Diagnosed With Breast Cancer? Here Are Some Resources To Help!

Diagnosed With Breast Cancer? Here Are Some Resources To Help!
By Mike Herman

There are more and more organisations and groups around the world who will offer support and advice to not just women but men as well who have been affected by breast cancer.

Many of these groups and organisations not only spend time counselling people but they hold many fund raising events and campaigns to help pay for further research into the disease.

In some cases some of these groups or organisations will offer treatment to those patients diagnosed with the disease who can not actually afford to pay for the treatment themselves.

Below is a list of the various organisations and groups that can be found in the USA which have been specifically set up to fight this disease and provide support to those who have been diagnosed with it.

One such group in the USA is the American Cancer Society (ACS) who are a community based health organisation and which helps to fight all the various types of cancers that now seem to affect the population.

They also spend vast amounts of their time not just focusing on treatment of cancer but also its prevention and how to reduce the suffering felt by the patients and their families and saving lives.

They also help with costs for carrying out further research and educating people on the disease and making the population more aware of its effects.

Another organisation is Cancer Care Incorporated who provide a telephone support service for all cancer issues, and this includes medical information, cancer terms and definitions, counselling, guidance on local services, free information material, as well as information on local support groups to the patients area as well as an abundance of educational programs on cancer matters.

Now we come to CRFA (Cancer Research Foundations of America) which is a national group and which focuses on the prevention of cancer both through educating people and scientific research.

It is also able to provide people with information on other forms of cancer as well as breast such as prostate, lung, colorectal, skin and cervical.

Then you could if you wish contact The Living Beyond Breast Cancer Foundation which has been set up and provides a helpline where you are able to obtain support after being diagnosed with the disease.

You will discover that the people at the other end of the phone talking to you will have previously been diagnosed with the disease and survived.

They are able to provide you with first hand information on the treatments offered, the way in which it is diagnosed and how to survive it.

But don't forget the people at the other end of the phone can only offer you emotional support and not actual medical advice, for that you will need to see your doctor who will then refer you to a specialist.

Then there is the Medicare Hotline which is another breast cancer foundation and this one can offer the patient information on mammography and the way it is used in helping to detect breast cancer during the early stages.

Also we have the NABCO (National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organisations) who can provide people with answers to the many questions that they will have relating to the disease and they can either call them or send them an email to obtain the information they require on breast cancer and the many issues relating to it.

If you would like to obtain a more individual response regarding a question you have in respect of the disease it may be a case of you contacting the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service, which can provide patients with answers to any specific question they may have relating to the disease.

Also a number of years ago a Foundation was set up called the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation which helps to fight breast cancer and are well known for organising lots of awareness programs as being a huge contributor in raising funds through various campaigns they have organised such as breast cancer walks.

This foundation also has a helpline where they have trained volunteers who can talk to individuals regarding the disease as they have suffered from it themselves.

The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been set up and is specifically committed to offering people with the latest information that is available concerning breast cancer and breast health to those that contact them.

Lastly we have the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organisation which helps fight against both breast cancer and provides support to those suffering from the disease by providing them with a helpline that is operated by trained personnel only.

These people are volunteers but who have all survived breast cancer and are not only prepared but have the experience to answer the various types of questions that will be posed by the caller regarding breast cancer.

They can also provide emotional support to the men and women who have been affected by this disease.

What breast cancer information do you need to know more about? Click on over to http://www.ResourcesForBreastCancer.com and be sure to visit http://CancerReport.info.

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Prostate Cancer Your Quick Guide

Prostate Cancer - Your Quick Guide
By Helen Hecker

The prostate gland is located just beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. Although one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one man in 34 will die of the disease. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 will have prostate cancer.

Most men younger than 40 are rarely ever diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is normally a very slow growth cancer that can take many years before it becomes deadly. The most common cancer in American men, that is excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate. There are several other symptoms that may not be mentioned here.

Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs are often symptoms of cancer. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.

Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection. One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer.

A chest x-ray may be done to see if there is a spread of cancer. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells. There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer.

Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor. Thoroughly discuss your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary.

Prostate cancer that has metastasized may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. Many men simply want the best treatment they can get but what's important is picking the best treatment for you.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you're going to begin. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

As new research comes out adjust your treatment your options accordingly. Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their initial diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. In the end, only you with the help of your doctors, knowing your individual situation, can determine the best treatment program for you.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

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There Is More Treatment For The Condition Of Prostate Cancer Than Just Surgery

There Is More Treatment For The Condition Of Prostate Cancer Than Just Surgery
By Donald Saunders

Although in most cases thoughts turn to surgery when it comes to curing prostate cancer, surgery is not the only answer to this problem and one popular alternative is hormonal therapy.

If prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself then the surgical removal of the prostate gland is invariably the quickest, simplest and best method of treatment. However, where cancer has started to spread outside the prostate gland and, in particular, where it has spread throughout the body along the lymphatic system, many patients find that hormonal therapy is a treatment well worth considering. By targeting and reducing the quantity of the male hormone testosterone in the body, hormonal therapy literally cuts off the supply that prostate cancer feeds on to grow and spread.

Amongst the drugs commonly used for hormonal treatment is DES (diethistibestrol) which has similar properties to the female hormone estrogen. DES has the advantage of reducing many of the symptoms of prostate cancer and of prolonging life. However, it does also have a number of side effects including virtually eliminating any sex drive, reducing body hair, causing breast enlargement and, in some cases, producing scrotal shrinkage.

In more advanced cases of prostate cancer LH-RH agonists (such as Leuprolide and Goserelin) can also be used to regulate the release of testosterone into the bloodstream. A synthetic pituitary hormone, this treatment creates an initial surge of testosterone followed by a dramatic decrease to starve the cancer of its essential food. The drug is normally administered either by injection or the implantation of slow release pellets and side effects include occasional hot flushes, headaches and impotence.

One further drug in common use is Flutamide which is an antiandrogen which inhibits the action of testosterone on cancer cells. Although Flutamide can be used in isolation, it is normally used in conjunction with other hormonal drugs as pain relief in cases of advanced prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer treatment is not however limited to just surgery or hormonal therapy and other methods include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and of course a range of natural cures.

So, if you are facing the problem of dealing with prostate cancer don't simply assume that surgery is your only option. Talk to you doctor and explore the wide range of options available before deciding on the best course of treatment.

For more treatment for the condition of prostate cancer and to learn about such things as a range of prostate cancer cures please visit ProstateCancerExplained.com

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10 Great Tips to Win the Fight of Cancer for our Loved Ones!

10 Great Tips to Win the Fight of Cancer for our Loved Ones!
By Lucy Wong Moi

What are the things that we should do when a family member is found to have cancer?

[1 Show your love and concern

This is the most important thing we ought to do. Gather your strength and faith and to stand by her no matter what happens. Tell her, and emphasize that we all love her and care for her. Standing by her means that we are not leaving her alone to fight cancer. Let's do it together. Her tears are our tears, her sorrow our sorrow too. Let her know and confide in us. If you really care for her, spend more time with her. Just make sure that you are there when she needs us. Be determined and strive only to WIN!

[2 Be positive. Look at the bright side of life!

Why should we be positive? this is the AQ that I always share with my friends.. Pass the test, yes, past the test! Fear not! Adversity Quotient is a skill that we all have to master. Face all challenges with unwavering courage and be strong. Rid of unnecessary FEAR! Be confident that all will be fine and well. Most patients are killed by 'fear', not the real illness. People gave up hope too soon! Give relevant encouragements. Know that cancer is not incurable! There are also so many people out there who survived cancer! Show her confidence! Don't be distressed yourself. Stress kills too.

[3 Pray for forgiveness together.

Miracles do happen if one prays and believe enough. Have 100% faith and believe in your faith. Everything happen, happens for the good. Let God be our guide, our strength. Set a timetable for constant purposeful prayers with her/him. Recite our Lord's prayer and understand the meanings. 'Our father in heaven, holy be thy name...... Your will be done, on earth as in heaven..'

From here, we must acknowledge that God is our father... our father! Our father will know what is best for us, leave everything to HIM, His will be done, not ours! Can you really believe that 100%?

[4 Stop eating carcinogeous foods. Stop poisoning our body. Review your food, a change is needed immediately.

The difficulty in this is that not people are educated with the knowledge of food toxemia and acidosis that makes our blood acidic. Another problem is that the majority are eating them! Facts are facts, read more health conscious articles and be aware of all those foods that might cause cancer when taken in excess!

Stop eating those food that one have been consuming all those while that might caused cancer, so it is advisable to stop and change immediately. Since there are certain foods that cause cancer, there are also foods that can cure and prevent cancer. Wake up! There are plentiful of foods and herbs that one can eat to put cancer at bay. Change our diet, change our lifestyle!

Since air, water and food is directly affecting our immune system, it is of great importance that we review the quality of air, water and food that we take. Start from drinking clean water and food.

[5 Learn more about cancer. Knowledge is confidence.

At the same time, spare some time to really understand what cancer is. Look for appropriate knowledge, proven and relevant knowledge on preventive cures and treatments. Read to understand why people get cancer and how to prevent them. It might happen to just anybody!

[6 Immediate revision of choice of food

I suggest immediate and revised food timetable for the patient. I won't allow any animal protein foods. I will draft a 100% vegetarian diet, with 60% raw vegetables and fruits to be taken 3 to 5 times a day.

[7 Eat plentiful of rich anti-oxidants food

I will blend a 8V to be taken twice a day. 8V is a combination of some natural green herbs, vegetables and some fruits to be taken immediately after blending. 8 means eight types of food. [types of herbs used depend on the type and seriousness of cancer

[8 Make sure that they are taking higher doses of anti-oxidants supplements from relevant sources and drink plentiful of clean water

I will give higher doses of anti-oxidants especially A, C, E and high quality plant protein to boost his/her immune system.

[9 Rest their body system [esp. their liver and kidney

I will grow sprouts from different types of beans. I will let the patient take it twice or thrice a day and best taken when raw. It is a miracle food, a superior food to be exact.

[10 Appropriate nursing place [in the embrace of Mother Nature and relevant breathing exercise

The above is taken from my personal column on alternative health at http://submitarticles.biz.

I will also work out a breathing exercise with him/her and emphasize on self-affirming of speedy recovery. I will make sure that I will nurse him/her back to proper health personally.

I would also like to arrange a resort and to spend with her/his recovery period away from city life, away from the crowd, but near or in the embrace of nature at its best, where one can hear birds singing, dragonflies and butterflies flying, clear ripples of waterfalls, and breathe in cool, fresh air and be at ease with Mother Nature....

Prevention is much better than cure, believe me. Go for detoxification too. I have written and posted the article on how to keep cancer at bay, read to understand. Cancer can be prevented! Your brothers are also my brothers, your sisters are also my sisters too. We all are, it is never too late!

Lucy Wong is a health and nutrition consultant. Her interest in health related issues include the development of mental health. She is also keen in sharing Multiple Qs, she is also an educator and has written many articles on this subject in her personal column under alternative health in http://submitarticles.biz Read more about mental health articles in her personal column and discover the secrets of maintaining good mental health.

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Healing of Cancer: Be An Exceptional Patient Not A Statistic

Healing of Cancer: Be An Exceptional Patient, Not A Statistic
By Chris Teo, Ph.D.

In giving the prognosis, doctors are only relying on statistics. Their words are based on what literature says in terms of average. Statistical averages do not necessarily apply to you, especially if you are a patient with a strong desire to win and help yourself. Statistical average does not take into account exceptional patients. If you give up and have no desire to hang on and seek healing, you become a part of that statistic. So, you have a choice to prove that in your case the statistic is wrong!

Never Give Up!

Over the years I have seen many thousands of cancer patients. Most of them were medically written off cases. Doctors call them terminal patients. I have come to believe that for as long as you are still breathing, know that there is still hope, even if doctors tell you that there is no hope. Hang on and do not give up. A person with no hope cannot live. He withers and dies. Of course, some people want to die and are looking for a better way to die. If that is so, we cannot help you. But if you want to live, then I say to you do not give up. In the beginning, I have heard of people accusing me that I am trying to raise false hopes. Of course, if in trying to give people hope, I suck them dry of their families life-savings, I would imagine that it would be a great sin. In a situation where patients have no other avenues and no hope, where is the fault of trying to give people hope. In fact, I am saying to these critics that there is no such thing as false hope, but there is such a thing as FALSE no hope.

In short, what I am saying is that, the no hope that you are told can be false. Do not believe it. I say this because my experiences show me that no hope or voodoo curses have often been proven wrong. I have written many cases of miraculous healing of cancer in my books, Cancer Success Stories: Book 1 and 2. Let me give you some examples of cancer patients who are supposed to die yet they live!

Gan was diagnosed with liver cancer. There was a big mass in his liver. According to medical literature, those with untreated liver cancers would live an average of six months. In addition to that, I know of patients who died and had gone through much suffering after undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Gan did not go for any medical treatment and yet he remained alive for more than two years. In fact, Gan led a happy life, free of discomforts. Gan did not become a statistic. He lived and he was the exceptional patient that I am talking about.

Goh was a 73-year old man. He had colon cancer that had spread to the liver. He was in the hospital for about two months and the doctors refused to see him while on their ward rounds. His son described him as thin like a living skeleton. He could hardly walk. The family brought him home and made him a coat in anticipation of his death. His son told me that the coat was supposed to go with him into the coffin. With Gods grace and mercy, Goh did not die as expected. When I met him for the first time in October 2000, he said he was healthier than before he had cancer.

Betsy was a 75-year old lady. She had anaplastic thyroid cancer. The surgeon tried to remove the tumor but had to abort the operation. It was not possible to resect the tumor without killing her. Her son came to seek our help. For many years Betsy lead a life which the doctor said was free of cancer. Routine medical checks do not indicate that the cancer was coming back. She was strong and led a normal happy life. According to medical literature, this type of cancer is very aggressive and at most, patients survive for only six months. I met Betsy in November 2001. She started taking the herbs in August 1999. Again, I wish to say Betsy is not a statistic. The law of average does not apply to her.

Peter had kidney cancer. He was on oral chemo-drugs. His life was miserable. He could not eat nor sleep well. Life was very uncertain indeed. Then one day, he fainted three times. Where do you see hope in this case? Peter came to see us in August 1999. He was elated to see so many friendly and smiling faces at our Centre and these are cancer patients. He did not see cancer in these peoples faces. To Peter that first visit to our centre, was an encouraging beginning. Indeed, it was a great start, for today Peter is free of cancer. I met Peter in July 2000 and again in September 2006. He is doing well!

Be assured that all I have said are true. These people tell their stories which are recorded and are on VCDs. As a reminder, let me say that all healings are not from us. It is only our hands but it is God who heals. So let us give thanks to the Almighty One for such wonderful blessings.

Let me end this discussion by quoting a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: O God, give me the strength to change that which can be changed, the courage to accept that which cannot be changed, and the wisdom to tell which one from the other.

For more information visit: http://www.BookOnCancer.com, http://www.cacare.com, http://www.CancerCare.com.my

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You Too Can Prevent Cancer Including Breast Cancer

You Too Can Prevent Cancer, Including Breast Cancer
By Victor Graham

Cancer, breast cancer and breast cancer symptom can be prevented and may be cured with out any magic bullet according to two time Nobel Prize winner DR. OTTO WARBURG.

In 1931, DR. OTTO WARBURG who won his first Nobel Prize for his work on the cause of Cancer,claims that cancer begins to thrive in your body due to a lack of oxygen respiration in cells.DR. WARBURG'S research proves that cancer is no longer mystical, but infact occurs when any cell is denied 60% of it's oxygen requirement needed to produce energy.

According to DR. WARBURG, cancer unlike other diseases, may have many other secondary causes, but there is just the one prime cause, which relates to the oxygen requirement for cellular respiration.

He continues to explain that all normal body cells meet their energy needs by aerobic cellular respiration, whereas cancerous cells can only meet their energy needs in great parts throughthe process of fermentation, or anaerobically.

Cellular respiration, being a normal every day process of your healthy working body is required by every cell in order to produce energy for your body to function effectively, or you may experience breast cancer or breast cancer symptom.

As the blood picks up oxygen from the lungs, this oxygen must be efficiently circulated throughout the body to distribute nutrients and to produce energy in the cells. Any obstruction due to the clumping of plaque, from free radicals oxidation of LDL cholesterol, toxins and carcinogens, or from unhealthy blood platelets activities, inhibits the needed oxygen requirement of 60% for optimum cellular respiration according to DR. WARBURG, thus creating the formation of malignant cells.

For More Information, Please visit: http://www.bhealthyalways.com

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Your Breast Cancer Treatment Team

Your Breast Cancer Treatment Team
By Michael Russell

Today, the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed by mammography. There cancers are small, often too small to be felt and surgeons usually rely on radiologists to localize these small cancers with a hook wire or some injected dye. The technology has changed drastically and we have entered a new era of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Because of the many elements that come into play in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, coordination is necessary among the team of physicians: surgeon, radiation oncologist, cancer pathologist, plastic surgeon, radiologist and medical oncologist.

Ideally, a woman with a recent diagnosis of breast cancer communicates with a primary physician who takes charge of developing a treatment plan with her and then coordinates its implementation. These team members can work at a single institution or be drawn from a wider geographic distribution and any of the cancer specialists can act as the coordinating physician. Often, it is the medical oncologist who coordinates the flow of information and treatment for the patient, but many surgeons and radiation oncologists take on this pivotal role as well.

It is important that breast cancer patients find a cancer specialist that she can communicate with and who will address her concerns. However, there are medical systems in which it may be difficult for the patient to connect with one physician who will act as her coordinating team leader. If you are in this situation, don't despair. You just need adequate information to get you the treatment you need and be your own team leader. It is possible to go through this process without a physician to spearhead your treatment plan and still get high quality health care.

The overall treatment plan revolves around two critical decisions. One deals with local control and the second with the need for systemic therapy. Often, cancer patients and their doctors cannot decide upon the issue of systemic therapy until all the information is available from the surgical procedure.

Since the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are done primarily on an outpatient basis, cancer patients may travel to various locations for different aspects of treatment. Some women may come to a breast cancer facility for the definitive surgery and then have radiotherapy at a facility closer to their home. If patients require various therapies, it is important to consider doing something similar in order to make treatment appointments as convenient as possible.

One of the key tools used in coordinating a woman's care is a treatment planning conference. This conference is a meeting of treatment team members to discuss the patient's case and to develop a coordinated treatment plan based on the patient's situation. The conference allows each of the team members to view a common history, the radiological breast images, the pathology report and pathology images. The patient is usually excluded from the treatment planning conference in order to allow an honest exchange of opinions between the team members. The treatment planning conference is very important in coordinating care. Each of the potentially treating physicians can, in one setting, agree on an overall treatment plan and their particular contribution to that plan. This united approach also guarantees that the physicians line up the sequencing of the different therapies correctly and in the manner that is most beneficial to the cancer patient.

Besides benefiting the woman with breast cancer, the nature of the conference itself promotes education and understanding on the part of various physicians involved. Women diagnosed in the future stand to benefit greatly from the shared pool of information that these conferences provide medical professionals in general.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

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The Facts About Breast Cancer

The Facts About Breast Cancer
By Bo Carpenter

The causes of breast cancer are not completely understood, although it is clear that a womans age, gender and lifetime exposure to estrogen and her age at the time of her first childbirth can play an important role. Because no one knows exactly what causes breast cancer, there is absolutely no way to prevent it. However, there are steps that every woman can take that may make developing breast cancer less likely.

Any woman can get breast cancer. For example, did you know:
The older a woman is, the more likely she is to get breast cancer?
White women are more likely to get breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group? They also have a better chance of survival, primarily because their cancer is usually detected earlier.
African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
Men can get breast cancer too, although it is rare. Less than one of every 100 cases of breast cancer in the U.S. occurs in men.
In 2006, it is estimated that men will account for 1,720 cases of breast cancer.1

All women are at risk for breast cancer. Known risk factors like having a family history of breast cancer, starting menopause after age 55 or never having children account for only a small number of new breast cancer cases every year.

That means that most women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors except being a woman and getting older.

Typical questions you might have about breast cancer include:
I have a family history of breast cancer. Does that mean Ill develop breast cancer, too?Just because other family members have had breast cancer doesnt mean that their disease was inherited. Only about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers occur because of inherited mutations.2

If I am diagnosed with breast cancer, what are my chances for survival?
The 5-year survival rate for all women diagnosed with breast cancer is 90 percent.2 This means that 90 out of every 100 women with breast cancer will survive without a recurrence for at least five years.

Most will live a full life and never have a recurrence. Your chances of surviving are better if the cancer is detected early, before it spreads to other parts of your body. In fact, when breast cancer is confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is 98 percent.2

The best way to find breast cancer, especially in its earliest stages, is to routinely check your breasts for signs and symptoms of the disease.

There are three basic methods:
Mammograms. These are X-ray pictures of the breast. They can find breast cancer in its earliest stages, even before a lump can be felt. All women 40 and older should have a mammogram every year. If you are younger than 40 with either a family history of breast cancer, or other concerns talk with your health care provider about when to start getting mammograms and how often to have them.

Clinical breast exam. This is performed by a health care provider who carefully checks your breasts and underarm areas for any lumps or changes that may be present. Many women have a clinical breast exam performed when they get their Pap test. Women should have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 39 and every year starting at 40.

Breast self-exam (BSE). This involves two main steps: looking at and feeling your breasts for any change from normal. If you notice any change in the normal look or feel of your breasts, see your health care provider. All women should perform monthly BSE by age 20. BSE should be done once a month, a few days after your period ends. If you no longer have periods, do BSE on the same day each month. At your next appointment, ask your health care provider to show you the steps for BSE.

Simply being a woman is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. But remember, there is no one cause of breast cancer. If you are concerned about your breast cancer risk, discuss your options with your doctor.

Known, probable breast cancer risk factors:
Being a woman
Getting older
Having a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes
Having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ
Having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
Having high breast density on a mammogram
Having a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
Starting menopause after age 55
Never having children
Having your first child after age 30
Being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult
Having more than one drink of alcohol per day
Currently or recently using combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Having your first period before age 12

PANDORA is pleased to announce its continued support of Susan G. Komen For The Cure. For 2007, a guaranteed minimum contribution of $25,000 and a portion of the sales from the pink ribbon charm will go to the organization.

For each pink ribbon charm sold, PANDORA will donate a percentage of the proceeds to Susan G. Komen For The Cure to help eradicate breast cancer through research, education, screening, and treatment.

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. For more information, contact Lewis Jewelers at 877-88-LEWIS or visit www.pandorabraceletsusa.com

1 American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2006.
2 American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2005-2006.

Authorized distributed of beautiful pandora bracelets and beads.

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Your Cancer Resource

Your Cancer Resource
By Morgan Hamilton

It seems the news has become virtually unwatchable and the print media, too painful to read. With death, sickness and disease plastered across most nightly news programs, it may be unavoidable. One of the worst of the worst is a horrible disease that we call cancer. Our collective knowledge of this disease is scarce to say the least. This is why it's important to acquire cancer facts from a reliable cancer resource. In the best resource you have right now is at your fingertips, your computer.

Have you ever has it that need for a solid and cancer resource? There is a plethora of valuable information that is available to us. The most important resource is also the most convenient as a cancer resource. I'm talking about the Internet. Cancer is so prevalent that I believe we should all take the time to learn a little, and by doing so we may educate ourselves and how to avoid getting cancer.

Are you aware that cancer is a genetic condition in many cases? It's true; while most individuals people don't realize this, they nevertheless are susceptible to cancer like the rest of us. But just because there are cancer genes with MS doesn't mean we have to succumb to them. To start, our diets play a big role in our health.

That's why it is so important that we take care of ourselves by heating right and exercising. When you subject yourself to poor eating habits and gaining extra pounds, you in turn better your chances of acquiring some kind of illness. We must play an active role in protecting our bodies from those agents that may do us harm.

Are you watching your diet? You can certainly turn to a credible cancer resource such as the Internet to learn more about eating right and avoiding processed foods. And of course it goes without saying that cancer can be avoided in many cases by simply not smoking. By now, virtually all of us should know and understand the negative effects of smoking and what it does to our lungs. Although I personally know someone that smokes who was in denial of this fact. If you are a heavy smoker, then you may want to get online and browse a few websites that deal with lung cancer.

In this day and age it's definitely not difficult to find a cancer resource. We would all be well served to become better educated in this area. There are numerous types of cancer that can affect different areas of the body. It may very well be impossible to completely prevent cancer, but at the same time there are plenty of things that we can do to protect ourselves from contracting it to begin with. Having a quality cancer resource at your disposal is an excellent first step in battling this hideous disease.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning men's health. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Cancer Resource

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Breast Cancer Prevent With Healthy Living

Breast Cancer - Prevent With Healthy Living
By Michael Russell

Generally speaking, breast cancer can be explained as an abnormal growth or a mass of cells, also known as a tumor, anywhere within the breast or immediate surrounding area. Usually the breast tumor is felt to be a lumpy mass during the early stages of breast cancer. If a woman feels a lump or abnormality of the breast of any kind, she should see a doctor immediately. In many cases, there is no cause for alarm, but because breast cancer can be a killer, medical attention is highly recommended.

When breast cancer is detected early, it can be treated quickly and effectively - usually with excellent results. Quick treatment is essential because all breast tumors start off benign initially. If the tumor has not begun to grow abnormally and is removed during the benign stage, the cancer may not spread. If the cancer does not spread, the woman is able to lead a normal, cancer-free life from that point on.

As with most cancers, the exact cause of breast cancer has not been pinpointed. However, there are many risk factors applied to many women. There are many arguments that breast cancer is hereditary, so if there is a history of the cancer in a womans family, she should see a doctor regularly for preventative measures. While heredity may play a role, life choices do as well. For instance, women who smoke cigarettes and consume alcohol regularly are at a higher risk for breast cancer than those who do not. Additionally, obese women that do not engage in regular physical activity are at an elevated risk for breast cancer.

It has been found, however, that altering the levels of hormones in the body can lead to different forms of cancer, breast cancer included. Many women take drugs and supplements that have estrogen as a main ingredient. These medications are used to increase sexual drive, assist in lactation, or deal with menopause. There are studies currently underway to help determine the influence of increased levels of estrogen on the development of breast cancer.

Despite the exact causes of breast cancer being unknown, there are many resources explaining and suggesting how a woman might prevent it. While much of this literature is purely speculation, there are precautions all women can take including maintaining a healthy body weight. Because overweight women have a higher chance of developing breast cancer, it is a good idea to lose the fat. Also, regular visits to the doctor are recommended. However, one of the best ways a woman can monitor her breast health is by conducting the at-home exam once a month.

In addition to regular doctor visits and maintaining a healthy body weight, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise can also influence the onset, or not, of many types of cancers. Foods that contain nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants essential to preventing breast cancer include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and legumes. Other good foods are any type of citrus, tomatoes and soy products. A diet low in carbohydrates may also be helpful.

Combining the healthy diet with regular exercise, a positive attitude and an overall healthy lifestyle may dramatically reduce a womans chances of developing breast cancer. By no means are these suggestions the only answer, but should be followed as part of an overall attempt at living as healthy as possible.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Breast Cancer

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Your Guide To Prostate Cancer And Natural Treatment

Your Guide To Prostate Cancer And Natural Treatment
By Helen Hecker

If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you're looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help. Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. Prostate cancer is simply a malignant tumor of the prostate gland.

Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself; most of the patients with this type of cancer can live for years without any problems. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm.

Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. There are a few symptoms to be aware of. Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions.

The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another symptom. There are other symptoms that may not be mentioned here. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.

A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not. One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine, which may or may not be related.

CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread). A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor.

Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed.

Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Urinary incontinence can be one of the possible complications of surgery. An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C.

Many men have lowered their PSA levels by eating a diet of living foods. Concentrating on a diet of predominately fruits and vegetables (preferably uncooked) and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement in your health within 30 days. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not contained in food; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad. For an easy fiber boost, mix in two tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds in raw applesauce, from 2-3 apples, made in your food processor. Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 -- the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and sub-lingual -- dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 - especially if you can't get a daily dose of 15 to 20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

If possible eliminate all hormone-containing foods like meat and dairy from your diet. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals. Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with sweet carrots.

Make sure to read everything you can about natural and conventional treatment online and offline. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn more about prostate cancer. If you've already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, essential the option that's best suited to you and your continuing good health.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

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Your Household May Be The Cause of Mesothelioma Cancer

Your Household May Be The Cause of Mesothelioma Cancer
By Riley Hendersen

Asbestos is a group of minerals resistant to fire and has long been used throughout history for various purposes. It was found in the burial clothes of the ancient Egyptians. Asbestos is mined from metamorphic rocks. When this material is used in materials to increase their resistance of fire, it is often mixed with cement and woven into clothes and fabric.

Asbestos is everywhere in your household, from your brake shoes, in your electric oven, and hot plate wiring, it is in the insulation of your house. It is resistant to chemicals, it is flexible, a material easy to use and very much in demand. However, the inhalation of asbestos is the cause of various serious illnesses.

Therefore, the use of this material has been banned in many countries due to its cancer causing quality. In the US, chrysolite has been widely used in various products such as texture and mud coats, sheeting, adhesives and ceiling tiles, plasters, roofing tars, siding, pipes, fireproofing, and the list continues for long.

Naturally, asbestos is in small quantity in the air we breathe and the water we drink. Studies have shown that members of population, who are not exposed to high asbestos exposure, have around hundreds of thousands of asbestos fibres in every single gram of their dry lung tissue.

Cancer mesothelioma is almost in every cases caused by exposure to asbestos. The mesothelium is a layer of special cells that form a membrane around certain body cavities. This tissue produces a fluid that protects the organs. These organs are enabled to move by the help of this tissue. It is mainly in the pleura, and the outer lining of the lungs.

Most people who develop mesothelioma cancer have previously been employed in a place where they inhaled asbestos, or have been washing the clothes of people working with asbestos. Developing it shows no relation to smoking.

Diagnosing it is often difficult as symptoms may not occur up to 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, coughing, and pain in the chest are signs of cancer mesothelioma. The latter is due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, which are the membrane around the lungs. Symptoms include weight loss, weakness, fatigue, and anorexia. Abdominal swelling, anemia, and fever are also indicators of the tumor as well.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the mesothelium symptoms will include pain or trouble swallowing, or facial or neck swelling. In severe cases, other signs will show, including blood clots in the veins that may be the cause of thrombophlebitis, severe bleeding in many body organs, and jaundice, in which the skin and the eyes turn yellow. The sugar level of the blood can drop significantly, and pulmonary emboli can develop, which is when blood clots form in the arteries of the lungs.

Mesothelioma cancer does not normally spread to the brain or bones. Pleaural tumors are usually found on one side only of the lungs.

Treatment of mesothelioma cancer with conventional therapies have not proved successful, and patients have a survival time span of 6-12 months only. This fact is mainly due to the slow forming of the tumors after the long exposure to asbestos. Surgery has not proved helpful at all in most of the cases. Only 10% of the patients who have been operated have lived for up to 5 years after the surgery.

Radiation has proved to be useful in relieve symptoms, although, the tumours are highly resistant to radiotherapy. Most successful of the treatments is Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy which helps the drugs to enter more efficiently into the abdominal and pelvic tissues by way of heating the fluid agent.

There are various societies and organisations which can help you identify the risk of asbestos exposure in your household, and they can provide you with guidance on how to eliminate the risk.

For more information on cancer try visiting http://www.cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on mesothelioma cancer.

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Your Lifestyle and Your Risk for Bladder Cancer

Your Lifestyle and Your Risk for Bladder Cancer
By Jon Stout

Each year more and more research is conducted on how to reduce your risk of developing cancer. For some forms of cancer, its fairly simple to understand how to reduce risk. For example, we know that most lung cancer victims are smokers, and that many cases of skin cancer are caused by unprotected over exposure to the sun.

For other cancers, understanding how to reduce our risk is not so simple, because we dont really understand what causes them.

Even in cancers that we dont fully understand, scientists are working to determine how our lifestyle might increase our risks. For example, a study was conducted in Nagoya, Japan to help better understand the lifestyle factors that might contribute to the development of urinary bladder cancer.

The study also evaluated lifestyle habits that actually reduce your risk of bladder cancer. The findings were interesting, and can help us make lifestyle choices that can protect our health.

This study examined the following lifestyle habits and their ability to increase or reduce risk for urinary bladder cancer:

Cigarette Smoking Cigarette Smoking was found to increase the risk of developing urinary bladder cancer. The increased risk was more significant in women than men.

Drinking cocoa Interestingly enough, drinking cocoa was associated with an elevation in risk of urinary bladder cancer in men, but not in women.

Hair Color Women who used hair color had a slightly elevated risk of developing urinary bladder cancer if they also smoke. However, non smoking women had no significant risk factor if they used hair color.

Drinking coffee- Coffee drinking showed no elevated risk but it showed no benefit, either.

Drinking alcohol No significant risk was associated with alcohol intake.

Drinking sodas No significant risk was associated with drinking sodas.

Drinking fruit juice- Fruit juice was associated with a decreased risk in developing urinary bladder cancer in men. No risk or benefit was notable in women.

Drinking Tea Women who drank black tea and powdered green tea showed a reduced risk of developing urinary bladder cancer. The figures for men showed no increase or decrease of risk.

Whats So Great About Tea and Fruit?

This study echoes the findings of many other studies, indicating that tea and fruit are of benefit in preventing cancer. Scientists are now fully beginning to understand how important these substances are to protecting our health. But, why are they so important? Well, the answer is in anti-oxidants.

Anti-oxidants have the power to combat free radicals. Free radicals are produced naturally by our body during the process of converting the food we eat to energy. These free radicals speed up the aging process, and can cause clogged arteries, cancer and other disease by damaging our cells and DNA.

Fruits, vegetables and tea are filled with anti-oxidants. A diet rich in these foods, therefore, help rid our bodies of the free radicals that put our health at risk. Some foods and beverages have more potent anti-oxidants than others. Doctors recommend that we make these super foods part of our everyday life.

Fruits

All fresh fruits are rich in anti-oxidants. However, the ones that are the most potent include blueberries, pomegranates, strawberries and cranberries.

Vegetables

Again, fresh vegetables supply a good dose of anti-oxidants. Tomatoes, which contain lycopene, are one of the best vegetables you can eat. However, artichokes and red beans are also very good anti-oxidant sources.

Tea

Tea is a simple way to get your anti-oxidants. Tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant. There are many types of tea on the market, but all tea comes from the same plant.

The difference between green, white and black tea comes from the way the tea is processed. Black tea is fermented; white and green are not. Green and white tea have been found to be better sources of anti-oxidants because they fermenting that black tea goes through changes the anti-oxidants into compounds that are not as healthy.

The study quoted above found that black tea had the same benefits as green tea in preventing urinary bladder cancer in women. However, most other studies conducted on the benefits of tea have concluded that green tea is better.

Green tea began gaining attention because of the significantly lower incidence of cancer and heart disease in Asian culture. Even though Asians are more likely to smoke than Americans, they have lower incidence of cancer and heart disease even lung cancer. It appears that their high consumption of green tea protects their health in a way that other dietary habits do not.

Research has even suggested that green tea may be effective at treating patients who already have cancer. Several studies, on different forms of cancer, have shown that traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, are more effective when green tea is administered along with the treatment. Green tea seems to increase the concentration of the drugs in the cancerous cells and slows down cancer progression, perhaps even preventing metastasis.

Much of the research that has been performed has been on mice or in-vitro, though the study outlined above was performed on humans. The next step in truly understanding how foods, including tea, can protect our health, preventing cancer and other disease, is to conduct more human trials. The results could take years, because human trials on prevention require following subjects over a long period of time.

Preventing cancer is a national health concern. Certainly, much more study is required before we can gain true understanding of how to protect our health. One things for sure, however; a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and tea is a good start!

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

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Your Quick Guide To Facts About Prostate Cancer

Your Quick Guide To Facts About Prostate Cancer
By Helen Hecker

Prostate cancer is cancer that grows in the prostate gland. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease itself. Detected in its earliest stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured.

About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm. Men, who are younger than 40 years old, are rarely ever diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. One symptom is the need to urinate frequently, especially at night. Another prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all.

If prostate cancer is caught in its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.

A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. The decision about whether or not to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor.

A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells. There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer.

Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread. The approaches to treatment include: waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is definitely debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult for some men.

Radiation therapy to the prostate gland is either external or internal, both of which use high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.

Most men simply want the best treatment they can get but what's important is picking the best treatment for you. Be aware that some men choose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often.

Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer.

Thoroughly discuss your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary. What you can do now is begin to understand what your treatment options are and where you're going to begin.

It's important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available. With the advent of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are found before they cause any symptoms. The outcome of prostate cancer varies greatly; mostly because the disease is found in older men who may have a variety of other complicating diseases or conditions, like cardiac or respiratory disease, or disabilities that immobilize or greatly decrease their activity level.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

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Zapping Cancer

Zapping Cancer
By Jonza Kriss

Illustration: treating drug-resistant tumor cells with electric pulsesWhen tumor cells resistant to chemotheraputic drugs were subjected to very low intensity electrical stimulation, the cells acquired sensitivity to the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. This effect has the potential to reform treatment especially for malignant tumors that are refractory to drug treatment, while possibly reducing side effects in all patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle in the treatment of various cancers erally, cancer patients refractory to chemotherapy are resistant to multiple anti-tumor drugs. Genn in vitro (i.e., outside of the living organism) experimental model in cells termed multidrug resistance (MDR), is often due to drug extrusion mechanisms (meaning that drugs that enter the cell are transported back out, and thus are prevented from exerting their effect on the cell). One such drug extrusion mechanism is mediated by overexpression of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp; the human version of the protein encoded by the MDR1 gene), a drug-transporter glycoprotein associated with the cell or plasma membrane (which encloses the cell's cytoplasm) with a wide variety of drug substrates. Cells that overexpress the MDR1 gene are, hence, resistant to many drugs.

In a study led by Luca Cucullo and Damir Janigro from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in Ohio that was recently published by the open access journal, BioMed Central, tumor cells that overexpress the MDR1 gene product were shown to lose their resistance to anti-tumor drugs by electrical stimulation. In vitro rodent and human tumor cells refractory to anti-tumor drugs were exposed to continuous, very low intensity (7.5 mA [microamps) 50 Hertz AC (alternating current) pulses, with ten-second intervals, for a three day period. After electrical stimulation, parallel cultures of cells were treated with increasing concentrations of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, or with various controls, for three hours, following which cell viability was assessed. The researchers discovered that the cells became sensitive to the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. The researchers concluded that treatment of the drug-resistant tumor cells with low frequency, low intensity AC stimulation in vitro drastically enhances chemotherapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin, a substrate for the MDR1 glycoprotein drug transporter.

Further investigation demonstrated that electrical stimulation not only decreases levels of the MDR1 glycoprotein transporter, but also changes the localization of the MDR1 glycoprotein from close to the plasma membrane to the cytosol (the fluid portion of the cytoplasm). This altered expression of the MDR1 glycoprotein is believed to have caused the loss of the cell's drug extrusion ability, which it mediates. Unable to extrude the drug, the cells succumbed to its effect, essentially acquiring sensitivity to the drug, and were killed.

A fuller understanding of the way electrical pulses affect drug-resistant tumors will require further research. However, this technique may be exploited as part of new cancer treatment protocols, such as coupling electrical stimulation with chemotherapy to treat tumors otherwise refractory to drugs, as well as possibly enabling reduction in the amount of chemotheraputic medication used, and thereby in unpleasant side-effects.

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