Most people claim that we are making giant steps towards winning the war on cancer. However, 40 years ago, one in every five individuals would develop cancer. Nowadays the odds aren’t getting better. Today the chance of somebody developing any form of cancer is one in three.

While some cancers are deadlier than others, it is important to note that all cancers are extremely serious and require close medical care and supervision. This article will only discuss cancer in general. A detailed description of each kind of cancer can be found on numerous web sites and medical books for closer inspection and understanding.

Cancer can mean a lot of things to many people but medically, cancer it self pertains to a condition where are cells produce rapidly on an area of the body for no logical reason. This rapid growth in cells results in a mass which we call a tumor. A tumor can be benign or malignant; if it is benign, it can be removed by a simple surgery, but if it is malignant, the uncontrolled cell growth can overwhelm the body’s normal defensive system and can often lead to death.

Recognizing cancer in its early stages can be tricky but the normal signs include the following:

If urine is bloody or painful, or if one feels a frequent need to urinate, it might be a sign of bladder cancer. Lumps in the breast, swelling and itching in the breast area, or sore nipples could be signs of breast cancer. Bloody stools, frequent diarrhoea, or constipation can indicate colon cancer.

Cervical cancer starts with heavier bleeding, increased pain during menstruation, or unusual vaginal discharges. Prostate cancer starts with weak urination, pain in the pelvic region, or chronic back pain. Unusual bumps on or under the skin, darkened moles and sores that bleed or do not heal are signs of skin cancer. At the first sign of any of these cancers, you must see your doctor immediately for further testing. Early diagnosis of cancer is one of the most important aspects of beating the disease and increasing your chances of survival.

The potential causes of cancer are numerous. There are obvious carcinogens like smoking, pesticides and pollution. Unhealthy lifestyle choices like the overuse of alcohol and drugs, excessive exposure to the sun, being overweight and a failure to handle stress all contribute to the formation of cancer cells. Cancer can also be hereditary. Other cancer-causing substances you may not be aware of are: chlorinated water, mercury fillings in the teeth, processed foods with artificial colors and additives, diets low in fiber or high in fat and eating cured meats like hot dogs, salami, ham and bacon. Heavy use of artificial sweeteners, excessive sugar consumption, birth control pills, estrogen therapy, heavy coffee consumption, severe burns and a history of venereal disease also pose as higher risk factors for certain cancers.

There are many vitamins you can take to lessen your risk of cancer or help treat a cancerous condition you may already have. For all cancers, vitamins A, C and E are important antioxidants and proven immunity enhancers. Calcium carbonate can lessen the cancer cells in the colon lining. Kelp, coenzyme Q10 and folic acid can reduce tumors in breast-cancer patients. Lycopene, omega-3, zinc and grapeseed have also shown strong anticancer properties.

Popular herbs to supplement these vitamins are liquid garlic, ginger and curcumin. These herbs have shown great promise in the prevention of cancer, especially skin and prostate cancer. Drinking several cups of green tea daily has also been proven in many studies to boost your body’s immunity to cancer.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

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Tags: breast cancer, cancer patient, cervical cancer, colon cancer, prevent cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide. It is also one of the most preventable types of cancer.

Cervical cell changes are often caused by a sexually transmitted virus called the human papilloma virus or ‘HPV’. Most HPV infections will clear on their own once the immune system has dealt with it,and not lead to cervical cancer. Often, a woman infected with HPV will never know that she has been infected.

When a woman goes for her annual Pap test, the changes in the cervix are detected. A doctor is not usually alarmed by slight changes, as this can be caused by irritation or inflammation of the cervix, and will recommend retesting in 6 months. If, however, the changes do not revert back to normal, further testing is required to deal with possible precancerous tissue.

As long as regular testing is done, precancerous cells can be removed usually with no long term problems for the patient. Thankfully, truly invasive cervical cancer takes years to develop, but it is best to have it treated as soon as possible for peace of mind, and to avoid complications down the road.

Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms, as they may be a symptom of cervical changes or cancer:

• Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse

• Pelvic pain

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Unusual vaginal discharge

• Abnormal bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods

Do not be afraid to tell your doctor anything that concerns you. It is your body and you have a right to protect your health. They’ve heard it all before, please don’t feel embarrassed!

Ingrid Tiessen writes about health and lifestyle issues, and has undergone treatment for cervical dysplasia. To learn more, visit her blog, cervdysplasia.blogspot.com/ cervdysplasia.blogspot.com/

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Tags: cervical cancer

Texas governor Rick Perry will most likely face some stiff opposition for the use of his executive order last week. He bypassed the state legislature to make Texas the first state to require school aged girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus known as HPV (human papillomavirus).

This virus is thought to cause cervical cancer in women years after being infected. HPV eventually infects over half of all sexually active people and also causes genital warts.

The vaccine being promoted is called ‘Gardasil’ made by Merk & Co., a new vaccine that claims to block four common strains of the HPV virus. Merk says that ‘Gardasil’ prevents 99 percent of infections by two HPV stains that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer and two strains that cause most genital warts.

The grim statistics estimate that around 9,700 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States resulting in about 3,700 deaths.

Starting in the fall of 2008 girls as young as 11 to 12 entering the sixth grade will be required to receive ‘Gardasil’ in Texas. This mandate is effective until Perry or a successor repeals it. The legislature has no authority to change it.

Legislative aids and parent advocacy groups against vaccinations are looking for ways around this executive order. Their main cause for concern is in the interfering of their rights as parents to chose medical decisions for their children. Current Texas law allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to vaccinations on religious or philosophical reasons.

The success Merk & Co. has had in Texas has them using heavy lobbying tactics by continuing these bankrolling efforts to get other states to pass laws like the one in Texas.

Three doses at a cost of $120.00 each for a total cost of $360.00 to inoculate for this viral infection has many doctors refusing to even stock it. They are saying problems with insurance companies reimbursing them is totally inadequate and they are fed up with rising vaccine prices.

What will be the long term track record of ‘Gardasil’? No one knows for sure and will not for some time to come. Apparent testing is now being done on young school girls in Texas required to get vaccinations. How long of a time span should drug manufacturers be required to have to prove benefits and safety results of new disease prevention drugs? How have track records for other disease prevention vaccinations worked out in the pros and cons? Intelligent questions such as these makes it obvious not enough time has passed to be requiring a new mandatory vaccination. Fast tracking any new drug has not been proven to be safe.

In another model comparison to cancer prevention there is more positive medical evidence emerging every day that shows without a doubt that implementing diet changes works rather well if not better than drug treatments. Objective study after study has shown conclusively that a diet high in whole food nutrition is the winning key that unlocks the door of disease.

Thousands of objective alternative studies done around the world have been undertaken for many years in studying the prevention of many diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke with dietary changes. Reputable whole food complete supplements and using other diet changes have produced impressive results.

Despite the impressive amount of evidence emerging on the scene people continue to eat more poorly than ever. As parents we think we do not have the time or the resources to look after our or our children’s nutritional needs. There are so many distractions and demands on our time making nutrition a distant competitor to other things we consider more important.

When thinking this way consider these statistics:

Cancer kills more children than any other disease.
In the last 20 years overweight children has increased 50%, and extremely overweight children has nearly doubled.
40 million children have abnormally high cholesterol levels.
By age 12, about 70% of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries.

It seems rather obvious that as a nation and culture we are in complete denial of our poor eating habits. We are simply not paying enough attention to good sound nutritional practices. Many are paying the price as well as our children who, if left to continue eating poorly, will live shorter lives than any generation before them.

Will pharmaceutical companies be able to save us from our poor eating habits? I rather doubt it as this model is failing at an expensive and alarming rate. Evidence is coming to the forefront on the ability drugs have to harm more people than they save. If our legislatures allow the continuation of this model medical bankruptcy of this great country could be the end result.

When choosing to explore nature’s wisdom you may be pleasantly surprised to find out which of these two models validates truth. By knowing more you will be enabled to do more, and it is in this doing that produces the believing!

Brenda Skidmore has spent the last four years researching natural health care alternatives. She can attest to the many benefits of natural practical cures and preventive strategies for human health. Along with the many medical professionals whose published works she has studied. It is her sincere desire to bring forth this knowledge for the betterment of mankind. To improve your life today visit mywater4life.com mywater4life

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Tags: cancer prevention, cervical cancer

Cervical cancer ranks high on the list of common cancers that plague women worldwide; it comes second after breast cancer in prevalence. More than 300,000 women die of cervical cancer every year, worldwide, while in the United States alone, 13,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year, with about 4,000 deaths. Most cases of cervical cancer are reported in women between 40 and 55years of age, though it is not unusual for women in their late thirties to be infected.

However, unlike breast and other forms of cancer, the cause and factors inducing cervical cancer is well established, except in very limited number of cases. The culprit in most cases of cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted virus known as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This virus can remain in the female genitalia for a very long time, wreaking havoc on the cells of the cervix over a long period of time. It is reported that not all cases of HPV infections lead to cervical cancer, however what is clear is that the virus is capable of inducing abnormal changes in the cervical cells. Some of these abnormal changes in the cells result in what is medically known as ‘high grade lesions’, which, sometimes may progress into cervical cancer.

Though HPV is recognized as the reason behind most cases of cervical cancer, there are other factors that play important roles in the cause and progression of cervical cancer, these include; numerous sex partners over a period of time; this increases the chance of HPV infection, the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases, weak immune system, which reduces the ability of the body to fight the virus, early sexual activity, as non-matured cells of the cervix are more likely to succumb to viral infection, and sometimes, cigarette smoking, though this has not been conclusively established. It is important to point out that the body’s immune system is usually capable of suppressing the viral activity of HPV, thus cervical cancer only results in women whose immune system could not sufficiently control the virus.

Pap smears are the only established method for cervical cancer screening. This test involves brushing cells off the surface of the cervix and examining the cells under a microscope for the presence of cancerous or precancerous changes or lesions. Presently, Pap smear is a routine test for women in most developed countries and this has really helped to reduce the number of deaths that are recorded due to cervical cancer. However, some critics have argued that the Pap smear test is not always completely accurate. It is advisable to carry out the test in at least two laboratories, seek at least two professional opinions and then compare, especially if you observe early symptoms of cervical cancer or you believe you are perfectly alright but the test result shows otherwise.

Though there are no clear cut symptoms of cervical cancer, as it often progress without warning, the presence of the following symptoms or signs might be an indication of the presence of cervical cancer; vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse or pain during intercourse, unusual vaginal discharge, unusual bleeding between menstrual periods or abnormally heavy bleeding during menstrual periods, increased urine frequency or pelvic pain. Again, these symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have cervical cancer, but they are good reasons for you to go see your doctor.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

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Tags: breast cancer, cervical cancer

The cervix is part of a woman’s reproductive system. Doctors cannot explain why some women develop cervical cancer while others do not. What we do know is that there are risk factors which make some women more vulnerable, to develop cervical cancer, than others.

These risk factors increase the possibility of developing cervical cancer and they may act together to increase the risk even more.

HPV (Human Papilloma Viruses) is the most significant risk factor for cervical cancer. The HP Viruses affect the cervix directly and can be passed from person to person through sexual contact. In fact, most adults have been infected with HPVs at some time in their lives.

The HPV viruses can cause changes to our body cells which is why various problems including cervical cancer can occur.

I will be brief and present the most worth mentioning Cervical Cancer Symptoms. It is very importand to know that most of the cervical cancer symptoms may not cause any kind of pain.

So don’t wait to feel pain before seeing a doctor or performing the regular tests (e.g. pap test)

Women with Cervical Cancer may notice some of the following symptoms:

- Abnormal Vagina Bleeding

– Bleeding between regular menstrual periods

– Bleeding after sexual contact.

– Bleeding during menstrual periods that last longer

– Bleeding after menopause

- Increased Vaginal discharge

- Pelvic Pain

- Pain During Sexual Intercourse

These symptoms may be caused by other health problems, not just cervical cancer. Only a doctor can tell for sure.

Women should pay a visit to their doctor as soon as they notice such symptoms. The doctor can and will diagnose and treat the symptom accordingly. Again, it’s importand to perform regular tests and visit your doctor every now and then.

You can find more information about Cervical Cancer Symptoms in the cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/cervix/page3″ target=”_blank National Cancer Institute Webpage. I also recommend that you have a look at the 350
drug-free digitalstarproducts.com/star/-detail-12.html” target=”_blank Natural and Alternative Cancer Treatments That Work. This information could save your life. Prevention is your single most importand ally.

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Tags: alternative cancer treatment, cancer treatment, cervical cancer