Liver cancer is to be feared being the eighth most common cancer in the world. Your liver plays an important detoxification role for your body. If your liver breaks down, digestion of your fats via bile cannot take place. Filtering of your blood to remove drugs, waste and toxins can also be severely affected. Getting liver damage or liver cancer would be disastrous as it means that all these important functions cannot be performed. In the worst case scenerio, liver cancer can result in death.

Liver cancer develops when liver cells multiply at abnormal rates. They then attack healthy parts of the same organ or neighbouring cells. Cancer cells soon spread beyond their original location to other parts and organs to establish new tumours, in a process known as metastasis.

Your liver, including every organ in your body, is comprised of cells. Cells are living things. Hence, they are born and they die. Your body is always making new cells to replace the old and dead ones. This process has to be tightly regulated. If not, there will be chaos. Cancer cells interefere with the normal functioning of this process.

Your liver, at approximately 1.5 kilograms in weight, is the biggest organ inside your body. You may not even realise the presence of a liver inside of you as it is hidden in your right upper abdomen, underneath and protected by your right rib cage. Your liver is perhaps the busiest organ in your body, tasked with numerous functions.

The liver makes the different proteins that your body needs, which include enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and other substances necessary for the proper functioning of your body. It is the power plant of your body since it is the primary source of energy. It also filters your blood to remove toxins and produces bile to help in the digestion of fat. It is the most parsimonious organ in the body, extracting anything that can be used from your blood and storing it for future use.

There are two types of liver cancer, primary and secondary. Primary liver cancer means the tumour starts from the the liver. Hepatocellular cancer (abbreviated HCC) is the most common form (90 percent) of primary liver cancer. HCC originates from hepatocytes, the liver cells responsible for most of its functions. Other types of primary liver cancer are rare. They include cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer arising from bile ducts within the liver and hepatoblastoma, which occurs in children, and gallbladder cancer.

Secondary liver cancer means the cancer started somewhere else and spread (metastasised) to the liver. In secondary liver cancer, patients do not have “liver cancer” technically. Patients are actually experiencing metastases to their liver.

Risk to developing liver cancer depends on various factors. Sex and age plays a part, as with diet and lifestyle habits. In terms of sex, men are 2.8 times more likely to be affected than women. Your risk also increases after the age of 40. High rates have been noted in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines. Studies also show that rates are high among Chinese and Koreans in Los Angeles and among Chinese in the San Francisco Bay area, although those rates are about half of mainland China rates. A diet that comprises of processed and highly preserved foods is generally considered toxic to the liver.

The most important risk factor for liver cancer is hepatitis B virus (HBV). Patients who are located in areas with high rates of hepatitis also have high rates of HCC; conversely, HCC patients are far more likely to be hepatitis B carriers. Studies also show that men are twice or thrice more likely to develop HCC. On the other hand, women demonstrate greater survival rates than men at any stage of liver cancer.

Aflatoxins are the most potent carcinogens on liver cells per unit weight. Aflatoxins are toxins produced by an Aspergillus funcgus that grows on many crops. They have been suspected to be agents for human HCC. While nothing conclusive has yet been established, you should avoid foods
that are positive for aflatoxin. Many types of commercial crops or even commercial peanut butter contain minute quantities of aflatoxin, but they are usually below the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recommended safe level.

There are no specific symptoms for liver cancer. One sign that you can look out for is pain in the right upper quadrant of your body. Another common indicator for liver cancer is unexplained sudden weight loss. Hence, you should always take preventative measures to protect your liver on a regular basis. You should reduce your intake of foods that are hard to digest, toxic and drugs. Also, perform regular liver cleansing for optimal liver health.

Sandra Kim Leong is an author and a publisher of a popular newsletter on detox diet. She also shares her tips about detox-cleansing-diet.com liver cleansing and a diet suitable for great liver health. Sign up to her free research here at at Detox-Cleansing-Diet.com Detox-Cleansing-Diet.com

Related posts

• No related posts.

The causes of breast cancer are not completely understood, although it is clear that a woman’s age, gender and lifetime exposure to estrogen and her age at the time of her first childbirth can play an important role. Because no one knows exactly what causes breast cancer, there is absolutely no way to prevent it. However, there are steps that every woman can take that may make developing breast cancer less likely.

Any woman can get breast cancer. For example, did you know:
 The older a woman is, the more likely she is to get breast cancer?
 White women are more likely to get breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group? They also have a better chance of survival, primarily because their cancer is usually detected earlier.
 African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
 Men can get breast cancer too, although it is rare. Less than one of every 100 cases of breast cancer in the U.S. occurs in men.
 In 2006, it is estimated that men will account for 1,720 cases of breast cancer.1

All women are at risk for breast cancer. Known risk factors like having a family history of breast cancer, starting menopause after age 55 or never having children account for only a small number of new breast cancer cases every year.

That means that most women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors except being a woman and getting older.

Typical questions you might have about breast cancer include:
I have a family history of breast cancer. Does that mean I’ll develop breast cancer, too?
Just because other family members have had breast cancer doesn’t mean that their disease was inherited. Only about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers occur because of inherited mutations.2

If I am diagnosed with breast cancer, what are my chances for survival?
The 5-year survival rate for all women diagnosed with breast cancer is 90 percent.2 This means that 90 out of every 100 women with breast cancer will survive without a recurrence for at least five years.

Most will live a full life and never have a recurrence. Your chances of surviving are better if the cancer is detected early, before it spreads to other parts of your body. In fact, when breast cancer is confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is 98 percent.2

The best way to find breast cancer, especially in its earliest stages, is to routinely check your breasts for signs and symptoms of the disease.

There are three basic methods:
Mammograms. These are X-ray pictures of the breast. They can find breast cancer in its earliest stages, even before a lump can be felt. All women 40 and older should have a mammogram every year. If you are younger than 40 with either a family history of breast cancer, or other concerns talk with your health care provider about when to start getting mammograms and how often to have them.

Clinical breast exam. This is performed by a health care provider who carefully checks your breasts and underarm areas for any lumps or changes that may be present. Many women have a clinical breast exam performed when they get their Pap test. Women should have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 39 and every year starting at 40.

Breast self-exam (BSE). This involves two main steps: looking at and feeling your breasts for any change from normal. If you notice any change in the normal look or feel of your breasts, see your health care provider. All women should perform monthly BSE by age 20. BSE should be done once a month, a few days after your period ends. If you no longer have periods, do BSE on the same day each month. At your next appointment, ask your health care provider to show you the steps for BSE.

Simply being a woman is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. But remember, there is no one cause of breast cancer. If you are concerned about your breast cancer risk, discuss your options with your doctor.

Known, probable breast cancer risk factors:
 Being a woman
 Getting older
 Having a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes
 Having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ
 Having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
 Having high breast density on a mammogram
 Having a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
 Starting menopause after age 55
 Never having children
 Having your first child after age 30
 Being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult
 Having more than one drink of alcohol per day
 Currently or recently using combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
 Having your first period before age 12

PANDORA is pleased to announce its continued support of Susan G. Komen For The Cure. For 2007, a guaranteed minimum contribution of $25,000 and a portion of the sales from the pink ribbon charm will go to the organization.

For each pink ribbon charm sold, PANDORA will donate a percentage of the proceeds to Susan G. Komen For The Cure to help eradicate breast cancer through research, education, screening, and treatment.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. For more information, contact Lewis Jewelers at 877-88-LEWIS or visit www.pandorabraceletsusa.com

1 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2006.
2 American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2005-2006.

Authorized distributed of beautiful pandorabraceletsusa.com pandora bracelets and beads.

Related posts

• Nine Ways to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk (0)
• More Evidence That Green Tea Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk (0)
• Causes and Risk Factors of Ovarian Cancer (0)
• Breast Cancer Risks and Prevention Tips (0)
• Are You At Risk Of Breast Cancer (0)

Tags: breast cancer, cancer risk, ovarian cancer

I’m not a doctor, I’m writing this article to share for purposes of encouragement, support, and genuine love for helping others through tough times. Whether male or female, we’re human and we have issues with our bodies or we’re faced with dealing with issues other family members, friends, and loved ones have with their bodies. We’re born and we’ll be out of here someday, along the way we need help.

Cancer problems and emotional trauma over cancer are not new to me. My grandmothers both had Cancer. I watched them suffer. My husband’s prostate Cancer was a shock but thank-God, with different results.

When Gary was at work he worked hard. Some would say he had the managerial case of workaholism. He didn’t want to go to a doctor, but he was having some difficult with sexual performance. His body wasn’t cooperating with his mind. He wanted more and his body was reacting less. This is not going to be an x-rated article. It’s very clean. I just want to be clear.

He told his boss about not having the results he wanted with his body and how he felt frustrated. His boss kept telling him to see a doctor, don’t let it go, don’t make light of this. Deal with it.Get an examination and ask for help.

Finally, Gary went to the doctor and was told he had Prostate Cancer. He denied the diagnosis until he finally sought the best medical doctor he could be recommended to in the field. He ultimately had the prostate removed in a procedure that did not damage the nerves so that he would has the best possible chance of resuming sexual activity with some time.

FIrst, there’s definitely different experiences to understand after the removal of the prostate. When a man ejaculates, there’s no fluids coming out. No messy sheets or partners, yet it feels good. That’s different. How does a man emotionally feel about not having the fluids shoot out? It takes adjustment and since that’s not coming back, he has to adjust to the physical difference, if he wants to recover better emotionally.

What happens when the desire for sexual experiences exist after the surgery and the body is not ready to cooperate with the mind, what can you do to help. A partner should be positively supportive of the desires. Sometimes, men will seek out equipment to aid with sexual processes and functions and these devices can be expensive and sometimes cause more frustration than they are worth.

For couples, it can be so helpful to find as many other loving things to do to each other, in addition to the concept of intercourse. There’s so much more to explore in the areas of sensuality and gratification of the senses. They are worth exploring.

Find other ways of enjoyment for each other whether it’s the adult-type movies, massage, and other fun activities. Talk about your issues and concerns and ask questions of professionals as much as you need or want help.

Another embarrassing sexual issue for a Prostate Cancer patient is following the removal of the prostate, there tends to be more urine leakage and that’s not always something which can be controlled so be prepared with extra underwear and paper towels around the house to ease embarrassment. It’s also great to take a change of pants to keep in the trunk of the car if you feel you need to change.

There’s no magical date that you can declare for when your body will return to normal functioning after the prostate has been removed, but Gary was told to expect about 3 years and that was accurate for him. At first, nighttime relations after working all day were not the best time of day for us, morning was best. With a little more time, day or night became the same and we’re much happier and very thankful for having each other, being patient and loving, and for always believing we’d experience loving like before the surgery.

Lori Wilk, MBA, is the intenet/podcast host of “Successipes” at success-talk.com success-talk.com

Her program Successipes features recipes for success in business and living. She’s be hosting the Successipes 2008 Convention in Las Vegaa and would love to meet all of you there. Lori makes daily humourous vacation ownership presentations on the Las Vegas Strip and travels to conventions and corporations for training and consulting. She is the author of self-help and business books available at all online bookseller sites.

To contact Lori go to loriwilk.com loriwilk.com

Related posts

• Understanding The Many Choices in Prostate Cancer Treatment Options (0)
• The New Hope for PC Patients - Celexa for Prostate Cancer (0)
• The Lung Cancer Epidemic (0)
• The Best Prostate Cancer Treatment for Each Type of Patient (0)
• Recognizing and Preventing Cancer (0)

Tags: cancer patient, prostate cancer

Retinoblastoma is a common eye cancer which usually affects young children. You can usually tell if your child has Retinoblastoma if their photographs turn out showing a visible difference in one eye. Unfortunately many parents do not catch the early signs of the condition as they simply do not know what they are looking for.

What exactly is Retinoblastoma?

As mentioned, Retinoblastoma is the most common eye cancer in children, however it is still quite rare and it only affects around one in every 20,000 births. If caught early, it is possible to treat and cure the child of the cancer; however it can lead to the loss of the eye, or in severe cases, even death. Luckily, most cases found are cured and the survival rate is currently around 96%. Just under half the cases of Retinoblastoma are inherited, so if there is a family history of the cancer, it is best to get your child checked out.

The cancer starts by a tumor developing behind one of the eyes. In some cases tumors can develop behind both eyes and that usually results in the child having their eyes enucleated. However, this is extremely rare and usually the sight can be restored if caught early enough.

The Symptoms and What to Look Out For

As many parents do not know what to look out for in their child, it is often really difficult for them to diagnose Retinoblastoma. Usually the most common symptom of the disease is an abnormal appearance of the pupil, which as mentioned earlier is often detected in photographs. Any change in the appearance of the eye could be a potential symptom so you should always have it checked out by a doctor.

The Treatments Available

If you find that your child does have Retinoblastoma, it is important to know that there are a lot of treatments available these days in order to cure it. Early detection is better and it often leads to the child having their vision completely repaired. However, treatment varies depending upon how big the tumor has grown and how far the cancer has actually spread. Even if the tumor is removed, sometimes it is too late to save the sight of the child and the eye may need to be removed.

Some of the treatments available include:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is often used to treat Retinoblastoma and it involves injecting the chemotherapy drugs into the body in order to kill off any cancer cells. In the case of a child with Retinoblastoma, the drugs are injected directly into the fluid which surrounds the brain.

Laser Therapy

This can be used as a treatment either on its own, or in combination with chemotherapy. It basically involves shining a strong laser beam through the dilated pupil, or the actual wall of the eye, into the cancer. It is a non invasive treatment and it is either done through general or local anesthetic.

External beam radiotherapy

This treatment is usually used when Chemotherapy has not worked. Retinoblastoma is really sensitive to radiation and so this treatment frequently works. The child is exposed to a certain level of radiation on an outpatient basis over five days a week. This is usually continued for around a month and the tumor generally reduces in size over time.

Surgery

This treatment is used if the tumor has caused irreparable damage to the eye and if the tumor has reached a dangerous size. It generally involves removing the tumor and removing the eye. This is only usually done as a last resort and if the surgeon cannot save the eye without risking the life of the child.

Overall if the eye does have to be removed they will receive an artificial one which is as identical to their original one as possible. The child will make a full recovery from surgery and they can go on to lead a fulfilling and happy life. The main thing to look out for with your child is any changes within the eye. If you do spot anything unusual do not be afraid to consult a doctor. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry!

Keep YOURSELF looking and feeling great with these great FREE
Beauty Tips from NaturalElements.co.uk NaturalElements.co.uk
In just seconds you can access over 36 beauty topics that will keep you looking younger and more radiant.
You can now get the very latest information on
naturalelements.co.uk/ Eye Skin Care by subscribing with RSS

Related posts

• Zapping Cancer (0)
• Your Quick Guide To Facts About Prostate Cancer (0)
• Your Lifestyle and Your Risk for Bladder Cancer (0)
• Your Household May Be The Cause of Mesothelioma Cancer (0)
• Your Guide To Prostate Cancer And Natural Treatment (0)

Tags: chemotherapy