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Trouble Sleeping Leads To Increased Ratings Of Pain In Cancer Patients, Study Suggests

Mar 04

ScienceDaily
A new study suggests that sleep problems lead to increased pain and fatigue in cancer patients. The results indicate that interventions aimed at trouble sleeping would be expected to improve both pain and fatigue in this patient population.
Results show that more than half the sample reported having trouble sleeping, with 26 percent reporting moderate or severe trouble sleeping. Compared with patients who reported no trouble sleeping, patients with moderate to severe trouble sleeping reported significantly more fatigue, pain and depressed mood. Using structural equation modeling analysis to evaluate causal relations and directions of effect, the best-fitting model indicates that trouble sleeping led to increased ratings of pain.
According to the authors, the relationship between pain and sleep often has been assumed to be reciprocal. In the present study, however, a model of reciprocal causation could not be fit to the data, and models in which pain caused trouble sleeping did not fit as well as the model in which trouble sleeping caused pain.
“We believed we would find a bi-directional relationship between insomnia and pain, but instead found that trouble sleeping was more likely a cause, rather than a consequence, of pain in patients with cancer,” said lead author Edward J. Stepanski, chief operational officer at the Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network in Memphis, Tenn.
The study included demographic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes data from 11,445 cancer patients undergoing treatment at the West Clinic, a large community oncology practice in Memphis. Participants had an average age of 61.5 years, and 74 percent were female. Breast cancer was the most common form of cancer, and about 25 percent of study subjects had received chemotherapy in the last 30 days. Increases in depressed mood also led to increased ratings of pain.
Younger age and recent administration of chemotherapy were both associated with increased trouble sleeping. According to the authors, younger patients often receive more aggressive chemotherapy than older patients; therefore, younger patients may be exposed to more treatment-related toxicity.
Stepanski stated that several studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves sleep in cancer patients who have insomnia. He believes that this type of intervention may decrease patients’ pain and fatigue by improving their sleep.

Adapted from materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Journal Reference:
1.The Relation of Trouble Sleeping, Depressed Mood, Pain, and Fatigue in Patients with Cancer. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, April 15, 2009

Popularity: 1% [?]

Health and Nutritional Supplements, You Need Both

Oct 09

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Health and Nutritional Supplements, You Need Both

By: Tan Kim Kia

Health is the greatest treasure a man can have.

There are several factors that influence our health. Among them we find the pollution, stress, inadequate nutrition. All these factors are hurtful to our body.

Did you know that in a whole year we consume over four kilos and a half to five kilos of poisonous substances present in our food?

If not eliminated, these substances create a chaotic movement of our body cells and generate a favorable ground for the action of free radicals. These free radicals generate a great diversity of cancer forms.

Health depends on an adequate diet too. “Scientific evidence in support of the health benefits of nutritional supplements has grown dramatically in recent years,” said Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston. “We must now work to translate this knowledge to health care providers, policy makers and consumers so the simple actions people can take to promote their health and prevent disease can be more fully realized. The impact of a rational use of dietary supplements can also help reduce health care costs which escalate every year as our population grows older.

Symptoms

Many problems such as : lack of energy, insomnia, headaches, depression, mood swings, anxiety, easy bruising, bleeding gums, slow wound healing etc. can be traced directly to deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals.

Circumstances

Because of the methods applied nowadays in agriculture, which destroy the natural mineral substances, we cannot be sure that the agricultural products ensure us the necessary vitamins and minerals. Although all people should try to have healthy and balanced diet, few in reality do.

Nutritional Supplements to bridge your nutrition gaps

More and more people try the nutritional supplements as a way to combat the nutritional deficiencies and to ensure the necessary of vital nutrients for maintaining the quality of their life. Before you start taking nutritional supplements you must know a few things about them.

Nutritional supplements represent a support to our body. The nutritional supplements clean the human body and restore the deficiencies present inside. While taken constantly, nutritional supplements promote good health and help prevent disease. Nutritional supplements represent a good thing that we need . Here are a few things that you might consider before taking nutritional supplements:

1. Everybody can consume nutritional supplement and mostly if is diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency.

2. You must find out if you have a nutritional deficiency.

3. Ask your physician if it is safe for you to take nutritional supplements.

4. Does this supplement interacts with any drug or food you are consuming?

5. If you want to know more you can read about it or you can find more information at nutritional supplements guide from the Internet.

Quality

Regarding their quality, the nutritional supplements must be natural, easy to assimilate, must have a high nutritional value, must come from ecologically non-polluted areas and must be certified.

On the market are thousands of dietary supplements. Great companies fight for a place on the market. Each of them offers a diversity of products. These products seem to bring the same benefits to our body but they are in fact very different one from another. The difference is obvious when you read the label and you see the ingredients. The ingredients are the ones which make the products so valuable.

Research

The nutritional supplements are usually obtained after a period of research.

The research services work hard in order to offer us good products having great and rapid effects. It would be good for you when you choose to take nutritional supplements to inform upon the company which produces the products. If it is a world leadership or if it is among the greatest in the world than you may decide to consume the products it proposes to you. They are first tested over and over again and are only then offered to the public.

So we must be very careful when choosing nutritional supplements and do not forget to consult your physician!

About the Author:

Allan Tan Kim Kia is an nutrition scholar and author of Best Vitamin Supplements Guide who provides tips and advice how to choose and where to buy best vitamin supplements online. http://www.best-vitamin-supplements-guide.com

Printed From: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/health-and-nutritional-supplements-you-need-both-83822.html

Popularity: 1% [?]

One Virus Particle Is Enough To Cause Infectious Disease

Sep 05

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One Virus Particle Is Enough To Cause Infectious Disease

ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2009) — Can exposure to a single virus particle lead to infection or disease? Until now, solid proof has been lacking. Experimental research with insect larvae at Wageningen University and Simon Fraser University in Canada has shown that one virus particle is theoretically enough to cause infection and subsequent disease.

A virus population is usually composed of a collection of variants of virus particles. In order to  investigate whether virus particles (virions) can cause an infection independently from each other, and therefore individually, the researchers set up an experiment with two ‘marked’ virus variants. They exposed a population of hosts (caterpillars) to both variants.

The experiment showed that exposure to a low dosage of virus particles resulted in a small number host infections (20%). The majority of these hosts (86%) turned out to be infected by a single virus genotype. In contrast, exposure to a high dosage of virus particles resulted in virtually all the hosts (99%) becoming infected, where most of the hosts were infected by both types of virus. Only 14% were infected by only one of the two variants.

Based on the assumption that every virus particle operates independently from all other virus particles, the researchers set up a probability model. This model predicts how many virus particles have caused an infection and how many different virus genotypes are present in infected hosts, such as plants, insects or people. The results of the infection experiment with the susceptible insects are in agreement with the model predictions. From this it can be derived that the virus particles have an independent effect, and that a single virus particle can indeed cause infection and/or disease.

If there are few virus particles that lead to an infection, the number of virus particles determines the degree of diversity that can be present within the host. This is an important finding because the interactions between virus variants, such as competition and exchanging genetic information, determine the progression of disease and the evolution of the virus.

Until now, it was unclear whether a virus must be seen as an individual that can infect a host independently, or whether a cloud of viruses ‘cooperates’ to cause an infection. It is not yet known if the viruses that affect people can also act individually, but this research shows that it is possible.

The researchers recently published this finding in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.


Journal reference:

1. Mark P Zwart, Lia Hemerik, Jenny S Cory, J. Arjan G.M de Visser, Felix J.J.A Bianchi, Monique M Van Oers, Just M Vlak, Rolf F Hoekstra, and Wopke Van der Werf. An experimental test of the independent action hypothesis in virus%u2013insect pathosystems. Proc. R. Soc. B, 2009; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.0064..Adapted from materials provided by Wageningen University and Research Centre.

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Immune Systems In Breast Cancer Survivors Who Suffer From Fatigue Fail To Shut Off After Therapy

Aug 23

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% [?]

Cancer and Fatigue is an Oncologist’s Problem

Jul 25

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: 1% [?]

Stress Will Harm your Immune System

Jul 23

Soothe Insomnia

  • Reduce Stress
  • Regulates nervous system
  • Relieves stress, anxiety, mild depression, and insomnia
  • Promotes optimal sleep patterns
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By: Chuck Arnone

Many studies have shown a link between stress and illness. Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today’s fast-paced society which can weaken the immune system and accelerate the aging process.
We talk about the three most significant stressors, namely, unwanted aloneness, loss of control, and loss of hope.If you can address those three stressors, you can enhance the power of the immune system,which may have an effect on how it’s able to fight those cancer cells and lessen the effects of cold and flu symptoms.

What we are looking at is if you can enhance the power of the immune system by doing things that make you happy, you will be healthier. Immune cells spend much of their lives circulating in those blood vessels.Immune systems of optimistic people have been found to fare much better under stressful conditions than those with a negative attitude.Chemotherapy has an affect on many cells in your body.

There is no question that good nutrition is necessary for a healthy immune system and that means a healthy variety of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins, fluids, etc. Your nutrition choices as well as your emotions can have a big impact on your body’s ability to keep up your energy levels and immune system.

In one small study, researchers found that moderate exercise (three or more times a week) increased the immune cell counts of women undergoing breast cancer treatment back to normal levels, and also improved the women’s mood and ability to handle their feelings comfortably. A healthy immune system regulates our body’s healing process and protects it against infections and diseases. Premature aging and fatigue are just part of the problem with stress and your immune system. Sleep time is when your body and immune system do most of its repairs and rejuvenation. Tea is a wonder drink as it has the ability to strenghten your immune system and fight off germs.

The field of study that examines the link between stress and the immune system is known as psychoneuroimmunology. Several studies in this area indicate that physical and emotional stress can have either good or bad effects on the immune system’s response. Autoimmune diseases are a result from this attack; the more commonly occurring examples include systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), Grave’s disease of the thyroid, and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases are very sensitive to any kind of stress and symptoms worsen during that time. It is also interesting to note that many autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and Grave’s disease, occur more commonly in women than in men. A positive attitude, connecting to other human beings, and minimizing stress all have a lot to do with immune system health, as well.

Part of the solution to living longer and being healthy is to protect your immune system. A healthy system regulates our body’s healing process and protects it against infections and diseases. Stress influences our health so profoundly because of the way it affects our nervous and immune systems. Because of the connection between stress and health, stress management should be a cornerstone of your healthy lifestyle. Think about your state of health for a moment. And also the health of those you know. How we learn to deal with stress makes a huge difference in how healthy we are. Studies have shown that how a person deals with stress affects your health.

About the Author:

Chuck Arnone’s research into the immune system and it’s affect on your health can be very informative.

Printed From: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/stress-will-harm-your-immune-system-296958.html

Popularity: 9% [?]

Chemotherapy, Cancer and Exercise

Jun 28

Fitness Instructor Zoe Albright in Las Vegas explains the benefits of exercise while you are going through cancer treatments.

Popularity: 5% [?]

7 Serious Long Term Lack of Sleep Effects

Apr 30

Soothe Insomnia

Secondary Benefits

  • Regulates nervous system
  • Relieves stress, anxiety, mild depression, and insomnia
  • Promotes optimal sleep patterns
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7 Serious Long Term Lack of Sleep Effects

By Carla Chausser

Lack of sleep is a rising problem in our society, and lack of sleep effects are getting stronger and more dangerous as the time goes by. Almost everybody has suffered of it at one time or another. If you have mild insomnia, it is easy to fix it with some home remedies. But if your lack of sleep is chronic, you might encounter some long term effects which can prove to be really dangerous.

1. The first long term lack of sleep effect is getting various heart diseases.

2. Diminished concentration and memory lapses is another nasty effect of a prolonged lack of sleep.

3. Depression is something that people automatically associate with lack of sleep, and with good reason.

4. Sadly, a prolonged lack of sleep can even cause death.

5. Hallucinations and psychotic episodes have been also noticed in various cases of insomnia.

6. Also several physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, blurred vision and even nausea.

7. Weight loss – and not of the good kind, is often experienced in people who are constantly fighting with lack of sleep.

These are just the most common serious lack of sleep effects one can experience. It does not mean that one will have all these symptoms and effects at all times. You can have one of them, or several. It really depends on many factors, such as for how long are you already suffering of lack of sleep, what is your physical condition throughout (if your immune system is weaker, you will be stronger affected by it), whether you are a male or female. Studies showed that females are most prone to lack of sleep, and particularly effects such as depression, weight loss and nausea.

For further information on lack of sleep symptoms, causes, [http://lack-of-sleep.com/category/lack-of-sleep-effects]effects and treatments, visit my [http://lack-of-sleep.com/]lack of sleep blog, where you can take the insomnia test and see for yourself if you need help in conquering your lack of sleep.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carla_Chausser http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Serious-Long-Term-Lack-of-Sleep-Effects&id=1885771

Popularity: 14% [?]

Chemotherapy Side Effects

Apr 14

By Reshma Jirage

Chemotherapy is a common treatment option for cancer. It can cause some serious side effects like anemia, hair loss, diarrhea, nausea etc. Read on to know in detail about chemotherapy side effects.
Chemotherapy is administered to treat various types of cancers. Cancer is a life-threatening disease, caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cells or malignant cells can spread to other parts of body through the blood and lymphatic system. There are about 100 types of cancer, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer etc. Major categories of cancer are carcinoma, sarcoma, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma as well as cancers of the central nervous system. If cancer is diagnosed in its early stage, the chances of healing are more. The various treatment options for cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. How Does Chemotherapy Work? Chemotherapy is the most common treatment method for different types of cancers. Chemotherapy involves the use of chemicals to prevent the growth of cancer cells. The drugs used in chemotherapy are known as ‘anticancer drugs’ and they destroy the malignant cells. There are different types of chemotherapy drugs, including alkylating agents, nitrosoureas, antimetabolites, anthracyclines and related medications. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously, given orally in the form of a pill or injected into the body cavity. Generally, chemotherapy is given in cycles. Each cycle is administered every 1 to 4 weeks and there is a rest period between every chemo cycle. Chemotherapy drugs act by killing cancer cells, preventing them from spreading and slowing their growth and multiplication. Many a times, a combination chemotherapy of two or more chemo drugs may be given at a time. Some drugs restrict the effect of certain hormones in the body. Chemotherapy can be given before or after the surgery. Chemotherapy given before the surgery is called as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which is aimed at shrinking the tumor before it is surgically removed. Chemotherapy given after the surgery is known as adjuvant chemotherapy. This therapy focuses on killing the cancer cells left after the surgery. Sometimes, chemotherapy is used in combination with radiotherapy, biological therapy or surgery. Chemotherapy Side Effects Chemotherapy is a systemic cancer treatment that can affect the entire body. Chemotherapy drugs work by destroying rapidly dividing cancer cells. But, these drugs are not able to differentiate between malignant cells and normal body cells. Malignant cells as well as some other normal cells like those in the blood, intestinal tract, nails, hair, mouth and vagina are constantly dividing. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout the body and destroy normal, healthy cells in the bone marrow, digestive tract, hair follicle, mouth and reproductive system. Some of the chemotherapy drugs affect the cells in the lungs, heart, bladder, kidneys as well as the nervous system. This can lead to many side effects. The severity of chemotherapy side effects depends upon the type of drugs administered and the patient’s health. The side effects can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) or permanent. Some common side effects of chemotherapy are constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss and certain blood-related symptoms such as anemia. Chemotherapy can cause intestinal problems, loss of appetite, weight loss, nerve and muscle problems, sore mouth, gums and throat, dry and discolored skin, kidney and bladder irritation as well as sexuality and fertility issues. Hair loss: Temporary hair loss (alopecia) is one of the depressing side effects of chemotherapy, as it affects your appearance. Hair follicle cells are one of the rapidly dividing cells in the body. Since chemotherapy drugs cannot differentiate between these cells and malignant cells, they destroy healthy hair follicles cells, leading to hair loss. Temporary hair loss cannot be treated by the medications for hereditary hair loss. Nausea: It is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy. It can lead to loss of appetite, constipation and dehydration. Moderate to severe nausea can also cause vomiting. Diarrhea and constipation: The cells in the intestinal lining, are among the rapidly growing normal cells that are destroyed during chemotherapy, causing diarrhea. Diarrhea during cancer treatment is also due to anxiety, stress, malnutrition or colon surgery. Diarrhea can cause stomach pain and cramping, bloating, nausea, loss of appetite and skin irritation. Some pain relievers and anticancer medications can cause constipation. These symptoms may also occur, if your diet doesn’t contain adequate amount of fibers or fluids. Allergic or hypersensitivity reaction: Chemotherapy drugs can lead to allergies or hypersensitivity reactions, triggered by the immune system response. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction, which can cause low blood pressure, shock and death. Major symptoms of allergic reactions are breathing difficulty, skin rashes, hives, flushing (redness of the face and neck), swelling of the eyelids, lips and tongue, and systemic reactions such as liver and kidney diseases. Skin problems: Chemotherapy can cause some skin problems such as skin rashes and dry skin. It can also cause flaky, cracked and itchy skin. Fatigue: Most cancer patients complain of tiredness, lack of energy and fatigue. It is due to pain, loss of appetite, lack of sleep as well as low blood counts. Fatigue due to chemotherapy appears suddenly and can last for several days, weeks or months. Mouth and throat sores: Anticancer drugs can cause irritation of the tissues of mouth and throat, resulting in bleeding. Mouth sores, also known as stomatitis or mucositis, cause swollen, red ulcers in the oral cavity. The patient is unable to talk, eat, chew or swallow due to painful ulcers. Chemotherapy can also lead to tender gums and sore throat. Nerve and muscle effects: In some cases, anticancer drugs affect the nerves, leading to peripheral neuropathy. It causes symptoms like weakness, burning, tingling, pain or numbness in the hands or feet. Some chemotherapy drugs cause weakness or soreness of muscles. Nerve and muscle-related problems can also lead to symptoms such as loss of balance, pain when walking, shaking or trembling, jaw pain, stomach pain and hearing loss. Suppressed bone marrow: Blood cells like white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are produced in the bone marrow. Since chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, it affects bone marrow cells. As a result, the production of blood cells in the bone marrow is suppressed, increasing the risk of infections. Anemia: Reduced ability of bone marrow to produce red blood cells, can cause a decrease in their number. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to all body parts. Due to deficiency in red blood cells or anemia, body tissue is deprived of sufficient amount of oxygen. Anemia causes symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness and tiredness. Infection: Chemotherapy causes diminished production of white blood cells (leukopenia) in the bone marrow, leading to weakened immune system, which makes your body more vulnerable to infections. Infections are mainly due to bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Some common areas for infection are mouth, throat, lungs, sinuses, skin, intestine and genital tracts. Major signs and symptoms of infection are swelling, redness and pus at the site of injury, mucus or pus in the saliva, cough, nasal drainage, sore throat, high fever, chills and a burning sensation during micturition. Bleeding or clotting problems: Due to suppressed bone marrow functioning, the number of platelets decreases. Platelets play a major role in the process of blood clotting and thus, prevent bleeding. Reduced platelet count leads to symptoms like unexpected bruising, longer bleeding after minor cuts, nosebleeds or bleeding gums, vaginal bleeding other than menstruation, hematuria, black or bloody stool, headaches and changes in vision. Flu-like symptoms: Some people experience flu-like symptoms, a few hours after the chemotherapy cycle. These symptoms include headache, nausea, tiredness, chills, slight fever, loss of appetite and muscle and joint pain. Effect on sexual organs: Chemotherapy can affect sexual organs in both men and women. Chemotherapy drugs can lower the sperm count, which may result in temporary or permanent infertility in men. Anticancer drugs can affect the ovaries and hormonal levels. This can cause menopause-like symptoms (dry vagina and hot flashes), and temporary or permanent infertility in women. In spite of these side effects, chemotherapy is one of the most effective treatment options for various types of cancer. In most cases, chemotherapy side effects disappear, after the treatment is stopped. These side effects can be prevented by taking appropriate medications, maintaining proper hygiene, intake of dietary supplements and following a healthy lifestyle that includes the right balance of a nutritious and healthy diet and regular exercises.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Healing Herbs for Preventing and Curing Cancer

Mar 09

leucozepin

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Strengthen Immune System: contains Astragalus

Secondary Benefits

  • Regulates blood cell counts
  • Boosts energy
  • Activates NK cells
  • Stimulates macrophages
  • Relieves fatigue

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Healing Herbs for Preventing and Curing Cancer

Dina Hunter

Healing Herbs for Preventing and Curing Cancer No one knows exactly what causes cancer. Research has learned that when the immune system slows down or cannot work properly, cancer and other immune failure diseases seem to take over. The white blood cells are a main part of the immune system. When the white blood cells die or in some way become impaired, the immune system breaks down. Conventional cancer treatments usually consist of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These can all lower your white blood cell count and wreak havoc with your immune system. White blood cells are very tough little guys, swimming through our veins, attacking infections and various other “bad germs” in our blood. But they are vulnerable to certain things. They can not do their job well when there is infection. They are killed off by chemotherapy, radiation, mold, chlorine and fluoride in our water supply and metal toxins such as mercury, iron or aluminum. What’s even more frightening is antibiotics, as well as, some pharmaceutical drugs that we are given to help combat disease and infection can sometimes destroy the white blood cells. Many times the very drugs and treatments that kill cancer end up killing the patient because their organs break down and fail to function. So there goes our immune system. In 2002 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I endured surgery and chemotherapy, which made me horribly sick and left me so weak I could barely walk across the room. When I told the oncologist I was sick and vomiting for several days after each chemo session, she told me it couldn’t be the chemo making me sick. It had to be something else making me vomit. Even after the chemo sessions were over, I was still too weak to do much of anything. I asked the oncologist if there were any herbs or certain kinds of foods I should eat. She said, “No, just eat what you normally eat.” She obviously had no knowledge of herbs or nutrition. So, it looks to me like, if you’re suffering from the effects of chemotherapy or radiation, you’re pretty much on your own. It’s very hard to cope with these vague feelings of tiredness, no energy, depression, irritability, loss of appetite, memory loss and concentration. Most doctors seem to feel these symptoms are unimportant and dismiss them without much thought. One thing we can do is take advantage of the many cancer fighting, immune enhancing herbs, some of which have been around for 1000s of years. Scientists around the world are concentrating on herbal medicines to boost the immune cells of the body in it’s fight against cancer. Find a good herbalist or Doctor of alternative medicine. He or she can put together an herbal formulation based on your body, it’s needs and your life style. Because there are many kinds of cancer and different herbs work in different ways, they are usually not given singly. They work much better in synergistic combinations. Some herbs fight disease by enhancing the immune system. Others work with the lymph system to neutralize toxins and encourage drainage of fluids which flush toxins out of the body. Water, although not an herb, does a very good job of flushing toxins from the body. Just make sure the toxic chemicals that are added to most water systems are filtered out before you drink it. According to the Department of Agriculture there are over 3000 herbs that contain anti-cancer properties. Following is a list of the more common herbs for treating this dreaded disease. Astragalus has been used for more than 5000 years in China. It enhances the immune cells and the natural killer cells that are known to destroy cancer cells. It has been shown in research to speed recovery from chemotherapy and radiation treatments and prolong life expectancy. Astragalus is rarely given alone. According to Chinese medicine it works best when given along with other immune enhancing herbs. Some studies do show that it is effective when used alone and it is certainly worth using. Flaxseed supplements help balance the hormonal system and enhances the immune system and is recommended as a preventative for women who are concerned about breast cancer. Doctors in Germany have been using yarrow along with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Garlic and onion has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer of the colon, esophagus and the stomach. Hippocrates was the first to recommend it’s use. Antioxidants are found in most fruits, vegetables and herbs and are known to fight cancer and other diseases. Pau D Arco has been known to shrink cancerous tumors. Burdock, Cat’s Claw, sweet potatoes and pineapple, all have cancer fighting qualities which can detoxify your body and boost the immune system. If you don’t have an herbalist or doctor who will prescribe a synergistic herbal combination to fight cancer for you try eating a wide variety of herbs known to fight cancer and rejuvenate the immune system. Find more information about combating disease with herbs at www.healthyherbalplants.com .

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/healing-herbs-for-preventing-and-curing-cancer-482749.html

About the Author:

Dina Hunter is the author and owner of www.healthyherbalplants.com She is a firm believer in natural healing with fresh natural foods and herbs.She uses herbs for pain, stress and joint care As a cancer survivor she has done a lot of research on herbs to help This article discusses relevant herbs for preventing and curing cancer and helping the body cope with radiation and chemotherapy, recover from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

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