Cancer ... conquered or conqueror? (Page5)

Prevention

Prevention is the most important, and most reliable, cancer-fighting tool that exists today, and there is much that an individual can do to prevent cancer. It is especially vital for a person to maintain a strong and healthy immune system. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, including through a diet that ensures the optimum intake of imuno-enhancing nutrients while decreasing the intake of immunosuppressing foods. Living a life free from continual emotional or mental distress is alos important, as well as avoiding carcinogenic toxins in the home and in the environment.

Diet and Nutrition

With up to 60% of all cancers being related to dietary factors, diet and nutrition are perhaps the most important aspects of any cancer prevention regimen. This is evidenced by the fact that in 1988, the US Surgeon General called for the reduction of dietary fat as a top priority for the prevention of chronic diseases, including cancer.

A diet which consists largely of organically grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, with little or no fat or meat (particularly grilled, charred, smoked, or cured meats), is highly recommended, especially for women who wish to decrease their risk of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute recommends that Americans reduce their fat intake to no more than 30% of total calories, (30% is still on the high end. - LRU), while increasing their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Additionally, it is essential to avoid processed foods, as they can contain hydrogenated fats/oils, as well as chemical additives (see Food Additives ) that are potentially carcinogenic. Eliminating processed sugar, cutting down on caffeine, and alcohol is also highly recommended.

Eating organically grown foods is extremely important, as recnt studies have shown that organic foods are not only far more free from carcinogenic pesticide contaminants than conventionally grown foods, they are also risher in the essential nutrients and trace elements necessary for cancer prevention, including beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium. In a recent five year study of nearly thirty thousand rural Chinese, reserachers from the National Cancer Insitute found that daily doses of these three nutrients reduced cancer deaths by 13%.

The following is a list of these and other important cancer-fighting nutrients and elements, along with their sources :

Beta-Carotene : The precursor of vitamin A, beta-carotene is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and most leafy green vegetables. Another recent study found that a diet high in carotenes, especially beta-carotene, was protective against all cancers. Beta-carotene is particularly important for women as a deterent to cervical cancer.

Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect the lungs against both tobacco smoke and smog, inhibiting lung cancer. In addition, another study found that ex-smokers who daily ate green and yellow vegetables high in beta-carotene also decreased their risk of stomach cancer as well as lung cancer.

Vitamin B6 : Found in bananas, leafy green vegetables, carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes, Vitamin B6 is essential for maintaining optimal immune function, and helps maintain healthy mucous membranes which line the respiratory tract, providing a natural barrier to pollution and infection. It is also a valuable protection against cervical cancer.

Vitamin C : Found in citrus fruits, cantaloupe, broccoli, green peppers and many other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is integrally involved in the maintenance of a healthy immune system, as well as protecting against a variety of cancers.

Vitamin E : Found in dark green vegetables, wheat germ, unrefined vegetable oils, and some herbs. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can directly reduce the damage done by ozone and other substances found in smog. It can also help protect against bowel cancer.

Selenium : An essential trace mineral found in fruits and vegetables, selenium helps the body produce glutathione, an enzyme essential for detoxification. Low dietary levels of selenium have been correlated with higher cancer incidence, therefore supplementation of this nutrient acts as a deterent against cancer in general.

Additional nutrients which have been shown to be protective against cancer, or whose deficiency can increase cancer risk, include:

Folic Acid : Protects against cervical cancer, and necessary for proper synthesis of RNA and DNA. Found in beets, cabbage, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and most fish.

Calcium : Protects against colon cancer, and vital for proper bone and tooth formation, blood clotting, and cellular metabolism. Found in dark green vegetables, most nuts and seeds, sardines, and salmon.

Iodine : Protects against breast cancer, and needed for proper energy metabolism and the growth and repair of all tissues. Available in seafood and sea vegetables suach as kelp, and dulse.

Magnesium : Protects against cancer in general, and necessary to maintain the pH balance of blood and tissue, as well as the symthesis of RNA and DNA. Found in most nuts, fish, green vegetables, whole grains, and brown rice.

Zinc : Protects against prostate cancer, and necessary for the formation of RNA and DNA, as well as healthy immune function. Contained in whole grains, most seafoods, sunflower seeds, soybeans, and onions.

Garlic : Protects against cancer in general.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids : May inhibit cancers, especially breast cancer, and essential for the proper functioning of all tissue and every cell in the body. Contained in fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and haddock; evening primrose oil, flaxseed and linseed oils.

Foods rich in fiber, especially whole grains, are also an essential part of any anticancer diet, as fiber helps facilitate the prompt removal of toxins form the digestive tract. It is important to include a wide variety of these whole grains in the diet, since each contains different kinds of fiber. The National Cancer Institute recommends increasing dietary fiber to twenty to thirty grams per day.

It is also important to drink only pure, natural water, in order to avoid any carcinogenic toxins, such as chlorine and lead, which might be lurking in public water systems. Likewise, well water, unless it has been adequately tested . Pesticides from farms, as well as industrial runoff, can leach through the soil into underground wells.

For a list of Vitamins and their roles click here .

Avoid Toxins in the Home

It is extremely important to be wary of the carcinogenic chemicals and contaminants found in everyday consumer items, including household products, cosmetics, foods, and beverages. Such common items as furniture polishes, car interior cleaners, and even common cleansers contain carcinogens ranging from formaldehyde to crystalline silica. While none of these products alonemay present a critical carcinogenic exposure, when many little exposures are added together, they become cumulative, stressing the body's immune system and damaging cells until eventually, over time, cancer sets in.

In addition, at present, many chemicals used in cosmetics, pesticides, and other products do not require full safety testing before they are allowed to be marketed and used by millions of consumers. Therefore, it is important to gain as much information as possible about the products to which a person's family will be exposed. For example, among the two leading brands of kitchen cleansers, Ajax contains high amounts of crystalline silica while it's competitor, Comet, does not.

" This sort of conscientious buying will enable people to vote with their dollars for an environmental clean up of all carcinogenic substances used in manufacturing and industry, including those found in pesticides, " Dr. Epstein states.

Dr. Epstein also recommends boycotting all consumer products containing carcinogens. " There are a number of substitutes available, " he explains. " For example, a combination of plain water mixed with distilled white vinegar and a small amount of baking soda, borax, and lemon juice can clean the home and bathroom as effectively as many higher-priced cleaners. "

Informed consumerism such as this can also bring pressure to bear on the government to require that all products and chemicals be proven safe before they are allowed to be sold to an unsuspecting public.

Reduce Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF's)

The United States Congress' Office of Technology Assessment recommends a policy of prudent avoidance of EMF's. Prudent avoidance means measuring electromagnetic fields and acting to reduce all other exposure. To measure electromagnetic radiation in the home or office, one should use a Gauss Meter, a device which measures the amount of gauss, or magnetic flux density, occurring in the home or workplace. It is easy to use and shows which places are safe from chronic exposure and which places are not. In addition, before buying or moving into a new house, apartment or office, always test for high electromagnetic field levels. Also avoid living or working in areas with close proximity to power lines and generating stations. Computer shields should always be used as well.

Stress Reduction

In line with the growing body of research regarding stress and it's link to serious illness, many physicians believe that treating an individual's mental and emotional states is as important as treating any cancerous tumors which may be the result of such conditions. Lifestyle change is another factor that needs to be looked at closely, including examining a person's job, major relationships, living situation, and sexual habits.

" There is overwhelming evidence that people who have few social contacts are more likely to get sick and less likely to recover from an illness, " says Erik Peper, PhD, Associate Director of the Institute of Holistic Healing Studies at San Francisco State University. One long-term study found that people with the lowest amount of social ties were two to three times more likely to die of all causes than those with the most social connectedness.

This can be especially true in instances of cancer diagnoses. David Spiegel, MD, a psychiatrist at Stanford University, demonstrated that women with breast cancer who participated in a weekly support group lived twice as long as those who did not.

The letting out of emotions linked to a person's condition, especially for cancer patients, can be very therapeutic. Several studies have shown a clear connection between people who expressed high levels of anger toward their disease and increased survival lengths.

Mammography : Benefits and Risks

Whikle the use of mammography is commonly recommended to detect breast cancer, it is important that it's drawbacks be noted, as well. First, X-rays can cause cancer. There is clear evidence that the breast , particularly in premenopausal women, is highly sensitive to radiation, with estimates of increased risk of up to one percent for every RAD (radiation absorbed dose) unit of X-ray exposure. " Even for low dosage exposure of two RADs or less, this exposure can add up quickly for women having annual mammographies, " notes Samuel Epstein, MD, Professor of Occupational and Evironmental Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health. " More recent concern comes from evidence that one percent of women, or over one million women in the United States alone, carry a gene that increases their breast cancer risk from radiation fourfold."

Secondly, mammography provides false tumor reports between 5 and 15 percent of the time. False positive results cause women to be re-exposed to additional X-rays and create an environment of further stress, even possibly leading to unneeded surgery.

" Furthermore, " says Dr. Epstein, " while there is a general consencus that mammography improves early cancer detection and survival in post-menopausal women, no such benefit is demonstrable for younger women. " Still, The American Cancer Society recommends annual or biannual mammography for all women ages forty to fifty-five.

In addition, mammography may also fail to detect advanced tumors measuring less than two centimeters in diameter. Yet, a tumor can be felt manually when it reaches about one centimeter (approximately one half inch) in diameter, and with training in self-examination, women can detect even smaller tumors. In view of this, women should take self-examination all the more seriously.

Many experts believe that early detection through manual examination provides the best all-around results, as well. " It is certainly the safest, least expensive, and least invasive preventive action available to women, " Dr. Epstein points out. " It also enables women to become familiar with their breast tissue, natural lumps and all, and to report early on any noticeable changes."

Early Detection

Early detection is imperative for the most effective treatment of cancer. By learning about their body and recognizing the telltale signs of cancer, a person can do a great deal to ensure that cancer is detected at an early stage.

According to Dr. Epstein, there are seven symptoms which should be noted by every health-conscious individual :

A Change in Bowel or Bladder Habits : Continuing urinary difficulties, constipation, diarrhea, gas pains, rectal bleeding, or blood in the stool, should not be ignored and should be a warning to seek professional help.

Chronic Indigestion or a Difficulty in Swallowing : Difficulties in swallowing, continued indigestion, nausea, heartburn, bloating, and loss of appetite may all be symptoms of colon cancer ( see Colon Therapy ) or cancer of the esophagus.

Unusual Bleeding or Discharge : The early stages of uterine cancer and later stages of cervical cancer exhibit signs of unusual bleeding or discharge. Prompt attention to these symptoms will afford the patient a better chance of catching cancer at it's most treatable stage. In the case of cervical cancer, Pap tests can detect problems before the later stages of bleeding.

Thickening of or Lumps in the Breats or Testicles : Self-examination of the breast and testicles offers women and men the best protection against breast and testicular cancer. A lump or thickening in the breast, or noticeable change in the testicles, are early warning signs and should not be ignored.

Nagging Cough or Voice Hoarseness : Coughs which become chronic, especially for smokers, should be checked. If there is a cancer in the air passages into the lungs, they may be partially obstructed or irritated. Coughing may be a sign of this obstruction or irritation.

Changes in Moles or Warts : Changes in warts or moles, or sores which do not heal, may be indicative of a melanoma. Skin cancers may appear as dry, scaly patches, as pimples which never go away, or as inflamed or ulcerated areas. Warts or moles which grow or bleed should be checked, as should sores in the mouth which persist. ( see Warts )

Sore Throat Which Does Not Heal : Persistant hoarseness, a persistant lump in the throat, soreness in the neck, or difficulties in swallowing are signals that your body may be harboring a cancer. Cancer of the larynx exhibits these symptoms, yet is treatable when caught early. There are also many different methods for early detection. These include :

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) : The PSA is used for early detection of prostate cancer. Many physicians, both mainstream and alternative, recommend that the PSA be used annually. However, they also warn of lab variability. They also caution physicians not to overreact, noting that many men with prostate cancer do not necessarily die of it.

Electroacupuncture Biofeedback : The prospect of detecting life-threatening diseases such as cancer at the earliest stage has led some alternative medical practitioners to investigate energy medicine, based on the belief that an individual's energy field alters with the onset of disease. This changing energy field can be diagnosed using electroacupuncture biofeedback devices, leading to early detection.
Electroacupuncture biofeedback instruments were first used in Europe in the early 1970's, and have been used in the United States since the 1980's. As controversial as they are, their use is becoming increasingly widespread as physicians seek better ways to screen for a wide variety of illnesses that can be used along with traditional methods.

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