Prostate health is one of the most important aspects of a man’s health and is essential in the prevention of a number of conditions that can affect it. In recent years the issue of prostate health has moved to the forefront of many news and media stories and many of us know or have known someone who has suffered from prostate problems.

If you’re a man, chances are that you will eventually have some form of problem with your prostate gland. More than half of men over age 60 develop an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. In addition, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 184,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. New cases of prostate cancer have increased rapidly in recent years. Most of this increase has been attributed to the greater use of screening guidelines, and especially the widespread introduction of the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test.

The causes of prostate cancer are not fully known. The risk of developing prostate cancer rises sharply after age 50, and risk doubles every ten years thereafter. Men with close family members (father or brother) who have had prostate cancer are more likely to get prostate cancer themselves, especially if their relatives were young when they got the disease. Fortunately there is promising research that shows preventive measures and early detection screening should help reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer.

The three common diseases of the prostate are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate, prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and prostate cancer. The modern lifestyle of stress; long hours of sitting, driving or TV watching; stuffing food and emotions; eating fast food, flesh and milk products; regular intake of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol; and environmental toxicity all set the stage for chronic, debilitating and degenerative diseases, including prostate enlargement (BPH Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy) and prostate cancer.

We have become a nutritionally advanced culture who has learned more and more about natural supplements and products that can help us achieve and maintain health much longer than we used to, as well as to eat the right foods that will make our organs function at peak levels well into late ages. The foods that a man can eat to support the health of your prostate actually have multiple health benefits in addition to prostate health. This is because they are mostly classed into a coined group of foods dubbed “super foods” for their healing and health promoting properties, as well as therapeutic uses.

As long as you maintain a quality diet with a variety of color, less red meats and more fruits and veggies, you can rest assured you are doing all you can to promote a long, healthy and complication free life for your prostate gland. Not only that, these foods will benefit other areas of your health as well, making it well worth your while to pay attention to what you put in your body.

Prostate health is extremely important and requires the same attention that you would afford any other part of your body. It is emerging as a key priority in health care today, but despite the increasing awareness of its affects many men remain unaware of its symptoms, the damage it can do and the treatments available.

To learn more about prostate-health.health-choices-net.com Prostate Health please visit the website prostate-health.health-choices-net.com Prostate Health Answers by clicking here.

Tags: healing, prostate cancer

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Why do women fear breast cancer more than any other disease? Because each year thousands of women develop breast cancer in our society and as scary as it sounds the percentage of breast cancer continues to rise. This type of cancer is very common in our society. Nevertheless, with the help of medical technologies breast cancer is now 90% curable when diagnosed early.

We do not know what causes breast cancer, although we do know that certain risk factors may put you at higher risk of developing it. A person’s age, genetic factors, personal health history and diet all contribute to breast cancer risk.

Before I go any further, we need to start at square one. We may know what breast cancer is, but do we really know the entire factors (details) behind the disease? Let us ask ourselves, “What is breast cancer?”

Breast cancer is when the cells in a woman’s body begin to grow and reproduce out of control, which creates a collection of tissue called a tumor. However, just because you have a tumor in the breast does not mean it has to be cancerous.
If the cells that are growing out of control are normal cells, the tumor is not cancerous. However, if the cells that are growing out of control are abnormal and does not function like the body’s normal cells, the tumor is cancerous.
Cancers are named after the part of the body from which they originate. Breast cancer originates in the breast tissue. Like other cancers, breast cancer can infect and grow into the tissue surrounding the breast. It can also pass through to other parts of the body and form new tumors. This course of action is called metastasis.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, after nonmelanoma skin cancer. Over the past 50 years, the number of women diagnosed with the disease has increased each year.
Today, approximately one in almost every eight women (13.4%) will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer death among women ages 35 to 54.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, approximately 211,240 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and approximately 40,410 will die. Although these numbers may sound frightening, research tells us that the death rate could decrease by 30% if all women age 50 and older who need a mammogram had one.

Only 5-10% of breast cancers occur in women with a clearly defined genetic predisposition for the disease. The majority of breast cancer is not related to their family history. The risk for developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages.

Below I listed the warning signs of breast cancer. It is important to understand what the disease is and to know the symptoms, so you can get medical attention if necessary.

Look for:

• Lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.

• A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.

• A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.

• A bloodstained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple.

• A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).

• Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

• An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

• A marble-like hardened area under the skin.
These changes may be found when performing monthly breast self-exams. By performing breast self-exams, you can become familiar with the normal monthly changes in your breasts. All doctors stress the importance of breast examinations. The problem is that most women do not know how to give a breast examination to them and instead wait until they see their doctor. By then it could be too late. This is why it is important to learn how to give you a breast examination.

Breast self-examination should be performed at the same time each month, three to five days after your menstrual period ends. If you have stopped menstruating, perform the exam on the same day of the month. To perform a breast self-exam, follow the steps described below.

In the mirror:

1. Stand undressed from the waist up in front of a large mirror in a well-lit room. Look at your breasts. Do not be alarmed if they do not look equal in size or shape. Most women’s breasts are not. With your arms relaxed by your sides, look for any changes in size, shape or position, or any changes to the skin of the breasts. Look for any skin puckering, dimpling, sores or discoloration. Inspect your nipples and look for any sores, peeling or change in the direction of the nipples.

2. Next, place your hands on your hips and press down firmly to tighten the chest muscles beneath your breasts. Turn from side to side so you can inspect the outer part of your breasts.

3. Then bend forward toward the mirror. Roll your shoulders and elbows forward to tighten your chest muscles. Your breasts will fall forward. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts.

4. Now, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward. Again, turn from side to side to inspect your breasts’ outer portions. Remember to inspect the border underneath your breasts. You may need to lift your breasts with your hand to see this area.

5. Check your nipples for discharge (fluid). Place your thumb and forefinger on the tissue surrounding the nipple and pull outward toward the end of the nipple. Look for any discharge. Repeat on your other breast.
In the shower
6. Now, it is time to feel for changes in the breast. It is helpful to have your hands slippery with soap and water. Check for any lumps or thickening in your underarm area. Place your left hand on your hip and reach with your right hand to feel in the left armpit. Repeat on the other side.

7. Check both sides for lumps or thickenings above and below your collarbone.

8. With hands soapy, raise one arm behind your head to spread out the breast tissue. Use the flat part of your fingers from the other hand to press gently into the breast. Follow an up-and-down pattern along the breast, moving from bra line to collarbone. Continue the pattern until you have covered the entire breast. Repeat on the other side.

Lying down

9. Next, lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with fingers together and flat. Body lotion may help to make this part of the exam easier.

10. Think of your breast as a face on a clock. Start at 12 o’clock and move toward 1 o’clock in small circular motions. Continue around the entire circle until you reach 12 o’clock again. Keep your fingers flat and in constant contact with your breast. When the circle is complete, move in one inch toward the nipple and complete another circle around the clock. Continue in this pattern until you have felt the entire breast. Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.

11. Place your fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes. Gently press your nipple inward. It should move easily.
Repeat steps 9, 10 and 11 on your other breast.
Cancerous tumors are more likely to be found in certain parts of the breast over others. If you divide the breast into 4 sections, the approximate percentage of breast cancers found in each area are (in clockwise pattern):

• 41% upper, outer quadrant
• 14% upper, inner quadrant
• 5% lower, inner quadrant
• 6% lower, outer quadrant
• 34% in the area behind the nipple

Almost half occur in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, towards the armpit. Some physicians refer to this region as the “tail” of the breast and encourage women to examine it closely.

See your doctor if you discover any new breast changes, changes that continue after your menstrual cycle, or other changes that you are concerned about such as:

• An area that is distinctly different from any other area on either breast.

• A lump or thickening in, near the breast, or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle.

• A change in the size, shape or contour of the breast.

• A mass or lump, which may feel as small as a seed.

• A marble-like area under the skin.

• A change in the feel or appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple (dimpled, puckered, scaly or inflamed).

• Bloody or clear fluid discharge from the nipples.

• Redness of the skin on the breast or nipple.

If you go to your doctor and your doctor finds cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eliminate the breast cancer, to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis.

The type of treatment recommended will depend on the size and location of the tumor in the breast, the results of lab tests done on the cancer cells and the stage or extent of the disease. Your doctor usually considers your age and general health as well as your feelings about the treatment options.

Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic.

• Local treatments are used to remove, destroy or control the cancer cells in a specific area, such as the breast. Surgery and radiation treatment are local treatments.

• Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells all over the body. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy such as tamoxifen, and biologic therapies like Herceptin, are systemic treatments. A patient may have just one form of treatment or a combination, depending on her needs.

Following local breast cancer treatment, the treatment team will determine the likelihood that the cancer will recur outside the breast. This team usually includes a medical oncologist, a specialist trained in using medicines to treat breast cancer. The medical oncologist, who works with the surgeon, may advise the use of tamoxifen or possibly chemotherapy. These treatments are used in addition to, but not in place of, local breast cancer treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Remember get a mammogram. You should have a baseline mammogram at age 35 and a screening mammogram every year after age 40. Mammograms are an important part of your health history. If you go to another healthcare provider, or move, take the film (mammogram) with you.

Examine your breasts each month after age 20. You will become familiar with the contours and feel of your breasts and will be more alert to changes.

Have your breast examined by a healthcare provider at least once every three years after age 20, and every year after age 40. Clinical breast exams can detect lumps that may not be detected by mammogram. Never be afraid to ask questions. Contact your American Cancer Society that can answer your questions or lead you to the person that can answer your questions.

I have written many published articles. I have appeared three times on News 12 on the talk show New Jersey Women and has had articles written about her efforts to help people with epilepsy. I have contributed time in helping people with epilepsy and making society more aware of the disorder

Books Written and Published :

1. Epilepsy You’re Not Alone
2. Eternal Love: Romantic Poetry Straight from the Heart
3. My Mommy Has Epilepsy (Children’s Book)
4. Keep the Faith: To Live and Be Heard from the Heavens Above (poetry book)
5. Live, Learn, and Be Happy with Epilepsy
6. Epilepsy and Pregnancy: What Every Women Should Know
Co-authored by Dr. Blanca Vasques.
7. Faith, Courage, Wisdom, Strength and Hope (Poetry Book)
8. Let the love of Life Be the strength of your Soul

9. How to Become Wealthy Selling Informational Products

Tags: breast cancer, cancer risk, cancer treatment, chemotherapy, lung cancer, melanoma, skin cancer

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The process of demonstrating whether a novel treatment method is better than the previous ones requires breast cancer patients to volunteer to take part in the testing of new drugs and procedures. These tests are called clinical trials.

Clinical trials need to be done in an unbiased way, if their results are to be deemed reliable. This would call for women to be randomly assigned into one or more treatment groups. In the end, the outcomes of the treatment of the various groups of the trial are compared against each other. Randomization of research subjects in clinical trials is responsible for the many recent advances in cancer treatment. Data drawn from several trials have shown that less surgery and radiation therapy are as effective as more invasive mastectomies (breast resection). Some also show that providing chemotherapy to women with non-metastasized breast cancer prevents the appearance of systemic spread and that the use of tamoxifen (a selective estrogen receptor modulator) increases the cure rate in women with hormone positive breast cancer. Through the randomized method, the physician and investigator bias has been eliminated, which is a major problem in clinical research trials comparing a novel therapy to standard treatment.

Women who have been willing to participate in clinical research trials have made a significant contribution to medical advancement. Each of these trials tests a new hypothesis and the results then become a knowledge base for succeeding clinical trials. In order to show significant differences in therapeutic modalities, several thousand women are needed as research subjects for each trial. These volunteers are well aware that they may be getting established or experimental treatment and will not be told which. These women bravely participated with this magnitude of uncertainty, not knowing if one treatment is more or less effective than the other, but agreed to help answer the question of which the more optimal therapy was. The difference in each treatment regimen in trials today involves the sequencing of various treatments or the addition of a new drug.

There are also studies called pilot trials. These are usually done in a center that is implementing clinical research that is not sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and is not randomized. Usually, these studies are sponsored by drug companies, or conducted at a university. There are safeguards in place in pilot studies to protect the research subjects as much as possible. Oftentimes, these protocols are only for women with advanced cancer who may be willing to place themselves at risk because of limited treatment options available to them at that that late stage of breast cancer.

Most human clinical research trials are divided into three phases depending upon the question, which it is attempting to answer. Phase I testing is designed to determine if a new treatment has acceptable tolerability to cancer patients and at what dosage significant side effects start to occur. Once a drug or a treatment method has been proven safe, Phase II clinical trials quantifies the objective response rate, that is, if treatment results in a measurable reduction in cancer. In women with breast cancer, both Phase I and II testing is performed on those with metastatic spread. Phase III testing involves a comparison of standard treatment to a promising one that has already gone through Phase I and II testing. Most women enrolled in this phase of clinical trials are those with a newly diagnosed breast cancer.

If you have breast cancer and you would wish to participate in such a trial, ask your oncologist if you are eligible to enroll in one. Your ability to participate may depend on the health care delivery system you are in, so you should talk to your Health Insurance Company or HMO representative. Generally, the coming years should prove very promising in the field of breast cancer research, primarily because there are phenomenal scientific resources being dedicated to the cause.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

Tags: breast cancer, cancer patient, cancer treatment, chemotherapy

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Are you at risk?

Cancer kills an estimated 526,000 Americans yearly, second only to heart disease. The most common cancers in the United States are cancer of the lung, large bowel, and breast. Rothman, K.J. in Preventive Medicine 9(2):174-179, 1980, found that there is now considerable evidence to suggest a connection between heavy alcohol consumption and increased risk for cancer, with an estimated 2 to 4 % of all cancer cases thought to be caused either directly or indirectly by alcohol.

There is also a strong connection between alcohol use and cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, and mouth, whereas a more controversial association links alcohol with liver, breast, and colorectal cancers. The American Cancer Society found that together, these cancers kill more than 125,000 people annually in the United States.

Alcohol Will NOT Allow You To Be Cancer Free For Life

Research shows a link between the level of alcohol consumption and certain types of cancer. As alcohol consumption increases, so does risk of developing certain cancers, such as cancers of the upper digestive tract, the esophagus, the mouth, the pharynx, and the larynx. Other data link alcohol consumption and cancers of the liver, breast, and colon.

An estimated 75 % of esophageal cancers in the United States are attributable to chronic, excessive alcohol consumption.

Nearly 50 % of cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx are associated with heavy drinking. People who drink large quantities of alcohol over time have an increased risk of these cancers as compared with abstainers. If they drink and smoke, the increase in risk is even more dramatic.

Liver. Prolonged, heavy drinking has been associated in many cases with primary liver cancer. However, it is liver cirrhosis, whether caused by alcohol or another factor, that is thought to induce the cancer. In the United States, liver cancer is relatively uncommon, afflicting approximately 2 people per 100,000, but excessive alcohol consumption is linked to as many as 36 percent of these cases. Alcohol CANNOT promote a cancer free for life.

Mechanisms of Alcohol-Related Cancers

Preliminary studies show that alcohol may affect cancer development at the genetic level by initiating and promoting cancer. Acetaldehyde, a product of alcohol metabolism, impairs a cell’s natural ability to repair its DNA, resulting in a greater likelihood that mutations causing cancer will occur.

Alcohol assists in the development of cancer

Alcohol may act as a co-carcinogen by enhancing the cancer-provoking effects of other chemicals. The risk for mouth, tracheal, and esophageal cancer is 35 times greater for people who both smoke and drink than for people who neither smoke nor drink, implying a co-carcinogenic interaction between alcohol and tobacco-related carcinogens.

Alcohol’s cancer producing effect may be explained by its interaction with enzymes that normally help to detoxify substances that enter the body. Carcinogens such as those from tobacco and diet can become more potent as they pass through the esophagus, lungs, intestines, and liver and encounter the activated enzyme.

Nutrition. Chronic alcohol abuse may result in abnormalities in the way the body processes nutrients and promote certain types of cancer. Reduced levels of iron, zinc, vitamin E, and some of the B vitamins, common in heavy drinkers, have been experimentally associated with some cancers. Also, levels of vitamin A, hypothesized to have anticancer properties, are severely depressed in the liver and esophagus during chronic alcohol consumption. For a cancer free life, just watching your diet will not reduce your chances of developing cancer in your body.

A recent study indicates that as few as two drinks per day can suppress any beneficial effects of a “correct” diet on decreasing risk of colon cancer. Although the study suggests that a diet high in folic acid, a B vitamin found in fresh fruits and vegetables, decreases the risk for colon cancer, it also warns that alcohol consumption may counter this protective action and increase the risk for colon cancer by reducing folic acid levels.

Suppression of immune response

Alcoholism has been associated with suppression of the immune system. Immune suppression makes chronic alcohol users more susceptible to various infectious diseases, and to cancer. For your best chances to remain cancer free for life, you would be best to reduce your alcohol consumption to a minimum. This means a maximum of two alcoholic beverages NO MORE than 3 times a week.

by Dr Laurence Magne, publisher of Alternative Health Ebooks and Author of cancer-free-for-life.com” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow Cancer Free for Life

For more information go to cancer-free-for-life.com cancer-free-for-life.com

Tags: colon cancer, colorectal cancer

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