http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Tech%2Band%2BScience/Story/STIStory_432521.html
Paralysed rats run again
PARIS - PARALYSED rats whose spinal cords had been severed from their brains were made to run again using a technique that scientists say can work for people, according to a study released on Sunday.
Consistent electrical stimulation and drugs enabled the rats to walk on their hind legs on a treadmill - bearing the full weight of the body - within a week of being paralysed.
With the addition of physical therapy, the rodents were able after several weeks to walk and run without stumbling for up to 30 minutes, reported the study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
Remarkably, the animals could adjust their movements in response to stimuli despite the lack of signals to and from the brain: when the treadmill was reversed, for example, the rats walked backwards.
'This means that the spinal network is almost capable of cognitive processing,' explained Gregoire Courtine, a professor at Zurich University. 'It can understand that the external world is changing, and interpret this information to modify the way it activates muscle,' he told AFP by phone.
Earlier studies had shown that nerve networks in the spinal cord can produce limited motion in the muscles independent of the brain or sensory organs. But this is the first time that researchers have been able to restore normal or nearly normal functions. 'We can optimise the use of the circuitry in the spinal cord to the point where the animals can sustain full weight-bearing locomotion,' said Prof Courtine.
'In some cases they actually walked with more consistent locomotive patterns than non-injured animals.' The next step is to develop devices that can be implanted inside the body. We are now designing neuro-prostheses, arrays of electrodes that fit like a second skin between the vertebrae and the spinal cord,' Prof Courtine explained.
A strip measuring 3cm long and one hundredth of a centimetre thick, the device is described as 'minimally invasive' because it does not penetrate into the spinal cord.
Prof Courtine and colleagues are currently testing the neuro-prostheses on rats, and expect to have an interface for humans within four years. The new technique is designed to help patients with incomplete but severe injuries, such as those who cannot walk independently.
'For these people, it is highly likely that this approach will improve their function,' he said. The mix of electrical stimulation and physical therapy may be enough to restore significant mobility in many patients, but the addition of drugs 'would be extremely beneficial,' he added. -- AFP
Monday, September 21, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
How to Live a Long Healthy Life (BBC)
How to Live a Long Healthy Life (Part 5 of 5) - Living to 101 - BBC Horizon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKJq_D-JRss&NR=1
The Worlds Oldest People (Part 1 of 5) - Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCfnPJrZMTk
72 Year-Old Man Body Building Every Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUvjXQHt6QQ&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKJq_D-JRss&NR=1
The Worlds Oldest People (Part 1 of 5) - Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCfnPJrZMTk
72 Year-Old Man Body Building Every Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUvjXQHt6QQ&feature=fvw
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Green Tea 2
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20060912/green-tea-for-long-life?page=2
Green Tea for Long Life?
Japanese Study Shows Link Between Green Tea Drinkers and Lower Death Risk (continued)
More Benefits for Women?
Why do women seem to get more of a benefit from green tea than men do?
Kuriyama and colleagues note that the men in their study smoked more cigarettes than women did. And smokers, overall, got less of a benefit from green tea than nonsmokers.
But Cheng says it's related to estrogen. Green tea studies consistently show a greater effect for women than for men, he says. He suggests that green tea's active ingredients may interact with the female sex hormone estrogen to boost a heart-protective effect.
Green Tea: No Effect on Cancer
Kuriyama and colleagues found no evidence that green tea protects against cancer death.
Kuriyama says that was a surprise to him, as "abundant" evidence from animal and test-tube studies suggests that green tea ingredients fight cancer.
But he notes that the current findings are in line with other, smaller studies that find green tea has no effect on several specific kinds of cancer.
Green Tea Warnings
While it's yet to be proved that green tea really will protect you against early death, there's a lot of evidence that green tea is safe -- with two major exceptions.
Cheng warns that green tea contains vitamin K. Vitamin K affects blood clotting. People taking the blood-thinning drug Coumadin, he says, should not start drinking more green tea.
And Kuriyama warns against drinking your green tea piping hot.
"Drinking green tea at high temperature may be associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer," he says. "Therefore, I recommend that green tea should be consumed at moderate or low temperature."
What's the bottom line? For Lichtenstein, the message is to go ahead and drink green tea if you like it. But to prevent heart disease and stroke, what really works is a healthy diet and daily exercise.
Neither Kuriyama nor Cheng would disagree with that. But they both recommend green tea, too.
"I personally drink two to three cups of green tea per day," Kuriyama says. "On the basis of our study results, I would like to recommend the drinking of green tea to my friends and my family because our findings are the best evidence at present."
Cheng says green tea is much better for you than oolong tea or black tea, which lose some healthy properties during fermentation. But that's not why he drinks it.
"I drink two cups a day because I like it," Cheng says.
Green Tea for Long Life?
Japanese Study Shows Link Between Green Tea Drinkers and Lower Death Risk (continued)
More Benefits for Women?
Why do women seem to get more of a benefit from green tea than men do?
Kuriyama and colleagues note that the men in their study smoked more cigarettes than women did. And smokers, overall, got less of a benefit from green tea than nonsmokers.
But Cheng says it's related to estrogen. Green tea studies consistently show a greater effect for women than for men, he says. He suggests that green tea's active ingredients may interact with the female sex hormone estrogen to boost a heart-protective effect.
Green Tea: No Effect on Cancer
Kuriyama and colleagues found no evidence that green tea protects against cancer death.
Kuriyama says that was a surprise to him, as "abundant" evidence from animal and test-tube studies suggests that green tea ingredients fight cancer.
But he notes that the current findings are in line with other, smaller studies that find green tea has no effect on several specific kinds of cancer.
Green Tea Warnings
While it's yet to be proved that green tea really will protect you against early death, there's a lot of evidence that green tea is safe -- with two major exceptions.
Cheng warns that green tea contains vitamin K. Vitamin K affects blood clotting. People taking the blood-thinning drug Coumadin, he says, should not start drinking more green tea.
And Kuriyama warns against drinking your green tea piping hot.
"Drinking green tea at high temperature may be associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer," he says. "Therefore, I recommend that green tea should be consumed at moderate or low temperature."
What's the bottom line? For Lichtenstein, the message is to go ahead and drink green tea if you like it. But to prevent heart disease and stroke, what really works is a healthy diet and daily exercise.
Neither Kuriyama nor Cheng would disagree with that. But they both recommend green tea, too.
"I personally drink two to three cups of green tea per day," Kuriyama says. "On the basis of our study results, I would like to recommend the drinking of green tea to my friends and my family because our findings are the best evidence at present."
Cheng says green tea is much better for you than oolong tea or black tea, which lose some healthy properties during fermentation. But that's not why he drinks it.
"I drink two cups a day because I like it," Cheng says.
Green Tea
Green Tea for Long Life?
Japanese Study Shows Link Between Green Tea Drinkers and Lower Death Risk
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Sept. 12, 2006 -- People who drink at least a pint of green tea each day have a lower risk of death, a Japanese study shows.
The lower overall death risk among green tea drinkers appears to be due to a lower risk of death from heart disease. And the benefit of green tea is especially pronounced in women, find Shinichi Kuriyama, MD, PhD, Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Sendai, Japan, and colleagues.
Green tea is a very popular drink in Japan. But some people drink more than others do. Women who drink five or more 3.4-ounce cups of green tea every day cut their risk of heart disease by 31% compared with women who drink one or fewer 3.4-ounce cups. Men who drink this much green tea cut their heart disease risk by 22%.
"Green tea may prolong your life through reducing heart disease and stroke," Kuriyama tells WebMD. "Our findings might explain the differences in mortality profile between Japan and the United States. The Japanese age-adjusted rate of mortality due to [heart disease and stroke] is about 30% lower than that of the United States."
The findings appear in the Sept. 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Green Tea: Might Americans Benefit?
Kuriyama's study is based on data collected since 1994 among more than 40,000 healthy Japanese people aged 40 to 79. More than 86% of the study participants remained in the study for 11 years. Participants filled out detailed questionnaires about their daily diets and health.
The study was conducted with meticulous care. But Kuriyama is quick to point out that this kind of study can't prove green tea has any beneficial effect. Proof comes only from a clinical trial in which some people get green tea and others do not. The Kuriyama study shows only that there is a link between green tea and lower death risk -- not that green tea causes lower death risk.
Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of the cardiovascular nutrition research program at Tufts University's Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, is underwhelmed by the Kuriyama study.
"This is association, not causation," Lichtenstein tells WebMD. "The Japanese are so different from us in terms of diet and lifestyle. The data -- at this point -- do not support the hypothesis that adding green tea to your diet will significantly reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. But stay tuned."
Kuriyama points to a Dutch study that suggests Westerners may benefit from green tea. That's also the opinion of green tea researcher Tsung O. Cheng, MD, of George Washington University Medical Center.
"I would think that the effect of green tea is worldwide," Cheng tells WebMD. "There is no reason why it should be beneficial in the Eastern world and not in the West. I hope that Westerners will begin to drink more green tea, too. A person would drink two or more 8-ounce cups per day for maximum benefit."
Japanese Study Shows Link Between Green Tea Drinkers and Lower Death Risk
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Sept. 12, 2006 -- People who drink at least a pint of green tea each day have a lower risk of death, a Japanese study shows.
The lower overall death risk among green tea drinkers appears to be due to a lower risk of death from heart disease. And the benefit of green tea is especially pronounced in women, find Shinichi Kuriyama, MD, PhD, Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Sendai, Japan, and colleagues.
Green tea is a very popular drink in Japan. But some people drink more than others do. Women who drink five or more 3.4-ounce cups of green tea every day cut their risk of heart disease by 31% compared with women who drink one or fewer 3.4-ounce cups. Men who drink this much green tea cut their heart disease risk by 22%.
"Green tea may prolong your life through reducing heart disease and stroke," Kuriyama tells WebMD. "Our findings might explain the differences in mortality profile between Japan and the United States. The Japanese age-adjusted rate of mortality due to [heart disease and stroke] is about 30% lower than that of the United States."
The findings appear in the Sept. 13 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Green Tea: Might Americans Benefit?
Kuriyama's study is based on data collected since 1994 among more than 40,000 healthy Japanese people aged 40 to 79. More than 86% of the study participants remained in the study for 11 years. Participants filled out detailed questionnaires about their daily diets and health.
The study was conducted with meticulous care. But Kuriyama is quick to point out that this kind of study can't prove green tea has any beneficial effect. Proof comes only from a clinical trial in which some people get green tea and others do not. The Kuriyama study shows only that there is a link between green tea and lower death risk -- not that green tea causes lower death risk.
Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of the cardiovascular nutrition research program at Tufts University's Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, is underwhelmed by the Kuriyama study.
"This is association, not causation," Lichtenstein tells WebMD. "The Japanese are so different from us in terms of diet and lifestyle. The data -- at this point -- do not support the hypothesis that adding green tea to your diet will significantly reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. But stay tuned."
Kuriyama points to a Dutch study that suggests Westerners may benefit from green tea. That's also the opinion of green tea researcher Tsung O. Cheng, MD, of George Washington University Medical Center.
"I would think that the effect of green tea is worldwide," Cheng tells WebMD. "There is no reason why it should be beneficial in the Eastern world and not in the West. I hope that Westerners will begin to drink more green tea, too. A person would drink two or more 8-ounce cups per day for maximum benefit."
Japanese Health food
Web Japan > NIPPONIA No.29 > Special Feature*
NIPPONIA No.29 June 15, 2004
Special Feature*
The Key to a Long Life Is What You Eat
One reason why life spans are long in Japan is the food. The traditional diet is basically a recipe for long life. What types of food and what combinations of ingredients help people live longer? Here we examine Japanese traditional cuisine to discover some secrets to extending life.
Text and food preparation by Nagayama Hisao
food culture historian and lecturer at Seibu Bunri University of Hospitality
Photos by Uchida Tamotsu
The basics: rice, one soup, three side dishes
Front left: Rice, Japan's staple food, contains oligosaccharide (good for the intestines) and gamma amino butyric acid (helps stabilize blood pressure). If you cook the rice with foxtail mullet, its ample B vitamins and zinc will raise the nutritional value.
Center left: Soybeans simmered with carrots and kombu seaweed, all seasoned with soy sauce and sweetened with sugar. The many elderly in rural Japan eat lots of soybeans.
Rear left: Simmered root vegetables (taro potatoes, daikon radish, carrot, burdock root). Root vegetables have plenty of nutrients and dietary fiber. Cutting the vegetables fairly large keeps the fibers long and makes you chew well. Chewing a lot stimulates brain cells.
Rear right: Sashimi (raw fish or shellfish) is dipped in soy sauce before eating. Because the fish is not cooked, it retains more nutrients. The bowl in the photo contains tuna, sea bream and squid. Tuna meat from the belly, called toro, is especially high in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), whih helps prevent dementia.
Center: Nuka-zuke, vegetables pickled in a fermented paste of rice bran, salt and water. Rice bran contains body-strengthening Vitamins B1 and E, and the yeast fungus and lactic acid bacteria that develop during the fermentation process improve digestion.
Front right: Miso soup, standard fare at the Japanese table. It is made by dissolving miso bean paste in a stock made from dried bonito shavings or other ingredients.
Tofu and wakame seaweed go well with the soup, and are a favorite combination offering high-quality protein and calcium.
Food for healthy living, decade after decade
The Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world, averaging 78 years for men and 85 for women. The number of centenarians rose to 20,561 in 2003, the first year there were more than 20,000. The number increases yearly, and is sure to increase in 2004 as well.
Diet is obviously related to health, so there can be no doubt that the food the Japanese have eaten over the years is an important factor promoting their long life spans. The traditional Japanese diet, part of the nation's culture since ancient times, is attracting more and more favorable attention abroad, especially in the West. Eating Japanese style is good for the health and provides access to many nutrients that retard cell aging. Thanks to their diet, the Japanese have slowed the aging process more than any other people on earth. Many appear remarkably young for their age, however old they may be.
The basics: rice, one soup, three side dishes
The Japanese diet is based on what we call ichi ju san sai—three side dishes eaten with miso soup and the staple food, which is rice boiled in plain water. The three side dishes consist of one main and two lesser dishes. This ichi ju san sai pattern was developed by the military class in the Muromachi period (14th to 16th centuries), and became the standard that continues to this day.
The main side dish has non-vegetable protein, often fish. The fish might be served raw, as in sashimi, or it might be simmered or grilled using any number of recipes. One of the two lesser side dishes, generally simmered and seasoned, may feature taro potatoes, daikon radish, carrots, burdock root, or kombu seaweed. The other lesser dish may include natto (fermented soybeans), tofu, cooked beans, boiled vegetables steeped in a soy-sauce-flavored broth, or ingredients seasoned in sweetened vinegar. The meal always comes with pickles—perhaps a vegetable pickled in a rice-bran paste, or umeboshi, a pickled Japanese apricot.
The ingredients generally depend on the season. The Japanese are fond of eating things in season because food is tastiest when fresh, and because the taste can be brought out without following some complicated recipe. When fresh, food does not need rich seasonings or a long cooking time, and most of the health-giving vitamins and nutrients are retained. Japanese cuisine is simple to prepare and high in natural nutrients.
What are the main life-extending nutrients in Japanese food?
NIPPONIA
Special Feature* Wonders of Japan Living In Japan
Plastic Food to Savor with the Eyes Japanese Animals and Culture
Bon Appetit! Japan Travelogue Cover Interview In Japan Today
NIPPONIA No.29 June 15, 2004
Special Feature*
The Key to a Long Life Is What You Eat
One reason why life spans are long in Japan is the food. The traditional diet is basically a recipe for long life. What types of food and what combinations of ingredients help people live longer? Here we examine Japanese traditional cuisine to discover some secrets to extending life.
Text and food preparation by Nagayama Hisao
food culture historian and lecturer at Seibu Bunri University of Hospitality
Photos by Uchida Tamotsu
The basics: rice, one soup, three side dishes
Front left: Rice, Japan's staple food, contains oligosaccharide (good for the intestines) and gamma amino butyric acid (helps stabilize blood pressure). If you cook the rice with foxtail mullet, its ample B vitamins and zinc will raise the nutritional value.
Center left: Soybeans simmered with carrots and kombu seaweed, all seasoned with soy sauce and sweetened with sugar. The many elderly in rural Japan eat lots of soybeans.
Rear left: Simmered root vegetables (taro potatoes, daikon radish, carrot, burdock root). Root vegetables have plenty of nutrients and dietary fiber. Cutting the vegetables fairly large keeps the fibers long and makes you chew well. Chewing a lot stimulates brain cells.
Rear right: Sashimi (raw fish or shellfish) is dipped in soy sauce before eating. Because the fish is not cooked, it retains more nutrients. The bowl in the photo contains tuna, sea bream and squid. Tuna meat from the belly, called toro, is especially high in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), whih helps prevent dementia.
Center: Nuka-zuke, vegetables pickled in a fermented paste of rice bran, salt and water. Rice bran contains body-strengthening Vitamins B1 and E, and the yeast fungus and lactic acid bacteria that develop during the fermentation process improve digestion.
Front right: Miso soup, standard fare at the Japanese table. It is made by dissolving miso bean paste in a stock made from dried bonito shavings or other ingredients.
Tofu and wakame seaweed go well with the soup, and are a favorite combination offering high-quality protein and calcium.
Food for healthy living, decade after decade
The Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world, averaging 78 years for men and 85 for women. The number of centenarians rose to 20,561 in 2003, the first year there were more than 20,000. The number increases yearly, and is sure to increase in 2004 as well.
Diet is obviously related to health, so there can be no doubt that the food the Japanese have eaten over the years is an important factor promoting their long life spans. The traditional Japanese diet, part of the nation's culture since ancient times, is attracting more and more favorable attention abroad, especially in the West. Eating Japanese style is good for the health and provides access to many nutrients that retard cell aging. Thanks to their diet, the Japanese have slowed the aging process more than any other people on earth. Many appear remarkably young for their age, however old they may be.
The basics: rice, one soup, three side dishes
The Japanese diet is based on what we call ichi ju san sai—three side dishes eaten with miso soup and the staple food, which is rice boiled in plain water. The three side dishes consist of one main and two lesser dishes. This ichi ju san sai pattern was developed by the military class in the Muromachi period (14th to 16th centuries), and became the standard that continues to this day.
The main side dish has non-vegetable protein, often fish. The fish might be served raw, as in sashimi, or it might be simmered or grilled using any number of recipes. One of the two lesser side dishes, generally simmered and seasoned, may feature taro potatoes, daikon radish, carrots, burdock root, or kombu seaweed. The other lesser dish may include natto (fermented soybeans), tofu, cooked beans, boiled vegetables steeped in a soy-sauce-flavored broth, or ingredients seasoned in sweetened vinegar. The meal always comes with pickles—perhaps a vegetable pickled in a rice-bran paste, or umeboshi, a pickled Japanese apricot.
The ingredients generally depend on the season. The Japanese are fond of eating things in season because food is tastiest when fresh, and because the taste can be brought out without following some complicated recipe. When fresh, food does not need rich seasonings or a long cooking time, and most of the health-giving vitamins and nutrients are retained. Japanese cuisine is simple to prepare and high in natural nutrients.
What are the main life-extending nutrients in Japanese food?
NIPPONIA
Special Feature* Wonders of Japan Living In Japan
Plastic Food to Savor with the Eyes Japanese Animals and Culture
Bon Appetit! Japan Travelogue Cover Interview In Japan Today
Sunday, August 9, 2009
http://www.cancertutor.com/Other02/CheckFast.html
http://www.cancertutor.com/Other02/CheckFast.html
Treating Stage IV Cancer Patients
by R. Webster Kehr
Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.
Note: This article in Russian: Click Here
Important Notes
Note #1:
Read this article at least once a month. Stage IV cancer is where almost all of the research of the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc. is focused and the owner of Cancer Tutor is a member of the Board of Directors of the ICRF. Developments will hit this web page faster than other single page on the Internet.
Note #2:
Read this article in its entirety AT LEAST TWICE, even if you think you have found your answer. There will be several important sections in this article that apply to your situation!!
Note #3:
NOTE: For those on a very limited budget, also see this article on inexpensive cancer treatments:
Inexpensive Cancer Treatments
Note #4:
For those women who are pregnant, who may be pregnant or who may become pregnant, it is very important to read this article:
Article Regarding Pregnancy and Cancer
Note #5: How to Search This Website
When you need more information about a particular product or situation (such as a type of cancer), it is easy to search this website. As an example, suppose you want to search for the pages that mention germanium. Just type this into the Google search engine:
site:www.cancertutor.com germanium
Or suppose you want to search for articles that mention lung cancer. In this case you have to use double quotes, thusly:
site:www.cancertutor.com "lung cancer"
About This Article
The first two years I was researching alternative cancer treatments, I did not fully understand that some alternative cancer treatments were FAR STRONGER than other alternative cancer treatments.
It actually came as a shock to me that some alternative cancer treatments were simply not strong enough for some situations that advanced cancer patients were facing.
Armed with that revelation, I started to research which of the alternative cancer treatments were strong enough for almost any cancer patient. It was this research which led to this article and the "ranking" of the strengh of alternative cancer treatments on this unique website.
I also learned that "testimonials" need to be understood in context. For example, a testimonial for a newly diagnosed liver cancer patient, who had been cured with carrot juice and a strong cancer diet (i.e. the "cancer diet" is a list of the foods which are allowed and are NOT allowed during treatment) may not be strong enough for an advanced cancer patient and may even inadvertently mislead an advanced cancer patient into using a treatment which was not strong enough for their situation.
The point is that for advanced cancer patients, a completely different and complex set of concepts, attitudes and treatments must be used to treat their cancer to give them signficant hope for survival.
At any given time the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc. is researching several alternative cancer treatments. It is critical to check back with this article from time to time to see if any new treatments qualify as "Stage IV" alternative cancer treatments (or see the home page of this website to see if there are any new "Stage IV" treatments.
This article for advanced cancer patients, over time, grew to such a size it has been broken down into "Chapters." There was simply no other way to deal with the massive size of this article due to the vast number of issues which advanced cancer patients must understand.
Before the link to each chapter, there will be a brief explanation of the chapter.
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Treating Advanced Cancer
This chapter is the "Big Picture" of dealing with advanced cancer. It provides the overview of what the patient needs to understand about treating cancer.
Introduction to Treating Advanced Cancer
Chapter 2 - The Key Issues of Treating Advanced Cancer
This chapter digs a little deeper than the prior chapter and gets more specific about what an alternative cancer treatment needs to do.
The Key Issues of Treating Advanced Cancer
Chapter 3 - For Those on Prescription Drugs
This is a critical chapter for those who are using alternative cancer treatments and prescription drugs, such as chemotherapy or pain killers or even radiation. There are many conflicts between these two types of treatments.
For Those Using Prescription Drugs
Chapter 4 - The Cardinal Rules
Going into even more depth, and even discussing specific supplements to accomplish specific tasks, this chapter details the "Cardinal Rules" an advanced patient needs to understand. For example, one cardinal rule explains how to determine whether your alternative cancer treatment is working or not. This chapter is the first of the very critical cancer treatment chapters!!
The Cardinal Rules
Chapter 5 - The Stage IV Treatments
This chapter is a listing, with detailed comments, of the "Stage IV" alternative cancer treatments. These are the crown jewels of alternative cancer treatments for advanced cancer patients.
The Stage IV Treatments
Chapter 6 - Special Situations
This is a critical chapter for almost all advanced cancer patients. This article discusses dealing with special situations, such as very fast spreading cancers, dealing with pain, dealing with tumors, etc.
Special Situations
Chapter 7 - The "Type of Cancer" Articles
This chapter offers specific suggestions for dealing with specific types of cancer, such as lung cancer, brain cancer, etc.
The "Type of Cancer" Articles
Chapter 8 - Other Supplements and Devices
Generally speaking, "Stage IV" cancer treatments are too strong to be combined with each other because you do not want to kill too many cancer cells too fast. This chapter lists a number of treatments and devices which can compliment the Stage IV treatments without killing too many cancer cells too fast.
Other Supplements and Devices
Please Support Alternative Cancer Research:
The Cancer Tutor website is closely affiliated with the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc (ICRF). The ICRF is one of the premiere alternative cancer treatment research organizations. Please support their research:
Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.
Please email your friends about this site, and link to this site on your web page!
Click here to read the FDA required disclaimer:
FDA Required Disclaimer and Discussion of Key Terms
Click here to read about the CancerTutor webmaster:
About R. Webster Kehr
Treating Stage IV Cancer Patients
by R. Webster Kehr
Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.
Note: This article in Russian: Click Here
Important Notes
Note #1:
Read this article at least once a month. Stage IV cancer is where almost all of the research of the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc. is focused and the owner of Cancer Tutor is a member of the Board of Directors of the ICRF. Developments will hit this web page faster than other single page on the Internet.
Note #2:
Read this article in its entirety AT LEAST TWICE, even if you think you have found your answer. There will be several important sections in this article that apply to your situation!!
Note #3:
NOTE: For those on a very limited budget, also see this article on inexpensive cancer treatments:
Inexpensive Cancer Treatments
Note #4:
For those women who are pregnant, who may be pregnant or who may become pregnant, it is very important to read this article:
Article Regarding Pregnancy and Cancer
Note #5: How to Search This Website
When you need more information about a particular product or situation (such as a type of cancer), it is easy to search this website. As an example, suppose you want to search for the pages that mention germanium. Just type this into the Google search engine:
site:www.cancertutor.com germanium
Or suppose you want to search for articles that mention lung cancer. In this case you have to use double quotes, thusly:
site:www.cancertutor.com "lung cancer"
About This Article
The first two years I was researching alternative cancer treatments, I did not fully understand that some alternative cancer treatments were FAR STRONGER than other alternative cancer treatments.
It actually came as a shock to me that some alternative cancer treatments were simply not strong enough for some situations that advanced cancer patients were facing.
Armed with that revelation, I started to research which of the alternative cancer treatments were strong enough for almost any cancer patient. It was this research which led to this article and the "ranking" of the strengh of alternative cancer treatments on this unique website.
I also learned that "testimonials" need to be understood in context. For example, a testimonial for a newly diagnosed liver cancer patient, who had been cured with carrot juice and a strong cancer diet (i.e. the "cancer diet" is a list of the foods which are allowed and are NOT allowed during treatment) may not be strong enough for an advanced cancer patient and may even inadvertently mislead an advanced cancer patient into using a treatment which was not strong enough for their situation.
The point is that for advanced cancer patients, a completely different and complex set of concepts, attitudes and treatments must be used to treat their cancer to give them signficant hope for survival.
At any given time the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc. is researching several alternative cancer treatments. It is critical to check back with this article from time to time to see if any new treatments qualify as "Stage IV" alternative cancer treatments (or see the home page of this website to see if there are any new "Stage IV" treatments.
This article for advanced cancer patients, over time, grew to such a size it has been broken down into "Chapters." There was simply no other way to deal with the massive size of this article due to the vast number of issues which advanced cancer patients must understand.
Before the link to each chapter, there will be a brief explanation of the chapter.
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Treating Advanced Cancer
This chapter is the "Big Picture" of dealing with advanced cancer. It provides the overview of what the patient needs to understand about treating cancer.
Introduction to Treating Advanced Cancer
Chapter 2 - The Key Issues of Treating Advanced Cancer
This chapter digs a little deeper than the prior chapter and gets more specific about what an alternative cancer treatment needs to do.
The Key Issues of Treating Advanced Cancer
Chapter 3 - For Those on Prescription Drugs
This is a critical chapter for those who are using alternative cancer treatments and prescription drugs, such as chemotherapy or pain killers or even radiation. There are many conflicts between these two types of treatments.
For Those Using Prescription Drugs
Chapter 4 - The Cardinal Rules
Going into even more depth, and even discussing specific supplements to accomplish specific tasks, this chapter details the "Cardinal Rules" an advanced patient needs to understand. For example, one cardinal rule explains how to determine whether your alternative cancer treatment is working or not. This chapter is the first of the very critical cancer treatment chapters!!
The Cardinal Rules
Chapter 5 - The Stage IV Treatments
This chapter is a listing, with detailed comments, of the "Stage IV" alternative cancer treatments. These are the crown jewels of alternative cancer treatments for advanced cancer patients.
The Stage IV Treatments
Chapter 6 - Special Situations
This is a critical chapter for almost all advanced cancer patients. This article discusses dealing with special situations, such as very fast spreading cancers, dealing with pain, dealing with tumors, etc.
Special Situations
Chapter 7 - The "Type of Cancer" Articles
This chapter offers specific suggestions for dealing with specific types of cancer, such as lung cancer, brain cancer, etc.
The "Type of Cancer" Articles
Chapter 8 - Other Supplements and Devices
Generally speaking, "Stage IV" cancer treatments are too strong to be combined with each other because you do not want to kill too many cancer cells too fast. This chapter lists a number of treatments and devices which can compliment the Stage IV treatments without killing too many cancer cells too fast.
Other Supplements and Devices
Please Support Alternative Cancer Research:
The Cancer Tutor website is closely affiliated with the Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc (ICRF). The ICRF is one of the premiere alternative cancer treatment research organizations. Please support their research:
Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.
Please email your friends about this site, and link to this site on your web page!
Click here to read the FDA required disclaimer:
FDA Required Disclaimer and Discussion of Key Terms
Click here to read about the CancerTutor webmaster:
About R. Webster Kehr
Thursday, July 2, 2009
What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/cancer-oncology/whatiscancer.php
What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.
More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:
a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.
When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.
In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.
What is cancer? - Video
A short, 3D, animated introduction to cancer. This was originally created by BioDigital Systems and used in the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon.
Genes - the DNA type
Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.
Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.
Carcinogens
Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.
Genes - the family type
Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.
Other medical factors
As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
Other cancers have symptoms that are less physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.
As cancer cells use the body's energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss. However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.
When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful, brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.
How is cancer classified?
There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.
Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.
Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:
Adeno- = gland
Chondro- = cartilage
Erythro- = red blood cell
Hemangio- = blood vessels
Hepato- = liver
Lipo- = fat
Lympho- = white blood cell
Melano- = pigment cell
Myelo- = bone marrow
Myo- = muscle
Osteo- = bone
Uro- = bladder
Retino- = eye
Neuro- = brain
How is cancer diagnosed and staged?
Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.
Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.
After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.
TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4 tumors are inoperable or untreatable.
How is cancer treated?
Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells. Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord compression.
Radiation
Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other cancer treatments.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other treatment options.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.
Hormone therapy
Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone cortisone.
Gene therapy
The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.
How can cancer be prevented?
Cancers that are closely linked to certain behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.
Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.
How to eat to prevent cancer - Video
A guide to some everyday foods that contain nutrients that may help reduce your risk of getting cancer. Video by Howcast.
Cancer / Oncology news
Medical News Today is a leading resource for the latest headlines on Cancer and Oncology. So, check out our cancer news section. You can also sign up to daily medical news alerts or our weekly digest medical newsletters to ensure that you stay up-to-date with the latest news.
This what is cancer? information section was written by Peter Crosta for Medical News Today, and may not be re-produced in any way without the permission of Medical News Today.
Sources of information:
American Cancer Society
Cancer Research, UK
Wikipedia
Further information
Useful Cancer Website Links
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only. The materials contained within this guide do not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice, which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers. Full disclaimer.
© MediLexicon International Ltd
What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?
Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.
Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.
More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:
a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.
When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.
In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.
What causes cancer?
Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.
What is cancer? - Video
A short, 3D, animated introduction to cancer. This was originally created by BioDigital Systems and used in the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon.
Genes - the DNA type
Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.
Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.
Carcinogens
Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.
Genes - the family type
Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.
Other medical factors
As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
Other cancers have symptoms that are less physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.
As cancer cells use the body's energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss. However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.
When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful, brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.
How is cancer classified?
There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.
Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.
Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:
Adeno- = gland
Chondro- = cartilage
Erythro- = red blood cell
Hemangio- = blood vessels
Hepato- = liver
Lipo- = fat
Lympho- = white blood cell
Melano- = pigment cell
Myelo- = bone marrow
Myo- = muscle
Osteo- = bone
Uro- = bladder
Retino- = eye
Neuro- = brain
How is cancer diagnosed and staged?
Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.
Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.
After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.
TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4 tumors are inoperable or untreatable.
How is cancer treated?
Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.
Surgery
Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells. Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord compression.
Radiation
Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other cancer treatments.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other treatment options.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.
Hormone therapy
Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone cortisone.
Gene therapy
The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.
How can cancer be prevented?
Cancers that are closely linked to certain behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.
Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.
How to eat to prevent cancer - Video
A guide to some everyday foods that contain nutrients that may help reduce your risk of getting cancer. Video by Howcast.
Cancer / Oncology news
Medical News Today is a leading resource for the latest headlines on Cancer and Oncology. So, check out our cancer news section. You can also sign up to daily medical news alerts or our weekly digest medical newsletters to ensure that you stay up-to-date with the latest news.
This what is cancer? information section was written by Peter Crosta for Medical News Today, and may not be re-produced in any way without the permission of Medical News Today.
Sources of information:
American Cancer Society
Cancer Research, UK
Wikipedia
Further information
Useful Cancer Website Links
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only. The materials contained within this guide do not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice, which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers. Full disclaimer.
© MediLexicon International Ltd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)