This year, 40,000 women will die from breast cancer, and over 200,000 will be diagnosed with the disease. Researchers are hard at work to determine ways to prevent breast cancer, helping women learn how to protect themselves from this frightening disease.

As it stands today, about 13% of American women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lifetime. A better understanding of the causes of breast cancer and ways to prevent it can help us reduce that number in our lifetime.

We know that a healthy diet and exercise are important to preventing breast and other cancers. In particular, a diet rich in anti-oxidants can help the body age gracefully and avoid diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Anti-oxidants are important because they fight free radicals created in the body as it converts food to energy. These free radicals can cause disease and aging over time. Anti-oxidants and their ability to check free radicals help to keep our bodies young and healthy.

Fruits and vegetables are among the best sources of anti-oxidants. In particular, vegetables such as artichokes, tomatoes, and asparagus along with fruits like blueberries and pomegranates can help reduce your chances of disease and keep you young.

Another significant source of anti-oxidants is green tea. Green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, as does all true tea. Green tea is higher in anti-oxidants than black tea because it is not fermented during processing. The lack of fermentation leaves the tea plant’s anti-oxidants in their most natural and protective state, making it one of the most protective substances you can consume.

Scientists have spent years researching the potential of green tea, particularly its ability to prevent, and even treat cancers, including breast cancer. They have learned that green tea offers much potential in prevention of breast cancer.

One study in particular looked at women in Singapore who had a higher than average risk of breast cancer. This study, reported by the UK Tea Council, studied women who had a high level of angiotensin II activity. Angiotensin is an ogliopeptide in the blood that causes blood vessels to constrict, causing high blood pressure. It also releases aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates potassium and sodium in the blood.

Women who have low angiotensin II activity seem to be at a lower risk for breast cancer. Therefore, researchers theorized that women with high angiotensin II activity would be more susceptible to the protective effects of green tea.

So, in this study, researchers looked at 297 women with breast cancer and just over 600 control subjects. The study concluded that among the women with high angiotensin II activity, green tea was able to significantly lower the risk of breast cancer. The green tea did not appear to have a protective effect on the women with lower than average angiotensin II activity.*

This study didn’t show that it was necessary to consume green tea in large quantities in order to see benefit. The study concluded that women who drank green tea weekly were at a lower risk than those who drank it only monthly or not at all.

This conclusion is on target with other research that has shown that drugs which inhibit angiotensin activity (drugs to treat high blood pressure) reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer over those women whose blood pressure goes untreated. It seems that keeping angiotensin II at bay is effective at reducing blood pressure problems and lowering breast cancer risk at the same time.

This is promising news for those who may be at a higher uncontrollable risk of breast cancer. Angiotensin activity, like some other risk factors for breast cancer, such as family history, cannot be controlled or moderated. But, if green tea can lessen the impact of angiotensin II activity, this may minimize the risk of breast cancer for a large group of higher risk women.

We all know that it’s important for each of us to take an active role in protecting our health. And, as more research is performed, it becomes more evident that drinking green tea is an especially simple and effective way to do so.

Adding green tea to your daily life is simple and delicious. Green tea is available loose, in bottles and in tea bags. You can make your own cup of hot tea to warm up a cold night, keep a pitcher of iced green tea in the refrigerator, or grab a bottled green tea on the way to your workout.

You can find green tea flavored with many different fruit flavors to suit any palate. And, if that still doesn’t get you enough green tea to help your health, there are green tea supplements, too. Simply pop a green tea supplement with your vitamins each day to help get an extra dose. Keep in mind that it appears that even drinking moderate amounts of green tea can help protect your health.

So, grab a cup of green tea. You’re certain to enjoy it, and you may be protecting your health, too!

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

Tags: breast cancer, cancer risk

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Tags: breast cancer, cancer risk

Many side effects of chemotherapy treatments affect your skin and hair. Even the new “targeted” therapies can dry your skin as well as leave a wake of acne and a series of rashes anywhere on the body.

In my particular case the conventional treatment for colorectal cancer of Oxaliplatin or Campostar had mostly a drying effect on the skin. This was controlled with regular use of Sween Cream. With the newer drugs, the addition of the acne and rashes adds a new element in side-effects and in greatly increased attention.

TAKE YOUR SKIN SERIOUSLY!

My personal experience is that the rash and acne breakout can:

1. Occur anywhere on the body (I have had both of them on each heal).

2. Stay 3-4 weeks before moving to another area.

3. Return to a previously ravaged area.

4. Be symmetrical (if you get a breakout on your right side, you will most likely have a corresponding breakout on same part of your left side).

5. Itch.

6. Be sensitive to fragrances such as colognes & lotions.

7. Cause great discomfort with your antiperspirant or deodorant.

8. Cause some loss of hair as a result of severe acne breakout in the hair or a man’s beard or eyebrows.

Fortunately, these problems can be lessened through inexpensive and less time consuming methods, or the effects can be amplified with the addition of other more expensive products used with greater frequency.

The products I mentioned are not the only products that would provide the effective results. They just all have one thing in common—no irritating fragrances are added and they are very simple and pure products.

Another consideration that affects your results is if the climate in which you live has a lot of humidity. In Florida, the natural moisture would reduce the number of times a day you would need to use a moisturizer. One’s amount of natural skin oils can also affect the amount of extra care needed.

LOTIONS AND POTIONS

If you buy only one lotion or cream, buy Sween Cream by Coloplast Corporation product number 7069 www.us.coloplast.com/ECompany/USMed/Homepage.nsf/0/27289ee974cedd7685256f32006b91a7?OpenDocument. It can be found at most medical supply stores that sell ostomy supplies. Special order this if you must, because it is the most effective of the creams and is very reasonably priced. Sween Cream lasts through a number of light washings and would not require as many applications a day as some other products.

Moderately priced lotions and oils make from 100% Kukui Oil has been very effective in keeping my skin moist. The entire line of Kukui products is available at www.oilsofaloha.com Most of their products are fragrance free. The Kukui Moisturizing Cream has some fragrance and could be an issue for some individuals. However, both the Kukui Nut Oil and Moisturizing Lotion are fragrance free. It is available by Web purchase at the above address or toll-free at 800.367.6010. Delivery is prompt. I have not found this product on the mainland.

If you are able to spend more money and buy higher end skin care products, I can personally recommend Elemis products. Particularly effective is Skin Survival Cream, Absolute Eye Mask, S.O.S. Emergency Cream and Vitamin-Rich Body Lotion. Each individual is different in a different climate. So the frequency that one must apply a moisturizer each day will vary. Each product comes in very small quantities (you do not need much at all) and ranges in the $35-$50 range each! It can be ordered at www.timetospa.com Time-To-Spa has packages that combine many of the products you’ll need into one convenient packet. Elemis has products for both women and men and hails from England. It is distributed through Steiner in Florida and delivery is prompt. Is it worth the extra money? Maybe not, but you are! So treat yourself!

DEFOLIATE

It may be necessary to defoliate your face every other day to get rid of the unsightly peeling of dead skin from your face. For that frequent of usage it is important to use a mild defoliate that will be gentle and doesn’t contain artificial fragrances. Skin Buff and Energizing Skin Scrub from Elemis are two such products. There are other products that may be just as effective for less money. Just remember not to remove your first and second layer of skin in one application and stay away from fragrances.

HEALING TAKES LONGER

Because your skin is dry it is going to be easily damaged, cut and irritated. I have cut my hand opening a plastic lid on a bottle with the small ridges meant to increase you grip. It has taken weeks to heal! Your hands are by far the hardest part of your body to maintain. Every time you wash your hands use a lotion or cream of choice to restore the moisture that was lost during washing. Wash your hands frequently! Use lotion or oil frequently! Don’t add an infection to your list of woes. Avoid hand sanitizers as they will burn all the sensitive areas and dry your skin. When going about your daily routine you will be amazed at how everyday tasks zap the moisture completely out of your hands. The solution is to moisturize your hands and wear latex (or similar) gloves when you are washing, dishes, gardening, dusting, cleaning and just about anything else you can think of. Every time you remove the gloves be sure to re-lube and put the gloves back on. Wear them while napping and sleeping at night. This will make the biggest difference, if you can stand it! About two hours into a good night’s sleep, I rip them off and look for them in the morning.

HAIR INFESTATION CAUSES SPECIAL TREATMENTS

If you are one of the lucky ones that develop acne or rash in your hair or in the case of facial hair in men it can be a very uncomfortable situation. First, don’t get the shears out and decide hairless is best. It doesn’t work and I have been told first hand that it can make it worse trying to shave the area. Try Paul Mitchell’s Tea Green Shampoo www.paulmitchell.com/intro.asp. It works wonders on controlling the itch and in my case stopped the spread and just plain felt great! Paul Mitchell also makes body soap and conditioners in the Tree Green Line. This is not an ordinary shampoo/soap and neither is the cool, almost chilling feeling it leaves as it absorbs into your hair or beard!

OUCH! MY DEODORANT FEELS MORE LIKE EASY OFF OVEN CLEANER!

All of a sudden my underarms started to burn a red rash formed in and around my armpit. After feeling the increase in pain when applying my antiperspirant I knew I had a problem. I now use Sween Cream (to increase sticky surface) and Johnson’s Baby Powder with Pure Cornstarch. This I apply with a cotton round sprinkled with the baby powder. So far, I have had no strange looks or wrinkled noses. It really works!

SUPER GLUE IS NOT JUST FOR PLASTIC REFRIGERATOR PARTS

I have not tried it, but it has been recommended to me to use super glue on those nasty and painful cuticle tears by the nail. I’m sure its application will test one’s spirituality (it has got to burn like #@!*), but it should hold it together until the tear can heal. We all know that stuff is more durable than granite.

NAIL HEALTH MUST BE MONITORED

Both foot and hand nails can be affected with grooves and white marks. There are two methods that really help and work exceptional well when used together. First, defoliate both the hands and feet, but be careful! Because it is designed for hands and feet it will be courser than what you would use on your face. This coarseness can aggravate already damaged skin. Use common sense and your feeling of pain when applying. It works exceptional well in the cuticle area to remove dead skin. This combined with emery boards can help smooth the surface of your nails.

Nail polisher such as clear base coats and clear finger nail polish can help hide badly damaged nails and go a long way to protecting them from further damage. Moreand more men are finding the benefits of manicures and pedicures. They’re not just for women any more!

RESULTS WILL COME, BUT NOT OVER NIGHT!

The chemo you are taking is nasty stuff. In order to keep it under control you will need to work at it on a regular basis. Even when you have optimized your results, you will not look 21 again with all blemishes gone. You will still have some acne, rashes and delayed healing. I just know how much worse I felt before I found the secret to lessen the damage caused by the chemotherapy, my climate and skin type.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

In general, your hair’s health is a direct result of the quality of shampoo you use, for your scalp and skin are the same. I was totally amazed at the difference of my hair’s texture, luster and overall appearance by switching to a pretty pricy shampoo at $15.95 for a small bottle. But after weighing the small amount necessary and the length of time the product lasted; it wasn’t as expensive as first thought. I am no longer averse to paying premium process for premium results.

REMEMBER, IF YOU LOOK GOOD YOU WILL FEEL GOOD.

I have no connection with any product in this article, except that as a customer. The opinions expressed here are my own based upon my personal experience. Everyone is different and your results may differ from these. — JC Yoder 05/05

On June 12, 2006, Jeff passed away after a 5-year battle with colon cancer.

Since 2005, this article on skin care has been widely distributed to cancer patients by the Utah Cancer Center. Permission is granted to reproduce this article free of charge.

JEFFREY C. YODER
(1949-2006)

Tags: cancer patient, chemotherapy, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, healing

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Tags: cancer patient, chemotherapy, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, healing

Surgery is an important step in confirming and knowing the nature of the cancer. It can be conducted on patients with the combination of adjuvant chemotherapies and radiations, before and after the surgery.

Pleurectomy:
The most common surgery for Mesothelioma treatment is pleurectomy, in which doctors open the patient’s chest and remove the excessive fluid or tumor from the lining of the lungs (pleura). Although this procedure controls the accumulation of fluid and decreases pain, it still is not a cure. On the other hand, if the tumor is in its initial form and has not extensively grown, a pleurectomy can increase the survival rate of a patient when combined with chemotherapy and radiation. Additionally, a pleurectomy can be performed on patients with less-approving health conditions and has lower mortality rate than the extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP):
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is an invasive and severe form of surgery conducted on patients with Mesothelioma. In this treatment, parts of the lungs, the pleura (the lining of the lung), the pericardium (lining of the heart) and the hemi-diaphragm, along with the tumor cells, are removed. It decreases the progression of Mesothelioma, while allowing a patient to breathe smoothly. It is usually conducted on patients with early stages of the cancer and when the tumor is in chest cavity. EPP is recommended for patients with good heart and lungs conditions, in order to endure the severities of the post-operative term. Though the surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation gives promising results, it does not guarantee a cure. Researches have shown that patients treated with extrapleural pneumonectomy and therapies have a medium life span of 35 months after the surgery, compared to only 9 months of pleurectomy. Still, some doctors question the surgery for its high risks, which include internal bleeding, blood clotting, pneumonia, amassing of pus, respiratory failure and even death. Thus, many surgeons recommend the idea of pleurectomy instead of the technically complicated EPP.

Thoracentesis:
A minor surgery is often conducted on patients who cannot undergo EPP or pleurectomy, called thoracentesis. In thoracentesis, a thoracic surgeon inserts a needle into a patient’s chest to remove the excessive fluid built up in the lining of the lungs (pleura). This method neither cures nor decreases the cancer, but rather alleviate the painful symptoms of Mesothelioma. In some cases, talc or other agents are infused into a patient’s chests to scar the chest wall and help them breathe properly without letting the tumor to increase, to some extent.

Paracentesis:
Paracentesis is a similar method of using a needle to extract fluid, but from the abdominal section of the body. It follows the same procedure of extracting fluid from the lining of the stomach or other abdominal organs. Patients with peritoneal mesoblog.org/” target=”_blank Mesothelioma can benefit from paracentesis surgery.

Laura Russell is a professional health writer having expertise in the field of Mesothelioma Cancer

Tags: chemotherapy, mesothelioma

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Tags: chemotherapy, mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is mainly caused by exposure to asbestos during the production or use of asbestos products. It is widely believed that, for sixty years, the companies that dealt with asbestos related products knew about its hazards to health. The dangers of asbestos exposure were kept a secret by the companies for obvious reasons. This holding back of information on the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma has made those companies legally responsible for damages caused by their asbestos products.

Workers who subsequently contract this often fatal disease have the right to file lawsuits for damages. Mesothelioma claims settlements are huge, ranging from $200,000 to millions of dollars. Of course, that depends on the details of the case. Funds are usually set aside to repay the workers and their families.

In the United States, for instance, the median mesothelioma-related settlement is a million dollars. It is reported that cases that went into trial produced an average settlement of $6 million. Yet, it is important to remember that only a small portion of the thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits in the country are linked to mesothelioma.

Finding a decent lawyer to take care of these claims is vital. Since the settlements involve huge sums of money, attorneys are on the lookout for mesothelioma patients. Thus, claimants must take a cautious approach in finding an experienced lawyer to handle their claims.

Some law firms get hold of a mesothelioma victim, and transfer the information to lawyers experienced in handing such cases. Upon doing this, they get a decent referral fee from any successful claim. It is imperative for any lawyer selected to handle a mesothelioma case to have prior experience with litigation involving medical issues.

It is prudent to ask certain questions of attorneys who have been picked to handle the claim. The queries may include his experience in handling mesothelioma claims, the number of claims he has settled and the number that have gone into trial.

Mesothelioma claims can be a drawn-out affair, and law firms should have the necessary wherewithal to take care of them.

e-MesotheliomaInformation.com Mesothelioma Information provides detailed information on Mesothelioma Information, Mesothelioma Legal Information, Pleural Mesothelioma Information, Peritoneal Mesothelioma Information and more. Mesothelioma Information is affiliated with e-mesotheliomasymptoms.com Clinical Mesothelioma Symptoms.

Tags: mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma

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Tags: mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma