Cancer In The Environment

Almost all of us know someone who has cancer, or who has died from it. We all know the anguish, suffering and grief that it causes. It has become so common that we treat it as if it’s a part of life that we just can’t avoid.

People are being diagnosed with cancer at unprecedented rates. Melanomas, breast and prostate cancers, colon cancer, testicular cancer and multiple myeloma are all increasing. During the 25 years from 1976 to 2001, the age-adjusted incidence of cancer among males increased by 27.7%, and the female rate increased by 17.8%. (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2006)

After examining 10 million people over a 70-year period, a recent Swedish study found that 90% of cancers were caused by the environment, where "environment" means everything outside our bodies that can make its way in, including tobacco smoke, toxic chemicals, alcohol, radiation from nuclear power plants, and the sun, processed foods high in sugars, fats and additives, some pharmaceutical drugs, medical x-rays, and more.

These are avoidable toxins, which should not be getting into our bodies. With changed policies, and industrial/agricultural practices that focus on prevention and precaution, and healthier diets and other personal habits, we can prevent this epidemic.

Toxic Nation

In 2005, Environmental Defence Canada released a report called Toxic Nation, which summarized the results of 'body burden' tests on 11 Canadians from coast to coast, including renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman. Each had blood and urine tested for 88 toxic chemicals, many of them carcinogens. Sixty chemicals showed up in the combined results, including 41 known or suspected cancer-causing substances such as benzene, PVC, formaldehyde and some pesticides.

No one deliberately chooses to be exposed to man-made carcinogens, except perhaps for smokers. The chemicals that end up in our bodies are a by-product of many industrial processes, released from facilities such as pulp & paper and chemical plants into the surrounding air, water and soil. Agricultural chemicals and emissions from nuclear facilities also contribute to our toxic load.

People are also exposed to toxic chemicals everyday through commonly used products in the home, such as perfumes, shampoos, air fresheners, cleaning products, furniture and appliances, frying pans and food and beverage containers.

Even our food can contain chemicals that are harmful to human health, through pesticide sprays on fruits and vegetables, or by being grown and processed in ways that prevent key cancer-fighting compounds from being created.

Astonishingly, you can read entire tracts about cancer published by the American Cancer Society and the word carcinogen never comes up. These seemingly authoritative agencies have framed the cause of the disease as a problem of behavior rather than as one of exposure to disease-causing agents.

- Dr. Sandra Steingraber says: Chemicals have replaced bacteria and viruses as the main threat to health. The diseases we are beginning to see as the major causes of death in the latter part of (the 1900's) and into the 21st century are diseases of chemical origin.

Yes, the environment is the leading cause of cancer. Research in genetic and hereditary diseases is starting to demonstrate that cancer is often promoted by the environment rather than by genetic predisposition. Yet, we have the power to influence our environment. We can choose the chemicals that enter our houses or the quality of the food we breathe, the amount of exercise we practice, and even the quality of our sleep, which is essential for cell regeneration. A factor rarely discussed is also the quality of our thoughts and our general ‘happiness’. Our immune system ‘listens’ to our general well-being and fights depression. Negative thoughts have been demonstrated to lower the immune system’s ability to fight disease and rid itself of the ever-present bacteria and cancer cells. In this view, it becomes important to monitor our thoughts, to find activities that promote well-being, such as meditation and relaxation. In this way, our toxic environment will not find a hold inside the body to develop cancer while the immune system is strengthened by a positive outlook on life. Think about it.

Dr Magne specializes in spontaneous healing of cancer. With 25 years of research, she compiled all her discoveries on the causes and origins and diseases and presented them in her book Cancer Free For Life to help you speed your healing of cancer. Visit www.Cancer-Free-For-Life.com today for a FREE report on the 10 Ways to Stop Cancer.

Dr Laurence Magne Publisher, Author Cancer Free For Life Email : lmagne@yahoo.com Website : http://cancer-free-for-life.com

Your Cancer Resource

It seems the news has become virtually unwatchable and the print media, too painful to read. With death, sickness and disease plastered across most nightly news programs, it may be unavoidable. One of the worst of the worst is a horrible disease that we call cancer. Our collective knowledge of this disease is scarce to say the least. This is why it's important to acquire cancer facts from a reliable cancer resource. In the best resource you have right now is at your fingertips, your computer.

Have you ever has it that need for a solid and cancer resource? There is a plethora of valuable information that is available to us. The most important resource is also the most convenient as a cancer resource. I'm talking about the Internet. Cancer is so prevalent that I believe we should all take the time to learn a little, and by doing so we may educate ourselves and how to avoid getting cancer.

Are you aware that cancer is a genetic condition in many cases? It's true; while most individuals people don't realize this, they nevertheless are susceptible to cancer like the rest of us. But just because there are cancer genes with MS doesn't mean we have to succumb to them. To start, our diets play a big role in our health.

That's why it is so important that we take care of ourselves by heating right and exercising. When you subject yourself to poor eating habits and gaining extra pounds, you in turn better your chances of acquiring some kind of illness. We must play an active role in protecting our bodies from those agents that may do us harm.

Are you watching your diet? You can certainly turn to a credible cancer resource such as the Internet to learn more about eating right and avoiding processed foods. And of course it goes without saying that cancer can be avoided in many cases by simply not smoking. By now, virtually all of us should know and understand the negative effects of smoking and what it does to our lungs. Although I personally know someone that smokes who was in denial of this fact. If you are a heavy smoker, then you may want to get online and browse a few websites that deal with lung cancer.

In this day and age it's definitely not difficult to find a cancer resource. We would all be well served to become better educated in this area. There are numerous types of cancer that can affect different areas of the body. It may very well be impossible to completely prevent cancer, but at the same time there are plenty of things that we can do to protect ourselves from contracting it to begin with. Having a quality cancer resource at your disposal is an excellent first step in battling this hideous disease.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning cancer. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.themenshealthjournal.com/mens-health/mens-health/your-cancer-resource.html

How To Help During Cancer Treatment

Having a family member, friend or co-worker battle against cancer is one of the hardest and worst realities in life. No one likes to help someone deal with cancer, but at some point almost all of us will have the opportunity to walk beside someone we care about through one of the most difficult times of their life: cancer treatment.

I have had the privilege (and I do mean privilege) of helping out both of my parents and one of my closest friends during their weeks and months of cancer treatments. At first I was quite intimidated and unsure of how to help in such serious and life-threatening situations. I thought because I didn't know the perfect things to do that I couldn't do anything at all. Was I wrong.

Some of the best ways to help out a friend or loved one as their undergo cancer treatment is in the most practical ways. Don't look past how helpful cleaning their bathrooms, doing their dishes, or collecting their garbage can be. It is an amazing thing to get down and dirty on behalf of someone else. Look around and simply see what needs to be done. Mow their lawn, plant some fresh flowers, or get their car cleaned on the inside and out.

Taking care of the family of the one getting cancer treatment is one of the most helpful things you can do, especially when there are children involved. Offer to take the children to school and pick them up, or invite the kids over to your house for frequent sleepovers during the cancer treatment. It will be good for the parents and good for the kids to be separated during such a hard time. Involve the kids in doing something special for their parent who is in cancer treatment. Take the kids to a boutique that allows you to paint your own pottery, for example. Help the kids make something memorable for their loved one. You can do simple things for the family of someone who is in cancer treatment like go grocery shopping, prepare meals or take their family out to special meals.

Far too often people think that helping out during a time of crisis such as cancer treatment that they have to do extraordinary things. The truth is that it is the ordinary things that need to happen long before anything else will be helpful. There is no doubt that dealing with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment is extremely hard. But the support and help of friends and families can make even the worst things in life better.

Martin Stoleman has had practice helping out during cancer treatment, and he believes that doing the common things help the most. See more at www.finecancertreatment.info

What Is Lung Cancer And Who Can Get It?

Abnormal cell growth in either one or both of the lungs is the simple answer to the question, “What is lung cancer?” In healthy individuals, the cells within the lungs go about their business duplicating at a normal rate and turning into more and more lung tissues. The lungs continue to function properly and all is well.

But in damaged lungs, this rate of cell duplication becomes uncharacteristically fast yet new lung tissue fails to develop. These damaged (cancerous) cells begin to clump together and ultimately turn into cancerous tumors. Eventually, the tumors begin to interfere with the impacted lung’s ability to function normally and that is when the full impact of the disease known as lung cancer begins to be noticed.

Interestingly, although it usually takes many years for lung cancer to develop, the cells begin to take on abnormal characteristics almost immediately upon being exposed to cigarette smoke or the other environmental contaminants that can cause trouble in the lungs such as radon, asbestos, coal, air pollution, and even second-hand smoke.

Lung cancer can strike anyone regardless of gender, age or race. Even though it is more likely to strike those who are or who have been a smoker, lung cancer can develop in those who have never taken up this habit. Lung cancer in non-smokers is very rare, occurring in only about 10% of the cases, meaning that in almost 90% of the lung cancer cases, cigarette smoking is the instigator. Why is that so?

The primary purpose of the lungs is to breathe in air. The lungs remove the oxygen from this air and push it out into the blood where it can travel around the body as needed. Because the air we breathe is not always pure – it’s filled with dust, dirt, and other types of pollutants – the upper part of the lung system was designed to clean it before allowing it to enter deeper into the lungs. In the case of smokers, the carcinogens in cigarette smoke can break down the lung’s cleansing capabilities and as a result, dirty air and the contaminants within cigarette smoke continue to freely enter into the lungs. It is the absence of this cleansing capability that ultimately causes the cells inside the lungs to function abnormally.

Besides being the #1 cause of cancer death in the United States, lung cancer is unfortunately so far a disease that has no cure. In fact, by the time lung cancer is discovered, few people will survive the first year after diagnosis.

Small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer are the two types of lung cancer that can develop. Eighty percent of the lung cancer cases are the slower-moving non-small cell type. The problem with this type of lung cancer is that it often spreads to other parts of the body. Sophisticated lung scans are generally the way most tumors are detected, but unfortunately, such scans are not part of routine medical care. That’s probably why most lung cancer goes undiagnosed for so long.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for LifeLungCancer.com. To learn more about lung cancer treatments and what is lung cancer, visit our site.

What’s The Risk To Get Cancer?

In all the publication, The World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) summarise what we know about cancer from scientific research:

Cancer is largely preventable:

By stopping smoking, providing healthy food and avoiding the exposure to carcinogens.

The most frequent cancer types are curable by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The chance of cure increases substantially if cancer is detected early.

Quality of life of cancer patients and their families can be greatly improved by the provision of palliative care.

Recommendations from the World Health Organisation concerning cancer include action in the following areas:

· eliminating exposure to cancer causes
· reducing individual susceptibility to the effects of these causes
· serving the greatest public health potential
· identifying the most cost-effective long-term cancer control
· tobacco control
· obesity control
· control of composition of the diet
· control of consumption of alcoholic beverages

Cancer control is a public health approach aimed at reducing causes and consequences of cancer by translating our knowledge into practice.

The prevention programmes from the World Health Organization sees cancer-prevention as part of integrated, national strategies. They identify the risk for cancers above are common to all non communicable diseases including heart, diabetes and respiratory problems.

All Prevention programmes for all chronic diseases are able to use the same surveillance and health promotion techniques. According to WHO recognised causes of cancer include:

· occupational and environmental exposure to a number of chemicals
· links between a number of infections and certain types of cancer
· parasitic infection schistosomiasis
· exposure to some forms of ionizing radiation
· excessive ultraviolet radiation

W.H.O. treatment priorities to day

Very important: Early detection improves chances of survival, but WHO stress 'only when linked to effective treatment'. The WHO wants to increase our awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and help set up regular screening of apparently healthy individuals.

Very important: Accurate diagnosis of cancer is the first step to effective management. Care of cancer patients starts with recognition of some kind of abnormality in the body, followed by a visit to a health care facility for diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is confirmed then the disease is 'staged'. The patient might be referred to a specialist cancer treatment centre.

The Orthodox treatment for the cancer is likely to involve a mixture of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and surgery. The primary objectives of cancer treatment are: cure, the prolongation of life and improvement of the quality of life.

Survival rates - the statistic datas

The Survival rates in standard treatments vary according to the variety of cancer.

- uterin corpus,breast,testis and melanoma produce a 5-year survival rate of 75%
- pancreas, liver, stomach and lung are generally less than 15 %

Because of the nature of cancer, many patients present themselves with advanced disease. The only realistic treatment for these patients is pain relief and palliative care. For insurance purposes, cancer is often regarded as incurable.

Fritz Frei tell's in a simple way the base of the risk and the actuel problems in the obesity and the problem how to winning this race. All about it you get on the http://www.cancer-info.info

What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer.

Cancer is a disease in which certain body cells don’t function right, divide very fast and produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. A leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women is probably lung cancer. This is the number one cause of cancer deaths surpassing breast cancer as the leading cause of deaths in women. Cancers that begin in the lungs are divided into two major types, the non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer depending on how the cells look under a microscope.

Cigarette smoking is known to be a cause of lung cancer. The risk of developing the disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked particularly if the person starts to smoke at a young age. The person’s risk of developing lung cancer may be reduced slightly if you smoke filtered and low tar cigarettes, but it is still far greater than that of a non-smoker. Lung cancer has always been more common in men, particularly those over the age of 40, as more men used to smoke than women. Considerably, there are a growing number of women having lung cancer since women have started smoking. About 90% of all lung cancer deaths among women are from smoking. The risk of lung cancer goes down quite quickly if the person stops smoking and after about fifteen years, the person’s chances of developing the disease are similar to that of a non-smoker. Passive smoking or the breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke, slightly increases the risk for lung disease and lung cancer, although the risk is still much less that if you smoke yourself.

Usually, the symptoms of lung cancer do not appear until the disease is in an advanced stage. Some are diagnosed early because they are found as a result of tests for other medical conditions. Screening examinations are done to detect a disease in people without symptoms of the disease. And since lung cancer usually spreads beyond the lungs before causing any symptoms, an effective screening program to detect the cancer early could save many lives. So far there is not screening test that has been shown to prevent the ill person from dying of the cancer. It has been concluded that the tests could not find many lung cancers early enough to improve a person’s chances for a cure. Because of this, lung cancer screening is not a routine practice for the general public or even for people at increased risk like smokers.

Symptoms of lung cancer could be continuing cough or change in a long-standing cough; a chest infection that does not get better; increasing breathlessness; coughing up blood-stained phlegm; a dull ache or a sharp pain when coughing or taking a deep breath; and loss of appetite and loss of weight. If you think you are having any of these above stated symptoms, then it is important to have your condition checked by your doctor even if you know that any of these symptoms may be caused by illness other than cancer.

Treatment for lung cancer could be through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy which may be used separately or together depending on what your physician requires you to undergo with. Basically, the doctor will plan your treatment, taking into account your general health condition, the type of lung cancer you have and the size of the tumor as well as its stage. There are differences in the treatment for different people depending on their needs. You should not be afraid to ask your doctor and it often helps making a lot of queries about the disease and your condition from your doctor.

For more information about lung cancer please goto http://www.cancer-resource-center.com/

Can You Really Get Through Cancer?

Cancer is one of the worst things to hear from your doctor. Cancer, it sounds like a death sentence but it just doesn't have to be so. Consider these facts about cancer.

·There is no form of cancer that someone hasn't beaten and recovered from.

·Statistics tell us that more than 50% of all serious types of cancer can be cured.

The fact is that cancer is a unique and deadly condition that you can over come if in fact you understand the condition and use every resources that you have to fight it, you can overcome it.

Understanding The Disease

There are several things to consider about this disease. First, it is unlike any other condition because of the way that it mutates. It doesn't go from being one cell to being two, then three, and then four. Instead, it goes from being one cell to two cells, to four cells, to eight cells and so on. This is what allows it to grow so fiercely in the body. Because of this factor, promptly fighting it is a must.

Another thing to consider about cancer is how it can easily move through the body. Since it takes a billion cancer cells to be as large as a small pea, you can see just how easy it is for cancer to get into your blood stream and travel to virtually any area of your body. To complicate this even further, every type of cancer, from lung cancer to breast cancer and so on is a different condition. Each cancer is unique. Each needs their own treatment protocol then.

What It Takes To Overcome

Here are three things that are necessary when it comes to overcoming cancer. Believe it or not, you need to be in control of each of these phases as no one can fight it harder or better than you.

1.Prompt treatment. The smaller the amount of cancer cells in your body, the more likely you are to have a treatment that works successfully for you. Pre-screenings and testing is a must for everyone. There is no limited population that is immune to cancer.

2.Thorough treatment. In many cases, the type of treatment that you have will get rid of your condition in one case. If not, it may not be possible to continue with the same treatment. For example, if you have radiation, your body can only have a certain amount. If the cancer is not gone after that point, you can't have more. That's why it is important to have a thorough treatment and follow every single step in the process to a T.

3.Mentality. Probably the most important condition that is required when it comes to fighting cancer is having the right attitude about recovering. A positive attitude is a must and without it, you may just not survive.

Understanding cancer and giving your body what it needs to recover from it is a must. When you do this, you will improve your life and chances considerably.

Michael Lewis is part of the writing team at MightyLife.com where you can find more articles about surviving cancer.