The media often deals harshly with a person who has cancer who turns down medical treatment, turns to natural cancer therapies and subsequently dies. The success of a natural cancer treatment is measured on whether the person who is ill survives a natural lifespan. But this is not the case for medical treatments. Medical treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy often use much "softer" evidence of success.

When comparing results it is important to make sure that like is compared with like.

Success in radiotherapy and chemotherapy is often measured, not in terms of improved longevity but in terms of the regression of the tumor. There is an assumption that if the tumor reduces in size that the patient must do better in the longer term. This idea seems to be common sense, but it has not been proven to be the case.

It is clear that those who respond to chemotherapy do better than those who do not. But there is no research which shows that a reduction of tumor size is linked to improved longevity when compared to those who are not treated. And radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments cannot be said to be effective if this case is not made.

Would the patient (and his family) feel that regression of the tumor was a "successful outcome" if he still died in the same time frame as if he was not treated, and if he suffered terribly from side effects of the treatments during the process?

A second measurement is the number of people who survive to five years. A doctor who gets more patients to the five year mark than his colleagues might feel a personal triumph but the family whose mother dies at five years and three days will feel just as devastated as if the mother dies three days prior to the five years. In the first case the patient is designated as having a successful outcome and in the second as a less successful one. But for the family it is the same.

A third definition the medical profession use is the length of apparent tumor-free time until metastases appear. They call this disease free time, but if the disease commonly returns it seems disingenuous to pretend that the treatment made the patient disease-free. However the point as issue here is whether tumor-free time is a success if the patient then goes on to die in the same time frame as they would if they had not been treated?

Many medical professionals get very anxious and often very annoyed if you ask for evidence that the recommended treatment works. They may well spray around wonderful sounding percentages to "prove" that their recommendations will give a better chance.

However there have also been many a time when the doctor (reluctantly) hands over the research only to find that the patient or a member of their family dissects the research to find that the wonderful percentage improvements relate not to longevity but to tumor regression or to increased tumor-free time.

So if your doctor is making percentage claims of success for a particular treatment ask what this means in terms of additional years of survival. If he will not tell you or cannot tell you, then the probability is that the research does not show such an increase. If he does claim years of increased longevity then ask him for a copy of the research that says this. After all he is asking you to undertake treatment with potentially horrendous side effects (not to mention the cost to the family).

If the increased longevity is measured in only a few months then only you will know if the six to twelve months of treatments and side effects is worth two to four months of extra life, remembering of course that you might be one of the group of people who do not get that extra time.

If longevity with a high quality of life is your aim then think carefully as to how much the offered medical treatment may increase your longevity alongside the high cost of treatment side effects. It is a perfectly valid choice to decide against medical treatment for the time being and to choose to work with natural cancer therapies instead.

Remember that while natural cancer therapies have not been proven to work to the satisfaction of the medical profession neither have their own treatments (except in a few cases) been shown to be effective in treating cancer. This means that those tens of thousands of cases who recover may well have recovered anyway. Self healing is a natural process, built into our bodies.

Therefore any natural cancer therapies which support an improved immune system and a happier, more satisfying quality of life must be worthy of consideration.

Dr Harriet Denz-Penhey is an internationally recognized health researcher who has done groundbreaking research into patient self care in serious illness. The web site http://www.cancerremedies.org discusses aspects of natural cancer treatment and remedies for good general health.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

Another animal study has shown the importance of having company to prevent cancer occurring and in reducing of the likelihood of death from cancer. It is clear that for both animals and humans having good friends definitely improves the quality of life, and now, possibly, lack of friends might even be a matter of life or death. However researchers are still unsure of many of the mechanisms by which social isolation might contribute to the development of cancer.

We all know of wonderful people who have had lots of friends who socialized a good deal and who still died of cancer. I am not saying that not having friends is the one cause of cancer.

But we need to acknowledge the increasing evidence that having good friends can be a buffer to both prevent cancer occurring in the first place and if it does occur, to improve ones chances of a better outcome – either a complete recovery or a longer time till death. My own research findings also come to the same conclusions.

I have never had a doctor ask me about my relationships with friends, or even within my family, and yet there is clear evidence of their importance to health. As I work with doctors I’ve asked a few of them why this lack of interest in patients’ sociability might be. Their response was that it is not their business to interfere, or even take an interest in, a patient’s relationships. It is outside their sphere of management.

As you are unlikely to hear from your doctor that good relationships are beneficial to your health right down to the cellular and organ level then you need to take the message on board from elsewhere and take responsibility for improving your relationships as part of your overall health care.

So if you know you are short on friends don’t take it badly. Friends die. They shift away. They or you can change. Or you might just look at your current friends and decide that they no longer contribute sufficient positive aspects to your life.

One of the patients in my big study had no friends at all when she first got cancer. Apart from a loving husband and two absent children she had no positive input from people into her life. She started to deal with her cancer by paying for human contact. She paid for a masseur, for time with a homeopath, joined a healing group and slowly made progress from there.

Another loner was a farmer who lived in the outback miles from anywhere. He gave up farming and moved into the city. His situation was different because he was naturally gregarious and made friends easily.

You don’t need lots of friends, somewhere between five and nine seems to work well from a health perspective. Family can count in the friend mix, but you are looking for people who contribute positively to your well-being and you to theirs. You are looking for at least one person who makes you feel significant, one who makes you feel connected and loved, one who can be trusted to help you and gives you a sense of security and someone who gives a sense of fun, enjoyment and variety in life.

As my study showed sometimes you must adapt, even to purchase the support you need and this is a positive alternative if your natural circle of friends is missing a category of need. It makes sense to have a good group of friends. You may not be thinking in terms of your own natural cancer therapies but friendships are good and improve your quality of life. Take the time to consider what your friends add to your life and if necessary set out to increase the number of positive people around you.

Dr Harriet Denz-Penhey is an internationally recognized health researcher who has done groundbreaking research into patient self care in serious illness. The web site http://www.cancerremedies.org discusses aspects of natural cancer treatment and remedies for good general health.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

Scientific studies concerning turmeric and inflammation were initiated, because the spice, which is also called curry powder, has been used for centuries to treat inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, colitis and gastric ulcers. To date, over 100 studies have been conducted using animal models and cell cultures, all have ended with positive results.

One of the most recent turmeric inflammation reduction studies compared the effect of the different yellow pigments found in the roots of curcuma longa, which is the Indian spice plant and differs from the Javanese variety. The pigments are called curcuminoids. The primary pigment is curcumin.

The researchers wanted to see if the other curcuminoids were as effective as curcumin for healing ulcers. For several years, it has been accepted that the connection between turmeric and inflammation reduction was due to curcumin, but these researchers showed that the other curcuminoids are just as effective.

In the US, the National Institutes of Health is currently sponsoring research into the turmeric inflammation reducing ability in people. These studies will provide more information concerning effective dosages and delivery methods. One of the problems that researchers have noted concerns the bioavailability of the compound. If it is to be effective for relieving inflammatory conditions that exist outside of the digestive system, it must be able to enter the bloodstream.

Compounds that can not pass through the intestinal wall to enter the bloodstream must be treated differently than those can. It has been seen that curcumin has low bioavailability. In order to see the benefit of turmeric inflammation reduction in arthritis or other painful conditions, the supplement would need to be protected from digestive acids by an enteric coating. Researchers have also seen that the inclusion of piperine, a compound found in black pepper, increased the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%.

Piperine is also a natural anti-inflammatory agent. It isn’t just turmeric and inflammation that have been studied. Many different natural anti-inflammatories have been the subject of study. This is not just a matter of relieving or treating painful conditions. Chronic-inflammation contributes to cancer, heart disease and other life threatening diseases.

So, the turmeric inflammation benefits could include the prevention of cancer and possibly life extension. One of the things that causes cellular aging is chronic-inflammation, as is, oxidative stress. Curcuminoids have some anti-oxidant activity, but one of the strongest antioxidants is l-glutathione.

If you are interested in turmeric and inflammation, you may also be interested in other natural anti-inflammatories. Those include carnosine, glutathione, resveratrol and green tea catechins. All of which are also antioxidants.

The bottom line is that turmeric inflammation relievers are not your only natural choice. There are many. If you are interested in protecting the cells of your body from age and disease, take a multi-nutritional supplement that includes essential vitamins and minerals, as well as curcumin, green tea, resveratrol, piperine, glutathione and many other beneficial ingredients.

The results of the studies concerning turmeric and inflammation in people should be released within the next year or so. Until then, you can do many things to improve your overall health. Focusing on optimal nutritional intake is one of those things.

Valerie Rosenbaum has spent several years researching every anti aging supplement line of products she could find. As a result of that effort she has found what she believes to be the best natural anti-aging supplements available on the market today. Learn about what she discovered at her website NaturalBalanceSupplements.com

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The first step to a cancer cure – did you know that the single most important thing to get right when you’re diagnosed with cancer is your thoughts? Your mindset.

Why?

Because many people believe that cancer is a death sentence. But that’s simply not true. Certainly people do die from cancer – there’s no doubt.

But have you ever stoped to consider that your thoughts play a huge role in the outcome? Have you ever considered that your thoughts may even have contributed to your cancer?

Let me tell you about what happened to me. A dozen years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. For years before my diagnosis, I kept telling my wife “maybe I have leukaemia or something?” And I kept saying this over and over again.

Then it happened – I was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. Well, I was pretty close wasn’t I? Leukaemia and lymphoma are both forms of blood cancer.

So, now the question arises. Did I give myself lymphoma cancer by constantly verbalizing and repeating the same negative thoughts? I truly believe so. And I think many people would agree with me.

Can positive thoughts be the key to the first step to a cancer cure?

I’m still alive today because I believed I’d beat cancer. Your thoughts are vitally important. When you understand how your mind works you are better able to change it. And change it for the better – change it to serve you.

Your mind is made up of two parts. The conscious mind which is your intellect. And the subconscious mind which is the feeling part of you – your emotions.

Most of us would associate the conscious mind with our head. We would also associate the subconscious mind with our head, but this is incorrect. Your subconscious mind resides in every single cell of your body.

Your mindset is extremely important because it is the first step to your cancer cure. What you think (conscious) impacts on the way you feel (subconscious). And what you feel has a direct affect on your body.

For years, I kept thinking I would get seriously ill. I kept repeating this over and over. My conscious mind believed the thought and this was transferred into my subconscious.

My subconscious mind then set about carrying out my wishes(?!) and affected every cell in my body – I manifested cancer.

So, what you think affects the way you feel. This, in turn, causes you to do or act in certain ways or to get certain results. Put simply, what you think affects what you get.

What you need to do is take control of your thoughts because now you understand that what you think directly impacts what you get. Don’t be controlled by your thoughts.

Much of what you think comes from what you believe. Many of your beliefs are ingrained—we all have an existing belief system that started way back in childhood. How?

As children we believed everything our parents told us. Then we believed everything our childhood peers told us. Then, …… you get the picture.

We never learned to question.

It has been my experience that most of my limitations were put upon me – not by others, but by me. Me! Not because I wanted to, or even meant too. But I simply wasn’t aware that I was doing this. You see, if you hear the same things over and over you begin to believe them without question.

So, what you need to do is use your analytical conscious mind to help you cure cancer. Decide for yourself what you believe. Question everything you hear – inside and outside of your head.

Ask yourself, about your thoughts and beliefs – do these serve me?

Let me give you an example. How often have you heard yourself say “I can’t do that” or “that won’t work for me!”

Do these thoughts serve you? Do they really help you? No, they don’t. Like me, these are most likely limitations you have put upon yourself. And they aren’t based on your reality. They’re a figment of somebody else’s imagination.

Question all the negative thoughts that you have. Ask yourself “Do these thoughts serve me?” And if they don’t serve you, then ask yourself “What thoughts would serve me?”

When you control your thoughts you begin to change your mind set and your life. Replace negative thoughts with better thoughts, so that you build a storehouse of thoughts that serve you.

Better thoughts do exist. Think about them and you will find them. If you can’t find any better thoughts, you’re not looking hard enough. Try again.

It’s worth the effort because you are worth the effort. Start with a good thought and begin your own cancer cure today.

Michael Mihalcic is a cancer survivor, enduring a coma and near death experiences. Michael and his wife, Barbara King, spent the last 10+ years researching alternative health. Visit www.LymphomaAdvice.com to read all about how Michael overcame cancer with his 6 step formula.

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With prostate cancer estimated to affect as many as 1 in 6 men, any new research developments that may affect treatment are extremely noteworthy. Because the risks of having prostate cancer increase dramatically with age, every generation is in a race against the clock to find the most effective treatment methods, or prevention methods, possible.

Recently a medical study on men with prostate cancer introduced very interesting news that contradicted some previously held beliefs in the medical community. Some physicians have withheld potentially curative treatment in older men because of a concern about side effects of radiation or surgery. Other physicians have used hormone therapy as a means of delaying cancer progression instead of offering potentially curative treatment.

This new study by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, however, suggests that drug treatment alone does not improve survival rates of men taking it, and might actually be hindering their improvement. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July.

The prostate cancer information generated by this article studied about 20,000 men, including Medicare patients, whose prostate cancer had not spread to other areas of the body. The study took 6 years to complete, as information was gathered and the men were studied. All study participants were over the age of 66, which means that the data drawn from the study is particularly relevant to older men, but not necessarily accurate for younger men. Average age of a study participant was 77.

Researchers found that the typical treatment of testosterone-blocking drugs might have more drawbacks than benefits. The testosterone-blockers are meant to keep cancer cells from growing, but also have side effects such as bone loss, impotence, and increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. Ultimately, a treatment plan of the testosterone-blocking drugs alone, in older men, didn’t appear to be effective.

For men considering Georgia prostate cancer surgery, this study does not influence the need for curative surgery or radiation. Often the antihormone drugs can be very effective when they are paired with surgery or radiation. To maximize the effectiveness of a cancer treatment plan for Georgia men, prostate cancer might require surgery or radiation, rather than drug treatment alone.

Researchers theorized that many men felt they were improving their health by taking the drugs without surgery or radiation, because it was a better course of action than doing nothing. Now that their research has shown this to be an ineffective method of treatment by itself, the researchers hope that doctors will avoid the drug treatments except in combination with radiation and/or surgery.

For older men looking for information about Georgia prostate cancer treatment, the study offers an important topic to bring up with their doctors. While surgery and radiation can seem scary, the solution to prostate cancer doesn’t appear to be as easy as popping a pill or receiving an injection, at least for older men. For Georgia men, prostate cancer treatment might require surgery, rather than the simpler approach of a drug treatment.

With the continued research and studies being done, advances in Georgia prostate cancer treatment are continually being made. At this point in time, however, drug treatment alone doesn’t seem to be an effective method in the fight against prostate cancer.

John Critz helps inform men about prostate cancer treatment options . His company, RCOG offers the ProstRcision prostate cancer surgery , a leading prostate seed implant treatment .

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The University of Colorado Hospital has recently embarked on what news reports have deemed a "groundbreaking medical trial" for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer. The trial uses a new technique designed to "shrink the tumor with very concentrated, very localized medication," according to 7 Denver News, a local television news casting station.

Physicians have been using a combination of the drug known as Tumor Necrosis Factor along with Imaged Guided Radiation Therapy technology. The therapy works in two phases, with the first phase administered each week as "doctors use an endoscope through the mouth to the stomach to deliver the drug and inject it directly into the tumor," reported 7 Denver News. In the second phase, the tumor, which is now drug-filled, is subject to a daily blast of radiation, which attempts to stimulate the drug until the tumor begins to break down.

While the trial continues to be conducted, physicians with the study have already noted that, "patients with the standard treatment survive about eight-and-a-half months and that patients with this new treatment live about eleven-and-a-half months."

Pancreatic Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Pancreatic cancer occurs when cancerous cells "begin in the ducts of the pancreas, but they sometimes develop from the cells of that make the pancreatic enzymes," according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The Mayo Clinic also explained that there are several signs and symptoms of the pancreatic cancer including the following:

* loss of appetite

* depression

* weight loss

* yellowing of the skin

* yellowing of the whites of the eyes

* upper abdominal pain

There are a number of reasons that pancreatic cancer can occur, however, one of the most recent risks is that of Byetta consumption. Byetta is a type 2 diabetes drug that is prescribed to patients as an injectable form of insulin to regulate glucose levels in individuals. The drug was released in 2005 from Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company. Recently, the drug was linked to the onset of pancreatitis, which can develop into pancreatic cancer if left untreated.

In 2008, approximately six patients were hospitalized for their Byetta-induced side effects of acute pancreatitis. Of the six patients, two resulted in fatality. Patients who have experienced the Byetta dangers are advised to discuss their case with a pharmaceutical attorney who can offer a free legal consultation as to the development of a Byetta class action lawsuit, which may result in the reward of monetary funds for a Byetta patient. By contacting a professional attorney an individual increases the protection of themselves and their family members.

LegalView (http://www.LegalView.info ) offers an array of information ranging from mesothelioma treatments to Avandia risks and Byetta dangers (http://byetta.legalview.info).

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A new treatment method for Barrett’s esophagus, which is a "precancerous condition largely caused by acid reflux disease" among patients is being tested at the Loyola University in Maywood, Ill. The treatment, known as cryospray ablation, permanently destroys esophageal precancerous cells and tissues by injecting extremely cold temperatures of liquid nitrogen into the body, according to a Nurse.com news article, which features medical information online for nurses and physicians assistants.

The treatment allegedly causes "the precancerous tissue to eventually slough off and is then replaced with normal, healthy tissue," reported Nurse.com. The treatment uses a catheter attached to an endoscope, which then sprays -270 degree Fahrenheit liquid nitrogen into the esophagus. According to the

What is Liquid Nitrogen?

Liquid nitrogen is an "inert, colorless, odorless, non-corrosive, noninflammable and extremely cold chemical that makes up the major portion of the atmosphere," according to Harvard College. The health effects of liquid nitrogen are often non-toxic, however asphyxiation can occur if oxygen is decreased and if excessive amounts of nitrogen are inhaled, it can cause the following side effects:

* dizziness

* nausea

* vomiting

* loss of consciousness

* death

Cryospray Ablation Uses

The University of Maryland Medical Center describes cryospray ablation, also cryotherapy ablation as a destruction of "the abnormal lining of the esophagus by exposing cells to extreme cold using liquid nitrogen… Successful cryotherapy ablation will avoid the need for alternative treatments such as surgery."

Those who qualify for this treatment will likely suffer from the following conditions:

* early stage esophageal cancer

* Barrett’s esophagus

* severe squamous dysplasia of the esophagus

The procedure has found success in its niche of conditions, but often requires a plethora of pre-procedure steps and may also require additional repeat procedures over the following months to ensure the esophageal lining returns to normal. Most patients will require three to four treatments, which each will span every four to six weeks, according to the UMM.

Developing Esophageal Cancer

The American Cancer Society (ACS) explains that "if untreated, Barrett’s esophagus could lead to esophageal cancer, the fastest-growing cancer in the United States." Esophageal cancer is a tremendously painful condition, which is responsible for the following side effects on a victim, according to the National Library of Medicine and ACS.

* Difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia

* mid-chest pains

* sensation of pressure or burning in body

* weight loss

* hoarseness

* hiccups

* pneumonia

* high blood calcium levels

* black stools caused by bleeding cancerous cells

There are several causes related to the development of esophageal cancer including smoking, heavy alcohol consumption as well at acid reflux damage; however, there is also a newer cause associated with the onset of this condition and that includes the consumption of Fosamax.

Fosamax (sodium alendronate), from Merck and Company, is a prescription only drug used to treat osteoporosis among individuals, particularly post-menopausal women who have suffered from severe bone density loss.

Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a damaging and terrifying study that individuals who had consumed the drug had been found to not only be at risk for developing dead jaw syndrome, also known as osteonecrosis (ONJ), but that approximately 23 individuals had developed esophageal cancer as a result of consuming the drug.

Patients who are currently taking Fosamax or have previously been prescribed the drug may need to contact medical assistance to ensure they are not suffering from any of the Fosamax side effects. Additionally, it may be necessary to construct a Fosamax class action lawsuit in order to retrieve monetary funds as compensation for the potential damages endured by a Fosamax victim.

To learn more about the Fosamax side effects, individuals can visit http://fosamax.legalview.info/ . For more information on other legal topics including the peanut butter recall or the cranial implant kit dangers, visit http://www.LegalView.info/ .

Article Source: ArticleSpan

More than half a million Americans will die of cancer this year, and in men, prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of death. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting about 16 percent of men. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation,more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, and more than 28,000 men will die from the disease. A new case occurs every two-and-a-half minutes, and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes.

When it’s caught early, prostate cancer can be halted in the majority of men. But this disease, not to mention its treatment, can have a profound effect on a man’s ability to perform sexually.

Duration of erectile dysfunction following surgery

If a man requires prostate surgery, or radical prostatectomy, for prostate cancer, his life, especially his sex life, may be changed forever. It is important to remember that surgery of any kind is a traumatic procedure and it takes time for the body to recover. In the event of this type of surgery, the ability to achieve an erection will also take time, but many men will see an improvement in their erections over time, especially men who had no difficulty achieving a good erection before the surgery.

In the first three months to a year after a radical prostatectomy, most men will not be able to accomplish a spontaneous erection, and will probably require an erectile dysfunction medication that can be bought through an online pharmacy, such as Viagra, to attain an erection.

Radiation therapy

Unlike radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, radiation therapy may cause problems slowly and over time. The main cause of erectile dysfunction following radiation is damage to the blood vessels supplying the nerves responsible for erections.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery, or the technique of using extreme cold to treat tumors in cancer, can have permanent negative effects. When the prostate gland is frozen the nerve bundles controlling erections can often be permanently damaged.

Treating erectile dysfunction after prostate cancer treatment

Viagra is an oral erectile dysfunction medication that works by promoting increased blood flow to produce an erection when the penis is manually stimulated, and can be obtained through a reputable online pharmacy. Viagra does not improve sex drive, only erections. Studies have shown that men with erectile dysfunction after prostatectomy respond well to Viagra if the nerve bundles on both sides of the prostate are intact. But Viagra is normally not effective if one or both nerve bundles have been damaged.

Other possible solutions to helping a man regain his facility to produce an erection after prostate treatment include penile medication injections, use of a vacuum constriction or vacuum erection device (which is very costly), or a penile implant, a prosthetic device surgically implanted inside the penis.

The bottom line is that a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer is recommended annually for men over 50, or even earlier for men with a family history of prostate cancer. Without our health we’ve got nothing, and nothing makes a man feel like less of a man than the inability to perform. So you need to take care of yourself, and know all the medical options that exist for you in today’s modern world.

Author Resource– Roger Grossman – Health article author specializing in men’s health issues. The author currently writes for a U.S. online pharmacy – http://www.edrugstore.md. eDrugstore.MD is a leading U.S. online pharmacy with over eight years of experience offering FDA-Approved online prescriptions, at the lowest prices available on the internet. Buy Cialis online at eDrugstore.MD.

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