Considered the most deadly of cancers, Lung cancer does not present any symptoms until it is well advanced. This reduces the success rate of treatments. In the United States, over 170,000 Americans are diagnosed annually. Smoking, along with other environmental exposures, is a causative agent in contracting lung cancer. Surprisingly, causes more cancer deaths in women than even breast cancer.

The traditional approaches to the treatment of lung cancer include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. One or more of these treatments are often used in combination. There are an increasing number of new approaches in development, as well.

By way of definition, the major treatments for lung cancer are; chemotherapy, treatment with strong medication and one of the major procedures used today; Surgery, indicated when cancer is localized, used to prevent its spread (metastasis); radiation, or high-energy x-rays, which are sometimes used in combination with surgery or chemotherapy, to kill cancer cells.
A somewhat newer treatment Immunotherapy is used to boost the individual’s own immune system to fight the disease more naturally.

Among the alternative therapies showing promise, Controlled Amino Acid Therapy (CAAT) has been developed and studied at the A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research. This procedure involves carbohydrate and protein deprivation. Dr. Marco Rabinwitz at the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Albert Lorincz of the University of Chicago have conducted research to support CAAT and its effectiveness in treating cancer. Briefly, CAAT has specific diet protocols and amino acid supplements which are scientifically formulated. This combination works to impair development and proliferation of cancerous cells.

In chemotherapy treatment, there are some new medications which work differently than traditional chemical agents. A treatment approved over 4 years ago, Gefitinib is administered in pill form. Specifically, it targets and blocks an enzyme which stimulates tumor cell growth and spreading. Another new chemotherapy treatment involves a combination of two chemical/biochemical agents - Bevacizumab and Erlotinib. Still in the study phase, this treatment is demonstrating promising results. Erlotinib works inside the cancer cell. It inhibits signals which trigger cancer cell growth. Bevacizumab, an antibody, functions outside of the cancer cell, prohibiting growth of blood vessels which would feed the tumor.

Photodynamic Therapy or PDT is yet another new treatment. In PDT a phototoxic drug (photosensitizer) is administered and followed by light exposure, either conventional or laser, targeting the cancerous tumor. An FDA approved method, it‘s current application is for solid cancerous lesions. Within the PDT treatment, various immune cells play a critical role in effectiveness of tumor reduction and eradication, facilities, such as the BC Cancer Research Centre are examining the use PDT and immunotherapy in concert, using immunotherapy to catalyze the PDT.

With lung cancer being the most deadly and affecting such a broad spectrum of the population, the search for new and more effective treatments continues. Most promising are those that target more specific mechanisms of cancer cell growth. Basic research, conducted over the years, is now providing the background for development of more effective and less devastating lung cancer treatments.

Logan Pallas explores various

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COPD or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease that has no cure. The most common cause of COPD is smoking cigarettes. COPD can lead to lethal diseases such as Lung Cancer. It is very important that if you are a smoker that you watch for the early warning signs. When this disease is caught early your doctor can assist you in controlling it.

COPD is caused when the respiratory system is damaged. The body creates symptoms as it tries to compensate for the disease. Anyone who has been smoking for a long time is at high risk to develop COPD. The most obvious symptom of COPD is persistent coughing, also the chest begins to become barrel shaped.

Those who suffer with COPD often produce sputum when they cough. The sputum is often clear, white or yellowish in color. In severe cases the sputum may also contain small amounts of blood. COPD causes shortness of breath. Most sufferers do not notice this symptom until it very progressed. This is because people assume that their lack of breath is due to lack of exercise.

When breathing a person who suffers from COPD may hear a wheezing sound in their chest. This caused by the air passing through the lungs. This is because the airways have been partially blocked. Rapid weight loss is also a sign of COPD, because the lung has to expend more calories to do simple tasks.

There are many great resources on the internet for researching

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Tags: lung cancer

More and more is being learned (or “re-learned”) each day about the mind-body connection. The relatively new field of psychoneuroimmunology is exploding with amazing discoveries about how thoughts and emotions affect the body’s immune and other systems, to create or reverse dis-ease.

Although medical “evidence” in the way of approved and reproducible large-scale studies are slow to come about, case stories of how people have used mind-body-spirit techniques–such as meditation, prayer, visualization, affirmations, and hypnosis -abound.

Hypnosis is a very effective mind-body-spirit technique for producing change. And cancer patients have a variety of psychological, medical, and even spiritual needs that may be addressed through hypnosis.

The side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments are popularly regarded as being as bad as–or even worse than–the cancer itself. Such side effects, which include nausea, anticipatory nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, hair loss, and even radiation burning are often successfully prevented or reduced using hypnotic suggestion.

Since many medications given to cancer patients are to deal with these numerous side effects, by using hypnosis to assist you in avoiding or reducing these side effects, you will have the added benefit of reducing the amount of medications you and your body must cope with taking.

Hair loss is another common concern among people who must undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments. There are some wonderful hypnotic suggestions that have been shown to be effective in greatly reducing and even preventing hair loss from these treatments. That is a big relief to many people and helps increase the self-esteem and dignity that many feel they lose along with their hair.

Pain–whether it be from the effects of the cancer or of the chemo or radiation–is a prominent issue for some. As discussed under “surgery,” hypnosis is very effective in pain management. In fact, this is one of the most well-known applications of hypnosis. With decreased pain also comes the ability to feel more comfortable, resume favorite or even every-day activities, and reduce pain medication. And, at a minimum, the use of hypnosis for pain management allows terminal patients to live out their remaining days in some peace and comfort while not under a haze of strong pain medication.

The ability to control nausea and vomiting through hypnosis has several advantages: When used during the treatments, it makes the experience less stressful and helps the time pass more quickly (since time seems shorter while in hypnosis). As a skill that most anyone can learn and use themselves, it offers a sense of personal control over the cancer, treatments, and outcome, rather than the increased sense of helplessness and depression that the use of numerous drugs and giving one’s self over to the medical system can often induce.

Among the numerous tests and procedures that you may go through during your road to healing, you may find that a strong fear or phobia (such as a fear of enclosed spaces, doctors/hospitals, or needles) is creating a lot of anxiety for you or even impeding your ability to go through the suggested treatments. Hypnosis has been helping people for countless years to eliminate such fears or reduce them down to manageable levels.

Some of my most rewarding sessions have been working with cancer patients to prepare them physically, emotionally, and even spiritually for what lies ahead in their healing and improve their chances of recovery. If you or someone you know is currently dealing with this issue, read some of my cancer clients’ testimonials on my website at

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The vast majority of men will develop prostate problems of some description as they get older, with the first signs of trouble appearing for a few men at about the age of 50, or possibly slightly earlier. By the age of 60 about half of all men will be experiencing prostate symptoms and this figure will have increased to about ninety percent by the age of 80.

For most men prostate symptoms will be fairly mild and, because most of us begin to develop a range of medical problems at this point in our lives, it is not uncommon for men to simply ignore prostate symptoms as nothing more than a normal part ageing. As many prostate problems are not serious, and the symptoms can often be very mild, this is not necessarily a problem and you can live with many prostate problems quite happily and without them doing you any real harm.

However, not all prostate problems are harmless and if your particular prostate problem happens to be prostate cancer and you ignore it then it could quite easily start to spread and eventually kill you. Indeed, ignoring prostate symptoms is the main reason why prostate cancer represents the second highest cause of cancer death the United States.

There are many different symptoms which might point to a developing prostate problem and one difficulty we have in recognizing the cause of these symptoms is that they are often symptoms which could arise for many different reasons. However, if symptoms are not being caused by prostate problems then they will often to be short lived (stemming from a bacterial infection for example) and will disappear in a matter of days without the need for treatment. However, where symptoms stay with you, or appear on a regular basis, then there it is likely that they are being caused by a problem with the prostate gland.

Common symptoms include:

Difficulty beginning urination and the need to strain in order to start urination.
A loss of strength in the flow of urine.
A flow of urine which tends to stop and start.
A feeling that you need to urinate even after you’ve just been to the bathroom.
A need to visit the bathroom urgently and problems in ‘waiting’.
The need to visit the bathroom more frequently and, in particular, to get up to visit the bathroom during the night.
A tendency to dribble urine for a while after you have finished in the bathroom.

These symptoms indicate that prostate problems may be developing and although, in most cases, such problems will not be serious this is not always the case.

Accordingly, as soon as these symptoms appear, you should consult your doctor who will be able to tell you exactly what the problem is and how to treat it. More importantly, if the problem does turn out to be prostate cancer, he can recommend treatment while the problem is in its early stages and can be relatively easily treated and, hopefully, eliminated altogether.

ProstateProblemCenter.com provides prostateproblemcenter.com” target=”_blank prostate problem information and advice on such topics as spotting an prostateproblemcenter.com/prostate-symptoms.html” target=”_blank enlarged prostate symptom to prostate surgery.

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Tags: prostate cancer

Skin cancer prevention is preached by medical professionals all over the United States. This is no surprise given that the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation reported more than one million Americans were diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in 2005. Despite the medical evidence available on skin cancer, our society remains focused on tanning beds and sunbathing without using the proper protection.

Skin cancer comes in two forms, melanomas and non-melanomas. Melanomas usually account for only four percent of diagnosed skin cancers, but they are considered to be the most deadly. Melanomas occur in the epidermis, the skin’s outer layer, usually appearing as a dark mole with uneven edges.

If detected early through skin cancer prevention, melanomas can be eliminated without causing harm. If ignored, these cancers can break away and spread to other parts of the body. Non-melanomas, on the other hand, are comprised of two different cell types, basal cells and squamous cells. Both of these cells are caused from sun exposure, but basal cells form in the lower epidermis while squamous cells form in the upper epidermis.

Preventing skin cancer is often associated with older generations, but today you see more teenagers and young adults spending excessive amounts of time in the sun. Without the proper protection, our society could see a surge in skin cancer diagnosis. Tanning beds are another cause of skin cancer and are often used throughout the year, not just during the summer months.

Proper prevention begins with knowing what you need to be sun safe any time of the year. If you have light colored hair and fair skin, you should be weary of exposing yourself to over indulge in the sun’s rays. You should also be aware if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with skin cancer because this could increase your chances of developing the disease.

Sunscreen is recommended as a form of protection against the sun. The American Cancer Society urges the use of waterproof sunscreen that has an SPF15 or more of both UVA and UVB protection. You should also apply at least an ounce of sunscreen for your body twenty minutes before going out into the sun.

Too often, individuals forget to re-apply their sunscreen after being exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays. Also be sure to avoid the sun during 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because this is when the sun’s rays are most intense. Staying unprotected in the sun during this time is when you put yourself in the danger zone for damaging healthy skin cells.

Proper skin cancer prevention should be practiced by everyone in your family, even babies. Doctors recommend babies that are six months or younger stay out of the sun. Teaching your children to be sun smart is important for their health too.

Find shady areas when you take them outside to play and be sure they have the proper protection on. Clothing is another way to protect yourself and your family from harmful rays. Wear hats that have wide brims to cover all areas of your neck, ears, eyes and scalp.

Skin cancer prevention does not mean you have to avoid the sun altogether. It just means you should be smart when you do go outside. Remembering to use a protective sunscreen all year is a great way to start your cancer prevention routine.

Know your skin and any marks or freckles so you can recognize abnormalities that may develop. The sooner you start guarding yourself from harmful rays, the better you raise your chance of avoiding skin cancer.

Visit Mike Selvon cancerprevention.trustprofitableniche.com/cancer_prevention.php cancer prevention portal for more information on cancerprevention.trustprofitableniche.com/skin_cancer_prevention.php skin cancer prevention, and leave a comment at our mynicheportal.com/health-beauty/about-skin-cancer-prevention cancer prevention blog. Don’t forget to claim your FREE self help ebook on dealing with cancer.

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Tags: cancer prevention, melanoma, skin cancer