Cancer Treatment

The Major Causes of Back Pain

2010-09-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the risks related with developing back pain. These risk factors cannot be completely avoided, but with a little precaution you can deal with it.

Causes of Back Pain

Lumbar Muscle Strain power strains are the most common cause of low back pain. Patients may or may not remember the initial event that triggered their muscle spasm, but the good news is that most episodes of back pain from muscle strains resolve completely within a few weeks.

Ruptured Disc A ruptured intervertebral disc, also called a herniated disc, is another common cause of back pain. How to treat the back pain from a herniated disc depends on the particular individual and situation.

Discogenic Back Pain is thought to be a common cause of low back pain. Discogenic back pain cis the result of damage to the intervertabral disc, but without disc herniation. Diagnosis of discogenic back pain may require the use of a discogram.

Spinal Stenos is causes back pain in the aging population. As we age, the spinal canal can become constricted, due in part to arthritis and other conditions. If the spinal canal becomes too tight, back pain can be the result.

Lumbar Spine Arthritis Arthritis most commonly affects joints such as the knees and fingers. However, arthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the small joints of the spine. Arthritis of the spine can cause back pain with movement.

Spondylolisthesis causes back pain because adjacent vertebra become unstable and begins to "slip." The most common cause of spondylolisthesis is due to degenerative changes causing loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column. If the spine becomes unstable enough, back pain can become a problem.

Osteoporosis can cause a number of orthopedic problems and generalized discomfort. Back pain from osteoporosis is most commonly related to compression fractures of the vertebra. Osteoporosis causes weak bones and can lead to these fractures.

Some of these risk factors are not easily avoided, but a little knowledge and some precautionary measures can reduce the risks of back pain considerably.

Sarasota Interventional Radiology using Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for Back Pain Treatment. Interventional radiology technique has really proved to be helpful to diagnose some of the most dangerous diseases like cancer. More Info Visit http://www.sivr.net

2010-08-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Cancer is a sickness that no one wants to be diagnosed with. Many individuals are afraid to be screened for cancer because they are afraid of having cancer. However, when the sickness is caught during the early stages it is often treatable. When the sickness is not caught until the late stages of the sickness it is often not treatable. Therefore, individuals should be checked for cancer regularly.

Cancer Specialists provides high quality care if you want to improve your chances of a full recovery. That means that patients need to get advanced treatment and help from professionals having the highest quality trained.

Some hospitals simply offer better care than others, but don’t go for best or batter check out full details and reviews of patient, degree of doctors, facility and technology at cancer hospital. Cancer treatments can be very enveloping. They can wear the patient down and make life seem almost insupportable and this can go on for years without any respite. Some people who are suffering from cancer feel as though they would do anything to get relief from this and enjoy a happy, healthy life once again. It can seem all too easy to give up when you have cancer but there are other options that you can choose to aid you in your fight against cancer.

Using his expertise in reading X-rays, ultrasound and other imaging technology, Dr. Grubbs (Sarasota Interventional Radiology Clinic) is able to guide small instruments such as catheters - tubes that measure just a few millimeters in diameter - through blood vessels and veins to treat sickness percutaneously (through the skin) in a manner much less invasive, and much less costly, than traditional surgeries.

Cancer is a sickness that destroys cells. Cells become damaged and abnormal in the individual who has cancer. When cells become unhealthy they are supposed to die and new healthy ones are supposed to develop. Abnormal cells do not die when a person has this sickness instead the abnormal cells reproduce. The abnormal cells eventually form a tumor. Specialists are doctors who have completed eight years of training and three to seven years of internship in a specific area of medicine. After the internship the doctor can take an exam to become a certified specialist.

Interventional radiologist Dr. Grubbs (Sarasota Interventional Radiology Clinic) uses sophisticated, state-of-the-art X-ray and other imaging devices to guide tiny catheters and other small instruments through the body to diagnose and treat sickness without surgery. Dr. Grubbs and others have advanced procedures that once required more invasive surgery. More Info Visit http://www.sivr.net

Bone Cancer Treatment

2010-07-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

Bone cancers are rare forms of cancer that can affect any bone in the body. Two types of bone cancer are multiple myeloma and bone sarcomas. Bone cancers can also happen when tumors that start in other organs, such as breasts, lung, and prostate, metastasize (spread) to the bone. Multiple myeloma is the most common type of bone cancer. Basic information about Bone cancer symptoms and treatment.

Blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MIRs and ultrasound can all be used in the diagnosis of bone cancer and cancer of the bone marrow. Ultimately however, only a bone biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis. By examining a sample of tissue, a Pathologist can determine whether cancer is present and how fast it’s growing, crucial information in determining the best course of treatment.

Types of Bone Cancer:
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer. It rarely occurs in adults older than 25 years old. Osteosarcoma is usually found in the bones of the arms, legs and pelvis, and in bones that grow rapidly, such as the shoulders and knees.

Ewing's sarcoma is commonly found in children ages 4 to 15, and is rare in adults older than 30. It is an aggressive cancer typically found in the center of the long bones of the arms and legs.

Chondrosarcoma is found in cartilage cells and accounts for about 25 percent of bone tumors, making it the second most common type. Unlike most other bone cancers, it is most common in people older than 40. It is typically found in the large bones of the hips and pelvis.

Bone Cancer Symptoms:

Pain

Swelling or tenderness of the joints

Fractures

Fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia

Bone dysplasia with medullary fibrosarcoma

Eosinophilic granuloma

Multiple Myeloma

The symptoms of bone cancer vary from one person to another according to the location and size of the bone cancer. Pain is one of the most common bone cancer symptoms. Generally, there is a gradual increase in the severity of the symptoms with time. At first, the pain may only be felt with activity or at night.

These are common types of Bone Cancer Treatment:

Surgery

How bone cancer is treated depends on the type of tumor, how aggressive it is, the location of the tumor and whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Options include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, or a combination of the three.

Risks include infection, damage to surrounding muscles, nerves and blood vessels, and recurrence of the cancer. Patients are often prescribed a course of physical therapy after surgery to help them regain full use and strength in the limb where the tumor was removed.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is administered by an oncologist, and comprises a series of powerful intravenous drug treatments aimed at stopping and reversing the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used before surgery to shrink the tumor, making surgery less invasive. After surgery, it is used as a safeguard to kill any remaining cancer cells. The drugs kill cancer cells, but also affect hair, digestive tract cells and blood-forming cells. Loss of hair, nausea, loss of appetite, anemia and low energy are common side effects of chemotherapy. These side effects usually go away quickly after chemotherapy stops. Chemotherapy patients are sometimes referred to nutritionists to help with the anemia and loss of appetite.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is administered by a radiation oncologist, and comprises a series of high-energy X-rays aimed at the site of the tumor. This treatment is given in small doses over several days, sometimes months. The most common side effects are loss of appetite, fatigue and damage to the skin and other soft tissue at the site of the treatment. Patients who undergo surgery near the site of radiation therapy sometimes are slow to heal because of damage to the blood vessels at the site. Most side effects go away quickly after radiation therapy is over, but problems with slow healing may persist.

Sarasota Interventional Radiology using Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for Bone cancer treatment. Interventional radiology technique has really proved to be helpful to diagnose some of the most dangerous diseases like cancer. More Info Visit http://www.sivr.net

Cancer Diets helps to Keep Cancer Away

2010-06-16T02:03:00.000-07:00

Nutritionists have known for lots of years that diet can help you avoid disease. In fact, it is now thought that about 38% of all cancer is associated with your diet. And it has also been proven that diet can help you avoid cancer.

Nutrients in some food can decrease your chance of cancer. You can also improve your chances of not getting cancer by avoiding some foods. You might have to cut out the food like Biscuits and cheese.

Keep in mind; here are the foods to eat to stop this terrible in its tracks.

Broccoli- Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage have sulforaphane, a component which has been proven by science to stop cancer growth.

Tomatoes- Lycopene is just one of the components of this healthy fruit that has been studied extensively for its disease fighting properties. People who eat tomatoes at least 2 times a week have 33% less chance of developing this plague. (Tomatoes and broccoli eaten together have an effect greater than if one is eaten separately from the other)

Mushrooms- Mushrooms contain beta glucans. Medicinal mushrooms like red reishi, maitake, shiitake, cordyceps, and agaricus blazei have been extensively studies. These mushrooms have been shown in hundreds of thousands of scientific research studies to prevent or cure cancer. In fact there is even a patented extract of mushrooms that is prescribed by doctors in Asia to complement traditional chemotherapy.

Green Tea- Another gift from our friends in Asia, green tea is loaded with catechins and polyphenols... big words that mean big anti-cancer benefits for you.

Berries- the powerful anthocyanins in berries will help to turn off the growth of cancer.

Salmon- and other fatty fish, as well as olive oil, avocado... these are all rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are absolutely necessary for cell reproduction and healing, and are sorely lacking in our diets. Make sure you get wild pacific or alaskan salmon, as most atlantic salmon is now farmed which means it is also filled with antibiotics and has less omega 3 fatty acids than their wild counterparts.

Garlic- has been proven to reduce the occurrence of stomach, breast and esophagus tumors.

Camu Camu- Many people still haven't heard about Camu Camu or Acerola but I mention them because they are a super concentrated natural form of vitamin C. You absolutely MUST have vitamin C, and lots of it, if you hope to fight cancer and stay healthy. Vitamin C is absolutely essential in the healing process, and a nutrient that is often overlooked. Most people would benefit from large amounts of vitamin C supplementation if these high C fruits (or powders) aren't available in grocery or health food stores.

You must give your body building block and healing nutrients every single day and these are delivered to us naturally from the earth. Cut back on the alcohol, if you drink at all. Eat well and fight off cancer.

Lung Cancer Treatment

2010-05-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers existing in the world nowadays. Generally lung cancers are self inflicted through heavy smoking. As with all diseases and especially with any form of cancer is to detect the disease as early as possible so, that treatment can be given to increase the chances of endurance. However, by the time the symptoms are noticeable the disease is probably at its advanced stage. But, if the symptoms are detected early enough your odds get better.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

Lung Cancer symptoms vary from person to person and may include:
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain, if a tumor invades a structure within the chest or involves the lining of the lung
• Loss of appetite
• Coughing up phlegm or mucus
• Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
• Swelling of the neck and face
• Fatigue
• Clubbing of fingers

Sometimes people with lung cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer. But if you notice one or more of them for more than two weeks, consult your doctor.

Risk Factors

Many factors may influence the development of lung cancer, including:
Smoking
Family history
Personal history
Occupational or environmental exposure
Radiation exposure
Industrial exposure
Air pollution
Environmental tobacco smoke
Lung diseases

These are common types of Lung Cancer Treatment:

Surgery
The standard operation for lung cancer includes removal of the lobe of the lung in which the tumor resides (lobectomy) and dissection and removal of the mediastinal lymph nodes (MLND). This procedure is usually performed through an incision on the back and requires the ribs to be spread apart (right).

Advances in minimally invasive surgery are improving treatment outcomes for many lung cancer patients. Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), a minimally invasive technique, is resulting in better outcomes and decreased recovery times. VATS lobectomy can accomplish the same cancer operation as the traditional open procedure, but requires only three or four small incisions and does not involve spreading of the ribs. VATS is an option for selected lung cancer patients, particularly those have a small tumor in the outer regions of the lung.

Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation treatment is most often used in conjunction with surgery, but it can also be combined with chemotherapy as an alternative to surgery.
Proton therapy is an innovative treatment at MD Anderson, which delivers high radiation doses directly to the tumor site, with no damage to nearby healthy tissue. Proton therapy results in better cancer control with fewer side effects. Many lung cancer patients may be candidates for proton therapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, the use of drugs to destroy tumors, is usually used along with surgery in lung cancer patients. Chemotherapy can make the tumor more manageable before surgery, or to destroy lingering cancer cells at the tumor site after surgery.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy involves a light-sensitive chemical injected into the body, where it remains longer in cancer cells than it does in normal cells. The chemical is activated with a laser that initiates the destruction of cancer cells. PDT is best used on very small tumors, or to reduce some symptoms of lung cancer.

Sarasota Interventional Radiology using Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for lung cancer treatment. Interventional radiology technique has really proved to be helpful to diagnose some of the most dangerous diseases like cancer. More Info Visit http://www.sivr.net

Kidney Cancer - Hope for Kidney Cancer Treatment

2010-02-12T03:59:00.000-08:00

Yes, right we got new hope of kidney cancer treatment. There's new hope for kidney cancer patients as a new so called "smart bomb" could reach the clinical test stages in the next few years.

Researching material on kidney cancer treatment and i got one article for kidney cancer treatment. In that article i found about "smart bomb", article was very interesting which still in under research. kidney cancer also given title as silent killer. Fear is obvious for any type of cancer but very few hopes for every cancer cause, in such fearful environment hope of ideal cure of kidney cancer it will be great news for our world.

Some time feels horrible to think about lack of answers and treatment. Some cancer caused by human mistakes, as I drawn in earlier post symptoms but people not caring as required.
Like Cancer we had such Disease for which we didn't have any treatment but now a days we can cure like diabetes, stone problems and many more. but for some type of cancer still we not have any accurate or affordable treatment.

We no need to be depress, lot of other cancer treatment hopes available like Acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal products, vitamins or special diets, meditation and spiritual healing and radiology kidney cancer treatment program which less costly and effective.

Essential Facts of Kidney Cancer

2009-12-10T04:01:00.000-08:00

Kidneys are extremely significant and intricate organs in our body. Their chief function is to keep the bodily fluids, which contain the blood and the urine, in equilibrium by continually screening, cleansing and filtering these fluids inside our bodies. These screening, cleansing and filtering actions are very important in keeping our bodies healthy and if something should happen to these kidneys, our bodies can be seriously affected. Like all other organs in our body, our kidneys may cause kidney cancer.

The mainly general kind of kidney cancer in adults is known as renal cell carcinoma. Renal cell carcinoma begins in the small cells that line the tubes within our kidneys. This type of cancer is generally a single mass but can also have many tumors. The most common form of kidney cancer in children is known as Wilms' tumor. The additional type of kidney cancer is the transitional cell carcinoma. This form of cancer starts in the tubes that attach the kidneys to the bladder. In the USA alone, around 51,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year and this number is increasing.

Several type of risk factors when dealing with kidney cancer. Men are more likely to get renal cell carcinoma than women. As you get older the risk of getting kidney cancer increases, especially those above 60 years old. Smoking also increases the possibility that you will develop cancer in your kidney. Your weight also plays a major role - those who are above average weight have more chances of developing kidney cancer as well. Having high blood pressure also increases the risk of getting renal cell carcinoma, but the reason why this is so is still unknown. Heredity also plays a role in this as well.

Kidney cancer treatment is diagnosed through various methods. One method is through an ultrasound where high-frequency sound waves are used to generate images of internal organs. CT and MRI scans are also used to look for kidney cancer. CT scans use computers to generate better images of internal organs than x-rays scan and MRI scans use magnetic fields and radio waves to generate pictures of our bodies. Dialysis treatment also one of option for kidney cancer. Dialysis utilizes a machine that artificially removes waste from your blood stream.

Kidney cancer rarely causes obvious symptoms in the early stages. In the later stages, the symptoms for kidney cancer includes blood in urine, back pain below the ribs, weight loss, fatigue and fever. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you visit your doctor early. Your doctor will be able to assess whether you need to undergo certain scans to see if you do in fact have kidney cancer.

Kidney Cancer | Risk Factors Of Kidney Cancer

2009-11-24T22:13:00.000-08:00

Kidney cancer increasing most frequently in people above 40, but no one knows the accurate causes of Kidney cancer disease. Doctors can rarely explain what the exact reason of kidney cancer is and another does not. On the other hand, it is clear that kidney cancer is not infectious. Only a batter thing is no one infected disease from another person and now best Kidney cancer treatment available.
Examine has revealed that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to increase kidney cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of rising a disease.

Study has found the following hazards for kidney cancer:

• Smoking: Cigarette smoking and other tobacco smoking habit is a key risk factor. Cigarette smokers are double as likely as nonsmokers to develop kidney cancer. Cigar smoking also may increase the risk of this disease.

• Obesity: Obese People have an increased risk of kidney cancer.

• High blood pressure: High blood pressure increases the risk of kidney cancer.

• Long-term dialysis: Dialysis is a cure for people whose kidneys do not work well. It confiscates waste from the blood. Being on dialysis for many years is a risk factor for kidney cancer.

• Occupation: Some people have a higher risk of getting kidney cancer because they come in contact with certain element or substances in their workplace. Coke oven workers in the iron and steel industry are at risk. Workers uncovered to asbestos or cadmium also may be at risk.

• Gender: Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with kidney cancer. Each year in the United States, about 20,000 men and 12,000 women learn they have kidney cancer.

Most people who have these danger factors do not get kidney cancer. On the other hand, most people who do get the disease have no known risk factors. People who feel they may be at risk should discuss this worry with expert cancer doctor. The doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for check-up.

Kidney Cancer Treatment Options

2009-10-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

Cancer is nonentity but hasty and unexpected expansion of cells in a particular part of the body. If the expansion happens to be in the pair of kidneys which is located on the spine just above the waist, is called kidney cancer.

Adults are the most affected by this type of cancer. The main causes for the disease to happen due to Cigarette smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, long term dialysis (that is purification of kidney), presence of a gene called VHL in some families, In living when got contacted to some chemical substances. These issues are the most common factors that cause kidney cancer.

A few common types of kidney cancer are; the renal cell cancer which affects adults, intermediary cell cancer which influence the bladder and sometimes called as bladder cancer. Wilma tumor is another type of cancer which mostly arises in the childhood.
When the cancer cells start spreading from the kidney they just pass through the lymph nodes, and is taken to lungs and liver, thus affecting them both. The most common symptom of this type of cancer is blood blended with urine at the time of excretion.

There are a few option treatments accessible for this type of cancer, They are;

Cancer is just one example. Interventional radiology treats it as a chronic condition; something you live with, not something you die from. So our goal at Sarasota Interventional Radiology is to get your cancer under control and put it in remission. If your tumors start to grow again, we can often perform additional procedures to eradicate them and reset your clock – your tumors – to zero. And in the process restore your quality of life.

Our kidney cancer treatment program is generally less costly and time-consuming than traditional surgical treatments. And happily, most patients usually experience less pain and shorter recovery periods. And the technology we have at the office allows us to provide you with immediate answers to your critical questions.

Acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal products, vitamins or special diets, meditation and spiritual healing.

There are some ways to reduce the cancer pain too. Pain medicine, radiations and nerve block are used for that purpose.

In the standard method of kidney cancer treatment, the stage of the disease is noted and age of the person is a prime factor. If it hasn't spread, then it may be treating by some means. If it has spread, it is very difficult to cure. In the first step, the size of the cancer cells are detected, then the location is found, after that depending upon the size and stage of the disease whether surgery or radiation therapy is employed.

Kidney Cancer Symptoms

2009-09-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

Any Disease can be possible to cure if having knowledge about their symptoms or danger signs. By knowing symptoms of worst disease, we can prevent our self and start proper health treatments. Kidney Cancer one of the worst disease

Kidney cancer symptoms can be very painful because this disease starts from an abnormal growth that originates from within the kidney. Situated on either side of the abdomen, these reddish brown organs barely the sizes of a fist are answerable for cleaning up our body. In order to see just how much injury this can cause, it's important to recognize the consequences. Kidney failure means that we have nothing to eradicate waste or eliminate any excess water from our body with. Our kidneys are also responsible for helping in the production of red blood cells and controlling blood pressure.

There are actually several symptoms that you can watch out for so that you can alert your doctor quickly. One of first Kidney Cancer of these being traces of blood in your urine. This can cause it to turn the color of rust to a deep red. Lingering side pains are also a sign to watch out for, as well as a lump or mass that can be felt on your sides or in the abdominal area.
Weight loss without working out or without a new diet is also incredible to watch out for although that can also be a sign for other kind of cancer as well. The abrupt onset of a fever along with tiredness and a general feeling of poor health are also signs that are cause for concern.

The fact that you may be experiencing these kidney cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have cancer itself. They can also be caused by contamination, cysts or a wide range of other, less stern illnesses. Despite of this, once these signs start to show, it's important to have them checked by a cancer specialist doctor as soon as possible so that you can get a diagnosis and start the proper cancer treatment.

Cancer Cure and Cancer Treatment

2009-08-07T02:38:00.000-07:00

Lifesaving Cancer Treatment: Sarasota Interventional Radiology

Cancer Hospital based in Sarasota Florida, providing Radiology Treatment of Breast Cancer, Bone Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Liver Cancer and Lung Cancer. For more information visit: http://www.sivr.net

Source: http://www.sivr.net/resources/media/video-url.html

Radiology For Health Prevention is a Great Lifesaver

2009-07-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

There are four central types of radiology: diagnostic, interventional, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. The diagnostic radiological structure includes general preventive medicine practices like MRIs, mammograms, ultrasounds, X-emission and angiography. Doctors limit the many systems of the body to uncover if anything is crime. This is the best shape prevention method, aside from the usual vigorous diet and essay.

The interventional radiological method is an alternative to surgery that includes biopsies, evil treatments, angioplasty, embolization, vertebroplasty, nerve blocks and varicose vein treatments. Nuclear medicine is a way of assessing hurt has done to the kindness, lungs, thyroid, liver, gallbladder and bones.

The physiological scratch and progression of tumors can be monitored with this method. Lastly, radiation therapy is worn to cure wits tumors and cancers, such as breast, colorectal, president, spit, lung and prostrate.

Radiological methods can be used within three hours of a qualities's stroke symptoms. Strokes are typically caused by blood clots to the reason, so the benchmark process dissolves blood clots through an intravenously injected bandanna plasminogen activator. If it has been more than three hours, but fewer than six, then an intra-principal thrombolysis therapy may be performed, which places the blob-busting drug right at the place and will mechanically space up the lump.

With this amazing simply insidious system, most stroke patients can regain rounded functionality and gain to everyday life. Health experts say the main challenge with stroke radiology is having enough stroke teams prepared to alias patients within the three-hour duration.

One of the most frequent uses of radiology is for angioplasty, or the break of bunged arteries, which profit patients who are at venture for spirit attacks or strokes. In this route, inflated balloons are agreed through catheters to the thought spots to multiply blood drift to the mind, kidneys and legs.

Often, chemicals are sited in congested locations to dissolve the sign or the clots, which are then mechanically broken up. Another linked radiological method is stent grafting, where a copied tube is placed in large blood vessels to stop an aneurysm or lethal flow.

Those fretful with major shape help the non-invasive methods especially. Many people are in and out during the same day and remain to live productive lives later.

The use of radiology for vigor prevention and tough is one of the main lifesavers, health experts say. Ultrasound, magnetic timbre imaging and mammograms can help patients who would have otherwise died to live a specially 20+ time.

As for interventional radiological procedures, the repayments are many. It requires excluding anesthesia, excluding strain to the body, shortens the hospital defer and recovery cycle, as well as causing token discomfort

More info about radiology and radiologists can be found at Dr. Grubbs, MD radiologist website, http://www.sivr.net/

Radiologists –X-Ray Doctors

2009-07-09T03:39:00.000-07:00

Radiologists, generally and erroneously termed x-ray doctors, are the medicinal doctors in custody of performing and interpreting the many radiology, x-ray, and checkup imaging studies with ultrasound, MRI, and CT exams as well as mammograms and interventional radiology procedures.

Radiologists play an essential part in today's strength caution and are principal to uncovering and diagnosing the patient's underlying medicinal conditions and to make detail recommendations accordingly. Diagnostic radiologists relay their findings to important care physicians, internists, pediatricians, and surgeons and other health doctors in crucial blame of the patient's fitness.

Radiologists execute exams jacket all body organs and systems. They evaluate the authority of recording challenge, intracranial bleeding, urinary pebbles, breast lumps, busted bones, and organs such as liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Radiologists also complete imaging studies basic to the diagnosis of ulcers, polyps, and cancers. Diagnostic radiologists do MRIs to evaluate dual and pathetic bandanna injury such as muscle, sinew, and muscle us injuries in knees, shoulders, elbows, and ankles.

Radiology is a high-tech medicinal handle blooming on advances in computers, remedial imagery, and medicine. The processor revolution of the last 20 changed health imaging and radiologists roles in caring for the patients. The radiologist role is no longer restricted to diagnosis. Today, radiologists are playing an increasingly important role in treating numerous remedial conditions as well. As a trouble of evidence, many medical procedures and interventions that were only few years ago the complete realm of surgeons are now being performed by radiologists with better outcome and fewer convenience to patients. The radiologist now takes biopsies, drains abscesses, opens blocked arteries, and stops a bleeding vessel. Interventional radiologists are the radiology subspecialists that spend the enormous mass of their time liability medical procedures.

To summarize, radiologists today are far more than the classic misnomer of x-ray doctors. They are now critical to both the diagnosis and medicine of numerous medical conditions and are dominant to the provision of high quality health care.

More info about radiology and radiologists can be found at Dr. Grubbs, MD radiologist website, http://www.sivr.net/

Nature of Kidney Cancer and How to Detect it Before Too Late

2009-06-17T02:45:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, kidney cancer does not present early symptoms. It is usually discovered from blood in the urine, a palpable lump in the abdomen, swelling, weight loss or pain. The five-year survival rate of patients with a metastasized condition is 0 to 5%. If not discovered in time, it can lead to kidney failure and other diseases within the body.

This type of cancer is best treated by surgery.

Some interventions have poor results and some of good. The procedure most often used removes the entire kidney, the associated adrenal gland and surrounding tissue. Depending upon the involvement, lymph nodes may also be removed and examined for metastasis. In the case of both kidneys being involved, a lesser procedure is used, leaving un involved portions of the kidneys so the patient has some remaining kidney function.

Radiation may be used to ease symptoms but does not produce an effective treatment alone. The presently available chemotherapy drugs have not been found to be an effective treatment for kidney cancer, leaving surgery as the only remaining effective option.
Immune stimulating drugs are used to increase the body's ability to fight the cancer of the kidneys.

If you have this type of cancer, don't give up because of the odds. Remember that you are not a statistic. There is much help and success to be found outside conventional practice. Seek out specialists in this area, or better yet, 'turn on' your body's own cancer fighting mechanism by detoxifying and nourishing your body.

Much information is available in this area. Investigate 'juice fasting' and the use of nutritional supplements that will energize your immune system to do what it will do if it is properly supported.

Types of Kidney Cancer

2009-06-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

There are basically Three Types of kidney cancer:

1. Renal Cell Carcinoma: Renal cell carcinoma is cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products.

2. Renal Pelvis Carcinoma: Renal pelvis carcinoma is cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects.

3. Wilms Tumor: Wilms tumor usually develops in children under the age of five.

This year, it is estimated that there will be 54,390 new cases diagnosed. It is also estimated that there will be 13,010 deaths caused by the disease.

People are born with two kidneys. One is located on each side of the spine in the lower abdomen. The good news is that people can live full lives with a normal life expectancy with only one. It is important to note here that all tumors found in the kidneys are not cancerous. As a matter of fact, most cancers found are benign.

Most often, renal cell carcinoma and renal pelvis carcinoma develop in people over the age of 40. There is no way to determine who is more likely to develop the disease but there are some factors that raise the risk.

Smoking: Smoking both cigarettes and/or cigars raises the risk of developing all kinds of cancer, including kidney cancer.

Obesity: Obesity seems to be a major risk factor in developing this type if cancer.

Gender: Men are more likely to get the disease than women. About 20,000 men and 12,000 women learn they have kidney cancer each year in the United States.

Occupation: Iron and steel workers and workers who are exposed to asbestos and cadmium are more likely to develop kidney cancer.

Radiology For Health Prevention is a Great Lifesaver

2009-05-26T02:36:00.000-07:00

There are four main types of radiology: diagnostic, interventional, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. The diagnostic radiological procedure includes common preventative medicine practices like MRIs, mammograms, ultrasounds, X-rays and angiography. Doctors check the various systems of the body to determine if anything is wrong. This is the best health prevention method, aside from the standard healthy diet and exercise.

The interventional radiological method is an alternative to surgery that includes biopsies, cancer treatments, angioplasty, embolization, vertebroplasty, nerve blocks and varicose vein treatments. Nuclear medicine is a way of assessing damage done to the heart, lungs, thyroid, liver, gallbladder and bones.

The physiological damage and progression of tumors can be monitored using this method. Lastly, radiation therapy is used to treat brain tumors and cancers, such as breast, colorectal, head, neck, lung and prostate.

Radiological methods can be used within three hours of a person's stroke symptoms. Strokes are typically caused by blood clots to the brain, so the standard procedure dissolves blood clots through an intravenously injected tissue plasminogen activator. If it has been more than three hours, but less than six, then an intra-arterial thrombolysis treatment may be performed, which places the clot-busting drug right at the site and will mechanically break up the clot.

With this amazing minimally invasive procedure, most stroke patients can regain full functionality and return to every day life. Health experts say the main challenge with stroke radiology is having enough stroke teams ready to handle patients within the three-hour timeframe.

One of the most common uses of radiology is for angioplasty, or the opening of clogged arteries, which benefits patients who are at risk for heart attacks or strokes. In this procedure, inflated balloons are passed through catheters to the trouble spots to increase blood flow to the brain, kidneys and legs.

Often, chemicals are placed in clogged locations to dissolve the plaque or the clots, which are then mechanically broken up. Another related radiological technique is stent grafting, where a synthetic tube is placed in large blood vessels to prevent an aneurysm or fatal bleeding.

Those concerned with senior health favor the non-invasive methods especially. Many people are in and out during the same day and continue to live productive lives afterward.

The use of radiology for health prevention and testing is one of the biggest lifesavers, health experts say. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and mammograms have the ability to help patients who would have otherwise died to live an extra 20+ years.

As for interventional radiological procedures, the benefits are numerous. It requires less anesthesia, less trauma to the body, shortens the hospital stay and recovery period, as well as causing minimal discomfort.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Radiology-For-Health-Prevention-is-a-Great-Lifesaver&id=1557475

Prostate Cancer Fighting Foods

2009-05-25T02:16:00.000-07:00

According to numerous studies and researches, there are many foods that are reported to prevent cancer, or reduce the possibility of the disease. Here is some useful information on foods that fight prostate cancer.

Veggies: There are particular vegetables, the so called cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, that if eaten regularly can eliminate the chances of prostate cancer. According to some studies, they can reduce them to half.

Flax seeds: Flax seeds are also known to be anti toxic foods and can reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Green Tea: Green tea is known to reduce risk of many types of cancer, among which prostate cancer as well. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant drink.

Pomegranate Juice: according to studies, the seeds of pomegranate and their juice can slow down cancer.

Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts contain a great amount of selenium which is a mineral that protects against cancer. According to the experts, if someone consumes 200mg of selenium per day he can reduce the possibility of cancer significantly almost to the half. 200mg of selenium refer to a handful of these nuts.

Garlic: It is already known that garlic is a super food. It is also known to cut the risk of cancer almost to the half. Garlic also contains a lot of selenium.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are powerful antioxidant foods. There have been several studies that prove that tomatoes can actually protect men from prostate cancer. Lycopene is their main ingredient; it is believed that this ingredient fights prostate cancer successfully.

Scallions: it is considered that just one tenth of an ounce per day, can reduce the chances of prostate cancer more than 60%.

Turmeric : turmeric is one of those foods that can perform miracles especially when combined with the cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower and broccoli. Both cancer prevention and slow down can be achieved eating turmeric.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Alan_Jenks

Risk Factors of Cancer

2009-04-13T00:28:00.000-07:00

The cancer dilemma has been troubling a lot of people for several generations now simply because there is no absolute cure for all kinds of cancer. Some miraculous healing of cancer used various alternative ways of cure which may include hypnosis, prayer, law of attraction, healthy eating habits, exercise, and a few others more. Some patients who have undergone chemotherapy have been cured however not all patients who have undergone this kind of medical procedure survived.

The best way to combat cancer is to stop it before it even develops. So how can we do this? We can achieve a cancer free life when we avoid the risk factors associated with cancer. These risk factors are said to be the main reasons why people develop cancer. By safeguarding ourselves earlier from these known risk factors, we can be living a cancer free lifetime.

The commonly known cancer risk factors include age, history of cancer in the family, tobacco, alcohol, sunlight, ionizing radiation, chemicals and artificial substances, some forms of viruses and bacteria, hormones, unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise, and obesity.

Let's face it, everyone becomes of age and grow older as time passes by. Cancer statistics show that most cancer patients belong to the senior citizen bracket. The commonly affected old people with cancer are those who didn't have a healthy lifestyle to begin with. Even if aging is an unavoidable natural process, practicing a healthier lifestyle helps us avoid cancer.

This goes the same for having a family history of cancer. We may have inherited genes from our family that shows the possibility of cancer development. But this shouldn't stop us from living a healthier life because we can still prevent cancer from developing inside us.

How can we live a healthier life then? The answer to this question lies on avoiding all of the remaining risk factors of cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer all over the world and its main culprit is tobacco which is found in cigars and cigarettes. Smokers and second-hand smokers (or non-smokers) are both in danger of lung cancer. Smokers should quit smoking as soon as possible while non-smokers should avoid the smoking environment. It has also been noted that second-hand smokers are at greater risk of developing lung cancer.

You should also avoid exposing yourself in extreme sunlight condition, specifically between the midday hours of 10 AM until 3 PM because these are the times when the sun is radiating its hottest UV rays. Due to the fact that the ozone layer manifested a hole in our atmosphere, Ultraviolet rays are not being filtered as much as they used to. Those who are fond of sun exposure, tanning beds, and even sun lamps, prolonging your exposure will eventually develop into several forms of skin cancer. To avoid this kind of cancer, it would be best to apply a sunscreen before going out of the house, wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, hats with a wide brim, as well as wearing Ultraviolet-absorbing sunglasses.

Ionizing radiation comes from x-rays, radon gas, radioactive fallout, and radiation rays entering our atmosphere. Radon gas is commonly found on the earth's rocks and soil that's why miners who are exposed to this element develop cancer later on in their life. Mishandling nuclear power plants lead to accidents which causes radiation fallout or leaks. Employees who are exposed to this kind of radiation also have increased risk of developing cancer. There are some forms of medical procedures that use radiation to treat patients. One of them is x-ray but this procedure only uses low doses of radiation and it is not harmful enough to cause cancer.

Another risk factor associated with cancer is the presence of certain chemicals and other artificial substances such as asbestos, benzene, benzidine, cadmium, nickel, and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are commonly found in the workplace such as construction sites, the chemical industry, and the paint industry. Employees who are exposed to these chemicals develop various kinds of cancer even if the exposure has been stopped.

Some viruses and bacteria are also associated with cancer development. Most of these viruses and bacteria are contagious and transferable from one person to another. They include HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Human papillomaviruses, Human T-cell leukemia or lymphoma virus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes, and Helicobacter pylori. Some of the ways to combat these kinds of viruses and bacteria is by practicing safe sex, not having sex with someone who is infected, as well as getting vaccinated for the various types of Hepatitis.

Certain hormones are also increasing the risk of cancer development especially in women who are undergoing menopausal hormone therapy. This kind of therapy may help women get through the hard stage of menopause however the long term risk is a definite possibility such as developing breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, and even blood clots. Always remember that our bodies are undergoing natural processes that we shouldn't meddle with. If we do, we are causing it to be imbalance thus various kinds of diseases arise.

They say that a small amount of alcohol intake a day is good for your heart. But did you know that you are increasing your risk of several forms of cancer if you drink alcohol? Some of these include cancers of the breast, liver, larynx, mouth, esophagus, and throat. If an alcohol drinker is also a smoker, he is doubling his risk of developing cancer.

When you look at unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical exercise, and obesity, you will notice that they are all interrelated. These risk factors are not only associated with cancer alone, but with several ailments such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other top killers of humankind. When you have these risk factors with you, start avoiding them as soon as possible. Eat healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables, and other fiber-rich foods. You should also start exercising regularly and improving your physical activities in order to promote a healthy body as well as to loose some weight in the process.

Now that you know all of the risk factors associated with cancer and know how to avoid each and everyone of them, you should be on your way to a healthier lifestyle. In the long run, you will be glad that you have practiced healthier living earlier because you will become cancer free for life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Goldman

Organic Food Important for Cancer Patients

2009-04-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

Cancer cells are said to be aggressive unhealthy cells that attack and destroy healthy cells in the process their replication. They multiply in a surprisingly faster speed than the healthy cells and they do not care about boundaries unlike healthy cells which stop replicating when they sense other neighboring cells, whether good or bad. So how do you combat these pesky cancer cells from replicating?

Recent studies have shown a fine line between cancer cells and the artificially prepared or grown foods which are readily available in the supermarket nowadays. Non-organic foods have proven to help cancer cells grow and replicate faster while diminishing the body's healthy cells of their natural strength. These studies have shown that cancer cells love consuming the artificial chemicals found in non-organic foods because these elements make them stronger.

Now that you know the implications of these unnatural foods, what should you do then to combat your cancer cells? Eat healthier non-organic foods, of course! What are these organic foods then? Organic foods have been grown from pesticide-free and chemical free natural soil. They do not only involve fruits, vegetables, and grain foods but also include milk and eggs from cows and chickens which didn't undergo chemical injections or any other artificial enhancements.

The realization of the great contribution of organic foods to our health has attracted the public into a more healthful diet. You can find lots organic food outlets nowadays and you can even find some of their products in your local supermarket. There's no reason why you shouldn't join the organic food diet wagon especially if you are diagnosed with cancer.

When you get rid of the unnatural foods which the cancer cells love, they will weaken and eventually die thus making them unable to replicate and spread to other parts of your body. Organic foods will strengthen your good cells allowing them to combat your cancer cells even better.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Goldman

Vitamin D Decrease Risk of Cancer

2009-03-12T02:33:00.000-07:00

It's fairly clear that Vitamin D is good for you. You need vitamin D to absorb calcium, regulate phosphorus levels, and maintain cell and bone growth, to name a few reasons. While you can get enough vitamin D from about ten to fifteen minutes in the sun, or through foods and supplements, that is not the same amount needed to reduce cancer risk.

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recently held a conference on food, nutrition, physical activity and cancer. At the conference, researchers shared a new finding: confirmation that certain proteins responsible for tumor growth and development can be activated by vitamin D, making it a key vitamin in reducing cancer risk.

One thing the researchers had not determined was how much vitamin D was needed daily to reduce the risk of cancer. They were almost certain the current daily recommended amount of 400 international units would not be enough. Another issue they were presented with was determining how much vitamin D a person is getting. While it is easy to count supplement grams and the amount of vitamin D in foods, it is not easy to determine how much vitamin D someone is producing in response to sun exposure. Environmental pollution, skin color, and age play a part in determining the amount of vitamin production from sunlight. There are no accurate methods of vitamin D measurement. Blood tests for vitamin D measurement are not very dependable or precise, and even if they were the levels of vitamin D needed in the blood are unclear.

While it is encouraging to hear that vitamin D can potentially decrease the risk of cancer, the details still need to be worked out. How much vitamin D? And once we know how much, the next question is, 'How do I know how much I am producing?'

Some researchers are saying 'go ahead and boost your intake now, because the new numbers are going to show a vitamin D deficiency in most Americans', but others are saying to wait. And still other researchers have conducted studies that counter the results offered at the American Institute for Cancer Research conference - some studies show that vitamin D does not help protect against cancer risk. The jury is still out on a solidified medical agreement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Timothy_Moore

Most Popular Cancer Fighting Foods

2009-03-12T02:29:00.000-07:00

Up to 30 percent of all cancers are linked to poor diet. That is a scary statistic, until you think of how much power we have to control it. Diet is one of the few controllable risk factors for developing cancer. Studies demonstrate that people who eat a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have a significantly lower risk of developing many types of cancers.

The plant world is filled with thousands of varieties of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. It should be easy for people to select enough of these foods to keep themselves healthy and running at peak performance for a lifetime. Unfortunately, the reality is that fewer than 20 percent of Americans eat the minimum recommended servings of 5 fruits and vegetables daily, and even fewer consume the 9 servings recommended for cancer prevention.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently approved the statement "Diets rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and chronic diseases." And, while it is true that all plant foods provide vitamins, minerals, and enzymes important for good health, a few stand ahead of the pack for their cancer-fighting abilities. Here are the top 10 anti-cancer foods:

1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a plant chemical that has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate, ovarian, and cervical cancer. Tomato products, such as spaghetti sauce, tomato paste, and ketchup are particularly concentrated sources.

2. Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli sprouts are an excellent source of sulforaphane, a plant chemical that may reduce the risk of stomach, breast, and skin cancer. While broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are also great sources of sulforaphane, broccoli sprouts are especially potent.

3. Berries
Berries get their rich color from plant chemicals called anthocyanins. These compounds are potent antioxidants, and protect against a variety of cancers including colon and esophageal.
For more information on the health benefits of berries see the following articles from TheDietChannel: Why You Should Be Eating Berries and The Goji Berry and Goji Juice.

4. Soybeans
Isoflavones present in soybeans and other soy foods (such as tofu, soy nuts, and soy milk) help to reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer
by protecting cells from the harmful effects of estrogen.

5. Tea
Green and black teas are natural sources of catechins, potent antioxidants that act as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth, and may reduce the risk of liver, skin, and stomach cancer. The NCI is currently studying green and black teas for their cancer fighting abilities.

6. Pumpkin
Pumpkin, along with carrots, squash, red and yellow peppers, and sweet potatoes, are excellent sources of beta carotene. Eaten regularly, these powerhouses help reduce the risk of many types of cancer through their potent antioxidant capacity.

7. Spinach
Spinach is known as the "gold standard" of green leafy vegetables. Packed with lutein and vitamin E, both powerful antioxidants, spinach helps ward off cancer of the liver, ovaries, colon, and prostate.

8. Garlic
Garlic has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer of the stomach, esophagus, and breast. Mince garlic 10 minutes before cooking to increase its cancer fighting potential.

9. Pineapple
Pineapple is a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C. In addition, it contains the enzyme bromelain, which may protect against breast and lung cancer.

10. Apple
In addition to their antioxidant benefits, apples contain the plant chemical quercetin, which has been shown to reduce lung cancer risk and slow the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Each of these foods has been shown to impact cancer risk on their own. However, countless studies indicate a synergistic effect when eaten together, meaning that plant chemicals work together to produce a greater effect than if they were working alone. The best anti-cancer diet is rich in brightly colored fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with an emphasis on the foods highlighted above.

Sample Cancer Fighting Diet

Follow this sample menu to incorporate the top 10 anti-cancer foods into your diet:
Breakfast
Yogurt smoothie with mixed berries and soy milk
Morning Snack
Apple with peanut butter
Green tea
Lunch
Spinach wrap with mandarin oranges and broccoli sprouts
Cottage cheese and pineapple
Tomato juice
Dinner
Baked wild salmon with caramelized onions and garlic
Stewed tomatoes
Pumpkin soup or baked sweet potato
Black tea

Article Source: http://www.thedietchannel.com/Cancer-Prevention-Top-10-Cancer-Fighting-Foods.htm

Research & Treatment of Prostate Cancer

2009-02-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

As the most common cancer in men in the United States, prostate cancer affects thousands of men. Prostate cancer research aims to raise money and awareness to contribute towards improving treatment and finding a cure or cures for this disease.

Prostate cancer is extremely rare in men under 45, it commonly affects men in their 50's and is most often diagnosed in men in their 70's. As it is a cancer that specifically affects older men, it often goes undetected as it can have no symptoms in the early stages or the symptoms are unnoticed, or put down to 'old age'.

As yet there are no cures for prostate cancer, so research looks into this, as well as improving the conditions for men currently suffering from prostate cancer. Research also looks at how to improve the current treatments and how to prevent the cancer from reoccurring after treatment.

The prostrate gland is located between the bladder and rectum and is part of the male reproductive system. The prostate gland is used in the production and storage of seminal fluid.

The current treatments for prostate cancer depend on if the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body, especially to the bones or lymph nodes, or not. If the cancer is still contained within the prostate then radiation therapy can be undertaken to kill the cancer cells with x-rays.

A radical prostatectomy can also be performed. This is surgery to remove the entire prostate gland. If the surgery is successful and the cancer is all removed then the likelihood of a recurrence is low. Recurrence of the cancer is slightly higher if radiation therapy is undertaken.

If the cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland then radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy are no longer treatment options. Hormone therapy can be undertaken to limit the growth of the hormone. Research has shown that prostate cancer growth is linked to male hormones called androgens.

Androgens, such as testosterone, are produced in the testicles and these hormones can cause the tumor to grow very quickly which increases the risk of the cells spreading. Therefore by limiting the amount of male hormones, you can slow the growth of the tumor. This can be done by medication, although sometimes the testicles are removed to assist the hormone treatment.

The other treatment option is called 'watchful waiting' or 'active surveillance'. This is when no medical treatment is undertaken, however you are closely monitored by your doctor and tests are done to detect any changes in the tumor.

It is hoped that with continued prostate cancer research that treatments will exist and more options will become available, especially to reduce the incidence of reoccurrence after treatment. The eventual aim of prostate cancer research is to find a cure for this deadly disease.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading health problems of man today especially when he reaches the over-the-hill age. Every man should have more than enough information about this predicament and what the best remedies are for it and here at http://www.a1prostatecancertips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marlon_Dirk

Increase Skin Cancer Today

2009-02-17T04:28:00.000-08:00

The cause of skin cancer and melanomas does not lie entirely with the sun. If it did our ancestors would not have survived and we wouldn't be here. It was almost unheard of 100 years ago; it's been slowly increasing over the last 40 to 50 years. Cases of melanomas have doubled in the U.K. in the past 30 years. The sun hasn't got any stronger and the ozone layer is still intact, but the foods we consume on a daily basis have changed vastly. It's the sun, combined with nutritional deficiency that causes skin cancer. It's the irritation caused by the sun burn that will determine where the cancer will take hold, but it's the nutritional deficiencies and other lifestyle factors that causes it to grow, that's why it keeps reappearing after treatments. The only ways to cure any skin cancers or melanomas are to address the underlying causes.

Cancer is not a 100 different diseases as we have become to believe but one disease in over 100 different locations. All cancers have mostly common causes. Remember that many people get skin cancer in areas of the body that don't see a lot of the sun, like the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. Also dark skin people get skin cancer just as much as fair skin people. The reasons why a person develops any cancer are well known, and to cure it, all these issues you must address.

The underlying causes are our lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, the use of too many toxic chemicals, many of which are know to be carcinogenic, our sedentary lifestyle, which because of it, our built in defense system which is our immune system has become sluggish and lastly emotional stress which does have a major impact on human health, including cancer.

Melanomas can be very aggressive so if one wants to cure themselves, they need to address all the factors mentioned above. Today we consume many foods which are not suitable for human consumption. For instance, processed foods which nearly all contain fat, salt or refined sugar and those 3 items are known contributors to cancer. The toxic chemicals we use on a daily basis which are mostly in personal care products and are absorbed into our body through our pores. Then we can thank the ubiquitous automobile for our lack of exercise. We need exercise to rid the body of toxins, as it boosts the all important immune system making it work more efficiently.

Emotional stress or unresolved conflict, not letting go of a problem, which might be the loss of a close friend, a business crisis or bankruptcy can have a major effect on the immune system and all cancers are simply a disease of a weak immune system.

There is no mystery about the causes of skin cancer or any other cancer. If you want to achieve a permanent cure, it is essential to eat freshly grown food everyday which is of paramount importance, remove all toxic chemicals, and get some exercise. If you are in the sun use some common sense and cover up during the hottest part of the day. That is the only way to become free of the disease....for good!

Skin cancer and melanomas are an entirely preventable and curable disease and our modern medical approaches are not necessary the most effective approach to healing cancer patients.

Alan Wighton is an independent health researcher, having spent many years gaining knowledge, particularly on the subject of cancer. If you have found this article helpful and would like to learn more, visit his website where you can download a free article that has been written with facts and information to help people overcome their cancer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Wighton

Interventional Radiology Treatment for Liver Cancer

2009-01-09T02:09:00.000-08:00

Physicians at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center are performing a new treatment for inoperable liver cancer known as Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT). SIRT is a non-surgical outpatient therapy that uses microscopic radioactive spheres, called SIR-Spheres®, to deliver radiation directly to the site of the liver tumors.

"SIR-Spheres deliver up to 40 times more radiation directly to tumors than would be possible using conventional external radiation," says William F. Regine, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He adds, "SIR-Spheres selectively target tumors in the liver, regardless of their size or location, with a high dose of radiation, sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment has been shown to shrink liver tumors, increase life expectancy and improve the quality of patients' lives."

"As a comprehensive Liver Directed Therapies Program, it is important that all treatment options are considered and that non-surgical approaches such as SIRT be available to patients," says Nader Hanna, M.D., FACS, FICS, Chief of Surgical Oncology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center physicians are very experienced at using microscopic beads to treat inoperable liver cancer. The University of Maryland was among the first in the nation to successfully perform TheraSphere- which used microscopic glass beads to deliver radiation to liver tumors-in 2000. SIR-Spheres, developed by the Australian firm Sirtex Medical and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002 for patients with primary colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, is the latest of a wide range of liver-directed therapies the University of Maryland offers to best meet patients' needs. The University of Maryland has already established itself as a national leader of SIR-Spheres.

"We use sophisticated X-ray imaging to help guide the catheter into the hepatic artery and implant the SIR-Spheres. The procedure generally takes less than an hour, and patients tolerate it extremely well. Within two to six hours, they are ready to go home," says Patrick C. Malloy, M.D., director of vascular/interventional radiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of diagnostic radiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

While treatment with SIR-Spheres is generally not regarded as a cure, it has been shown to shrink liver cancer more than chemotherapy alone. This can increase patients' life expectancy and improve their quality of life.

The Liver Directed Therapies Program at the University of Maryland includes a full array of treatment options for patients with primary/metastatic liver disease. In addition to SIRT and traditional surgical, chemotherapeutic or radiation approaches, treatment options include radiofrequency ablative therapy, chemoembolization and extracranial radiosurgery.

Lack of Sleep Greatly Increases Breast Cancer Risk

2009-01-09T02:03:00.000-08:00

(NaturalNews) A study on almost 24,000 Japanese women recently published in the British Journal of Cancer has found that lack of sleep can greatly increase the risk of breast cancer, with women who slept 6 hours or less every night having a significantly higher risk.

Breast Cancer Statistics

Breast cancer is the most common cancer to hit women worldwide. In Japan, when age-standardized to the world population, the incidence rate was 28.3 per 100,000 in 1991, and rose to 39.5 in 2001.

In the United States in 2004, the disease hit more than 185,000 women and over 1,800 men, with almost 41,000 women and 362 men dying from it that year. In that year, after non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer was the next highest cancer killer of American women. It was also their fifth highest killer overall.

Next up, over to Canada, where, among the women, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer to strike. According to Canadian Cancer Society estimates, about 22,400 women will be diagnosed with the disease this year, with about 5,300 dying from it.

With such grim statistics, every little thing which can be done to prevent and combat the disease becomes all the more critical.

Details of Study

The Ohsaki National Health Insurance (NHI) Cohort Study started in 1994 and involved 28,515 women in northeastern Japan. The questionnaire used included information on sleep duration and other lifestyle habits.

Participants who had withdrawn from the NHI study before follow-up, had a history of cancer, did not provide information on their sleep duration, and who reported having slept for less than 4 hours or more than 12 hours every night were omitted. This left the data for 23,995 women to be analyzed. An 8-year period, from 1995 to 2003, was used, during which 143 women were hit with breast cancer.

Findings of Study

The women who slept 7 hours each night was used as the reference group. It was then found that women who slept 6 hours or less each night had a 62% higher risk of getting breast cancer. On the other hand, those who slept 9 hours or more every night had a 28% lower risk of getting the disease.

It would follow, then, that those who slept 6 hours or less every night had 2.25 times the risk of getting breast cancer when compared to those who slept 9 hours or more each night.

The results remained largely consistent even when participants who were diagnosed with breast cancer within 3 years from the start of the study were excluded, or when the data was analyzed by age and menopausal status.

Previous Studies

The findings of this study validates the findings of two previous prospective cohort studies relating breast cancer and sleep duration (Verkasalo et al, 2005, Wu et al, 2008). Those two studies had also shown a significant decrease in breast cancer risk for those who slept the longest.

It must be noted, though, that another such study (Pinheiro et al, 2006) did not find any such association. The study team pointed out, however, that that study had looked at residential nurses, who underwent rotating-shift work and had varying sleep timings. The findings of that study thus might not be applicable to the general population.

Strengths and Limitations of Study

According to the study team, their research had a couple of strong points. Firstly, it used study subjects from the general population, thus allowing for overall generalization of its findings. In addition, it used the Miyagi Prefectural Cancer Registry, which the study team said is “one of the earliest and most accurate population-based cancer registries in Japan”.

There were also, however, several limitations. Firstly, self-reported sleep data was used, and assessment was also only carried out once. In addition, and probably very significantly, no information on sleep quality, sleep timing, use of sleep medication, or presence of sleep disorders were available. These factors, of course, are very important as they can directly or indirectly affect cancer risk.

Further, the researchers added that they had no information with regard to rotating-shift work or night work, but they felt that would not have affected their findings greatly as more than half of the study subjects were housewives, farmers or retired.

The Sleep Duration – Breast Cancer Link

Why is breast cancer risk linked to sleep duration? The answer could lie in melatonin, which is secreted during night sleep. When a person sleeps fewer hours, less melatonin is secreted, and lower levels of the chemical had previously been associated with increased breast cancer risk.

In addition, melatonin may possess an inhibitory effect on gonadal function, which includes synthetizing and secreting sex hormones. It had also been found to have an antiproliferative effect on breast cancer cells.

The Bottom Line

If the findings from this study are indeed accurate, then there is an immense difference in breast cancer risk between sleeping 4 to 6 hours every night, and just sleeping 1 to 3 hours more each night. In fact, it is more than likely that the protective effects of sufficient sleep also extend to other forms of cancer. 7 hours of sleep a night may thus be a good number to aim for.

Hopefully, in time to come, further research will reveal more information relating sleep and disease risk, with sleep quality and sleep timing being two of the main possibilities.

Main Source

Sleep duration and the risk of breast cancer: the Ohsaki Cohort Study (http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v99/n...)

Cancer Research - How is Cancer Being Researched?

2008-11-19T04:26:00.000-08:00

Getting cancer is one of the scariest things a person can have and it doesn't only affect the person diagnosed but also the people around that person as well. Cancer is an incredibly deadly disease with several different types. It's hard to find someone in the current world today who hasn't known someone who has or has had cancer. Because of this, millions of dollars are spent each year on cancer research to learn more about this deadly disease and to identify new effective treatments and cures for it.

The basis of such research is to identify the types of cancer, diagnose cancer in patients, and to find ways to prevent, treat and cure the disease. There are various ways that cancer is researched. These ways include epidemiology and molecular bioscience, which is then used in clinical trials to compare and evaluate the different treatments.

The different types of treatments that are being researched are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, gene therapy, finding vaccines, targeted therapy and ways to boost the immune system. Anti-cancer vaccination research is done deals with exposing extracted tumors cells to UV light for a 24-hour period and then injecting them back into the organism. This approach has already been successful on rats.

However, researches of this deadly disease has had its share of issues and is still battling some of them. The main issue it faces is funding. Most of the funding comes from donations, so people and different organizations have to go out and get funding from the public. Stem cell research has also stirred up a lot of controversy pretty much halting any current testing in this field. Another controversial topic with cancer research is the clinical trials and the use of animals and human beings.

As stated earlier, funding is one of the most important parts of keeping such researches alive. There are many organizations out there that are doing their part to raise money for research. Some of these organizations include; The American Cancer Society, Institute of Cancer Research, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, United Devices Cancer Research Project, Friends of Cancer Research and the Walker Cancer Research Institute. This is just a short list of some of the organizations, but rest assured that there are a lot more out there.

Cancer - What is the Purposes of a Tumor?

2008-11-19T04:20:00.000-08:00

The exact cause of prostate cancer has not yet been determined, but some studies have shown that there are certain factors that may play a role in the development of this disease. Though these possible contributing factors have not been determined to be conclusive, there is enough evidence to suggest that paying attention to these possible risk factors can help with early detection of prostate cancer, and possibly even prevention.

• Prostate Cancer Screening: Regular screening for prostate cancer is important for early detection, especially after the age of 45.

• Diet: A man's diet appears to play a significant role in reducing their risk for prostate cancer. To reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer it is best to reduce the amount of animal fat and dairy products in your diet, while at the same time increasing the amount of vegetables, fruits, and high fiber, as well as adding more whole grain foods in your diet. Avoid salt and sugar.

• Get Some Sun: The vitamin D that your body absorbs through the sun is believed to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

• Regular Exercise: Getting enough exercise may also help to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. Physical activity releases a hormone that is thought to inhibit the development of this type of cancer.

• Sexual Activity: Some studies suggest that those who are sexually active on a regular basis have less of a risk of developing prostate cancer than those men who are not sexually active. The reasoning behind this is that regular ejaculation helps to flush away toxins and prevent their build-up in the prostate.

• Antioxidants: A possibly important factor in helping to prevent prostate cancer is having enough antioxidants in your diet, such as those found in green tea.

Though none of these preventative measures are a guarantee against prostate cancer, the evidence is very suggestive that they can help prevent this disease. In addition to those preventative measures mentioned above, there are also some less conventional methods that are being used, which may possibly help prevent prostate cancer, such as message therapy, acupuncture, etc. Keep in mind that no matter what preventative measures you take against prostate cancer, to be safe you should be screened on a regular basis.

Breast Cancer: 7 Factors That Can Increase Your Risk

2008-11-19T03:59:00.000-08:00

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that affects around 44,500 people each year. It can effect both men and women with approximately 300 men being diagnosed with the condition annually. The cancer develops when the cells in the breast become malignant and start to multiply uncontrollably. Over time this can lead to the formation of a lump in the breast. No one is sure exactly what causes this type of cancer but there are a number of strong risk factors. In this article I will be discussing seven of these.

1) GENDER:- Being female is the main risk factor for this type of cancer with it occurring in less than 1% of males. The reason for this is that women have more breast cells than men and these cells are constantly exposed to estrogen and progesterone. These female hormones both promote growth and are believed to stimulate the growth of cancer cells.

2) GETTING OLDER:- Unfortunately breast cancer becomes more common as you get older. Up to age 39 women's risk of developing this type of cancer is about 0.5%. However, this increases to 7% for women over the age of 60. The reason that age is such a major risk factor is that is that the longer you live the greater the chances of your cells becoming damaged and turning cancerous.

3) DRINKING ALCOHOL:- Studies suggest that the more you drink the greater your risk of developing this type of cancer is. Although drinking alcohol does not increase your breast cancer risk significantly, the amount of alcohol you consume directly influences your risk. Therefore, moderate drinkers are less likely to develop this type of cancer than heavy drinkers.

4) OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WITH CANCER:- Your family history can determine how likely you are to develop this disease. If other people in your family have previously contracted cancer then this makes you more likely. On top of this there are two specific hereditary genes associated with breast cancer; BRCA1 and BRCA2. If you have one of these genes your risk is also increased.

5) NOT HAVING CHILDREN:- Not having any children or giving birth later in life (after the age of 30) marginally increases your breast cancer risk. Contrastingly, having children in your twenties or having multiple children reduces your risk.

6) MENSTRUAL PERIODS:- Menstruating is believed to increase a women's breast cancer risk in the long term. Therefore, women who started their periods early or enter the menopause (a time when the female reproductive system shuts down completely) late do have a greater chance of developing this type of cancer. This is thought to be linked to the increased levels of estrogen stimulating cancer cells whilst a woman's reproductive system is active.

7) PERSONAL HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER:- If you have previously had this type of cancer then you have are at a greater risk than someone who has never had the disease. On top of this if you have previously contracted this condition in one breast your chances of it developing in the other breast are increased.

Many of the risk factors discussed in this article are beyond your control. However, by being aware of them you can work out your own personal risk. From here you can then see your doctor and discuss any possible treatments and preventative action. I hope this article clears up any confusion and helps you determine whether you are at risk.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Breast cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Green Tea Can Prevent Cancer

2008-11-12T05:35:00.001-08:00

The value of green tea has gone beyond the scientific and medical wisdom. Over the recent past, this tea has gained immense popularity. It has been hyped and given credited for its immense value and health benefits. Association of this herbal tea with health has also become quite vital in educating the society more of their health needs. The tea has been given credited for its ability to help the body ward of cancer.

Doctors have made it clear that, it's true this type of tea helps the body keep cancer at bay. Most health experts involved in this research have noted that green tea works through various channels of our body systems. The compounds in green tea act through different our body pathways nourishing us with medicinal benefits and supplements. How this tea keeps cancer at bay is very interesting yet vital to our health and dietary needs.

Green teas ability to fight cancer is very potent making it a very coveted herbal product. Compounds which include anti-oxidants in green tea contribute highly in proffering our bodies' good health as well as fighting cancer. The compounds found in green tea actively block molecules which contribute to growth and manifestation of cancer in our bodies. These chemicals shut this key molecule which facilitates growth of cancer cells. The aryl hydrocarbon is responsible to the complex nature of cancer by activating some body genes.

Two compounds found in green tea stop the aryl hydrocarbon by shutting down the AH. These chemicals are also found in broccoli, red wine, cabbage and grapes. The research on the benefits of this type of tea has established that, aryl hydrocarbon is a cancer causing hydrocarbon which is associated with cigarette smoking and other harmful health habits. As such, drinking the tea has been unanimously recommended as a very healthy habit which everyone should undertake.

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