take a high dose vitamin C to protect against inflammation.

Reduce stress. The stresses of modern day life can be another thing that harms our immune system, so de-stressing will also help.

The more stress free, relaxed and healthy we are the less chance we have of getting sick generally.

Immune system. In order to fight off cancer we need to maintain a strong immune system.

Chemotherapy does cures cancer. But the thing that destroys our immune system the most is CHEMOTHERAPY!

Wait! So the cancer comes from a weak immune system and our best defence mechanism against cancer destroys our immune system?

Yes its confusing isn't it.

Chemotherapy kills cells, the hope of chemotherapy is it kills the cancer cells before the patient, which it mostly does. Chemotherapy literally takes you to the brink of death.

It's very aggressive but it saved my Dad and it's saved many others.

This is one of the reasons that so many people who survive cancer suffer it again, the immune system is so weak from the chemotherapy to fight anything.

Our immune system comes under attack daily due to certain lifestyle choices that we make. So step one, as always, is to sort out the lifestyle.

So many people in the world lead unhealthy lifestyles, at some point down the line they will become ill if they don't change their ways, please don't be one of them.

Cancer is a very difficult subject to talk about but it is such a horrible thing that awareness needs to be raised.

Thanks for reading,

Richard Clarke

In my work with cancer patients I'm privy to the common mistakes made by many patients which routinely harm their health and may cost them their lives. I write this article in the hope these mistakes can be avoided. This article is derived from observations made in a sample group comprising 13,000 patients over a period of 37 years. Lest the article appear too negative it is worth mentioning that cancer patients in 2011 are living longer and there are many wonderful advances in cancer medicine. In fact patients will do better when forewarned of these common mistakes and at our institute we consider it a part of 'preventative medicine' to do so. Please pass this article around to anyone with cancer.

1. The most fundamental mistake is a failure to understand the nature of cancer. Sadly, perhaps due to fear of the topic, this is widespread, not only among the cancer patients we assist but among some naturopaths we encounter. Failing to understand the nature of cancer will influence all your treatment choices. The following is a brief outline.

At the time of diagnosis, cells will have been detaching themselves from the primary tumour, entering the blood supply and seeking to establish a 'new' colony. This process may have been going on for years before the first tumour is evident. These 'seed cells' called circulating tumour cells (CTCs), may lay dormant for years or activate and settle down at a site of least resistance and grow into a tumour. CTCs begin circulating when the original tumour increases in size from 1.5 - 2mm, about the size of a grain of rice.

It is worth remembering that cancer is a systemic disease from the onset and the tumour its late stage symptom. Cancer cells can only thrive in a specific environment with an impaired immune system and impaired mechanisms of regulation and repair.

With a better understanding of cancer, patients will realise they must act quickly and activate a sensible treatment plan. This sense of urgency and fear of conventional cancer medicine may cause patients to seek alternative therapies; which by nature are an alternative to conventional treatments (allopathic) and we do not recommend that path. We do however, support proven complementary therapies done with knowledge of the allopathic doctor and/or oncologist. Communication and transparency between our institute, the patients and the doctors and oncologists is crucial because there are times when even accepted complementary supplements can clash with cancer medicines. (See 4.)

The good news is that in 2011 the new breed of 'targeted therapies' used by oncologists are getting excellent results with lower side effects and people are living longer-up to 90 % of certain breast and testicular cancer patients will be alive after 5 years.

When integrative medicine is added to the scientific advances it combines the discipline of modern science with the wisdom of ancient healing. It can transform the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the lives of people living with chronic or life-threatening illness.

Proven complementary therapies such as touch therapies, mind-body therapies, acupuncture, sound nutrition, physical activity and fitness, and dietary supplements are worthy additions as long as they are not substitutes for mainstream medical care.

When used in concert with medical treatment they can help alleviate stress, reduce pain and anxiety, manage physical and emotional symptoms, and enhance quality of life for cancer patients.

2. Second deadly mistake - a failure to understand the nature of 'Dr Internet.

This mistake can powerfully influence patient treatment decisions. There is a huge cost in believing 'that which is repeated often enough must be true.' The internet is dominated by unproven alternative cancer cures but to the unsuspecting patient they may be inclined to believe the increasingly sophisticated and emotionally convincing websites that promote alt/med. The following Google searches were conducted on Firefox and illustrate how difficult it is to find balanced scientific papers on alt/med products or therapies. The following searches (on Firefox in early June) yielded these 'results'....

· Google search for 'black salve' - last week May 2011 = 8.5 mil results - this week June 4th = 9.2 mil results - June 8th = 9.34 mil results - June 14 = 10.5 mil (Up 2 million results in just over two weeks - what will it be next week?)

· Google search - 'apricot cures cancer' = 5 mil results

· Google search - 'Gerson Diet cures cancer' 1.8 mil results

· Google search - 'nature cures cancer' 320 mil results

· Google search - 'alternative cures cancer' = 6.5 mil results

· Google search - 'wake up cure cancer now' = 2.5 mil results

· Google search 'science cures cancer' = 6.25 mil results. In this case I was looking for scientific papers but the results 'flipped' to 'cannabis cancer cures' (it took over the search). This did not happen in quite the same way for Internet Explorer

· Google search - meditation cures cancer = 3.9 mil results

· Google search - cancer cleanses = 11.4 mil results (June 14 = 12.7 mil (up by 1.3 mil results in over 2 weeks)

As you can see, 'Dr Internet' is quite biased. Most of the Google results are from sites with commercial interests or those promoting an ideology such as 'raw foodism.' Good medical science results from respected bodies like the National Cancer Institute of America or Memorial Sloan Kettering of NY are not so easy to locate. Both have excellent research papers on complementary and alt/med products and therapies.

3. Third deadly mistake - Buying into the prevalent conspiracy paradigm that 'Big Pharma' is greedy and evil-that it's a tool of the wealthy who want to keep ordinary people sick so they can make more money. Whilst the medical system and industry is not perfect, it is at least regulated and under scientific scrutiny and rigor.

Such theories create unhelpful polarisation and are an attempt to invalidate advances in cancer science, medicine and pharmaceutical commerce while emotively promoting alt/med or a nature ideology. These beliefs can border on fundamentalism. The victims, as always, are the unsuspecting cancer patients.

The theory is also very imbalanced-nobody is mentioning the greed or dishonesty of alt/med practitioners or supplement sellers. Some of our patients have spent over $100,000 on unproven or even disproven alt/med therapies and regimens. Many of these treatments are kept secret. Patients at a 'cancer cure expert,' a naturopath, were told not to tell anybody of the 'secret' treatments (costing $1100 a week) because the evil AMA or Big Pharma wants to stop them 'curing' cancer patients so they can continue to 'slash, burn and poison.'

4. Fourth deadly mistake - A poor understanding of nutrition and basic biology. A belief that 'more is better' can be dangerous for cancer patients. The mistaken belief prevails that if certain foods or supplements can boost your immune system, enabling your body to fight off the cancer, then large doses will be more effective. Patients fail to consider that supplements are very concentrated and quite unnatural as the following study shows.

A study from the US National Cancer Institute in 1994 published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the effects of beta carotene, a well-known anti-oxidant with cancer-fighting properties, on the incidence of lung cancer in men. One group of men were (sic) put on a balanced diet high in fruit and vegetables high in beta- carotene or pro-vitamin A, found in orange foods such as carrot and sweet potato. The next group was given beta-carotene supplements and the final group was given a placebo. Not only did the group with the fruit and vegetable intake get a lower incidence of cancer, but the group taking the supplements had a higher incidence of cancer than the placebo group and the trial had to be terminated.

In our sample group we have commonly found patients imbibing toxic levels of some elements (often copper), trace elements, minerals and fat soluble vitamins. Some supplements commonly taken can impede or undo the allopathic cancer medicine prescribed, hormone blockers such as Tamoxifen or Arimidex and some chemotherapies, for example.

The 'chemical cocktail effect' is an unknown. It refers to the unpredictable effect of concentrates in supplements, herbal medicines mixing with concentrates in other supplements, potentially creating metabolic mayhem. A result observe in blood diagnostics of our patients.

The remaining 3 common mistakes made by cancer patients will feature in part 2 of this series.