Stomach cancer!!!!

Stomach cancer, is the second-most-deadly cancer worldwide. The incidence of this cancer, however, varies with location. The highest-risk countries are in Asia, especially Japan, Korea, and China.  As stomach cancer usually shows few early signs, most people are not diagnosed with this disease until it has advanced. Symptoms typically include loss of appetite, indigestion, stomach pain or discomfort, a bloated feeling after meals, nausea, and heartburn.

The main risk factors linked to stomach cancer risk include tobacco use, a poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic infection (chronic gastritis or stomach inflammation) from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. There is also evidence that some people may have a genetic vulnerability to this disease; studies of twins show higher than expected concordance rates of stomach cancer among identical twins.

Preventative measure- Healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, avoidance of contact with H. pylori (e.g., good sanitation) and knowlege of family history.

"Excerpts from Cancer Causes and Controversies- Understanding risk reduction and prevention"

In memory of Tracie.

My tribute to Tracie- Died of stomach cancer

Dear Tracie,

You were always a kind and a selfless person, always willing to help.  Its was a pleasure to know and work with you. I know how brave you were during your illness and even though your death saddens us all greatly, I know that you are in a beautiful place, where there is no more pain and suffering. I hear it is a place where the sun always shines on an unclouded sky, a beautiful city, a heavenly city of love.  Rest in peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memento mori!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers

Ovarian cancer strikes fewer than half as many women as endometrial cancer, yet ovarian cancer has double the mortality rate.  The symptoms for this cancer tend to be vague at first. As the disease progresses, women may experience discomfort or pressure in their pelvic area, back, abdomen or legs. They may feel fatigued, bloated, nauseated, constipated, and have diarrhea or indigestion. Some women experience breathlessness, vaginal bleeding·even after menopause·and feel they have to urinate frequently.

Endometrial cancer (also known as uterine cancer) develops in the tissue lining the uterus. This disease is a few steps ahead of ovarian cancer in terms of how frequently it is diagnosed, but it tends to be much less deadly. Women with early-stage endometrial cancer may experience unexplained vaginal spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause (when they should not experience any bleeding). They may have pain or difficulty during urination, discomfort during sex, or pain in the pelvic region. Individuals with any of these symptoms should see a doctor for proper

gynecological examinations.

Risk factors associated with ovarian and endometrial cancers includes:

Age over 55 years. Diet high in total fat content (in particular animal fat). Because fat stimulates the body's production of estrogen hormone which in turn increases ovulation  thereby increasing cancer risk. Genetic predisposition in familes with mutation in the DNA repair genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Ionizing radiation, obesity and diabetes are associated with increase risk to ovarian and endometiral cancer.

Healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and moderate level of excercise (avoidance of sedentary lifestyle) are all associated with reduced risk of this type of cancer.

For detailed information read "Cancer Causes and Controversies- Understanding risk reduction and prevention"

Happy new year!!!!!!

Have a peaceful relaxed 2012.

CALORIE RESTRICTION DIET AND CANCER

Folks, we eat too much and we eat the wrong kind of stuff!!!

Eating slightly less than what one would naturally consume is an old technique for extending life. Scholarly papers often credit Lucretius (ca. 50 b.c.) with being the first to have suggested that rampant eating leads to premature aging and degenerative diseases. The old Roman poet was on the right track. Scientific evidence shows that restricting calories (called calorie restriction), or under-nutrition without malnutrition, significantly decreases the risk for age-related diseases and may even delay death. Researchers found that yeast, worms, flies, mice, and rats that were put on calorie-restricted diets had considerably longer lives than their control counterparts.

When correctly designed, a calorie-restricted diet features essential nutrients and vitamins but carefully controlled total energy consumption. Calorie decreases of about 20 to 30 percent (compared to free-feeding tendencies) can still be seen as a normal, healthy level of food consumption. While the people who benefit the most from calorie restriction may be those who have followed this approach throughout their lives (as opposed to beginning as an adult), adopting this eating approach in adulthood may still prevent obesity and a host of diseases, suppress cancer, and extend lifespan.

Read more from Cancer Causes and Controversies-understanding risk reduction and prevention

Available at Amazon.com

Your immune system and cancer risk

A healthy immune system is essential for a healthy life- and to avoid cancer. Deficient immune systems put people at increased risk for certain types of cancer as well as other diseases. In fact, scientific studies estimate that up to 15 percent of cancer incidence around the world is related to microbial infection. This suggests a firm link between weak immune systems, chronic infection, and cancer. Common examples of this connection between chronic infection and cancer are the human papillomavirus, associated with cervical cancer, and the hepatitis B and C viruses, which are linked with liver cancer.

Therefore the body needs a healthy immune system to fight deadly illnesses such as cancer. Studies show that when cancerous cells evade the immune system, usually they do so by taking over the immune system's defensive inflammatory response mechanism for fighting infection. In a bit of biological irony, cancer uses the
human body's defenses to promote disease development. While not all the mechanisms are understood, studies suggest that a complex combination of factors influence the immune system's efficacy at fighting cancer
and other diseases. These factors include diet, exercise, brain stimulation, and emotions that may affect the immune system via the brain.

Read more in Cancer Causes and Controversies- understanding risk reduction and prevention.  Available through Amazon.com.

CCC- Understanding risk reduction and prevention

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