Are You In High Risk Of Getting Breast Cancer?

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors can seldom explain why one woman gets breast cancer and another does not.

Doctors do know that bumping, bruising, or touching the breast does not cause breast cancer. And breast cancer is not contagious. No one can "catch" this disease from another person.

However, research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. Studies have found the following risk factors for breast cancer:

1. The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older.

2. A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting this disease in her other breast.

3. A woman's risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer, especially at a young age (before age 40).

4. The older a woman is when she has her first child, the greater her chance of breast cancer. Women who began menstruation (had their first menstrual period) at an early age (before age 12), went through menopause late (after age 55), or never had children also are at an increased risk.

5. Breast cancer occurs more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African American women.

6. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest (including breasts) before age 30 are at an increased risk of breast cancer. This includes women treated with radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Studies show that the younger a woman was when she received radiation treatment, the higher her risk of breast cancer later in life.

7. Older women who have mostly dense not fatty) tissue on a mammogram(x-ray of the breast) are at increased risk of breast cancer.

8. After menopause, women who are obese have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being obese means that the woman has an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Because the body makes some of its estrogen (a hormone) in fatty tissue, obese women are more likely than thin women to have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. High levels of estrogen may be the reason that obese women have an increased risk of breast cancer. Also, some studies show that gaining weight after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer.

9. Women who are physically inactive throughout life appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being physically active may help to reduce risk by preventing weight gain and obesity.

It is helpful to be aware of risk factors. But it's also important to keep in mind that most of the women who have these risk factors do not get breast cancer.

A woman who thinks she may be at risk of breast cancer should discuss this concern with her health care provider. The health care provider may suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.

What You Need To Know About Brain Cancer

 Malignant brain tumors occur in about 4.5 people per 100,000 population, they may occur at any age but brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in patients younger than age 35. In adults, incidence is generally highest between ages 40 to 60.
There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary brain cancer starts in the brain. Metastatic brain cancer starts somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain. The most common tumor types in adults are gliomas and meningiomas. In children, incidence is generally highest before age 1 and again between ages 2 and 12. The most common types of brain tumour in children are astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas and brain stem gliomas.

CAUSES OF BRAIN CANCER
What causes brain cancer is not exactly known but there has recently been a great deal of speculation on the role of cell phone radiation in the development of brain cancer. In fact, while studies generally have shown no link between cell phones and brain cancer, there is some conflicting scientific evidence that may be worth additional study, according to the FDA.

More accepted risk factors for brain cancer include; exposure to vinyl chloride and individuals with risk factors such as having a job in an oil refinery, as a chemist, embalmer, or rubber industry worker show higher rates of brain cancer. Other risk factors such as smoking, radiation exposure, and viral infection (HIV) have been suggested but not proven to cause brain cancer. Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN CANCER
Onset of symptoms is usually insidious and brain tumors are often misdiagnosed. Brain Cancers cause central nervous system changes by invading and destroying tissues and by secondary effects such as pressure on the brain. Symptoms vary but in general, brain cancer symptoms include: Abnormal pulse and breathing rates, deep, dull headaches that recur often and persist without relief for long periods of time, difficulty walking or speaking, dizziness, eyesight problems including double vision, seizures, vomiting and at the late stages of the disorder dramatic changes in blood pressure may occur. Although headaches are often a symptom of brain cancer, it is important to remember that most headaches are due to less serious conditions such as migraine or tension, not cancer.

DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN CANCERS
In most cases a definitive diagnosis is made by a tissue biopsy. Other diagnostic tools include; patient history, a neurologic assessment, skull x-rays, a brain scan, CT scan, MRI, a lumbar puncture and cerebral angiography. Meningiomas, arising from the covering around the brain or spinal cord, account for about 20% of brain cancers and are generally more benign.

TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMORS
How to treat brain tumors depends on the age of the patient, the stage of the disease, the type and location of the tumor, and whether the cancer is a primary tumor or brain metastases. Brain cancer and brain tumors are somewhat unique because of the blood
brain barrier, which severely restricts the types of substances in the bloodstream that are allowed by the body into the brain and makes drug treatment extremely difficult. Because of this more and more research is being undertaken in delivering medication by means of nanoparticles, amongst the properties of nanoparticles that make them ideal candidates for recognizing and treating brain cancer, their ability to deliver a wide variety of payloads across the blood-brain barrier is perhaps the most important.

Brain cancers location and ability to spread quickly makes treatment with surgery or radiation like fighting an enemy hiding out among minefields and caves, and explains why the term brain cancer is all too often associated with the word inoperable.
Brain cancer survival statistics for the deadliest of tumors such as gliomas have not improved significantly over the past two decades and the clinical armamentarium is, to a large extent, still dependent on surgery and radiation therapy, treatments known to leave survivors with devastating cognitive deficits. Gamma knife surgery is a radiosurgery technique used to treat people with brain cancer and other neurological disorders

The most deadly form of brain cancer may be treatable with a vaccine that uses proteins. Unlike measles or mumps vaccines, which are meant to prevent disease, the brain cancer vaccine turns on the patient's own immune system so it will help kill the tumor. When the vaccine is injected, it stimulates the immune system to kill off brain cancer cells and prevent the regrowth of tumors that have already been treated.

PROGNOSIS
The chances of surviving for a person with a brain tumor: Prognosis greatly depends on all of the following: type of tumor extent of the disease size and location of the tumor presence or absence of metastasis the tumor's response to therapy, age, overall health, and medical history, tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, the most common form of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma, is also the most aggressive and lethal but teratomas and other germ cell tumors although they have the capacity to grow very large may have a more favorable prognosis.

Your History of Cancer is Important

 Prevention is the best cure. Perhaps you have heard of that before and thought to yourself "if only all those sick people would have taken better care of themselves, they would not have to suffer from cancer now." If you are puffing on a cigarette or sun bathing as you think that, know that you are doing what people have done for centuries.

Humans, by nature, prefer to put off getting more education or creating healthier habits until they are already suffering the negative effects of their actions. Hospitals are now full of people who decided they were "immune" or that other things were "more important" than their health. The first matter you should take into concern is your family history with cancer.

Cancer springs from cell mutations so heredity is the biggest risk factor in your vulnerability. If you are unfamiliar with your family's medical history, it is time to take an interest and familiarize yourself with what unpleasant demons may be lurking in your genes. Awareness will allow you to prepare adequately and prevent possible tragedy later on. If your parents are still alive, they are the best source initially.

I recommend you do a web search for a pedigree chart you can print off and fill in the blanks. A good pedigree chart will allow you to trace your heritage back four or five generations, covering more than the last one hundred years of your family history. There will be spots to note full names, maiden names, wedding dates, birth dates, death dates, and some important places. Retracing your family history can bring immense satisfaction in addition to informing you of any possible health risks.

Other family members may be necessary to help you complete the chart. If there have been no cases of cancer in your family for the last four or five generations, you should feel confident that your heredity is not a risk factor in coming down with cancer. Some of the resources available for those who do not have family resources to tap in to are family history web sites. One of the most popular such sites is Ancestry dot com, which offers extensive access to all of the world's genealogical documents they can get a hold of.

The site is not free to use but is the most popular and definitely one of the most thorough. Some libraries offer free access to the site, so it may be worth a call to the libraries near your home. Do not forget the college libraries near you, they may have access that your local public library does not.

As you research your family's history, pay attention to any deaths due to "natural causes" because it may be that your ancestor suffered from some kind of cancer that was never detected. Hopefully there are enough diaries or journals as well as newspapers and census records to help you rebuild your family tree strong enough to see how much hereditary risk you may be running with cancer.

Best Types of Cancer Fighting Foods in Markets

Cancer fighting foods, generally speaking, can include anything that provides the body with the nutrition that it needs to stay as healthy as possible. By adhering to a diet that has been approved by a professional in the field of nutrition, men and women who are combating the disease should have more energy during their daily activities.
When it comes to specific foods, there are certainly a few that stand above the others when it comes to vitamin and mineral content. Leafy green vegetables are possibly the best foods that humans can eat. Kale, mustard greens, spinach, and even lettuce and cabbage are full of antioxidants. In fact, darker green vegetables have the healthiest components. Individuals who are not crazy about these kinds of vegetables might want to try cooking them up with a good sauce. The taste will be quite different.
Protein will also be crucial for energy. Meats that are grilled or even baked will be the best source in this regard. In fact, a couple of pieces of grilled chicken combined with some steamed vegetables can make a great meal. Though some spices will be necessary to give the meat some much-needed flavor, sodium-based spices should be avoided if at all possible. Salt itself should be used sparingly.
Nuts, though not often thought of as powerhouse foods, can be excellent. Walnuts and almonds are both solid choices, as they both contain non-saturated fats, which are what the body needs. Smoked almonds offer a slightly more robust flavor for those who are inclined to appreciate such things.
Citrus fruits, which are packed full of vitamin C, are also great to work into the diet each day. When someone is fighting cancer, some medical experts recommend oranges, grapefruits, and even lemons. Lemon juice can even be squeezed into a tall glass of ice water for some refreshing flavor. Oranges, on the other hand, go great with virtually any breakfast food. When supplemented with a glass of milk, individuals should get a nice start to the day.
Apples, as the saying goes, can keep the medical professionals at bay for quite some time. Men and women, along with their families, should check out some of the farmer's markets in their local area. If they find a location that provides only the freshest fruit, they can return to that market as needed.
Ultimately, cancer fighting foods can be found all over the culinary spectrum. By eating a range of healthy products and changing things up each day, people should get what they need going forward.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Three components of foods that prevent cancer

What the health are you concerned the most? If you're like most people, you answered 'Cancer'. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (heart disease is the number one). Cancer is associated in the minds of people as a painful, protracted disease, which is devastating to your body and also a huge tribute to your loved ones and friends. Many people mistakenly believe that cancer is uncontrollable. Evidence proves wrong this view. The food that you eat can help to prevent cancer. Certain foods can improve the State of the current cancer patients.
Medical case study after case study give examples of patients who have successfully beat cancer, defying their forecasts, and eating the right foods was a large part of this success stories. For many years researchers that diet plays a role looked in the prevention of cancer. Today the world is a Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), the largest cancer research group in the United Kingdom, a vowel advocates of the idea of between 35 and 70 percent of the cancer of the unhealthy diet is connected. On the other hand, a healthy diet that is rich in superfoods such as blueberries, almonds and salmon can reduce your risk for many types of cancer.
Food share many of the same features, like for example a high amount of fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants with cancer-fighting. Secondary plant substances are naturally found in plants and are responsible for the color of blueberries and the smell of garlic. Fiber or Ruff package, is the indigestible portion of plants. Antioxidant is a molecular component of certain foodstuffs, the oxidation inhibits other molecules that can damage cells.
Here are some examples how foods with these three features can help to prevent cancer:
-Lycopene found in tomatoes is a phytochemischen. According to studies by the American Cancer Society, foods with a high concentration of lycopene can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, as well as other types of cancer. The link between lycopene and cancer is still investigating.
-Beeren are rich in phytochemicals which have been proven to assist in the prevention of cancer. The secondary plant substances in berries antioxidant trigger reactions. These antioxidant reactions act in order to neutralize the damage done to your body cells of cancer.
-Rotwein has called two polyphenols, catechins and resveratrol. Both these polyphenols protect against cancer slowed the growth of cancer cells.
-Broccoli is a super food, which inhibits progression of hormone-sensitive tumors. These include breast and ovarian cancer.
-Several costly studies have been carried out to determine whether garlic and garlic extracts may reduce the risk of cancer. Some of these studies support the idea that garlic and garlic extracts are effective in combating the various forms of cancer. Further study in this area is underway.
-Fiber-rich foods such as legumes (beans) were shown to reduce inflammation in the colon, which in turn is connected with the reduction of colon cancer.
More research is needed to better understand which foods can prevent cancer and how they operate. For now, it is important to know that the food you eat can influence whether you develop cancer. In particular inhibit food that rich can help in phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants the growth of many types of cancer.

A Cancer Patient Instead Of A Swine Feeder?

In the fifteenth chapter of the book of Luke there is to be found one of the most poignantly beautiful stories of redemption and restoration in all of literature. Surely all of you are familiar with this story of a younger brother who persuades his father to give him his inheritance as though the father had died. As the story goes, he then went to a foreign land and wasted his funds in riotous living. His money ran out just as a famine gripped the land he had chosen and he was reduced to the role of a swine feeder in the filthiest of conditions. He then decided to go home and throw himself on his father's mercy and was, happily, extremely well received. This brings us to the central character of the story who was not the prodigal, but rather the older brother who was angered by the whole proceedings. He made it known that his first concern was financial and was based on his brother's handling of his money and the fact that he had come back for more. The story does not tell the ultimate outcome. We do not know if the older brother was ever able to reconcile with his father with the humility that the younger, repentant brother displayed.
Now let us fast forward to today and a currently developing story that bears a strong resemblance to the bible story in view of attitudes found within the community. There is a man in Granbury, Texas by the name of Rex Covert who has just completed a very real journey to hell and back. This started for him with the discovery that he had colo-rectal cancer that had already metastasized to distant organs. Add to the complications that Rex is a 90 year old man and you have what developed as a rather sordid picture of our times. I can only surmise that there must have been a sense of both jubilation and haste when the hospital folks saw a 90 year old cash cow coming through the door. They appear to have thrown every billable process, medication and procedure at him that was available at their facility with the result that by late summer he was bedfast and near death with hospice already on the scene. I had known Rex for many years and when he called me for help, I went immediately.
He would not receive me at his bedside and insisted that he be propped up in a chair in his living room where we engaged in a rather lengthy conversation about my experience in the field of mind/body medicine. Our conversation went very deep into Rex's personal life, at his leading, not mine. Before it was over, he broke down and cried his heart out as I held him in my arms. These were not tears of sorrow or self pity but rather, tears of joy at being released from some burdens that had troubled him for decades. He declared that he felt better and walked unassisted back to his bed. I had just received a package containing 5 proof copies of the new Alpha Wave modulated CD of guided imagery for cancer patients and I left one with him which he assured me he would faithfully use. This pretty much ended my involvement with Rex as the rest was left up to him and this is his story, not mine. Within about 3 months, he had regained his lost weight, resumed his walking exercise program and tests could find no cancer. What a remarkable, unbelievable story this turned out to be. Rex's story is, in fact, a story within a story as four other discs were sent to patients who all had positive responses that ranged from stable disease to full remission. Rex's story was by far the most dramatic. I thought it worthwhile to conduct a small "attitude survey" among several people from select walks of life. It is sometimes tough to tell these stories as people generally are not interested in hearing them. I was curious to see if a common thread of response would run through all the interviews and, sure enough, it did. Here are the results of my little survey:
1) A doctor thought this was "interesting" but since it was not done under proper scientific conditions could not be viewed as having much value. Again the use of the word "anecdotal" - this has become a convenient word as it has become an accepted vehicle for dismissing that which we really don't understand. The NCI has never come up with an answer to the question of "What if the anecdotal evidence is true?".
2) A neighbor of deep religious conviction who simply worried about me and cautioned that I might be in danger of putting myself up as equal to God and that I should be alert to any danger of my immortal soul. No interest in the details of what happened.
3) A person involved in cancer research who was considerably irritated that a layman such as I really had no business playing in the professionals yard. Again no interest in the details or how they might possibly and favorably impact his own work.
4) A cancer patient who felt that I was just not "scientific" enough to be doing this sort of work and felt that her doctor would be offended if she got off into something like this. (she just LOVES her doctor). She was not interested in finding out more of what Rex had done to bring about this miracle. I think this was the most interesting response of all considering that it came from someone who had never had an original thought in her life, scientific or otherwise. I used to argue this point with the doctors on the KCA board. I always mentioned that in my own career in plasma physics and theoretical fluid mechanics I racked up a score or 27 patents in 9 different countries while asking how many original scientific discoveries any of them had made - of course the answer was no. It comes as no surprise that my term on the board was not renewed.
5) A young minister whose first thought was to counsel me on the concern that I might be interfering with God's work. He was not forthcoming as to the scriptural basis for this concern. He never once asked for details.
There is an amazing consistency of disinterest running through the above that bears a striking similarity to the parable of the Prodigal Son, who is, himself, really not the central character of Jesus' story. No. this story was about the older brother who just happened to be the only one of all the characters who was not happy with the outcome. He saw only the financial aspects. None of the people above were joyful at the report that, as the father in the parable put it, "The dead is alive and the lost is found". I suspect that there are with us today, many forward looking oncologists who would find Rex's case of significant interest. I hope so as meaningful discourse on this case, in itself, would be cause for celebration as it could amount to a positive indication that the oncology worm is finally turning from a locked in mindset that is solely pharmaceutical. We are not threatening their treatment protocol -WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO ENHANCE IT!
The true essence of all science is expressed in three words "Observing and Inferring". The world is free of smallpox today because a man named Jenner, in the 1700's observed that milkmaids in his community did not seem to get smallpox. Inferring correctly from that observation he proceeded on a healing journey, no doubt over the ridicule of many of his peers in the medical community of his day and smallpox became history. Scientific observation is not limited to any organization or political system.
Let us take this wonderful outcome of tests simply for what it is - a Christmas miracle in the form of answered prayer. Rex, keep on doing what you are doing as you have made at least some of us very, very happy!!
Gerald White, P.E.
Back in 1993 Gerald White survived a 20 pound kidney tumor that subsequently went metastatic to distant organs. After all medical treatments had failed and the dreadful "only three more months" death sentence had been delivered. He worked out a self- directed program of guided imagery that induced a remission in three months. He has served a three year term as a Director of the National Kidney Cancer Association. Through his webpage he maintains an active world wide mentoring program that has yielded many similar remissions of cases thought to be hopeless. His book has been translated into Chinese and Hungarian. A credible Scientist, in his career before cancer, he achieved some 20 technology patents in 9 countries.

Dangers Barbecued Food and Tips to Prevent Cancer

Recent studies have found that smoked or barbecued food may be more hazardous they are thought of. However, there are some tips you can follow to enjoy your barbecue and lower its health risks as much as possible.
The root cause of health risks associated with barbecued food is the meat. Recent research has found that poultry, red meat, lamb, pork, and fish can emit two carcinogenic substances when they are barbecued.
The first cancerous substance is heterocyclic amine, which are deemed reasonable carcinogenic by the National Institute of Health. Heterocyclic amines or HCAs are produced when the meat is overcooked or char-grilled over high temperatures. Studies with rodents have shown that those rodents with HCA contracted diseases cancer in multiple organs later, including the colon, prostate, and breast. The effect on humans is still being researched.
The second cancerous substance is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, abbreviated as PAH. PAHs are carried onto the food through the smoke that forms when fat from the meat drips onto the hot charcoal. PAH is directly formed on the food when it is char-grilled.
Both of these cancerous substances can be avoided if you follow a healthy barbecuing recipe. The following tips will help you prepare a healthy barbecue meal:
Cook at the right temperature
Overcooked or precooked food should be avoided, and you should keep the temperature of the grille just right. You should also avoid any step in the preparation process that might increase the cooking time of the food. A good practice to follow is to flip the meat frequently and to keep the grille at a low temperature. You can also buy thinner slices of meat so that they cook at lower temperatures and in a shorter time. Before you begin the barbecue, you should try to measure the temperature and see that it matches the USDA-recommended minimum temperatures mentioned below (all temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit):
· Chicken breast and whole poultry: 165
· Pork and ground beef: 160
· Steaks, roasts, and fish: 145
Choose lean meat
In order to prevent PAH, you should trim as much fat from the meat as you can before cooking it. This will be much easier if you choose lean meat cuts. While cooking the meat, flip it frequently to avoid the fat from dripping down and avoid stabbing the meat.
Marinate longer
Recent studies have found that some meat marinating ingredients, like vinegar, may be helpful in preventing the two cancerous substances from forming. One study found that beef marinated with teriyaki sauce had 67 percent less HCA than the steak without the marinade.