Cancer cells die off quickly if they do not have a blood supply. Cancers can grow only about 2 millimeters and then will stop growing unless they have more blood vessels. There are certain proteins that function to promote the development of new blood vessels. These proteins are specific growth factors that have important roles during development. An embryo, for example, needs new blood vessels that can grow all the way to the arms and legs, in order to develop fingers and toes distally. In the case of an injury, one needs blood vessels to grow and heal it. This explains why an injured area appears red. One such protein, which stimulates blood vessel growth, is known as vascular endothelial growth factor or vascuolotropin. This is secreted by the cancer cells and then binds to their specific receptor on the blood vessels and tells them to make more cells. This will initiate the process of angiogenesis - “angio” means vessels and “genesis” which means growth. On a microscopic view, some tumors have more blood vessels than others do. The more blood vessels a tumor has, the more blood supply it has, which in turn facilitates its growth. Thus, the more chances the cancer has of spreading, because there are more “roads” to spread out on. Some researchers think that perhaps we can measure vascular endothelial growth factor in the blood or in the breast duct fluid to see if there are new blood vessels growing.

A researcher from Boston made the astonishing discovery that cancers actually secrete not only growth promoting proteins, but also growth inhibiting ones (angiogenic inhibitors). These are substances that keep metastasis under control by inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels. Thus, when the primary cancer is removed, the metastasis grows more because the angiogenic inhibitors are also removed. It seems quite odd that a cancer would produce something from itself to stop it from growing. One would always think it is in the nature of cancer to want to spread and metastasize. Cancer will grow in its own area, but will keep any cells from growing in other organs. The idea is fanciful, but cancers do not seem to like having rivals. This is definitely not to suggest that if you have a cancer, you should ignore it because in won’t spread unless you undergo surgery. For one thing, it probably isn’t true for all cancers. For another, the process of metastasis after cancer surgery is far from absolute. It doesn’t stop the cancer from spreading; it only controls the metastasis already out there.

Anti-angiogenic drugs are now being tested in humans for breast cancer therapy. One of these is thalidomide. This drug blocks the growth of new blood vessels. This is why when pregnant women in the 60s took it to treat insomnia; their children were often born without arms and legs. But if you are not pregnant and you’re an adult who does not need more blood vessels, then you may want to ask your oncologist about treatment options involving thalidomide. Several anti-angiogenesis drugs being tested nowadays may not even have the adverse effects caused by thalidomide. Some new drugs that were developed for the treatment of arthritis, such as cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors are also anti-angiogenic. These drugs are being tested now for breast cancer prevention.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

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One of the most important discoveries resulting from the many years of cancer research is the indication that there may be several natural ways to prevent cancer. Learning how we might prevent cancer could be the most important tool in eradicating this disease.

Determining cancer prevention techniques has been difficult in many cases, because we don’t know what causes many types of cancer. However, there are many forms of cancer that are partly, or completely, preventable. For example, we know that the vast majority of those who suffer from lung cancer are smokers. And, a large percentage of skin cancer is caused by over exposure to the sun and lack of sun protection.

If we can further our research and learn the causes of more types of cancer, then we will be well on our way to preventing many incidences of this disease. There have been some promising findings, and it appears that one thing that we can do to prevent many different types of cancer is drink green tea.

Researchers began looking at green tea’s properties because of the vast differences in health concerns between Asian cultures and our own. While more Asians than Americans are smokers, they have a far lower incidence of heart disease and lung cancer – the two diseases most likely to affect smokers.

In addition, Asians have a lower incidence of cancer, heart disease and stroke over all than Americans. And, Asians drink, on average, four cups of green tea each day.

There is very promising news about the possibilities that green tea can help prevent disease. Green tea is loaded with some of the most powerful anti-oxidants around, and we know that anti-oxidants are one of the most important keys to preventing cancer and many other diseases that plague us.

Anti- oxidants are important because they combat free radicals in our bodies. These free radicals are created as a by product of converting the food we eat to energy. If they are not kept in check, they wreak havoc on our bodies by damaging our cells and DNA. This leads to faster aging and a higher risk of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and stroke. They even make us look older.

So, to prevent your risk of disease, doctors recommend that you have a diet high in anti-oxidants. And, not all anti-oxidants are created equal. It’s helpful to eat the foods that contain the most potent anti-oxidants. This includes pomegranates, tomatoes and blueberries. And, it also includes drinking green tea each day.

There have been many studies that link green tea with cancer prevention. One of the most interesting articles available on the subject was published by the University Hospitals of Cleveland. This article outlines in detail the findings of many studies that lead to the conclusion that green tea is effective at preventing many forms of cancer.

Green tea has been shown to be effective at protecting against many types of cancers when it becomes part of everyday life. It has shown promise in preventing colon cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and stomach cancer.

Most of these studies have been conducted on mice in laboratories or in vitro. And while, to be sure, we need to test the findings on humans, the indications are promising. And, to date, several human trials have begun. Of course, in the case of proving that green tea can prevent cancer, studies on humans would need to last for years to be conclusive.

There have also been some studies that indicate that green tea may even be effective at treating patients who already have cancer. Several studies have shown that traditional chemotherapy drugs were more effective when the patient was consuming green tea regularly during the months receiving treatment.

In addition to studies that indicate green tea’s effectiveness in preventing cancer when added to the diet, there is also indication that it may be effective at preventing and treating skin cancer when applied topically. Several studies have been conducted that have led to more research to be done on humans. It’s highly likely that you’ll see green tea extract added to your favorite sunscreen and skin care products in the future.

Green tea holds such wonderful possibilities, in part because it has no side effects. Even if green tea proves not to be effective at preventing or treating cancer, it is healthy and you can consume as much as you want without fear.

Another reason that green tea could hold so much promise is that it’s inexpensive. Adding green tea to your diet is a simple and cost effective way to protect your health. It is widely available and affordable to the masses.

So, drink up! Green tea is good for you – we know that. And, it’s likely that it’s even better for you than you imagined. A cup or two of green tea each day may be the key to protecting your health for years to come!

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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When someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, it can be a hard diagnosis to hear. If that someone is your own child, the diagnosis is unimaginable and unbearable. The best thing that you can to before you begin treatment for your child is to research cancer hospitals to make sure that you are getting them to a reputable hospital that is up to date on the latest in cancer treatments and research as you want to offer them the best possible chance of getting well again.

Finding the right hospital can be tricky. Many hospitals offer cancer treatments of one form or the other. The decision to where to take your child for decision is, of course, a personal one. Many physicians feel that the best place for a child to receive a cancer treatment is at a children’s hospital. While you can get treatment for you child at a hospital that also serves adults, children’s hospitals are geared to the needs of children from the decor to the types of treatments they offer. Childhood cancer is often seen as a different type of cancer than that in an adult. Finding a children’s hospital that works for you might mean having to travel and be away from home for awhile.

One of the well known children’s cancer hospitals is St. Jude’s Research and Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Families travel from all around the world for a second opinion or to receive treatment at St. Jude’s. They offer the latest in technology and treatment options and work hard to have the family involved in the treatment process.

Other children’s hospitals have pediatric cancer facilities that also offer the latest treatment options. The best thing that you can do for your child is to research hospitals and options before settling on where they are going to go. Feeling comfortable and assured with your child’s hospital, doctor and treatment options is the first step in helping your child to get well again.

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I can’t remember when it was that I first started to hear about the importance of having regular prostate checks but it must have been some time ago because by the time I was 50 I was already thinking it was something I must do “sometime”. Of course time slipped by and by the time I was 54 I still hadn’t actually done anything about it but I was noticing I was peeing far more frequently AND having to get up to go to the toilet through the night as well.

A cursory look on the net at “prostate symptoms” all seemed to suggest that the most common symptoms involved difficulty with peeing – hell, it was all I could do to hold it in once I’d had anything to drink- so I didn’t really take too much notice of the fine print that also said symptoms could also be frequent urination.

When I finally made it to my doctor’s, he didn’t seem too concerned about doing the digital test so we did the blood test. At the time I had never heard of a PSA test so was delighted I didn’t have to go through the indignity of having the “gloved finger trick” done on me. A subsequent visit for the results showed me as being on the upper side of normal high- at 4.3. Doctor Ross said we will keep an eye on that because the reading is elevated but not especially concerning so I reasoned next time I was in there, we would check it again.

That next time turned out to be early January this year, 12 months later. Amidst getting other things attended to – like getting a couple of skin cancers burned off, and getting a scrip for some asthma medications, I actually ended up on the street before I realised both of us had forgotten to do the blood test for the prostrate. When I think back now, I almost shudder when I realise how close I came to making a decision that could have spelled disaster. Even now I still remember thinking, “Bugger it- too much trouble for nothing, I’ll leave it till next time”. It was summer after all and my constant peeing hadn’t worsened – it was only the winter nights that really irked.

I don’t really remember what it was that changed my mind to phone up Doctor Ross again and make another appointment, but thankfully, that’s what I did. If I hadn’t done it, it would have probably been another year (or possibly more) before I had been retested.

This next time, with nothing else to distract proceedings I insisted on getting both tests done- the digital and the blood test. It was the first time I had ever the digital test- and it did not reveal anything. Doctor Ross said, “It seems to be satisfactorily squishy.”

January 8th 2007

Another week went by and another visit for the results of the blood test. This was the seminal moment (no pun intended) when my life started to change and for the first time the new experience of “being a passenger” on a train going somewhere I really didn’t want to go, began.

Doctor Ross was direct. “Your PSA has risen over one point in the last 12 months and you now have a reading of 5.7 so I’m going to send you to see Dr G and he’s going to want to do a biopsy to find out what’s going on.”

That was it! There was no discussion about soft options – there weren’t any. Everything was flat and matter of fact. While I didn’t know how the heck the procedure would be done, I was aware that it was a sufficiently “big deal” in that it would involve a surgical procedure under general anaesthetic. Not for one split second did the thought cross my mind that anything nasty would be found. All I could think, was that some small, stupid irregularity somewhere was going to cause me to have to go through a whole lot of “stuff” for nothing – a total waste of time and money! I was even almost resentful of the way Doctor Ross grabbed hold of his pad and started to write the referral. He never even asked me if I thought it was a good idea- it was a done deal!

Dan Jarrett - one man’s journey battling prostate cancer includes a diary, resources and blog. We look at things in layman’s terms and discuss matters such as sex openly covering things that the medics don’t tell you.
dansprostate.com dansprostate.com

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