Considering Food As The Major Cause Of Cancer

Without mincing words, there is an intimate relationship between cancer and diet, some food cause cancer white others help prevent it, and for those wishing to cut down the risk of ever getting cancer you got to watch what you eat.

If you want to reduce cancer risk, kindly avoid the following:

1. Alcoholic beverages, coffee and tobacco: to run away from cancer you need to run as far as your leg can carry from them.

2. Excess Calories: Both from protein or fat Sources, especially animal sources such as meat, eggs, milk and fish.

3. Cured meats: bacon, grilled meats, sausages, well done meat or fried meats, etc.

4. Hot foods and beverages: do not eat very hot foods and beverages.

5. Smoked, pickled, salted or highly spiced foods: keep off from these foods.

To guide against cancer you require an increase in pro vitamin A and vitamin C and E, you need fiber and phytochemical elements. Foods play an essential role in cancer prevention, even when cancer has been diagnosed, food continue to be vitally important such as fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables.

Science has proved this foods both experimentally and epidemiological to be anti carcinogens and they are exclusively and abundantly found in processed-based foods. The above anti carcinogenic foods particularly fruit treatments, fresh juices and foods are additional supportive treatment resources that should not be ignored, not minding whether you are following conventional, complementary, integrative or alternative treatment options.

You should not forget that the foods that we eat in the developed world are without mincing words the major source of carcinogens. It is advisable to readjust and re-plan what we eat in the name of food.Yes! we have to make adjustment to what we eat, how we eat it and how we prepare it.

We should take time to prepare our meals and take time to eat it,hurrying over meals leads to cases of indigestion that over time leads to one form of ill-health or the other. Take time to eat for God has made it so, some of these unhealthy foods can be avoided, it only needs determination on your part,there's no percentage in eating harmful foods or drinks,your health should be paramount above what you eat and we all know that health is wealth,as you abide by this your health will turn around for better.

Did You Have A Cancer

You Have Cancer!

These are the three most dreaded words many people around the world may have to hear one time or another in their lives. Is this the beginning of the end? Not if you go about it in a dispassionate and sensible way.

After coping with the shock, most of us would find the top specialist we can afford, and follow his treatment plan to the letter. You are made to believe that since oncologists went to medical school for years ---only they know what is best for you. Not necessarily!

While conventional doctors are undoubtedly experts in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery ---the only treatments taught in most medical schools--- their methods are by no means the safest or the most effective ways to cure most cancers.

Sure, they can fight the cancer for a while, but these treatments also poison your whole body, especially your immune system. They weaken your body's natural defenses just when you need them most. That's why most cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation- suffer terrible side effects and become susceptible to all kind of infections. Ask these patients and they will tell you they would rather die than go through it a second time - and that's exactly what they choose to do.

So why is chemotherapy recommended by the large majority of doctors? While there is a tremendous conflict going on in the minds of honest and caring oncologists they are in a very difficult position because they've only been trained to give these drugs. Their good intentions fail when the only resource available to them has so little to offer.

Chemotherapy, the mainstay of any conventional cancer treatment has a success rate of 3%. Yes, the failure rate amounts to 97%. Not very encouraging since cancers such as breast, colon, and lung cancer are simply untreatable by chemotherapy.

That's right, after our loved ones have suffered for months on end and paid a fortune for conventional treatments, over 55% of the most feared cancers come back again according to researchers at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Americans are known to donate generously to the cancer cause. Millions are spent on cancer research every year while the best brains toil away hoping for a breakthrough. But with a small percentage of cancer survivors left to spend 5-7 years of a miserable existence; failure stares at us straight in the face.

What if you could treat cancer more successfully than most oncologists?

There are hundred of thousands of cancer patients around the world who are leading healthy, normal lives today. The truth is doctors so often get it wrong.

Experts in Nature Cure and Alternate Medicine claim that you can naturally cure most cancers at home for a fraction of the cost of chemotherapy -- without the horrible side effects. You will discover the most potent alternative cancer treatments that 94% of doctors don't even know exist. And it's probably easier to cure cancer in its earlier stages than it is to cure pneumonia. So, don't let panic rush you into a decision you may regret later.

It is a known fact that cancer is a multidimensional, systematic total body disease where the tumor is merely a symptom. Studies have shown that there is no known tumor that could not be cured 35 years ago, and can be cured today with conventional treatment. The entire purpose of the alternative cancer treatment is to correct the root cause of cancer in the whole body. Once the cause is discovered; reversing the cancer is a simple matter.

Cancer patients deserve to know the truth and to make choices based upon this truth and the choices to be made in treating cancer are not easy ones; because there is so little certainty of cure in any of them. Yet, the evidence that there are literally hundreds of alternative cancer treatments which really do work is voluminous.

R.P.Bhalla, retired airline captain and avid golfer writes extensively on Health and Relationship issues. Based on personal experience, he believes that nature can cure the most deadly diseases.

Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate

A pancreatic cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

This disease is one of the deadliest of all cancers and one with the lowest survival rates. According to the American Cancer Society, only 5% of patients with this disease are alive 5 years after the cancer is found.

In the United States, it is estimated that more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year. What is surprising is that many people don't know this and in addition, most of them are not even sure what cancer of the pancreas is. Another little known fact about this disease is that more than 60,000 cases are diagnosed in Europe each year.

The pancreas is a gland behind the stomach that is shaped a wee bit like the shape of a fish. It is six inches long and less than 2 inches wide. It extends across the abdomen. The pancreas has two functions. It breaks down fats and proteins in foods we eat for body absorption. The pancreas also produces hormones to help balance the amount of sugar in the blood.

While cancer of the pancreas can affect anyone, the American Cancer Society has identified several risk factors for this disease:

* Nearly 70 percent of patients with this disease are over 55 years.

* Men are affected more often than women.

* Blacks are more likely to have this disease than whites.

* The risk is higher among smokers.

* There may be a link with the consumption of large amounts of red meat and pork, especially processed meats (like sausage and bacon).

* Very overweight people are 20% more likely to develop this disease.

This type of cancer is a fatal disease and pancreatic cancer survival rate is very poor. The cancer of the pancreas is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Over 98% of patients with cancer of the pancreas die.

Diagnosis of this cancer at an early stage is very difficult because the symptoms in the early stages are vague and diagnostic procedures are not very reliable in diagnosing the disease at an early stage. The diagnosis is usually made at an advanced stage of the disease, making it very difficult to treat. Complete tumor resection is also not curative and pancreatic cancer survival rate is only 1 amongst 20 people.

Recent studies and clinical trials are offering promising results but at the moment, curative resection remains the only hope to improve the over-all pancreatic cancer survival rate.

Stomach Cancer Survival Rate

A stomach cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

Stomach cancer does not choose its victim. It can happen to all races. However, this type of cancer was proven more prevalent amongst men than women and those who are at the age range of around 40 to 60 are most vulnerable. It is assumed that because of the different diet in countries like Japan and Chile (dependency on red meat), the mortality rate is high.

In the western nations, the incidence of people acquiring this type of cancer has decreased by 50% during the last 25 years. In addition, the resulting mortality rate is less than a third of what it used to be, which is considered a very significant decrease.

Unfortunately, the result in less developed countries has not yet changed the way the western world has. The main reason cited behind this is the delay in diagnosis. Most patients are only diagnosed through the barium meal, which can only trace cancer during the later stages.

Chronic dyspepsia is the first sign of this cancer. Likewise, epigastric discomfort may appear as well. Weight loss, anorexia, feeling of fullness, anemia and fatigue then follows after the cancer has progressed through the later levels. If the cancer is located higher in the stomach, it may cause severe vomiting. Sometimes, blood in the stool may also be detected.

Metastatic progression usually starts from the stomach up towards the esophagus or down towards the small intestine. It can extend through the stomach wall and the nearest lymph nodes before consuming the surrounding vital organs. Almost 90% of patients in stomach tumor will eventually experience metastasis and the stomach cancer survival rate within 5 years is around 75% for those diagnosed in the early stage and 30% in the advanced stages of the cancer.

PROGNOSIS

Like most cancers, cancer of the stomach is curable if detected early. The only downside is that people don't really seek medical help until the disease is already in the advanced stage, making their cases almost hopeless. But then the reason behind the delayed diagnosis is because the cancer symptoms don't usually appear in the early stages as well.

Foods rich in anti-oxidants are amongst the things that will successfully combat the likelihood of cancer. Fruits and vegetables that are sources of vitamin A and C are proven to reduce cancer risk. The prevalence rate of cancer is doubled in smokers. This is why smoking cessation is essential.

In the United States and most of the Western world, the stomach cancer survival rate in 5 years is around 5-15% for those diagnosed at the later stages.

In Japan, where cancer of the stomach is often diagnosed early, the survival rate in 5 years is about 50%. Survival rates in advanced stages are about 20-30% for those with regional disease to almost zero for those already in the metastatic phases.

With chemotherapy, median survival is approximately 12 months or more than a year but not greater than 2 yrs. If the cancer is detected before it has spread, the relative stomach cancer survival rate at five years is around 61%.

Bladder Cancer Survival Rates

Bladder cancer survival rates refer to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

Now before getting to the rates of survival, let's get to know this type of cancer a little bit more.

The cancer that occurs in the tissues of the urinary bladder is known as bladder cancer. Generally, the cancer usually begins in cells and formulates in the lining of the bladder. Some other types start in thin, flat cells such as squamous cell carcinoma. This type is extended to the bladder then leads to the seemingly endless sufferings with symptoms such as irritation, redness and swelling. The other type is called adenocarcinoma which leads to the secretion of mucus and other bodily fluids. Cancer of the bladder occurs when cells grow wildly and form tumors that affect not just the primary part but also spreads to different tissues and other body parts.

At the first stage, 25% of patients normally have no symptoms. Usually the first sign of bladder tumors is blood in the urine, pain after urination, frequent urination and dribbling. However, these signs and symptoms are not specific to this type of cancer, and can also be caused by noncancerous conditions, such as prostate infections and cystitis.

The cancer of the bladder has a recurrence rate of 50% -80% and thus, doctors recommend cystoscopy screening every three months during the first two years after treatment.

The prognosis depends on the stage of cancer, whether it is superficial or invasive, and has spread to other places in the body. A superficial bladder cancer has a good prognosis, with bladder cancer survival rates at 5 years from 82 to 100%. If the tumor has grown into the wall of the bladder, but has not spread to other organs, treatment usually involves surgical removal of the tumor, or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the five years bladder cancer survival rates are at around 60 % to 75%. Patients with bigger tumors, which are also usually less well differentiated, and those with lymphovascular invasion may only have a survival rates of 30% to 50% after radical cystectomy.

The annual U.S. cases are 54,000 more. And the annual death rate is about 12,000. It is important to detect early symptoms so that treatment can start early too. This will increase the bladder cancer survival rates.

Kidney Cancer Survival Rate

A kidney cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

Severe cases of this disease is generally treated with kidney surgery, called nephrectomy which will remove the kidney, partial nephrectomy to remove the tumor, and cryosurgery to freeze the cancerous renal mass. This disease affects thousands of people every year. The most common form of this cancer is renal cell carcinoma.

This disease is more likely to develop in people over 50 years. Men have higher risk factors for developing this cancer than women. Doctors are not sure of the exact cause of this disease. However, people who smoke or are exposed to certain chemicals can develop this disease. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, obesity, long-term dialysis and a hereditary condition.

There are four stages of this type of cancer that determine the severity of the cancer as well as the kidney cancer survival rate. Cancer stages are determined by the size of kidney tumors, the tumor location and how far the cancer has spread. In the first stage (stage I), small tumors are established in the kidney. The patients presented in stage II cancer of the kidney and fat tissue in stage III, cancer has spread to lymph nodes and blood vessels near the kidney. Patients who have more severe symptoms may require surgery or a more extensive cancer treatment.

Stage IV means the cancer has grown and spread throughout the body. This means that this disease has become metastatic. Cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, including lymph nodes, and have formed new kidney tumors in areas such as the lungs or bladder. Surgeons may have to perform surgery on the kidney and lymph nodes to remove the tumor and prevent it from spreading wider. The kidney cancer survival rate decreases with increasing stage. The status of prognosis may heavily depend on how early the cancer is detected. In most cases, the earlier the detection, the better the prognosis.

The overall kidney cancer survival rate is 44% for 5 years and 40% for 10 years. And the rates by staging are as follows: 90% at stage 1; 65 - 75% at stage 2; 40 - 70% at stage 3; 5% at stage 4.

This is a serious disease. The symptoms include fatigue, blood in the urine (microhematuria or macroscopic hematuria ), low back pain (which can be constant at the flank area), fever of long duration, unexplained weight loss or a tumor or mass that can be felt in the back or lower back. Prostate cancer and bladder cancer may also have similar symptoms. To make a proper diagnosis of cancer, the physician must evaluate the patient as soon as the symptoms of cancer arise.

Bone Cancer Survival Rate

A bone cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

In reality, this type of cancer is very rare. In fact, it's so rare than it only consists of about 1% among all tumor cases. Bone tumors, unlike most other types of cancer tumors, are not all fatal or cancerous. Benign tumors are even more prevalent than malignant tumors, which may be a much more relieving news for many. Often times, cancer of the bone may also be a result of the metastasis of a cancer from another part of the body.

Primary bone cancer, which begins in the bone itself and not a result of other cancer's metastasis is quite rare and only constitutes less than one percent of all malignancies. This type of bone cancer is more common amongst men and even more in children or adolescents.

Cancer symptoms may depend upon different factors and the progression is not exactly as fast as some other cancers. Some of these factors are the location, the size and the type of tumor. Most common signs and symptoms of bone cancer are pain in bones and joints, problems with movement, inflammation of the bones and joints of affected part and easy susceptibility to developing fractures. Occasionally, the patient may also experience fever, fatigue, sweating and unexplained weight loss.

Remember this is very rare so if you have any of these symptoms, this is likely to be caused by another condition. It may work better if you always go to your doctor for proper diagnosis.

Prognosis

Since the development of modern chemotherapy, the patient prognosis has been improving quite significantly in many countries. However, the recovery period will always depend upon the real status of the cancer and the patient him/herself including whether the cancer has spread, the type of cancer, tumor size, location, general health of the individual and other individual factors.

If the tumor is very small and localized, the bone cancer survival rate at five years is about 90%. If the cancer has begun to spread, however, the rate of survival becomes poorer.

Overall, the bone cancer survival rate at five years is only 60 percent, and once the cancer reaches its metastasis stage, you can expect the prognosis to become worse.

The bone cancer survival rate listed below is based upon the type of bone cancers:

• Osteosarcoma - 84% at the early stages and 69% at the later stage.

• Ewing's Sarcoma - 3 year survival rate is around 65%.

• Chondrosarcoma - 5 year survival rate is around 30%.

Liver Cancer Survival Rate

A liver cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

A liver cancer survival rate is not a definitive indicator of what will happen to a patient, but they can - at best - predict the likelihood of a patient to survive if a certain treatment plan was used basing on what has happened to other patients in similar circumstances.

There are two types of cancer of the liver - primary liver cancer that begins in the liver tissue and cancer metastasis, which is a secondary type of this cancer that originates elsewhere in the body and then spreads to the liver. Cancer cells can easily travel to the liver because of its role in filtering the blood. It is most commonly spread in the colon, breast, pancreas, stomach or lungs.

The liver cancer survival rate is rather low, because the disease can go undetected for some time before indications of the cancer surface. The mean age of diagnosis is at 60 years and more than half of patients are men.

The worldwide general rate of survival for cancer patients indicate that only 7% of the cases reach the milestone of 5 years after diagnosis and if compared to other types of cancer, that is quite low. In cases where cancer has been surgically removed, 75% survive for 1 year, 50% for 3 years and 30% for 5 years.

The rates of survival are high in cases of primary cancer patient who have undergone liver transplant. The rate could go up to 75% in 5 years. Liver transplant in the cases where the cancer has already metastasized is pretty hopeless. The rate of survival could be as low as zero since it is only a matter of time before the cancer spreads to the new organ.

The only way to improve the rates of survival is by understanding the risk factors that could worsen the disease progression if the symptoms are not detected early. Obviously, this would mean that candidates at high risk should have regular ultrasounds and blood tests to check the level of liver enzymes. This is important because we need to constantly monitor the status of your liver - whether it's still functioning at normal/optimal level or not.

Your liver is a very important organ in your body. In Chinese and Asian medicine, the liver is considered the most important organ - even more vital than your heart or your brain.

Do I Have Cancer?

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. According to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 12.7 million people were diagnosed and 7.6 million died of this condition in 2008. One in eight deaths worldwide is due to this condition. It causes more deaths than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Deaths from cancers worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030.

These are very alarming figures. The task of medical and health professionals is ever going to increase if the number of cases increases in such proportions. Considering the fact that the risk of getting this disease increases with age and our elderly population is ever-increasing and that obesity increases the risk of cancers and obesity is ever-increasing, unless there is a breakthrough in technology to detect and treat it early, it will be the biggest health burden to every community and country all over the world for many years to come. Managing this condition is a big challenge not just to medical and health professionals but to every member of a community around the world. The health system that is already struggling to manage the multitude of chronic and acute diseases of modern society will be stretched to the limit with such steady rise in the number of cancer cases.

Having worked as a Family Medical Practitioner for many years, I feel passionately about people suffering from such a deadly condition and the aftermaths of its diagnosis and treatment on physical, emotional and spiritual health of the patients. This is very intriguing especially if it was a preventable one, such as, lung or cervical.

As a doctor, I take it as a personal responsibility and a challenge to do my bit by educating people on cancer and ways of preventing them, if applicable. I will start doing this by writing many articles here in EzineArticles.com regularly over some period of time. I do hope people benefit from the information obtained from my articles.

How do cancers develop?

A cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of our body. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells. When these cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced by new cells. This process is controlled by genes. But sometimes, this orderly process does not take place. Old and damaged cells do not die and new cells keep on dividing even when the body does not need them. As a result, a mass of tissue called tumor or lump is formed in our body.

The tumor or lump can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancers whereas malignant tumors are made up of cancer cells. Therefore, malignant tumors and cancers mean the same thing. The ability of the cell to grow out of control and invade other tissues makes a cell a cancer cell. In most cases these abnormal cells form a tumor but in some other cases like leukemia there may not be any tumor.

Benign tumors usually grow slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body whereas malignant tumors grow faster and invade adjoining parts of the body or spread to other organs.

What causes a normal cell to become abnormal cell?

Researchers have shown that cancer is caused by damage to the genes that control cell division and growth. All cancers are genetic because it is caused by abnormal gene. The damage to genes is the result of the interactions between a person's genetic factors and external factors. These external factors include physical agents, such as ultraviolet radiation of the sun; chemical agents, such as tobacco smoke; and biological agents, such as infections from bacteria and viruses.

Aging is another factor for the development of such a condition. The chance of getting cancers increase dramatically with age, most likely due to a build-up of risks for those, that increases with age, such as, those affecting ovary or bladder.

How does it spread?

It spreads in three different ways: locally to surrounding tissues, through blood and through lymph nodes.

Local spread: It invades the surrounding normal tissue and spread further.

Through lymph vessels: It invades the lymph nodes and vessels and travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.

Through blood vessels: It invades the capillaries and veins and travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.

How are they classified?

They are classified into primary and secondary.

The site where it begins is the primary type. When this primary cancer cells break away and are carried in the blood or lymph vessels to other parts of the body, it is called secondary or metastatic. The process is called metastasis. For example, a malignant breast tumor can spread to bones, when it is called metastatic breast tumor. Metastatic or secondary cancers contain original cells from primary site.

What are the types?

There are many types of cancers. They are named after the cells or tissues they begin from. Some of the common types are:

Carcinomas: they begin from lining of internal organs or from skin. For example, squamous cell carcinoma of skin, or adenocarcinoma of stomach. Almost 85% of all malignant tumors are carcinomas.

Sarcomas: Sarcomas begin from connective tissues that support the body organs, such as the bones, cartilage, and tendons. Examples of sarcoma include osteosarcoma of bones, or rhabdomyosarcoma of muscles.

Leukemias: Leukemias arise from white blood cells. They are commonly called blood cancer.

Lymphomas: Lymphomas begin from lymph tissues.

A quick look at global statistics

It causes almost 13% of all deaths worldwide. One in eight deaths is due to this condition. The main types of cancers causing death in 2008 were lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and breast.

    There are over 100 different types

    It can affect any part of the body

    Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause in the world

    Malignant breast tumor is the leading cancer killer among women aged 20-59 years in high-income countries

    5 most common types that kill men worldwide are lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and esophagus

    5 most common types that kill women worldwide are breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and cervical

    One fifth of all malignant tumors worldwide are caused by infections, such as, human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV)

    Almost a third of all cancers could be prevented, mainly by not using tobacco, having a healthy diet, being physically active and preventing infections that can lead to malignant condition.

    Deaths from malignant tumors are expected to rise

A Few Words of Caution

We are often so caught up in the bumps and bruises in our lives, that we tend to overlook the causes brewing within us. I am a nurse and a stage IV breast cancer survivor. Not only did I survive breast cancer, but so did my husband. I, thinking of myself as the victim, failed to see the pain and fatigue inflicted on him. So we, together made a decision to educate others to the subtle warning signs of cancer. We volunteer to speak at cancer events and recite this poem. To everyone reading the following poem, please read and listen to the words carefully, for our bodies do speak to us. Please the take the time to listen. Are you the person described int this poem?

Caution

Listen carefully women and men to what I have to say.
Stop, look, listen, proceed with caution, live life everyday
Sometimes our body speaks to us in a silent way--
We have no time to listen, so hopefully it will go away.
Do I take the time to notice that my bathroom habits have changed?
No, I did not take the time because my day is already arranged
I cut my finger a month ago with no healing in sight.
No, give it just a little more time, for surely it will be all right.
That little mole or freckle now changed and bleeding on my face
I'll cover it with a bandaid, it will soon vanish without a trace.
That blood on my undergarment was easily disregarded
I'll check on it later, my day has already started.
That thickness or lump in my breast, one month ago was not there
What the heck, I'll check it next month, for I am sure it will disappear
Indigestion for weeks now, but this too can wait
For I am sure it was that spicy food that I ate
That mole on my face, now obviously changed in color
I won't to go the doctor, for it will cost a few dollars.
Now what about that old nagging cough
It's just a little cold, I'll soon shake it off.
Caution, my friends is the word to remember
Place in your repertoire, use it January through December.
Such a small word, but has so much meaning
If this description fits you, see your doctor for a screening.
Whatever you do, don't fear the unknown

For the life you save may be your own.