Cancer Treatment Research

It’s a disease that is every woman’s nightmare, particularly because the risk of getting it is higher than with males. Breast cancer is one of the more widespread kinds of cancer, and affects more than 200,000 women in the US.

Breast cancer 101

Usual symptoms of breast cancer are fluid excretions other than milk coming out from the nipple, nipple tenderness or lumps forming in the breast or underarm, and changes in shape, size, and appearance of nipple or breast (this can include changes in texture, or if a nipple suddenly becomes indented). Watch out for these symptoms especially if you have any of the risk factors, such as previous chest radiation treatments, benign breast lumps or excessive alcohol use. Be especially wary if cancer runs in your family.

Be constantly vigilant by performing self-exams on your breasts, scheduling check-ups with your doctor, and having annual mammograms (for ages 40 and up). Breast cancer is basically undetectable in its initial stages, so it’s better to be prepared.

Recent developments for breast cancer detection and treatments

As scientists and doctors come to understand the disease more, more developments in detection and treatment are also being released. For treatment, there’s mastectomy and breast conservation therapy (BCT). Mastectomy involves removing the whole breast and nipple, while BCT removes only the tumor and a margin of the surrounding tissues. Usually, after BCT comes radiation therapy so that all remaining cancer cells will be eliminated.

For detection, scientists have developed the usual mammography to digital mammography, giving sharper images for a more accurate diagnosis. There’s also computer-aided detection, ultrasound imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging. One more advanced detection technology scientists are looking into is molecular-based detection, which can gauge a person’s risk of having breast cancer through genetic and biological markers.

Breast cancer may have no cure yet, but scientists are surely on their way on helping alleviate the pain the big C’s victims are facing.

Cancer is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, a cause of pain for those who’ve suffered it and grief for those who’ve lost a loved one because of it. Most of us, directly or otherwise, have been affected by cancer, but we still don’t fully understand this diseaase. Many myths still circulate—myths we should debunk for us to grasp what cancer’s really all about.

The truth behind some cancer myths

Antiperspirants/deodorants: E-mails have been circulating that chemicals from deodorants that get into nicks caused by shaving have a link to the cause of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration have conducted tests on this and found no significant link between the two.

Air pollution a greater risk than smoking: Although air pollution can affect your health, it’s regular smoking that brings a higher risk of getting lung cancer. Even second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer. Air pollution has more impact on heart disease, bronchitis, and asthma.

Cellphones and other electronic devices: Yes, using your mobile can lead to your death—if you’re driving, that is. Otherwise, studies have not found any significant link to electronic devices and the cause of cancer.

Learning more information about cancer

Those are just some of the myths for you to learn more about cancer. Your easiest source is the Internet. The National Cancer Institute has a website full of information on the big C. If you want more details, especially if you’re going through this ailment, find an oncologist you can trust and feel comfortable with. Have him or her explain what you’re going through and what your body is experiencing so you are fully aware. If cancer runs in your family, it’s better to be familiar with it so you’re prepared.

The big C need not be a mystery to you—just be aware of all those myths and rumors so you can separate fact from reality about this deadly disease.

Cancer has become prevalent and one of the most feared ailment of the 21st century. It seems that more and more people are being targeted by the disease, with no concern for the age or gender of the victims. Although there are many known cancer survivors today as a result of advanced technology, it cannot be helped that those who have cancer feel depression and resentment for what they are forced to go through.

How to support a friend with cancer

If you find a friend, a family or a loved one suddenly contracting cancer, do not lose hope. Emotional support is greatly needed by those who are suffering from the disease. You might be amazed at how much a hug can do to uplift a person's spirit.
Although some cancer patients are not inclined to talk, there are those who will be open enough to tell you their fears and hopes. When this happens, do not hesitate to listen. Sometimes, all they need is an eager ear to pour out their grievances.

Knowing more about cancer

As you may well know, cancer is an illness that takes different forms. Hence, you might want to expand your horizons and learn more about the ailment, especially if you have a loved one suffering from the sickness. Technology is now making improvements in the cancer field and knowing more about the enemy is one way to ease the fear.

Keep in mind that the number of cancer survivors today is continually growing as knowledge about the illness increases. Hence, it is important that you never lose hope for your loved one. Make sure that you are always there for them throughout the highs and lows. One of the most harrowing part for a person with cancer is the fear, and that it is something you can help ease with just your presence, help, and hugs.

OLAPARIB is a new class of anti-cancer drug that is known as a PARP inhibitor, a drug designed to fight breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers or cancers that arise as a result of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Developers of OLAPARIB

OLAPARIB was developed by KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnological company from the United Kingdom. KuDOS Pharmaceuticals has been a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca since 2006.

What OLAPARIB can offer cancer patients

Although still in clinical testing stages, OLAPARIB is expected to halt the repair of cells by the PARP protein. As a result of halted repairs, cancer cells start to die. However, normal cells which have BRCA repair can still be repaired and so will remain healthy.

What patients can expect from OLAPARIB

Patients can expect milder side effects from OLAPARIB compared to other chemotherapy drugs. These include nausea, somnolence, fatigue, loss of appetite, and thrombocytopenia. They can also expect to remain healthier because the drug only targets cancerous cells and tends to spare normal and healthy cells.

Cancer foundations have done a lot in helping further the research on the cure for the various types of cancers. They are also instrumental in educating the public about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. Cancer foundations are some of the organizations where patients and other people affected by the disease can turn to for support.

Susan G Komen for the Cure

Susan G Komen for the Cure has been actively funding research grants since 1982. It has been active in community outreach projects that focuses on education and early detection of the disease, especially in underserved locations.

Breastcancerfund.org

This is a foundation dedicated to the identification and elimination of environmental and other causes of breast cancer.

CancerCare.org

This is a non-profit organization that offers professional help and support to those suffering from cancer and other people affected by cancer such as the bereaved, children, parents, siblings of cancer patients, and caregivers. Help offered include counseling, financial support, education, and as well as practical assistance.

Fruits have long been studied in the hopes that they can be used in the treatment of cancer. Mangosteen is among these fruits because it contains xanthones, plant phenols that have a number of health benefits.

What are xanthones?

Xanthones are biologically active plant phenols that are believed to be beneficial in enhancing the body’s immune system. Mangosteen contains about two dozen xanthones, and about half-a-dozen xanthones in the fruit are being studied for its anti-cancer properties.

Mangosteen's xanthones as treatments against cancer

A few of the xanthones found in the fruit include alpha-Mangostin, beta-Mangostin, 3-Isomangostin, Gertanin, Garcinone A, B, C, D, E, and Maclurin, and Mangostanol. Several studies claim that these are responsible for the fruit’s anti-leukemic, anti-fungal, and anti-tumor properties.

What the scientific community says about xanthones

While mangosteen may have beneficial effects with regard to cancer treatment, actual scientific trials have not given any conclusion as to the effectiveness of the fruit as a treatment for cancer. Doctors advise that eating the fruit should be considered a complimentary form of treatment to accompany more conventional methods of fighting cancer.

One late afternoon when my dietician friend and I met, she told me a lot about the cancer patients in her hospital. She told me that if only these people ate the right foods, then they might not be suffering any grave ailment today. I don't understand what my friend is saying since I'm an ignoramus when it comes to health and science. This is the reason I majored in Literature and not Biology or any science courses. She told me that the food we intake can actually be the cause of cancer. It's really better to be conscious about the foods that we should not eat since they can cause cancer.

I asked my friend if it's okay to eat delicious seafood recipe, she said that it's okay since it has low saturated fat which is good for the body. I felt relieved since I'm a seafood addict. My friend also told me that it's not bad to eat fats as long as you eat the right ones -- like unsaturated fat. It's also better to take a lot of fiber foods like pineapple. This will lower the risk for colorectal cancer. It is also advisable to eat many raw vegetables and fruits. She also told me that it's good to eat soy products, which contain a lot of protein that is good for the body. In fact, it has lots of protein as compared to meat.

I was astonished to find out that what we eat can also be the cause for having cancer. I am very thankful to my friend because she informed me about this piece of info. Starting today, I will watch my diet to avoid cancer.

My sixty-five year old father likes to eat cheese. He loves cheese so much that he can eat a whole carton of cheese. My father once narrated to me that when he was a child, he treated cheese as though it was popcorn. He is one crazy cheese junkie. Aside from being a cheese fanatic, my dad also has prostrate cancer. Before, we thought that my dad's prostrate cancer was caused by his liking for cheese and other dairy products like milk. We thought of such because some doctors told us.

Last night, when I was reading cancer updates through my brilliant wifi internet, there's one article that caught my attention. The article was about prostrate cancer and dairy products. I took time to read this one up because I know I could get useful information for my dad's condition. The article says that dairy products have no connection or whatsoever to the cause of prostrate cancer. I recalled some time ago that Harvard University published a study stating the direct link between prostrate cancer development and dairy products. I'm confused right now. I don't know which study to follow.

I consulted my doctor friend about my dilemma. She said that the Victorian Study is true and accepted by medical doctors and experts. She even enlightened me by saying that Harvard University changed their findings and incorporated the new discovery of Victorian Study. The Victorian Study started in 1994 and lasted for ten years. They examined more than 14,500 men in order to come up with a comprehensive research and development in the field of prostrate cancer. As of today, people can eat as many dairy products as they want since it can't cause prostrate cancer.

When I was browsing my dsl broadband internet for my science class assignment, I've read about the connection between mutation and the development of cancer. According to the article, most diseases spring from genes that have been altered during their mutation. These altered genes, in turn, can be inherited from the parents. A simple mismatch in the genes can cause life threatening diseases such as cancer. Incidentally, such mutation can either be acquired or inherited. Inherited mutation occurs in a person whose parents have mutated genes. On the other hand, acquired mutation is experienced along the course of a person's life.

My friend has an altered genes, which she inherited from her mother. Her mother, by the way, died of breast cancer in 2000. Now, my friend wants to know if she also has breast cancer like her mommy. It isn't surprising that she is frightened and curious at the same time. I told her to conduct a gene test for breast cancer. In this way, she can start her treatment and prevent the seed of death from growing inside her body. I explained to my friend that cancer is genetic as produced by altered genes, but five to ten percent of cancer cases are inherited. She cried and cried on my shoulder as she discovered this major detail about cancer.

My friend who has altered genes is a History major. She likes to link an ordinary thing to current world events. For instance, she keeps on telling me how racial discrimination and cancer are alike while we were in the hospital for her gene test. She narrates that racial discrimination has no absolute cause and remedy just like cancer. It's also deadly and can kill a lot of people just like what's happening between Israel and Lebanon. She even said that if cancer is one of the number one causes of death, then racial discrimination too is the top cause of killings and deaths today.

I found out in my college yahoogroups that our professor in British Literature has stage one breast cancer. Ms. Susie, as we fondly called her, found out that she had breast cancer last May. We were all shocked to hear the news that time and we all prayed for her quick recovery. My classmates told me that she stopped teaching for a while in order to attend to her chemotherapy. This is a great loss for all Humanities students in our universities for Ms. Susie is truly one of the gems of our university.

After I discovered that one of my professors had breast cancer, I wondered what could have caused it. Ms. Susie is a forty-year-old single woman. She is slightly overweight and never stood up whenever we held our classes. She just sits in her chair behind the table, discusses her lessons and asks questions. Some students in the campus speculated that her extra weight could have caused her breast cancer. When I told my mother about my professor's predicament, she lost no time telling me to eat healthy foods and exercise daily.

Last time I checked my email, I read an email message from my friend who warned us to be careful in choosing our deodorants because there is said to be a chemical or substance found in deodorants that is linked to the cause of cancer. I can't recall the name of the chemical but the email warns us against dry stick deodorants. Oh no! It further says in the email that women should not use a deodorant after they shave because the harmful chemicals could directly enter the body through the open pores.

Gail who is diagnosed with a possible breast cancer is having difficulty balancing her diet requirements. Like me, she used to like a lot of spicy foods. Now, tacos and burritos are a no-no but she's been doing her best to incorporate non-dangerous (and even helpful) grubs such as soy beans in her diet. For instance, she makes non-spicy spaghetti but cooks up taco fillings along with it. The taco filling contains soy that helps prevent the spread of breast cancer.

She told me it's no longer a myth. I learned from diligent cancer patients that soy beans in the diet does deter the spread of deadly cancer cells. The only trouble is, you would have to be pre-menopausal. This is because the natural chemicals in soy are anti-estrogen which prevent the buildup of the hormones in the breast receptors. If you were post-menopausal, on the other hand, the "phytoestrogens" can work against you, since they can supply you with estrogen that is lacking in your
body.

Now, let's go to the yummy part. How can anyone with the deadly breast cancer still enjoy the taste of tacos without worrying about the aftermath of eating them? The secret is in adding the pork crumbles in the tacos as filling. You can still enjoy this savory southwestern dish while keeping the balance in your bodily hormones. The soy in your food can maintain the equilibrium if you follow the amount required by your dietitian.

As I sit behind the wheel of my battered Honda Civic, I wonder how much poison has accumulated in my body at my age today. Somebody told me that cancer could be cured by water therapy. Somebody told me that there is a far better cure, and that is oxygen. Well, we are all inhaling oxygen everyday, so why don't cancer patients get cured of their disease? Is there actually such a process to introduce oxygen in our bodies? I've seen something resembling an enema, but that also included hydrogen peroxide. The funny thing is, the woman who underwent this procedure became the guinea pig of a faulty experiment.

Eons ago, Dr Warbugh won a Nobel Prize when he discovered that oxygen can cure people of cancer. But the merit on this discovery had only lasted so much. It's because whether the cancer cells are deprived or supplied of oxygen makes little difference. A doctor once showed me a microscopic demonstration of cells being injected with oxygen along with cells being sucked out of this element. Sure, normal cells deprived of oxygen died. But the experiment didn't affect the cancer cells. So Dr Warbugh made a big mistake on the oxygen cure.

I'd say water and oxygen cure have been experimental treatments. But only the water cure has so far made it to the alternative medical scene. If anything, the oxygen we breathe comes laden with all sorts of poison: air pollution, preservatives in food, alcohol, smoking, asbestos, pesticides, etc. So how it can it cure cancer patients? But some doctors still argue that if we inhale the much needed oxygen, cancer patients have more chances for life extension. This is true, but unlike water cure, it has minimal effect on the cancer patient's body.

The amount of salt intake among cancer patients has been a source of debate ever since it was discovered that sodium can be deadly. My doctor always recommends healthy fish recipes contain only minuscule amount of table salt. I had asked him the difference between the common salt we use and the salt that's supposed to help cure cancer. He said, there's obviously a huge discrepancy, since the kind of salt cure that cancer patients take comes from sea - unrefined and contains trace minerals that balance the alkaline and acid levels in the body.

My doctor is still experimenting on salt cure. He's looking at Danival, which is sealed in what looks like a plastic sugar bag that has the word Sel Marin printed on it. The sea salt, according to him, contained all the natural minerals as well as trace elements that cancer patients need. The process involved clay pan harvesting and traditional methods, which made it look as if it was another specie of brown sugar. It was, in fact, light grey and a little too coarse to be mistaken as sugar.

Because of the debates on the salt cure, it is only natural for patients to balk at the thought of including sea salt in their diets. They don't really know that salt derived from the ocean allows more water circulation in the body. Remember that cancer develops from tumors and edema in the body which may be caused by accumulated toxic substances, e.g., the gallstones. Sea salt can flush away the poison in the body through proper circulation and breakdown of food. This is something that ordinary table salt cannot do. As for the Sel Marin, I'll have to consult with my doctor first.