Question by Peace, Love, Happiness!: How are cancer cells different from ther cells? Why is cancer such a difficult condition to cure?
How are cancer cells different from other cells? Why is cancer such a dffiult condition to cure?

Best answer:

Answer by Binka
It is different because unlike normal cells cancer doesn’t die. It also multiplies/spreads like crazy. The reason it is so difficult to treat or cure is because you have to kill off the good cells and your immune system as well. There is nothing that can get rid of it that won’t affect your other cells.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Question by Bobby: How can cancer proliferate, if the immune system destroys it from the beginning?
IF the immune system recognizes a cancer cell from the beginning-before it divides greatly-why can’t it destroy the cell?

If this is naive, it is because I am just learning on the subject.

Best answer:

Answer by Gary B
Because that is not always the case.

There is no such thing as a “cancer cell”, at least not like there are “heart muscle cells” or “blood cells” or “bone cells”. A cancer cell is just like a regular cell EXCEPT that it is growing in an uncontrolled manner.

Therefore, in most cases the immune system does NOT see cancer as an “invader” until the cancer gets so big that it forces the body to notice it — and by that time it is too late for the immune system to work properly.

SOME cancers even give off chemicl signal that reduce the immun system, causing it to work less efficiently, thus not attacking the cancer.

What do you think? Answer below!

This piece on Food and Phytonutrients in relation to cancer caught my eye, and is a highly interesting read, since I am frequently searching for graphics, articles and other useful content which aids people to know more about avoiding and surviving cancer. Be sure to take a look at it all. Don’t forget to include your comments so all of us can learn from your opinions:

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Food and Phytonutrients, the key to surviving Cancer

People in the past have always eaten mostly raw, natural and organic food which is an entirely different dietary concept than we have today.  Most of the food we buy these days has been processed and in the course of processing many of the nutrients that keep us healthy, have been lost due to processing.

One such nutrient is the phytonutrients, also called phytochemicals only recently discovered in the early 90s and found to be beneficial in keeping us both cancer free and even reversing cancer.

Once we thought that vitamins and minerals were all the nutrients necessary to keep us healthy but we now know there are other nutrients, essential for optimal health and they are phytonutrients. It is these powerful nutrients that give fruit and vegetables their many colors and also provide us with Mother Nature’s medicine.

These chemical compounds occur naturally in plants, their role is to protect them from diseases, injury and damage from insects. They form part of the plants immune system. It’s these same phytonutrients that have been found to have cancer fighting properties which help us not only to stay cancer free but to help us overcome cancer as well.

The different color phytonutrients are;

• Red;   tomatoes, red grapes, red onions, red apples, beetroot.
• Yellow – Orange;    apricots, peaches, sweet potatoes, melons, carrots, pumpkins citrus fruits.
• Green;    cruciferous vegetables which are broccoli, spinach, cabbage.
• White;    garlic, onions, leeks, potatoes.
• Blue – Purple;    blueberries, aubergines, boysenberries,

As you can see these phytonutrients are concentrations manly on the skin of fruit and vegetables and are responsible for the color, hue, scent and flavors. While there are many phytonutrients that have been identified, there are probably thousands more that remain to be discovered.

Clinical trials are now revealing that phytonutrients can enhance and strengthen the immune system and play an important role in keeping us cancer free. It has also revealed that phytonutrients can even slow the aging process, prevent and reverse conditions such as heart disease. Using food, especially vegetables to treat serious health challenges like cancer are a far smarter choice than using drugs.

Unfortunately we spend billions of dollars in treating cancer today yet we spend little promoting the consumption of apples, oranges, cruciferous vegetables and other healthy food that medicine well knows are helpful in preventing and overcoming diseases such as cancer. Thanks to our mainstream medicine today the public has remained virtually illiterate on nutrition for several decades.

The most powerful weapon when fighting cancer is the food you choose to eat everyday.

Alan Wighton is an experienced natural therapist specializing in nutrition. He has research all aspects of cancer and how the food we eat is related to the disease. For further information on more effective ways to overcome cancer using the powerful natural healing ability of the human body; please visit Cancer Facts & Information http://www.cancerhealed.com

Many people want novel approaches such as the studies of Mango and Mushroom to Beat Cancer, so have a look at this. As you might expect, much of my time is spent locating suitable news, articles, and other worthwhile content which helps people to have more empowering knowledge about the treatment of cancer.  Be sure to read it all. Don’t forget to offer your comments so everyone can read your advice:

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Scientists Employ Mango, Mushroom to Beat Cancer

CAN meals rich in mangoes and edible mushroom help to prevent or/and stop the spread of cancers? Mangoes and mushrooms have been discovered to contain ingredients that could be used for the production of new drugs for the treatment of cancers.

Scientists have discovered how a promising cancer drug, first discovered in a wild mushroom, works. The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, team believe their work could help make the drug more effective, and useful for treating a wider range of cancers.

Cordycepin, commonly used in Chinese medicine, was originally extracted from a rare kind of parasitic mushroom that grows on caterpillars. The study appeared in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Also, mango has been found to prevent or stop certain colon and breast cancer cells in the laboratory. A new study by Texas AgriLife Research food scientists, United States, who examined the five varieties most common in the U.S.- Kent, Francine, Ataulfo, Tommy/Atkins and Haden- found some impact on lung, leukemia and prostate cancers but was most effective on the most common breast and colon cancers.

Mango is botanically called Mangifera indica and belongs to the plant family Anacardiaceae. Mango is mangoro (the fruit), mangorohi (the tree) in Fula-Fulfulde; umangohi in Idoma; mangolo in Igala; mangulo in Igbo; and mangoro or oro oyinbo in Yoruba.

Nigerian researchers have also determined the protein content of three wild mushroom species growing in Owo Local Government areas of Ondo State: Termitomyces robustus (known as Ewe in Yoruba), Lentinus squarrosulus Mont (known as Tifa in Yoruba) and Lentimula edodes (known as Sheshe-Ope in Yoruba).

According to the result of the study published in Ethnobotanical Leaflets and Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (formerly Qualitas Plantarum), the highest amount of protein was found in Lentinus squarrosulus Mont (37.80mg/ml), followed by Termitomyces robustus (33.00mg/ml) and least found in Lentimula edodes (17.00mg/ml).

The researchers include: R. A. Jose of the Department of Science Technology, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State; and J. Kayode of the Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Over the last decade, mushrooms have been studied as a novel functional food in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. Mushrooms, which have been used as food from time immemorial for their taste and flavour, have in recent times been found to be highly nutritious and medicinal. They are rich in high quality protein, minerals and vitamins such as folic acid but low in fat content.

In Nigeria, wild edible mushrooms are one of the important minor forest products, which are locally traded in local market of the country. Due to their high content of protein, vitamins and minerals, mushrooms are considered as “poor man’s protein”.

Previous studies had asserted that the maximum protein content and the best amino acid balance are found in mushrooms just before the caps expand. It has also been established that the major food value of mushroom lies in their protein components.

The results of the Ondo State study revealed that these mushrooms are nutritiously good for consumption. In fact, previous studies had revealed that edible mushrooms contained all the essential amino acids as well as most commonly occurring non-essential amino acids and amides.

The study found that mushrooms are low in calories, have no cholesterol and are virtually free of fat and sodium. Mushrooms also contain other essential minerals like selenium, which works with vitamin E to produce antioxidants that neutralise “free radicals” which can cause cell damage.

Studies have suggested that selenium may reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, it may slow the progress of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) disease and may aid in symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatitis and asthma. Studies show men who eat selenium rich foods may lower their risk of prostate cancer.

Potassium, which is widely reputed for being good for the heart, is also found in mushrooms. It has been suggested that a diet with potassium may help to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

Copper is another essential mineral found in mushrooms. Copper aids iron, which is also known for making red blood cells and delivers oxygen to the body.

Mushrooms also contain three B-Complex vitamins: riboflavin for healthy skin and vision, niacin that aids the digestive and nervous systems, and pantothetic acid which helps the nervous system and hormone productions.

Previous studies have suggested that mangoes have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and hypoglycemic (lowers blood sugar) effects in man and mammalian experimental animals.

Researchers had confirmed the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties of the stem-bark aqueous extract of mango in rats and mice.

An aqueous decoction of mango stem bark (MSB) has been developed in Cuba on an industrial scale to be used as a nutritional supplement, cosmetic, and phytomedicine, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory properties.

In another study, flavonoids from mango effectively reduce lipid levels in serum and tissues of rats induced hyperlipidemia (high blood lipids/fats).

Researchers have also shown the protective effect of mango polyphenols on human T lymphocytes (white blood cells) against activation-induced cell death. The aqueous stem bark extract of mango (Vimang) has been reported to have antioxidant properties and prevents cell death in HIV/AIDS.

Researchers suggest that the different chemical constituents of the plant, especially the polyphenolics, flavonoids, triterpenoids, mangiferin, and other chemical compounds present in the plant may be involved in the observed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hypoglycemic effects of the plant’s extract.

Also known as “Chinese caterpillar mushroom”, “Semitake” and “JinShuBao”, the cordyceps mushroom (usually the cordyceps sinensis variety) has been used in Chinese medicine for many centuries to make lung and kidney tonics.

The cordyceps mushroom gained fame when Chinese Olympic athletes in 1992 credited their successes to taking the mushroom as a supplement.

However, although the mushroom-based drug showed great promise, it was quickly degraded in the body. It can be given with another drug to combat this – but the second drug can produce side effects that limit its potential use.

As a result, researchers turned their interest to other potential candidate drugs, and exactly how cordycepin worked on the body’s cells remained unclear.

Researcher Dr Cornelia de Moor said: “Our discovery will open up the possibility of investigating the range of different cancers that could be treated with cordycepin. It will be possible to predict what types of cancers might be sensitive and what other cancer drugs it may effectively combine with. It could also lay the groundwork for the design of new cancer drugs that work on the same principle.”

The researchers have also developed a method to test how effective the drug is in new preparations, and combinations with other drugs, which might solve the problem of degradation more satisfactorily.

De Moor said: “This is a great advantage as it will allow us to rule out any non-runners before anyone considers testing them in animals.”

The Nottingham team observed two effects on the cells – at a low dose cordycepin inhibits the uncontrolled growth and division of the cells, and at high doses it stops cells from sticking together, which also inhibits growth.

Both of these effects probably have the same underlying mechanism – that cordycepin interferes with how cells make proteins.

At low doses cordycepin interferes with the production of mRNA, the molecule that gives instructions on how to assemble a protein. And at higher doses it has a direct impact on the making of proteins.

In Chinese medicine, cordyceps has been used primarily to treat lung problems, specifically given when patients cough up blood or show other signs of lung inflammation.

A study by Taiwanese researchers showed cordyceps could be used to reduce lung inflammation in mice with symptoms of asthma. While cordyceps did not prove as effective as two other agents (including prednisolone, which is the active ingredient in several anti-asthma medications but whose side-effects can be as serious as inducing diabetes), the scientists did show cordyceps could indeed be used for lung problems.

Korean researchers showed that cordyceps is a great help in blocking the expression of rheumatoid arthritis. It potently blocked various chemicals that trigger rheumatoid arthritis.

More promising than its use in fighting inflammatory problems is its potential as a cancer-fighting agent. Like other medicinal mushrooms, the cordyceps mushroom contains a high concentration of polysaccharides.

Polysaccharides are molecules that have cancer-fighting properties; numerous studies have shown that polysaccharide-rich compounds inhibit the growth of cancerous tumours in lab animals.

Certain types of cordyceps have polysaccharides containing selenium, a chemical element that is toxic in large amounts, but trace amounts of selenium are necessary for cellular health. Selenium also forms the active centers of certain enzymes which act as anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants prevent cell damage caused by unstable molecules, or “free radicals”, and cells damaged by free radicals are one of the causes of cancer.

Chinese researchers exploring the selenium-rich polysaccharides from certain types of cordyceps in tumor-bearing lab mice found that cordyceps showed “significant anti-tumor action with the inhibitory rate of 46.92 per cent.

Meanwhile, Korean researchers discovered that an aqueous extract of the same species of cordyceps (cordyceps militaris) could also be used to kill human breast cancer cells. The cordyceps mushroom has been studied by medical researchers for some time – the first scientific publication on cordycepin was in 1950.

Cordyceps is not as well researched as Reishi but Cancer Research United Kingdom suggests that, ‘Cordyceps may be useful for cancer patients due to its enhancement of cell-mediated immunity, oxygen free radical scavenging and support for cellular bioenergy systems’.

Medicinal mushrooms have latent cancer preventative properties. Studies in Japan and Brazil strongly suggest that regular consumption over prolonged periods significantly reduce the levels of cancer incidence.

Cancer Research UK also found increasing experimental evidence that medicinal mushrooms can have a cancer preventative effect, demonstrating both high anti-tumor activity and restriction of tumor metastasis. A 14-year survey in Japan revealed cancer rates of workers at medicinal mushroom farms were one in 1000 compared to one in 600 for the general population.

Professor Janet Allen is director of research at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, which funded the mango study.

She said: “This project shows that we can always return to asking questions about the fundamental biology of something in order to refine the solution or resolve unanswered questions. The knowledge generated by this research demonstrates the mechanisms of drug action and could have an impact on one of the most important challenges to health.”

Though the mango is an ancient fruit heavily consumed in many parts of the world, little has been known about its health aspects. The National Mango Board commissioned a variety of studies with several U.S. researchers to help determine its nutritional value.

Dr. Susanne Talcott, who with her husband, Dr. Steve Talcott, conducted the study on cancer cells said: “If you look at what people currently perceive as a superfood, people think of high antioxidant capacity, and mango is not quite there. In comparison with antioxidants in blueberry, acai and pomegranate, it’s not even close.”

Talcott noted: “But the team checked mango against cancer cells anyway, and found it prevented or stopped cancer growth in certain breast and colon cell lines.

“It has about four to five times less antioxidant capacity than an average wine grape, and it still holds up fairly well in anticancer activity. If you look at it from the physiological and nutritional standpoint, taking everything together, it would be a high-ranking super food. It would be good to include mangoes as part of the regular diet.”

The Talcotts tested mango polyphenol extracts in vitro on colon, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. Polyphenols are natural substances in plants and are associated with a variety of compounds known to promote good health.

Talcotts said: “Mango showed some impact on lung, leukemia and prostate cancers but was most effective on the most common breast and colon cancers. What we found is that not all cell lines are sensitive to the same extent to an anticancer agent.

“But the breast and colon cancer lines underwent apotosis, or programmed cell death. Additionally, we found that when we tested normal colon cells side by side with the colon cancer cells, that the mango polyphenolics did not harm the normal cells.”

The duo did further tests on the colon cancer lines because a mango contains both small molecules that are readily absorbed and larger molecules that would not be absorbed and thus remain present in a colon.

She said: “We found the normal cells weren’t killed, so mango is not expected to be damaging in the body. That is a general observation for any natural agent, that they target cancer cells and leave the healthy cells alone, in reasonable concentrations at least.”

The Talcotts evaluated polyphenolics, and more specifically gallotannins as being the class of bioactive compounds (responsible for preventing or stopping cancer cells). Tannins are polyphenols that are often bitter or drying and found in such common foods as grape seed, wine and tea.

The study found that the cell cycle, which is the division cells go through, was interrupted. This is crucial information, Suzanne Talcott said, because it indicates a possible mechanism for how the cancer cells are prevented or stopped.

Talcotts said: “For cells that may be on the verge of mutating or being damaged, mango polyphenolics prevent this kind of damage. From there, if there is any proven efficacy, then we would do a larger trial to see if there is any clinical relevance.”

The Talcotts hope to do a small clinical trial with individuals who have increased inflammation in their intestines with a higher risk for cancer.

According to The Useful Plants of Tropical West Africa by H. M. Burkill, the bark has astringent properties. A macerate is widely taken for diarrhoea and dysentery in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Congo. In Ivory Coast, a decoction is used as a wash for the head in migraine, and is widely used as a mouth-wash for the relief of toothache, sore gums, sore-throat, etc. in Nigeria, and in Congo. This is taken in Ivory Coast as a diuretic against urethra discharge.

A.S. Daba and O.U. Ezeronye of the Division of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory Cape Town, South Africa, have evaluated the anti-tumor activity of mushroom fruit bodies and mycelial extracts using different cancer cell lines.

The study is titled: “Anti-cancer effect of polysaccharides isolated from higher basidiomycetes mushrooms.”

According to the study published in Minireview, these polysaccharide extracts showed potent antitumor activity against sarcoma 180, mammary adenocarcinoma 755, leukemia L-1210 and a host of other tumors. The antitumor activity was mainly due to indirect host mediated immunotherapeutic effect. These studies are still in progress in many laboratories and the role of the polysaccharides as immunopotentiators is especially under intense debate.

Indeed, recent investigations has been channeled on the development of immunotherapy to target and remove cancer cells as well as on substances such as immunopotentiators, immunoinitiators and biological response modulators (BRM) that act to prevent carcinogenesis and induce carcinostasis. Mushrooms belong to this group of immunoceuticals by their mode of action.

The researchers wrote: “Mushroom polysaccharides offer a lot of hope for cancer patients and sufferers of many devastating diseases. A fundamental principle in oriental medicine is to regulate homeostasis of the whole body and to bring the disease person to his or her normal state.

“A variety of polysaccharides from a number of mushroom varieties have been demonstrated to enhance the immune system. All of these have shown significant antitumour activity as a result of their ability to activate the host immune system rather than direct cytotoxicity. The mushroom polysaccharides appear to be well tolerated and compatible with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

“However, studies that identifies the molecular mechanisms that occur in specific immune modulation by mushroom polysaccharides such as receptors and what downstream events are triggered by the binding of these polymers to their target cells are urgently needed.”

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This piece on Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates caught my eye, so I thought it would be an interesting read. One of the major tasks for this site is keeping an eye open for news, videos, graphics, articles and other useful content which assists visitors to be better informed about different aspects of cancer. Be sure to peruse it all. Don’t forget to provide your advice so all of us can read your opinions:

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Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates – The Truth

Ovarian cancer survival rates are as ambiguous as a weather report that says such and such percent chance of rain today. Everyone knows it’s a hundred percent chance of rain when it’s raining, and zero when it’s not.

However to throw out the statistics in the standard way, according to the American Cancer Society more than 20,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, and 15,000 will die from the disease.

Does that mean that three quarters of the women who receive an ovarian cancer prognosis are going to die? Not necessarily. On an individual basis it’s just like the weather prediction for rain.

It really all depends on how a women wants to go about treating her cancer whether she survives, dies, or if she has an ovarian cancer recurrence. Of course there are innumerable variables to be factored in such as her age, the type of cancer, how soon she discovered it, and how quickly she began dealing with it.

If you want to be technical there are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer all of which are categorized by the type of cell where they originate.

If you want to be brutally honest and I want to, cancer is cancer. Regardless of the type or stage, it’s manifest due to a weakened immune system and the only hope to overcoming it will be by freeing up and assisting the body’s own immune responses. There are so many excellent remedies for performing both those task in the world of holistic cancer treatments, and more being uncovered all the time.

To start, besides stating the obvious of avoiding all foods that feed cancer such as sugar and foods or substances that weaken the immune system, a good cleansing fast is initially recommended.

A juice fast is standard, drinking only fresh carrot, beet, apple, and ginger juice for example, to cleanse the colon and rejuvenate the liver. Periodic colon and liver cleanses are similarly helpful as is a diet of green foods along with other super foods.

There are so many herbal remedies such as Essiac tea and amazingly effective diets such as The Budwig and Hallelujah Diet. The list is all but endless. Why not take advantage of all of them? If you do the research into alternative cancer cures and become seriously committed, your chances of not being one of the more than seventy-five percent of women who according to ovarian cancer survival rates succumb to the disease, are as good as a zero chance of rain when the sun is shining.

Jay Geary is a retired organic horticultural consultant who for over thirty years has dedicated much of his time and energy to the study and practice of integrative and complimentary health. Jay is currently the host of http://www.TheElementalMiracle.com a website that reveals hundreds of different alternative treatments for diseases such as ovarian cancer.

I came across these interesting thoughts linking a form of cancer with yeast infection. As you might expect, much of my time is spent locating suitable graphics, articles and other useful content which aids visitors to have more  information about aspects of cancer which might affect them. Be sure to take a look at it all. Don’t forget to add your thoughts so all of us can read your comments:

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Yeast Infection And Cancer

The yeast can multiply under circumstances such as the use of medications for other medical problems such as a urinary tract infection. There are also those women that are predisposed to candidal infections due to immune systems that are suppressed.

Certain oral contraceptives used by these women can cause infection. Medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus can predispose women to yeast infection, as can pregnancy.

Use of certain hygiene products can predispose women to female candidal infection as well. Women that use products such as douche can cause themselves to develop candidal infections. The use of perfumed hygiene spray that a woman may choose to use can cause the infection to worsen.

A yeast infection does not fall in the category of a sexually transmitted disease, although it can be transmitted in this manner. Comparatively; however, a yeast infection can be cured since it is candida is the cause of candidal infections and it is naturally present in the vaginal area.

Yeast is naturally present in the vagina, but when there is an increase it causes the female yeast infection. Ways to determine whether there has been an over increase in vaginal yeast to cause an infection include specific symptoms that the woman can experience. However, one should be aware that many of the symptoms of a yeast infection are similar to those of other medical issues.

Particular symptoms of a candidal infection include itching in the vaginal area, burning, pain (particularly during intercourse), and an unscented vaginal discharge of the cottage cheese color and consistency. It is best diagnosed when a doctor scrapes the infected area and the culture is examined under a microscope.

If you want to figure out on your own whether you have a female candidal infection, you can place a glass of water by your bed at night. When you get up the next morning spit a couple times into the water. If after sitting a while your spit clears into the water, you do not have a yeast infection. However, if the spit sinks to the bottom looking stringy and cloudy, you quite possibly could have a yeast infection. The longer it takes for the spit to show signs of a yeast infection, the more mild a case it is.

Finally after more than a year of research we had a breakthrough. Click here

The Danger of Chronic Yeast Infection

Often requests are received for information about alternative treatments for Cancer. Here is an article concerning Gershon Therapy. As you might expect, much of my time is spent locating suitable news, articles, and other beneficial information which assists readers to have a better knowledge of the different treatments for cancer. Be sure to look closely at it all. Don’t forget to provide your advice so we can all be aware of your thoughts:

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Cancer and the amazing healing powers of the Gerson therapy

I have always been a great advocate of the Gerson therapy when it comes to curing cancer because it deals with the main cause, which is the food we put in our mouths.  It uses the incredible self healing powers of the human body which activates the body’s ability to heal itself and that corrects the reasons why the cancer first appeared.

The aim of the Gerson therapy is to flood the body with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients using natural organic food, much of it in juice form and that is designed to strengthen the immune system. Then it’s the body, through the immune system that will remove the cancer naturally and without any side effects. The therapy includes a few natural supplements and some cooked food as well and totally avoids any salt.

Our natural food is medicine we take when we are well in order to stay well and the correct food will keep us healthy right through life. The reason why there’s so much cancer today is because our food has changed and people living in the industrialized world now eat many food items they were never designed to eat. It’s the consumption of this wrong food that has brought on cancer and so the Gerson therapy corrects this.

Max Gerson, was born in Germany, trained in medicine then migrated to America before the Second World War. He had made a name for himself back in his home country by curing people of migraines, diabetes and skin tuberculosis which was incurable in those days. He achieved these results solely by dietary means. On arriving in America he had to learn English then chose cancer as his specialty as he had many years of experience with cancer patients back in Germany.

However it was at a time when chemotherapy was being developed and the American Medical Association was trying to get it accepted by the public. The Gerson therapy is of course totally natural and like all natural therapies there is very little money to be made out of them. He was shunned by the medical system and was forced to work alone with cancer patients.

There are two books associated with the Gerson therapy; the first is “A Cancer Therapy, The Results of 50 Cases” written by the doctor himself, just before he died and his daughters book “The Gerson Therapy” by Charlotte Gerson. His clinics are still in operation today, one in Mexico and the other in Hungary. The Gerson therapy also claims their diet will affect a cure in a number of other non cancerous illnesses as well. Some of them are; atherosclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes type 1 and 2, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

The beauty of this therapy is it can be carried out in the home with very little extra expense. It is a strict diet and one needs to be dedicated to be able to follow it but it works with all cancers and even with late stage cancers. It was this therapy we turned to when my wife was diagnosed with two different cancers back in 2001. We already had the information on hand and she was committed to following the diet closely. Her cancer never returned and today she is totally cured.

Over the last 60 years thousands of people have used the Gerson therapy and there are many testimonials about their successes with his therapy.

Alan Wighton is an experienced natural therapist specialising in nutrition. He has researched all aspects of cancer and how our diet is closely related to the disease. For further information on the Gerson therapy and how to overcome cancer based on his therapy, please visit:  www.cancerhealed.com Alan Wighton is an independent health researcher and has been interested in and studied cancer for the last 20 years. He is the author of the book “Cancer, its Causes and its Cure.”

I had to post this item on a solution to hair loss as a result of cancer treatment. As you might expect, much of my time is spent locating suitable news, articles, and other beneficial information which aids people who are being treated for cancer. Be sure to have a good look at it all. Don’t forget to include your advice so all of us can be aware of your opinions:

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Cancer Wigs: Solutions for Chemo-Related Hair Loss

DID YOU KNOW? “A woman’s fear over losing her hair can top the fear of losing her life to Cancer?” – Jan Ping

Emmy-award–winning TV hairstylist and cosmetologist and Cancer-survivor herself, Jan Ping, found this out first-hand when she began working with Cancer patients in the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good Feel Better” program.

“It’s so personal how people feel about their hair,” says Ping. It might help to understand how your scalp is changing and how to choose a wig for your total hair loss condition.

What can I expect?

According to hair loss experts, your scalp undergoes changes as hair is falling out and becomes very sensitive. You may notice hair loss in clumps and you may notice the texture of what hair you have left changing, becoming thin and fuzzy. Stylists and hair loss professionals are there to help ease your feels and deal with hair loss issues as they arise.

1.     Ask for privacy: When you go to see your stylist for help with your hair loss, ask the receptionist for a private area when you make the appointment over the phone, especially if you are very self-conscious. Most stylists will do everything they can to accommodate your feelings…and if they won’t, switch salons!

2.    Tell all: Tell your stylist or hair loss professional all about your hair loss issues, why it is happening, what diagnosis the doctor gave you, what medications you are on and anything else that could be important. This way you can work together to make an appropriate plan to deal with your hair loss as seamlessly as possible.

3.    Get lots of trims: You’ll need to come every few weeks to keep hair trimmed up until you decide to shave it all off or it all falls out.  Salon owner Ouidad, a Cancer survivor and hairstylist, says that trimming shorter also allows you to clearly see the shape of your head and scalp so it is not so shocking once hair is totally gone.

4.    Shave it all off: At some point, you may just want to ask your stylist to shave it all off. But don’t shave it too short, cautions Carol Galland, founder of Headcovers.com and Cancer-survivor herself, “If you shave it too short, it feels like needles sticking your head when you rest it on a pillow!”

Also, watch out for shavers and scissors – don’t be afraid to double-check with your stylist that they have been properly sterilized, because infection is an issue when your immune system may be comprised by chemotherapy, caution doctors and stylists alike.

5.    Have a fit: A Cancer wig fitting that is.  And do it before hair falls out and your original style is lost, advises Diahna Husbands, owner of Diahna Lynn Hair Studio in Maryland. Also if you do this early enough in the game, you’ll come in with hair and leave with new hair that looks the same so there is no awkward transition, advises Husbands.

Options for Oncology-related Hair Loss

For oncology-related hair loss, you can choose any of the usual wig types or you can investigate an actual medical prosthesis for medically related hair loss that breathes like your own skin and is capable of giving you a more natural, healthier appearance. These devices can replace all of your hair and allow you to sleep, shower and perform your normal daily activities, which can go a long way toward helping you feel a lot better.

Ideally, you should find a high-end professional before you lose your hair. Once you know you are going to endure chemotherapy treatments, a hair loss professional that specializes in hair systems can design a hair system for you that exactly matches your existing hair and style, color and density.

This eliminates the need for wigs and scarves after the procedure. According to Andrew Pollard, co-founder of White Cliffs Hair Studio in London, “it is a fact that a patient who achieves and maintains a healthy image while recovering from the trauma of chemotherapy will benefit tremendously from it.  It actually helps the healing process.”

The bottom line

Look for people who make you feel good, who want to help you look and feel better … avoid negativity.  Actually, says Husbands, ”It may seem terrible at first, but I’ve seen women turn it into a fun thing and order a few different wigs for different looks – they see it as a way to express personality and I agree!”

Naomi Mannino is a freelance writer who writes about health, beauty, and fashion, with a specialty in writing about hair, hair loss and Alopecia. She is a contributing writer for HairLoss.Com who writes about hair loss condition and hair loss solutions.

Lots of readers ask about Prostate Cancer Risk, so check this out. Keeping this blog current naturally means constantly looking for articles, videos and other worthwhile information which helps visitors to be more knowledgeable about cancer risk. Be sure to consider it all. Don’t forget to offer your opinions so everyone can be aware of your comments:

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How To Slash Your Prostate Cancer Risk – With Sunlight!

According to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer 2009; 100: 450-454, men with prostate cancer are as much as seven times less likely to die if they have high levels of vitamin D – the “sunshine vitamin”.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men. Each year close to 3,300 men die of prostate cancer annually and around 20,000 new cases are diagnosed in Australia each year. So, for all you male readers, if you want to prevent prostate cancer, and protect your health, getting regular sun exposure to optimize your vitamin D levels is an absolute must.

Prostate cancer is typically slow growing, and the five-year survival rate for all stages of prostate cancer combined is 99%. So it is very much a disease that can be managed…if you make the appropriate lifestyle changes.

Why Sunlight Is An Important Cancer-Fighting Tool

A previous study found men with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood were half as likely to develop aggressive forms of prostate cancer as those with lower amounts. Numerous other studies also confirm the link between vitamin D deficiency and multiple types of cancer. The “sunshine vitamin” has a protective effect against cancer in many ways including:

• Increasing the self-destruction of mutated cells (they can lead to cancer if allowed to replicate)

• Reducing the spread and reproduction of cancer cells

• Causing cells to become differentiated (cancer cells often cannot be differentiated by the body)

• Reducing the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones (which is a step in the transition of dormant tumors turning cancerous)

What Is The Optimal Vitamin D Level For You?

Vitamin D3 is produced by our bodies when UV radiation from sunlight hits our skin and reacts with a compound called 7-dehydrocholesterol. Ever since I was a child growing up in Australia we have been told to protect against UV radiation. But UV levels vary according to season, geographic latitude, smog, cloud cover and time of day.

A UV level of 3 or higher, which usually occurs between 10am to 3pm daily in the tropics and during spring and summer in temperate regions, requires most people to apply sun protection. Either side of those times up to 10-15 minutes of sunlight at least twice a week is adequate for Vitamin D synthesis. During winter take advantage of sunny periods but usually 2-3 hours of sun exposure spread over a week is adequate.

Your doctor can measure your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D to determine your vitamin D status. Your vitamin D level should always be above 32 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre), and anything below 20 ng/ml is considered a serious deficiency state, which would increase your risk of prostate cancer.

The optimal level is 45-52 ng/ml but previous research has suggested that maintaining a slightly higher level of 55 ng/ml is optimal for cancer prevention. Optimizing your vitamin D levels is an important part of prostate cancer prevention, but it is far from the only method. Another sensible strategy is eating a healthy diet including natural lycopene foods such as tomatoes, raspberries, watermelon and broccoli.

In addition, supplementation with important micro-nutrients is also essential in preventing and fighting cancer. Research has shown that a group of saccarides called glyconutrients are essential for a healthy immune system. Recent studies in numerous scientific journals have shown that glyconutrients not only retarded human prostate cancer cell growth, but also encouraged their destruction.

If you would like to know more about glyconutrients and their importance in maintaining a healthy immune system and fighting cancer then click on the link below.

Click on Disease Fighting Report for natural ways to fight prostate cancer and improve the quality of your health. Richard and Ruth Webster are Health and Wellness Consultants who help people struggling against major health issues. They have a successful Health and Wellness business offering natural solutions and Free Consultations for people looking to improve their health through natural means.

Question by ♥!SooRandom!♥: What causes skin cancer and what are the effects?
Well, I am 13, and I have gotten two severe sunburns this past month. My mom said they were pretty bad, and they can cause skin cancer in the future. Is this really true? If not what are the real causes of skin cancer? What are the effects?

Best answer:

Answer by Brendy
Skin Cancer Causes

Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, most commonly from sunlight, is overwhelmingly the most frequent cause of skin cancer.

Other important causes of skin cancer include the following:

* Use of tanning booths

* Immunosuppression—impairment of the immune system, which protects the body from foreign entities, such as germs or substances that cause an allergic reaction. This may occur as a consequence of some diseases or can be due to medications prescribed to combat autoimmune diseases or prevent organ transplant rejection.

* Exposure to unusually high levels of x-rays

* Contact with certain chemicals—arsenic (miners, sheep shearers, and farmers), hydrocarbons in tar, oils, and soot (may cause squamous cell carcinoma)
Regarding your mother’s comment, people who had at least one severe sunburn early in life have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Mom is right!
Treatment for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is straightforward. Usually, surgical removal of the lesion is adequate. Malignant melanoma, however, may require several treatment methods, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Add your own answer in the comments!