Showing posts with label Cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cancer. Show all posts

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Explanations

Now Bateeilee Blog admin will share Breast Cancer Symptoms and Explanations. 

A lump or a thickening in the breast or in the armpit:


Some lumps or swelling in the breast tissue may be due to hormonal changes. But if a lump or thickening persists, whether it is in the breast or in the armpit area, it may be a cause for concern. Swelling in the armpit, where the lymph nodes are located, may indicate that the body is fighting an invasion. A lump in the breast tissue may indicate a cyst, or it may indicate a problem in the duct or the lobes. See your doctor or nurse practitioner for a screening.

A change in size or shape of the mature breast:

If a mature breast changes size or shape, and especially if only one breast is changing, it may signal that milk ducts or the lobes deeper within the breast are swelling. This could be due to fibrocystic or regular monthly hormonal cycles. If the changes are not in step with regular periodical changes, consult a health professional and get an exam. Having a baseline mammogram can help you and your doctor keep track of changes with accuracy.

Fluid (not milk) leaking from the nipple:

Between ages 41 - 58, there may be a small bit of non-bloody leakage from the nipples of both breasts. This leakage is usually due to hormonal changes and is not worrisome. However, if the fluid is leaking from only one nipple, is a new discharge, or is bloody, there are several tests that can be done to discover what is causing it. Ask your doctor for a professional opinion on your next steps.

Change in size or shape of the nipple:

Changes in body weight, or natural changes that come with age may affect the size or shape of the nipples. However, if a nipple retracts (pulls in) and does not easily return to its normal shape, see your doctor or a nurse practitioner for a manual exam. If there is a problem with the milk ducts which are just below the surface of the nipple and areola, then having a diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound can help diagnose the trouble.

Changes of color, shape or texture of the nipple or the areola:

If you observe dimples, puckers, or a rash on the skin of the nipple or the areola, (darker skin that surrounds the nipple) and these symptoms persist, or do not respond well to treatment creams, check with your doctor to determine what action to take. One unusual type of breast cancer is called Paget's disease, and starts out in the form of a rash. When caught and dealt with at an early stage, this is a very curable condition.

Unusual pain in the breast or in the armpit:

Know your cyclical pains, and note if breast pain occurs in tune with the monthly period, and in both breasts. While uncomfortable, if it is normal to you, it may not be worrisome. But if you have pain which occurs off-cycle or in only one breast or armpit, get it checked out. Keeping a good record of your cycles will help you understand hormonal changes in your breasts, and also helps your doctor and nurse determine what may be happening in your body.

Everything is Connected:

Our bodies go through cycles and changes, some of which are due to age, weight gain or loss, hormones, medications, pregnancy, stress, or changes in diet. Some of us are very aware of living in our bodies, while others of us live more in our minds or in our emotions. In order to have and keep our health, it's good to be aware of our body and its rhythms.

Just as getting a toothache can seem to make your entire head hurt, or pulling a muscle in your leg causes you to limp and throws you off balance, finding a change in your breast affects your overall health and may signal a need to get a checkup or a diagnostic screening.

Knowing your body's normal changes helps you deal wisely with your health. Regular communication with your health care team can allay fears and help you raise your defenses against disease.

What is Breast Cancer?

Bateeilee blog admin will share What is Breast Cancer?. Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. In the U.S., it affects one in eight women.

The most common types of breast cancer are:

  • ductal carcinoma (85 - 90% of all cases)
  • lobular carcinoma (8% of all cases)
Invasive (Infiltrating) Breast Cancer
Invasive, or infiltrating, breast cancer has the potential to spread out of the original tumor site and invade other parts of your breast and body. There are several types and subtypes of invasive breast cancer. Less common are:
  • inflammatory breast cancer (occurs in the skin)
  • Paget's disease of the nipple

 

Symptoms of Breast Cancer:

  • a lump or a thickening in the breast or in the armpit
  • a change of size or shape of the mature breast
  • nipple fluid (not milk) leaking
  • a change of size or shape of the nipple
  • a change of color or texture of the nipple or the areola, or of the skin of the breast itself (dimples, puckers, rash)
  • More details about symptoms of breast cancer.

 

If You Have Breast Pain

Early stages of breast cancer may not cause any pain or discomfort. Having a regular mammogram and a clinical breast exam by your health professional can help you understand changes in your breasts. Doing your breast self-exam can help you keep track of regular monthly changes.

Remember, many lumps and rashes are benign (not cancerous) and can respond well to proper treatment. If you experience any symptoms that cause you concern, see your doctor.

Treatments for breast cancer, as well as survival rates, are improving. Early detection and medical help is critical to improving the chances of living beyond a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Read about breast cancer symptoms and their explanations.

What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Bateeilee Blog admin will post about What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?. The Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a very common type of lymphoma. A lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system. The lymph system is a very important organ system that protects our body from infections. To understand lymphomas and the lymph system better, read the article What is lymphoma?

Lymphomas are of two main types: Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL).
Believe it or not, the name Non-Hodgkin lymphoma literally means all those lymphomas which are not Hodgkin lymphomas.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are the more common type of lymphoma. Close to 60,000 individuals are affected by NHL every year in the United States, and the numbers may be rising.

NHL is not a single disease. In fact, it is a group of related lymph system cancers of more than twenty types. Though they are all cancers of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, they behave differently and may have different treatment options and outcomes.

What is Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Bateeilee Blog admin will share about What is Hodgkin's Lymphoma?. Hodgkin's lymphoma (also called Hodgkin's disease) is one of the two main types of lymphoma. A lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system. To understand lymphomas and the lymph system better, read the article What is lymphoma?. Hodgkin lymphoma affects more than 8000 people annually in the United States.

How did it get its name?:

 

Hodgkin's disease is named after Thomas Hodgkin, a remarkable doctor who worked at the Guys Hospital in London in the first part of the nineteenth century. Among his many achievements was to recognize this condition as a unique disease and not an infection as most people thought it was. A few decades later, other experts gave the disease its name to honor his contribution.

Symptoms of Hodgkin's Lymphoma:

 

Hodgkin's lymphoma commonly affects young people. The commonest symptom is enlarged lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are enlarged in the neck, armpits, groin or within the chest. Apart from enlarged nodes, those with lymphoma may have weight loss, fever, itching and drenchin sweats at night. Too find out more about lymphoma symptoms - read the article Signs and Symptoms of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

How is Hodgkin's identified?:

 

Hodgkin's lymphoma is identified from a lymph node biopsy. What helps the pathologist looking at the node under the microscope to identify Hodgkin disease is the presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell. This is the cancer cell of Hodgkin disease and it looks rather like an owl under the microscope. When these cells are present, the pathologist can differentiate Hodgkin from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other benign conditions.

The pathologist also identifies the type of this lymphoma. There are 4 types of Hodgkin's lymphoma, and they are often quite different in terms of prognosis and treatment options.

What happens after Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis?:

 

After Hodgkin's is diagnosed from the lymph node biopsy, a series of tests are performed for lymphoma staging and prognostic factors. Patients are then treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both treatments. See the article on Treatment Options for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Many of these individuals are diagnosed while their disease is in an early stage and are cured. Even with advanced disease, effective long term control can often be possible.

What is Forced Menopause?

Bateeilee blog admin will share What is Forced Menopause? Menopause is defined by the natural cessation of the menstrual cycle and the ability to conceive a child. The whole process (from peri-menopause to post-menopause) can take years to complete. However, for some women undergoing cancer treatment, menopause occurs in a single day or several weeks because of surgery, chemotherapy, or pelvic radiation therapy. This is called surgical or forced menopause and can be either a permanent or temporary side effect of treatment.


Why Forced Menopause Can Occur with Cancer Treatment

 

The ovaries serve as a major hormone production center for estrogen and progesterone, two essential hormones that support the menstrual cycle and fertility. Cancer treatment can impair the function of the ovaries.

Women undergoing a total hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy to treat gynecological cancer undergo immediate surgical menopause. The ovaries are removed and there is an immediate decrease in the hormone levels in the body.

Chemotherapy can damage the ovaries, leading to a permanent or temporary menopause. This can cause a woman's period to stop for several months, even after treatment has ended. Some women are surprised to find their period to return months after treatment, so it important to use a birth control method until you know for certain that you are post-menopausal.
Radiation therapy to the pelvis is also a source of forced menopause. The effects can be permanent or temporary, based on the treatment regimen. Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy causes damage to the ovaries, limiting their function.


Physical Changes That Occur with Forced Menopause

 

Diminished hormone levels in the body can cause many physical and emotional changes. Women who undergo sudden menopause because of cancer treatment (especially surgical menopause) sometimes experience these effects more intensely than women who undergo menopause naturally.

Effects of Menopause
  • hot flashes
  • night sweats
  • mood swings
  • depression
  • vaginal dryness
  • low libido
Hot flashes and night sweats can be the most common and the most bothersome. Some women may be given hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve these symptoms, but HRT is not for all women. You should discuss the risks and benefits of taking hormone replacement therapy with your doctor.

Before taking any over-the-counter (OTC) menopause remedies or herbs, talk to your doctor. Some OTC products may interfere with your cancer treatment.

What is Lymphoma?

Bateeilee Blog Admin will share What is Lymphoma?. The term “lymphoma” is used to describe certain cancers that arise from the cells of the immune system. To understand how these diseases develop, it is necessary to first understand the role of the lymphatic system in the body.

The lymphatic system plays an important role in immunity and helps protect the body from disease and infection. It is made up of a series of vein-like vessels that carry lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a clear, watery substance that contains infection-fighting lymphocytes, a type of white cell. Lymph nodes are bean shaped glands that are responsible for the production and storage of these special cells. Bone marrow, as well as the spleen, tonsils and thymus gland are also part of the lymphatic system.

Lymphoma is a cancer that occurs when lymphocytes proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. This error causes an over production of abnormal lymphocytes which then clump together and form a mass in the lymph nodes or other organs of the lymphatic system.

There are two main classifications of lymphoma:
Although both these diseases arise from the lymphatic system, their signs and symptoms, behavior, and treatment are quite different.

What Is Leukemia?

Bateeilee Blog admin will post What Is Leukemia? Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. Marrow is the tissue found within the hollow spaces of your bones where "hematopoiesis" or blood cell formation takes place.
There are four main types of leukemia:
  • Acute Myelogenous (or myeloid) Leukemia (AML)
  • Acute Lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) Leukemia (ALL)
  • Chronic Myelogenous (or myeloid) Leukemia (CML)
  • Chronic Lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) Leukemia (CLL)
Although these four types of leukemia have a different presentation and different treatments, they all begin in a cell in the bone marrow.

Lymphocytic vs. Myelogenous Leukemia:

 

Leukemia is called "lymphocytic" or "lymphoblastic" if the cancerous change begins in a type of marrow cell that forms lymphocytes, which is a type of white cell. Leukemia is called "myelogenous" or "myeloid" if the cancerous change begins in a type of bone marrow cell that, when healthy, goes on to form red blood cells, platelets, and some kinds of white blood cells.

Acute Leukemia:

 

Acute leukemias arise from young immature "blast" cells, myeloblasts or lymphoblasts. These acute leukemia cells are non functional and do not work like normal cells. They crowd out the normal cells in the bone marrow, which causes a decrease in the number of new normal cells made in the marrow. Without treatment, acute leukemia will progress rapidly.

Chronic Leukemia:

 

Chronic leukemias have little or no immature “blast” cells and usually progress more slowly than acute leukemias. The chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell makes blood cells that function almost normally, but the counts become so high that they crowd out the production of other cells such as red blood cells.
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), too many lymphocytes that do not function are produced. These abnormal cells replace and interfere with the work of normal lymphocytes in the marrow and lymph nodes and weaken the body’s immune system. Over time, both CML and CLL have the potential to transform into aggressive acute leukemias.

Risk Factors:

 

As with many types of cancer, the exact cause of leukemia is not known. Many people who have risk factors will never develop the disease, and some leukemia patients have no known risks. For AML, some risk factors have been identified and include:
  • Down Syndrome and other genetic disorders
  • Previous treatment with chemotherapy
  • Chronic exposure to chemicals called "benzenes" in unsafe levels
  • Smoking
  • Exposure to radiation, including radiation to treat other forms of cancer
Studies to determine the cause and risk factors for developing other types of leukemia are ongoing.
 
 

Signs and Symptoms:

 

The signs and symptoms that a person with acute leukemia displays are the result of the low numbers of red blood cells (or oxygen carrying cells), platelets (which assist in blood clot formation), and white blood cells (which help prevent infection) the diseased marrow is able to produce.
Signs and symptoms of acute leukemia may include:
  • Feeling tired, low energy
  • Difficulty breathing when doing regular activities
  • Pallor or pale skin
  • Fevers or night sweats
  • Cuts and bruises which take a long time to heal
  • Excessive bleeding from minor wounds
  • Tiny red spots under the skin (called "petechaie")
  • Achy bones or joints
  • Frequent infections or illness that you can't seem to "fight off"
Many chronic leukemia patients will have no signs and symptoms and often discover they have the disease after blood work from a routine check up. Other times, if the disease is more advanced, they may experience similar symptoms to acute leukemia patients.

The signs of leukemia may be vague and can be confused for many other illnesses. If you are concerned about symptoms you are experiencing, it is always a good idea to seek advice from your healthcare provider.

Summary:

 

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, and leads to the production of abnormal blood cells. Eventually, these abnormal "leukemia cells" will take over the normal blood cells such as red blood cells and platelets.

Leukemias are classified by the type of cell they developed from (myelogenous or lymphocytic), as well as by how fast the leukemia grows and progresses (acute vs. chronic). Although these diseases have a common origin, they are all different in their signs and symptoms, how they progress and how they are treated.

Brain Tumor

Now Bateeilee Blog will share about Brain Tumor? Brain tumors are the result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the brain. They can affect children and adults, but are considered to be rare among both populations. Brain tumors can be classified as malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). Malignant tumors tend to be more aggressive than benign types, but both are very serious and can be fatal. For educational purposes, this article references subject matter related to malignant brain tumors affecting adults only.

There are over 140 different types of brain tumors that can form in the brain. Brain tumors can be classified as primary or metastatic, depending on where they arise in the body. Primary brain tumors originate in the brain and rarely spread outside of it. Metastatic tumors begin in another part of the body and spread to the brain through blood or lymphatic tissue. Some cancer types are more prone to spreading to the brain. These types include breast cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, and lung cancer.


Brain Tumor Causes

 

We don't know exactly what causes brain tumors, but studies do suggest that there may be many factors that play a role in their development. Risk factors for brain tumors include:
  • exposure to radiation
  • family history of certain genetic disorders like neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Von Hippel-Lindau disease, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome
  • having a compromised immune system (more so associated with CNS lymphomas and people infected with AIDS)
There are many unproven causes and risk factors that are being studies. Cell phone use and the consumption of aspartame are two very controversial topics that some believe may cause brain cancer. These are simply theories and still remain unproven despite the many studies that have been conducted on the subjects.


Symptoms of Brain Tumors

 

Brain tumor symptoms vary based on the location of the tumor within the brain and the size of the tumor. Severity of symptoms does not indicate how large a tumor is - small tumors can cause severe symptoms. Headaches are a common symptom of brain tumors, but are usually accompanied by another symptom. Brain tumor associated headaches often have characteristics that set them apart from headaches that re related to less serious conditions. Contrary to popular belief, headaches are not usually the initial symptom a person experiences - it is actually a seizure or muscle weakness that is most often the first symptom a brain tumor presents.
Other brain tumor symptoms include:
  • nausea and/or vomiting
  • visual and hearing disturbances
  • problems with memory
  • slower thought process
  • weakness on one side of the body or abnormal gait
  • fatigue or increased sleep
  • personality changes

 

Diagnosing Brain Cancer

 

If a doctor suspects a brain tumor, one of the first steps in getting an accurate diagnosis is through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test gives physicians an extraordinary view of the brain and this is often the only test needed to identify the possible presence of a brain tumor. In some limited cases, a CT scan may be used. PET scans, which help doctors see the activity of the brain, may help diagnose primary brain cancer but their use is less certain with a metastatic disease.

Ultimately, it is a brain biopsy that confirms the malignancy and type of brain tumor present. If tumors are present as shown on an MRI and a person suffers from a type of cancer that is known to metastasize, then a biopsy may not be necessary. However, with types of cancer that don't often spread to the brain, a biopsy is a vital diagnostic tool. Primary brain tumors most always require a biopsy.

Brain biopsies can be done during times of surgical exploration or open surgery. The sample tissue can be examined in the operating room, allowing the surgeon to make a decision about whether to proceed with surgical treatment or not. More extensive evaluation of the tumor specimen will also be done by a pathologist. It may take several days to receive results.

In some cases, a closed biopsy, also called a stereotactic biopsy, is performed when the tumor is located in a region of the brain that is difficult to reach. It is the least invasive type of biopsy, but does carry risks.


Treatment of Brain Tumors

 

Brain tumors are treated by an experienced group of medical professionals that may be called your "treatment team." The team is composed of a neurosurgeon, medical oncologist or neuro-oncologist, radiation oncologist, and a pathologist. Many other supporting team members also provide care, such as oncology nurses.

The tumor type, location, and grade will determine the treatment plan. Curative treatment is possible with some tumors, while slowing the growth or simply relieving severe symptoms may be the goal of treatment for others. Unfortunately, there may be no recommended course of treatment for some brain tumors.

Surgical approaches in brain tumor treatment include tumor resection (complete removal) or debulking (removing as much as possible). In some cases, surgery may be the only treatment method that is required, but others may need other treatment methods, like radiation therapy. Surgery followed by radiation therapy is common with many tumors, however. There are several types of radiation therapy used to treat brain tumors. Again, tumor type, grade, and location are key factors in deciding which type of therapy is best.

Radiation therapy does not come without risks, however. It can damage parts of the brain, leading to cognitive decline, like memory loss and trouble concentrating. Swelling can be a side effect, but can be controlled with corticosteroids. Radiation necrosis can also be a side effect of radiation. In simple terms, it is the formation of irradiated brain tissue that has died and developed into a mass. Surgery may be needed to to remove the dead tissue.

Chemotherapy may be utilized in some tumors that are known to respond well to chemotherapy agents, such as CNS lymphoma, gliomas, or medullablastomas. Some higher grade tumors respond well, but not all. Thus, chemotherapy is available to select patients whose tumors are favorable to chemotherapy.


Brain Tumor Treatment and Prevention

 

Targeted therapy drugs like Avastin are more precise than some chemotherapy drugs and often come with less side effects. Drugs like Avastin work by cutting off the blood supply to the tumor, preventing it's growth and shrinking the mass. Not everyone responds to Avastin, however, and the cost of treatment can be expensive. 

Understanding What Cancer Is

What Is Cancer?

 

Understanding What Cancer Is and How Cancer Develops

 

Today Bateeilee Blog will share Understanding What Cancer Is?...If someone asked you to define cancer, could you do it? We all have heard the word "cancer" many times, however very few people understand the disease and how it develops.

Cancer is term that encompasses a complex group of more than 100 different types of cancerous diseases. Cancer can affect just about every organ in the human body. Many people are surprised to learn that cancer can affect parts of the body like eyes and the heart.

Each type of cancer is unique with its own causes, symptoms, and methods of treatment. Like with all groups of disease, some types of cancer are more common than others. A-Z Index of Types of Cancer.

How Does Cancer Develop?

The organs in our body are made up of cells. Cells divide and multiply as the body needs them. When these cells continue multiplying when the body doesn't need them, the result is a mass or growth, also called a tumor.

These growths are considered either benign or malignant. Benign is considered non-cancerous and malignant is cancerous. Benign tumors rarely are life threatening and do not spread to other parts of the body. They can often be removed. Malignant tumors, however, often invade nearby tissue and organs, spreading the disease.

How Does Cancer Spread to Other Parts of the Body?

The cells within malignant tumors have the ability to invade neighboring tissues and organs, thus spreading the disease. It is also possible for cancerous cells to break free from the tumor site and enter the bloodstream, spreading the disease to other organs. This process of spreading is called metastasis.

When cancer has metastasized and has affected other areas of the body, the disease is still referred to the organ of origination. For example, if cervical cancer spreads to the lungs, it is still called cervical cancer, not lung cancer.

Although most cancers develop and spread this way -- via an organ - blood cancer like leukemia do not. They affect the blood and the organs that form blood and then invade nearby tissues.

Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of cancer vary based on the type of cancer. As cancer progresses to an advanced stage, common symptoms can include weight loss, fever, and fatigue. These are very non-specific symptoms that are more likely related to other less serious illnesses than cancer.

Treatment of Cancer

There are four standard methods of treatment for cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy/biologic therapy. When initially diagnosed with cancer, a cancer specialist (called an oncologist) will provide the patient with cancer treatment options. He or she will recommend the best treatment plan based on the type of cancer, how far it has spread, and other important factors like age and general health.

Ultimately, it is the patient who makes the treatment decisions based on doctor's recommendations, possible second opinions, and other information gathered from qualified professionals.

Cancer Prevention

Most people don't realize that cancer is preventable in many cases. Learning what causes cancer and what the risk factors are is the first step in cancer prevention. Many cancer risk factors can be avoided, thus reducing the likelihood of developing cancer. Of course, some cancer risks like genetics cannot be avoided.

Smoking is the most significant cancer risk factor that we can reduce. It is responsible for not only lung cancer, but many other types of cancer. One of the best ways to prevent cancer is to quit smoking or never start. As soon as you quit, and it's never too late, your body reaps the benefits of being tobacco-free.

Prevention Of Colon Cancer

Now Bateeilee Blog will post Prevention Of Colon Cancer There are a number of ways to help prevent colon cancer. In addition to receiving medical tests that help detect the disease early on, you can make a number of lifestyle changes to reduce your colon cancer risk.


Natural Approach to Colon Cancer Prevention

To date, few natural remedies or alternative therapies have been found to play a significant role in colon cancer prevention. However, preliminary research suggests that the following substances may help reduce colon cancer risk to some degree. Here's a look at some key study findings:


1) Vitamin D

High blood levels of vitamin D may be linked to a lower risk of colon cancer, according to a 2010 study. Analyzing data on 1,248 people with colorectal cancer and the same number of healthy individuals, researchers determined that those with the highest levels of vitamin D had a 40% reduced risk of colon cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.
More about Vitamin D.

2) Folate

Making sure you consume enough folate (a B vitamin found in foods like spinach, asparagus, and fortified cereals) may lower your risk of colon cancer, according to a 2005 meta-analysis of 16 previously published studies. The recommended daily intake of folate is 400 mcg for most adults. Pregnant women should consume 600 mcg daily, while breastfeeding women should consume 500 mcg daily.

3) Quercetin

In lab tests on cell cultures, scientists have demonstrated that quercetin may help stall the growth of colon cancer. What's more, a 2010 population-based study of 672 people found that dietary intake of quercetin may be linked with reduced risk of colon cancer.

An antioxidant available in supplement form, quercetin is naturally found in foods like apples, onions, and berries.

See Quercetin: What You Need to Know.

4) Tea
White tea may help inhibit the growth of aberrant crypts (a precursor to colon cancer), according to an animal study published in 2001.
Green tea has also been found to fight colon cancer in animal-based research and test-tube studies. However, the available scientific data are insufficient to conclude that any type of tea may prevent colon cancer in humans.


Other Approaches to Prevention

 

To lower your risk of colon cancer, try these strategies recommended by the American Cancer Society:


1) Screening

Most people should begin regular colon cancer screening at age 50. However, those with a family history of colon cancer (or with other risk factors for the disease) should consult their physician about starting screening before age 50.

2) Healthy Diet

Eating five or more servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables each day, choosing whole grains over processed grains, and cutting back on processed and red meats may help prevent colon cancer.


3) Exercise


For colon cancer prevention, aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on five or more days of the week. Getting at least 45 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity five or more times weekly may further reduce your colon cancer risk.


4) Limiting Alcohol Intake


In addition to avoiding smoking, you should limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men.


NSAIDs and Colon Cancer Prevention

A number of studies suggest that people who regularly use aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have a lower risk of colon cancer. However, since NSAIDs can cause serious side effects (including bleeding from stomach irritation), it's important to consult your physician before taking these drugs on a regular basis. In fact, the American Cancer Society notes that "experts do not recommend NSAIDs as a cancer prevention strategy for people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer."


Causes of Colon Cancer

In most cases, colon cancer begins with the formation of precancerous growths (polyps) that become cancerous over time. Although the cause of colon cancer is unknown, the following may increase the risk for the disease:
  • being over age 60
  • a family history of colon cancer
  • a personal history of breast cancer
  • the presence of inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
  • type 2 diabetes
  • the presence of cancer elsewhere in the body
  • a diet high in red or processed meat
  • lack of physical activity
  • smoking cigarettes
  • drinking alcohol

Colon Cancer Symptoms

Although colon cancer often produces no symptoms, some people with colon cancer may experience with the following:
  • a change in bowel habits (such as diarrhea or constipation)
  • persistent abdominal pain or discomfort
  • tenderness in the lower abdomen
  • rectal bleeding or bloody stool
  • intestinal obstruction
  • narrow stools
  • unexplained weight loss
  • unexplained anemia
  • fatigue
If you notice any symptoms of colon cancer, consult your doctor as soon as possible.


Alternative Medicine and Colon Cancer Prevention

Due to the lack of science behind their colon-cancer-fighting effects, it's important not to rely solely on any of the above natural remedies as a means of colon cancer prevention.

How to Preventing Cancer

Now Bateeilee Blogs will Share about How to Preventing Cancer. Governments throughout the world rarely tell their populations what the individual can do to prevent a disease occurring in the first instance. While all the emphasis is put on building more hospitals, better equipped hospitals and reducing waiting lists, lowering the need for hospital space by preventing diseases largely gets ignored.

Cancer is a good example of a disease where its strike rate can be greatly reduced by the individual taking precautionary measures. The incidence of cancer can, in some cases, be reduced by more than 50% by taking simple preventative actions.


The first preventative measure that should be taken is adequate exposure to direct sunlight.The effect of direct sunlight on the skin produces vitamin D, which is vital to good health. While some vitamin D can be obtained from food sources, the individual is unlikely to get enough from sources other than the sun. The exposure for white people need only be 10-15 minutes a day 3 or 4 times a week. However,the further you live from the equator, the more exposure you need.It should be noted that people with dark skin pigmentation require 20 times the exposure stated above to create the same amount of vitamin D. Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial to calcium absorbtion in the intestines.


The individual can further reduce his/her susceptibility to this disease by the choice of foods eaten at meal times. Limit your intake of meat, butter, eggs and cheese.These animal fats increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer (breast, prostate, intestine and pancreas). Eat more fish and poultry instead.


Eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables ( tomatoes, carrots,leeks,cabbage,broccoli and onions etc ) helps protect the body against cancer of the colon,stomach, rectum and lungs.These are also rich in vitamins A, B and C, all of which help to fight free radicals and thereby prevent cancer.


Eat wholegrain bread for its fiber content.Fiber improves intestinal functions and helps protect against colon cancer.


Get as much vitamin C as possible by eating fruits like kiwi,apple. black currant, raw turnip,sorrel, raw green pepper, raw green cabbage and citrus fruits. Also season salads with parsley which is very rich in vitamin C.


Avoid smoked, salted and barbecued foods which contain substances that are potentially carcinogenic, especially as far as stomach cancer is concerned.


Due to the variables with food dependent upon where it came from, how it is stored, how fresh it is and how it is cooked, it may be prudent to take a multivitamin and mineral tablet to ensure there are no deficiencies. The vitamins crucial to preventing cancer are A, the B-complex group, C, D and E. As vitanins are largely ineffective without minerals, it is best to take a combined vitamin and mineral tablet. These are readily available in health food shops, or can be ordered over the Internet for delivery via the mail.


Don't let yourself get too fat: persons who are 40% or more above their normal weight stand a much higher risk of getting cancer.


The above simple measures should cut in half the likelihood of you contacting cancer in your lifetime!.

Ten Options Treatmen Mesothelioma

Now Bateeilee Blogs Will Share Ten Options Treatmen Mesothelioma. As with any cancer, treatment for Mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the progression of the disease, the age as well as state of health of the patient.

It is the oncologist who specializes in the disease who will decide on the line of treatment. The disease is difficult to treat and in most cases the prognosis is poor. Treatment options include:


1. If the diagnosis is done in the early stages surgery may be recommended to remove all cancerous tissues. This means thoracoscopy, VATS or video assisted thoracic surgery, mediastinoscopy (used for staging), or laproscopy. Often, doctors will advise palliative procedures like chest tube drainage and pleurodesis, thoracoscopy and pleurodesis, pleuroperitonial shunt, or pleurectomy, which treat the symptoms of mesothelioma rather than the disease.


2. Radiation is prescribed aggressively for mesothelioma patients and is often given in combination with surgery or in order to control symptoms, palliatively. Research on using radiation therapy using implants or UV light therapy is in progress as traditional radiation therapy damages surrounding healthy tissue.


3. Chemotherapy is an option and around 12-20% of patients respond to the drugs. Anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells and prevent their spread. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not considered to be curative. The aim is to prevent spread of the disease; shrink the tumor prior to surgery, known as neoadjuvant therapy; to annihilate any remains of the tumor in the body post surgery; and to relieve pain and other discomfort, palliative chemotherapy. Experts recommend prescribing premetrexed along with cisplastin. These drugs have shown positive results and this is now standard care for Mesothelioma not treatable by surgery.


4. Biological therapy using interleukin 2.


5. Immunotherapy where the body's own immune system is stimulated to fight the disease. Biological response modifiers, BRMs, are used in treatment. These enhance the functions of the immune system; regulate metabolic reactions that promote growth of cancers; alter cancer cell division; block or reverse processes that lead to formation of cancers; and prevent spread of cancer.


6. Gene therapy, where attempts are made to correct the gene sequence that causes the cancer. This is of two kinds, replacement gene therapy and knockout gene therapy.


7. Administration of lovastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug.


8. Photodynamic treatment where a photosensitive medication is activated using a laser. This is done during the surgical removal of cancerous tissues.


9. Draining of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity followed by introduction of medications into the cavity to prevent fluid accumulation is done for patients who have uncontrolled fluid accumulation and intense discomfort stemming from it.


10. Combination therapy or Trimodal therapy which means surgery accompanied by radiation and chemotherapy.


Often, complementary medicines are also used. Termed to be holistic this kind of treatment focuses on a patient's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.


In the case of Mesothelioma which is untreatable one can opt for clinical trials of new treatments that are in progress in several research laboratories and centers. The best advice on the line of treatment would be that recommended by the oncologist or physician.

Retinoblastoma Treatment

Now Bateeilee Blog will talk about Retinoblastoma Treatment.The treatment of retinoblastoma is often dependent on the individual sufferer in question. Many variables must be considered by the doctors involved. The age of the child, whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body such as the brain or central nervous system and if the retinoblastoma has presented in just one or both eyes are just some of the considered questions.

A lack of treatment would result in the probable death of the child, and naturally, this is not a common option. Depending on how early the retinoblastoma is diagnosed, the goal of treatment varies. Sometimes the goal is to save life. At other times, the considerations are more cosmetic such as preserving the appearance of the eye and face or perhaps more importantly, maintaining the vision in that eye or both eyes.


The most commonly used treatment for Retinoblastoma is called Enucleation. Enucleation is a procedure whereby the eye is surgically removed in order that the cancer itself can be removed. The child is put to sleep and the eye is then removed. The operation typically takes less than an hour to complete and is not painful. The areas surrounding the eye, such as brow and eyelid, are also not negatively affected.


Children who have undergone an enucleation frequently return home the same day. A ball of plastic or rubber is placed where the original eye was, in order that there is no cavity. After the eye socket heals properly, the child can then be examined for future cosmetic alterations to improve the look of the eye, which will at first appear not dissimilar to the skin underneath the lips.


The child can typically be considered for prosthesis three weeks after surgery. The prosthesis is made of a plastic substance and is designed by a technical artist to look exactly like the child's other, real eye. Because of the restrictions on muscle control, the eye does not move quite as naturally as a real eye would. Normally, these prosthetic eyes will move up and down fairly well but there may be some problems moving side to side. However this is purely cosmetic, as the eye does not do any 'seeing' for the child. As yet, there is no safe way to transplant or replace a real eye.

Lung Cancer Treatment Options?

Now Bateeilee Blogs will share with you The Lung Cancer Treatment Options?.True to most cases, the treatment of cancer depends on a variety of factors. Once a lung cancer has been staged, the physician and patient can now discuss between themselves treatment options that will be necessary. Patient must be well-informed of the side effects and possible outcome of a certain procedure.

Everything should be cleared beforehand to avoid regret. Other factors that are taken into account also includes the patient's general health, medical problems that may affect treatment (such as chemotherapy), and tumor characteristics.


The characteristics of a lung tumor helps doctors separate patients into two groups: people with low risk of cancer recurrence and people with high risk of cancer recurrence.


Surgical resection is done with patients whose cancers have not yet spread beyond the lung. This is done through the following options: Thoracotomy - the opening of the chest wall for surgical procedures - and median sternotomy - surgery performed by cutting through the breastbone.


Other approaches include anterior limited thoractomy (ALT), thoractomy performed on the frontal chest using a small incision; anterioraxillary thoracotomy (AAT), thoracotomy performed on the frontal chest near the underarm; and posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) thoracotomy performed on the back/side region of the trunk. ALT, in particular, is less invasive than standard thoractomy - that is, it involves less disturbance of the body by incisions or other intrusive measures. ALT may result in less surgical blood loss, less postoperative drainage, and less postoperative pain than standard thoracotomy.


Lately, other less invasive procedures are being performed for the removal of tumorous tissue. For example, the video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), otherwise known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). This procedure uses a video camera to help envision and operate on the lung within the chest cavity. The surgical incisions made during VAT are more minor than those needed for thoracotomy or sternotomy.


However, physicians warn that VAT does not actually allow complete lung examination to identify and remove metastases that are not detected by preoperative chest X-ray. VAT is appropriate for Stage 1 and Stage 2 cancers that require lobectomy (surgical removal of a lung lobule) with lymphadenectomy (removal of one or more lymph nodes) and for peripheral (outer edge) lung tumors that can be removed by wedge resection.


Chemotherapy is the best option together with radiotherapy if the tumor is more aggressive and widespread.


Photodynamic therapy is most suitable for patients having inoperable lung cancer. This begins with the shot of a light-activated drug (e.g., photofrin/polyhaematoporphyrin, lumin). Then during examination of the airways using a flexible scope the lung tumor is illuminated by a laser that transmits light of a specific wavelength. The laser light is used to wipe out the sensitized tumor tissue.


Skin photosensitivity or light sensitivity is the side effect of PDT. The healing potential of PDT is the most exciting aspect of this therapy in lung cancer patients whose tumors are unseen on chest X-rays. The tissue-sparing effects of PDT may be particularly important for individuals with limited lung function.


Electrosurgery is performed using a needle, bulb, or disk electrode. Nd-YAG laser therapy (neodymium-yttrium/argon laser that concentrates high-energy electromagnetic radiation to destroy tissue), cryotherapy (destruction of tissue using extreme cold), and brachytherapy (treatment with ionizing radiation) are extra tumor size-reducing techniques that may be performed during bronchoscopy.


Radiotherapy - better known as radiation therapy - uses high energy radiation in order to kill cancer cells.


Cancer cells more often than not multiply quicker than other bodily tissues; they are affected by radiation which prevents cells splitting up and the formation of DNA.


Unfortunately, bodily tissues that also divide rapidly, such as the hair and skin, are very vulnerable to radiotherapy. The most side effects of this therapy include hair loss and skin disorders, such as skin redness due to blood vessel congestion; puritis, itching; desquamation, sloughing-off of outer skin layers; pain; atrophy, shrinking; increased pigmentation; edema, swelling), as well as fetal damage, increased susceptibility to infection, tachycardia (increased heart rate), changes in taste perception, anorexia (loss of appetite), malaise, nausea, and vomiting.


A good physician will discuss all the options available with their patient, as well as the possible side effects.

Mesothelioma Asbestos In Body?

Now Bateeilee Blogs will share Mesothelioma Asbestos In Body?. Mesothelioma is a cancer which is linked to exposure to asbestos fibers in 70 to 80 percent of cases. The National Cancer institute defines malignant mesothelioma as "a rare form of cancer... a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)." It is one of the most deadly cancers known to man; the average life span of an afflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months.

Mesothelioma developes in approximately 3,000 United States citizens every year. Most of those diagnosed have a history of occupational exposure to asbestos, though a few have environmental or household contact. This cancer has an extremely long latency period; an exposure period of as little as one or two months can result in a mesothelioma up to 50 years later. Patients who had contact with asbestos as far back as the 1940s are now being diagnosed with this disease. In fact, the average time between exposure and the development of mesothelioma is 35-40 years.


When asbestos first came into use, its risks were unknown, and it was widely used as a fire-retardant material. Many people worked with this deadly substance, unaware that it would kill them several decades later. Workers such as bricklayers, insulaters, plasterers, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, and other tradesmen were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis as it was contained in many insulation and construction materials.


Even occassional exposure to asbestos is a health risk, and there have been many cases of mesothelioma developing in patients who only had brief contact, such as wives of asbestos-exposed workers who washed their husbands' overalls.


Due to the long latency period and vague, diffuse initial symptoms, there is often a delay in accurate diagnosis. As with many cancers, early symptoms can be mild and non-specific. Often patients present with only shortness of breath and a persistent cough; some show no symptoms at all in the initial stages, and the disease is first noticed on a routine chest X-ray. 


One early tell-tale sign is pleural effusion, a collection of fluid in the lungs. The right lung is affected 60% of the time, bilateral involvement being seen in 5% of cases. Less common initial complaints due to lung mesothelioma are fever, night sweats, weight loss, a raspy voice and facial swelling. Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause abdominal symptoms such as pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia and swelling of the feet. As the disease progresses, patients often develop severe cachexia (wasting).

One of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma, pleural effusion, is an accumulation of fluid between the parietal pleura, which covers the chest wall and diaphragm, and the visceral pleura, which covers the lungs. Both membranes are covered with mesothelial cells which, under normal conditions, produce a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the chest wall and the lung. Any excess fluid is removed via blood and lymph vessels, thus maintaining a balance. When more fluid is produced than can be absorbed, an effusion forms.


These effusions are called either transudates and exudates. A transudate is a clear fluid that forms not because the pleural surfaces are diseased, but because of an imbalance between the normal production and removal of the fluid. Often this is caused by congestive heart failure. An exudate, which contains many cells and proteins and is often cloudy in color, results from disease of the pleura itself, and is common to mesothelioma. To differentiate between a transudate or an exudate, a diagnostic thoracentesis, in which a needle or catheter is used to obtain a fluid sample, may be conducted.


As the volume of excess fluid increases, symptoms develop such as shortness of breath (dyspnea) , chest pain, or a non-productive dry cough. Heard through a stethoscope, normal breath sounds are muted, and tapping on the chest will reveal dull rather than hollow sounds.


A pleural effusion can be seen with a chest X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan. Since pleural effusions are often caused by congestive heart failure, the discovery of an effusion is not in itself immediately suggestive of a malignant process.


A histological examination of pleural fluid is negative in 85% of cases; a definitive diagnoses is more often is obtained by a needle biopsy or surgical biopsy of pleural tissue.

Symptomatic treatment of lung compression caused by effusion is accomplished by application of a sclerosing agent which eliminates the space between the lung and the chest cavity, a process called chemical pleurodesis. Talc is usually used, with a success rate of 95%. It can be administered either as a powder or as a slurry mixed with saline. 


A surgical team opens the chest wall, removes the effusion, then collapses the lung before applying the talc. Once the lung is fused to the chest wall, an effusion can no longer accumulate and compress the lung. This is strictly a palliative measure to improve the patient's quality of life, and has no effect on the progression of the disease.

Attemps to cure mesothelioma utilize surgery to remove diseased tissue, combined with chemo and raiotherapy. Several new treatment modalities are currently being investigated. These include Photodynamic therapy, which uses light of particular frequencies to target and kill cancer cells which, compared to normal tissue, display increased uptake of photosensitizing drugs; immunotherapy, which fights the abnormal cells through stimulation of the body's own immune system; and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, which is a radiation treatment that attempts to target just the malignancy, thus avoiding damage to adjacent healthy cells and tissue. In addition, some success has been acheived with the chemotherapeutic drug Alitma (pemetrexed). However, despite the number of clinical trials currently underway, as of the date of this article the prognosis for mesothelioma sufferers is still extremely poor.

Preventive Cancer Measure

Now Bateeillee Blogs will share about Preventive Cancer Measure! Cancer is a very deadly disease. This disease is one of the most deadly in terms of numbers killed year in and out. According to statistics one in three people will be affected by cancer. And one in four people will die of cancer. However cancer could be prevented in certain situations. The first step in cancer prevention is learning what causes it and the risk factors involved. Avoiding these risk factors can help a person reduce the likelihood of having cancers.
Here are the following risk factors that a person can avoid to prevent cancer.
 
1. Tobacco - 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States are caused by smoking. It is also responsible for 87% of all people affected by lung cancer. Aside from the lungs, other organs affected by smoking are pancreas, cervix, kidney, stomach and also cause acute myeloid leukemia. Quit smoking to decrease your chances of having cancer. Also try to avoid secondary smoke, secondary smoke can also be deadlier.


2. Have more physical activity - exercise greatly helps reduce your chances of having cancer. Even if it is only for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Exercising will also make you fit against other disease such as heart ailments. Try the exercise activities such as walking, running, aerobics, or yoga. Exercising can also help prevent obesity, which is also one major cause of cancer. Colon, breast, prostrate, endometrial, and lung cancer can have less chances of developing if you are exercising regularly.


3. Genetics - genetics is one of the causes of cancers. When your family has a history of cancer, the best thing to do is just take precaution. If your family has had a history of cancer, the mutated gene which causes cancer may have been passed down. If your family has had a history, you may get a genetic test. Remember that if your family has had a history of cancer it is not certain that you will have it. Your chances of developing it are just greater.


4. Environmental Factors - exposure to certain things within your environment can cause you cancer. Such things like asbestos or benzene can be able to cause cancer.


5. Unsafe Sex - you are suddenly exposed to not only HIV but also HPV. HPV is also known as Human Pappiliona Virus. Having this virus greatly increase a person's chance of having anal, vulvar, cervical, or vaginal cancer. There are tests that help a person find out if he or she has the HPV virus. You will need to scrape the cervical cells and send them over to a lab.


6. Sun Exposure - greatly exposing yourself to UV rays will cause skin cancer. Be very wise when tanning or being exposed under the sun.

 

Mesothelioma Caused by Asbestos

The internal organs of the human body are encased in a protective sac called the mesothelium. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum (abdominal organs), pleura (lungs), and pericardium (heart).

Under specific conditions, the cells of the protective membrane divide uncontrolled and become cancerous. This disease is termed as Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.

The disease is found to occur among those who work in shipyards, asbestos mines and factories, industries that produce asbestos based products, and the heating and construction businesses. Approximately 3,000 cases occur each year in the US, and most patients are between 50-70 years old. Statistics show that males are commonly affected and among them whites more than African Americans.

First studied in the late 1700s in depth studies were only done in the 1960s. Tumors of the Mesothelioma can be benign or malignant. The malignant Mesothelioma are categorized into three types:

  • Epithelioid, accounting for 50-70% of mesotheliomas.
  • Sarcomatoid, accounting for 7-20%.
  • Mixed or bi-phasic, accounting for 20-35%.
When asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs they travel through large air passages to reach the smaller passages and from them the pleura. In the pleura they damage: the mesothelial cells leading to cancer; lung tissue causing lung cancer; and the development of scar tissue within the lungs known as asbestosis. When asbestos fibers are swallowed they reach the abdominal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Research reveals that the disease only manifests 20-50 years after being exposed to asbestos dust. The symptoms are not specific to the disease but a patient may develop:
  • Breathlessness
  • Chest pain accompanied by tightness believed to be caused by accumulation of fluid in the pleura.
  • Low back pain
  • Swelling of face and arms
  • Sensory loss
  • Muscle weakness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss that is unexplained.
  • Persistent dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Anemia
  • Fever
  • Constipation
  • Problems with blood clotting.
Since the above are common to minor ailments, patients often ignore the symptoms. It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the above symptoms persist or if you feel you have been knowingly or unknowingly exposed to asbestos.

A doctor will:
  • Take down a detailed medical history and try and determine the symptoms and risk factors.
  • Do a thorough physical examination and check for signs of:
    • Pleural effusion, fluid accumulated in the chest cavity.
    • Fluid in the abdominal cavity.
    • Pericardial effusion, fluid in the lining of the heart.
  • Take a chest x-ray and check for thickening of the pleura, calcifications, and lowered lung fissures.
  • Ask for a CT scan to determine clearly the location, size, and extent of the problem if any is suspected.
  • Recommend tests of tissue samples and pleural fluids.
Other risk factors are cigarette or cigar smoking, exposure to radiation, exposure to zeolite a compound that is similar to asbestos, exposure to or infections caused by SV40, a Simian virus.

Those who work in a risky environment should wear protective clothing, have the surroundings tested regularly for suspended asbestos particles, and ensure that they have regular medical tests and report to the doctor any ailments that persist.

Being aware of the disease and its problems helps.

Why Should You Stop Smoking

Tobacco is responsible for 1 in 10 adults dying worldwide which equates to 5 million deaths per year. Deaths are mainly due to collapse of the cardiovascular system resulting in heart attacks, respiratory tract disease and cancer. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Still want to smoke a cigarette? Then read on...

Many doctors and physicians will not perform surgery on someone who is a smoker, as they believe the risk of the surgery outweighs the chances of any potential benefit. Researchers at the University of Toronto Medical School have found that smoking impedes the body's ability to heal bone and grow new bone.

Latest startling figures show that pregnant women who smoke as little as 1 to 10 cigarettes a day have a 29 % chance of giving birth to a child with finger or toe defects. That number increases to 78 % for those who smoke 20 cigarettes or more a day.

Another major reason to stop smoking is financial. You will be pleasantly surprised to find so much more of your hard earned cash is safely in your own pocket rather than in the pockets of the large companies and money lenders (and government) who all benefit from your smoking habit. The taxes on tobacco are on the increase, again! That will mean even more of your money going "up in smoke" if you excuse the pun. 

Even the large insurance companies are now starting to reject the policies of smokers. Heaven forbid the idea that an insurance company takes on some risk to earn their millions! Often you will see that little box appear on forms such as insurance forms, medical forms, rental agreements, loan agreements, employment papers and so on asking "If you smoke, please tick the box". Once you tick that box you are categorised and often rejected. Wouldn't it be such an achievement to be able to tick the box which says: "Non-Smoker"?

Public places such as bars, clubs, restaurants, and many other social and sport facilities have adopted non-smoking policies. Being a smoker means being segregated from your friends, having to leave them to go outside for another cigarette. Do you really enjoy that feeling of being the odd one out? 'Odd one out', as a smoker you certainly are that and far more people in the world are non-smokers compared to smokers. It is universally agreed that smoking is not safe, not only for the smoker but for those around as well.

 To Stop Smoking is the greatest gift you can give to your loved ones as their health is being endangered by your habit. Even if you are taking yourself outside to smoke, your premature death will leave grieving relatives and that is a frightening prospect to all of us, but often it is not as frightening as going without cigarettes. It doesn't need to be a frightening prospect to stop smoking, and it isn't once you understand the control system which tobacco places on your sub-conscious.

Perhaps you are not aware that being a smoker has been statistically proven to affect your chances of finding romance? Yes, Cupid's Arrows may well not find you when you smoke! Most people want their soul mates to smell fresh and clean with an aroma of "eau de parfum" instead of, "eau de tobacco". One of the first things you will notice when you give up smoking is that you regain your sense of smell, which has been dulled by smoking. Suddenly everything seems to smell so much sweeter including yourself. Food tastes totally different and you quickly realise how your brain's senses and receptors have been dulled and fooled by tobacco, the most commonly used Neuro-Toxin in the world.

Contrary to popular belief, when you stop smoking it does not automatically mean you will gain weight. You will feel so much healthier that exercise becomes a treat instead of a chore. Take up something new and exciting, preferably outdoors. You will be truly amazed at your new found energy levels as your body kicks that addictive habit.

Finally, here is a short testimonial written by a life-long smoker:

"It wasn't meant to happen to me. I used to think that all the warnings about the dangers of smoking did not apply to me. Scare mongering tactics, I actually would get annoyed at the health warnings on my packet of cigarettes. I had the right to smoke if I wanted to. How foolish I was. 

Try breathing through a straw for 15 minutes and you will get an idea of what breathing is like for me. How hard it is to breathe when your lungs are so badly damaged as a direct result from too many years of smoking the dreaded cigarettes. 

It never gets any easier, I struggle day after day. If I were an animal I would have been released from this suffering. As it is I have no quality of life. The health warning on that packet of cigarettes should have read, You will suffer for life." M. Hills

Stop Smooking Drinking Tea

Let me start off by saying, that this is not an article about how to stop smoking. In a way, it is quite the opposite. Whether it is a pipe, cigar, or cigarettes, some of us have found that we are smokers. Maybe you have attempted to quit, and maybe you haven't cared enough to try. Either way, the truth remains, "I am a smoker." If this sounds familiar, then you I write this for you.

It came to me one afternoon, when I was trying to fight off a sore throat, and I held my pipe in my left hand, and searched for my lighter with my right... I shouldn't be doing this. I have had this sore throat for a week, and I can't stop smoking.


Well, the truth was the truth, and I really didn't have intentions of stopping... Slowing down, yes; stopping, no. Though this moment was quick, it was important, as it was then that I accepted my fait. And more importantly, was now able to balance the scales.


Smoking makes you look old, smoking causes cancer, smoking smells, smoking makes your teeth yellow, and a million other STOP SMOKING ads rushed through my head...

I accepted them all...


Ok, now what... Well, I began to think. With a sore throat nagging me at the moment, I decided to attack this enemy first. Mouth wash, medicine, vitamins; I found these were all good ideas. But although I was helping the issue, my throat still hurt, and I was beginning to cough.


Perhaps the coughing was a blessing in disguise as I reached for cup of tea to help stop a fit of coughs. The steam helped me breathe, and the hot water cleared my throat. If nothing else, this experience got me thinking.


I looked further into the matter, as I of course stepped up my tea intake.


I found out that drinking tea, Rooibos Tea and Jasmine Green Tea in particular, will help me to relax (calming down my nerves), contain large amounts of anti oxidants to fight against the increased level of free radicals in my body from smoking (the cause aging skin and of course, Cancer), clean my body of toxins, help me breathe, and help my previously mentioned sore throat. I looked at this list, and the STOP SMOKING ads returned...


Could it be that a pot of tea was a helpful accessory walking down this smokey path?? From personal experience, I have found that tea helps. And NO, I do not think drinking tea will protect me from all ailments, or that I will never get sick again, or I will avoid any other ill drawn fait that may await me, but with certain facts that I had to accept, I can only do my best to minimize the damage. And as I end this article with no promises, I will restate a simply written statement that proves itself time and time again, "Drinking tea is a good idea... "