Medical News

Cancer these days are so common that there is a 50 to 75 per cent chance that someone in you family could be diagnosed with it. Cancer takes many forms and to date, there is no known cure that can completely eliminate this disease.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that causes different types of cancers. The HPV 16 and HPV 18 cause cervical and vulval cancer. A recent study by a leading Cancer Research scientific team found a vaccine to combat against certain forms of the Human Papilomavirus.

The vaccine, known as TA-HPV was modified from a smallpox vaccine. Scientists tested the vaccine in 18 women with Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN), a form of vulval cancer. This form of vulval cancer is very hard to treat as the precancerous lesions appear on the lining of the vulva.

Following the vaccination, 13 out of the 18 women were found to develop a specific immune reaction towards HPV. Also, in 8 out of the 18 women, the cancerous lesions shrunk by 50 percent. The patients also experienced symptom relief. These results were encouraging as more than half women in the study gained clinical benefits.

The best part of this vaccine is that it is relatively free of side effects. However, scientists who came up with this vaccine also believe that this vaccine will be most useful if used as a part of a combination of treatments. This vaccine is also more than a glimmer of hope for women whose bodies have already started generating some kind of immune response against the disease.

It is also possible that repeated vaccination may be more effective in combating the disease. This is because, when a patient is given a number of shots of vaccine during a course of treatment, it helps to build up an immune response against cancer.

Treatment vaccines such as the TA- HPV vaccine will play an important role in controlling cancers. Studies such as this raise awareness about how vaccines direct the immune system against cancer. Vaccines such as this are vaccines of hope that may give many a second chance to lead a normal, cancer-free life.

Noninvasive infrared cancer therapies combine the unique physical and optical properties of nanoshell or nanoparticles with a near infrared laser source to thermally destroy cancer tissue without significant damage to surrounding healthy tissue. So far, several laboratory studies prove very promising results of 100% complete eradication of tumors without any known side effects, preliminary FDA reports.

The incidence rates of cancer of the liver, pancreas, kidney, esophagus, and thyroid have continued to rise, as have the rates of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and childhood cancers. The incidence rates of cancer of the brain and bladder and melanoma of the skin in women, and testicular cancer in men, are rising, reports National Cancer Institute 2010.

The potential benefits of nanoparticle cancer treatment are highly selective and rapid tumor destruction with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that it is effective and causes no detectable systemic toxicity. Additionally, this therapeutic device may be used in combination with and could increase the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy and radiation. Alternative Fighting Cancer with Magnetic Nanoparticles VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUh1gHG2jns&feature=related

What Are Nanoshells? – A nanoshell is made up of a few million atoms forming silica particles, essentially tiny glass particles too small to see with the naked eye. So it’s larger than typical proteins or DNA. The nanoshell can cross the width of the smallest capillary in the human body. A chemical is introduced to the nanoshell that enables researchers to build-up (attach) gold metallic deposits that ultimately form a gold shell around the glass core. Companies such as Izon’s aNano provide nanoparticle research instruments that provide previously unavailable particle detection and measurement capabilities, tunable from micro to molecular scales. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLNpDfPXQzE&feature=related

The key innovation with nanoshells is the ability to tune their color from the visible using the dimensions of the core and the shell to different regions of the spectrum. Therefore, it can tune away from the visible region and into the near-infrared region of the spectrum. Doctors are able to heat up very precise targeted areas of interest such as tumors. So by using an infrared light from the surface of the skin it can penetrate deep (10 centimeters) deep into the body. It heats up the tumor eradicating it passing through the body as waste. Gold Nanoparticles and Cancer Cell Detection VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhxRIvw_cY

Nanoshell Treatment

Nanoshell therapy is comprised of three components:

- an off-the-shelf near infrared laser source,

- an off-the-shelf interstitial fiber optic probe for delivery of the laser energy to a site near or inside the tumor, and

- the investigational nanoshell particles, a near-infrared absorbing, inert material designed to absorb and convert the laser energy into heat.

The nanoshell treatment may be used with an FDA-cleared laser that emits near infrared energy with the clinical study specified parameters (power, duty cycle, treatment time) and with an FDA-cleared fiber optic probe for energy. Nanoshell particles consist of a gold metal shell and a non-conducting, or dielectric, silica core and serves as the exogenous absorber of the near infrared laser energy delivered by the fiber.

Nanoshell particles are administered intravenously and because of their small size they are specifically able to enter the tumor through its leaky vasculature. This process is known as the enhanced permeability and retention effect and is well documented for many solid tumors. The particles are unable to exit normal vasculature and therefore do not accumulate in healthy tissue.

After the particles accumulate in the tumor, the area is illuminated with a near-infrared laser at wavelengths chosen to allow the maximum penetration of light through tissue. The nanoparticles are specifically designed to absorb this wavelength and convert the laser light into heat. This results in the ablation of the tumor.

History of Nanoshells – Dr. Naomi Halas Ph. D, a professor at Rice University, invented the tiny (Nanoshell) particles, with a glass core and gold covered shell, in the 1990′s. Now Halas and her colleagues have figured out a way to make nanoshells smarter. They’ve attached a bright fluorescent dye to the particles that make them glow under infrared light. They’ve also added a magnetic shell that makes the particles visible to MRI. In addition, researchers can now attach antibodies to the nanoparticles that help them hone-in on a variety of cancer cells.

“If you try to do the same thing with molecules or with drugs, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to attach several different functions to the same drug without disrupting its first function. But with nano-particles you have a nice platform that you can add several different things to it and still preserve the primary function of the nano-particle itself.” http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3209/03-nanoshells.html 

At this point, laser light converts that light to heat, and then kill tumor cells with that heat. Halas says being able to watch the progress of the nanoparticles, both optically and magnetically, is crucial to manage the process.

”In terms of being able to facilitate medical treatments with this approach, this type of tool is going to be very good. It gives eyes to the medical research. It gives two sets of eyes to the medical research, the optical eyes and the magnetic eyes. Those in combination complement each other so more information will be available using this approach.” http://www.tcrt.org/c3018/c4130/Nanoshell-Enabled-Photonics-Based-Imaging-and-Therapy-of-Cancer-p-33-40-p12032.html 

NANOSHELLS:

FDA Nanoparticle Trials - The future of nanoshell cancer treatment involves exhaustive studies on hundreds of varying subjects and optimize the shape and the surface properties of these nanoshells so that it gets favorable bio-distribution where most of the stuff retains in the tumor and its clear of the liver and kidneys to the body. Once that is done, it should be ready for pursuing the FDA approval (5-7 years) process for these researchers working with clinicians and planning further human trials.

Nanoshell particles are investigational at this current time and only available through designated FDA sanctioned clinical study sites. http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RunningClinicalTrials/default.htm

Some Leading Nanoparticle Biotech Companies

• Elan Drug Technologies’ NanoCrystal® technology
• Abraxis BioScience (ABBI)
• Nanospectra BioScience
• Calando Pharmaceuticals 

In this article today I’d like to talk about several tips, tricks, and techniques that you can use to catch and treat melanoma cancer before it gets out of hand and becomes life-threatening.

Even though many forms, if not most forms of cancer, seem to be declining thanks to medical advances; melanoma cancer seems to be rising in frequency for any number of reasons that I’m not really going to get into today. What is important is that we catch melanoma before it becomes life-threatening and that’s what I’m going to talk about in this article today.

The first thing you should always do is have a visual body scan checkup with your doctor at least once a year and possibly up to four times a year if you are the kind of person with a higher probability of skin cancer than most. This includes people that work outside for a living or who were exposed to a lot of sun damage early in life, or who have a high history of skin cancer in the family. A general physician can administer a simple visual scan in a normal checkup, but you may want to visit a dermatologist instead. Whichever you’re most comfortable with will work just fine.

Next between checkups you should watch for danger signs yourself. These types of things include asymmetrical spots on your body where half of the spot looks different than the other half. Also look for border irregularities. Melanomas usually have notched rather than round borders. Next look for color variations in your skin. Normal moles are usually all one color whereas melanomas are often different colors of tan as well as brown, black, pink, white, and even blue sometimes. Finally watch for spots with a diameter that is greater than one quarter of an inch.

When it comes to this type of skin cancer the earlier that you detect it the better. In fact early detection is vital in many circumstances. If you are a high-risk person then you should administer self exams to yourself at least monthly using a full-length mirror in a bright room. You will also need a small hand-held mirror and possibly even a flashlight to see yourself from all possible angles.

Treatment of melanoma cancer depends on the different stage of cancer that you have and there are basically four stages that I’m not going to get into in great detail today. Basically when a possible melanoma is found, a biopsy is done in which the entire region is removed and examined. If the cancer has not yet spread it can often be removed surgically. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes then things get more difficult and may include chemotherapy and more intense surgery.

So there you have some fairly strong information when it comes to melanoma cancer. At the end of the day just remember that the earlier you detect it the better off you will be; so be sure to get regular checkups and keep an eye on things yourself in the meantime, and stay out of the sun as much as possible!

The rising number of people diagnosed with cancer is beyond staggering. Years and years of research for treatments and a cure have cost millions of dollars without a real cure being found as of yet. While there are treatments, some of them are harsh and can cause horrible side effects like hair loss and severe nausea that can last for days at a time.

That leads to having to take other medications that also have side effects and the cycle gets worse and worse for those who suffer with any number of different cancers. The worst thing is many of these treatments don’t guarantee remission or recovery. What can natural ingredients do in the fight against cancer? Here is what you need to know about turmeric and cancer.

Turmeric is a spice that contains an ingredient called curcumin. This natural ingredient has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic natural medicine for a variety of ailments. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent in healing a lot of medical issues. However, the best property that curcumin has is how powerful it acts as an antioxidant.

Research has been going on about what this natural ingredient can do to help those who are suffering from cancer. What these researchers have found is astounding and great news for those who have oesophageal cancer. These studies have shown that the curcumin in turmeric actually kills those cancer cells in the human gullet, the area of oesopageal cancer. This took place within twenty four hours of this powerful natural ingredient being introduced.

What is it about turmeric that has given it such tremendous healing properties in the cases of cancer? While the final outcome of these findings is still not clear, the effects may be due to how just how strong the antioxidants are in curcumin. Cancer cells are formed when free radicals have been there and caused it. An antioxidant is the defense against these molecules that causes such harm and damage.

Maybe this antioxidant just happens to be the one that cancer cells respond to more so than others, it is unclear yet. The best news is though, there is something there that may prove to be more than just a treatment for cancer after all. Even if you don’t have cancer, you need to make sure that you get a dose of this natural ingredient everyday to help in lowering your chances of getting it later on in life.

Taking care of your health is one of your greatest responsibilities. In life, without good health you have nothing. Keep in mind this news about turmeric and cancer. And remember to consult your physician if you have cancer and want to make some changes. I am not a doctor. I am just your average Joe who knows how powerful natural nutrients can be.

One of the best ways to not only reap the benefits of turmeric, but other herbal extracts and specialty nutrients as well is to take a natural multivitamin brand, which is what I do every single day.

I don’t think that I need to make an argument about how terrible cancer is and how devastating it can be to anybody who has it as well as their friends and families. The fact of the matter remains that since we don’t yet have a cure, the best thing we can do is help prevent it whenever possible.

In this article today I want to talk about six different types of cancer preventing foods that you should add to your daily diet in as many different ways as you possibly can. Of course these foods won’t guarantee that you not get cancer, but they certainly should help stack the odds in your favor!

The first food is whole grains and these include oats as well as a whole wheat and other grains such as flaxseed, rye, and millet. Eating a lot of these things helps isolate different cancer-causing compounds in your body and also helps to remove them from your body as well by speeding up the digestive process.

The next food is nuts and seeds. These things contain antioxidants and also protease inhibitors which help block the growth of blood vessels that cancerous tumors need to obtain nutrients from your bloodstream. Certain nuts and seeds are better than others so you’ll have to do a little bit of research, but virtually all of them are good in some way.

The next type of food are crucifers. These are things like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and also brussel sprouts that are very rich sources of glucosinolates which is a fairly potent anticancer compound. These foods, believe it or not, have actually been linked with reduced risk for lung cancer and also colon cancer.

The next type of food are legumes which include beans, peas, and also lentils. Legumes are fairly rich in fiber and also in saponins which block tumor growth by inhibiting a DNA synthesis. Soybeans are also a very potent legume when it comes to cancer prevention.

The next type of food are fruits which should be fairly obvious because of their massive variety of different vitamins and antioxidants. Citrus fruits are especially helpful for a variety of different reasons and also blackberries and strawberries are known to be especially helpful as well.

The sixth type of food that is a good cancer preventer are tomatoes because of their red color that they get from lycopene which is a photochemical that blocks the formation of carcinogens. Tomatoes are especially good for helping prevent against prostate cancer, certain studies have shown.

So there you have six types of food that should help tremendously in your fight to prevent cancer in its various forms. I’m not saying you have to eat every one of these every day but the more that you can add to your daily diet, the better off you will be in the long run.

There is not much awareness about cancer and that is why there are many myths that surround this medical condition. One thing which every one should know about the cancer is the early warning sign, so that the same can be treated and cured. The common myths about cancer are -

1. Use of cell phones can cause cancer. Again this is a very common belief that cell phones can cause cancer. There is no credible study available that consistently proves that using a cell phone has the ability to cause cancer.

2. Hair dye can cause brain cancer. Hair dye never causes cancer however this is a very common myth believed world over. The common belief was that hair dye can cause brain tumor, but there is no evidence of it causing brain tumors. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirms that hair dye does not increase the risk of developing cancer.

3. Cancer can cause hair loss or hair loss indicates cancer. Cancer does not cause hair loss. However, hair loss can be a side effect of cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. That too not with everyone, there are people who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation and did not lose their hair.

4. One can inherit cancer from parents. This is not true with all types of cancer. This means that one will not inherit cancer from parents for sure. However there are few types of cancer which can be passed down genetically, like breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer. If a parent has any of these cancers, the cancer gene may be passed to their child. But this does not mean that the child will suffer from cancer surely. It can only increase the likelihood of developing cancer.

5. Breast cancer is found in women only. This is the biggest cancer myth and believed by most. Men too can have breast cancer. As per an estimate 1500 men will be diagnosed and about 500 will die from the disease this year. However male breast cancer is very uncommon, yet it happens.

6. Cancer can be contagious. In fact there is No type of cancer is contagious. However, there are two viruses which are contagious, Hepatitis C and HPV, they can cause cancer. Hep C causes liver cancer whereas HPV is a known risk factor for cervical cancer. Both of these viruses can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. However, Hep C is more often transmitted through blood to blood contact such as sharing needles and transfusions.

7. Pharmaceutical companies have the cure for cancer but are hiding it. If this was true, thousands of loved ones of pharmaceutical businessmen have not died due to this deadly disease. pharmaceutical researchers are actually fighting very hard to find some solution instead. This is the result of their hard word alone that today we can cure many types of cancer successfully.

8. Cancer means death. Yes, this could be but not always that cancer means death. New breakthroughs have made it possible to treat the cancer in early detection of of the disease. An estimate is that more than 35% of cancer patients reach or exceed the five year survivor life!

9. Use of antiperspirants and deodorant can cause cancer. According to the National Cancer Society, there is no conclusive evidence from recent studies that wearing them can cause cancer. This cancer myth is by far one of the most popular among women for that it can cause breast cancer.

10. Positive thinking cures cancer. Positive thinking does not cure cancer but surely plays very significant role during cancer treatment. Optimistic attitude helps increasing the quality of life during treatment. Although there is no scientific evidence that positive attitude cures cancer.

All the above mentioned are wrong notions. As one sees symptoms that are warning signs of cancer, one should rush to a doctor.

Cutaneous lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma involving the lymphocytes within the skin, specifically T-cells and B-Cells. This is a rare type of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma where the tumor growths are seen mostly as numerous lumps beneath the skin’s surface and not in just a lymph node.

The lumps formed beneath the skin cutaneous lymphoma are due to a collection of the malignant cells in the skin. In an attempt to purge the system of the mutated cells, the body pushes the clustered malignant cells towards the surface of the skin. The most common type of cutaneous lymphoma is the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The disease manifests itself in several stages:

• Pre-tumor stage – the skin is presented with raised, red patches that appear on the breasts or buttocks and somewhat mimics the appearance of other skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.
• Plaque stage – the patches are now irregularly shaped and can appear anywhere in the body. Hair loss in the affected skin area is also noted, and can be permanent if the condition is not treated.
• Tumor stage – the incidence of people progressing to this stag is quite small. The plaques can now form lumps and even ulcerate. Lymph nodes are also affected. The liver, lungs, and spleen is also at risk of being affected by the cutaneous lymphoma, but the cases are quite rare.
• Sezary syndrome – this is when the malignancy has spread and covers a large skin area. The malignant cells have also metastasized in the blood stream. Some patients have no plaques or tumors, but the entire integumentary system may be swollen, red and sore (l’homme rouge). The skin can also manifest desquamation or peeling off of skin.

Cutaneous lymphoma of T-cell origin is treated through a specific or a combination of treatment modalities that can range from topical or local to systemic. PUVA treatment is a combination of psoralen and UVA. After taking psoralen, the patient enters an enclosed room where rays of UVA is applied on the skin. However, extra care must be given for it is known that exposure to UV rays can predispose a person to skin cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy is also done to help cure cutaneous lymphoma.

Cutaneous lymphoma can be hard to deal with for it can cause some severe changes in your appearance. A support group can help you combat the disease both in its physical and psychological aspects. Talk to your friends and family during hard times, and ask your doctor to refer you to a cancer support group to help you understand and cope with the effects of cutaneous lymphoma.

If you come to know the smoking and lung cancer statistics then you may think twice before smoking again. There are many people who get affected with lung cancer daily around the world. Smoking is one habit which you do not want to give a long run because in the near future it will for sure kill you without giving enough warnings.

Smoking cigarettes is injurious to health as we all know, but the fact that most people fail to comprehend is that smoking affects our health well beyond reparable limit. Once the lungs are affected then it becomes something which we can’t get it back to the old normal state. You will reap lots of benefits from quitting smoking. The benefits range from normal functioning of your heart and lungs to decreasing the likelihood of having a heart attack. The key to successful quitting smoking is to have the determination to be on the right path. There are many sure-fire way to eliminate the habit of smoking and if you follow them without relapsing then you are sure to quit smoking in the near future.

The toxic element that is responsible for the decline of good health is the nicotine which is added in the cigarette to deliver that extra kick. The other thing which greatly helps you to spoil your health is the carbon monoxide. This is the gas that is ejected out of vehicles when we drive them. The carbon monoxide is as poisonous as any gas. Nicotine is a substance that develops a craving deep inside you. It is like any other drug which makes you addicted to it. If you keep smoking then there are lots of chances for to lose control over your body health in addition to the body shape. You will look skinny which is not so good and there are possibilities for you to age quickly which results in wrinkles etc. this is very unhealthy and you got to be stopping this as soon as possible.

There are treatments for lung cancer but the thing is that those treatments are as serious as cancer is. Most of the people are unaware of the fact that these cancer can grow if left untreated, so it is good for you if you check you health twice a year and if possible stop smoking as quickly as possible. Quitting smoking is easier said than done but if you have the right determination then you can go places no matter what other say.

The news is that almost one and half billion of human beings are affected with this lung cancer and some of them are getting cured with the advent of latest developments in the technology. The good thing is that if you diagnose the ailment in its initial stages then there are high possibilities of getting rid of the cancer. The shocking news is that in the previous year alone about million of new cancer cases were diagnosed. Lung cancer has been the greatest hurdle for most centuries than any other type of cancer.

Asbestos Related Disease Are you ever concerned about what you might be breathing in? Along with all the second hand smoke and pollution on Earth, we should all be a little bit more concerned about asbestos. For starters, asbestos is a fibrous mineral, either amphibole or chrysotile which are toxic minerals formerly used for making incombustible or fireproof materials which can be found in buildings and thousands of products(Mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, feb 28 2010). Asbestos can cause a number of related diseases and cancers such as Mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and asbestosis. Although just being around products with asbestos is not harmful, when these products are damaged and released into the air, breathing in this mineral can be extremely harmful to the lungs. Many people who develop cancer from it do not even realize they are breathing in this deadly mineral(Mesothelioma and asbestos awareness center, asbestos cancer, december 5,2009).
  
      Most people are unaware of asbestos being around in their everyday lives. Do you have a house that was built prior to 1989, or do you have older appliances? If so, then you have a very high chance of having asbestos in your furnace, pipes, floor tiles, cement walls or roofs, stove top pads, ironing board covers, hairdryers and the list goes on(Environment health and safety online,Where is asbestos commonly found in the home, when and how should it be removed,February 28 2010). You wont find asbestos in this items after 1989 because the government banned it from use, but you’d be surprised as to how many homes this does effect and how many people are simply unaware. On the day of September 11th 2001, asbestos became a much larger concern when first responders who were perfectly healthy before the crash of the twin towers started to develop asbestos lung cancer and mespthelioma. These first responders who are hero’s to most were not even told that the air was unsafe to breath, even when the government knew the buildings were filled with asbestos minerals as being built before the minerals were banned. As a result hundreds of firefighters have died and we anticipate the number of deaths to exceed the number that died on September 11th(Rt top stories,Hundreds of 9/11 first responders die of cancer, february 28 2010). Asbestos is not visible to the human eye so anyone could be breathing it in at any given time. Our mind is set up only to fully recognize survival aspects of the world so these other little details go unnoticed. In other words we only perceive 1 trillionth of reality(Ornstein,Robert and Dewan,Ted.”Mind Real”. United States,2008). More times then often when asbestos is in the air it’s a small enough amount that there will not be any noticeable damage or discomfort, but over long periods of time, breathing in too much can be deadly.

All kinds of alternative treatments and natural remedies are getting more and more popular. This is mostly very positive but it can have some negative sides. The more people learn about different treatments options the better. People who have breast cancer need all the help they can get and every little detail, can become very helpful. Should you be using breast cancer alternative treatments?

Everyone knows how dangerous, expensive and ineffective conventional treatments are, so it is natural that people look for ways to heal themselves more effectively. That really is the goal for people – heal themselves. If there is something more effective and safer that traditional chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, then people will use them.

I guess that the main danger with various alternative treatments and remedies, is that you never really know what works and what does not. Certainly there are people, who take advantage of people, and sell them worthless junk, that is suppose to be an effective remedy for breast cancer. But then again there are people, who are honest and have done extensive research into various breast cancer alternative treatments. There is no magic pill that will eliminate cancer, but there are certainly many things you can do, to reduce the symptoms of traditional cancer treatments and make them more effective.

Diet and exercise are very important and they can make a very big difference. Women who have a proper diet, which includes essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and who exercise regularly, have a much bigger chance to beat cancer. Exercise can increase energy level, reduce stress and depression. It is recommended by doctors to have a diet, that is high on fruits and vegetables, such as cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. and low on animal fats.

This is not much but all of these little details can become very important later on. Is your diet what it should be? Are you exercising enough? Cancer cells thrive in some condition and suffer in other conditions. So the goal is through proper diet, supplements, natural remedies and treatments to make conditions, where the cancer cells can no thrive. There are so many things you can do yourself, to stop the spreading of cancer cells.

The goal is not to replace conventional treatments all together and replace them with breast cancer alternative treatments, but to combine them and make the fight against breast cancer more effective. People should work together and not get stuck in their beliefs, how things should work in their mind.