BEST SKY

Cancer that grows in the prostate gland is called prostate cancer. In most men, this is a slow process; most men will never know they have the condition. Detected in its earliest stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured.

Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait to see what, if anything, happens. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may be worse than the disease. Prostate cancer is deadly, but because it is slow-growing can be cured if it is caught early enough.

Some men will experience symptoms that could indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Other symptoms could include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of their symptoms.

If cancer is caught in its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another common symptom. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs can also be symptoms of cancer.

A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms a diagnosis. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. They are not considered reliable. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has metastasized or not but you are exposed to radiation when you do so.

A series of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. When a digital rectal exam is performed by the doctor it often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there is a spread of cancer.

Conventional treatment relies on radiation therapy used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. Impotence is one potential complication after a prostatectomy or after radiation therapy. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone, this is called hormonal manipulation.

The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often very controversial. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the existing tumor. Medications can have many serious side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire.

Side effects of the many different chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken. Be aware that many men choose natural treatment options and forgo surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate gland is still debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult.

Prostate cancer that has metastasized may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or with nothing at all. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or a permanent basis. An oncologist, who is a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

Concentrating on a diet of predominately fruits and living, not cooked, vegetables and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement in your health within 30 days. Eat lots of fruits and veggies every day, not just a token banana or apple. A good dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that are dead through processing, cooking, etc.

Many men have lowered their PSA levels by eating a diet of alkaline, living foods. If possible, try to eliminate all hormone-containing foods like meat and dairy from your diet. Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, and all refined, packaged and processed food.

Making a tea with ginger, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. Make smoothies with fruit only, using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost with two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale or a handful or two of spinach leaves for another highly nutritional boost. Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 2-3 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and process for a minute or so; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost if you like.

While the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer remains very high, survival rates are also greatly improving; perhaps because of improvement in diets. In the end, only you with the help of your doctors, knowing your individual situation, can determine which is the best treatment program for you. It is important to become as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research out there available for all treatment options.

It’s well known that lethargy and low energy levels affect most cancer patients sometime in the course of their disease.

A recent study looked at 282 patients who had various forms of cancer and gave them either a placebo or a dose of American Ginseng. The lead author for the study was Deborah Barton of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

The American Ginseng was given in three different dose sizes: 750 milligrams, 1000 milligrams, or 2000 milligrams.

The results showed that more than two and half times as many patients in the higher dose groups reported that their fatigue was moderately or much better as compared to the lowest dose group and the placebo group.

And, energy levels were higher in the 1000 milligram dose group as compared to the placebo group.

The study didn’t look at how the actual cancer responded to the ginseng if at all.

It’s important to note that the type of Ginseng used was American ginseng, the scientific name of which is Panax quinquefolius . The ginseng used in the study was extracted from the roots of plants grown in Wisconsin and was tested for content and quality at a laboratory.

This type of ginseng is sometimes marketed as Canadian, Wisconsin or North American ginseng.

Although the study seems promising there are, of course, a number of caveats to consider before doctors will blindly recommend ginseng for all cancer patients.

Firstly, the results of this study will need to be validated in a larger study.

Secondly, the results may not be the same with commercial ginseng which is sold as a nutritional supplement and which is therefore unregulated. The doses of ginseng found in commercial ginseng may not match what is written on the label.

Ginseng tea also may not be as effective as the ginseng capsules given to the patients in the study.

As always with new announcements about cancer, the best course is to stay informed and to discuss everything with your doctor. Remember, there could be interactions between nutritional supplements that you may be taking such as ginseng and the treatments being given to you by your doctor. So, it’s always best to advise your doctors of anything you may be taking.

There need of support depends on many individual criteria from the type of treatment you received to the type of person you are. In the case of radiotherapy there are side effects that can cause problems with gaining and maintaining an erection. This can be tough and when paired with the possibility of not being able to pass urine as before can be mentally challenging. In most instances you will be informed of all possible side effects before treatment takes place.

It is vital to try and be honest about the emotions you may go through. It is a very tough time and sharing you feelings with others will help you cope. The type of emotions people feel are anger, guilt, fear and anxiety. This can lead to you feeling tearful (without knowing really why), restlessness and losing the ability to sleep. This will all be natural and is how the body reacts and tries to cope. The feeling of desperation and hopelessness will pass eventually. The only way is to talk through them however hard they maybe. It is important to remember there are many people in the same position and that there are support groups out there.

You do not have to cope with these feelings on your own; there are people available to help you. Some hospitals have their own emotional-support services with specially trained staff, and some of the nurses on the ward will have received training in counseling. You may feel more comfortable talking to a counselor outside the hospital environment or to a religious leader.

Life after Penile Cancer

The most common question is will I ever be able to have sex again? The answer is in the majority of cases penile cancer will not affect your ability to have sex. There are some instances when though when the penis or part of the penis has been removed will affect sex life. This thought very distressing can be overcome through counseling and time.

Talking to your partner about your feelings and changes in your relationship is key to overcoming any emotional problems. This can be difficult and there is trained counseling and support out there. If there are problems then contact your doctor who can help or point your towards some place that can such as a counselor or a nurse.

Cancers don’t come out of nowhere. Cancers develop if you follow an unhealthy diet full of cancer causing food over an extended period of time. Certain food contains a lot of cancer promoting substances called carcinogens. In this article, we will discover the 3 common types of carcinogens most people are exposed to on a daily basis, what types of food we should and should not eat to prevent cancer.

Acrylamide and Food: What It Means For You

Acrylamide has been used in industrial processes like the manufacturing of food packaging, creation of plastic and treatment of contaminated water for a long time. Unknown to most of us, scientists recently discoverd that acrylamide can be created during high temperature cooking methods like frying, microwaving, baking and roasting. Even though acrylamide has been confirmed to cause cancer in animals, scientists have not found compelling evidence that is causes cancer in humans even though it is harmful to our bodies. French fries top the charts of food that contain the greatest levels of acrylamide, followed by certain brands of potato chips, breakfast cereals, cookies, brewed coffee and toast bread according to the US FDA/CFSAN 2006 Exposure Assessment for Acrylamide.

Sodium Nitrate: Why It Is Bad For Your Health

Sodium nitrate is a standard preservative of processed meat. It is used to preserve the reddish color of meat to make it look more appetizing to eat at the neglection of your health. Sodium nitrate on it’s own is pretty harmless but it changes into a carcinogenic substance called nitrosamine during the digestion process, thus promoting the development of cancer cells. Sodium nitrate can be found in processed meat like bologna, hot dogs, pepperoni, ham, lunch meat and bacon.

Trans Fat 101: What Is It And Why It Is Unhealthy

Trans fat or trans-fatty acids (TFAs) are the most unhealthy kind of fat you can consume. The problem with trans fat is because it was transformed from it’s vegetable oil form to a semi-solid state through the use of hydrogen. Vegetable oil companies do this to save money, to improve flavor stability and to extend the shelf life of their products. Due to it’s processed nature, it is considered unnatural in our bodies and it is very tough to digest, therefore it easily clogs our arteries if we don’t exercise often. What’s worse, trans fat promotes the development of bad cholesterol and reduces the levels of good cholesterol, increasing your risk of heart disease. Trans fat is generally found in pastries, commercially deep-fried food, partially hydrogenated oils, hydrogenated oils and food with vegetable shortening.

Foods and Cancer: What To Eat And What To Avoid

If we eliminate or severely restrict our of the 3 carcinogens above and other toxins like alcohol, salt, cigarettes and sugar, we should be able to avoid cancer and a whole lot of other major diseases. However, it is not easy for people to choose to have a healthy body over the enjoyment of good food. The choice is up to you to decide which is more important to you. At the minimum, consume as much organic vegetables, fruit and meat as you can. Having a diet made of antioxidants, nutrients and fiber from raw vegetables and fruit should help you steer clear from cancer. A simple rule you can follow is to simply eat the things nature created for us to eat and avoid anything manufactured by man.

Studies show that cancer patients can benefit from exercise. However, the cancer patient should use caution and consult with their physician before undertaking an exercise program. There are certain precautions and contraindications to exercise which include severe pain, infection, severe shortness of breath, acute bone and joint pain, platelets lower than 50,000 per microliter, dizziness causing difficulty in balancing and fever. If these contraindications do not exist, your doctor will be able to tell you if you can began a low to moderate intensity exercise program.

Patients undergoing cancer treatment will be able to maintain endurance, strength, and function by performing moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Although there may be fatigue due to cancer treatment, exercising during this time may diminish the side effects associated with treatment. Exercise increases circulation, oxygen intake, tones the cardiovascular system, improves appetite, promotes better digestion, facilitates elimination, improves the metabolic rate, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood pressure and stimulates the lymphatic system.

Also, there are biological mechanisms resulting from exercise which have powerful anti-depressive and stress-controlling effects. This is profoundly important since a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment can be very stressful and depressing.

The type of exercise for the cancer patient is not that different. Everyone can benefit from weight resistance, cardiovascular/aerobic and flexibility exercises.

Cancer patients may have to start with a low to moderate intensity and build up from there. A cancer patient may work around their symptoms and limitations during cancer therapy. This means that if there is fatigue and/or nausea due to cancer treatment, perhaps that day a short walk and/or some mild and relaxing yoga poses can be performed. The point is to try to work with and around any limitations so that you can continue receiving the benefits of exercise. Patients that are too weak to get out of bed, can move their arms and legs as if bicycling or doing range-of-motion exercises. Once a patient can get out of bed, the next step would be exercising while sitting in a chair followed by exercising while holding on to the chair.

It is never to late to start exercising and cancer patients have a better chance of maintaining their independence and strength. With exercise, the cancer patient will also be able to maintain a positive outlook and handle stress.

According to the American Cancer Society, 50% of all men and 33% of all women in the United States, will develop some sort of cancer in their lifetime. In a healthy body, cells divide at a controlled rate so as to grow and repair damaged tissues and replace dying cells. This predetermined rate of cell division is what keeps our bodies healthy. If cells keep multiplying when new ones aren’t necessary, a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor, is formed. A benign tumor is not cancerous, and can occur anywhere in the body without spreading to other parts and does not come grow back if removed. Malignant tumors however, are cancerous and can be life-threatening. Malignant tumors grow uncontrollably, interfere with normal metabolic and organ functioning, and have the ability to invade other tissues. All cancer cells have two things in common, they grow uncontrollably, and they have the ability to metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). Possible contributors to the development and growth of cancer, can be divided into three categories:

1. Externals – unhealthy environments and exposure to air and water pollution, chemicals, pesticides and herbicides from our food supply.

2. Internal Factors include genetics, infections, and a depressed immune system.

3. Lifestyle factors (what we can readily control) – including diet, smoking, drinking, and sun exposure. People exposed to cigarette smoke have significantly higher rates of lung cancer. Regular alcohol consumption increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. A diet that is high in fat and low in fiber is associated with a greater risk of colon rectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. According to a study released by the Harvard University School of Public Health, poor diet, lack of exercise, and unhealthy lifestyle elements are responsible for about 65% of cancer deaths.

The following is a breakdown of the overall percentages of cancers many researchers attribute to different lifestyle factors: 1. Poor diet and obesity – 30%

2. Smoking – 30%

3. Genetics – 10%

4. Carcinogens in the workplace – 5%

5. Family history – 5%

6. Lack of exercise – 5%

7. Viruses – 5%

8. Alcohol – 3%

9. Reproductive Factors – 3%

10. Socioeconomic Status – 3%

11. Environmental Pollution – 2%

Many experts believe that what these factors have in common is that they increase the body’s exposure to free radicals. Free radical damage is an important factor that leads to uncontrolled cellular growth, which is characteristic of cancer. Another significant factor are poor dietary choices and cigarette smoke because they impair the immune system. The immune system is responsible for destroying pre-cancerous cells before they develop into cancer. There are more than a hundred different varieties of cancer; they have different causes and symptoms, and vary in aggressiveness.

However, there are four broad categories

1. Carcinomas – Cancers that affect the skin, mucous membranes, glands, and internal organs.

2. Leukemias – Cancers of blood forming tissues.

3. Sarcomas – Cancers that affect muscles, connective tissue, and bones.

4. Lymphomas – Cancers that affect the lymphatic system.

The seven classic early warning signs of cancer:

1. Change in bowel or bladder habits

2. A sore that does not heal

3. Unusual bleeding or discharge

4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere

5. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing

6. Obvious change in a wart or mole

7. Nagging cough or hoarseness

Recommendations:

· Boosting the immune system is very helful for increasing white blood cells and macrophages that are known to attack and literally eat cancerous cells. We suggest a high quality whole food supplement, like VITAFORCE that is complete and made from whole foods. It should be high in natural Vitamin C as well as a wide array of essential nutrients. Make sure you know what you are getting from the nutritional label.

· An herbal detoxification program may be helpful in removing aluminum, other heavy metals, and thousand of other toxins and poisons from the body. These toxins have been shown to have an overall significant depressing effect on the immune system. Look for organic whole herb formulas. If interested, take a look at our selection of herbal formulas.

· Eat a minimum of 50% raw organic foods; including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach, carrots, pumpkin, squash, yams, apples, all berries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, plums, Brazil nuts, and legumes. All of these foods have important nutrients and phytochemicals, which are important in fighting and preventing cancer. Berries protect DNA from damage. Many of the plant pigments in red, yellow, orange, and blue fruits and vegetables, are good sources of antioxidants (destroys free radicals).

· Eat raw garlic liberally as it enhances the immune system and is a good cancer fighter.

· Eat 10 raw almonds every day. Almonds contain Laetrile, which has anti-cancer properties.

· Green tea has many cancer fighting properties, including a substance known as EGCg, which has been found to cut off blood vessels that feed cancerous tumors.

· Eat as many tomatoes as possible. Tomatoes contain a phyto-nutrient and antioxidant called lycopene, which protects against and fights cancer.

· Drink fresh “live” juices including varying combinations of the following juices including beetroot, beet greens, carrot, cabbage, and asparagus. Also drink grape, black cherry, and all dark colored juices.

· Drink steam distilled water only. Use a filter for your shower.

· Increased levels of radium in public tap water has been associated with increased rates of lung, bladder, and breast cancers, as well as leukemias.

· Get regular exercise. Exercise helps to promote oxygen in the tissues. Cancer cannot live in the presence of oxygen.

· Yoga and deep breathing can also be very helpful.

· Because of potential low-level radiation leakage, avoid microwave ovens. Sit a minimum of 8 feet away from televisions and avoid x-rays.

· Avoid chemicals such as hairsprays, cleaning products, fresh paints, and garden pesticides.

· Remove all other known and suspected carcinogens from your life and home.

· As much as possible, avoid stress.

Things to Avoid:

· All Animal Foods: dairy foods (milk, cheese, butter, cream, ice cream), fish, meat, chicken, turkey, eggs, fried and greasy foods, margarine, and all other processed foods and animal derived products from your diet. These foods are laced with chemicals, pesticides, and toxins as well as high levels of saturated fats which have a very damaging a draining effect on the immune system and the rest of the body.

· Salt, tobacco, caffeine, sodas, coffee, sugar, and refined white flour (breads, pastas, cereals- replace with whole wheat pastas, breads, and cereals). These products are extraordinarily destructive to the immune system and the body.

References:

1) James F. Balch, M.D, Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C, “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” (1997)