Cancer Blog

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer involving mesothelial tissues of body organs usually lungs or abdominal. It is often caused by exposure to asbestos. However, there are 30-50% of patients without any history of asbestos exposure. People who have received asbestos exposure of as little as one or two months to very low doses are at risk of mesothelioma cancer. Even people who wash clothes of asbestos exposed people are at risk. A person exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma after 50 years of exposure.

People in the occupations such as construction jobs in shipyards, insulators, boilermakers, etc. are at the risk of contracting asbestos disease.

The 2 common types of mesothelioma are:

Pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer) and Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs).

The survival time for a patient with diffuse malignant mesothelioma is from 4 to 24 months from the observance of the symptoms. Mesothelioma is also difficult to diagnose.

The chance of recovery for a patient with mesothelioma depends on size and location of the cancer, age of the patient and his response to the treatment.

Presently, the treatment options for mesotheliomas are:

There is some evidence that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Cancer

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Thousands of people die due to mesothelioma. The airborne fibers of asbestos cause this fatal disease. The fibers stay in the air and when they enter our lungs they cause this disease.

Almost everyone today is unprotected from asbestos but the degree of exposure differs from person to person. It is not necessary that if you are under minimal exposure, the degree of developing this disease is less, as the characteristic of the disease is very strange. But it is very obvious that those who are exposed to asbestos for a longer duration have more chances of getting this illness.

If the nature of your work is asbestos milling or mining, shipbuilding trades, insulation work etc, then you are at a great risk of contracting the dangerous disease, mesothelioma. The places that are badly affected by this dangererous disease are the Cappadocian region of Turkey because there are many construction workers living in this area. Many people in the United States have also contracted this disease.

Even genetics play a role. Because, some of the people who have been in contact with asbestos for years have not contracted this disease. The genetic factors have helped them to resist this disease.

Stay away from asbestos mines and do not use asbestos related products if you want to be safe.

Nano Technology may in fact hold the keys to fighting many different types of cancer in the human bio-system. The technologies are so promising we may see survival rates skyrocket, thus everyone can live strong in the upcoming decade. Nano Tubes use in fighting cancer is indeed, a unique process; it works by inserting tiny microscopic carbon synthetic rods into the body to deliver the cancer treatment to the exact spot needed. By directly aiming the rods into the cancer cells, the healthy tissue is saved.

This research is quite promising and is being researched by Stanford University. Chemotherapy seems to becoming a thing of the past. That is the theory that nuking the body and seeing which dies first; the cancer or the person. Even when the human survives it is left with huge amounts of destroyed tissue, which was not cancerous. When you see a person who is using chemotherapy to treat the cancer you see their hair fallout, but that is only one of many dire and serious side effects.

These nanotubes are so small they are the width of a DNA strand. The nano tubes will be heated up using near infrared light in a laser beam, which takes about two-minutes. The cancerous cells are quickly destroyed. This research is only in the preliminary stages but should be solved within the coming decade.

The nano tubes will be coated with a vitamin called folate, which is found in cancerous cells, but does not normally bind with healthy cells. Once these tubes touch the cancerous area they quickly bind and then are electrified with near infrared laser light, killing the cells. Nano Tube technologies are quickly coming of age and once they are available this process should be relatively easy to use. One cancer already targeted is Lymphoma and tests of the process are being done on mice with good results. There are other cancers it might work on well to and have been suggested. For instance Ovarian Cancers, Cervical Cancer and others; Nano Technology and biomedical processes are coming of age as we speak.

The part of the large intestine that joins the small intestine is called the caecum. Directly above the anus is a short length of large intestine - 12-15cm long - called the rectum. The colon extends from caecum to the rectum and is divided into 4 parts: the ascending colon, which rises upwards from the caecum; the transverse colon, which runs across the body from right to left; the descending colon, which sweeps downwards; and a relatively short section called the sigmoid colon, which leads to the rectum.

A major function of the colon is to extract fluids from what remains of food after its nutrients have been absorbed in the small intestine. The colon also provides a temporary storage place for solid wastes, as well as a channel for their removal from the body. Colon cancer and rectal cancer, often referred to collectively as cancer of the bowel, is one the most common cancers of the digestive system. All parts of the large intestine can develop cancer although most cases of colon cancer occur in the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum.

The type of food you eat seems to increase or decrease your chances of getting colon cancer. A variety of studies suggest that people who consume large quantities of high-fat and low-fibre foods run a greater risk than those who eat a low-fat and high-fibre diet. Therefore, you can reduce your chances of getting colon cancer by, decreasing the amount of ‘bad’ foods you eat and, increase your intake of ‘good’ cancer preventing foods.

Among the ‘good’ cancer preventing foods are vegetables (especially broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower), whole grains and legumes (beans and peas). Your diet should also include sufficient amounts of vitamin A and C, which, according to experts help to neutralise cancer-causing substances in food. Diet is one aspect that can control the onset of colon cancer, however, there are factors that you may have no control over. For instance, an uncommon inherited tendency to develop many small to large growths in the colon. These growths, or polyps, look somewhat like mushrooms.

There are signs that may be heeded as to whether cancer of the colon or large intestine is present or a condition that may lead to it, may be present in the body. In general, any persistent change in bowel habits should alert you. Diarrhoea or constipation that will not go away after about a week, despite the use of medication; stools that are narrower than usual, which can occur if a growth is blocking or narrowing any part of the colon or rectum are not sure indicators of colon cancer, but may indicate a problem and the sooner you find out exactly what these changes mean, the better your chances will be in dealing with them.

One indication that you may have cancer of the colon may turn up when a routine test for invisible traces of blood in the faeces is positive. Bear in mind that many other conditions besides cancer can lead to the presence of small amounts of blood in the faeces; these conditions can include haemorrhoids (piles), non-cancerous tumours or infections. A routine physical examination by a doctor should be done even when no colon cancer is suspected. After a general inspection, he may refer you to a specialist who will use an instrument called a sigmoidscope to examine the rectum and lower part of the sigmoid colon in more detail. If a colon cancer growth is detected, the specialist, perhaps in collaboration with a surgeon, will outline a course of treatment. The choice of therapy will be based on the size of the growth, on how much of the colon is affected and whether the cancer has spread to other areas.

Like many other cancers, there are three basic ways in which colon cancer can be treated: with surgery, radiotherapy or with anticancer drugs, or with a combination of these three approaches. The treatment will depend on where the colon cancer is situated, on its size and on whether it has invaded the wall of the colon or areas beyond it.

Most of us non-smokers feel we’ve got little to worry about when it comes to lung cancer. After all, isn’t it the disease of smokers? According to recent studies in the British Medical Journal, people who have never smoked before as well as ex-smokers, are all at risk of developing the disease. In fact, about 50,000 deaths per year can be attributed to second hand smoke and toxic fumes. Lung cancer does not limit itself to smokers.

Although rarely discussed, exposure to toxic fumes in the workplace or environmental toxins in the air contribute to a significant number of deaths from lung cancer. For example, occupational exposure to diesel motor emissions, asbestos, and paint was found to be significantly correlated with an increased risk of lung cancer.

In addition, a study on smokers from Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prevention showed that the fumes from frying oil, meat, or barbecuing have been found to also significantly increase the risk of lung cancer. This means working in a kitchen can put you at higher risk too. These carcinogenic fumes are toxic, and daily or weekly exposure to them causes oxidative damage in the lungs as well as to our DNA.

Another surprising finding is that if your parents smoked in the house during your childhood and adolescence, your risk of lung cancer is double as an adult even if you yourself don’t smoke. Parents, think again lighting up your next cigarette! This year, lung cancer will kill about 163,500 Americans and remains the number one cause of cancer deaths taking more lives than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.

What can we do to protect ourselves?

If you are a smoker, you must make quitting a priority in your life as well as follow a nutritional and supplement program to protect your lungs. For those of you who are non-smokers or who may have smoked at some point, protecting your lungs is also very important. There are some simple things you can do to decrease your risks:

1) Eat your broccoli and arugula

Over 125 published scientific papers have shown the exceptional protective effect of the Brassica vegetables on lung cancer and other cancers. These Brassica veggies including watercress, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli sprouts, Brussels Sprouts, arugula, and kale, have been shown to fight cancer by inhibiting carcinogenesis, excreting carcinogens via liver detoxification, inducing death of cancer cells, and inhibiting tumors! Consuming 500 grams per day (about 4 cups) can cut your risk of various cancers by up to 50%. This is exceptionally valuable research should make the NY Times front page news and be implemented as first line defense in every doctor’s office. There is nothing more powerful you can do to protect yourself against cancer than to eat your broccoli every day.

A number of other impressive studies show that green tea inhibits the growth of the human lung cancer cell line. Green tea of all flavors is known for its ability to reduce angiogenesis or blood flow to the tumor. So, making that switch from coffee to green tea may save your life.

For those of you who can’t imagine washing down your 4 cups of Brassica veggies each day with your green tea, there is a nutritional supplement named Indole Plus by Rx Vitamins containing Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C), the active ingredient within these veggies which has the cancer protective effects. Take it first thing each morning, before you are exposed to toxins and carcinogens. The active ingredient within green tea is also available by the name of EGCG Green Tea Extract.

2) Get your zinc, selenium, and vitamin C each day

Mineral tests on lung cancer patients show that they have lower levels of selenium and zinc, two critically important and protective antioxidants found in foods including Brazil Nuts, almonds, and seafood. These powerful minerals can also be obtained in a good antioxidant supplement such as Three A Day Antioxidant by DFH, which contains other lung cancer protective ingredients including EGCG green tea extract, vitamin C, and N-Acetyl Cysteine.

3) Avoid exposure to smoke or fumes in the air

If you live in a polluted city, jog near cars, work around motor emissions, or fry oils regularly, wear a protective mask. If your job requires you to be exposed to chemicals such as those found in printing companies, nail salons, dry cleaners, or paint supplies, you should also take a protective antioxidant supplement containing I3C and a mixture of fat soluble antioxidants such as those found in Ultimate Antioxidant LS by DFH.

Although we don’t know our individual genetic risk for developing lung cancer, and we can’t readily quit our toxic jobs or turn back the clock on our exposure to cigarette smoke, we can take some very effective and simple steps to protect ourselves and dramatically reduce our risk for lung cancer, the number one cause of cancer deaths. www.RockwellNutrition.com

I have just spent a delightful two weeks with my sister, Joy. Joy is the strong, energetic type who enjoyed a daily run before starting her teaching job. She had recovered well from a total mastectomy due to breast cancer twenty three years ago, and for the last two years had been having regular check ups for polyps in the bowel.

While running early one morning, she noted her foot was hurting. It was still troubling her several days later, so she decided to make an appointment with her doctor. The doctor examined her foot and suggested it would be a good idea to have a routine blood test.

This showed that Joy was anemic, which prompted the Doctor to do a colonoscopy. Wilma’s other sister rang with the disturbing news! The colonoscopy revealed Joy had colon cancer and faced the difficult decision to have the whole bowel, or a major part of the bowel removed.

Six weeks after surgery and in between chemotherapy, Joy came to me to recover. “I am going to enjoy every day,” she said. “This has made me appreciate life, as none of us know what is in the future.” And enjoy every day we did! During our bush walks the birds seemed to sing louder and sweeter, the moss appeared greener, the trees bigger. To Joy, the mountains were awesome, and the walk along the beach with the feel of the sand between her toes and the clear blue water were described as, ‘just beautiful’.

Joy praises God for every new day

As nature came alive and Joy took on a new appreciation of it, I was drawn to this thought for the week.

“When men invented flying machines they were noisy, but God made songbirds so they could sing the purest music on earth! (Genesis chapter 1, verse 21)

The sophisticated song mechanism of birds leaves scientists speechless. Birds are such skilled musicians that it often requires someone with a degree in music to fully appreciate their brilliance. Nightingales can have a repertoire of 300 songs stored in their brains! They will often sing 70 songs before they repeat the repertoire again with perfect accuracy. Many birds have ‘absolute pitch’, meaning that they can determine exactly what key they sing in without reference to anything like a tuning fork!

Some birds can perform antiphonal singing where two birds alternate notes in a song. This requires knowledge of the duet by both partners and split second timing in the execution of the duet. When human beings do this it’s considered very skillful and impressive yet birds can accomplish it easily! Since man-made music has an intelligent composer, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that birdsong has an intelligent, divine Composer.

Some say that birdsong is only required for communication and mating purposes, but the complexity of their music goes way beyond any simple sounds that would satisfy these needs. We can safely conclude that birdsong was created for our enjoyment and that the dawn chorus was meant to remind us to praise God for every new day!” www.thoughtfortheweek.co.uk

It is a reminder to us all isn’t it, to stop and enjoy what God has given us to enjoy. Often we are so busy that we fail to stop long enough to listen to and enjoy nature.

By the way, the doctor never found anything wrong with Joy’s foot. Joy believes God used the foot to get her to the doctor, as they found absolutely no signs that would suggest there was another problem. If she had left it unattended, the outcome would have been worse. She wrote this poem before she flew home:

Cancer is such an ugly word

For me to get it, oh how absurd

But cancer came knocking at my door

And it was quite a shock, that’s for sure

But I know that God really loves me

And so from all fear I’m set free.

For God has promised to be with me all the time

Even when the mountain is real big to climb

The birds are singing and I’m still here

I have great support with the angels near

I’m so blessed in so many ways

I’ll live life to the fullest till the end of my days

For God has got special plans for me

He’s given me promises so that I can see

That there’s hope in the days ahead

So I’ve got a purpose to get out of bed!

Joy has found hope and comfort in knowing God really loves her and has her future in his hands. “I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Jeremiah 29:11

None of us knows what tomorrow may bring, but we can be sure of our final outcome. In the movie ‘Your Destiny Your Choice’, Ryan gave little thought to life after death until he faced death…he was afraid! His sister Nicky comes to visit in hospital and shows him a computer program that could make him sure of his destiny. Will Ryan choose to be sure of his final outcome? You will disover the answer when you download this movie free on my website.

When September rolls around, I look like any other haggled parent standing in the checkout with three kids. The shopping cart is filled with packs of pencils, note paper, crayons, markers and tissues.

“Why do we need to buy tissues for school?” my kindergartener asked last year.

I pictured a whole class of five-year-olds with runny noses and was tempted to reply, “So kids won’t use their sleeves.” But I chose the logical, “For when your nose is runny.”

My neighbor claimed it would be a busy year when she found out I’d have one in kindergarten, one in first grade and one in middle school. But not busy enough, I thought, and again resisted the urge to let her know that I was wondering what my fifth-grader would be needing for school this year.

My fifth-grader, Daniel, never passed fourth grade. Or third, or even first. He didn’t get a school supply list. Instead he got a kit from the hospital with syringes and bandages, all very sterile.

On Memorial Day Weekend, 1996, Daniel was three and diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. After eight months of treatments, surgeries, prayers and hope, this bald-headed kid, who acknowledged he was a “Brave Cookie,” was ready to be a cancer survivor. But a staph infection entered his weakened body and we had to kiss him good-bye.

September– now meaning for me, not only back to school, but Childhood Cancer Awareness Month– has rolled around again and as I stand in line with my kids, I know why the supply lists include tissues.

Just the other day while joining other parents and children in the “shopping for school supplies frenzy,” a woman noticed the gold ribbon pinned to my t-shirt. “What’s gold for?” she asked. “I know that pink is for breast cancer.”

“Children,” I said. “Gold because our children are golden to us.”

I half expected her to show shock or horror, being one of the thousands who refuses to believe that cancer is the number one illness among children. One of those who has no idea that each year one in every 330 kids will be diagnosed with cancer before age 19.

I was ready for her to walk away from me down the aisle. Instead she mouthed the words, “Did a child of yours…?”

“Yes,” I said. “A son who would be ten now. He didn’t survive.”

Her eyes showed tears, causing mine to fill. Then this woman—a stranger–touched my arm. “I am so sorry.” She smiled at my other three children. “They are beautiful. I’m sure your son was, too.”

If you see a mother wearing a gold ribbon on her shirt–the symbol of childhood cancer awareness—please ask her about the ribbon. The opportunity to talk will help with her healing and give you new wisdom. Be aware that she may cry. Feel free to hand her a tissue. Although she has done it before, she probably shouldn’t be using her sleeve.

(Written in 2002)

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest and lungs. It is a rare form of cancer that is mostly associated with exposure to asbestos. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fast-moving cancer with a median survival time of between one and two years.

The majority of mesotheliomas are associated with asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used widely in the United States for insulation, and while awareness of its harmful effects is increasing, asbestos can still be found in older buildings. People who work in industries using asbestos in some form, such as insulation manufacturers, insulation workers, and ship builders, may be at increased risk to develop mesotheliomas. The time between exposure and development of a cancer may be decades, which is why it is usually diagnosed in older people. More men than women get this type of cancer. Close contacts of people who have been exposed to asbestos, such as family members, may also be at risk.

Some symptoms of this cancer are increasing breathlessness, pain in the chest or under the ribcage, an abdominal lump or swelling, fever and unexplained weight loss. Imaging tests like a CT scan may show a collection of fluid in the pleural cavity of the chest. Pleural tissue and fluid is also tested to detect cancerous cells and certain chemicals that can rule out a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma.

Depending on the extent of spread of cancer, malignant pleural mesotheliomas are conventionally treated with some combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible. Aggressive treatment strategies are the norm, though the exact treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread. A number of experimental treatments are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma. Many factors may be involved in determining the survival rate for this aggressive cancer; some are better understood than others. Estimates of median survival time range from one to two years; survival depends on underlying factors such as the type and extent of spread of the mesothelioma. Only seven percent of people with this cancer survive to five years after diagnosis, but this outlook is gradually improving with some promising experimental treatments. Some people live well beyond five years from the time of diagnosis.

In general, younger age at diagnosis, absence of weight loss and limited loss of lung function are associated with chances for increased survival. Stage I mesotheliomas, which have not spread to the lymph nodes or adjacent tissues and organs, also carry the best prognosis. The type of cell the cancer is comprised of can also affect survival. The epithelioid cell type has the best prognosis, the mixed or biphasic cell type the next best prognosis, and the sarcomatoid cell type the worst prognosis. The majority of malignant pleural mesotheliomas are of the epithelioid cell type.

Because this cancer takes so long to manifest, people are usually diagnosed at an older age and with more advanced disease, potentially worsening the prognosis and the treatment options available. The more aggressive the treatment, the better the outcome may be, but in cases with cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be the only alternative. New drugs, such as the combination of Alimta with Platinol, have been shown to improve survival in malignant mesothelioma patients whose only option is chemotherapy. A number of experimental treatments, such as immunotherapy and biotherapy, are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

If I told you about a plant that is 10,000 times more toxic to colon cancer cells than a common chemo drug; lethal to 12 different kinds of malignant cells, especially those that cause lung, prostate, and breast cancers; safe enough that it protects healthy cells instead of killing them; doesn’t cause extreme nausea or hair loss; doesn’t make cancer patients drop huge amounts of weight, get weak, or compromise their immune systems — would you want to know about it? Do you think someone with cancer that you know would like to know about it?

Well, the billion dollar drug company nearly covered this one up. They did for seven years, but thanks to an employee with a heart, let the cat out of the bag. The reason that they never went public with their findings was because they could not find a way to make a synthetic version that worked so they could patent it. The kind of information that I am about to reveal to you should never be covered up.

This incredible natural plant from the Amazon is called Graviola. The naturally occurring chemicals in graviola literally destroy cancer cells. And without harming healthy cells. In fact, extracts from the same plant actually boost immunity!

It was in 1976 when this was discovered. Since then, over 20 different lab studies, including prolonged research by Purdue University and the National Cancer Institute, all pointed to the same thing: Graviola is a dynamo when it comes to destroying cancerous cells.

What is Graviloa?

Graviola is a small, upright evergreen tree growing 5 to 6 meters in height with large dark green and glossy leaves. It is indigenous to most of the warmest tropical areas in South and North America. It has a large heart-shaped edible fruit that is 6-9″, yellow green in color.

The earliest studies were between 1941 and 1962. In an 1976 plant screening program by the National Cancer Institute, the leaves and stem of Graviola showed active cytotoxicity against cancer cells and researchers have been following up on this research ever since.

Three separate research groups have isolated novel compounds in the seeds and leaves of Graviola which have demonstrated significant anti-tumorous, anticancerous and selective toxicity against various types of cancer cells. One showed that Graviola was cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells in which it was 10,000 times the potency of adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug).

Graviola is also known (AKA) as Paw Paw. North American Paw Paw is said to be much stronger than South American Paw Paw.

The purpose of this article is not to teach you everything about Graviola, but to inspire you to do your own research on this amazing plant, if you have or know anyone that has cancer. This could be the answer to prayers.