ScienceDaily (May 1, 2006) — Breast cancer survivors who suffer from persistent, debilitating fatigue years after their diagnosis have something in common: their immune systems don’t shut down following treatment, according to researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center.

This constant immune system activation, which researchers discovered by measuring specific proteins in blood samples from survivors, may be causing the fatigue, UCLA researchers theorize. Their discovery may lead to behavioral interventions such as tai chi and yoga that will help alleviate persistent fatigue, which affects about a third of breast cancer survivors for years after they complete treatment.

The study is the first to look at the cellular basis for immune activation in fatigued breast cancer survivors, said Dr. Michael Irwin, a researcher at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center and the study’s lead author. The research appears in the May 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Cancer Research.

“Without knowing why this fatigue happens at the cellular level, we can’t develop efficient therapies to treat it,” said Irwin, who also serves as director of the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

“Breast cancer survivors can be severely disabled by fatigue and that can dramatically impact their quality of life. That’s the tragedy of our treatments for cancer,” Irwin said. “We have focused on treating the disease, but we should also focus on the patient’s well being later. Right now, we have no treatment for cancer-related fatigue and we need something that will allow patients to return to their prior level of functioning.”

Dr. Patricia Ganz, a nationally renowned expert who has studied quality of life in breast cancer survivors for two decades, agrees that fatigue is a serious problem for survivors, a fact that their primary care physicians don’t always understand.

“When breast cancer survivors talk to their physicians about being tired and how it affects their lives, they’re often told that they survived cancer, so they should be grateful to be alive,” said Ganz, one of the co-authors of the study. “But their fatigue is a very real problem that needs to taken seriously and addressed.”

A small study at UCLA had previously demonstrated abnormalities in immune activation in breast cancer survivors. If researchers could determine the biological factors underlying this activation, and therefore fatigue, they could uncover a biomarker for the condition that could help them predict which patients would suffer from fatigue and which would not, Irwin said.

Irwin and his colleagues took blood samples from breast cancer survivors one to five years out from diagnosis and placed them into two groups, those who suffered from persistent fatigue and those who did not. The researchers measured the levels of a pro-inflammatory cytokine protein in their blood — levels that indicated the immune system was turned on. Irwin said the pro-inflammatory protein levels were significantly different between the two groups. Those with persistent fatigue had 30 percent more of the proteins circulating in their blood. Additionally, their immune cells produced more cytokines in laboratory analyses than the cells from survivors without fatigue, and those cytokines were more efficient at producing the pro-inflammatory proteins driving the immune response.

“This study proved that there is an aberrant immune response in breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue,” Irwin said. “With this information, we may now be able to identify those patients at greatest risk for persistent fatigue and implement interventions early on that will lessen the severity and duration of the fatigue.”

The immune systems of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer are activated at high levels to help them fight disease and help the body recover from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Some data suggest that survivors who develop fatigue might have immune system changes before the cancer and the treatments may be exacerbating that. Further studies are needed to understand how this immune activation occurs and what clinical factors predispose to it, Irwin said

“We know from studies that animals with immune activation and cytokines circulating in their blood don’t move around a lot, they don’t eat, they don’t engage in sexual activity,” Irwin said. “From our study, we believe that the severity of fatigue in breast cancer survivors is not related to the type of treatment they received or its duration, but rather that the fatigue is driven by constant immune activation. Their immune systems simply don’t shut down after treatment.”

Irwin and his team studied 32 breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue and compared their blood samples to 18 survivors who did not suffer from fatigue. The pro-inflammatory proteins in the blood of fatigued cancer survivors could be used as a biomarker to classify those women who may suffer from fatigue after treatment. In those who appear to be predisposed to fatigue — the women whose immune systems have not shut off as they should — it may be possible in the future to provide interventions can right away that might eliminate or, at the least, alleviate the severity and duration of the fatigue.

While there are drugs such as statins that can be used to dampen immune response, future studies by Irwin and his team will focus on behavioral interventions such as tai chi and yoga. Exercise and meditation, Irwin said, have been shown to decrease levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the blood.

“If we can identify survivors at greatest risk of persistent fatigue, we can implement interventions early on to help them,” Irwin said. “That would be good news for the increasing numbers of women who are surviving breast cancer every year.”

The number of breast cancer survivors is steadily increasing due to advances in screening and treatment strategies. More patients are being diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and are surviving longer. In fact, breast cancer survivors are the largest group of patients to overcome any type of cancer in the United States. It is estimated that there are more than 2 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today.

Popularity: 2% [?]

World Health Organization (WHO)

Is it safe to travel?

Yes. WHO is not recommending travel restrictions related to the outbreak of the influenza A(H1N1) virus. Today, global travel is commonplace and large numbers of people move around the world for business and leisure. Limiting travel and imposing travel restrictions would have very little effect on stopping the virus from spreading, but would be highly disruptive to the global community.

Influenza A(H1N1) has already been confirmed in many parts of the world. The global response now focuses on minimizing the impact of the virus through the rapid identification of cases, and providing patients with appropriate medical care, rather than on stopping its spread internationally.

Although identifying signs and symptoms of influenza in travellers can help track the path of the outbreak, it will not reduce the spread of influenza, as the virus can be transmitted from person to person before the onset of symptoms.

Scientific research based on mathematical modelling shows that restricting travel would be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, validate this.

Does WHO recommend screenings at country entry and exit points to detect if ill people are travelling?

No. We do not believe entry and exit screenings would work to reduce the spread of this disease. However country-level measures to respond to a public health risk are the decision of national authorities, under the International Health Regulations 2005.

Countries that adopt measures that significantly interfere with international traffic (e.g. delaying an airplane passenger for more than 24 hours, or refusing country entry or departure to a traveller) must provide WHO with the public health reasoning and evidence for their actions. WHO will follow up with all of its Member countries on such matters.

Travellers should always be treated with dignity and respect for their human rights.

How can I protect myself from influenza A(H1N1) when I am travelling?

People who are ill should delay travel plans. Returning travellers who become ill should contact their health care provider.

Travellers can protect themselves and others by following simple prevention practices that apply while travelling and in daily life.

Related links

International Health Regulations
See article 32

What can I do?

Popularity: 12% [?]

World Health Organization The main route of transmission of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus seems to be similar to seasonal influenza, via droplets that are expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing. You can prevent getting infected by avoiding close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms (trying to maintain a distance of about 1 metre if possible) and taking the following measures: avoid touching your mouth and nose; clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching the mouth and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated); avoid close contact with people who might be ill; reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible; improve airflow in your living space by opening windows; practise good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active. What about using a mask? What does WHO recommend? If you are not sick you do not have to wear a mask. If you are caring for a sick person, you can wear a mask when you are in close contact with the ill person and dispose of it immediately after contact, and cleanse your hands thoroughly afterwards. When and how to use a mask? If you are sick and must travel or be around others, cover your mouth and nose. Using a mask correctly in all situations is essential. Incorrect use actually increases the chance of spreading infection. How do I know if I have influenza A(H1N1)? You will not be able to tell the difference between seasonal flu and influenza A(H1N1) without medical help. Typical symptoms to watch for are similar to seasonal viruses and include fever, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat and runny nose. Only your medical practitioner and local health authority can confirm a case of influenza A(H1N1). What should I do if I think I have the illness? If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough or sore throat: stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds; rest and take plenty of fluids; cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing and, if using tissues, make sure you dispose of them carefully. Clean your hands immediately after with soap and water or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub; if you do not have a tissue close by when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth as much as possible with the crook of your elbow; use a mask to help you contain the spread of droplets when you are around others, but be sure to do so correctly; inform family and friends about your illness and try to avoid contact with other people; If possible, contact a health professional before traveling to a health facility to discuss whether a medical examination is necessary. Should I take an antiviral now just in case I catch the new virus? No. You should only take an antiviral, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, if your health care provider advises you to do so. Individuals should not buy medicines to prevent or fight this new influenza without a prescription, and they should exercise caution in buying antivirals over the Internet. Warning on purchase of antivirals without a prescription [pdf 35kb] What about breastfeeding? Should I stop if I am ill? No, not unless your health care provider advises it. Studies on other influenza infections show that breastfeeding is most likely protective for babies – it passes on helpful maternal immunities and lowers the risk of respiratory disease. Breastfeeding provides the best overall nutrition for babies and increases their defense factors to fight illness. When should someone seek medical care? A person should seek medical care if they experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or if a fever continues more than three days. For parents with a young child who is ill, seek medical care if a child has fast or labored breathing, continuing fever or convulsions (seizures). Supportive care at home – resting, drinking plenty of fluids and using a pain reliever for aches – is adequate for recovery in most cases. (A non-aspirin pain reliever should be used by children and young adults because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome.) Should I go to work if I have the flu but am feeling OK? No. Whether you have influenza A(H1N1) or a seasonal influenza, you should stay home and away from work through the duration of your symptoms. This is a precaution that can protect your work colleagues and others. Can I travel? If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of influenza, you should not travel. If you have any doubts about your health, you should check with your health care provider. More on WHO travel recommendations

Popularity: 8% [?]

April 2009

Key facts

• Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person.
• Influenza circulates worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group.
• Influenza causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions.
• Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations.
• An epidemic can take an economic toll through lost workforce productivity, and strain health services.
• Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection.

Overview

Seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection caused by an influenza virus.

There are three types of seasonal influenza – A, B and C. Type A influenza viruses are further typed into subtypes according to different kinds and combinations of virus surface proteins. Among many subtypes of influenza A viruses, currently influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) subtypes are circulating among humans. Influenza viruses circulate in every part of the world. Type C influenza cases occur much less frequently than A and B. That is why only influenza A and B viruses are included in seasonal influenza vaccines.

Signs and symptoms

Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death in people at high risk (see below). The time from infection to illness, known as the incubation period, is about two days.

Who is at risk?

Yearly influenza epidemics can seriously affect all age groups, but the highest risk of complications occur among children younger than age two, adults age 65 or older, and people of any age with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems.

Transmission

Seasonal influenza spreads easily and can sweep through schools, nursing homes or businesses and towns. When an infected person coughs, infected droplets get into the air and another person can breath them in and be exposed. The virus can also be spread by hands infected with the virus. To prevent transmission, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, and wash their hands regularly.

Treatment

Antiviral drugs for influenza are available in some countries and effectively prevent and treat the illness. There are two classes of such medicines, 1) adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine), and 2) inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase (oseltamivir and zanamivir). Some influenza viruses develop resistance to the antiviral medicines, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. WHO monitors antiviral susceptibility in the circulating influenza viruses.

Seasonal epidemics

Influenza epidemics occur yearly during autumn and winter in temperate regions. Illnesses result in hospitalizations and deaths mainly among high-risk groups (the very young, elderly or chronically ill). Worldwide, these annual epidemics result in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250 000 to 500 000 deaths. Most deaths associated with influenza in industrialized countries occur among people age 65 or older. In some tropical countries, influenza viruses circulate throughout the year with one or two peaks during rainy seasons.

Disease effects

Influenza can cause serious public health and economic problems. In developed countries, epidemics can result in high levels of worker absenteeism and productivity losses. In communities, clinics and hospitals can be overwhelmed when large numbers of sick people appear for treatment during peak illness periods. While most people recover from a bout of influenza, there are large numbers of people who need hospital treatment and many who die from the disease every year. Little is known about the effects of influenza epidemics in developing countries.

Prevention

The most effective way to prevent the disease or severe outcomes from the illness is vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for more than 60 years. Among healthy adults, influenza vaccine can prevent 70% to 90% of influenza-specific illness. Among the elderly, the vaccine reduces severe illnesses and complications by up to 60%, and deaths by 80%.

Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of serious influenza complications, and for people who live with or care for high risk individuals.

WHO recommends annual vaccination for (in order of priority):

• nursing-home residents (the elderly or disabled)
• elderly individuals
• people with chronic medical conditions
• other groups such as pregnant women, health care workers, those with essential functions in society, as well as children from ages six months to two years.

Influenza vaccination is most effective when circulating viruses are well-matched with vaccine viruses. Influenza viruses are constantly changing, and the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN), a partnership of National Influenza Centres around the world, monitors the influenza viruses circulating in humans. WHO annually recommends a vaccine composition that targets the three most representative strains in circulation.

WHO response

WHO, with its partners, monitors influenza globally, annually recommends a seasonal influenza vaccine composition, and supports Member States efforts to develop prevention and control strategies. WHO works to strengthen national and regional influenza diagnostic capacities, disease surveillance, outbreak responses, and increase vaccine coverage among high-risk groups.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Remain health during cold & flu season.

ENERhance contains essential herbs, vitamins& minerals.

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ScienceDaily (May 5, 2009) — As the swine flu continues its global spread, researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have discovered important clues about why influenza is more severe in some people than it is in others.

In their research study published online in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, the scientists show that the influenza virus can actually paralyze the immune systems of otherwise healthy individuals, leading to severe secondary bacterial infections, such as pneumonia. Furthermore, this immunological paralysis can be long-lived, which is important to know when developing treatment strategies to combat the virus.

According to Kathleen Sullivan, M.D., Ph.D., the senior researcher involved in the study and Chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “We have a very limited understanding of why some people who get influenza simply have a bad cold and other people become very sick and even die. The results of this study give us a much better sense of the mechanisms underlying bacterial infections arising on top of the viral infection.”

Sullivan and colleagues recruited pediatric patients with severe influenza and examined the level of cytokines, which serve as the first line initiators of immune response, in the blood plasma. Although they found elevated levels of cytokines, they also found a decreased response of toll-like receptors, which activate immune cell responses as a result of invading microbes. This suggests that the diminished response of these receptors may be responsible for the paralysis of the immune system, leading to secondary bacterial infections.

The influenza patients were compared with patients with moderate influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and a control group of healthy individuals. The immune paralysis appeared to be specifically a result of influenza infection and was not seen in patients with respiratory syncytial virus. This process might explain why one quarter of children who die from influenza, die from a bacterial infection occurring on top of the virus.

“Despite major medical advances since the devastating flu outbreak of 1918 and 1919, influenza virus infection remains a very serious threat,” said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, “and the current swine flu outbreak is a grim reminder of this fact. The work by Dr. Sullivan and colleagues brings us a step closer to understanding exactly what goes wrong in some people who get the flu, so, ultimately, physicians can develop more effective treatment strategies.”

Journal reference:

1. Meredith L. Heltzer, Susan E. Coffin, Kelly Maurer, Asen Bagashev, Zhe Zhang, Jordan S. Orange, and Kathleen E. Sullivan. Immune dysregulation in severe influenza. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 2009; DOI: 10.1189/jlb.1108710

Popularity: 3% [?]

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Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the immunological effects of ginseng. Researchers have now shown that the herb, much used in traditional Chinese and other Asian medicine, has anti-inflammatory effects. (Credit: iStockphoto/Chen Chih-Wen)

ScienceDaily (May 14, 2009) — Laboratory experiments have demonstrated the immunological effects of ginseng. Researchers have now shown that the herb, much used in traditional Chinese and other Asian medicine, has anti-inflammatory effects.

Allan Lau led a team of researchers from the University of Hong Kong who identified seven ginseng constituents, ginsenosides, which showed immune-suppressive effects. He said, “The anti-inflammatory role of ginseng may be due to the combined effects of these ginsenosides, targeting different levels of immunological activity, and so contributing to the diverse actions of ginseng in humans”.

The scientists treated human immune cells with different extracts of ginseng. They found that of the nine ginsenosides they identified, seven could selectively inhibit expression of the inflammatory gene CXCL-10. Lau concludes, “Further studies will be needed to examine the potential beneficial effects of ginsenosides in the management of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases in humans”.

Uniquely, the researchers were able to holistically test the ginseng extract’s immune effects by using sophisticated purification technologies to identify individual constituents and define their bioactivity using genomics and bioactivity assays. After that, they reconstituted them back into a whole extract with definable individual ginsenosides for re-confirmation of effects. This potentially opens up a vigorous methodology to study medicinal herbs with state-of-the-art technologies.

1. Davy CW Lee, Cindy LH Yang, Stanley CC Chik, James CB Li, Jian-hui Rong, Godfrey CF Chan and Allan SY Lau. Bioactivity-guided identification and cell signaling technology to delineate the immunomodulatory effects of Panax ginseng on human promonocytic U937 cells. Journal of Translational Medicine, (in press)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Leucozepin was formulated to treat cancer patients & other immune diseases. Contains natural herbs to support white blood cells & T-cells.

Restores energy

ScienceDaily — Recent studies have shown that HIV causes a vigorous and prolonged immune response that eventually leads to the exhaustion of key immune system cells–CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells–that target HIV. These tired cells become less and less able to fight the virus, and the cells’ fatigue contributes to the inability of an HIV-infected person’s immune system to clear the virus from the body.

Now, researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have shown that a similar type of exhaustion strikes another important brigade of immune system soldiers: the B cells that make virus-fighting proteins called antibodies.

In most HIV-infected individuals not receiving antiretroviral therapy, the virus replicates continuously, causing systemic disturbances that include changes in certain subsets of B cells that circulate in the blood. One of these subsets, known as “tissue-like memory B cells,” is abundant in HIV-infected individuals who do not control their viral burden. These particular cells show signs of premature exhaustion and a reduced ability to make the high-quality antibodies needed to fight HIV.

As with studies of exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, these new findings related to exhausted B cells help illuminate the complex immune system damage caused by HIV, and the challenges to rebuilding or bolstering an HIV-infected person’s immune system.

NIAID’s HIV vaccine research program aims to increase the understanding of B cells to help inform the development of an effective vaccine, and this study contributes to this effort. The authors note that the design of a therapeutic vaccine designed to slow HIV disease progression will need to overcome or circumvent the challenge posed by the inability of certain exhausted B cells to make high-quality antibodies.

Journal reference:

1. S Moir et al. Evidence for HIV-associated B cell exhaustion in a dysfunctional memory B cell compartment in HIV-infected viremic individuals. Journal of Experimental Medicine, (in press) DOI: 10.1084/jem.20072683

Popularity: 3% [?]

By Rita Goldman

Hans Selye (1907-1982) was the Hungarian endocrinologist who coined the phrase “stress” in 1936. His original definitions of stress were physical as a result of his work studying rats to find a new hormone. He noticed that when they were deprived of food, worked hard and had drugs injected into them, the rats had non specific symptoms of an enlarged spleen and a coated tongue. It would be ten years before he realized that these conditions applied to humans’ as well.

Today stress is likely to be described as mental rather than physical as our lives have become more complex nut nonetheless the body react to stress in three distinct biological phases.

The Alarm reaction to stress.

The first reaction is the body realizes that something is wrong and it has to make a decision, usually known as the flight or flight response. This reaction would go back to the very earliest of men, when faced with danger they had two choices either face it and fight or run away. This creates an adrenalin rush so that you can deal with the pressure.

Resistance to Physical Stress.

Unfortunately the human body is not capable or maintaining that level of stress for long and it resists the changes that the body is going through such as the rush of adrenalin.

Exhaustion

If the body is exposed to too high a level of stress for sufficient time it changes by aging in real terms it begins to burn out.

Good stress if it does not go on for to long can energize us and motivate us to succeed. It increases the awareness of your physical surroundings as the body takes stock of the immediate challenges. Hans Selye definition of stress was

“Stress is the human response to changes that occur as a part of daily living.”.

Eventually Selye joined up the dots in his research and applied the principals to humans and he found that although we all react to different things which stress us we all an identical physical reaction.  It ages us and ultimately he proved a direct relationship between excessive levels of stress and cancer and coronary heart disease. Unfortunately the physical results of too much stress do not manifest themselves immediately even though the extra hormones pumped out leave you feeling physically drained.

Stress management is self explanatory. It is the effects of reducing the physical effects of the body of bad stress. There are various techniques to manage stress such as exercise and relaxation. However they both come down to the same thing getting the levels of mental and physical stress we face more or less equal. Relaxation means total relaxation, for instance watching the television is not relaxing, though we use it as such, the brain is still energized and engaged. Sleep is important as it allows the body to recuperate. Deep breathing and meditation can also relax the body and reduce stress.

That explains stress but how does that affect the immune system specifically. Stress has the same affect on the immune system as it does on the rest of the body. The act of a massive input of adrenalin allows the immune system to take action it effectively prepares our immune system to deal with infections or problems, arising from burns, cuts, and other injures. It prepares the body to heal itself.

However the immune system cannot cope with elevated levels of stress anymore than the body can, in all cases long term stress has a negative affect on the immune system as across the board it does not work as well. Specifically if you are elderly or your immune system is already under threat then the stress can cause the immune system to almost stop functioning entirely.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer or have a reoccurring cancer visit us at http://www.thewordisHOPE.com and find the hope for healing. Make a leap of faith from Cancer victim to Cancer Survivor by reading the stories of Hope and Encouragement from simple people like you that fought and believed and recovered. If you are a cancer survivor, we need your story with all the details you are willing to provide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Goldman http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Effects-of-Stress-on-the-Immune-System&id=2635199

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Rita Goldman

Many oncologists are doctors who treat cancer believing that patients should be evaluated for fatigue when undergoing cancer treatment. Fatigue often means that patients have to give up many activities that could be considered normal, because they are too tired to function. There is an argument that you should be discussing your levels of fatigue with your oncologists. They should be providing the initial screening, because they can provide the basic education that those levels of fatigue lead to pain, loss of sleep, emotional disturbances, hypothyroidism and anemia.

If any of those five primary symptoms of fatigue are present they need to be treated within the guidelines of the practise of each patient. Further assessment can include a review of the system of treatment and a total review of all medications, metabolic evaluations and an accurate assessment of current physical activity levels.

There are certain symptoms of fatigue such as electrolyte imbalances, infection and cardiac dysfunction that needs specific treatments but when these are not present then there are non-pharmacological options of treatment. These can include hypnosis to manage the pain, and improve the mood, and aid sleep. This can be in conjunction with a moderate gentle exercise program designed to make activity more tolerable.

Many cancer patients use hypnosis to alleviate their symptoms, but it is estimated that few of them discuss the results of alternative treatment with their oncologists. Many discuss it as a primary option, but once hypnosis is underway it is not discussed again. In fact it should be discussed and incorporated into a regime to manage your levels of fatigue as you undergo treatment. This is because the exact cause of fatigue in cancer patients has not been isolated.

A research study in Pakistan studied one hundred and ninety-one patients (1994) who each had a twenty five minute interview to assess how many of them used alternative therapies. Pakistan is a developing country, 54.5% of all patients used alternative therapies as part of their treatment. Traditional herbal medicines accounted for 70.2% and homeopathy was used by 64.4%. What was interesting is the fact that 36% or just over a third of the people studies used these treatments before conventional treatment was sought.

Only 15% used alternative methods after conventional therapeutic treatment options had been exhausted. Patients perceived that these treatments were less expensive and toxic. They have the opposite problem. The belief in Western therapies is not sufficient, that cancer patients will not use alternative therapies first, thus wasting a great deal of time before employing proven methods of treatment. However a recent American Cancer Society survey revealed that mind therapy which included mental imagery, hypnosis was employed by 49% of the users.

Obviously in Pakistan, dangerous consequences of using unconventional therapies instead of proven medical care mean direct physiological harm and needless deaths, but there has to be a happy medium of using alternative therapies with the full knowledge of your oncologist who is supposed to be coordinating your treatment.

As isolated as you may feel right now, you are not alone. Cancer diagnosis is no longer the end of the story. [http://www.thewordishope.com]Cancer survivors prove every day that this can be the beginning of a whole new positive chapter in your life. Join our unique community of [http://www.thewordishope.com]cancer survivors to be right now and receive a FREE report on Cancer Survivor’s tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Goldman http://EzineArticles.com/?Cancer-and-Fatigue-is-an-Oncologists-Problem&id=2651426

Popularity: 2% [?]

ENERhance

Boost and Restore Energy: natural herbs, vitamins & minerals

Secondary Benefits

• Strengthen the immune system
• Helps individuals speed recovery from illnesses
• Contains Astragalus, Poria seed, Ginseng, Reishi Mushroom

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Influenza And Bacterial Pneumonia Make For Harmful Super-infection

ScienceDaily

Influenza, or flu, is an unpleasant affair with fever, cough, as well as head and body ache.
When this illness is further complicated by a
bacterialpneumonia, a harmful super-infection develops. Until now, researchers thought
that the flu facilitates an infection with pneumonia bacteria because it leads
to a decrease of immune cells in the blood and thus impairs the body's
defenses.
A joint venture from researchers from the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection
Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, the Otto-von-Guericke-University in Magdeburg,
and the Karolinska institute in Sweden have taken an in-depth look at the
connection between flu infection and pneumonia. Their results have disproven a
common theory about flu-like pneumonia.

Some viral infections trigger a decrease of immune cells in the blood – a
so-called "lymphopenia". The reasons behind it and whether this is
the case with influenza are unknown. To investigate the latter, HZI researchers
infected mice with flu viruses and measured the amount of immune cells in the
animal's blood every day. Some days later, flu-infected mice received a dosage
of pneumonia bacteria usually harmless for healthy mice. While the flu-infected
mice did develop a superinfection & subsequently died, surprisingly, they
were not suffering from lymphopenia. The healthy, non-flu-infected mice
defeated the bacteria successfully and recovered.

To discover whether a lack of immune cells encourages an infection with
pneumonia bacteria in general, an artificial drug-induced lymphopenia was
established in the mice. Without infecting these lymphopenic mice with flu
viruses, they received pneumonia bacteria. Despite a severe lack of immune
cells, the mice recovered completely.

With these results, the researchers could show that influenza facilitates
and intensifies an infection from pneumonia bacteria, while disproving the
common idea that this is caused by a lack of immune cells. "This result
was an enormous surprise for us because it directly contradicts widespread
assumptions", says Sabine Stegemann, researcher in the groups "Immune
regulation" at the HZI and "Molecular Immunology" at the
Otto-von-Guericke-University in Magdeburg.

"Now we want to understand the reasons for the increased
susceptibility", says Matthias Gunzer, head of the group in Magdeburg.
"It could be interplay of weakened mucous membranes and scavenger cells
that induce ideal conditions for pneumonia bacteria to create a deadly lung infection.
Another reason may be a reaction of the host immune system: It disables
hyperactive flu-fighting immune cells to inhibit destruction of healthy lung
tissue. "The immune system keeps itself under control and that makes it
easy for pneumonia bacteria to infect the lung", says Gunzer.
Increased Susceptibility for Superinfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae
during Influenza Virus Infection Is Not Caused by TLR7-Mediated Lymphopenia 2009; 

Adapted from materials provided by Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres,
via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Popularity: 13% [?]