Exercise Lowers Risk of Colon Cancer

(HealthDay News) -- Physical activity can reduce the risk of colon cancer, but few American adults are aware of this, a new study shows.

A sedentary lifestyle accounts for as many as 14 percent of all colon cancer cases in the United States. People who get lots of exercise have a 30 percent to 40 percent lower risk of developing colon cancer, according to study co-author Elliott Coups, of the Division of Population Science at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Cheltenham, Pa., and colleagues.

But their analysis of survey data from 1,932 adults who answered questions about colon cancer risk found that only 15 percent said they used physical activity as a way of reducing their colon cancer risk. The findings were published in the August issue of Patient Education and Counseling.

Several factors may contribute to this lack of knowledge about the link between exercise and colon cancer risk.

"Patients may not be learning this information from their health-care providers and information regarding colon cancer prevention is not as well publicized as it could be," Coups said in a new release from the Center for the Advancement of Health.

Doctors may find it easier to tell patients about the general health benefits of exercise, rather than specifically referring to colon cancer, even if a patient has a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors for the disease.

"In the context of busy clinic visits, it is, in some ways, efficient for patients to be reminded that physical activity is good for their health in general. Going through each specific health benefit of physical activity would take considerable time," said Coups.

Sedentary people can greatly benefit from starting a modest exercise program, such as gardening or walking two to three hours a week, according to Dr. Edward Giovannucci, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.

"Sedentary people should first set such moderate, achievable goals. More benefits could accrue from higher levels and more intense exercise, exercise, such as jogging, running or tennis. To some extent, more may be better, but it is important to note that a little is much better than nothing," Giovannucci said in the news release.

More information
The American Cancer Society has more about colorectal cancer.

5 Things to Stop Worrying About Right Now

"Health" magazine busts the biggest health myths out there
by Ross Weale

Stress doesn't really turn your hair gray, it's OK to read in dim light, and three other other myths busted by Health magazine contributor Dr. Roshini Raj on the Today show on April 7.

DR. ROSHINI RAJ

Roshini Raj, MD, a Health magazine contributor and part of the magazine's Health Expert Network, is board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine with degrees from the New York University School of Medicine and Harvard University. Currently Dr. Raj is an attending physician at NYU Medical Center's Tisch Hospital in New York City. She also serves as an assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine, and she has a special interest in women's health and cancer screening. She has also published several research articles on colon-cancer screening.

Dr. Raj has discussed health topics on numerous television outlets, including NBC's Today show, ABC's Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, and Discovery Health. She has been quoted in publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, Women's Health, and Fitness on the state of health care and other health news of the day. Dr. Raj is often called upon to explain and demystify complicated health topics.

How to Best Cope With Spring Allergies

Allergies 101: Pollen, mold spores, nasal sprays, and antihistamines
by Ross Weale

Some 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergies, and nearly 75% of them have spring hay fever. Here to offer some relief is Health magazine contributor Roshini Raj, MD, who discussed treatment options on the Today show on March 29.




DR. ROSHINI RAJ

Roshini Raj, MD, a Health magazine contributor and part of the magazine's Health Expert Network, is board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine with degrees from the New York University School of Medicine and Harvard University. Currently Dr. Raj is an attending physician at NYU Medical Center's Tisch Hospital in New York City. She also serves as an assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine, and she has a special interest in women's health and cancer screening. She has also published several research articles on colon-cancer screening.

Dr. Raj has discussed health topics on numerous television outlets, including NBC's Today show, ABC's Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, and Discovery Health. She has been quoted in publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, Women's Health, and Fitness on the state of health care and other health news of the day. Dr. Raj is often called upon to explain and demystify complicated health topics.

Hormone Therapy Only Helps Some Older Men With Prostate Cancer

(HealthDay News) -- Adding hormone therapy to radiation treatment for fast-moving prostate cancer can save lives, but the benefit often doesn't apply to men who have other serious medical problems, a new study shows.

"The new message from this study is that there definitely is a difference in outcome, depending on the gentleman's health," said Dr. Anthony V. D'Amico, chief of genitourinary oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. His report is published in the Jan. 23 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The old message, reported in 2004 on the five-year point of the study, was that treatment to suppress the activity of male hormones known as androgens improved survival of older men with aggressive prostate cancer, D'Amico said.

But the new report showed the benefit was limited to men without other serious medical problems. Adding hormone therapy to radiation treatment in the 206-man study decreased the rate of death significantly, but the benefit was confined to men without other health issues.

"This report is important, because it is part of a story that is emerging about hormone therapy in men with prostate cancer who are elderly," D'Amico said. "If a man is 75 and otherwise healthy, adding hormone therapy is likely to help. If the same man has had a heart attack or stroke, or if he is a smoker or diabetic, adding hormone therapy makes it worse."

In terms of clinical practice, the finding means that "before I treat him, I get him to a specialist and try to get his health cleared up as much as possible before giving the hormone therapy," D'Amico said. "If he has heart disease, I would consult a cardiologist; if a stroke, I would consult a neurologist; if diabetes, a diabetologist."

The idea is not anything new in medicine, he added. "It is the same as with a surgical procedure," D'Amico said. "You do not give the therapy until it is cleared by the appropriate specialist."

The study is relatively small and requires further confirmation, said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancer at the American Cancer Society.

"But for men trying to make a decision about prostate cancer treatment, it provides useful information for the men and their physicians," Brooks said. "A man who has had radiation treatment, if he and his doctor talk about the results of this study, it can help them make a decision about hormone treatment in a more informed way."

The results apply to "a significant percentage of older prostate cancer patients," Brooks said, noting that the average age of men in the study was over 70.

Until now, only general advice about hormone treatment could be given to such men, he said. "Now we can be a little more specific and say, 'If you don't have underlying cardiac disease or other major co-morbid conditions, the chance of having a good response to the treatment is better.' But many men with heart disease or other problems may decide they do not want to deal with the side effects of hormone treatment."

More information
Learn more about prostate cancer and its treatment from the American Cancer Society.

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Blackberries, Broccoli Sprouts Battle Cancer

(HealthDay News) -- Your local farmer's market might hold the key to cancer prevention, since new research shows that black raspberries, broccoli sprouts and some raw vegetables reduce the risk of esophageal and bladder cancers.

Data from three studies on the subject was presented Thursday at the American Association for Cancer Research's Sixth Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention, in Philadelphia.

Fruits and vegetables have long been known to help reduce the risk of certain cancers. Based on prior research, the American Cancer Society recommends eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

In the first study, Ohio State University researchers found black raspberries may protect against esophageal cancer by reducing the oxidative stress that results from Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition usually caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. The esophagus is a long tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Reflux disease causes stomach acid to continually splash back up into the esophagus.

"Specifically in the case of Barrett's patients, reflux of the stomach and bile acid contribute to ongoing oxidative damage. Thus, our hypothesis is that feeding a food that is high in potential protective constituents, such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, may help restore the oxidative balance," lead researcher Laura Kresty said.

People with Barrett's esophagus typically are 30 to 40 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer, which has a poor five-year survival rate of 15 percent.

The team gave 32 grams to 45 grams of black raspberries daily for six months to 20 patients with Barrett's esophagus. They analyzed changes in blood, urine and tissue before, during and after the treatment, and found lower levels of some of the chemical markers of oxidative stress in both urine and tissue samples.

Black raspberries previously have been shown to reduce the risk of oral, esophageal and colon cancer in animal models, according to the researchers, who called for further study in humans.

Dietitian Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, a professor of behavioral science at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas in Houston, said she would feel comfortable advising people with Barrett's to eat black raspberries. "It couldn't hurt," she said, but added that further studies need to find out if the berries really do prevent cancer.

In other research presented at the meeting, broccoli sprouts and cruciferous vegetables both showed promise in the fight against bladder cancer, according to two separate teams from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.

Using a rat model, a team lead by Dr. Yuesheng Zhang, a professor of oncology, demonstrated that a broccoli sprout extract reduced bladder cancer in rats by 70 percent.

"Our present study shows that broccoli sprout extracts fed to rats in the diet inhibits bladder cancer development induced by a carcinogen. We don't yet know if the extracts inhibit the growth of a existing bladder cancer," said Zhang, who explained that broccoli sprouts are a rich source of a well-known cancer preventive agent known as sulforaphane.

"We next plan to find out if broccoli sprout extracts can fight bladder cancer in humans," Zhang noted.

A second team at the institute found that people who ate three or more servings of raw, cruciferous vegetables per month reduced their risk of bladder cancer by 40 percent.

Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.

The team analyzed the dietary habits of 275 people with early bladder cancer and 825 people who were cancer-free. The researchers specifically asked how many servings of raw or cooked cruciferous vegetables they ate before their diagnosis and whether they smoked.

Analysis of the data showed that the more raw, cruciferous vegetables people ate, the lower their risk of bladder cancer. In comparison to people who smoked and ate fewer than three servings of raw vegetables a day, nonsmokers eating at least three servings of cruciferous vegetables daily were 73 percent less likely to develop bladder cancer.

"In our study, we do find intake of raw cruciferous vegetables showed risk reduction of bladder cancer in smokers, and even the heavier smokers," said lead researcher Li Tang.

The researchers stressed that the benefits are derived from raw cruciferous vegetables, giving cole slaw the edge over cabbage soup when it comes to cancer prevention.

"This confirms that there are a variety of compounds within fruits and vegetables that contribute to reducing the risk of cancer. Research like these studies contribute to our knowledge about what the impact of specific nutrients may be on specific types of cancer," said Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society.

"Cooking leaches out some nutrients but makes others more absorbable. Until we know more in this regard, the bottom-line message for consumers is eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, raw and/or lightly cooked. Focus on those with the most color, since, in general, fruit and vegetables with the most color have the most cancer-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals."

"Surveys we've done indicate many people don't think they have control over their cancer risk, but studies clearly indicate they do. For the majority of people who don't smoke, watching their weight, being more active and eating a healthy diet are the most important ways to reduce cancer risk," Doyle said.

More information
To learn how diet and physical activity can help prevent cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.

Oxy-Powder® Complete Cleansing System $147.75 [ learn more ] Complete Cleansing System with Livatrex™, Oxy-Powder®, Latero-Flora™, and two bottles of ParaTrex®.

Gene Tweak Reverses Aging in Mouse Skin Cells

(HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they've been able to temporarily return old skin cells to their youthful state by blocking the activity of a single gene.

"This gene gets more and more active with age," said lead researcher Dr. Howard Chang, an assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford University. "It doesn't exist to make us old. It is active in a number of processes, including the immune system and inflammation."

Chang said tweaking the gene, which produces a protein called NF-kappa-B, will not serve as a "fountain of youth" for the foreseeable future. The protein has a number of functions, some involved with cancer, and as-yet-unknown side effects must be explored before its safety is known. But one possible use is to help heal wounds more quickly in older people, he noted.

What's exciting about the discovery is that a single gene can have an immediate effect on older cells, Chang said. "People have known that you can affect the aging process with drastic interventions, like calorie restriction. Now we are talking about a single gene that, if blocked in an individual who is already old, can return cells to a youthful status, at least temporarily."

The researchers came across NF-kappa-B by searching existing data on genes that become more or less active as people get older. They found that the activity of a number of those genes is regulated by the protein.

They then used a genetically engineered mouse model to test the effect of inhibiting NF-kappa-B activity in a patch of skin cells.

After two weeks, a patch of treated skin from a 2-year-old mouse not only had the same genetic activity as that of a newborn animal but also looked more youthful, with more dividing cells.
It's fascinating "to engineer a mouse so that the rest of the mouse is old, but that one patch is young, to see that even locally, in a targeted way, you can affect the aging process," Chang said.

The finding also adds support to the theory that aging is not simply a process of wear-and-tear but the result of specific genetic changes, he said. And it shows that at least locally and temporarily, those changes can be stopped, Chang added.

The gene treatment has to be used cautiously, because NF-kappa-B is involved in so many different processes in the body, he noted.

A question to be asked now is, "What is the long-term effect of blocking the aging process for a while?," Chang said. "Would the tissue age rapidly again after the treatment stopped, or would they take much longer to age? It's important to sort these things out."

Long-term blockage of the gene would raise serious issues in terms of side effects, Chang said, since the gene is involved in so many body processes. Short-term use -- for wound healing, for example -- might sidestep those problems.

More information
There's more on skin aging at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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Most Asian Men Have Better Prostate Cancer Survival Rates

(HealthDay News) -- Your prognosis for surviving prostate cancer may depend on your racial and ethnic background, a new study suggests.

Asian men have better survival rates than white males, while South Asians have the worst survival rates, according to results of a study of men living in California.

"Nearly all Asians do far better when they get prostate cancer," said study lead author Dr. Anthony Robbins, of the California Cancer Registry in Sacramento. "But Indian men didn't do as well as other Asian men, and they did worse than all other men, including blacks and whites," he added.

The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences in prostate cancer survival aren't known, Robbins said, adding, "We just couldn't explain it."

Not only couldn't the researchers explain the finding, they were left with an apparent paradox. The Asian men were usually older and had more advanced disease at the time of diagnosis, Robbins said. "Based on their risk factors, you would think they were going to do worse," he said.

In the study, Robbins and his colleagues collected data on 116,916 men (108,076 whites and 8,840 Asians from the six largest represented Asian ethnicities -- Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, and Vietnamese) diagnosed with prostate cancer. The researchers compared prognostic factors and survival rates among the men.

The researchers found that for Asians, risk profiles were worse compared with whites. For example, Asians were more likely to have more advanced disease and use non-curative therapies. But, for Asians -- except for South Asians -- survival rates were equal to or better than rates for whites.

Japanese-American men were 34 percent less likely to die from prostate cancer compared with whites. But South Asian men -- those from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan -- were 40 percent more likely to die from the disease, Robbins said.

The study was published online Monday in the journal Cancer.

Some of the factors that may influence the findings include diet, exercise and genetics, Robbins speculated.

"Doctors that are seeing patients for prostate cancer need to be aware that these differences can be used as factors in planning the patient's treatment and telling the patient what their survival might be," Robbins said.

Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancer at the American Cancer Society, thinks this study demonstrates the need to better understand how different racial and ethnic groups respond to diseases.

"This study points out the potential misleading conclusions we can come to when we use these large groups to lump different subpopulations into," he said.

"If you lump in the South Asian subgroup with other Asians, as is traditionally done, you totally miss the fact that these folks have a strikingly higher chance of dying from prostate cancer," Brooks said.

Brooks said the study finding can provide a basis for research to try to understand why these differences exist between populations.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer to strike American men, other than skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates there will be about 218,890 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2007, and about 27,050 men will die of the disease. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in males. While one in six men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one man in 34 will die of the disease. The death rate for prostate cancer is declining, due in large part to earlier diagnoses, the society said.

Another paper in the same issue of the journal also found racial differences among women who survive breast cancer; with black women having poorer survival regardless of the stage of the disease.

It is known that black women had larger tumors and are more likely to have invasive breast cancer. But the study, lead by Dr. Alfred Neugut from Columbia University Medical Center and Russell McBride from Mailman School of Public Health, found that mortality among black women was up to 56 percent higher than whites.

Neugut's team says that the disparities in survival were surprising and suggest that non-clinical factors, such as access to and quality of care, may play a part.

More information
For more on prostate cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.

Higher Screening Rates Credited With Drop in Colorectal Cancer

(HealthDay News) -- Colorectal cancer is on the decline in the United States, but doctors aren't declaring victory just yet against the deadly disease.

It's one of the few completely preventable forms of cancer -- but only if people get regular screenings, doctors say.

"Unfortunately, only about half of individuals who should be screened are not up to date in their screenings," said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of colorectal cancer for the American Cancer Society.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 112,340 new cases of colon cancer and 41,420 new cases of rectal cancer in 2007 in the United States. Combined, they will cause about 52,180 deaths.

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that increased screening for colorectal cancer may have contributed to the disease's decline in the United States between 1988 and 2002. According to the researchers, colorectal cancer decreased from 42.8 cases per 100,000 people in 1988-90 to 38.6 cases per 100,000 in 2000-02.

Meanwhile, there was an 80 percent increased use of colonoscopy to test for the disease by Americans between 1997 and 2002.

Many health experts also credit the "Katie Couric Effect," citing the TV newswoman's nationally televised 2000 colonoscopy, prompting more Americans to get screened for the malignancy.

The falling colorectal cancer rates and the climbing colonoscopy rates are linked, because the disease can be averted by removing polyps in the colon that are known to lead to cancer. Those polyps are found through colonoscopy and other screening methods.

"By finding non-cancerous polyps and removing them, we can actually prevent cancer," Brooks said. "Avoiding the disease is probably the most important reason screening needs to be done."
Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of five screening options, according to the American Cancer Society:

A yearly stool blood test or fecal immunochemical test.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.
A yearly stool blood test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.
A double contrast barium enema every five years.
A colonoscopy every 10 years.

Colonoscopy has been presented as the best option, because polyps can be detected and removed during the same procedure. During a colonoscopy, a slender, lighted tube is inserted through the anus up into the colon, allowing a thorough scan of the organ.

But Dr. Bernard Levin, vice president of cancer prevention at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said the emphasis on a colonoscopy shouldn't keep people from pursuing other forms of screening if colonoscopy isn't available where they live.

Any screening test that gets done is the best, Levin said. "We have to accept that colonoscopy is not available to everybody. Other screening methods should not be considered second-rate," he said.

Other screening methods might also seem more palatable to patients who don't want to be anaesthetized, undergo the cleansing process necessary to prepare themselves for a colonoscopy, or have some other objection to the procedure.

"Some patients absolutely refuse having anything inserted into their body as a screening tool," Brooks said.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is similar to colonoscopy, but the tube is inserted only into the lower part of the colon, making the procedure less invasive.

In a barium enema screening, a chalky substance is used to partly fill and open up the colon. Air is then pumped in to cause the colon to expand, allowing X-rays to be taken.

An additional screening tool, virtual colonoscopy, could make it easier than ever to be checked. Virtual colonoscopy uses CT scans and computers to produce two- and three-dimensional images of the colon and display them on a screen.

However, Brooks said, it's too soon to tell whether virtual colonoscopy is a dependable means of detecting or preventing colon cancer.

"Right now, virtual colonoscopy is not recommended as a screening tool," he said. "There is a significant body of evidence that supports its usefulness as a test, but it is being evaluated."

Levin decries another misconception about colon cancer, that men are more likely than women to get the disease.

"Over a woman's lifetime, they have the same chance as men," Levin said. "It's not a man's disease."
Those who are screened regularly for colorectal cancer are being met halfway by the medical profession, which is working to improve the quality of its screenings.

For example, a recent study found that doctors are more likely to get better results during a colonoscopy if they spend at least six minutes looking for abnormal growths.

The key is withdrawing the instrument slowly after it has been fully inserted, Levin and Brooks said.
"You have to do a high-quality examination for that examination to be effective," Brooks said. "Doctors who took their time and removed the scope slowly were able to find abnormalities at a rate of three times more compared with doctors who removed the scope at a more rapid rate."

Levin agreed. "If you're not withdrawing slowly enough to see every aspect of the colon, you're short-changing that patient," he said.

More information
To learn more about colorectal cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.

Breast Cancer Vaccine Shows Promise

(HealthDay News) -- U.S. scientists say they've developed a breast cancer vaccine that stimulates a powerful immune system response to tumor cells.

In mice, the "synthetic peptide" vaccine stimulated an anti-tumor T-cell response that identified and prevented the spread of breast cancer cells. T-cells are white blood cells that play an important role in immune response.

A team at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., tested the vaccine on female mice that had the cancer-producing oncogene HER-2/neu. The mice received the vaccine at the early stage of tumor development.

The vaccine either slowed or stopped the progression of breast cancer in all the mice, the team reported Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles.

Because synthetic peptides alone do not usually trigger a strong immune response, the vaccine was given in combination with a "Toll-like receptor" stimulant, which mimics the way invading bacteria would spur the immune system into action.

"We found that we could train the immune system to recognize these synthetic peptides as dangerous foreign agents of the HER-2/neu gene by mimicking what the bacteria would do in your body. The body responded by killing everything that expressed HER-2/neu in high amounts," study author Dr. Pilar Nava-Parada said in a prepared statement.

Using this approach, it would likely take only one immunization to build an immune system response powerful enough to destroy a tumor.

To date, attempts at creating effective cancer vaccines have produced mixed results. This and other new studies suggest that scientists are moving closer to creating viable cancer vaccines, the Mayo researchers said.

More information about breast cancer.

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Male Breast Cancer Deadlier for Blacks

Male Breast Cancer Deadlier for Blacks

(HealthDay News) -- Black men are more likely than white men to die of breast cancer, concludes a study that urges more research into racial disparities in male breast cancer.

Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1 percent of all breast cancers and less than 1 percent of all cancers in men, according to background information in a news release about the study.

In 2006, about 1,700 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, and the disease killed about 400 men.

The incidence of male breast cancer has been rising, increasing about 60 percent between 1990 and 2000.

In the study, researchers at Columbia University, New York City, studied 510 men over age 65 who were diagnosed with stage 1-3 breast cancer between 1991 and 2002.

Five-year survival rates were about 90 percent for the 456 white men in the study and 66 percent for the 34 black men.

The findings are reported in the March 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"Racial disparities in outcomes in women with breast cancer have been well studied. This study shows that similar racial disparities exist for men. While male breast cancer is rare, understanding the factors that black men and women with breast cancer have in common may help us understand the reasons for these disparities," study senior author Dr. Dawn L. Hershman, an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at Columbia's Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a prepared statement.

"These findings support more investigation into the clinical and biologic factors that contribute to racial disparities in male breast cancer. While many different factors are likely to be involved in the disparity, this study provides some clues that lower access to standard treatment may be an important one," Hershman said.

More information
The American Cancer Society has more about male breast cancer.

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Steam & Sauna Bathing Offers Multiple Rejuvenating & Healing Benefits

Written by The International Steam Therapy Association

Part 1
Most people laugh when they hear that the Finnish Olympic team lugs a portable sauna with them wherever they go. However, the fair-haired Nordic athletes might be doing more than simply acting out a home-sick longing for the slender birch trees and island dotted lakes of the homeland. They could be on to a secret, non-drug-induced means of giving themselves an edge in the fierce competition of modern-day Olympics.

Although most people simply consider it a pleasant means of relaxation, sweat therapy might in fact have powerful heath-enhancing effects.

In the test of time is any measure, steam bathing has certainly withstood it. For thousands of years people of all cultures have indulged in the soothing warmth of sweat baths. The Romans are well-known for their elaborate baths. The wealthy of 200 B.C. India did not consider their mansion complete unless it included a bathhouse with a steam room. The Muslim Hamman, or bathhouse, with its domed, central steam chamber is stall an integral part of life in Muslim countries. A derivation of the Hamman, the Turkish bath, has been popular in Europe for centuries.

Today, steam and sauna facilities are an integral part of the hydrotherapeutic offerings at European and American spas, and steam rooms and saunas are a common feature of health clubs and public pools. Yet, there is surprisingly little awareness of the wide ranging benefits of steam and sauna bathing. There is evidence that these sweat-inducing treatments stimulate the immune system, improve circulation, and help the body to purge itself of impurities.
Hippocrates, the founder of Western medicine more than two-thousand years ago said, "Give me the power to create a fever, and I shall cure any disease."

Although often misunderstood as a symptom of disease, fever actually is a part of the body's natural healing response. Steam baths, sauna, and other heat-inducing treatments elicit similar healing responses in the body, and consequently are often called "artificial fevers".

During a fever, the functioning of the immune system is stimulated, while the growth of bacteria and virus is forced to slow down. The production of white blood cells, the primary agents of the immune system, is increased, as is the rate of their release into the blood stream. The generation of antibodies speeds up, as does the production of interferon, an anti viral protein that also has powerful cancer-fighting properties.

Apart from stimulating the immune system, fever slows down the proliferation of invading organisms by creating an inhospitable environment. At 104 degrees F., for example, the growth rate of the polio virus is reduced up to 250 times; at 106 degrees pneumococcus, a bacterium responsible for pneumonia, dies.

Part 2
Before the advent of antibiotics, syphilitics were often infected with malaria to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, there is evidence that the frequent fevers of malaria might function as a cancer-protecting factor. Dr. Paavo Airola in his book, Worldwide Secrets of Staying Young relates the story of the Pontine swamps near Rome in Italy, which, until a few decades ago, were a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The swamps were dried out, and the malaria disappeared. However, during the next decades, that area, which had before been almost free of cancer, saw an increase in cancerous diseases. After a generation, the cancer incidence level of that area had reached the level of the rest of Italy.

Malignant cells are selectively destroyed at temperatures of 106 to 110 degrees F., so the frequent fever attacks of people in the malaria-infected area might have mobilized the body's own defenses too frequently for a cancer to take hold.

Although the artificial fever induced by sweat therapy does not have the comprehensive effect of real fever, it still produces a striking effect on a number of bodily processes.

There is evidence that artificial fever works as an immune system stimulant by increasing the number of white blood cells in the body. In a 1959-review of studies on the effects of heat treatments, Mayo Clinic researcher Dr. Wakim and colleagues cite findings indicating that the number of white blood cells in the blood increased by an average of 58% during artificially induced fever. Researchers also have found increases in the activity of the white blood cells during induced fever.

In addition, as in the case of bodily induced fever, the raised temperature during the artificial fever reduces the growth rate of most bacteria and viruses, giving the immune system time to mobilize its own forces. Indeed, many regular steam or sauna bathers have experienced that a good, long sweat bath at the early onset of a cold or flu can help ward off the disease before in manifests as actual symptoms.

Apart from the immune system-stimulating effects of sweat therapy, many thought it as one of the most effective and painless detoxifying treatments available.

Dr. Veronica Butler, medical co-director at the Raj, a health center based on principles of Ayurveda, recommends herbalized steam baths, called swedenas, to clients as part of the ancient Ayurvedic purification treatment, known as panchakarma.

According to the classical Ayurvedic texts, for maximum results, a swedena or steam bath should be given while keeping the head cool and the client supine.

"A swedena clears the shrotas, the channels through which the biological intelligence flows," says Dr. Butler. "If impurities clog these channels, the flow of intelligence in the body becomes more susceptible to disease."

Part 3
Heat speeds up the chemical processes in the body, making steam and sauna bathing one of the simplest and most comfortable ways to rid the body of accumulated toxins. As the pores open up and the million of sweat glands start to excrete, the body rids itself of metabolic and other waste products. Sweat contains almost the same elements as urine, and for this reason, the skin is sometimes called the third kidney. It is estimated that as much as 30% of bodily wastes are eliminated by way of perspiration.

However, more than common metabolic waste products are secreted through the skin. Natural health practitioners often notice that when heavy smokers get a steam bath for a body wrap (where the body 'simmers' for up to 45 min. Under hot covers), they will leave a yellow residue on the towels. Reino Tarkianinen, President of Finlandia Sauna, reports that when the company replaces sauna benches from public baths, a thick, black layer of accumulated tar can be found underneath the benches.

In Finland, research is being done on the use of sweat therapy in the treatment of people who are chemically affected. The purifying effects of perspiration could also be behind claims that steam and sauna treatments can help cur or control such ailments as acne and arthritis.

Last but not least, steam and sauna bathing produces powerful therapeutic effects simply by increasing circulation. As the carrier of the rebuilding forces of the nutrients to all parts of the body, the bloodstream plays a crucial role in the maintenance of health.

Steam and sauna treatments have a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. The pulse rate increases from 75 beats per minute to between 100-150 beats per minute during a 15-20 minute treatment. This increases blood circulation, but not blood pressure, since the heat also causes the tiny blood vessel in the skin to expand, accommodating the increased blood flow. The dilation of the capillary vessels enables the bloodstream to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, enhancing the nutritive status of the skin. The flushed, youthful look that steam and sauna bathers maintain for up to several hours after treatment is due to this effect.

Which is the best way of taking a steam or sauna treatment?
First of all, it is good to be aware of the distinction between the two. Most people think of the heat of a sauna as dry heat and the heat of a steam room as wet, humid heat. This distinction is only partially correct. Sauna bathers in Finland splash water on the heated stones in the sauna, raising the humidity level to as much as 40%. Without that, the hot, dry sauna air can irritate the mucus membranes.

Part 4
In the hydrotherapeutic tradition used at European and America spas, sweat therapy is used in preparation for massage as a means of increasing the suppleness of the muscles and creating a deep sense of relaxation in body and mind. In the Ayurvedic tradition of India, which has gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years, steam treatments are part of the traditional purification treatment panchakarma, where they are used after massage to help the body get rid of toxins dislodged during the treatment.

Sweat treatments can also be enjoyed on their own, as a workout for the cardiovascular system, a deep-cleansing treat for the body, an immune system booster, and a soothing and invigorating refreshment for the mind.

There are a few precautions to keep in mind. Because of the increase in cardiovascular activity caused by the high heat, sweat therapy is not recommended for people with heart disease or other cardiovascular problems. Individuals with high blood pressure pressure should first consult their doctor.

In addition, the treatment is not advised for pregnant women, small children, or the elderly. Do not take a sweat treatment if you have a fever or an open wound. If you have been working out, be sure that your body has had time to cool down before exposing it to the heat of a sweat bath.

Limit treatment time to 10 to 15 minutes. Drink plenty of water of herbal tea before and after the sweat bath to replace fluids lost during the treatment. The sweat glands can secrete up to 30 grams of sweat per minute, or almost one pint per 15 minutes, so dehydration is a very real possibility, if you are not careful. Fatigue and other indications of dehydration can occur with as little as 1 to 2% loss in body weight.

The main thing to keep in mind is to enjoy the process. Do not push your body beyond its comfort level; the point is not to sweat it out the longest, but to allow your mind and body to luxuriate in this health-enhancing and invigorating miniature spa treatment.

Working up a sweat is one of our oldest folk remedies. "Give me an opportunity to create fever and I will cure any illness," said the Greek physician Paramenides two thousand years ago.

Today, besides creating a relaxing sense of well-being, relaxes and loosens muscles tissue, reducing daily buildup of tension and increasing muscle flexibility:
-boosts blood circulation, which helps aching and injured muscles to recover faster, because the stronger the flow of blood, the faster metabolic waste products are carried off. -stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels, which relives pain and speeds healing of sprains and strains; -speeds up the metabolic processes of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in a calorie loss of between 200 and 450 in a 20 minute session.

Part 5
According to Michael Marino, research associate at Lennox Hill Hospital's Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York City:
"….. heat exposure stimulates the hypothalamus, the gland that normally maintains and stabilizes body temperature to dissipate the excess heat. Heart rate increases as more blood flow is diverted from the inner organs towards the extremities of the skin. This automatic "cooling" reaction is actually a form of beneficial stress, a passive kind of cardiovascular exercise that helps to keep the body's system alert and functioning well."

The beneficial stress of heat on the heart is confirmed by physical fitness expert Bernard Gutin, Professor of Applied Physiology and Education at Teacher's College, Columbia University:
"Heat acts as a form of mostly beneficial stress on the body that produces physiological changes in heightened blood pressure, stepped-up heart rate and an increase in stress hormones."
According to Dr. Paavo Aviola, an author in health matters:

"The sauna increases the eliminative, detoxifying and cleansing capacity of the skin by stimulation of sweat glands. A steam bath provides a mild cleansing process for the skin as certain body fluids are released through the skin. It also promotes healthy skin tone and texture due to increased blood circulation."

more info at:

ozone_oxygen

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The Benefits of Steam Sauna and Ozone

The use of a sauna should be an important part of any detoxification program.

The sauna increases the eliminative, detoxifying and cleansing capacity of the skin by stimulation of the sweat glands and also promotes healthy skin tone and texture due to increased blood circulation.

Using the steam sauna with ozone allows the steam to surround the body and ozone can be introduced through the skin.

Humid heat opens the pores, which allows the ozone through the skin to the bloodstream, where it can travel to the fat and lymph tissue. It is very important to cleanse the lymph tissue of toxins and the ozone/steam sauna is the easiest and best way to accomplish this.

Artificially induced hyperthermia (rising body temperature results in the destruction of bacteria and viruses) combined with heavy sweating and a cleansing effect initiated by ozone will result in elimination of toxins accumulated mainly in the lymphatic system relieving the liver from the difficult task of dealing with them.

Through the centuries, men and women have used steam to purify the skin, soothe sore muscles, boost circulation and to simply relax.

The combined action of moist heat and ozone cleanse the lymphatic system, which carries 90% of the body's fluids.

Ozone brings oxygen to the tissues for enhanced health and vitality.

The combination of steam and ozone is a natural, effective way to promote a refreshing sense of well-being.

We believe that a an Ozone/Steam Sauna cabinet represents a pleasant and easy to follow form of body cleansing.

Benefits of ozone sauna: Relaxes and loosens muscles by reducing the buildup of lactic acid and increasing muscle flexibility. Oxidizes toxins so they can be eliminated through the skin, lungs, kidneys and colon.

Boosts blood circulation, helping injured muscles to repair quicker. Stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels relieving pain and speeding the healing process. Eliminates bacterial and viral infections of all kinds.

Speeds up the metabolic processes of the inner organs and endocrine glands resulting in a loss of 200-450 calories in a 20 minute session.

Newest research shows steam hyperthermia an effective treatment for: * Detoxification programs * Immune system deficiencies * Pain management * Cancer * Arthritis * Stress and muscle tension * Increasing body metabolism * Elimination of toxins * Blood circulation

more info at:

http://www.dreddyclinic.com/integrated_med/ozone_oxygen.htm


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Constipation and Bowel Movements

By: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, Ph.D, DACBN





Have You Had Your Bowel Movement Today?
Many people are under the impression they need to have only one bowel movement a week or fewer. Bowel disease, constipation, colon cancer, and stomach pain are all disorders that are leading to what I call the "Silent Killer in America". Colon health and colon problems are the most over-looked health problems in today's society.

Due to the poor diet in America, 200 million people suffer from constipation and do not have the required two to four bowel movements daily. The average person, by the time they are 30 years old, in America, has between 10 to 15 pounds of hard compacted fecal matter in their bowel.

The intestinal tract is composed of the small intestine which is attached to the lower part of the stomach then moves into the large intestine and finally the colon. Whatever you eat has to be properly digested and then move its way through a long, approximately 35 feet in length, intestinal lining to finally exit the rectum. So don't you think the most important area to keep clean in your body would be that 35 feet of food processing wasteland?

Constipation and Bowel Movements
It's important to understand how the digestive track breaks down food into smaller particles and then ultimately into the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need to survive. As we age, we develop a thick coating along the sides of the intestinal walls as hard as wood and even harder to eradicate.

When this coating adheres to the walls of your intestinal lining and your food tries to move through, it's difficult for your body to absorb the proper amount of nutrients.

These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream so the blood can carry them to all the organs and tissues in your body. This is why it is essential to not only clean the colon but to purify and keep the whole intestinal lining clean at all times and free from any plaque or debris. You must have a minimum of one bowel movement a day but we recommend having two a day.

After years of research and studying bowel habits, especially constipation and bowel movements in general, we discovered keeping the bowel clean will not only reduce or prevent most types of disease but will also eliminate chronic bloating, symptoms of fatigue, headaches, nausea and a whole list of other symptoms. We recommend and use a product called Oxy-Powder® that will focus on cleansing and keeping clean your whole intestinal tract.

By using Oxy-Powder® every other evening you can ensure that you will have regular bowel movements and keep your intestinal lining clean and functioning properly. You must have regular bowel movements to prevent toxic chemicals from leaking through the walls of the intestinal tract into the blood. I also recommend drinking at least 64 ounces of purified water daily to help the intestinal tract move the toxic residue out of the body.

Constipation and bowel movements irregularity is a sneaky, undiagnosed, disabling epidemic that is sweeping America as we speak. Perhaps all of this doesn't surprise you.

Let's take a look at the following categories of disease and disorders that can be related either directly or indirectly to the colon and constipation: heart disease, high blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, varicose veins, gas, heart burn, bloating, obesity, diabetes, arthritis and more.

Some of these side effects or symptoms are a hundred times worse than the constipation itself. So if your doctor is treating you with traditional drugs or surgery he is most likely covering up your symptoms and possibly making your condition worse.

I recommend the following to ensure a healthy clean colon, easily and naturally without any drugs, surgery or toxic side effects: colon hydrotheraphy, a good diet, lots of live foods, a lot of pure water, the product Oxy-Powder® and exercise.

Constipation and bowel movements have a contradictory relationship--to have the latter on a regular basis the former condition must be eliminated (no pun intended). With a little diligence and common sense, you too can enjoy the benefits of a clean, healthily functioning digestive system!

more info at: oxypowder

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Cheat Disease by Changing Your Environment

It has become clear to many that efforts to halt the growing epidemics of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer are failing.

Many experts believe a primary reason is easy access to unhealthful foods and busy lives that squeeze out exercise.

As a result, many new preventative health initiatives in states, cities and communities are being inaugurated across the United States.

On September 28, the American Cancer Society (ACS) concluded that only by creating a "social environment that promotes healthy food choices and physical activity" can the United States reduce cancer deaths linked to obesity and lack of exercise.

In response, on October 6 the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation announced an agreement with several food companies to adopt the ACS' nutritional guidelines for snacks sold in schools. Other initiatives, sponsored by government agencies, universities, or private businesses, are growing in number.

Current U.S. health spending is $2.2 trillion a year, and it could reach $4 trillion by 2015. Taking care of the sick accounts for roughly 96 percent of these costs, with only about 4 percent going toward prevention.

USA Today October 18, 2006

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Protein Screen Predicts Breast Cancer Therapy Success

(HealthDay News) -- A new test may help identify which breast cancer patients are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy.

The test, called OncoPlan, is already commercially available, and it has been shown to predict the aggressiveness of tumors and disease recurrence after surgery in breast, colon and stomach cancers. Now researchers believe it may help predict which breast cancer patients would benefit most from chemotherapy.

In a study presented at the first meeting on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development, researchers looked at the two forms of protein measured by OncoPlan in 2,380 women with breast cancer, 717 of whom had undergone chemotherapy.

They found that the women who had low levels of one of the proteins and did not receive chemotherapy had very poor outcomes. The same women who did receive chemotherapy, however, had a twofold reduced risk of relapsing and dying from their disease.

The women who had high levels of the protein were much more likely to survive their disease, and appeared to derive no additional benefit from chemotherapy.

More research is needed to clarify the ability of OncoPlan in predicting outcomes of chemotherapy.

"But even at this point, the results are very exciting because, with further validation in clinical trials, OncoPlan, which is already being used to predict disease aggressiveness, will help to ensure that individual patients receive the most beneficial therapies," study author A. Raymond Frackelton Jr., an associate professor at Brown University and vice president of Research at Catalyst Oncology (the company marketing OncoPlan), said in a prepared statement.

More information
The National Cancer Institute has more about breast cancer.

Protein Predicts Lung Cancer's Response to Treatment

(HealthDay News) -- Levels of a protein linked to cellular DNA repair can predict how well non-small-cell lung cancer patients will respond to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy.

So concludes a French study published in the Sept. 7 New England Journal of Medicine.
Patients with low levels of the protein marker, called ERCC1, "will have a very significant level of benefit from adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy," said lead researcher Dr. Jean-Charles Soria, from the Department of Medicine, Institute Gustave Roussy, Villejuif.

Cisplatin is a standard component of chemotherapy for lung and other cancers; however, not everyone benefits from the drug. This new study suggests that screening for levels of the ERCC1 protein in lung biopsies can help doctors determine who will benefit from the treatment and who will not.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer accounts for 13 percent of all new cancers and is the leading cancer killer of American men and women. Non-small cell cancers comprise 85 percent of the nearly 175,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the United States each year.
In their study, Soria's group looked at 761 lung cancer tumors. Of these, 44 percent had high levels of ERCC1, and 56 percent had low levels of the protein.

They found that patients who had low levels of ERCC1 benefited from cisplatin treatment, which helped extend life for these patients.

However, this was not the case among patients with high levels of ERCC1.
These patients "do not derive benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, and if not treated, they do have a better 'spontaneous' prognosis than those who are ERCC1-negative," Soria said.

The French researcher believes that ERCC1 screening could spot those most likely to benefit from cisplatin treatment. "In our study, ERCC1 expression was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry" of tissues in the laboratory, he said. "This is a simple technique, reliable, cheap and widely applicable," he added.

Screening patients might also help determine individual reaction to treatment, he added. "The goal of providing individualized chemotherapy based on different genetic traits, such as polymorphisms, gene mutations, and overexpression of drug target proteins, is on the verge of becoming clinical practice for the benefit of cancer patients," Soria said.

Two other experts agreed that ERCC1 screening should become part of a standard assessment of how patients might react to platinum-based chemotherapy, such as cisplatin.

"In my view, it's time to begin to think about whether or not we should begin to use this information to screen patients," said Dr. Eddie Reed, the director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the author of an accompanying journal editorial.

Reed believes that ERCC1 screening for other cancer where cisplatin is commonly used -- such as ovarian and colorectal cancer -- needs to be examined, as well. "It's time to consider whether or not we should use this strategy," he said.

Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, agreed.
ERCC1 screening "is something that could save a substantial number of patients a substantial amount of discomfort," he said.

More information
Find out more about lung cancer at the American Cancer Society.

Holocaust Survivors at Higher Long-Term Cancer Risk

(HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that rates of cancer and cancer-related death are especially high among survivors of the Holocaust in Israel.

An Israeli research team found that Holocaust survivors who emigrated from Europe to Israel following World War II are at higher risk for cancer compared to European Jews who moved there before the war began.

Much of the difference can be attributed to cancers found among the youngest Holocaust survivors. Specifically, male and female immigrants born in Europe between 1940 and 1945 faced the highest odds of developing breast or colorectal cancers, the researchers found.
While the findings may have implications for survivors of mass atrocities in general, they are of immediate concern to the 238,600 Holocaust survivors still living in Israel, said study co-author Dr. Micha Barchana.

"The bad news is that Holocaust survivors are at a higher risk to get cancer, but the good news is that we can do something [about it]," he said. "We are focusing on the practical implementation of the research results: the need for survivors to participate in early-detection programs that are offered in Israel as well as in most modern countries, due to the finding that classifies them as a high-risk population," he explained.

Barchana serves as the director of the National Cancer Registry in the Israeli Health Ministry and is also a senior lecturer in the school of public health at the University of Haifa in Israel.
He and his colleagues presented their research earlier this year at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, held in Lyon, France.

The work was funded by the Israel Cancer Society.
Barchana's team reviewed records from the Israeli government's Central Bureau of Statistics to first draft a list of all Jewish immigrants to Israel born in Europe between 1920 and 1945.
They then turned to the Israeli Health Ministry's National Cancer Registry to compile cancer incidence and death rates among these immigrants.

The researchers found that those immigrants born between 1920 and 1945 who came to Israel between the end World War II and 1989 were at significantly higher risk for cancer than immigrants born between 1920 and 1939 who migrated to Israel before the onset of World War II.

Barchana said his team does not know how many of the post-war European immigrants suffered through the experience of Nazi concentration camps or wartime Jewish ghettos. However, he said his team assumed that many or most did, and that, in any case, "all the Jews in Europe at war time had gone through severe food deprivation and other stresses."

Higher cancer risks seemed to linger for decades for this group, the researchers found. Male Holocaust survivors experienced a 14 percent higher cancer incidence rate than pre-war immigrants and were 2.4 times more likely to get cancer than their pre-war compatriots.

Female Holocaust survivors had a 21 percent higher rate of cancer than pre-war immigrants and were 2.3 times more likely to have a cancer diagnosis than pre-war immigrants.

Breaking down cancer incidence by specific diseases, the authors found that Holocaust survivors were at a significantly higher risk for lung cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma (a rare form of skin malignancy), and prostate cancer.

Heightened risks for certain other cancers stood out. For example, male Holocaust survivors were nine times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the large intestine than pre-war immigrants. Female Holocaust survivors faced more than double the risk for cancer of the large intestine and a 50 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer, the study found.

In addition, Barchana's team found that the younger the Holocaust survivor was during the war, the greater their risk for getting cancer. In fact, most of the increase in risk among Holocaust survivors was borne by those who were 14 years of age or younger during World War II.

Barchana said that finding has been shown in other studies involving survivors of terrible events. "Research on A-bomb survivors in Japan clearly shows that women that were at a young age are at higher risk of developing cancer later in life," he said. Similar data is emerging among those affected by the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident, Barchana added.

Patients who had survived the Holocaust also had a tougher battle to fight off the disease once it was diagnosed, the researchers found. According to Barchana, that may be due to the fact that "Holocaust survivors are being diagnosed at later stages compared to the control group."

Five-year cancer survival rates were 5 percent to 13 percent lower among Holocaust survivors compared to other immigrants, regardless of sex or age.

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that severe deprivation, from whatever cause, may weaken the body's long-term defenses against cancer. Inmates in the Nazi concentration camps suffered prolonged exposure to extreme poverty, food deprivation, over-crowding, harsh weather, physical abuse and mental stress.

The authors called for Holocaust survivors and their families to be increasingly vigilant about cancer detection, particularly for breast and colorectal cancers, and to avail themselves of the free screenings for such diseases that are currently available in Israel.

On a wider note, Barchana emphasized the role that food deprivation probably plays as a contributing factor to increased cancer risk.

"There has been some (prior) data on the possible role of malnutrition in breast cancer etiology," he remarked. "This work completes this knowledge, and this aspect of the study should be further investigated," Barchana said.

Dr. Michael Thun, vice president of epidemiology and surveillance research with the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, said the study was interesting and, in some ways, surprising.

"When one compares these results to studies of the Dutch Famine of 1944 to 1945, what they had found was that there was an increase in breast cancer risk, but they did not find the same increase in other cancers," Thun noted. "So, in this study, it was surprising to me that there was an increase in risk in colorectal cancer and a range of different cancers," he said.

"But in the case of the Holocaust, people had so many terrible things happen that it's even more complex and dreadful than just the famine resulting from war," added Thun. "So, I agree with the authors' conclusions that closer screening of these people is warranted to detect cancers early," he said.

More information
For advice on cancer screening, visit the American Cancer Society.

Sunlight May Help You Survive Cancer

SUNBATHING could improve your chances of surviving cancer, doctors say.
Those diagnosed with the disease in summer and autumn live longer than those diagnosed at other times of the year, British research shows.

This is probably because their vitamin D levels are topped up by sun exposure.
Researchers say vitamin D can affect the rate of cell division in tumour development and can trigger the self- destruction of cells developing in the wrong way.

The study of more than one million patients suggests the season when cancer is detected and treated could make a significant difference to progress of the disease.

It says that diagnosis in the summer and autumn months is 'associated with improved survival, especially in lung and breast cancer patients.

'We found sunlight exposure to be a predictor of cancer survival.

'Our results add to a growing body of evidence that vitamin D may play an important role in cancer survival.' The study, which is a fast track publication in the International Journal of Cancer, looked at 590,000 men and 606,000 women diagnosed between 1971 and 2002. Diagnoses made in summer and autumn when blood levels of vitamin D are highest had the lowest risk of death.

Women with breast cancer had a 14 per cent lower risk of death, while women with bowel cancer were 6 per cent less likely to die.

There was a reduction of 6 per cent in the death rate for all cancers combined for both sexes when diagnosed in summer and autumn.

The study, which was led by Dr Henrik Moller, head of the Thames Cancer Registry based at King's College London, analyzed their season of diagnosis, with summer and autumn defined as June 1 to November 30.

The researchers also obtained data on sunlight from the British Meteorological Office and calculated levels of cumulative sunlight hours for each season during the study period.
Their report says the results support the hypothesis that variation in vitamin D levels through sunlight exposure lies behind the differences in survival.

But it says data on sunlight hours probably underestimates the true effect of exposure because it does not measure the intensity of light which is much stronger in summer and would have a more significant impact on blood levels of vitamin D.

The findings come as evidence grows that vitamin D could play a vital role in helping prevent disease, with sun exposure helping to top up natural levels more effectively than through diet.
A study last year showed taking a large dose of vitamin D every day 1,000 international units (IU) or 25mcg could halve your chance of developing cancers such as breast, ovarian, colon, and prostate.

Oliver Gillie, who runs Health Research Forum, a not-for-profit organisation, published a report showing that topping up levels of vitamin D could help prevent more than 25 chronic diseases.
He added: 'The research evidence shows Government advice to avoid sunbathing is misguided.
Tanning should properly be seen as a sign of health, as indeed it is by most members of the public, although care should be taken to avoid burning.'

Mr Gillie said cancer patients should get advice from their doctors about whether they can safely sunbathe, as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can sensitize the skin to sunlight.
Date: July 5, 2006

© 2006 Daily Mail. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company;
All Rights Reserved

Are Organic Foods Unsafe?

Are Organic Foods Unsafe?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: A relative of mine who is an oncologist recently told me that organic foods harbor a highly carcinogenic fungus. He said that exposure to pesticides is less of a risk and that in fact the pesticides and other chemicals take care of the fungus. I am confused. Can you help? -- Harriet

A: With all due respect to your relative, this is a bogus argument against organic foods. True, there are carcinogenic fungi, but they don't develop on fruits and vegetables.

One of the most troublesome fungal carcinogens found in foods is aflatoxin, produced by certain strains of the molds Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus that grow on peanuts stored in warm, humid silos. Peanuts aren't the only problem sources; aflatoxin has been found in pecans, pistachios and walnuts, as well as milk, grains, soybeans and spices.

Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen, known to cause liver cancer in laboratory animals and may contribute to the incidence of liver cancer in Africa where peanuts are a dietary staple. Aflatoxin occurs in both organic and conventionally grown foods.

I'm not telling you about aflatoxin to worry you, but to point out what foods are most likely to harbor carcinogens from fungi. (The United States government routinely tests crops for aflatoxin and doesn't permit them to be used here for human or animal food if they contain levels over 20 parts per billion.)

Over the years, there have been a number of assaults on organic foods. In 2000, the ABC News program 20/20 carried a report in which experts stated that consumers should be more concerned about bacteria on organic produce than about pesticide residues on conventionally produced fruits and vegetables.

However, the report conceded that bacteria can also be found on conventional produce and that both types of fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before eating.

Oncologists sometimes worry that the immune-suppressive effects of chemotherapy leave cancer patients more vulnerable to infections, including food-borne ones. Food-borne infections from produce are rare and are just as likely from conventional produce as organic.

Although we don't yet have many studies demonstrating the differences between organic and conventionally grown foods, proving that one is better than the other, there is evidence of pesticide residues in 71 to 90 percent of conventionally produced foods compared to 13 to 23 percent of organically grown foods. Pesticides are definitely not good for you.

To guard against bacteria (and remove pesticides), carefully wash and rinse berries, green beans, and other fruits and vegetables that you can't peel and remove the outer leaves of leafy vegetables. Unfortunately, water alone won't do the trick - use a drop or two of dish detergent in a small tub of water and rinse thoroughly after washing. You should also check the lists of the most and least contaminated crops provided by the Environmental Working Group (http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php).

Andrew Weil, MD


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Oxygen Therapy

Article Description: Used in Germany for over 30 years to successfully treat cancer, stroke, gangrene, eczema, herpes, hepatitis and now AIDS. By 1992 doctors had killed HIV in 300 patients. "Everyone on this planet needs to be made aware that for several years now I have met and keep meeting people who no longer have AIDS, cancer, and almost any other disease you can think of, due to the continual and correct application of oxygen therapies."---Ed McCabe (1992).
Date of Publication: 4/6/2003

Oxygen Therapy
Used in Germany for over 30 years to successfully treat cancer, stroke, gangrene, eczema, herpes, hepatitis and now AIDS. By 1992 doctors had killed HIV in 300 patients.

"Everyone on this planet needs to be made aware that for several years now I have met and keep meeting people who no longer have AIDS, cancer, and almost any other disease you can think of, due to the continual and correct application of oxygen therapies."---Ed McCabe (1992). Ed McCabe is currently in jail, 1998.

"You wouldn’t believe how many FDA officials or relatives or acquaintances of FDA officials come to see me as patients in Hanover. You wouldn’t believe this, or directors of the AMA, or ACA, or the presidents of orthodox cancer institutes. That’s the fact."---Hans Nieper.

"I called all the major network news bureaus, including Public Radio, and reported ozone AIDS cures coming out of Europe. Not a single reporter or show called back for details. I wrote and sent documentation to all the ‘household word’ TV talk show hosts who make their living acting ‘concerned’ and I tried all the ‘AIDS fund raising spokespeople’, show business celebs, even sending proof of their home addresses, but as of yet not one single phone call or inquiry came back for more."—Ed McCabe.

"There is so much medical evidence to support oxygen therapies that no media dared cover it."—Duncan Rhoads, Nexus Editor on Ed McCabe lecture tour of Australia.
"One of the original AIDS experts recently stated that all he could see as a result of all the millions of dollars being spent on AIDS research was that all of his colleagues are now driving more expensive cars."—McCabe.

"I interviewed 15 people who stated they were cured of cancer by using one of the oxygen therapies…amazingly enough, one of them had pancreatic cancer A man had prostate cancer. Someone else had colon cancer. Dr Otto Warburg won the nobel prize twice for stating that the cause of cancer is a normal cell denied 60% of its oxygen requirements….I asked a big cancer specialist …if he had ever heard of Dr Warburg, and he said no. And this specialist’s title was ‘Head of Fermentation Process Laboratories."---McCabe.

Oct 1991, Jim Caplan at Capmed in Pennsylvania sends all 150 top US AIDS researchers copies of Journal of Hematology report showing ozone, when used as a virucide eliminates HIV. He invites questions or response. Not one response was received from any of these "top" researchers using tax money to "find a cure."

Dr Satori, M.D. has had 149 AIDS patients become healthy, 50 of which zero-converted to negative and became virus free by combining ozone with vitamins, minerals and other supplements. In 1992 he was arrested.

"The FDA won’t spend a dime on ozone research, but they spent over $1 million intimidating, harassing, and persecuting me alone." Dr Jonathen Wright

more info at:
http://www.dreddyclinic.com/integrated_med/ozone-therapy.htm