What Causes Cancer and What You Can Do About It

Up to one-quarter of all Americans will develop cancer in their lifetime, and many will die from it. Indeed, cancer is now the leading cause of death in the United States, recently surpassing heart disease.

We frequently think of cancer as a single disease, but it's actually many different diseases. Almost 200 different forms of cancer are known, and all are characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells. Normal controls on these cells have broken down and a "malignancy" has developed that invades and destroys healthy tissues.

What causes cancer? It's well known that it is initiated by certain carcinogens such as arsenic, asbestos, benzene, and beryllium. But environmental factors such as air pollution and our lifestyle - the food we eat, whether we smoke or drink alcohol and so on - can also cause cancer.

How do these things actually cause normal cells to go bad? Cancer is a cellular disease so we have to look in detail at what goes on in the cells of our body. One of the main things is cellular division; cells divide, creating copies of themselves. This division is under the control of DNA - the basic molecule of life - a long molecule composed of two strands wound one around the other.

In human cells, DNA has 46 distinct regions called chromosomes that are arranged in pairs. They, in turn, contain approximately 25,000 genes, or segments of DNA that determine the structure of the protein that is needed for the growth, development and other vital functions of the body. Genes determine a person's characteristics.

DNA is protected most of the time, but it becomes particularly vulnerable when cells divide. When a cell receives a message to divide, many reactions are involved and all of them have to take place correctly for the cell to divide properly. Furthermore, the division is initiated only when the cells received the proper signal, and the division stops when it received another (stop) signal. Cancer cells do not obey these signals.

How A Malignancy Forms

Cancer is initiated by a mutation at specific locations along the DNA that makes up the gene. How mutations affect the DNA depends to a large degree on what are called cancer genes. There are two types of these genes, called tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes. The tumor suppressors are associated with the cell's ability to divide; they stop division when it needs to stop (they also do other things). One of the best known is p53, which seems to be implicated in a large number of tumors. The proto-oncogenes stimulate growth or cell division. Mutations change proto-oncogenes into oncogenes that allow uncontrolled growth.

From a simple point of view, the process is as follows.

• A carcinogen, or another cancer-causing agent, alter the DNA sequence of the cancer gene.
• Mutations in tumor suppressor genes cause growth inhibiting protein usually coded by the genes to disappear allowing the cell to divide when it shouldn't.
• Mutations to the proto-oncogenes cause them to become very active, prompting them to grow when they shouldn't.
• Excess cellular growth leads to a mutant colony of cells that reproduces rapidly.
• Eventually, a mass, or group of these cells, breaks free and leaks into the bloodstream and moves to another part of the body where they set up a new colony.

The actual process is, of course, much more detailed than this, and scientists still do not understand it completely. What we can see from this, however, is that it takes several different steps to produce a malignancy. Furthermore, although mutations take place continuously, few of them are actually serious, and the reason is that within the cell there are molecules that are continually repairing any mutations that occur. When a defective section of DNA is spotted, it is repaired, or if it is seen to be beyond repair, it is killed and deleted from the strand. So there are safeguards, and cancer has to get around these safeguards. Unfortunately, in many cases, it does. Let's look at the six "superpowers" that cancer cells need (and have) to get around problems such as these.

Six Superpowers that Cancer Cells Have and Need to Cause their Damage

1. Normal cells require a signal to divide. Cancer cells ignore this signal; they continue to divide when they shouldn't.
2. When growth is such that it should stop, a stop signal, or command, is sent out. Normal cells obey this signal; cancer cells do not. Such a command may, for example, be sent out by adjacent cells, when they are squeezed.
3. When a healthy cell has built up several genetic defects it is usually programmed for destruction before it can cause any problems. Cancer cells are able to bypass this destruction.
4. Like all cells, cancer cells also need oxygen and nutrients to survive. They come via blood vessels, and tumors don't have the appropriate ones. They are able, however, to "steal" them from nearby healthy cells.
5. Healthy cells normally stop dividing after about 70 divisions. This is controlled by what is called "telomeres." Cancer cells need many more than 70 divisions to do their destruction, and they are able to manipulate the telomeres so that they have an infinite life.
6. The last of the six superpowers is the one that makes cancer particularly deadly. Normal cells are generally confined to a certain region of the body. Cancer cells somehow disable the cellular mechanism that confines them. Because of this they can metastasize, or move to other parts of the body.

Cancer cells also have another problem to overcome. All humans have two sets of chromosomes, one from their mother and one from their father (with the exception of the X and Y sex chromosomes). So in a sense, there is a back-up system in your body. This means that a mutation in one set is generally not enough to initiate cancer. In general, it takes 4 to 10 mutations in a particular gene to transform it.

The p53 Cancer Gene

Earlier I mentioned the p53 cancer gene; it is a tumor suppressor gene, and it is very helpful in protecting us from cancer. Its importance is seen when doctors inspect tumors in detail. They have found that 50% of cancer tumors have defects, or mutations, in their p53 genes. To see why this is important we have to look at what p53 does. Basically, it's like an inspector; after cell division it thoroughly checks the new strips of DNA. In particular, it checks for errors and defects, and it makes sure that any that it finds are repaired. Furthermore, if it finds too many, it labels that section of DNA for destruction, and a new section if produced. Generally it does a good job, but it can get out of control occasionally and kill off good cells.

What You Can Do

This list is, of course, incomplete, but it should give you a good idea of what you can do.

1. Early detection is obviously important - particularly before cancer metastasizes and moves throughout your body.
2. Avoid carcinogens as much as possible. Some of the major ones are cigarette smoke, certain viruses, radiation and radioactive substances, asbestos, arsenic, air pollution, benzene.
3. Diet. There is some controversy here, but general guidelines can be given. Some of them are: eat vegetables and fruit, avoid red meat, fiber is important, fish is helpful as are good fats such as omega 3 and other antioxidants.
4. Both obesity and excess alcohol can lead to cancer.
5. Other things: Vitamin D is important, and take a baby aspirin every day.

Barry Parker (Ph. D.) is a professor emeritus (physics, biophysics) at Idaho State University who now spends most of his time writing. He is the author of 26 books on science, health writing, and music, and he has written for the Smithsonian, Encyclopedia Britannica, Time-Life Books, the Washington Post, and numerous magazines such as Flyfisherman, Astronomy Magazine, and Sky and Telescope. One of his books is "You Should Write a Book: Writing it With Style and Clarity, Publishing Beautiful Pages, Selling Thousands of Copies," It is based on a course he taught at ISU for several years, and is available through his website BarryParkerbooks.com. He is also the author of "Feel Great Feel Alive" which is on health, fitness, and self-improvement, and he is CEO of Stardust Press. While at ISU he did research on the DNA molecule and on Einstein's Theory of Relativity. His latest book is "Learn from Yesterday, Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrow."

7 Misunderstandings About Cancer

When it comes to diagnosis and treatment of cancer there are a number of misunderstandings. These misunderstandings, be them from doctors or patients, can only serve to keep the cancer returning post-treatment if indeed there has not been death.

 To avoid this it is necessary to identify and act on these misunderstandings. Not an exhaustive account, but here are 7 common misunderstandings about cancer.

1. Early detection saves lives

The claim that early detection saves lives is simply untrue because it is impossible to tell whether or not the cancer will turn out to be benign or malignant. Don't be fooled or misguided by the early detection myth.

 For example, Pathologists will tell you that some 30-40 times more cancers; prostate, pancreatic, and thyroid cancers were found during autopsy. These individuals, when alive, never went to the doctors because due to healing abilities their bodies had been able to encapsulate the cancer, rendering it as benign and symptomless.

2. The symptoms are the cause of the illness

Oh no! Many people don't realize that cancer is only a symptom of some underlying root-cause. In other words cancer is a knock-on effect or warning sign and is the body's way of trying to heal itself... Heal itself of what, did I hear you say? -Read on

3. Treating the symptoms is the cure

No again! Many doctors make this mistake. Yes, it's important to treat the symptoms but the cancer will eventually return because the underlying root-cause is ignored. This is what is happening when patients are treated using conventional medicine. The root cause of cancer is nutritional deficiency and toxicity which indeed needs to be addressed to be sure that the patient is cured.

4. Natural cures don't work

To say that natural cures don't work is nothing more than disinformation. The medical-pharmaceutical establishment don't want you finding out about inexpensive, natural, non-toxic and non-evasive cures because it undercuts their business, so, to counter this, they spread disinformation through the mass media... Doctors found treating patients with unapproved natural cures could be struck off the list even if the treatment works...

5. Nutrition does not have much of an effect

How doctors, cancer research and people suchlike can basically ignore nutrition, one of the things that makes up our very being truly amazes me. As I've been saying in previous articles with backed up evidence cancer is the result of long-term nutritional deficiency and toxicity. Therefore the cancer needs to be addressed by treating the cancer patient with a strict dietary regimen of specific foods and supplements to heal the body as well as detoxification.

6. One day there will be a magic bullet cure for cancer

Many, falling for the cancer research con, think that one day there will be a magic bullet cure for cancer or something like that. Every so often, you see something in mainstream media that promotes the latest drug that could turn out to be the 'miracle cure' of the future but nothing ever comes of it. That's because curing cancer doesn't work like that. A multi-factorial holistic approach is needed; one that addresses the nutritional deficiency, toxicity, stress handling, the mind-body-spirit connection and exercise... to cure the patient.

7. Mobile phone use does not cause cancer

A source that's often used to support the above misunderstanding is a Dutch study conducted by Patrizia Frei et al in 2011. The study found that mobile phone frequent / heavy use did not cause cancer. However, the study was criticized by Professor Dennis Henshaw et al at Bristol University, pointing out that there had been a number of major flaws in the study. This was ignored by mainstream media.

Some studies such as those conducted by Yaniv Hamzany and colleagues at Tel-Aviv University (2013) concluded that long-term frequent/heavy mobile phone use was harmful and could cause cancer. Also, a Swedish study headed by Stefan Lonn published in the American Journal of Epidemiology(2005) found that long-term frequent/heavy mobile phone use for 2 plus hours each day meant a 250-1 greater chance of getting brain cancer.

Then there's the 2012 Bio-Initiative report that puts any doubts laid to rest. This documents 1000's of pages of primary source studies, showing harmful effects...

-I hope that this has given the reader some insights and they want to make further inquiries.

10 Cancer Causing Foods You Are Eating

According to the American Cancer Society, "in 2014, there will be an estimated 1,665,540 new cancer cases diagnosed and 585,720 cancer deaths in the US. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the US, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths."

If you - or someone you love - have been among any cancer statistic, you know that the disease is awful. And chances are you have asked - how did this happen?

Unfortunately, there is no definite answer, but there are some suggestions on how you can change your eating habits to decrease your chances of cancer.

Here are some foods that are believed to cause cancer:

Non-organic fruit 

 It's no surprise that fruit is sprayed with pesticides, but the organic fruit is sprayed with safe, natural pesticides. Chemical pesticides are the ones to watch out for because they're known to be linked to cancer, Alzheimer's, ADHD and birth defects. Pesticides build up in your body and affect your nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems.

Canned tomatoes -

Canned tomatoes lined with a chemical known as BPA. In 2010, the FDA "identified possible hazards to fetuses, infants, and young children." However, they still have not banned them.

Deli meat 

 I have already warned you about the link between deli or processed meat and Alzheimer's, but meats like hot dogs, sausage, bacon and most cold cuts contain carcinogens. Processed meats look so yummy because of preservatives with nitrates and unfortunately, these are well-known carcinogens.

Diet beverages 

many people choose a diet drink to save the calories, but what if I told you that you're actually better off drinking the full-calorie drink (if you have to, it's better to avoid these types of drinks altogether). Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin have been found to cause cancer.

Farmed Salmon  

I know, you may have been eating salmon because you've been told that fatty fish are good for your heart but the director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the State University of New York at Albany established that farmed salmon (instead of wild) are grown using harmful chemicals, pesticides, and antibiotics.

Hydrogenated oils -

Since vegetable oils are chemically removed from their source and then they are deodorized to become hydrogenated, you'll want to avoid them.

Refined white flour - which unfortunately are found in lots of processed foods. Processed flour actually has a very high glycemic rate, which has been found to feed cancer cell growth.

Refined sugar 

 many researchers have stated that cancer has a sweet tooth and feeds off sweet foods that contain ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup. Luckily manufacturers have been listening and there are now plenty of snacks, cereals, and juices made without high fructose corn syrup.

Alcohol 

 no worries, in moderation a glass of wine is OK to enjoy. It's when alcohol is abused in excess when it can cause heart disease, a stroke and even cancer. The American Cancer Society has alcoholic beverages listed as a "known human carcinogen".

Corn and Soy GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) 

 According to the USDA, approximately 94% of soy and 89% of corn products are genetically modified. These foods have been chemically grown and modified with chemicals. There have been oodles of arguments about GMOs, but the bottom line is that 30 other countries have banned them and the "FDA approved commercial production of GMOs based on studies conducted by the companies who created them and profit from their sale."

So there you have it. You may love many of these items, but believe me, they are easy to give up. And when it comes to cancer - better safe than sorry.

3 Things Children of Cancer Patients Are Tired of Hearing

When my dad was diagnosed with cancer a month before my freshman year at college, it came like a freight train to the gut. There is nothing more frightening, in my experience than watching your parents sit down on the couch, hands clutched together tightly, and begin to sob in earnest.

Somewhere in the emotional melee, they manage to tell you that they have some news, and if you're smart and have been paying attention, you know that whatever it is cannot possibly be good. They let the dreaded word fly and I immediately left the house to take the dog on a three-hour walk (or stumble, in my case) around the neighborhood.

Plain and simple, it sucks. It really, really sucks to watch the man who chased the monsters from under your bed be tackled and slowly devoured by a creature you never thought you'd have to see.

And ironically, as a Christian, what sometimes sucks, even more, is letting other people in. Everyone always has something to say, good or bad, and sometimes, as well-meaning as they are, people say exactly the wrong things. These are a handful.

1. "I know exactly how you must be feeling. My dog/cat/friend's uncle's cousin had cancer and it was just so hard for me to watch."

No. Don't you dare tell me you know what it's like. Especially not when your only experience is with someone you see once a year. A trusted friend once turned the tables on me while out to lunch after asking me about Dad, and I was left to comfort her while she cried over the loss of her dog.

And I get it, animals are family. But a dog is NOT the same thing as a dad. And don't try to tell me otherwise.

2. "Have you prayed about it?"

This is basically the Christian version of "Have you tried turning it on and off again?" Don't do it. It's insulting and rude, well-meaning as it may be. Of course I've prayed. You don't think I've watched my father suffer for three years and never once tried to petition the Almighty to have it all cease? The fact of the matter is that, yes, I have. For a long time, in fact.

And it's just. not. working.

3. "Just have faith."

This one is also quite rude and insensitive. If all it took was faith to make my dad well again, we'd have seen the end of this a long time ago. Yes, faith is part of the medicine. Faith in the doctors, faith in the drugs, faith in God at the end of it all. But a patient does not heal by faith alone. There's chemotherapy. There's radiation. Diet. Exercise. Surgery. All of which are excruciating to watch someone work through.

Cancer isn't an easy problem to solve. Please, please don't give me an easy solution.

Types of Oncologists and Their Roles in Your Cancer Treatment

Oncology is, at the very core, the study of cancer and the doctor who specializes in cancer treatment is called an oncologist. There are three main types of oncologists - medical, surgical and radiation. All three work in coordination to treat cancer. 

The medical oncologist specializes in treating patients with chemotherapy and other drugs to kill the cancer cells and prevent them from diving and spreading to other parts.

A surgical oncologist specializes in removing the tumor and the surrounding tissue by operating on it. They also perform biopsies. A radiation oncologist treats cancer with radiation therapy.

What is the role of an oncologist?

The role of an oncologist is to provide complete care for the patient right from diagnosis to treatment. He offers consultation, answers queries and provides the complete path for the treatment of cancer.

Diagnosis

The first and foremost responsibility is to accurately diagnose cancer. They type of cancer and the extent of its proliferation is analyzed by an oncologist. This means that at they get involved in the treatment of a patient at the very initial stage.

Consultation

You can talk to your doctor about any doubts or any information that you need. It is your right to know what the doctor has diagnosed and what your treatment options will be. You can also ask questions and understand all the available facilities your have for dealing with cancer. The doctor will tell you where the cancer is located and how it is affecting other parts of the body.

Treatment options

The oncologist also explains all the available treatment options and recommends the right course of action. There will be various tests and your doctor will make sure that you understand the results and are prepared for treatment. He will also inform you about the side effects and help you overcome them.

Compassionate care

The main role of any doctor /surgeon in any treatment is compassionate care. Helping restore a patient's quality of life to the maximum is what they aim for.

Cancer treatment involves a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals that includes a pathologist, a diagnostic radiologist, a surgeon and a nurse. Well, dermatologist and other specialists may be required according to the type of cancer being treated. Cancer treatment is a specialist job and requires a lot of care. Choosing the right hospital for treatment and surgery is what will ensure that your treatment is expertly handled. Make sure that you understand all the criteria and all your options and select the right hospital for this!

Natural Cancer Prevention Tips

Back in the year 1900, only about one person in twenty in the U.S. became a victim of cancer. This victim rate has steadily climbed over the years and today about one person in every three could be afflicted with this horrid disease! Cancer's annual cost in the United States is over 263 billion dollars. It is the second leading cause of death and is responsible for one in four deaths.

Cancer is defined as a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. The Mayo Clinic says that it is caused by changes, or mutations, to the DNA within the cells. Different types of cancers are classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.

Since it is so much easier to prevent a disease than it is to get over it once you get it, let's take a look at things that should reduce your chances of being a victim. Most known causes of cancer can be avoided. If you are making an effort to avoid things that cause cancer, you are eating an anti-cancer diet, and are living a healthy type of lifestyle, the odds are in your favor that you will not get cancer!

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED: 

tobacco, excessive consumption of alcohol, asbestos, arsenic, radiation, overexposure to the sun, car exhaust fumes, sugar, especially fructose, processed foods, genetically engineered foods, pesticides, herbicides, household chemical cleaners.

EAT AN ANTI-CANCER DIET: 

blueberries, garlic, broccoli, green tea, pomegranate, tomatoes, avocados, coconut oil, and turmeric. Also, be sure to get adequate magnesium in your diet. Magnesium can be found in almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, figs, lemons, apples, dark leafy greens, celery, alfalfa sprouts, and brown rice. Drink plenty of water, especially purified water. Drinking caffeinated coffee, but not decaf has been found to reduce the chances of getting some cancers. It is also desirable to eat many of your foods raw, plus include both fruits and vegetables daily.

OTHER KNOWN ANTI-CANCER STRATEGIES. 

Get regular exercise and adequate sleep. Eat organic foods when possible. Be sure you are getting enough Vitamin D, either from your foods, sunshine, or a vitamin supplement. Manage your stress level. Too much stress destroys the nutrients your body needs and weakens the immune system.

Most nutritionists recommend that we take a good multivitamin-mineral supplement, too, since it can be difficult to get all you need from foods alone. It is known that cancer thrives in an acidic environment and it cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Many of the foods listed in this article will help you to become more alkaline and less acidic. That is a good thing to help reduce your odds of getting cancer and for being healthier.

Prevent Cancer - Be Alert to Symptoms of Cancer

Cancer being a deadly disease, the focus should be on how to prevent cancer. If you can't always prevent it, you should at least be alert to the symptoms appearing as early signs so that you will be able to diagnose the problem early and get yourself cured of it. The axiom that diagnosing a health problem at an early stage will facilitate getting it treated properly and make the chances of getting cured better is particularly true of cancer, given the proneness of the disease to spread fast and become incurable if not detected in time.

There are some symptoms common to cancer and some other minor ailment. Yet, taking quick action once you spot these symptoms will go a long way in ensuring the safety of your health. I am listing some of the common symptoms for three types of cancer. If you detect these symptoms, consult your doctor who will be able to diagnose your condition properly and suggest the appropriate treatment.

Skin Cancer 

Skin Cancer will first affect your skin and then spread to other parts of your body. Skin cancer will be indicated by the moles and marks on your body changing their color, size, shape or structure within a short time. Sores that won't heal soon are another set of signs you have to be wary of. If you notice the appearance of some spots on your skin or some change in the color or texture of your skin, check with your doctor.

Throat Cancer 

Throat cancer will appear as a growth on the vocal chords or on the linithe ng of the throat. It may spread to the esophagus, neck, and lymph nodes. Cigarettes, alcohol and certain food items may contribute to the development of this disease. The symptoms you will have to guard against are any lump, inflammation or swelling on your neck that remains unsubsidized for more than two weeks. Do not ignore these symptoms just because they are small or because they don't cause you any pain, Prolonged hoarseness in your voice, frequent vomiting, sudden loss of weight, difficulty in swallowing food or experience of pain while swallowing food etc are also signs of throat cancer. These symptoms may be benign but when they are persistent, you will have to make sure that they are not symptoms of cancer.

Cancer of the Mouth 

Mouth cancer manifests in the form of the cavity in your mouth, lip, tongue, gums, saliva glands, and tonsils. Mouth cancer can also affect your lymphatic system, head, and lungs. Like throat cancer, this may also be caused by smoking, drinking and eating certain types of food. If you have ulcers in your mouth or on your tongue that won't heal within two weeks, development of mouth cancer can be indicated. The appearance of red or white spots in a cavity in your mouth may also be a sign of mouth cancer. Other symptoms to look for include chronic sore throat, prolonged hoarseness in your voice, painful swallowing, swelling or bleeding inside your mouth and your lips, gums, tongue or inner cheeks exhibiting the change of color.

7 Key Risk Factors For Cancers You Must Know

To begin with, it's pertinent to put cancers in the right perspective. By way of definition, a cancer is a malignant tumour or swelling composed of abnormal cells capable of undergoing uncontrolled proliferation. Many erroneously hold the view that every swelling or lump is a cancer. However, this is not so. Unlike benign swellings, cancerous cells generally have the tendency to invade surrounding tissues and sometimes metastasize (break off and spread) to distant body tissues via the bloodstream or lymphatic system. 

Cancers result when there is a disruption to the normal process of cell division. Body cells are continuously undergoing cell division, albeit in a controlled manner to replace aging and dead cells. However, a fault or mutation sometimes occurs during this process. If not promptly repaired by the body, this results in the formation of abnormal cells which continue to proliferate uncontrollably and ultimately lead to cancer.

Arguably, the health burden of cancer is enormous. Cancer is said to kill more people annually than HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), by 2030, more than 21 million new cases of cancer would have been diagnosed with 13 million people dying from cancer every year. Furthermore, statistics have revealed that 80000 Nigerian women die from various forms of cancer every year with breast cancer at the top of the list.
A complex interplay of several risk factors, some of which are discussed below determines who comes down with cancer and who does not:

Smoking 

Cigarette smoking, active or passive is implicated in most cancers including lung, nasopharyngeal, oesophageal and prostate cancers to mention a few. In fact, research has shown that about 33% of all annual cancer deaths in the United States result from smoking. Approximately 98% of patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) have a significant smoking history and fortunately, cessation of smoking has been correlated with improved survival in these patients.

Obesity 

Compared with people of normal weight and Body Mass Index (BMI), obese individuals stand a greater risk of some cancer types including cancers of the pancreas, colon, kidneys, oesophagus, breast and the endometrium among others. One explanation that has been proposed for this increased risk is that fat tissues produce excessive quantities of oestrogen in obese people. High oestrogen levels have been associated with increased risk of breast and endometrial cancers. Furthermore, obese individuals are more likely to have elevated blood levels of insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) which favour the development of some cancers. Studies have shown that overweight and obese individuals stand 200-400% higher risk of endometrial cancer than their counterparts with a normal BMI.

HIV/AIDS 

Immunodeficient individuals such as people living with HIV/AIDS are at more risk of developing certain types of cancer. Three of these cancers namely Kaposi Sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Cervical Cancer are referred to as AIDS-defining illnesses. For instance, an individual infected with HIV has several thousands higher risk of manifesting Kaposi Sarcoma and 70 times higher risk of developing Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Some other cancer types they are at risk of include anal cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma and lung cancer. Because HIV/AIDS weakens the immune system, it is believed that it predisposes to some other infections that can cause cancer e.g Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection that has been implicated in cervical cancer.

Excessive Alcohol Intake 

Studies have shown that excessive consumption of alcohol increases your risk of oral, throat, oesophageal and liver cancer. Consequently, if you quit excess drinking, your risk of these deadly cancers will be significantly less.

Excessive exposure to Sunlight 

Individuals that expose themselves to intense sunlight inadvertently increase their risk of skin cancers. Numerous studies have implicated Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the pathology of skin cancers, including melanoma. Melanin is a natural skin pigment that offers significant protection from ultraviolet rays. This is why light-skinned people who have less melanin pigment in their skin are more likely to experience sunburn and skin cancer.

Positive Family History 

For most cancers, individuals who have one or more close relatives (especially first-degree relatives) that have been diagnosed with such cancers have a significantly higher risk. Such people are said to be genetically predisposed because they may have inherited some of the abnormal genes. For instance, a family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative is one of the important risk factors for this cancer. If a mother or sister is affected by breast cancer, the lifetime risk of developing the disease is increased by four folds.

Increasing Age 

As people increase in age, their risk of developing most cancers also tends to increase. For example, while breast cancer is very rare in women below 25 years, the incidence reaches a plateau in women aged 50-55 years. Furthermore, prostate cancer is a disease condition that is typically seen in the elderly (Age >65 years) and the prevalence can be as high as 80% at 80 years of age.

As a seasoned medical practitioner and medical writer at nigerianbulletin.com with vast experience in the medical field, your health and fitness is my priority.

5 Cancer Prevention Tips

Some tips on how to prevent cancer are pretty obvious: don't smoke, stay out of the sun, don't live near power lines... but other lifestyle choices might not be so clear. Here are some ideas on how you can do a few things in life a little differently to help prevent something serious from developing down the road. And start off by recognizing the fact that odds are you won't get cancer simply by living a healthy lifestyle, which should include using some form of natural medicine like naturopathy, osteopathy, or chiropractic for example.

1. Drink water - properly

This means avoiding plastic bottles and instead drinking filtered water (from a tap), stored in stainless steel or glass containers. Even the best plastic can leach chemicals into your water, and so should be avoided. And since some home filters have plastic containers, your best bet is probably a filter that fits onto the tap. Consuming lots of water is of course recommended, but do try to get much of your water intake from organic fruits and vegetables. They're a great source of the water our bodies need to absorb, and naturally they're high in antioxidants as well.

2. Sleep tight.

 You may think that getting 8 hours of sleep a night is best, and you're probably right but you may also be keeping it a little too simple. Studies show that we all vary in the amount we need for sleep, so experiment a little and try to see how much sleep feels right for you. Generally speaking we need anywhere from 6 to 9 hours, and the amount may depend on how well you're eating and how much exercise you're getting (i.e. a poor diet or lots of exercise may require more sleep). Also, the quality of your sleep is important. You could lie in bed all day long and not get a deep enough sleep cycle, which takes approximately 1.5 hours. So try to keep your room dark and keep sounds from waking you (wear earplugs if you have to), because getting a deep enough sleep is key.

3. Sweat a bit, or a lot. 

Obviously keeping healthy with exercise is a great way to keep cancer at bay. And as with sleep, so too is the amount of exercise we need not the same for each individual, as says acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Certainly seeing an expert and obtaining a diagnosis from them (via your pulse) is the best way to determine what level of exercise you would benefit most from, but you can always try and figure things out for yourself too. If you feel like taking a nap right after a workout, you're exercising too much. Conversely, if skipping a workout makes you feel tense and unhappy, then you probably need to maintain your levels and make sure you get exercise where you can, even if it's just ten minutes of jumping jacks and squats.

4. Ask questions. Don't let your doctor (or any health care provider for that matter) off the hook so easily. If you think you need a mammogram or another test, ask about it instead of waiting for them to suggest it. And while you're being proactive, use any and all of the benefits you might have for paramedical services such as osteopathy, naturopathy, and so on. Even the right physiotherapist or chiropractor can help a great deal when it comes to treatment and advice that could add (healthy) years onto your life.

5. Be realistic. Chances are that if you're trying to get healthier you have an idea of how to measure your progress, e.g. through amount of weight lost, improved sleep or diet, and so on. Be sure, however, to set goals that are realistic and achievable, because causing yourself too much stress isn't going to help with cancer prevention, no matter how good you start to look.

10 Cancer Symptoms That Most People Ignore

Considering the possibility that you may have cancer is downright overwhelming and terrifying. Yet it is just as important that you stay vigilant and get any possible symptoms and signs checked away instantly. Here are 10 common cancer symptoms that most people ignore, but actually are a call for action.

Change in Bowel Habits

If there is a mass impeding the passing of stool in your colon, this can result in uneasy bowel movement as well as larger than usual or deformed stool. As this can be a sign of colon cancer, you might need to schedule a colonoscopy to check things out and be sure, so call your doctor right away.

Change in Urinary Habits

A sudden and drastic change in your urinary routines or the appearance of blood in urine can be a clear sign of cancer. It can also be a symptom of urinary tract infection so make sure to check that out first before you hit the big panic button.

A persistent Cough

Not all coughs are cancer induced, but the only way to check and make sure yours is much harmless is to visit the doctor and get the required scans. Undue hoarseness, or a particularly cacophonous cough, that is persistent or accompanied by blood clearly signals trouble.

Persistent Difficulty in Swallowing

If you are having difficulty swallowing without any real explanation as to why you might want to see your doctor at the earliest. Esophageal and Neck cancer can both make it hard to ingest the usual food, and while eating softer foods might bring relief this is far from a solution to the matter at hand.

Changing Moles

It is a good idea to get regularly screened for skin cancer if you tend to spend a good deal of time outdoors. Having said that, keep an eye out for new marks and moles or those that seem to change shape or appearance; not all such occurrences indicate melanoma but some might well do.

Unexplained Lumps

A lump that appears out of nowhere or a lump changing shape and form are a clear sign that necessitates action. While this could simply be a cyst, this is a possibility you want only your doctor to officially rule out. Especially of relevance when noticed in the breast area.

Sores that Refuse to Heal

A typical sore takes no more than three weeks for the body to heal; therefore if you have sores that have been around for any longer, this can be a clear sign of cancer. Make sure to get it medically checked up.

Unexplained Pains

Unexplained and persistent pains, while sometimes perfectly natural, can just as easily be a sign of serious trouble. No matter where you experience this pain in your body, a proper check-up at the doctor's is due to ensure whether or not anything major is responsible.

Undue Weight Loss

Serious weight loss, while your grandest of dreams, when unexplained can be a sign of malignancy or a tumor. Don't waste any time and consult your doctor at the earliest- this time it may not be caused to celebrate.

Undue Bleeding

Bleeding, when unexplained is never a good sign; don't just ignore it. Unexpected bleeding outside your usual menstrual cycle can be a sign of cervical cancer, while anal bleeding may signal colon cancer.

Cancer Management, Symptom Control and Palliative Care

The most ideal treatment for cancer is the complete removal of the tumor without any damage to the rest of the body. Achieving such kind of cure with near zero adverse effects is possible with surgery; however, there is always a chance that cancer invades the adjacent tissues or it could also spread to distant sites in the body. This reduces the effectiveness of the surgery even if it was expertly performed. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are known to have negative effects on the normal cells of the body.

There will never be a single cure for cancer. However, there are various treatments that are used in combination to provide patients with the highest degree of wellness possible. Today, there are plenty of treatments available for cancer. Surgery is a very popular treatment for 'local only' cancers. Localized tumors are easily removed with the help of surgery. Surgery is also used to control the symptoms such as spinal cord compression due to the presence of a large tumor etc. Surgery may be chosen as a treatment method either before or after chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy is the use of ionizing radiation that helps kill the cancer cells. It is also used to shrink the tumors. The effects of the surgery are localized and limited to the area that the beam is targeted to. It damages the genetic material of the target tissues and restricts them from growing, dividing and spreading to other parts of the body.

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to treat cancer. These drugs target all rapidly dividing cells and hence stop the cancer cells from dividing and spreading to other parts of the body. The side effect of this treatment is that it may also affect noncancer cells.

Targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy are some of the other forms of cancer treatments that help in cancer management.

Symptom control is important to restore the quality of life of cancer patients. It is an important factor to determine whether the patient is capable of undergoing other treatments.

It is important to reduce the pain, nausea, and vomiting that is induced by chemotherapy. Other after-effects such as diarrhea and hemorrhage need to be taken care of. Palliative care has hence become a popular specialty for cancer treatment.

The aim is to get the patient to be as comfortable as possible with the least amount of medication. Cancer-related fatigue is a very common problem and plays an important role in a patient's quality of life.

Overall, most of the cancer treatments include procedures with some amount of side effects and it is of utmost importance to provide them with the right kind of care so that they can live a comfortable and near to normal life. After the effects of any treatment cannot be avoided or eliminated entirely. However, pain control and other symptom control is an important part of providing cancer patients with quality services that make their treatment worthwhile.

5 Different Ways of Fighting Cancer

When an individual is diagnosed with cancer, it is followed by some natural responses as depression and shock. But, after a while patient starts to look other remedial ways to cure the disease with the best available option. Here, we have given the detailed description of some the common cancer remedies:

1) Surgery:

Surgery is performed for some reasons. A few surgeries are minor, while others are major. The most widely recognized surgeries connected with tumor are as follows:

• Preventative

• Diagnostic

• Staging

• Curative

• Supportive

• Restorative

Surgery can be utilized to analyze, treat and even counteract the disease of cancer, relying upon the numerous circumstances in each analyzed instance of disease. Surgery frequently gives the best chance for conceivable cure, if cancer hasn't moved to different parts of the body.

2) Immuno treatment:

Immuno treatment is a treatment known for utilizing the body's insusceptible framework as a part of a request to fight malignancy. It empowers the safe framework to essentially battle its own particular fight utilizing man-made insusceptible framework proteins. Inside of the most recent 30 years or somewhere in the vicinity, immunotherapy has turned into a key a portion of treating numerous sorts of growth. New medications are at present being concentrated on, and will probably change how we treat the tumor.

Immuno treatment medicines work in different ways. Some help the invulnerable framework while others prepare the resistant framework to assault just tumor cells. Immuno treatment works best for particular sorts of the tumor over others. Taking into account the sort it will be utilized without anyone else or with different sorts of treatment.

3) Chemotherapy:

The basic objectives of chemotherapy are cure, control, and concealment. Chemotherapy, regularly alluded to as "chemo" is the utilization of medications and prescription to treat tumors. Numerous individuals are startled by the thought of experiencing chemo, yet by knowing the better understanding of the treatment and how it works and after that they are quite satisfied with the treatment.

Surgery and certain radiation treatment, harm, evacuate and eradicate the growth of cells affected in a particular region of the body. When the tumor has started to affect the other parts of the body, chemo can discover it and execute it.

4) Targeted Therapy:

This treatment is quite new in medical science which uses cancer drugs to attack the affected cells in a more precise way. However, this type of treatment does not affect the healthy or unaffected cells of the body.

The medications utilized for targeted therapy have a tendency to be much like chemotherapy, they just don't work precisely the same. They assault the tumor cells' deepest parts that set them separated from sound, typical cells. The reactions of the targeted therapy are much less serious than chemotherapy.

5) Hyperthermia:

Hyperthermia utilizes the warmth to treat a malignancy and is an age-old technique. With new apparatuses and exact warmth, conveyance hyperthermia can be utilized against a few types of malignancy. There are two very diverse ways that hyperthermia can be utilized:

1. Amazingly high temperatures are utilized to decimate a little gathering of cells, for instance, a tumor. This is normally alluded to as warm removal or nearby hyperthermia.

2. The temperature of a specific segment of the body is raised a couple of degrees higher than typical. This guide other malignancy medications, for example, immune treatment, radiation, and chemotherapy. This is called provincial hyperthermia.