The search for a cure for Cancer has been in full-swing for many years. Scientists around the globe are investigating every possible substance and protocol that they can dream up to offer mankind relief from this often terminal illness. Included in this research are many plants and plant extracts that have played significant roles in traditional medicine systems throughout history. In the last few years, interest and research into the potential of essential oils as anticancer agents has grown tremendously. (For those new to essential oils, they are simply the volatile aromatic constituents of plants — for example, the chemicals that make up the scent of a Rose or the pungency of fresh Basil. They are complex compounds, very compatible with human physiology, with a host of research-supported health benefits.)

Two Outstanding Essential Oils Researched for Anticancer Activity

Sorting through the available research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, one finds two particular essential oils most often associated with anticancer activity: Frankincense and Lemongrass. To clarify, Lemongrass is distilled from the grass leaves of Cymbopogon citratus; the name Frankincense actually refers to the resin of Olibanum trees found mostly in Ethiopia, Somalia and India — the essential oil is distilled from the resin — or ‘sap’ — of these trees. Both Lemongrass and Frankincense have a very long history of medicinal use. Frankincense has been one of the most highly valued medicinal products throughout man’s history — Lemongrass just happens to be very prolific, but its efficacy is no less valuable because of its availability.

Modern Research Proves Ancient Medicine’s Potential

Frankincense essential oil has been noted by leading medical aromatherapists to be most effective immune system modulating aromatic. A review of the research on Frankincense oil is quite amazing, and lives up to this declaration. Using the search term ‘frankincense oil cancer’ on the National Institute of Health’s database produces 34 results (as of this writing). Frankincense oil appears to have the ability to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells in an organ or tissue, and lead to the death of the cancerous cells while leaving the healthy ones unharmed.

Research is focusing on the chemical components of the essential oil unique to frankincense: the Boswellic acids. These natural compounds have been thoroughly studied for their anti-inflammatory activity, with a significant body of positive results. Boswellic acids can be used to reduce pain and inflammation in arthritic joints, and has even been shown to improve the texture and appearance of skin that may be prematurely aged due to sun overexposure. It is these same Boswellic acids that have been shown to induce natural cell death in cancerous cells — it is one of the features of cancer that natural cell death does not occur, and the cancerous cells then in essence grow unabated throughout the body.

Cancer Cell Specificity

The conclusion of a study published in the journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March 2009, by researchers at the University of Oklahoma was “Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells, and suppress cancer cell viability”. This is truly a profound result, when considering what modern chemotherapy does — reduces the viability of all cells in and surrounding a tumor, with the hope that healthy cells live through the process in significant enough numbers that the patient recovers. Similar results have been published for a great many kinds of cancer: melanoma, leukemia, liver, colon and prostate, and anecdotal reports have supported its use in the treatment of breast cancer as well.

Lemongrass: Tropical Healer

The first result of a search for ‘lemongrass’ and ‘cancer’ is a paper titled “Anticancer activity of an essential oil from Cymbopogon flexuosus” (Cf is a popular species of Lemongrass, though other research also shows similar effects from Cymbopogon citratus). This study published in the May 2009 ‘Chemico-biological Interactions’, performed at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, examined both in-vitro (essentially “in the test tube”)and in-vivo (in the body) anticancer activity of Lemongrass essential oil. The oil was actually evaluated for efficacy against 12 cancer cell lines in-vitro, and 2 in-vivo. The results were no less than astounding. Lemongrass was effective at inhibiting proliferation of all the cell lines, though with significant variation in the concentrations required for this effect. The lowest concentrations of Lemongrass were needed to inhibit growth of colon cancer and neuroblastoma cells in-vitro (a type of cancer of the nerve cells occurring in children and infants). Using mouse models, lemongrass essential oil was effective at limiting proliferation of a type of breast cancer and a connective-tissue cancer.

Israeli researchers, publishing their results in the May 2007 Planta Medica, discovered similar results focusing on a primary constituent of Lemongrass essential oil: Citral. This natural constituent adds the ‘lemony’ aroma to many essential oils, including of course Lemon, Melissa, and Lemon Verbena. Citral was noted to also show cancer cell specificity (liver cancer cells were evaluated in this case), causing only the cancer cells to die off. It appears that lemongrass essential oil, like Frankincense, also induces natural cell death in cancer cells, sparing normal healthy cells in the process.

These studies (and others available through medical research databases) are indeed promising — most noting in some way that the low toxicity, availability and cancer-cell specificity of these natural compounds warrant further investigation. Because of the current climate regarding funding of alternative therapies, it will take either a government wishing to significantly save on health care costs, or a large grass roots effort, to further the research to a point where specific therapeutic protocols are developed. In the meantime, there are many respected, well-educated health professionals that may be willing to offer advice for those wishing to learn more on how Frankincense and/or Lemongrass might be employed as preventative measures. Please note, this articles is not meant to offer medical advice, but simply to report recent updates in medical research. It is not a substitute for sound professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Lymph node cancer or lymphoma is a cancer that accounts for approximately five percent of all cancers. It predominantly effects males but is not exclusive to men. Those most at risk are between the ages of fifteen and thirty four and those over the age of fifty-four. This does not mean that anyone outside of this age range is not at risk but statistically it does seem to fall inside those age groups at a greater rate. Like all other cancers, early detection and treatment is the key to a greater chance of recovery.

Hodgkins Disease is a form of lymph node cancer but is rare in its occurrence. It also statistically effects mostly men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and men over the age of fifty-four but is not exclusive to men only. Some of the most common symptoms of Hodgkins Disease are night sweats, unexplained wight loss, constant fatigue and unexplained fever. If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms it is wise to have yourself examined by a doctor as these also could be the symptoms of another disorder.

All other remaining types of lymph node cancer are known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The majority of lymph node cancers treated are of the non-Hodgkins type. The symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma are the same as Hodgkins Disease. Night sweats, unexplained fever, chronic fatigue and unexplained weight loss.Lymph node cancer is also known as lymphatic cancer. Those with a family history of lymph node cancer statistically fall within a higher risk group of contracting the disease. This is true for both men and women.

Lymph node cancer is a type of cancer that involves the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is an integral part of the bodies immune system. Statistically, the occurrence of lymph node cancer has increased approximately seventy-five percent since nineteen-seventy-three in the United States. Research has revealed that approximately one in fifty-two men and one in sixty-one women in the United States will contract non Hodgkin lymphoma within their lifetime. Studies have indicated that a greater exposure to herbicides and pesticides is greatly responsible for this increase.

Lymph node cancer is curable and if detected early and with effective treatment a person with lymph node cancer has a greater chance than ever before of being cured of this disease and if cured can expect to live a long and normal life. Many new and innovative treatments for lymph node cancer have been developed and are now available. The medical community has a greater understanding of lymph node cancer than in years past. Treatments that were once experimental and have been found to be effective are now being used to treat and cure lymph node cancer.

As a person ages it is to be expected that he or she will encounter medical challenges, it is part of the aging process. Lymph node cancer might be one of those challenges you encounter in your life’s journey. How soundly these challenges are defeated depends greatly on how you approach them. A fighting spirit has been proven time and again to be a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal when battling cancers of all types. Accepting defeat in any challenge almost guarantees defeat. The will to fight and live on has carried so many cancer survivors to victory over the disease.

Recent scientific studies have demonstrated that nutrition plays an essential role in preventing prostrate cancer in men. So what men eat and drink or don’t eat and drink can significantly lower their risk of developing this disease.

For beverages, green tea contains powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols that fight against a group of cancers including prostrate.

Two to four cups of this beverage a day has been recommended and men at high risk should consider an extract.

The International Journal for Cancer Research in January 2005 reported that a study of 1,456 middle aged men concluded that those who were drinking four or more glasses of red wine a week reduced their risk of prostrate cancer by 48%.

Another study demonstrated that drinking two glasses of pomegranate juice daily was beneficial. However, this was a small study but additional studies are in progress. Like green tea, pomegranate juice is also high in polyphenols.

The recommended foods are, first of all tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that combats malignancy.

What is nice about lycopene is that cooking improves the concentration so one does not have to be concerned about finding fresh tomatoes, as is the case with other beneficial fruits and vegetables. You get the maximum benefit from tomato sauce, ketchup and cooked tomatoes.

Lycopene is better absorbed if accompanied by a little fat. So one should add some monosaturated fat such as olive oil to tomato sauce. Mixed with spaghetti it makes for a healthful and tasty meal.

It is recommended that cruciferous vegetables, which are high in such cancer fighting agents as indoles and sulforaphane, be consumed frequently. Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, brussel sprouts, collards and kale. And men who eat six servings of vegetables a day are less likely to develop an enlarged prostrate.

Soy foods are also important in the diet, as they are a rich food source of isoflavones, which are supposed to help balance hormone levels.

And oily fish have been found to reduce inflammation and protect against metastases.
Men who do not care for wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, herring or black cod can take a fish oil supplement amounting to 1 to 2 grams a day. It is important to choose wild salmon has farmed fish do not offer the same protection.

People who love chili peppers will be pleased to learn that the capsaicin which is responsible for the hot taste is believed to destroy cancer cells. However, the research study for the benefits of capsaicin was performed with mice, not with humans.

Flaxseed, which contains lignans, is believed to protect against all hormone driven cancers including breast, ovarian and prostrate. A study conducted with prostrate cancer patients concluded that daily ingestion of flaxseed together with a low fat diet actually slowed malignant growth between diagnosis and surgery.

There may also be an age connection between prostrate cancer and diet. A Harvard study suggests that prostrate cancer in younger men is hormone driven while inflammation is the main culprit with older men. Thus the foods that help normalize hormone levels such as soy products and flaxseed may be more helpful to younger men and those that combat inflammation such as lycopene may be more useful in the diets of older men.

Admittedly more research needs to be done, however none of these foods and beverages are harmful to the body, and the fact that they could be helpful certainly make them smart nutritional choices.

Cancer is not restricted to human beings. As a disease it is indiscriminate and completely unbiased when it comes to affecting different species. Our beloved pets are not immune with dogs bearing the brunt of the disease, being affected by tumours twice as often as people. Cats on the other hand develop tumours only half as frequently as humans. Cancer occurs most often in older pets and is in fact the leading cause of death among cats and dogs. If you suspect that your pet has cancer it is vital that you get him or her to a vet immediately as the earlier the cancer is detected, the earlier treatment can begin and the better the chances of survival.

Cancer can be difficult to detect in animals especially as they can’t describe their pain or show you exactly where it is. Here are 10 of the most common signs to look out for:

1) abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow

2) Sores that don’t heal,

3) Weight loss and

4) loss of appetite,

5) bleeding or discharge from any orifice,

6) offensive odour, that is not normal pet odour.

7) difficulty eating or swallowing,

hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina, that is not laziness or due to heat,

9) persistent lameness or stiffness and

10) difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating.

Should you see any of these signs you should take your pet to a vet straight away so that the correct tests can be carried out and a diagnosis can be made.

These tests can include x-rays, which will show tumours, abnormal masses of tissue and degradation of bones; blood tests; ultrasonography; a physical exam and a complete medical history. To be entirely sure that it is cancer, however, a biopsy will have to be performed and the tissue graded to assess how serious the cancer is.

Animals get many of the same types of cancers that we do. They even get breast cancer, although spaying your female pets when they’re between the ages of 6-12 months significantly deceases their risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer is also one case where cats are more at risk than dogs, with more 85% of all tumours being malignant in cats and only 50% malignant in dogs. Skin tumours are very common in dogs but quite rare in cats. However, in the case of cats skin tumours are more often than not malignant, while in dogs they are benign. You should take all skin tumours to the vet to be examined. Bone cancer occurs most often in large dogs and seldom in cats. As with humans, it’s most often the joints that are affected, particularly in the legs. Symptoms include swelling in the joint, difficulty walking and persistent pain. Lymphoma is common is both dogs and cats and occurs when one or more lymph nodes in enlarged. Chemotherapy is the most effective treatment for this type of cancer. There are many more types of cancers that animals get; the list is as endless as that for people.

The treatment for animals with cancer is the same as that for people and includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, cryosurgery (freezing), hyperthermia (heating), or immunotherapy. Treatment will depend on the type of cancer, its severity, and the breed of dog/cat and its size and also on you, the owner and what you want to do.

In regards to the side effects of treatment, surgery is usually the easiest to recover from with the animal able to return to his or her previous level of functioning within a relatively short space of time. Chemotherapy, however, does have side effects for animals just as it does for people, even though the dosages are much lower. There can be nausea and vomiting accompanied by a reluctance to eat. Your pet may become lethargic and be reluctant to move or even stand. There may be a fever and if this is the case you should call your vet immediately as it can be lethal. In general most animals that have had cancer and gone through treatment, enjoy a good quality of life. They resume their normal activities and play and have fun the same as before.

On a sad note, it is important to add that in most cases the cancer is not cured it is merely in remission, and that it will eventually come back. This must be thought about and discussed amongst the family before the initial decision is made to treat the animal. It will help you to decide if treatment is worth it in the long run. If it looks as if the treatment is not working or if the animal is experiencing pain and discomfort the vet is ethically bound to tell you. They are also bound to tell you that the pets enjoy their lengthened lives and do not know that they are on borrowed time. But you must know that they will have to go through the whole experience again and so will you. It is up to you, the owner to decide what is the right thing for your pet in that situation. It is a difficult decision to make and one that can only be made with love.

Recommended sites:

Link 1 [http://www.avma.org/communications/brochures/cancer/cancer_brochure.asp]

Link 2

Of course your dog has become a very important and loved member of your family. He provides companionship and devotion to you without asking for very much in return. Like me you want your dog to stay around for as long as possible, so keeping him healthy is important isn’t it?

There is one thing that6 many people forget about when it comes to taking care of their dogs and that is that their teeth also need to be taken care of. We all know that wild dogs keep their teeth free from plaque because they chew on raw bones. They are a natural scraper of the plaque that also helps to remove any soft meat that may get stuck in their teeth and which would normally cause unhealthy bacteria to grow rapidly.

We all need to remember that our dog isn’t like a wild animal and he needs our help to get rid of the bacteria that causes bad breath and other problems. I am guessing that if your dog is like most dogs they generally eat soft canned food or small chunks of the hard food. These aren’t going to provide him with much by way natural teeth care like the raw bones that wild dogs chew on.

If your dog is special to you, help him out and take care of his teeth for him. The first thing you need to do is to let them chew on raw bones regularly. I would suggest that you think about doing so at least a couple of times a week.

It doesn’t have to be your soup bone or something from the steak you have just eaten! It could be a rawhide bone you can find in your local pet store. They’ll instinctively chew on the bone and the plaque can easily be scraped off and any soft meat that may be stuck between their teeth will get loosened up before any problems can occur.

If the bone isn’t working, or if they just aren’t interested in chewing on bones, then you should take his mouth care into your own hands and brush them with toothpaste. Don’t give him the same toothbrush and toothpaste that you would use.

You can find special brushes and toothpaste for your dog at the local pet store.
Brushing them daily is preferred, but if it’s not feasible, then brush them at least 3-4 times weekly.

Scrub the teeth well and massage the gums also to provide for good circulation within his gums. Get rid of any food that gets stuck in his teeth. The hard, dry food is always better than soft food when it comes to cleaning his teeth. It’s not a substitute for proper cleaning, but it does help to some degree, so make sure he gets to ingest dry food as well as soft, canned versions. Even dog biscuits can help since they’re hard and dry and can help remove any plaque.

You should also have the vet inspect his mouth and teeth every time you take your dog in for a checkup. The vet can spot anything that you may have missed and will be able to offer advice on how to clean the teeth better or as to what foods you could give to your dog to naturally help clean the teeth and keep bacteria at bay.

As with humans it’s better to treat the teeth before things get out of hand and get more expensive for your pocketbook. Keep your dog around for your family for as long as you possibly can by keeping him healthy and keeping his teeth healthy, too.

When you finish reading this article, you will have learned nine great tips for building a dog house. Be sure to read this article clear through to the end or you will miss some of this helpful information.

A dog house you dog will love and use

You don’t want to invest a lot of time, effort and money into building a dog house only to find that your dog won’t use it. So, here are some tips for building a great dog house that you dog will love and will use.

1. Most of us like houses where there is at least two feet of air above our heads – in order to avoid feelings of claustrophobia. This comfort zone translates into about 1/3 of our standing height. You should allow your dog the same amount of airiness. Figure out how tall the dog is (or will be when fully grown) and then make sure the dog house roof is at least 1/3 taller than this.

2. The dog house should be raised a few inches off the ground to allow water and air to flow under it. Also, be sure there is adequate ventilation. You can ensure this by drilling few nickel-sized holes in the walls under the eaves.

3. Install a wind block inside the house so the dog can use its own heat to warm things up when it is cold or windy.

4. When evaluating the plans, look for one that either includes a partial wall or is large enough that you can add a partial wall. This is so that the dog can escape the elements as necessary. If the weather is bad, the dog can choose to either sleep in the entry room or go around the inner wall into its “inner sanctum.”

5. Slant the house just a bit toward the door. This helps ensure that if any rain enters via the ventilation holes or doorway, it will drain out the door. Also, make sure you slant the roof to ensure proper run-off.

6. Build the dog house so the door faces away from storms. Good ones are usually built facing east as most storms come from the north or west.

7. Put hinges on the roof for easy cleaning. When you clean the dog, make sure you also clean the dog house and bedding. After all, you would not want to sleep in a room that hasn’t been cleaned for months or a bed where the sheets haven’t been changed for weeks.

8. When choosing a site for the dog house, make sure it is not in an area that drains poorly, or where rain frequently accumulates. They should not be sited near a river or stream where it (and your dog) could be swept away by a flood. Also, do not put the dog house on an unstable ledge where erosion or a seismic effect could cause trouble.

9. Also, be sure to consider your dog’s habits. Some dogs like to sit on top of their house. If this if true of your dog, don’t put roll roofing or shingles on the top of them since they can get very hot in the summer.

There are many options for alternative cancer treatment. All are designed to reduce or help control cancer and provide for the well being of the patient. Cancer affects the body and can cause anxiety, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, chronic pain, sleep problems, and stress.

The following is a guide recommending alternative cancer treatments for helping you cope with your cancer; however these alternative treatments will not cure cancer.

Anxiety related to cancer can be reduced by the following alternative cancer treatments. They include hypnosis, massage therapy, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Fatigue is a result of the lactic acid build in your body from cancerous cells. Alternative cancer treatments can include exercise, massage therapy, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, and yoga. Nausea and Vomiting may be result from cancer or traditional cancer treatment. Alternative treatments can include acupuncture, aromatherapy, hypnosis, and music therapy. Chronic Pain is a result of the cancer’s impact on the body. Alternative cancer treatment can include acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, hypnosis, medication, massage therapy, and music therapy. Sleep Problems are a result of cancer and the impact of traditional treatment. Alternative cancer treatment can include exercise, relaxation techniques, tai chi, and yoga. Stress associated with cancer can be treated using alternative cancer treatments. These can include aromatherapy, exercise, hypnosis, massage therapy, meditation, tai chi, and yoga.

Descriptions of alternative cancer treatment are provided giving an idea of the treatment’s protocol.

Acupuncture using tiny needles inserted in specific parts of the body to relieve impact of cancer. Should not be used if experiencing low blood counts and using blood thinners. Aromatherapy uses fragrant oils to provide relief. These oils can be added to bath water or applied during massage therapy. Biofeedback uses electrical devices to teach patient how to relax when responding to problems related to cancer. Exercise is recommended in most cases to help maintain a healthy body, which helps control cancer. Hypnosis uses subliminal messages to help you learn how to control your body to help you control your cancer. Massage Therapy can relieve many problems associated with cancer. Caution should be exercised if experiencing low platelet counts when using this alternative treatment. Massaging may result in bruising or internal bleeding. Meditation involves concentrating on positive thoughts to help block problems associated with cancer. Music Therapy involves listening to music, playing instruments, and singing songs to help you cope with cancer. Relaxation Techniques use visualization and muscle relaxing strategies to help control the effects of cancer. Tai Chi uses deep breathing and slow movements to help control side effects of cancer. Yoga involves deep breathing and stretching to help the patient relax and deal with impact of cancer.

As with all alternative cancer treatments you should consult your primary doctor and conduct further research to ensure your approach is appropriate for your cancer.

The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It is also known as primary liver cancer or hepatoma and hepatocellular carcinoma is a cancer arising from the liver. The liver performs several vital functions. It processes and stores many of the nutrients absorbed from the intestine. It also makes some of the clotting factors needed to stop bleeding from a cut or injury. Hemangioma (he-man-ge-O-muh) is the most common type of benign liver tumor. It starts in blood vessels and Hepatic adenomas are benign tumors that start from the main type of liver cells (hepatocytes). Women have a much higher chance of having one of these tumors if they take birth control pills, although this is rare. Stopping the pills can cause the tumor to shrink. Hepatic adenomascancer begins in many spots throughout the liver and is not confined to a single tumor. This is most often seen in people with liver cirrhosis and is the most common pattern seen in the United States.

Hepatic tumors also called Liver cancer. Hepatic tumors is are tumors or growths on or in the liver. There are many forms of liver tumors premary is Malignant. Malignant, primary liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (also named hepatoma, which is a misnomer). These growths can be benign or malignant (cancerous). They may be discovered on medical imaging (even for a different reason than the cancer itself). Most of the time when cancer is found in the liver, it did not start there but spread to the liver from a cancer that began somewhere else in the body. These tumors are named after the place where they began (primary site) and are further described as metastatic. Symptoms can include a lump or pain on the right side of your abdomen and yellowing of the skin. However, you may not have symptoms and the cancer may not be found until it is advanced.

Some researchers believe that cancer starts with damage to DNA the material that contains the instructions for every chemical process in your body, including the rate of cellular growth. DNA damage causes changes in these instructions. Liver cancer also occurs as metastatic cancer, which happens when tumors from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver. In the liver cancer some cells begin to grow abnormally. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a tumor a mass of malignant cells. In the United States, most cancer found in the liver spread there after originating elsewhere. Rather than being called liver cancer, this type of cancer in the liver is named after the organ in which it began such as metastatic colon cancer in cancer that starts in the colon and spreads to the liver.

Causes of liver Cancer

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the main causes of liver cancer. Liver cancer relates to (correlates with) the frequency of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Studies in animals also have provided that hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer. For example, liver cancer develops in other mammals that are naturally infected with hepatitis B virus-related viruses. Finally, by infecting transgenic mice with certain parts of the hepatitis B virus, scientists caused liver cancer to develop in mice that do not usually develop liver cancer.

Symptoms of liver cancer
Liver cancer is very common larges countries in world wide. Generally is discovered at a very advanced stage of cancer disease for several reasons. In addition, patients from these regions actually have more aggressive liver cancer disease. live cancer tumor usually reaches an advanced stage and causes symptoms more rapidly. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of liver cancer and usually signifies a very large tumor or widespread involvement of the liver and other symptom is weight loss. These symptoms are less common in individuals with liver cancer in the U.S.an additionally symptoms is ascites (abdominal fluid and swelling), jaundice (yellow color of the skin), or muscle wasting.

Treatment of liver cancer

The treatment of liver cancer is overall condition of the patient. First treatment if liver cancer is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is anot effective not some cases of liver cancer but type of chemotherapy is known as chemoembolization is an important part of treatment for HCC. chemoembolization causes many of the same side effects as other forms of chemotherapy, including abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Second treatment is surgery. Surgery is best treatment for localized resectable cancer is usually an operation known as surgical resection. In some cases, the area of the liver where the cancer is found can be completely removed. Alcohol injection has been shown to improve survival in people with small hepatocellular tumors. It may also be used to help reduce symptoms in cases of metastatic liver cancer. The most common side effect is leaking of alcohol onto the liver or into the abdominal cavity.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, just after heart disease. But, experts believe that as many as half of the cancer cases diagnosed each year could have been prevented with a few simple dietary changes. There are simple changes that everyone can make not only in what they eat, but how they prepare it and what they do before and after they eat it. It important that lifestyle changes and food changes are made as part of an overall attempt at good health! The benefits are huge, not only in terms of preventing cancer, but in the care of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and other diseases as well. Preventing cancer is not only the prevention of a disease, but the restoration of a better life.

There are many risk factors that can never be changed, including genetics and family history and certain environmental factors. There are others that can be changed though, and while even the healthiest person can develop cancer, heart disease or any of the other conditions or diseases that can be potentially fatal, the risk can go much lower. A healthy, well balanced diet can also reduce the chance of minor illnesses and lessen the severity of them as well.

Preventing cancer with nutrition is as simple as:

- Changing the way you look at fat

- Know your colors

- Know the best proteins

- Know the worst foods

Even if you eat the healthiest diet, it is still important to know your risk factors and continue to have the recommended screenings and check-ups with your doctor. Exercise is also important to your healthy lifestyle. Always discuss your exact nutritional needs with your doctor who can give you suggestions for how many calories that you need to take in as well as how much of each nutrient (fats, carbohydrates and proteins) you need for your own individual needs.

The Skinny on Fat

Fat is one of the most confusing of the macronutrients. You need fat, but if you are getting the wrong fat, you will get fat. If you are not getting enough fat, you will get fat. (Your body will crave fat if it does not get what it needs).

There are three main kinds of fats: the saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats.

- The saturated fats are those that are solid when they are at room temperature. These include lard, butter and hydrogenated vegetable oils (the kind that is used in many processed foods).

- Polyunsaturated fats are vegetable oils (corn, safflower, sunflower and soy).

- Monounsaturated fats include olive oil, canola oil as well as the fat in avocadoes. These are the oils that are believed to prevent certain cancers from forming. It is these fats that the majority of your fat intake should be made of.

Fat is needed in the diet for a number of functions, including in the digestion. Fat is burned quickly for energy and typically starts the metabolism

Know Your Colors

Fruits and vegetables come in every color of the rainbow as well as in white. Not only should you be aiming for the minimum of vegetables and fruits in your diet, you should try to eat as many colors every day so that you can get all of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that they all offer. Every color offers different nutrients in different concentrations.

- Red, like tomatoes, red peppers and red grapefruits, pack lycopene for instance which has been shown to make people up to 60% less likely to develop cancer of the stomach, the colon or the rectum (Source: Feinstein, editor. 1996).

- Green, like in broccoli, green peas, celery, kale and spinach have lutein which in addition to cancer prevention may play a role in healthy eye sight as well. Watercress may also play a role in preventing lung cancer through a compound that is called PEITC.

There are compounds in vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower may rev up enzymes that are cancer blockers as well as blocking the estrogen that may stimulate breast cancer.

Know the Best Proteins

Protein comes from two sources: animals and plants. To prevent cancer, the experts suggest that the protein that you eat should come from plant sources as much as possible, especially soy which is the only plant based protein that is complete. A protein is deemed to be complete if it provides all of the eight essential amino acids that the body does not create on its own. Whey protein also is beneficial in cancer prevention and has been shown to slow the growth of tumors in several studies. It is not necessary to go vegetarian or vegan, eliminating the red meat and substituting it with turkey, fish or chicken is beneficial especially in reducing the incidence of colon cancer.

Soy also has a chemical “genistein” that may protect against prostate cancer. Soy may also work to prevent breast cancer as well. There are several ways to get soy protein into your diet including using soy protein powder supplements as well as the other soy products including tofu, soy milk, cheese, miso and tempeh.

Whey protein also comes in a number of different types including the protein powders and has been shown to be beneficial in cancer risk reduction.

Protein is vital to every cell and function of the human body including the immune system. A strong immune system may play a role in preventing some of the chemical imbalances that may allow cancer to grow and to move from area to area. The right amount of protein is important in the diet, not only for cancer prevention but to keep the body at the right weight, another risk factor that has been proven to increase the risk of getting certain cancers.

Protein also works to establish lean muscle mass which also burns fat. The American Heart Association recommends that protein should not make up more than 35% of the daily calories in an average diet, but it is still vital to get enough. Profect, a liquid protein supplement shot from Protica provides 25 grams of protein per one hundred calorie serving and can be a great addition to a healthy and active lifestyle.

Know the Worst Foods

In addition to the foods you should be eating to lower your cancer risk, there are a number of foods that you should be avoiding as well. Red meats and high fat dairy are out because they are high in calories and saturated fats and may increase the risk of colon cancer as well as pre-cancerous colon polyps. Lunchmeats, hot dogs and other cured meats all contain nitrites which break down in the body to form nitrosamines which have been shown to cause cancer in numerous studies. High sugar diets are also on the bad list because they tend to be high in fat and low in nutrients and fiber. Too much sugar can cause liver and pancreas stress as well as depleting the immune system.

Alcohol may increase cancer risk two to three times, but drinking and smoking together may cause the risk to be as high as 15% more serious for cancers of the mouth and the throat.

References

The American Heart Association

Alice Feinstein, Managing Editor. Healing With Vitamins: The Most Effective Vitamin and Mineral Treatments for Everyday Health Problems and Serious Disease. Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 1996

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that consists of cells from the prostate gland. The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but it is not believed to be related to benign prostatic hypertrophy. The risk factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, genetics, hormonal influences and environmental factors such as toxins, chemicals and industrial products. The tumor usually grows slowly and remains confined to the gland for many years. Symptoms and signs are more often associated with advanced prostate cancer. Symptoms include a diminished flow of urine, burning urination or blood in the urine. In the late stages, due to the spread of the tumor, other symptoms like back pain, pelvic pain, pain in the abdomen, jaundice, chest pain and cough are seen. Watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and cryotherapy are the standard line of treatment for this condition.

The Ayurvedic treatment of prostate cancer is aimed at treating the local tumor and preventing or reducing its spread. Medicines used to treat the local tumor are: Triphala-Guggulu, Kanchnaar-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Chandraprabha-Vati, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Qadha, Arogya-Vardhini, Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), Erandmool (Ricinus communis), Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Sunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Marich (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Pashandbhed (Bergenia lingulata), Apamarga (Achyranthus aspera), Sahinjan (Moringa pterygosperma), Kuchla (Strychnos nuxvomica) and Varun (Crataeva nurvala). Medicines like Kanchnaar-Guggulu and Maha-Manjishthadi-Qadha are given in high doses to prevent the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.

Medicines like Suvarna-Parpati, Suvarna-Raj-Vangeshwar-Ras, Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Trivang-Bhasma, Tamra-Bhasma, Abhrak-Bhasma, Suvarna-Bhasma and Heerak-Bhasma are used in combination with other medicines to both improve the immune status of the body and to help control the tumor and prevent its spread.

Ayurvedic medicines can be used as additional therapy at any stage of conventional treatment, in order to improve the therapeutic response and the overall survival rate. All such patients should be under the regular care and supervision of an Oncology team.