Description Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Outcomes and further sources of support
Description
Anal itching, or Pruritis Ani is a persistent itchy feeling around the back passage (anus). It is a common complaint that can affect adults and children. The most common cause is irritation from faeces (sometimes called stools or bowel motions) or mucus. Less common causes include skin conditions such as eczema or dermatitis, threadworms, thrush and fungal infections, sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. herpes and warts) and haemorrhoids. Even very small amounts of leakage can irritate the delicate skin around the anus.
Symptoms
The main symptom is an urge to scratch the anal area. This urge can be quite severe and difficult to resist. The itching may be worse (or more noticeable) at night or after opening the bowels. It’s important NOT TO SCRATCH. Scratching can make the itch worse, which in turn makes you want to scratch more, so you need to do all you can to avoid getting into this cycle.
Diagnosis
A trip to your local GP, where an examination of the area will quickly identify what is causing the itch and ensure that appropriate treatment is identified.
Treatment
Your GP may prescribe a cream or ointment, possibly a short course of mild steroid cream to reduce the inflammation and/or a barrier cream to protect the area from leakage of faeces/mucus. There are also things that you can do yourself
Take great care with anal hygiene, wash the area with plain water after each time you open your bowel
Avoid rubbing the area with toilet paper or facecloths. If you do use toilet paper use soft, white paper, dab or pat the area and dampen with water.
Avoid moisture in the area – make sure it’s dry.
Avoid possible irritants – use only plain water on your bottom and, non-biological washing powder for washing your underwear.
Some drinks (especially caffeinated ones) and spicy foods, nuts and tomatoes can make it worse.
WHAT CAUSES PRURITUS ANI?
Itching of the skin about the anus (opening of the rectum) is a common complaint. The skin is exposed to irritating digestive products in the stool; this may lead to an itchy rash, especially when stools are frequent. Often, the rash is worsened by vigorous use of toilet tissue or scrubbing with soap and water.
Anal itching is usually an isolated skin complaint in otherwise healthy persons, but in some people, it is part of a disorder involving other areas of the skin. Whether pruritus ani is an isolated problem or part of another skin disorder, irritation from stools and from cleansing after bowel movements keeps the rash going. You may find that coffee and spicy foods make it worse. These foods irritate the digestive tract and increase the number of stools or amount of mucus (liquid) secreted from the rectum.
TREATMENT
Treatment is intended to reduce irritation of the anal skin. Unfortunately, it is impossible to eliminate all irritation, because it is impossible to avoid contact of stool with the inflamed skin. Careful, thorough, gentle cleansing after bowel movements is very important; dry toilet paper does not cleanse as well and also irritates your skin. Never use soap on the anal area. Cleansing with plain water, in either the shower or bathtub, will do the job. Pruritus Ani is very infrequent in cultures that use bidets. It is now possible to purchase at home improvement stores portable bidets you attach to the water line of your toilet. They are easy to install and well worth the cost ($100 to $150.
You will be given a soothing preparation, which you should apply thinly with your fingertips, as directed. Do not apply any other remedy, suppository, or medicine to your rash. Only the prescription medicine should ever touch inflamed anal skin.
If your itching does not improve with these measures, eliminate coffee, beer, spicy foods, and any foods or beverages you might suspect for 2 weeks. If eliminating certain foods and beverages improves your pruritis ani, add them back one at a time at 1 to 2 week intervals to determine what aggravates your itching.
Pruritus ani is frequently stubborn and requires months of local medication and gentle skin care. Pruritus ani often recurs. Therefore, don’t throw your medicines away when you are free from itching; keep them on hand in case your trouble returns. Some persons need to continue using the medication once or twice daily indefinitely because the itching returns whenever they stop.
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Cancer Diseas
Cancer Diet
The typical American diet is loaded with foods that cause and that can contribute to the spread of cancer. Therefore a cancer diet should eliminate these foods and replace them with foods that destroy cancer. Regardless of what type of treatment strategy you choose, a diet that enables the body to fight cancer should be central.
A diet of fresh raw vegetables and fruits, raw seeds and nuts and whole grains produces an alkaline environment. The consumption of cooked foods should not consist of more that 20% of the total diet.
Avoid refined flour and sugar products, trans fats, food additives, artificial sweeteners and dairy products. Cancer cells love an acidic environment. A meat based diet produces acid so avoid all meat with the exception of kosher fish and a little chicken.
What about adding supplements to your diet? There are products that make statements that they help cancer patients but lack the science to back up their claims.
Would you like to take a supplement that actually has the science behind it that shows it has potent cancer fighting ability? Watch this absolutely riveting video to see what this doctor says it is.
Diet – cancer treatment
People with cancer need special nutritional planning and management.
See also: Radiation enteritis
Function
People with cancer are at risk for developing nutritional deficiencies. The deficiencies may be the result of the cancer itself, or the side effects of common cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Cancer directly affects your nutritional status by changing the body’s metabolism and causing you to lose your appetite. Your body increases energy use, which means you need more calories to maintain your current weight and lean body mass. Cancer-associated loss of appetite is probably the result of physical changes but may also be due to a psychological response to the disease.
Cancer also causes individual changes in the body’s ability to break down carbohydrates, protein, and fat. These changes lead to the loss of muscle and fat.
Several things may contribute to the type and degree of nutrient deficiencies:
* Where in the body the cancer occurs
* How severe the cancer is at the time of your diagnosis
* What symptoms you have
* The type of cancer treatment, and how often you receive it
* Side effects associated with your cancer treatment
* How the cancer affects your ability to eat and tolerate food and nutrients
Food Sources
People with cancer frequently require a high-calorie diet to prevent weight loss. They may also need a diet that is high in protein to prevent muscle wasting. Foods that are high in calories and protein include peanut butter, whole milk, milkshakes, meats, and cheeses.
Some individuals with cancer develop an aversion to fats. If this happens, eat high-protein foods with a lower fat content such as low-fat shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese, and lean meats.
For the diet to remain well-balanced, you must eat fruits and vegetables. To increase calories, use more fruit juices or dried fruits rather than whole fruits. Choosing calorie-dense vegetables such as corn and peas will also increase the calories in the diet.
Side Effects
The side effects of common cancer therapies vary by the treatment and the area of the body undergoing treatment. The following are some side effects and helpful suggestions. They do not replace, but rather aid, drugs used to relieve these symptoms.
CHEWING AND SWALLOWING DIFFICULTY
Thick liquids such as milkshakes or semisolid foods like mashed potatoes and gravy may be easier to swallow and are less likely to cause aspiration (inhaling food).
PAIN, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA
Eating a meal immediately before or after the treatment may ease symptoms. Your position while eating may also contribute to symptoms.
TASTE CHANGES AND AVERSIONS
* Avoid foods with strong odors.
* Eat bland foods. Avoid strong flavors like spices, acidic foods, and sour-tasting foods.
* Eat cold foods. Avoid hot or warm foods.
* If you are experiencing severe nausea, avoid your favorite foods. Eating a food during severe bouts of nausea may cause you to develop an aversion to it.
BODY WEIGHT LOSS AND MUSCLE WASTING
* Add diced meat or cheese to sauces, vegetables, soups, and casseroles.
* Add extra eggs or egg whites to foods. Never use raw eggs. They may be contaminated with salmonella, which is dangerous for everyone but especially those who are immune-suppressed. Raw eggs also contain a vitamin binder.
* Add powdered milk to foods and beverages.
* Consider using commercially available nutritional supplements. Make your own high-calorie shake by adding an instant breakfast drink mix to milk, fruit, cookies, peanut butter, or other favorite mixers.
* Drink high-calorie beverages such as juices, milk, or sweetened drinks.
* Eat smaller, but more frequent meals.
* If you are unable to digest fat, talk to your health care provider about alternative fat sources. Supplements containing medium-chain triglycerides are often recommended for this purpose.
* Increase fats in the diet to increase energy consumption, if you are tolerating fats. Add margarine or butter to breads and vegetables. Add gravies and sauces to foods in large amounts.
* Increase protein and calories in the diet.
* Snack throughout the day on calorie-dense foods such as nuts, hard candy, and dried fruits.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Some cancer patients become unable to digest dairy products, which is called lactose intolerance. Symptoms include bloating, gas, and diarrhea immediately after eating lactose-containing foods.
People with lactose intolerance have trouble digesting the sugar in milk. Lactose intolerance is due to an inability to produce lactase, the enzyme that digests milk. The wall of the gastrointestinal tract produces this enzyme. You can take lactase to help you digest lactose products.
You can also buy lactose-free milk at most grocery stores. Cultured dairy products such as yogurt, cheeses, and buttermilk will contain less lactose, because the active cultures help to digest it.
You may be able to tolerate small amounts of lactose occasionally. Or, you may have to remove lactose entirely from your diet until you have fully recovered from your cancer therapy.
DUMPING SYNDROME
Surgery on the stomach may cause dumping syndrome. If you have dumping syndrome, food is “dumped” into the small intestine 10 or 15 minutes after being swallowed. Ordinarily, food is partially digested in the stomach, then released gradually into the digestive tract.
Sometimes, people with anal cancer do not have any symptoms. In other cases, these symptoms are similar to those of other medical conditions. Anal cancer can cause any of the signs and symptoms listed below.
* Bleeding – Bleeding from the anal area occurs in more than half of patients with anal cancer, and it is usually the first sign of the disease. You might see the bleeding on stools or in the toilet. Often, the bleeding is minor and many people assume that it is caused by hemorrhoids.
* Growth – A mass or growth in the anus can be a symptom of anal cancer.
* Itching – Itching around the anus is more common in people with anal intraepithelial lesions (AIL) than anal cancer. However, itching in the anal area can be a sign of anal cancer.
* Pain – A tumor can block your intestine so that the stool cannot pass by easily. This can cause pain, especially after a bowel movement, and the feeling that your bowel movements are not complete. About one-third of people with anal cancer feel pain.
* Bowel habits – Your bowel habits or the diameter of your stool might change if you have anal cancer.
* Swollen lymph nodes – Lymph nodes are tiny bean-shaped organs located throughout your body that help fight infections. If you have anal cancer, the lymph nodes in your anal or groin areas might be swollen.
* Weakness – Cancer can lead to anemia (low blood count). Anemia can make you feel weak or tired.
Several benign (noncancerous) conditions—such as hemorrhoids (swollen blood vessels near the anus or rectum), fissures (small tears that can cause itching, pain, or bleeding), or anal warts—can produce similar symptoms. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk to your doctor. Symptoms
Anal cancer signs and symptoms include:
* Bleeding from the anus or rectum
* Pain in the area of the anus
* A mass or growth in the anal canal
* Anal itching
When to see a doctor
The signs and symptoms of anal cancer aren’t specific to this disease.
Some people mistake their signs and symptoms for more common conditions, such as hemorrhoids, and don’t see their doctors.
Talk to your doctor about any signs and symptoms that bother you, especially if you have any factors that increase your risk of anal cancer. Treatment for anal cancer is more likely to succeed if cancer is found at an early stage.
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Cancer Diseas
Evaluation of English Bowel (Colorectal) Cancer Screening Pilot
The research and development directorate at the Department of Health commissioned an independent evaluation of the UK Pilot, which ran from 2000-2002. There was a single study of both the English and Scottish sites conducted by a multi-disciplinary evaluation team.
The evaluation team produced annual reports for three years. The reports were made available to the Pilot Steering Group and the National Screening Committee to help to decide whether to introduce bowel cancer on a national level. The final report – 1716Kb PDF and its supplementary report were published in July 2003.
The report into the second round of the English bowel cancer screening pilot was published in August 2006.
The task of the evaluation team was to
* describe the context, processes and mechanisms of NHS screening for bowel cancer, including organisational and management structures, infrastructure and communications strategy
* measure acceptability to users and health service providers, and the influence of socio-demographic and psychosocial variables on uptake
* quantify intermediate outcomes of screening and to compare these with trial data so that long-term outcome in relation to mortality reduction can be inferred
* use information on costs and effectiveness obtained in the pilots to refine previous estimates of cost-effectiveness of FOBT screening in the UK population
* describe and quantify the impact of the screening programme on symptomatic services both in primary and secondary care
* make recommendations on the conduct of NHS screening (including QA protocols) should evaluation of the pilots make this appropriate.
What is screening, and why is it important?
Screening is checking for health problems before they cause symptoms. Colorectal cancer screening can detect cancer; polyps; nonpolypoid lesions, which are flat or slightly depressed areas of abnormal cell growth; and other conditions. Nonpolypoid lesions occur less often than polyps, but they can also develop into colorectal cancer (12).
If colorectal cancer screening reveals a problem, diagnosis and treatment can occur promptly. In addition, finding and removing polyps or other areas of abnormal cell growth may be one of the most effective ways to prevent colorectal cancer development. Also, colorectal cancer is generally more treatable when it is found early, before it has had a chance to spread.
What methods are used to screen people for colorectal cancer?
Health care providers may suggest one or more of the following tests for colorectal cancer screening:
* Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)— This test checks for hidden blood in fecal material (stool). Currently, two types of FOBT are available. One type, called guaiac FOBT, uses the chemical guaiac to detect heme in stool. Heme is the iron-containing component of the blood protein hemoglobin. The other type of FOBT, called immunochemical FOBT, uses antibodies to detect human hemoglobin protein in stool (13–15). Studies have shown that FOBT, when performed every 1 to 2 years in people ages 50 to 80, can help reduce the number of deaths due to colorectal cancer by 15 to 33 percent (13–15).
* Sigmoidoscopy— In this test, the rectum and lower colon are examined using a lighted instrument called a sigmoidoscope. During sigmoidoscopy, precancerous and cancerous growths in the rectum and lower colon can be found and either removed or biopsied. Studies suggest that regular screening with sigmoidoscopy after age 50 can help reduce the number of deaths from colorectal cancer (14). A thorough cleansing of the lower colon is necessary for this test.
* Colonoscopy—In this test, the rectum and entire colon are examined using a lighted instrument called a colonoscope. During colonoscopy, precancerous and cancerous growths throughout the colon can be found and either removed or biopsied, including growths in the upper part of the colon, where they would be missed by sigmoidoscopy. However, it is not yet known for certain whether colonoscopy can help reduce the number of deaths from colorectal cancer. A thorough cleansing of the colon is necessary before this test, and most patients receive some form of sedation.
* Virtual colonoscopy (also called computerized tomographic colonography)—In this test, special x-ray equipment is used to produce pictures of the colon and rectum. A computer then assembles these pictures into detailed images that can show polyps and other abnormalities. Because it is less invasive than standard colonoscopy and sedation is not needed, virtual colonoscopy may cause less discomfort and take less time to perform. As with standard colonoscopy, a thorough cleansing of the colon is necessary before this test. Whether virtual colonoscopy can reduce the number of deaths from colorectal cancer is not yet known.
* Double contrast barium enema (DCBE)—In this test, a series of x-rays of the entire colon and rectum are taken after the patient is given an enema with a barium solution and air is introduced into the colon. The barium and air help to outline the colon and rectum on the x-rays. Research shows that DCBE may miss small polyps. It detects about 30 to 50 percent of the cancers that can be found with standard colonoscopy (14).
* Digital rectal exam (DRE)—In this test, a health care provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for abnormal areas. DRE allows examination of only the lower part of the rectum. It is often performed as part of a routine physical examination.
Scientists are still studying colorectal cancer screening methods, both alone and in combination, to determine how effective they are. Studies are also under way to clarify the potential risks, or harms, of each test. See Question 5 for a table outlining some of the advantages and disadvantages, including potential harms, of specific colorectal cancer screening tests.
# How can people and their health care providers decide which colorectal cancer screening test(s) to use and how often to be screened?
Several major organizations, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (a group of experts convened by the U.S. Public Health Service), the American Cancer Society, and professional societies, have developed guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. Although some details of their recommendations vary regarding which screening tests to use and how often to be screened, all of these organizations support screening for colorectal cancer.
People should talk with their health care provider about when to begin screening for colorectal cancer, what tests to have, the benefits and harms of each test, and how often to schedule appointments.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Screening Saves Lives
Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps, so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.
When Should I Begin to Get Screened?
You should begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50, then continue getting screened at regular intervals. However, you may need to be tested earlier than 50 or more often than other people if—
* You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
* You have inflammatory bowel disease.
* You have genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.
Speak with your doctor about when you should begin screening and how often you should be tested.
What Is Colorectal Cancer Screening?
A screening test is used to look for a disease when a person is not experiencing any symptoms. Cancer screening tests, including those for colorectal cancer, are effective when they can detect disease early. Detecting disease early can lead to more effective treatment. In some cases, screening tests can detect something that shouldn’t be there, such as a polyp in the colon or rectum, before it has a chance to turn into cancer. Removing polyps in the colon and rectum prevents colorectal cancer from developing. (A diagnostic test differs from a screening test because it is used when a person has symptoms. A diagnostic test is used to find the cause of the symptoms.)
Free or Low-Cost Screening
CDC launched the Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) by providing funding to 26 states and tribes across the United States. The program supports population-based screening efforts and provides colorectal cancer screening services to low-income men and women aged 50–64 years who are underinsured or uninsured for screening, when no other insurance is available. In addition to colorectal cancer screening, the program sites also provide diagnostic follow-up.
If you live in one of the CRCCP-funded states, you may be eligible for free or low-cost colorectal cancer screening. If you are not eligible for the program, or live outside the areas in which the CRCCP operates, please call 1 (800) 4-CANCER or 1 (800) ACS-2345 to learn more about screening options in your community. You also may be able to find information about free or low-cost screening by calling your local department of health.
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Cancer Diseas
Top 9 Cancer Symptoms Men Can’t Ignore
1. Pain or difficulty urinating.
Pain or difficult urination is often a sign of prostate cancer. This also includes having a weak stream of urine. Having to urinate often at night should be reported to a physician. Men should also watch out for any blood in the urine.
2. Testicular lumps.
A lump, no matter what the size, in the testicle can be a sign of testicular cancer. Men should examine their scrotum and testicles every month. This type of monthly exam is called a testicular self exam.
3. Pelvic pain
Pain in the pelvic region can be a symptoms of many things, including testicular and prostate cancer. Any type of pain lasting more than a few days or pain that does not go away needs to be evaluated by a doctor.
4. Sore, lesion or growth on the penis.
A sore or lesion on the penis is a symptom of penile cancer. Penile cancer, although rare, does occur. If you have any abnormalities on your penis, see a doctor.
5. Persistent Stomach Upset or Bowel Changes
If you experience constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stools, gas, thinner stools, or just a general overall change in bowel habits, see your doctor. Changes in the bowel can be signs of colon cancer.
6. Changes in the breast.
Did you know that men can also develop breast cancer? Men need to watch of for symptoms like nipple discharge, lumps, skin dimpling and a red or scaly appearance on or around the breast.
7. Unintentional weightloss.
Losing 10 or more pounds without trying may be a nice surprise, but isn’t quite normal. Although weight may fluctuate throughout the month, anything 10 pounds or more should be reported to your doctor.
8. Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
Having a cough that does not go away, wheezing or difficulty breathing that is not related to another condition can be a symptom of lung cancer. If you are experiencing the signs of lung cancer, please see your doctor as soon as possible.
9. Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most commonly experienced cancer symptom. It is usually more common when the cancer is at an advanced stage, but it is still occurs early on. Any type of fatigue that prevents you from doing normal daily activities needs to be evaluated by a doctor.
25 Cancer Symptoms Men Are Most Likely to Ignore
Annual checkups and tests such as colonoscopies and PSA assays are important, but it’s not a good idea to rely on tests alone to protect you from cancer. It’s just as important to listen to your body and notice anything that’s different, odd, or unexplainable. (You should also listen to those close to you, such as a wife or partner, because others sometimes notice things we’re unaware of—or don’t want to admit.) You don’t want to join the ranks of cancer patients who realize too late that symptoms they’d noticed for a long time could have sounded the alarm earlier, when cancer was easier to cure.
Here, some signs of cancer that are commonly overlooked:
1. Upset stomach or stomachache: One of the first signs colon cancer patients remember experiencing when they look back is unexplained stomach aches. Those with pancreatic cancer describe a dull ache that feels like it’s pressing inward. Many liver cancer patients say they went in complaining of stomach cramps and upset stomachs so frequently that their doctors thought they had ulcers. Liver cancer patients and those with leukemia can experience abdominal pain resulting from an enlarged spleen, which may feel like an ache on the lower left side.
If you have a stomachache that you can’t attribute to a digestive problem or that doesn’t go away, ask your doctor to order an ultrasound. Finding a liver or pancreatic tumor early can make all the difference in treatment.
2. Chronic “acid stomach” or feeling full after a small meal: The most common early sign of stomach cancer is pain in the upper or middle abdomen that feels like gas or heartburn. It may be aggravated by eating, so that you feel full when you haven’t actually eaten much. What’s particularly confusing is that the pain can be relieved by antacids, confirming your conclusion that it was caused by acid in the stomach, when it’s more than that. An unexplained pain or ache in the lower right side can be the first sign of liver cancer, known as one of the “silent killers.” Feeling full after a small meal is a common sign of liver cancer as well.
If you have frequent bouts of acid stomach, an unexplained abdominal ache, or a full feeling after meals even when you’re eating less than normal, call your doctor.
3. Unexplained weight loss: If you notice the pounds coming off and you haven’t made changes to your diet or exercise regime, it’s important to find out why. Unexplained weight loss can be an early sign of colon and other digestive cancers; it can also be a sign of cancer that’s spread to the liver, affecting your appetite and the ability of your body to rid itself of waste.
4. Jaundice: Pancreatic cancer, another one of the “silent killers,” is often discovered when someone notices jaundice and asks the doctor to do a battery of tests. Jaundice is most commonly thought of as a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, but darker-than-normal urine that’s not the result of dehydration is also a sign. Clay-colored stools are another little-known sign of jaundice. Oddly, jaundice can also cause itching, because the bile salts in the bloodstream cause the skin to itch. Some people with pancreatic cancer say they noticed the itching before they noticed the jaundice itself.
5. Wheezing or shortness of breath: One of the first signs lung cancer patients remember noticing when they look back is the inability to catch their breath. “I couldn’t even walk to my car without wheezing; I thought I had asthma, but how come I didn’t have it before?” is how one man described it. Shortness of breath, chest pain, or spitting blood are also signs of testicular cancer that’s spread to the lungs.
6. Chronic cough or chest pain: Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis. One way to tell the difference: The problems persist, or go away and come back again in a repeating cycle. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.
7. Frequent fevers or infections: These can be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy white cells, sapping the body’s infection-fighting capabilities. Doctors sometimes catch leukemia in older adults only after the patient has been in a number of times complaining of fever, achiness, and flu-like symptoms over an extended period of time.
8. Difficulty swallowing: Most commonly associated with esophageal or throat cancer, having trouble swallowing is sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer, too. Men diagnosed with esophageal cancer look back and remember a feeling of pressure and soreness when swallowing that didn’t go away the way a cold or flu would have. Consult your doctor also if you have a frequent feeling of needing to clear your throat or that food is stuck in your chest; either of these can signal a narrowing of the esophagus that could mean the presence of a tumor.
9. Chronic heartburn: If you just ate half a pizza, heartburn is expected. But if you have frequent episodes of heartburn or a constant low-level feeling of pain in the chest after eating, call your doctor and ask to be screened for esophageal cancer. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—a condition in which stomach acid rises into the esophagus, causing heartburn and an acidic taste in the throat—can trigger a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which can be a precursor of esophageal cancer.
10. Swelling of facial features: Some patients with lung cancer report that they noticed puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face. The explanation for this is that small-cell lung tumors commonly block blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face.
11. Swollen lymph nodes or lumps on the neck, underarm, or groin: Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer. For example, a lump or an enlarged lymph node in the neck or underarm is sometimes a sign of thyroid, head, or throat cancer. A painless lump on the neck, underarm, or groin can be an early sign of leukemia.
12. Excessive bruising or bleeding that doesn’t stop: This symptom usually suggests something abnormal happening with the platelets and red blood cells, which can be a sign of leukemia. One man with leukemia noticed that his gums bled when he brushed his teeth; another described bruising in strange places, such as on his fingers and hands. The explanation: Over time, leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells and platelets, impairing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and clot.
13. Weakness and fatigue: “I had to stop halfway across the yard and sit down when I was mowing the lawn,” said one man when describing the fatigue that led to his discovery of pancreatic cancer. Generalized fatigue and weakness is a symptom of so many different kinds of cancer (and other ills) that you’ll need to look at it in combination with other symptoms. But any time you feel exhausted without explanation and it doesn’t respond to getting more sleep, talk to your doctor.
14. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool: “I thought it was hemorrhoids” is one of the most common statements doctors hear when diagnosing colorectal cancer. Blood in the toilet alone is reason to call your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy. Another sign of blood in the stool many people miss is stools that are darker in color.
15. Bowel problems: Constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stools can all be signs of cancer. As with many other cancer symptoms, the way to tell if this is cause for concern is if it goes on for more than a few days without a clear cause, such as flu or food poisoning. People diagnosed with colon cancer say they noticed more frequent stools, as well as a feeling that their bowels weren’t emptying completely. One of the early signs of pancreatic cancer is fatty stools, which can be recognized as frequent, large stools that are paler than normal and smelly. This is a sign that your body’s not absorbing your food normally, and it should be brought to your doctor’s attention.
16. Difficulty urinating or changes in flow: Hands-down, the most common early sign of prostate cancer is a feeling of not being able to start peeing once you’re set to go. Many men also report having a hard time stopping the flow of urine, a flow that starts and stops, or a stream that’s weaker than normal. Any of these symptoms is reason to call your doctor for an exam and a screening test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
17. Pain or burning during urination: This symptom can also indicate a urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted disease, of course, but in any case it warrants an immediate trip to the doctor. This symptom is often combined with the feeling that you need to go more often, particularly at night. These same symptoms can also indicate inflammation or infection in the prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia, the name for what happens when the prostate grows bigger and blocks the flow of urine. However, you need to get checked out to tell the difference.
18. Blood in urine or semen: Men are often warned about blood in the urine, but they may not realize that blood in semen is also a danger sign for prostate cancer. Blood in the urine or semen isn’t always visible as blood; urine may just be a pink, dark red, or smoky brown color, while blood in the semen may just look like a pinkish streak.
19. Erection problems: As prostate cancer progresses, another very common sign is difficulty getting or sustaining an erection. This can be a difficult subject to talk about, but it’s important to bring it to your doctor’s attention. It could be a sign of sexual dysfunction with another cause, of course, but it’s a reason to have an exam and a PSA test.
20. Pain, aching, or heaviness in the groin, hips, thighs, or abdomen: One sign of prostate cancer is frequent pain in the hips, upper thighs, or the lowest part of the back. Men with testicular cancer report noticing a heavy, aching feeling low in the belly or abdomen, or in the scrotum or testicles themselves. They sometimes describe it as a feeling of downward pulling or as a generalized ache throughout the groin area. Prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes often makes itself known as discomfort in the pelvis or swelling in the legs.
21. Testicular swelling or lump: The lumps that indicate testicular cancer are nearly always painless. It’s also common for a testicle to be enlarged or swollen, but lacking any specific lump that you can see or feel. Some men report feeling discomfort from the enlargement, but not an outright pain.
22. Unexplained back pain: Back pain can mean all sorts of things, of course—most often pulled muscles or disc problems. But unexplained, persistent back pain can be an early sign of cancer as well, so get it checked out. Pain in the lower back and hips can be a sign of prostate cancer, while pain in the upper back can signal lung cancer. A pain in the upper abdomen and back is one of the few early signs of pancreatic cancer.
23. Scaly or painful nipple or chest, nipple discharge: Men do get breast cancer; they also get a condition called gynecomastia, which is a benign lump in the breast area. Breast cancer is usually detected as a lump, but if it’s spreading inward it can also cause chest pain. Other signs of breast cancer include patches of red, scaly, or dimpled skin or changes to the nipple such as turning inward or leaking fluid. Bring any lump, swelling, or skin or nipple problem, or any chest pain, to your doctor’s attention.
24. A sore or skin lump that doesn’t heal, becomes crusty, or bleeds easily: Most of us know to watch moles for changes that might indicate skin cancer. But other signs, such as small waxy lumps or dry scaly patches, are easier to miss. Familiarize yourself with the different types of skin cancer—melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma—and be vigilant about checking skin all over the body for odd-looking growths or spots.
25. Changes in nails: Unexplained changes to the fingernails can be a sign of several types of cancer. A brown or black streak or dot under the nail can indicate skin cancer, while newly discovered “clubbing,” which means enlargement of the ends of the fingers, with nails that curve down over the tips, can be a sign of lung cancer. Pale or white nails can be an indication that your liver is not functioning properly, sometimes a sign of liver cancer.
Colon Cancer Symptoms in Men
Colon cancer is a highly treatable form of cancer if detected early, but it can be deadly if gone unnoticed. It is important for men to get screened for colon cancer at age 50 and then once every 10 years after if they are at normal risk for the disease. Men who are at high risk because of genetic factors or family history should speak to a doctor about earlier and more regular colonoscopies.
Fatigue
A man with colon cancer may experience persistent fatigue that cannot be explained by activity or stress level.
Bowel Abnormalities
He may experience bowel abnormalities such as constipation, diarrhea, unusually narrow bowl movements or a sense that his bowel is not being cleared out.
Blood
He may see either very dark or bright red blood in his bowel movements.
Weight Loss
He may experience unexplained weight-loss.
Abdominal Pain
He may experience abdominal discomfort associated with gas, cramping or a feeling of being overly full.
Vomiting
He may experience vomiting unassociated with a virus or eating habits.
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Medical Topics
What causes coccydynia?
Most often, the cause of coccydynia is unknown (“idiopathic”). Other causes include trauma (for example, from falls and childbirth); abnormal, excessive mobility of the tailbone; and – very rarely – infection, tumor, or fracture.
What are the symptoms of coccydynia?
The classic symptom is pain when pressure is applied to the tailbone, such as when sitting on a hard chair. Symptoms usually improve with relief of pressure when standing or walking.
Other symptoms include:
* Immediate and severe pain when moving from sitting to standing
* Pain during bowel movements
* Pain during sex
* Deep ache in the region of the tailbone
How is coccydynia diagnosed?
A thorough medical history and physical exam are essential. It is important to note any particular injury, whether recent or in the remote past. A history of prolonged labor or childbirth injury should be noted. A thorough inspection/palpation of this area is needed to detect any abnormal masses or abscesses (infections).
A lateral X-ray of the coccyx is taken to help detect any significant coccygeal pathology, such as a fracture.
Your health care provider might order more sophisticated tests such as CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a bone scan of this area if this is clinically indicated.
How is coccydynia treated?
Treatment most often is conservative and consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as ibuprofen and naproxen — to reduce inflammation, and the use of a therapeutic sitting cushion to take the pressure off of the tailbone when sitting. It might take many weeks or months of conservative treatment before significant pain relief is felt.
Cleveland Clinic’s Spine Institute might refer you to a biomedical engineer for measurement and construction of a customized seating cushion. This specially designed seating cushion provides an “open area” in the seating surface that shifts the weight off of the tailbone to promote healing.
Your health care provider might consider physical therapy to treat coccydynia. This might include exercise to stretch the ligaments — the tissue that connects bone to bone in a joint — and strengthen the supporting muscles. Modalities such as heat, massage, and ultrasound might also be used.
Coccygeal manipulation is used to move the coccyx back into its proper position and alleviate pain.
Coccygectomy or surgery to remove the coccyx is only considered in rare instances, and only in very severe cases, when extensive conservative management does not control the pain of coccydynia. The main risks associated with surgery are infection and wound healing problems. There is a significant risk that the surgery will not result in pain relief.
How does coccygodynia or tailbone pain develop?
Coccygodynia can be caused by a number of factors. Usually, patients report pain after a fall onto their buttocks. This is referred to as acute coccygodynia. Chronic coccygodynia, on the other hand, usually occurs after damage to the sacrococcygeal ligaments due to a difficult pregnancy, delivery, repeated trauma, or from repetitive strain from rowing, cycling or faulty posture while sitting. Some also cite anal intercourse as the cause of pain.
In many cases, pain derives from a malformation of the coccyx itself. Sometimes bony spurs appear on the coccyx, but only seem to be painful in thin patients who do not have the padding to protect the region from the spur. Other causes of coccygodynia include cancer or damage to the sacrum that generates referred pain, meaning pain that appears in one region but originates from another. Muscle strain or tension, pinched nerves or damaged nerves, or dislocation of the coccyx due to gross obesity are additional causes.
What are the symptoms of coccygodynia or tailbone pain?
The most common symptom of coccygodynia is pain when sitting, or when rising from a seated position. It is often experienced as a burning pain in the rectal area. If the condition lasts long enough, the patient may even experience pain when standing or lying down. Numbness occasionally occurs in the lower part of the spine.
Some patients may experience pain during bowel movements, sexual intercourse or menstruation. Secondary symptoms include back pain from sitting in odd positions in order to relieve pain, and painful feet from standing too much, because patients avoid sitting. Sometimes the entire buttocks experience pain. In rare cases, exhaustion, depression and lack of sleep can also result.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of coccygodynia, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with coccygodynia may be alleviated permanently.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat tailbone pain.
Cervical Cancer and Tailbone Pain
Cervical Cancer and Tailbone Painthumbnail Pain medication can help ease tailbone pain due to cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is often slow growing. During early stages you may not have any symptoms. Pain in your pelvis is sometimes the first sign patients have before being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Features
Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix. The cervix connects your uterus to your vagina. Most cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or HPV.
Symptoms
Symptoms include irregular vaginal bleeding, abnormal discharge or pain. The pain associated with cervical cancer can be caused by infections. Tailbone pain can be from cancer growths in the bones or in the organs surrounding the tailbone.
Time Frame
See your doctor if your tailbone pain lasts more than a few days. Tailbone pain due to cervical cancer usually does not go away. Cancer-related pain may not get better with over-the-counter pain medications.
Treatment
Cervical cancer is treated with a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Once the infected organs are removed your pain should get better. Pain medication can be prescribed to help ease the discomfort. If your pain is caused by growths on your tailbone surgery may not be an option.
Prevention
The best away to prevent tailbone pain due to cervical cancer is to catch the cancer early, which makes treatments more effective. Treat all pelvic infections as soon as possible and get yearly cervical cancer screenings and Pap smears. Talk to your doctor about the cervical cancer vaccine. ResourceS:-
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Cancer Diseas
Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread).
Cancer is not one disease. It is a group of more than 100 different and distinctive diseases.
Cancer can involve any tissue of the body and have many different forms in each body area. Most cancers are named for the type of cell or organ in which they start. If a cancer spreads (metastasizes), the new tumor bears the same name as the original (primary) tumor.
The frequency of a particular cancer may depend on gender. While skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy for both men and women, the second most common type in men is prostate cancer and in women, breast cancer.
Cancer frequency does not equate to cancer mortality. Skin cancers are often curable. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women in the United States today.
Benign tumors are NOT cancer; malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer is NOT contagious.
Cancer is the Latin word for crab. The ancients used the word to mean a malignancy, doubtless because of the crab-like tenacity a malignant tumor sometimes seems to show in grasping the tissues it invades. Cancer may also be called malignancy, a malignant tumor, or a neoplasm (literally, a new growth).
WHO Definition of Palliative Care
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative care:
* provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
* affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
* intends neither to hasten or postpone death;
* integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care;
* offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
* offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement;
* uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling, if indicated;
* will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness;
* is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.
WHO Definition of Palliative Care for Children
Palliative care for children represents a special, albeit closely related field to adult palliative care. WHO’s definition of palliative care appropriate for children and their families is as follows; the principles apply to other paediatric chronic disorders (WHO; 1998a):
* Palliative care for children is the active total care of the child’s body, mind and spirit, and also involves giving support to the family.
* It begins when illness is diagnosed, and continues regardless of whether or not a child receives treatment directed at the disease.
* Health providers must evaluate and alleviate a child’s physical, psychological, and social distress.
* Effective palliative care requires a broad multidisciplinary approach that includes the family and makes use of available community resources; it can be successfully implemented even if resources are limited.
* It can be provided in tertiary care facilities, in community health centres and even in children’s homes.
50 per cent of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.
Bladder cancer is the result of cell changes in the mucous (inside) wall of the bladder. It is caused by changes in the cells’ chromosomes or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
This form of cancer develops most often in people between the ages of 60 and 79, with the average age being 67. The disease is three times more common in men than in women. It is one of the most common forms of cancer to strike men.
How does bladder cancer develop?
In most cases, bladder cancer is caused by external factors. Cigarette smoking (because of harmful chemicals within the cigarette) and exposure to some carcinogenic (cancer causing) agents such as aromatic compounds and chemicals used in industry and elsewhere can lead to bladder cancer.
Approximately 50 per cent of all cases are caused by tobacco smoking and 10 per cent by job-related factors.
Stopping smoking, even after many years, can be beneficial, as ex-smokers have a lower rate of bladder cancer than those who continue to smoke.
In the tropics, bladder cancer is often brought about by the widespread disease bilharziasis (river blindness), which is caused by a tiny micro-organism that invades the bladder.
What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Generally the first sign is blood in the urine. It may be visible or the amount may be so small that it can only be discovered by chemical testing (’stix’ test).
There does not need to be blood in the urine constantly. In fact, there are often periods in which there is no evidence of blood at all. So one should not be fooled by a symptom that seems to have gone away.
There may be frequent urination, stinging and pain across the pubic bone or exactly the same symptoms as in an ordinary bladder infection.
How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
If blood is discovered in the urine or there are constant symptoms of bladder irritation of unknown cause, the patient should be examined by a doctor. In order to reach a diagnosis the GP will refer the patient urgently to the local hospital urology department for a series of special examinations.
If a tumour is suspected, a procedure called a cystoscopy, is necessary, in which a doctor looks up into the bladder via the urethra using an instrument called a cystoscope.
In addition, ultrasound scans or X-rays of the whole urinary tract are taken – an intravenous urogram.
The urine may also be examined under a microscope for malignant cells.
When the diagnosis has been made and the extent of the cancer is known, the type of treatment will be considered.
How is bladder cancer treated?
Treatment will differ according to the spread of the cancer. There are two main groups.
Superficial cancer (non-invasive).
This means there is no evidence that the tumour has spread into the muscle coat of the bladder. The majority fall into this category and can usually be cured.
Treatment is usually by cautery (burning of abnormal tissue) through a cytoscope or scraping the tissue away with a specially adapted telescopic instrument. There may be only one, or possibly several, tumours on the bladder.
It is known that they can recur and the doctor will advise the patient to have regular checkup examinations by cytoscopy.
Anti-cancer drugs such as mitomycin C, or BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) are often used by installation into the bladder if it is confirmed that there is an increased risk of new cancers. If neglected, superficial cancer can progress to deep or invasive cancer.
Deep cancer (muscle invasive)
The cancer has grown deeper to involve the muscle lining of the bladder. This is more serious as there is a greater risk that the cancer may spread to the lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver or bone. Further tests like a CT scan or MRI scans will help to confirm that the cancer is confined to the bladder.
Treatment is usually a choice between radiation treatment or the total surgical removal of the bladder.
If the bladder has to be surgically removed, urine from the kidneys is diverted to the skin surface just below the waist line using a small portion of the small bowel (known an ileal loop diversion).
In this procedure, the tubes from the kidneys are joined to one end of a 12cm length of small bowel and the other end is brought out through the abdominal wall and onto the skin to form a stoma. A special adhesive bag is placed over the stoma to collect the urine. There is a tap on the bag to drain off the urine when necessary.
In certain circumstances, a more sophisticated form of diversion can be constructed. Bowel can be made into a pouch with a tunnel to the skin surface through which the patient passes a small tube to drain the urine.
Occasionally, a functioning bladder can be constructed from segments of bowel to form a continent bladder substitute, known as an orthotopic bladder substitute.
If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, treatment with medicines (chemotherapy) may be offered.
Bladder cancer is a disease that affects the bladder, the organ responsible for acting as a collection reservoir for urine until it is excreted from the body. Like all other organs in the body, the bladder is vulnerable to disease, such as cancer. There are symptoms of bladder cancer that are common with the disease, but not exclusive to it. Symptoms can also be similar to much less serious conditions, so it is important to see your doctor if you experience them.
Bladder Cancer Symptoms
Bladder cancer symptoms are few, yet very noticeable. They can come and go or be persistent. Symptoms include:
* Blood in the Urine (hematuria): When you can physically see blood in your urine, it is call gross hematuria. Blood can appear in the urine as a pink, brown or red hue. Blood clots can also be present. Many times, blood in the urine is not visible to the naked eye — a microscopic analysis of the blood can reveal hematuria when it cannot physically be seen.
* Painful Urination: Pain during urination is called dysuria. Pain can range from mild to severe.
* Frequent Urination: Having to urinate often and during the night is also a symptom of bladder cancer. People with bladder cancer may also have an intense physical sensation of needing to empty the bladder, despite just having urinating or not expelling urine when trying.
What to Expect When You Go to the Doctor
If a doctor suspects that something may be wrong with your bladder, one of the first tests done will be a urine culture and urinalysis. Your doctor will want to see if an infection is the underlying cause of symptoms.
A urine culture looks for the presence of bacteria in the urine, while urinalysis checks for the presence of blood. Both a urinalysis and culture require you to provide a sample of urine, either by urinating in a cup or by catheter. Note: If you are being treated for a urinary tract infection or cystitis and are not feeling better after taking all of your medication, it is important that you let your doctor know.
Your doctor may also want to check your urine for the presence of tumor markers, which are proteins that are increased in the urine of people with bladder cancer.
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Medical Topics
Can graviola cure cancer?
Graviola is a substance that comes from a tree in the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. Its scientific name is Annona muricata. It is also known as cherimoya, guanabana, soursop, custard apple, and brazilian paw paw. In many countries, people use the bark, leaves, root, and fruits of this tree for traditional remedies. The active ingredient is thought to be a type of plant compound (phytochemical) called annonaceous acetogenins.
People in African and South American countries have used graviola to treat infections with viruses or parasites, rheumatism, arthritis, depression, and sickness. We know from research that some graviola extracts can help to treat these conditions.
In laboratory studies, graviola extracts can kill some types of liver and breast cancer cells that are resistant to particular chemotherapy drugs. But there haven’t been any large scale studies in humans. So we don’t know yet whether it can work as a cancer treatment or not. Overall, there is no evidence to show that graviola works as a cure for cancer. Many sites on the internet advertise and promote graviola capsules as a cancer cure, but none of them are supported by any reputable scientific cancer organisations.
We know very little about how graviola affects the body. But we do know it can cause nerve changes, causing symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. So it may have harmful side effects for some people. Always talk to your doctor before taking any kind of complementary or alternative therapy.
Graviola costs more than £5 for 100 capsules. The manufacturers advise taking 2 capsules, 3 to 4 times a day. So 100 capsules could last less than 2 weeks.
(NaturalNews) Graviola, or Annona muricata, is a tropical fruit that has been found to have amazing healing properties. Also called soursop guanababa, or pawpaw, the Graviola fruit, leaves, bark and roots have been used as sedatives in folk medicine. Native South American healers used the tree to heal liver, asthma, heart problems as well as arthritis. Research on Graviola has shown good results in test tube studies, but there have been no clinical trials on animals or humans, even though the plant shows remarkable healing potential. The plant grows in South and Central America and has been cultivated for its healing properties for over three thousand years.
The first modern-day research on Graviola was conducted in 1976 by the National Cancer Institute, though the plant has been under investigation since the 1940s. Their findings reported that the leaves of the Graviola plant were effective in destroying malignant cancer cells. Tests at Perdue University on cancer cells of prostate, pancreas and lungs have all shown results. Twenty further studies investigated the chemical effects of the Graviola in laboratory tests, but tests on animals or humans are needed to confirm the results. A Korean study found that Graviola killed colon cancer cells better than a chemotherapy drug called Adriamycin. Graviola results were ten thousand times stronger than the chemotherapy. And, unlike chemotherapy drugs, Graviola did not damage any cells except the carcinogenic cells. This means that there would likely be no hair loss or nausea as side effects from using Graviola as a treatment for cancers.
In the traditional folk medicine of Graviola seeds are used to help eliminate parasites. In Guyana, the leaves are used as both a sedative and a heart tonic. Brazilians drink Graviola tea for relief of liver problems, and apply the oil from the seeds to relieve arthritis and rheumatism. In Jamaica and the West Indies, the fruit is eaten to reduce fevers and to treat diarrhea.
The active ingredients in Graviola are called Annonaceous acetogenins. These substances have shown strong anti-tumor effects in test tubes, and what is more promising is that small doses seem to have great effect. Research using one part per million has shown results.
There are over two thousand varieties of plants in the Annonaceae species worldwide, many of which may provide additional sources of useful medicines for mankind. It is hoped that further research will enable this plant, used for millennium in folk medicine, to find its rightful place in modern science and global healing.
Graviola
Today, the future of cancer treatment and the chances of survival look more promising than ever. There’s a healing tree that grows deep within the Amazon rain forest in South America that could literally change how you, your doctor, and possibly the rest of the world think about curing cancer. With extracts from this powerful tree, it may now be possible to…
* conquer cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that doesn’t cause extreme nausea, weight loss, and hair loss
* protect your immune system and evade deadly infections
* feel strong and healthy throughout the course of treatment
* boost your energy and improve your outlook on life
Through a series of confidential communications involving a researcher from one of America’s largest pharmaceutical companies, this ancient tree’s anticancerous properties have recently come to light. Although not yet tested in human trials, the tree has been studied in more than 20 laboratory tests since the 1970s, where it’s been shown to:
* effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 different types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung, and pancreatic cancer
* be 10,000 times stronger in killing colon cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug
* selectively hunt down and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells, unlike chemotherapy.
So why isn’t every health publication extolling the benefits of this treatment? Why hasn’t it been made widely available throughout the natural-medicine community? And, if it’s only half as promising as it appears to be, why isn’t every oncologist at every major hospital insisting on using it on all his patients? Especially when you consider that since the early 1990s, extensive independent research–including research by one of today’s leading drug companies and by the National Cancer Institute–confirms that the tree’s chemical extracts attack and destroy cancer cells with lethal precision.
Graviola is 10,000 times stronger in killing colon cancer
than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug.
The answer to these difficult questions can only be explained by recounting a disturbing story we recently uncovered. More than anything else we’ve reported on this year, the story of this Amazon cancer treatment reinforces the need for groups like HSI and illustrates how easily our options for medical treatment are controlled by money and power.News of this amazing tree was nearly lost forever
A confidential source, whose account we’ve been able to independently confirm, revealed that a billion-dollar drug company in the United States tried for nearly seven years to synthesize two of the tree’s most powerful anticancerous chemicals. In the early 1990s, behind lock and key, this well-known drug giant began searching for a cure for cancer–while preciously guarding their opportunity to patent it and, therefore, profit from it. Research focused on a legendary healing tree called Graviola. Parts of the tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit, and fruit seeds–had been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems, and arthritis. Going on little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing Graviola’s anticancerous properties–and they were shocked by the results. Graviola was a cancer-killing dynamo. But that’s where the story of Graviola nearly ended.
The pharmaceutical company had a big problem. They’d spent years trying to isolate and create man-made duplicates of two of the tree’s most powerful chemicals. But they’d hit a brick wall.
They couldn’t replicate the original. And they couldn’t sell the tree extract itself profitably-because federal law mandates that natural substances can’t be patented. That meant the company couldn’t protect its profits on the project it had poured millions of dollars and nearly seven years of research into.
As the dream of big profits evaporated, testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt After seven frustrating years and without the promise of lucrative sales, the company shelved the project and refused to publish its findings in an independent journal. But one responsible researcher struggled with the decision. While understanding the company’s goal of profits, he couldn’t accept the decision to hide this unique cancer killer from the world. Following his conscience and risking his career, he contacted Raintree Nutrition, a company dedicated to harvesting plants from the Amazon.
As a result, Raintree went into high gear and began to research related studies published on Graviola. They discovered that several other teams in the United States (in addition to that of the drug company) had been testing Graviola in vitro (in test tubes). The results supported the drug company’s secret findings; Graviola had been shown to kill cancer cells.
Encouraged by these early laboratory tests, Raintree hired indigenous Indian tribes in Brazil to grow and harvest the tree. They spent a year on research and development and then began offering Graviola in the United States. They also developed a new supplement called N-Tense, which contains 50 percent Graviola as well as smaller amounts of seven other cancer-killing botanical extracts. (See page 4 for more information on N-Tense.)
Health Sciences Institute came across Graviola and Raintree Nutrition a few months ago while researching Chanca Piedra, a natural kidney-stone therapy from the Amazon, that was featured in our September 2000 issue. In the course of our working together, Raintree pointed us toward Graviola. And needless to say, our panel of experts were intrigued by the possibility of this powerful natural cure for cancer.
Graviola hunts down and destroys prostate, lung, breast,colon, and pancreatic cancers… leaving healthy cells alone Since November, we’ve been looking closely into the research to date on Graviola. It appears one of the first scientific references to it in the United States was by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
In 1976, the NCI included Graviola in a plant-screening program that showed its leaves and stems were effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells. But the results were part of an internal NCI report and were, for some reason, never released to the public.1
Since 1976, there have been several promising cancer studies on Graviola. However, the tree’s extracts have yet to be tested on cancer patients. No double-blind clinical trials exist, and clinical trials are typically the benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment’s value. Nevertheless, Graviola has been shown to kill cancer cells in vitro in at least 20 laboratory tests that our research has uncovered.
The most recent study, conducted at Catholic University of South Korea earlier this year, revealed that two chemicals extracted from Graviola seeds showed “selective cytotoxicity comparable with Adriamycin” for breast and colon cancer cells. The chemicals targeted and killed malignant breast and colon cells in a test tube–comparable to the commonly used chemotherapy drug Adriamycin.2
Another study, published in the Journal of Natural Products, showed that Graviola is not only comparable to Adriamycin–but dramatically outperforms it in laboratory tests. Results showed that one chemical found in Graviola selectively killed colon cancer cells at “10,000 times the potency of Adriamycin.
Graviola selectively targets cancer cells leaving healthy cells untouched. Chemotherapy indiscriminately seeks and destroys all actively reproducing cells – even normal, healthy ones.
Other promising and ongoing research at Purdue University is supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute. Purdue researchers recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells “among six human-cell lines” and were especially effective against prostate and pancreatic cancer cells.4 In a separate study, Purdue researchers showed that extracts from the Graviola leaves are extremely effective in isolating and killing lung cancer cells.
Perhaps the most significant result of the study cited above from the Catholic University of South Korea, and of each of the others we’ve found, is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the enemy–leaving all healthy, normal cells untouched. By comparison, chemotherapy indiscriminately seeks and destroys all actively reproducing cells–even normal hair and stomach cells. This is what causes such often-devastating side effects as hair loss and severe nausea. In this respect, Graviola looks to be a promising alternative or supplement to mainstream treatments.
Patient reports show Graviola and N-Tense help eliminate tumors From a clinical standpoint, Graviola still has a long way to go. Its properties have only been studied in a test tube. That’s why it has yet to become widely known and accepted. The unfortunate truth is that without the promise of huge revenues from a synthesized, patented drug, it’s unlikely that any pharmaceutical company will invest the hundreds of thousands (even millions) of dollars it would take to conduct the double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on humans. This is the underlying challenge to substantiating most nutritional therapies. Fortunately, Graviola is a natural substance, so we don’t have to wait around for the drug companies. And, thanks to one researcher with a conscience, Raintree Nutrition bravely took the initiative in making this promising cure available.
Only a relative handful of doctors and patients in the United States have been using Graviola and the Graviola-rich botanical supplement N-Tense to fight cancer. Still, according to Raintree Nutrition, the combined therapy has produced some incredible results.
One such case history involved an executive at a high-tech company in Texas. Daryl S. came across Raintree when exploring alternative treatments to cure his prostate cancer. A sonogram and biopsy confirmed that Daryl had more than 20 tumors in his prostate. One doctor recommended surgery. But Daryl thought a cure using this common conventional treatment would come at too great a cost. He didn’t want to suffer from impotence and incontinence for the rest of his life. Instead, he agreed to a far less invasive round of hormonal therapy (to shrink the size of his prostate) and began a rigorous supplement regimen that centered around the Graviola-rich supplement N-Tense.
Within two months, Daryl’s PSA level had dropped from 4.1 to 0.00. A sonogram and several other gamma-ray tests later confirmed that all the malignant tumors inside his prostate had disappeared.Seven years of silence broken We are continuing to work with Raintree and others conducting ongoing research on Graviola. As more scientific and anecdotal evidence comes to light, you’ll be among the first to hear about it. However, after seven years of silence and hidden research, we felt it irresponsible not to bring this to you now.Grown and harvested by indigenous people in Brazil, Graviola is available in limited supply in the United States and distributed only through Raintree Nutrition. But now, you can be among a select few in the entire country to benefit from Graviola. We encourage you, as always, to consult with your doctor before beginning any new therapy, especially when treating cancer.You can make tea out of the Graviola leaves, obtain the herb alone in capsule form, or benefit from the power of Graviola combined with seven other immune-boosting herbs in Raintree Nutrition’s N-Tense capsules.
Graviola fights more than cancer…
While the research on Graviola has focused on its cancer-fighting effect, the plant has been used for centuries by medicine men in South America to treat an astonishing number of ailments, including:
Despite the mounting collection of laboratory tests and anecdotal reports about this cancer-fighting dynamo, Graviola may always remain an underground therapy!
Graviola has yet to be clinically tested on animals or humans. And because Graviola is a natural product, it can’t be patented. Without the promise of exclusive sales and high profitability, it will likely never again draw the attention of a major drug company or research lab. So we may never see a double-blind clinical study on the tree that’s reported to help defeat cancer. But there’s no doubt about it–the early laboratory tests and anecdotal reports about Graviola are very exciting. And if you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you and your doctor should look at all the available treatment options. Graviola may just provide the help you’ve been looking for that could make all the difference in beating cancer..
Posted by admin on Sunday Jul 3, 2011 Under Cancer Diseas
What are the types of breast pain?
Breast pain (mastalgia) is usually classed as either:
Cyclical breast pain – where the pain is related to periods. Typically, it occurs in the second half of the monthly cycle, getting worse in the days just before a period; OR Noncyclical breast pain – where the pain is not related to periods.
Up to 7 in 10 women develop breast pain at some stage in their life. About 2 in 3 cases are cyclical breast pain, and about 1 in 3 are noncyclical. If you are not sure which type of breast pain you have, it may be worth keeping a pain diary for 2-3 months. Record the days when you have breast pain, and highlight the days when the pain is severe enough to affect your lifestyle. See what pattern emerges.
Can cancer pain be controlled?
Cancer pain can be controlled in almost every case. This does not mean that you have no pain, but that it stays at a level that you can bear.
Cancer and its treatments can be painful. A tumor that presses on bones, nerves, or organs can cause pain. Surgery for cancer can cause pain. So can chemotherapy and radiation. Some medical tests, such as bone marrow aspiration, can also cause pain. There are a number of ways to control each of these kinds of pain.
You are the only person who can say how much pain you have or if a certain pain medicine is working for you. Telling your doctor exactly how you feel is one of the most important parts of controlling pain.
Cyclical breast pain:
Cyclical breast pain is very common. It can first occur at any age after periods start, but most commonly first develops between the ages of 30 and 50 years. It does not occur in women past the menopause when the periods have stopped.
What are the symptoms of cyclical breast pain?
In many women the symptoms are mild. Indeed, it can be considered normal to have some breast discomfort for a few days before a period. However, in around one in ten women the pain can be severe and/or last longer – up to 1-2 weeks before a period. The 3-5 days prior to a period are usually the worst. The pain usually eases soon after a period starts. The severity usually varies from month to month. Typically, the pain affects both breasts. It is usually worst in the upper and outer part of the breast, and may travel to the inner part of the upper arm.
Your breasts may also feel more swollen and lumpy than usual. This lumpiness is generalised so does not lead to a single definite lump forming. This swelling and lumpiness then improve soon after your period starts.
Quality of life for some women can be significantly affected. Physical activity such as jogging can make the pain worse. Such things as hugging children and sexual activity can be painful.
What causes cyclical breast pain?
It is thought that women with cyclical breast pain have breast tissue which is more sensitive than usual to the normal hormonal changes that occur each month. It is not due to any hormone disease or to any problem in the breast itself. It is not related to any other breast conditions. Although it is not serious, it can be a nuisance.
What are the treatment options for cyclical breast pain?
No treatment may be needed if the symptoms are mild. Many women are reassured by knowing that cyclical breast pain is not a symptom of cancer or serious breast disease. The problem may settle by itself within 3-6 months. Studies have shown that cyclical breast pain goes away within three months of onset in about 3 in 10 cases. However, in up to 6 in 10 women where the pain has gone, it develops again sometime within two years. So, in other words, cyclical breast pain may come and go over the years.
If the pain is more severe, or for the times when it may flare up worse than usual, treatment options include the following:
Support your breasts. Wear a well supporting bra when you have pain. It may be worthwhile having a bra fitted for you as many women actually wear the wrong size of bra. Some women find that wearing a supporting bra 24 hours a day for the week before a period is helpful. It is best to avoid underwired bras. Wear a sports bra when you exercise.
Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Take regularly on the days when the breasts are painful.
Topical (rub-on) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For example, topical diclofenac or topical ibuprofen. You can buy various topical NSAIDs or get them on prescription. Topical NSAIDs have been shown to help relieve the pain of cyclical breast pain.
Consider your medication. The contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may make cyclical breast pain worse. Other drugs may also worsen cyclical breast pain. For example, some antidepressants and some blood pressure drugs. If appropriate, it may be worth stopping or changing your medication to see if this helps. Discuss this with your doctor.
Drugs to block hormones. Drugs such as danazol, bromocriptine, tamoxifen and goserelin injections can ease pain in most cases. These drugs work by reducing the level, or blocking the effect of, female hormones such as oestrogen. You need to take them regularly (not just when the pain occurs). However, significant side-effects are common with these drugs. So, they are not usually tried unless you have severe pain which occurs during most months and does not ease with other treatments.
Evening primrose oil. This used to be a very popular treatment. Some research studies suggest that this has little effect. However, some women still seem to find benefit from it. You can no longer get this on prescription. There are many different preparations of evening primrose oil containing varying amounts of the active ingredient gamolenic acid. The dose is usually 120 -160 mg of gamolenic acid twice daily. Evening primrose oil is unlikely to give instant relief and it needs to be taken for up to four months before you can decide if it is helpful or not. If it has not helped by the time four months is reached then it is not going to be effective.
