Many people believe that Vitamin E is beneficial, and therefore take Vitamin E supplements. Despite the absence of proven advantages, antioxidant vitamins are widely used for prolonged periods of time and at high doses by healthy people, those at risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer, and by individuals with cancer.

Intuitively, one would think that Vitamin E protects the body from the toxic effects of radiation. Thus, many people take Vitamin E during radiation therapy, hoping it will reduce potential side effects, but do not report it to their physicians.

Study Design
To test whether or not Vitamin E administration during radiation therapy could prevent second cancers from developing in the future, a clinical trial was conducted in Canada. Its results were published recently in The International Journal of Cancer. Five hundred forty patients with early stage cancer of the head and neck who were to undergo radiation therapy were the subjects of the study.

Head and neck cancer originates in the area of the head and neck and includes malignant tumors of the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses and lymph glands in the neck The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous (pronounced SKWAY-miss) cell cancer, which describes the type of cell from which the cancer originated. The standard of care for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck often includes radiation therapy, as well as surgery and chemotherapy.

Nearly half of the patients received 400 IU (International Units) of Vitamin E and the other half received placebo, an inactive substance. The people in the former group continued to use Vitamin E for three years after radiation therapy. Patients were followed for a total of six and a half years.

Outcome
The results of the study were astonishing and revealed not only that Vitamin E was not beneficial, but in fact, was associated with a nearly 40% increase in the risk of death when compared to those counterparts who received a placebo.

Conclusions
The researchers concluded that is Vitamin E is not protective, and in fact, it might actually be harmful to patients with head and neck cancer who are receiving radiation therapy.

Discussion
Vitamin E falls into the category of anti-oxidants. Theoretically, the adverse outcome can be attributed to Vitamin E having a paradoxical effect, that is, instead of serving as an anti-oxidant, Vitamin E might have promoted oxidation; by displacing other antioxidants within the cells of the body, these cells might have become more vulnerable to damage from oxidation.

Recommendations
People who are undergoing radiation therapy should inform their physicians of all non-prescription medications and supplements they are taking. The good news is that doctors can then counsel patients wisely as to which products may be used safely. For more information about radiation therapy, visit www.ASTRO.org, the official website of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Dr. Kornmehl is a board certified radiation oncologist at Passaic Beth Israel Regional Medical Center, Passaic, NJ and author of the critically acclaimed consumer health book, “The Best News About Radiation Therapy” (M. Evans, 2004). Her website is RTSupportDoc.com RTSupportDoc.com

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Tags: chemotherapy

Most breast cancer patients wonder why radiation is necessary if a breast cancer has been removed. Despite local removal of the cancer tissue, about 30% of women will have a relapse without radiotherapy. Pathologists often have difficulty determining if there is a clear margin of normal tissue surrounding the cancer, given the difficulty of measuring of minuscule amounts of cancer cells. It is also known that there may be “skip” areas between the cancer tissue and small hard-to-detect satellite cancer nodules in the immediate vicinity. Thus, in spite of clear margins, cancer cells may be resting on the other side of the biopsy margins. Cells may have migrated through the breast duct system and come to rest outside of the biopsy site as well. Radiotherapy is important because it has a good chance of destroying those random cancer cells beyond the breast cancer margins.

The method of radiotherapy involves the use of a machine called linear accelerator, which converts radioactive particles into a high-energy radiation beam that is used to treat a specific, defined area of the body. Radiation affects cells in the area of the tissue beneath the directed beam of radioactive particles and dividing cells are affected more by radiation than resting, non-cancerous cells. Cancer cells are, therefore, more affected than healthy cells, but both cell types are damaged by radiation. On the other hand, normal cells have a greater ability to repair themselves following radiation exposure, compared to cancer cells. Radiation places cancer cells into a cell death cycle at the time of the next scheduled cell division. This cell death cycle is known as apoptosis.

Radiation delivered to the chest area is sometimes also recommended following breast resection (mastectomy) if the cancer extended to or through the surgical margins or if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The addition of radiotherapy in these situations reduces recurrence risk considerably.

So is radiation always necessary? If it were easy to pick 60 to 70 percent of women who would not have a local recurrence, then radiotherapy could be optional in most cases. Unfortunately, this is not so easy to do. If the cancer is small, with a large clear margin of non-cancerous tissue and if there is no local spread to the lymphatic system, then one might consider observation alone and no radiation may be necessary, especially if the woman’s breast has a large amount of fat tissue. As a woman ages, the ratio of fat tissue to glandular tissue increases. It is quite normal for the female breast to contain significant amounts of fat, which is not necessarily related to obesity. In fact, thin women can have breasts that contain a large percentage of fat. Thus, the fat content of the breasts may be a factor in considering the need for radiotherapy after mastectomy.

There are adverse effects from radiation to the breast. It is usual to have some skin changes, which will manifest as redness and some inflammation that usually heals over time. 90% of women have an excellent cosmetic result once healing is visible. 10% have some fibrous tissue formation, shrinkage of the breast and a reduction in skin elasticity and sensitivity in the breast area. There are several treatments that can be used on the breast skin to facilitate healing and reduce the long-term effects of radiation.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to breast-cancer.treatment-and-guides.com/ Breast Cancer

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Mesothelioma cancer is a type of cancer that attacks the lungs and chest cavity. Also known as asbestos lung cancer, it forms deadly tumors where mesothelial cancer cells form a protective lining over the lungs, heart, and abdominal organs. It is a type of lung cancer that takes many years to develop and produce symptoms. Roughly 3,000 cases per year (mostly men over the age of 40) are reported. It is estimated that number will grow to about 300,000 cases before 2030.

Types of Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer

Epithelial mesothelioma is a rare and fatal form of cancer affecting the membrane lining of the chest cavity, heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity. There are three forms of epithelial mesothelioma: the most common is Pleural Mesothelioma, the second most common, Peritoneal Mesothelioma (accounting for only a quarter of the cases), and the rarest form, pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of this disease involves the pleura, a thin membrane located between the lungs and the chest cavity. The pleura provide a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not rub and chafe against the chest walls. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma the first being ‘diffuse and malignant’. This type is cancerous and is generally fatal within a year of diagnosis. The second type is ‘localized and benign’ and is generally non-life threatening. It can usually be removed through surgery.

Lung Lining cancer is not to be confused with lung cancer. In lung lining cancer, the effected area of the body is called the mesothelium, a thin membrane that covers many of the internal organs of the body. The mesothelium of the lungs is called the pleura. Lung Lining cancer is also sometimes called mesothelioma after the area in which it occurs.

This thin membrane is comprised of two layers - one that surrounds the organ and another that forms an exterior sac around the first layer. Between the layers of the mesothelium is a fluid that allows vital organs to glide easily against objects that come in contact with them.

Localized pleural mesothelioma is not always caused by asbestos exposure. However, if it has spread to other parts of the body, for instance the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs, then it is considered malignant and is more often than not the result of asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal mesothelioma appears as a tumor in the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma is very rare, comprising less than a fourth of all known cases of the disease. There are no effective treatments for this condition, and most patients live less than a year after diagnosis.

Mesentery cancer is likened to peritoneal cancer (mesothelioma). This cancer primarily affects the sections of the peritoneum that attach different organs to the wall of the abdominal cavity, (i.e. mesogastrium for the stomach, mesojejunum for the jejunum). Mesentery cancer includes all abdominal peritoneal extensions. Tumors rarely originate in the actual mesentery, though it is a frequent route for the spread of mesothelioma through the abdominal cavity.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma, affecting the membrane around the heart (called the pericardium or pericardial sac). In this disease, solid masses and effusion (fluid) develop around the pericardium. Not all effusions are strictly related to mesothelioma.

The Causes

Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers or dust. Workers in the asbestos industry are prime targets for attracting this deadly disease. Asbestos fibers enter the body, either by breathing in the tiny asbestos fibers or by swallowing them. The fibers cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer. Since the body is unable to dispel these fibers, the lungs become inflamed (asbestosis). This condition worsens and eventually becomes malignant. Asbestos exposure is thought to be responsible for roughly 75% of all cases of lung lining cancer.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a very difficult cancer to detect in early stages. The early symptoms tend to be generic and even nonexistent in some cases, and it can take as much as 15 to 50 years after exposure to develop. The first symptom is often constant chest pain, followed by coughing, lung damage, and shortness of breath. Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma (a less common form of mesothelioma) generally experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling, often in addition to the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They may also develop bowel obstruction or further breathing obstruction.

Stages and Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

There are three staging systems used to determine treatment for mesothelioma: Butchart System, TNM System, and the Brigham System

Butchart Staging System

The Butchart System is the oldest system and the most common. This system concentrates upon determining the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesothelioma into four stages.

Stage I of the Butchart System consists of the presence of mesothelioma in the lining of the right or left lung and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side. Stage II includes the progression of mesothelioma into the chest wall, esophagus, or lung lining on bother sides. There may also be lymph nodes in the chest. The onset of Stage III begins when the mesothelioma surpasses the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. In this stage the cancer may also affect the lymph nodes extending beyond those in the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final stage, when evidence of the spread of cancer to other organs (metastasis) is confirmed.

TNM System

Stage I of the TNM System involves the lining of the right or left lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. At this stage, lymph nodes are not involved. Stage II begins when mesothelioma spreads from the lining of the lung on one side to a lymph node on the same side. At this stage, the cancer may also spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Stage III begins when mesothelioma is present in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side as the primary tumor. In the final stage, Stage IV, the mesothelioma has travelled into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, into the lung opposite the primary tumor, or directly into the organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastasis is the final result in this stage.

Brigham System

The Brigham System determines the resectability (the ability to surgically remove) the mesothelioma mass. In Stage I the tumor is resectable, while lymph nodes remain unaffected. In Stage II the tumor remains respectable but the mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. In Stage III the tumor becomes unresectable. It has penetrated through the diaphragm, or peritoneum. Stage III can occur with or without lymph involvement and extends into the chest wall and heart. Stage IV occurs when doctors discover metastatic disease involving distant organs.

After doctors identify the stage of a patient’s malignant mesothelioma, the patient and doctor consider the various treatment options available. Mesothelioma treatment programs are contingent upon many factors, including the stage of the cancer, the location of the cancer, the spread of mesothelioma cancer, the characteristics of the cancer cells under a microscope and the patient’s age and concerns.

About the Author:

Dave Casey is a freelance writer for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com, a comprehensive informational site on mesothelioma-adviser.com/ mesothelioma cancer. He hopes to expose the continued cover-up of the mesothelioma-adviser.com/asbestos-industry.html asbestos industry responsible for the
mesothelioma-adviser.com/causes-of-mesothelioma.html causes
of mesothelioma.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com

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Tags: lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma

The most critical form of mesothelioma is the malignant form. Known as malignant mesothelioma, the primary causal factor is asbestos infection. According to the US National Cancer Institute, “Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium).”

Mesothelioma can be classified into three types – pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) lining, and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining that surrounds the heart (pericardium). The subtypes of mesothelioma are of three basic types, one very aggressive, one least aggressive, and one lying between the two extremes.

Malignant mesothelioma can be diagnosed through several imaging techniques. These imaging techniques enable physicians to assess mesothelioma. Once mesothelioma is suspected, patients are advised to undergo several tests, like X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. The physician may also like to undertake special mesothelioma tests like thoracoscopy, peritoneoscopy and biopsy.

Learning about the stage of mesothelioma is a critical factor that helps physicians to decide the treatment plan. If the cancer is confined to the pleura, mesothelioma is considered localized. If the cancer spreads beyond the pleura and to other parts of the body such as the lungs, abdominal cavity, lymph nodes and the chest wall, mesothelioma is considered to be in an advanced stage.

The oft used and the oldest system for determining the stages of mesothelioma is the Butchart System. The Butchart System is based on the extent of the primary tumor mass available in a patient. This system divides mesothelioma into four stages. The TNM system, a slightly advanced system over the Butchart System, determines staging through variables of tumor in mass and the spread, the lymph node involvement and metastasis. However, the latest system is known as the Brigham System, where staging is done as per the respectability and lymph node involvement. In spite of such modern techniques, a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma still remains possible through fluid diagnosis and tissue biopsy.

e-MesotheliomaDiagnosis.com Mesothelioma Diagnosis provides detailed information on Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support, Mesothelioma Doctors and more. Mesothelioma Diagnosis is affiliated with e-MesotheliomaAsbestos.com Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases.

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Tags: mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma

There are numerous types of cancer that affect different areas of our digestive systems. Two of the most life threatening are cancers of the biliary tract and gall bladder tumors. Tumors and cancers in this part of the digestive system are rare, with only about 7500 diagnosed each year, but are more often fatal than many other forms of digestive system cancer.

Gall bladder cancer occurs more frequently in women than men, and your likelihood of contracting it increases as you age. Hispanics are more likely to get gall bladder cancer than any other population. It is not usually diagnosed until it is far advanced, which is why the prognosis is usually poor.

We don’t fully understand the cause of gall bladder cancer, but we do know that people who suffer from gall stones are more likely to develop it later on. This appears to be because the gall stones cause chronic inflammation in the gall bladder, which can lead to the development of abnormal cells.

Other biliary tract cancers are diagnosed in about 2000-3000 Americans each year. Like gall bladder cancer, it is often not diagnosed until it has reached late stages and often metastasized. Again, the cause is not fully known, but, as with other digestive system cancers, it occurs more frequently in the obese. It also occurs more frequently in Hispanics, American Indians, Eastern Europeans and Japanese.

In recent years, there has been a fair amount of research on the cancer preventative effects of drinking green tea. It appears that green tea has the power to prevent many forms of cancer, including those of the digestive system, like gall bladder cancer and biliary tract cancer.

A study conducted in China attempted to establish a link between consumption of green tea and the prevention of these cancers. The study looked at a large segment of the population. It included 627 patients with various forms of biliary tract cancer (including gall bladder cancer), 1037 cases with biliary stones, and 959 randomly selected control participants.

This study concluded that the women who were regular tea drinkers had (meaning that they drank at least one cup of green tea a day for at least six months) a significantly lower risk of biliary tract cancer and gallbladder cancer – even if they had gall bladder disease – than those who did not drink green tea.*

For men, the study found a slightly lower risk of cancer among the green tea drinkers; however it was not enough to be considered significant. In addition, it was found that a higher than average number of the male participants in the study were smokers, so this may have skewed the results, since smoking increases a person’s overall risk of cancer.

Why Green Tea?

Many of us may be surprised to find that green tea is so healthy. The reason is that it’s loaded with anti-oxidants in their natural state. Black tea also contains anti-oxidants, but during the fermentation process that black tea undergoes, these anti-oxidants change, and become less healthy than in their original state.

The anti-oxidants in tea are called catechins, part of the flavan-3-ol class of flavonoids. EGCG is one of the catechins contained in tea, and is one of the most potent anti-oxidants around. Because green tea hasn’t been fermented, the EGCG is in its most natural and potent state.

Anti-oxidants are so important because they combat the free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are damaging oxygen molecules that occur as a result of our body’s process of converting food to energy. If they are left unchecked, they cause cell and DNA damage, which eventually leads to aging and disease.

So, to protect our health, it’s important to get anti-oxidants in our diet every day. Fruits and vegetables are good sources, as is coffee, black tea and dark chocolate. But, green tea is one of the very best sources. A diet rich in anti-oxidants can help prevent cancer, heart attack and stroke, as well as general premature aging.

The research regarding cancer is significant. In addition to the study mentioned above regarding digestive cancers, there have been numerous other studies suggesting that green tea can protect against many forms of cancer. In fact, Japan’s medical community now considers green tea to be a known cancer preventative.

This news is, of course, quite exciting, but it goes even further. There have also been studies that suggest that green tea may be helpful in treating cancer, too. Several studies have shown that when green tea was used as an adjunct therapy along with traditional chemotherapy, the chemotherapy was more successful. Cancerous cells showed a higher concentration of the cancer drugs when green tea was administered along with the medication.

Some studies have even suggested that green tea may be beneficial in preventing the spread of cancer. It appears that the growth of cancer cells slows significantly or even stops when patients of certain cancers are given green tea in significant quantities.

Of course, green tea is not a magic bullet, and is not designed to replace traditional cancer treatments. However, it certainly appears that green tea is an important tool for protecting your body against many types of cancer and other illnesses, and may even be an effective adjunct treatment for those who already have cancer.

So, add some green tea to your diet. It’s delicious and you have nothing to lose. There are no side effects and green tea is well tolerated even by the caffeine sensitive. Drinking green tea may be the simplest thing you can do to protect your health.

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current

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Tags: cancer treatment, chemotherapy, digestive system cancer, prevent cancer