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For many years women were told that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) offered as Estrogen Therapy (ET) or a combination of Estrogen and Progesterone (Hormone Therapy or HT) was the easy way to avoid any symptoms of the menopause. Women were given either natural or synthetic hormones to reduce hot flashes, headaches, moodiness, insomnia, and vaginal dryness.

Unfortunately doctors are beginning to realize that women have a unique hormone profile. That means that the effect of hormone replacement therapy could work for your neighbor, but have no effect on you. Rather like the fact that one girls acne cure does nothing for her best friend, acne is also linked to hormones.

Recent medical studies have indicated that there is a link between HRT and breast cancer risk. Both natural and synthetic Estrogen and Progesterone can cause acceleration in the growth of breast tissue, and breast cancer can first appear in fast growing tissue.

Some doctors believe that estrogen is broken down within the breast tissue, and the resultant compound can then bind to strands of DNA and cause breast cancer that way.

Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to isolate one cause of cancer and blame it on one specific thing because hereditary, diet and lifestyle all play a part. At this point there may be a link between hormone replacement therapy and cancer but many more medical studies need to be conducted to ascertain exactly how that link works. At this time doctors think that there is a definite increased risk of breast cancer when ET and HT are used beyond five years, but other doctors feel that the risk is there period.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, then it may be that HRT can stimulate the growth of small tumors, or hidden cells called micrometastases. There is no clear link between women who have a genetic risk of cancer and HRT. But today doctors are erring on the side of caution and making a recommendation that women with a cancer risk avoid HRT. Other risk factors are women that experience the menopause later in life.

However, there are a number of women who are comfortable with the risks and want to take HRT anyway. A close relationship with your doctor is important and a journal which can pinpoint exactly what is happening is a good idea. There is an evidence that a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables will regulate the levels of estrogens in your system naturally. Macronutrients are not going to do any harm and there is a strong argument that they can ward off a cancer risk in their own right as well as regulating hormones. Another benefit is adequate exercise which does not mean going to a gym. A brisk walk that elevates the heart rate slightly for half an hour is just as beneficial as a gym membership. It is cardiovascular exercise and it reduces the risk of obesity, because the link between obesity and cancer is certainly there.

By: Rita Goldman

ADVANCE PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT

LIST OF QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATION TIPS TO

ASK YOUR DOCTOR ON ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER…..

Q1: What are the treatment options for advanced prostate cancer?

Advanced prostate cancer is cancer that has spread from the prostate to the pelvic lymph

nodes or to other parts of the body. Advanced prostate cancer cannot be cured but the

progression of the disease can be slowed and men can be made more comfortable

with hormonal therapy and, occasionally, chemotherapy.

Hormonal therapy is currently the first treatment that is recommended to men with advanced

prostate cancer. The goal of hormonal therapy is to lower levels of male hormones, or androgens,

such as testosterone, which can fuel the growth of prostate cancer. This can be achieved with either

surgery or medication.

Testosterone levels can be reduced surgically by removing the testicles in an outpatient

procedure known as an orchiectomy; prosthetic testicles may be used in the testicles’ place.

If a patient prefers medication to surgery, drugs such as LHRH agonists may be given as shots every

few months to lower testosterone levels. Other drugs, such as anti-androgens and estrogen therapy,

can help block the activity of male hormones. Sometimes surgery and medications are tried in combination.

Side effects of hormonal therapy include impotence, low sex drive, tiredness, hot flashes and weight gain.

While hormonal therapy can lead to remissions up to two or three years, it cannot stave off the progression

of advanced prostate cancer indefinitely and the disease usually returns.

Q2: How will I know if hormonal therapy is working?

The main way to determine whether hormonal therapy is working is by measuring prostate-specific antigen

(PSA) levels with a blood test. Blood levels of this protein can measure the presence and activity of prostate cancer.

So if PSA levels are going up, that’s usually a sign that the treatment isn’t working as well as it has been.

There are rare instances when the PSA may not go up as the cancer is growing. In those cases, people

usually have symptoms, such as bone pain, which should be evaluated with X-rays. Some doctors

may monitor for metastases with CT scans, MRIs or bone scans.

Q3: What can be done if the hormonal options don’t work?

When someone has advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responding to hormonal therapies-a

condition known as hormone-refractory prostate cancer-other forms of treatment may be required.

Until recently, chemotherapy, which kills fast-growing cells typical of most cancers, was not thought

to work against prostate cancer cells, which are usually slow growing. Even though chemotherapy was

sometimes used to relieve pain in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, it had never been

shown to improve survival.

But in May 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a chemotherapy drug called

Taxotere (docetaxel) for use in combination with the steroid prednisone, for the treatment of advanced

prostate cancer that is not responding to hormone therapy. This new combination can help some patients

live longer with the disease.

A study of more than 1,000 men with advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer demonstrated that giving

an injection of Taxotere in combination with prednisone every three weeks demonstrated a survival advantage

of 2.5 months over prednisone and the chemotherapy drug mitoxantrone, which are FDA-approved to relieve

pain in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, infection risk, hair loss and tingling and

numbness in the hands and feet. People who experience side effects from chemotherapy, however, can take

medications to combat nausea and vomiting and low blood counts that lead to fatigue and infection.

Q4: What therapies can I take to control prostate cancer symptoms?

Men with advanced prostate cancer may experience symptoms of their disease, such as pain, that

require treatment to make them feel more comfortable.

External radiation treatments might be delivered periodically to shrink tumors and help to relieve pain.

A group of drugs called bisphosphonates can also be used to ease pain from cancer that has traveled

to the bones; these drugs may also help prevent bone metastases.

Pain can also be managed with painkillers and non-drug methods. Some men might try complementary

therapies, such as acupuncture, herbal therapies or meditation; it’s important to tell your doctors about

the complementary therapies you are considering since there are risks for drug interactions and side effects.

Q5: Should I consider a clinical trial?

Clinical trials are studies conducted in people to evaluate new methods and medications for safety and effectiveness.

Many ongoing trials are investigating new approaches to treating advanced prostate cancer, including cryosurgery,

which uses liquid nitrogen to kill prostate cancer cells, as well as new chemotherapy combinations and new approaches

to radiation therapy.

You should discuss the risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial with your doctor.

Tips on how you can prepare for this discussion:

Get a three-ring binder for all of your medical documents.

Get copies of all of your laboratory and pathology reports.

Bring a note pad, tape recorder or a friend as another set of ears to your doctor’s appointments to be sure you do not miss any of the information.

Make a list of all medications and complementary therapies you are taking.

Consider your goals for treatment.

If considering hormonal therapy, consider whether you prefer surgery or medications that will suppress your hormones.

Make a list of all symptoms and medication side effects you are experiencing.

Prepare a list of your questions and concerns.

Find out what clinical trials might be available to you.

Consider your expectations for participating in a clinical trial.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of being in a clinical trial.

Blood cancer care is a set of measures and precautions recommended to ease the process of blood cancer cure and lessen the probability of sudden progress of tumors from one phase to another. It also focuses on dealing with the loopholes in post-treatment care and suggests better living patterns for the victim.

Blood Cancer Care in Detail

Leukemia or blood cancer is a kind of malignant infection affecting the functioning of white blood cells. As blood keeps circulating throughout the body on continuous basis, chances of rapid spread of blood cancer are extremely high. Elimination of malignant cells becomes difficult in advanced stages and the only way to curb them is by increasing the capacity of the victim’s body to fight the infection.

Blood cancer of chronic type develops in a slow manner and targets mainly the mature white cells present in the blood.

The disorder is generally detected in adults and is difficult to cure if proper care for blood cancer is not undergone. Acute type of leukemia develops very fast and damages vital areas of the victim’s body in a very small time. Almost 33% of the overall cancer cases detected in children are due to leukemia and most of them suffer from acute type. Thus, care pattern needs to be very systematic and feasible to control malignant growth right in the developmental stages.

Blood cancer care not only focuses on post-cure process but widens its scope to even blood cancer prevention and blood cancer diagnosis.  Care is a general process and do not necessarily require continuous medical supervision.

Apart from physicians or medical counselors, other people who can take good care of victims suffering from blood cancer are family members, well-wishers, friends etc.

Personal will-power of the patient is extremely vital and necessary to make the maximum use of care process. Few habits like smoking, unhygienic diet, eating tobacco, inactive lifestyle and consumption of alcohol are some of the primary blood cancer causes responsible for generation of cell abnormalities in blood. One should avoid such habits and must also keep away from intake of other carcinogenic substances. Balanced diet rich in nutrient-content and sufficient intake of vitamins is highly advantageous in making the immune system strong and intact. Healthy diet also helps in better functioning of tissues and cells present in the blood.

Blood cancer treatments are stern and should be taken with extreme caution. Family or personal history of leukemia or other types of cancerous infections makes the process of care and cure more complicated and tiresome. Chances of fair survival rate lower in such cases as the response of the victim to the treatment generally becomes slow.  

Blood cancer care should be supported by early identification of symptoms using competent and apt diagnosis methods.

Blood cancer care is sensitive to various changes taking place in the body. Thus, output of care process undertaken should be continuously monitored in order to minimize sufferings of the patient and boost the chances of better life expectancy.

The diagnosis of CANCER is enough to knock your feet right out from under you. There are warnings on everything as to what causes cancer, but do they really know what all causes cancer? The only thing for sure is how you handle yourself past the diagnosis, can make all the difference in your outcome through your therapy.

I have worked in a cancer treatment center for over 28 years and have seen many patients beat the odds after being given a horrible prognosis. The reason these people have beat the odds is mostly due to the fact that they were not going to accept that prognosis and they were going to prove the doctors wrong.

One gentleman was given 6 months to live due to his newly found brain tumor. When given this news, his wife left him, his world was crashing in and all it did was fuel his fire. He was the most inspiring man I have ever met.

He went through his therapy, he was able to drive again, go skiing, boating, whatever it was that made him enjoy life. He lived 5 1/2 years past his diagnosis and he enjoyed every minute of his life. That was the first incidence that made me realize what power each of us possess if we really put our mind to something.

There have been many, many patients since then that have shared the same incredible attitude and have beat the odds when faced with an unpleasant diagnosis. You also have to take advantage of support groups with positive people to surround you, as in Gilda’s Club. The American Cancer Society offers a program called, Look Good, Feel Better. This is a program offered for ladies afflicted with some type of cancer. They are given a cosmetic bag with approximately 0.00 worth of make-up, which is donated by all of the cosmetic companies across America.

This is a 2 hour program which emphasizes the importance of how much better you will feel if you look better. This is a very important part of your therapy and this will help your attitude stay up during your battle.

Always remember, the key ingredient to your positive outcome is a positive attitude, your faith in God, positive family and friends and doctors that will stand in your corner and believe in miracles. There are many miracles walking this earth that were told they would not be. They are here because they refused to believe the cancer was going to kill them and found doctors that were willing to help them fight to live. Always believe in the power of the mind, body and God, the rest will follow.

According to Ayurveda for cancer, cancer is seen as a result of aggravated Doshas and impure blood. These three Doshas include Pitta, Vata and Kapha. Ayurved is rightly known as the science of life and is an effective alternative therapy for treating deadly cancer. There are very less options in modern medicine for treating cancer.

Ayurvedic Approach to Cancer

The ancient classics of Ayurveda discuss cancer as Sannipataja, Tridosaja, Granthi and Arbudha. They are the malignant stages of abnormal growth and neoplasm. Each individual has a unique nature, according to Ayurveda. The root cause of the illness is treated by the Ayurvedic medicine. A great attempt is made by Ayurveda for cancer  for finding the actual cause of cancer. There are several reasons for impurity of blood and aggravation of Doshas.

Ayurveda and Growth of Cancer

The development of cancer is described by Ayurveda as the result of impure blood and aggravated Doshas.

The locations of Doshas ad impure blood can be found in various parts of the body. They are very weak in terms of immunity. Thus it results in an abnormal functioning of blood in that particular part of the body. The ability of carrying life air or Prana to the cells is also disrupted.

A form of energy is contained in oxygen along with life air. The cells are helped by this energy in their normal functioning. The impure blood is also localized. The Prana which reaches the other body parts also becomes impure. Thus, this results in uncontrolled or abnormal cell division known as Arbudha or cancer.

Causes of Cancer according to Ayurveda
1. Chewing tobacco and smoking
2. Improper food and lifestyle
3. Breathing in chemicals and polluted air
4. Consumption of fruits and vegetables that contain pesticides.

These are the major reasons that aggravate the Doshas.

Treatment of cancer with Ayurveda

A good comfort and support is offered by Ayurveda to the cancer patients. Curative, supportive, palliative and prophylactic solutions are offered by Ayurveda for the treatment of cancer. The patient is supported in many ways by Ayurveda:
1. Ayurveda can be used along with radio therapy.
2. It can be used with chemotherapy, as a co-therapy.
3. It can be used for supporting post surgery.
4. It can help in the preventing proliferation of cancer cells/
5. It can cure tumors effectively.
6. The patient’s quality of life can be improved if Ayurveda is used as a therapy.

Ayurveda for cancer uses a blend of nature and harmony for fighting the battle against cancer. Thus according to Ayurveda, there should be a proper balance between the three Doshas for preventing cancer.

A risk factor is any situation that may very well raise someone’s probability of having a disease. It could be an action, for instance smoking, diet, family track record, or a number of other elements. Various ailments, including cancers, have unique risk factors. Generally, all men are at risk for prostate cancer. Nonetheless, there are particular risk concerns that enhance the likeliness that particular adult men will develop the disease, including the pursuing:

Age is a risk component for cancer of prostate, in particular adult men age fifty and older. Greater than 80 percent of all prostate gland types of cancer are clinically diagnosed in adult men older than 65. Race: Cancer Of Prostate is almost twice as prevalent among African-American adult males than it is among Caucasian-American adult men. Japanese and Chinese adult males native to their country have the lowest rates of cancer of the prostate.

Data shows that the food ingested in Western industrialized countries may just be one of the most key contributory variables for developing cancer of the prostate.

The following information with regards to diet plan and its effect on the risk for cancer of the prostate include adult males who have a high-fat diet may have an even greater possibility of developing prostate cancer. Dietary fiber consumption may decrease the further development of cancer of prostate.

Soya proteins lowers fat absorption, and the isoflavones in soya have been found to help slow the growth of cancer of the prostate. Vitamin E and selenium: Vitamin E, an antioxidant, along with selenium, has been proven to slow down tumor growth in laboratory animals.

Carotenoids : Carotenoids filled with lycopenes have been shown to hamper the development of human prostate cancer cells in tissue cultures.

The principal supply of lycopenes is processed tomatoes in tomato juice and tomato paste.

Weight problems : Weight problems not just contributes to diabetes and also high-cholesterol, but has additionally been associated with many common cancers including cancer of the prostate.

Vasectomy, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), or STD (sexually transmitted disease) Researchers have investigated whether adult males who have had a vasectomy, BPH, or all who have experienced contact with STD’s are at increased risk for cancer of the prostate. Several medical studies tend to suggest a correlation, while some don’t. Genealogy of cancer of the prostate. A father or brother with cancer of the prostate doubles a man’s threat of developing cancer of the prostate.

Possibility is actually higher for males with many impacted relatives. Geneticists split families into three categories, depending upon the sheer numbers of men with cancer of prostate and their particular ages of onset, such as the following:

Sporadic – a family with prostate cancer present in one man, at a normal age of onset.
Familial – a family group with cancer of prostate present in more than one person, but with no conclusive pattern of inheritance and often an older age of onset.
Genetic – Five to ten percent of prostate cancer cases are deemed hereditary. Hereditary : Something like 9 percent of all prostate gland types of cancer and 45 percent of cases in adult men younger than age 55 can easily be imputed to a cancer susceptibility gene which is inherited as a predominant trait (from father or mother to children).

Cancer Of The Prostate Prevention

There exists some proof which links physical fitness to better prostate health. Physical fitness enhances overall both mental and physical health, so nearly all healthcare specialists highly recommend a minimum of a half an hour of physical activity per week. Quite a few studies indicate that habitual physical activity raises oxygen movement towards the soft tissues of the body so helping to regulate sugar levels in the bloodstream. High levels of glucose may help fuel cancer of prostate cells.

Prostate Health Supplements such as vitamin e and selenium are actually correlated to a significantly decreased risk of cancer of the prostate. Studies of vitamin e and selenium apparently profit people who were lacking in either, or have been ex-smokers. Studies have also correlated an everyday regimen of aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce threats of prostate cancer. As always, speak to your medical doctor before starting any kind of prolonged use of health supplements or aspirin.

Prostate therapeutic massage is an old procedure that has been applied effectively for years and years. Prostate gland massage is reputed to lessen the danger of cancer of prostate.

Very recent surveys suggest that prostate gland massage is integral to a healthy prostate. If you are suffering from a prostate issue like prostatitis, BPH, have to often use the bathroom or are merely seeking to promote a healthy prostate gland, then prostate therapeutic massage can be a practical replacement for typical treatments like antibiotics and surgery.

A healthy prostate gland massaged in just the correct way (with practice) can get very aroused. A ten to twenty minute therapeutic massage at least once a month is clinically crucial to help reduce prostate enlargement for a more healthy working prostate gland gland.