pancreas cancer : Will a Daily Shot of Wheatgrass Juice Help? (2)

How do studies on people shape up?

Intervention studies show that cellular measures of chromosome damage are minimized when people take more than 200 – 400 μg folic acid and more than 2 μg vitamin B12 each day. Controlled studies suggest that intakes of 700 μg folic acid and 7 μg B12 are appropriate intakes for young adults. It is expected but not yet proven that high folate and B12 consumption will protect against all cancers. Thus far there are studies that prove that taking a supplement with folic acid protects against colon cancer. There is also evidence that high folate counteracts the effects of drinking alcohol, which otherwise increases the risk of breast cancer in women.

Wheat Grass Juice Wheat grass juice is a fantastic health supplement and is an incredibly rich source of folic acid. One 100 gm shot will give you 1,110 μg folic acid and at the same time supply you with most of the other B group vitamins, Vitamin A, C and E as well as the minerals you need. Unlike most vegetables, it also contains Vitamin B12 although 0.8 μg, not as high as the concentrations advocated by the studies. So whilst you can use Wheatgrass to really top up on your vitamins, minerals and folic acid, you will need some extra B12 to reach the levels recommended by the invention studies. If you want to get this from food, the highest food sources of B12 are shellfish and crustaceans. Fish are quite a rich source but have far less than the other sea-foods. Dairy and eggs have similar amounts to wheatgrass itself so a combination of wheatgrass with an egg and a piece of cheese or glass of milk will give sufficient intake. For strict vegetarians, it is wise to supplement.

Although there are other steps that are important in cancer prevention, a daily shot of wheatgrass will put you well ahead in your optimal health program.

Dr Judy Ford, an internationally respected geneticist has researched causes of cancer and steps that can be undertaken to prevent cancer or greatly reduce personal risk. Dr Ford worked for 30 years in Cancer Research, specializing in how genetic material can be damaged by some chemicals and radiations and why cells sometimes misdivide. She now works as a Science Communicator, explaining Science in lay terms and showing people how to modify their lifestyles to reduce their risks of cancer.
pancreas cancer

By Judy Ford

pancreas cancer Will a Daily Shot of Wheatgrass Juice Help? (1)

Cancer seems to hit suddenly yet it has usually been developing in the victim’s body for many years. There could be some cancer lurking away in the hidden parts of most of our bodies. Some of us could be facing a cancer diagnosis in the near future. It is very frightening but is there anything we can do?


Most of the publicity about cancer is focused on cures. Some of the information discusses risk factors but this latter information is usually fairly difficult to interpret. We know, for example that smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer. But we also know of people who smoked all their lives without developing lung cancer. Leaving aside the negatives, let’s look at folic acid, a nutrient that seems to be universally good for our health.


Folic Acid turns up again and again as one of the “good guys”. However it works in cooperation with Vitamin B12 so both need to be consumed simultaneously. Folic acid supplementation prevents birth defects known as neural tube defects. It also reduces birth defects in women taking antiepileptic drugs, which themselves cause folate deficiency. It also lowers blood homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease.


As a geneticist I often studied cells grown in culture with low folic acid. It is well known that deficiencies of folic acid are associated with breaks in chromosomes and that giving extra folic acid corrects the problem. Since a break is usually the first event in the evolution of a cancer cell, it is critical to minimize breaks. The initial genetic damage is often caused by other toxic agents but the folic acid plays a critical role in the repair of this damage.
pancreas cancer

By Judy Ford

pancreas cancer : Discover The Green Tea Benefit In Cancer

Cancer is a scary word. Many people do not realize that there are things that can be added to your everyday diet to prevent cancer and stall the development of cancer.

Green Tea

Green Tea is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize mutations within the DNA that could lead to the formation of a tumor. Green tea prevents cancer cells from reproducing.

Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain (UMU) and the John Innes Center (JIC) in Norwich, England have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme.

We have shown for the first time that EGCG, which is present in green tea at relatively high concentrations, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is a recognized, established target for anti-cancer drugs, " Professor Roger Thorneley, of JIC, told Reuters.

Green Tea In Cancer

Scientists have found that certain cancers, such a stomach, rectal, breast, skin and pancreatic cancer are lower in people who consume green tea regularly than those who don't.

A study in the Journal Biofactors 2000 concluded that supplemental green tea can successfully suppress oxidative DNA damage in both the liver and pancreas. This is good news for anyone fighting cancer.

Studies suggest that 3 cups of green tea daily may provide protection against cancer. Green tea supplements are manufactured for people who do not want to consume large amounts of tea daily. You can often find these supplements at the health food store.

Green tea can be purchased in bags or as loose tea at your grocery store, health food store or online. Why not start drinking some green tea today?

Please note that this natural health guide does not replace the advice of your doctor or health practioner.

By Jeannie Crabtree

pancreas cancer : Major Factors That Cause Cancer

Cancer is a disorder of genes. Genes are a small part of DNA which are made up of proteins. The genes mainly produce proteins which are involved in controlling cell growth and division. But due to errors or mutations(a sudden change), the abnormal change in the no. of cell divisions occurs and this increases to an uncontrollable change. This change is called a “Tumor”. There are two types of tumors : Benign and Malignant.

Benign tumor is not considered as a cancer but Malignant is considered as a Cancer. Cancers are also of many types mainly caused at different specific regions of the body and have different general causes.

The following are the factors that cause Cancer :

1. Tobacco : Eighty to ninety percent of cancers are due to tobacco usage, mainly smoking. Smoking is shown to cause cancers in noticeable parts of the body like the Respiratory tract, Esophagus, Larynx, Bladder, Pancreas and liver, kidney and stomach also in a few cases.

2. Alcohol : Alcohol is the major factor involved in the cause of Liver cancer. If alcohol and tobacco are taken together, then they are the major risk factors in the cause of Mouth, Pharynx, Larynx and Esophageal cancers.

3. Sexual Behavior : A virus called as Human Papilloma Virus, is known to cause cancer of the Cervix. This is sexually transmitted between the individuals. Also women who are without children are usually having risk of Ovarian or Breast Cancer.

4. Pollution : The main polluting agent which is closely related to cause of cancers is Asbestos particles. The other dangerous cause of cancer from pollution is from the chemicals that are released from the sewage released from the industries. The chlorine added to water also is a minor cause of Cancer. Only one percent of cancer deaths are due to Pollution.

5. Unbalanced Diet : Alteration in the diet of the people is a major cause of cancers. About 35% of the cancers caused are due to imbalanced diet and that too due to excessive intake of food. Over eating causes Obesity which is responsible for many type of cancers like cancers of Breast, Colon, Rectum, Pancreas, Prostrate, Gall Bladder, Ovaries and Uterus.

6. Hazards in Occupation: People in occupation involved in working of elements that are a cause of cancers are about 4% of all cancer deaths.

A few types of cancers and their occupational hazards are listed here that are reported by researchers:

a) Lung cancer is caused due to excess of Asbestos exposure.
b) Bladder cancer mainly in Dye, rubber and gas workers.
c) Skin and Lung cancer in smelter, gold miners and arsenic workers.
d) Leukemia(Blood Cancer) in Glue and varnish workers.
e) Lung cancer in PVC manufactures.
f) Uranium miners are effected with Lung cancer and bone marrow cancer.

By Chetan Bhawani

pancreas cancer : Seaweed Can Help Cure Cancer!

What’s in the SEAWEED that’s helping so many cancer sufferers and attracting scientists world-wide?

“CURRENT APPROACHES TO CANCER TREATMENT ARE WRONG! CANCER CELL IS NOT A THREAT TO US IF WE CAN CAUSE IT TO COMMIT SUICIDE JUST LIKE ANY NORMAL CELL DOES!” Dr. Ando from Japan boldly stated at his seminar.

“Things I can only explain as miracles are happening right in front of my eyes right now,” he continued.

“Last year, I recommended it to my recurrent lung cancer patient, and my thoughts about cancer treatment completely changed. Because the patient was very old, any more treatment would only have done more damage to him, and he was dying very fast. But 3 months after he was admitted to my hospital, his cancer cells were completely gone. That’s not all. He is now living a healthy life with the rest of his friends. If I had him treated under modern medical care, I might have extended his life a little longer, but, frankly, I am not sure if he could’ve ever lived a healthy life again.” Dr. Ando raised his voice overwhelmed with emotion.

Medical professionals and scientists around the world are excited to finally discover the 3,000 year old secret of life saving gift, from the ocean, the ‘fucoidan’.

Despite the rapid growth of the modern medicine, there are still many diseases that the doctors don’t have treatments for. Amongst these many difficult to treat diseases, the #1 issue is the CANCER.

The reason cancer cells are so deadly is because they do not die. Our body is made up of about 60,000,000,000,000 cells. Old cells die, and new cells are born. This is normal. And this normal dying process is called, ‘APOPTOSIS,’ meaning programmed cell death. However, unlike the normal cells, cancer cells do not die. They don’t have apoptosis. They live and multiply forever.

Then in 1996, a miraculous substance called fucoidan from seaweed was first introduced at the 55th Japan Cancer Convention. It was reported that fucoidan causes apoptosis to cancer cells without affecting the normal cells.

The idea of using seaweed to prevent or treat diseases goes back at least as far as ancient Egypt. What’s so great about seaweed? Evidence shows that ancient Egyptians used seaweed to treat breast cancer. Much more recently, scientists have theorized that seaweed in the Japanese diet might be an important reason postmenopausal Japanese women have only one-ninth the amount of breast cancer as do women in the United States.

So far there are about 659 studies on fucoidan that can be found in www.pubmed.gov. Here are 2 briefs.

(1) In a study done at Fukuoka University, Japan, researchers discovered that fucoidan inhibited the invasion of cancer cells. They discovered that fucoidan specifically inhibited the attachment of cancer cells to laminin.

(2) In the Laboratory de Pharmacologie Marine, in Nantes, France, researchers studied the anti-tumor and anti-proliferative properties of fucoidan extracts from brown sea plants. They discovered that fucoidan exerts a reversible antiproliferative activity in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Their study also showed anti-tumor activity in mice bearing non-small-cell bronchopulmonary carcinoma cancer. Their study indicates that fucoidan exhibits inhibitory effects both in vitro and in vivo as a potent anti-tumor agent.

Fucoidan is a complex polysaccharide composed largely of fucopyranoside and natural sulfate found in certain brown seaweeds. Researches indicate that the higher the sulfate group counts in a plant, the higher its therapeutic potential.

Following is the clinical results from Dr. Akira, MotoKuniribkushu Cancer Center in Japan. (The percentages show either total disappearance of cancer cells or reduction by more than half since taking Fucoidan.)

Cancer of tongue 83%
Breast Cancer 78%
Cancer of Pharynx 81%
Uterine Carcinoma 72%
Esophageal Cancer 84%
Ovarian cancer 58%
Stomach Cancer 84%
Pancreatic cancer 48%
Colon Cancer 80%
Leukemia 84%
Synchronous Primary Lung Cancer 86%
Prostatic Cancer 73%
Lung Cancer (adenocarcinoma) 75%
Bladder tumor 72%
Lung Cancer(small cell carcinoma) 79%

Based on more than 30 years of studies on fucoidan, an American company, The Limu Company, spent millions of dollars and decades of research to develop a chemical free extraction process. And the product is called the original limu which constitutes 83% fucoidan.

By William Seo

pancreas cancer : The Pancreatic and Biliary Disease Cause and Treatment

Causes
The cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown. Smoking seems to be the main preventable risk factor. Patients with chronic pancreatitis are at higher risk of getting pancreatic cancer. It is quite common among patients with a hereditary form of pancreatitis. A hereditary form of pancreatic cancer has also been identified, though it is quite rare. Diabetes has not been shown to be a risk factor.


Screening and Prevention
There is no way to screen for pancreatic cancer, but since smoking is the only known risk factor, quitting is the best and only way to prevent contracting this deadly disease.


Treatment
Once cancer has been confirmed, the doctor will estimate how advanced the cancer is using a process called staging. The cancer's stage guides how the tumor is treated. Here are the four stages of pancreatic cancer:

Resectable: The cancer has involved only the pancreas, a rarity in pancreatic cancer. The doctor may remove the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine and some surrounding tissue (Whipple procedure). Or the entire pancreas and surrounding organs may come out (total pancreatectomy). Or the body and tail of the pancreas are removed (distal pancreatectomy). Radiation and chemotherapy may also follow surgery. The patient may be invited to take part in a clinical trial to test new treatments and advance medical science.

Locally advanced cancer: The cancer has spread to nearby organs, blood vessels, the intestine or all of these. Removing the tumor isn't usually an option. Treatment typically involves radiation therapy (with or without chemotherapy), surgery or other procedures to reduce symptoms. Depending on the medical center, the patient may be invited to join clinical trials (which use combinations of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy).

Metastatic cancer: The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (liver, abdomen or lungs). Treatment may involve combinations of chemotherapy, pain relief, and surgery to reduce symptoms, clinical trials (e.g., experimental therapy to fight the cancer).

Recurrent: After successful treatment, the cancer may reappear in the pancreas or another part of the body. Treatment options include any of those used in the metastatic stage, as well as radiation therapy to reduce symptoms.

Since the survival rate is so poor, much pancreatic cancer treatment focuses on relieving pain and discomfort. Endoscopic therapy is an often used, noninvasive way to relieve jaundice and the pain and nausea caused by tumor blockages in the duodenum. Some studies have found stents to work well to relieve the pain and upset stomach that can go with blockages, which also lead to jaundice. Relieving jaundice symptoms improves patients' appetites and emotional well being. Doctors can also relieve biliary blocks by inserting stents in the main pancreatic duct using an endoscope or traditional surgery. One advantage of endoscopic stent treatment is a shorter hospital stay and lower morbidity and mortality.

© Copyright 2000-2006 Cedars-Sinai Health System.

pancreas cancer : The Pancreatic and Biliary Disease

Pancreatic Cancer
The fourth leading cause of cancer death, pancreatic cancer, will probably kill about 29,000 Americans in 2001. It strikes men and women equally. Like so many other cancers, the earlier it's caught, the greater the chances of survival. However, there is no way to screen for it. By the time symptoms appear, it's usually too late for a cure.

The Pancreatic and Biliary Disease Program in conjunction with the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute diagnoses and treats pancreatic cancer.


Diagnosis
The exocrine part of the pancreas (which produces the digestive fluids that help break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates) is where 95% of all pancreatic cancers, or adenocarcinomas, begin. The other 5% grow in the endocrine section, where hormones like insulin are made. It's important to identify which type of tumor it is, since they behave, develop and respond to treatment differently.

Pancreatic cancer's symptoms are like those of many other pancreatic conditions. Early on, there may be no symptoms at all. As the tumor develops, the patient may have abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice. Other symptoms include itching, brown urine and light clay-colored stools. But these symptoms can point to other conditions as well. That's why it's important to be seen by an expert, who may use any of the following tests:

Lab tests: basic blood work; a test called CA19-9.
Ultrasound: though not a definitive test for tumors, it is a good way to find gallstones or cysts in the pancreas.
Computed tomography (CT): these three-dimensional X-rays are the most accurate test for cancer. A CT scan is also used to guide a biopsy needle exactly to the tumor to take a tissue sample for lab analysis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): this uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of soft tissue. A special type, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), can find blockages in the pancreatic and bile ducts.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): The doctor uses an endoscope (a flexible tube with an optical device) to reach the duodenum and injects a dye to outline the bile and pancreatic ducts. He or she may take a fluid sampling, remove a gallstone or unclog a blockage. This is considered the 'gold standard' for pancreatic and biliary diagnosis, but there is a 2 to 5% risk of causing pancreatitis.

© Copyright 2000-2006 Cedars-Sinai Health System.

pancreas cancer : Cancer and Carbs

The National Brain Tumor Foundation in Oakland, California is so convinced by the studies linking carbohydrate and insulin to cancer growth they recently revised their dietary guidelines in a dramatic way.

In the group's published dietary guideline entitled The Healing Power of Your Fork: A Brain Tumor Survivor's Eating Plan, they advise brain cancer patients to avoid low fat diets and to cut out sugar and refined carbohydrate instead. They warn patients that eating refined carbohydrate not only feeds cancer cells it suppresses the immune system as well.

Another study From Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2002: A Harvard research team used 18 years of data from 88,000 women who were participating in the famous Nurses Health Study to investigate whether a diet high in foods that easily raise blood glucose levels increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

They found that women who were overweight, sedentary, and had the highest glycemic load increased their risk of pancreatic cancer by 250%.

And there's more. As reported recently by the Associated Press, a Mexican study of nearly 200 women showed that those who consumed a high-carb diet (more than 60% of calories from carbohydrates) were MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY to

develop breast cancer as women who adopted a lower-carb approach to eating.

This study supports a similar body of research from last year that linked a greater risk of breast cancer among women to a diet high in sugar (especially soft drinks and desserts), the most damaging of all carbohydrates.

Scientists who believe in the carb/cancer link hypothesize that the extra insulin released to process the simple carbs and sugars we ingest far too much of causes cells to divide and also leads to higher levels of estrogen in the blood. Both of these factors (cellular division and blood estrogen) can contribute to cancer.

As for me and my tribe we are minimizing our sugar consumption and staying with the slow digesting carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables and especially beans.



The cardiologist looked up from the treadmill report and grimly stated, "You are a walking time bomb. You need to go to the hospital immediately." Two days later a heart surgeon sawed open Gene Millen's chest and stitched in bypasses to six clogged arteries.

"A six way heart bypass isn't a record" said Gene, "but it's not bad for a skinny 59 year old with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. The villains and heroes in the heart attack melodrama may surprise you as they have me."


by Gene Millen

pancreas cancer : How Diet Influences Cancer Risk

Diet is a double edged sword. Improper diet increases the risk of cancer but a proper, well balanced diet reduces the cancer risk.

Diet is one of the most important lifestyle factors and has been estimated to account for up to 80% of cancers of the large bowel, breast, and prostate. Diet affects the risk of many other cancers, including cancers of the lung, prostate, stomach, esophagus and pancreas cancer.

Prostate Cancer:

High consumption of meat, especially red meat, substantially increases the risk of prostate cancer.

Vegetables, especially cooked tomatoes, reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In one clinical trial, the role of Vitamin E as a prostate cancer reducing factor was established. In this study there was a 32% decrease in prostate cancer incidence and 41% decrease in prostate cancer mortality in people receiving Vitamin E supplements when compared to controls.

Breast Cancer:

In Japan, people consume Tofu, a soya product. It contains isoflavones that moderate the estrogen receptors in the body such as breast tissue. The incidence of breast cancer is low in Japan when compared to Western women; only 1/4th of the mortality rate of Western women. Japanese women's low fat diet, high fish consumption and drinking green tea also decrease their breast cancer risk.

One case control study found that regular consumption of soy foods was associated with a marked decrease in breast cancer risk in premenopausal women. No effect in post-menopausal women.

A Japanese case-control study also found that tofu intake (3 times/wk compared with less than 3 times/wk) was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. Again, soy intake was not protective against post-menopausal breast cancer.

In one study conducted in America, the relation between soy intake and breast cancer risk found that tofu consumption was protective in both premenopausal and post menopausal Asian women.

Lung Cancer:

Lung cancer risk is substantially decreased by a variety of carotenoids. Carotenoids act as antioxidants and thus minimize cell damage.

One study in Boston focused on the effect of different types of carotenoids on lung cancer risk. It was observed that lung cancer risk was significantly lower in subjects who consumed a diet high in a variety of carotenoids. This was especially true with non-smokers who had 63% less risk.

One study conducted in Hawaii reported further evidence for a protective effect from certain carotenoids against lung cancer and that greater protection was afforded by consuming a variety of vegetables compared to only foods rich in a particular carotenoid.

Stomach Cancer:

Nitrates in food and other preservatives added to food including meat are converted into 'nitrites' in the human stomach. The nitrites undergo nitrosation to form 'nitrosamines' and 'nitrosamides'. This increases the risk of stomach cancer in people eating vegetables from nitrate rich soil.

In one study, Vitamin C appeared to protect against the risk of stomach cancer by inhibiting formation of nitrates in stomach.

Cancer of the stomach is 5 times more common in Japanese people compared to Western populations. When Japanese people migrated to the United States, they progressively acquired the low incidence of the US due to changes in their diets.

In one study conducted in Hawaii that involved both Japanese and Caucasians, the stomach cancer risk was associated with consumption of rice, pickled vegetables, and dried/salted fish, and a negative association with vitamin C intake.

One ecological study in Belgium showed a relation between the nitrate and salt consumption and stomach cancer. The analysis of this model showed that the significance of nitrate as a risk factor for stomach cancer mortality increased markedly with higher sodium levels.

Dietary habits and stomach cancer risk was studied in Shanghai, China. According to this study, risks of stomach cancer were inversely associated with high consumption of several food groups, including fresh vegetables and fruits, poultry, eggs, plant oil, and some nutrients such as protein, fat, fiber, tea and antioxidant vitamins.

By contrast, risks increased with increasing consumption of dietary carbohydrates, frequent consumption of preserved, salty or fried foods and hot soup/porridge, with irregular meals, speed eating and binge eating. This provides evidence that diet plays a major role in stomach cancer risk.

No single food can completely prevent cancer but a balanced combination of different groups can help. Appropriate diet can prevent 3-4 million cancers each year.

Cancer is One of the Main Causes of Death Among Humans.

By Alex Fir

pancreas cancer : A Refreshing Way to Fight Cancer

This article first appeared in Health Today magazine - http://www.healthtoday.net)

Lowering your cancer risk has never been this refreshing. More and more studies suggest that tea, tomato juice, carrot juice, red wine and soymilk contain compounds that can fight certain types of cancer.

TEA TIME
Tea contains polyphenols, which are natural plant antioxidants. Antioxidants have been shown to prevent free radical damage to DNA and other molecules. Polyphenols may prevent cancer by reducing abnormal cell growth and inflammation.

Green tea is very rich in polyphenols and has been associated with protection against lung cancer, stomach cancer, and its pre-cancerous condition, gastritis. A study in Japan found that regular consumption of green tea (more than three cups a day) might protect the body against recurrence of early-stage breast cancer.

Laboratory animals given different tea extracts, tea polyphenol mixtures, purified tea components and tea infusions exhibited lower incidence rates of cancer of the colon, esophagus, liver, stomach, lung, breast, pancreas and skin.

YOU'LL LIKE LYCOPENE
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a natural pigment that gives tomatoes their red color. Lycopene has potent antioxidant properties, and is believed to be the key to the tomato's cancer-fighting powers.

Research shows that lycopene in tomatoes is absorbed more efficiently by the body if processed into juice, sauce, paste and ketchup. Temperature changes in the processing of tomatoes convert lycopene into a more absorbable form.

In the body, lycopene is deposited in the liver, lungs, prostate gland, colon and skin. Its concentration in body tissues tends to be higher than all other carotenoids, a class of natural fat-soluble pigments that give veggies and fruits their various hues (orange, red and yellow).

Studies have shown that people with a high intake of tomatoes or a high serum level of lycopene have a significantly lower risk of certain types of cancer, like prostate, lung and stomach cancers.

There is also evidence suggesting a lowered risk for cancers of the pancreas, colon and rectum, esophagus, oral cavity, breast and cervix.

In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (March 2002), researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found that eating tomatoes and tomato products may help men reduce their risk of prostate cancer. Men with higher levels of lycopene in their blood had statistically significant lower rates of cancer than did men with lower blood levels of lycopene.

"Previous studies have shown a relationship between tomato consumption and risk of cancer," according to study lead author Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D. of BWH and HSPH. "This study, in which we carefully examined the full diet of study participants, provides us further evidence that increased consumption of tomatoes is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer."

WHAT'S UP, DOC?
Carrot contains the pigment beta carotene. Beta carotene has powerful antioxidant properties and can be converted to vitamin A. Both beta carotene and vitamin A are rich sources of antioxidants.

If you're an urban dweller, regular consumption of carrot juice may be good for you. Some studies show that carrots protect the lungs from environmental pollutants. Carrot juice is also recommended for those living in polluted cities or those whose work exposes them to toxic fumes (e.g., metal workers, those handling chemicals, cleaners, etc.) as well as smokers and those exposed to secondhand smoke.

A word of caution, though: Excessive intake of beta carotene can turn the skin and whites of the eyes to an orange-yellow color.

CHEERS TO GOOD HEALTH
Red wine contains a strong anticancer agent known as quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruits, flowers and vegetables. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties that help protect against disease, inflammation and allergic reactions.

Quercetin may be beneficial in the treatment of skin cancer and may help prevent other cancers such as those of the ovary. Red wine is one of the primary dietary sources of quercetin. Research on quercetin and its purported health benefits continues.

Remember: Drink moderately.

SOY GOOD
Soy comes from soybean, a legume native to China. The health benefits of soy come, in part, from a group of compounds known as isoflavones. Soy isoflavones are plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). Similar in chemical structure to human estrogen, they bind to estrogen receptors around the body. However, soy phytoestrogens are much weaker, which is why scientists believe soy foods may help prevent breast cancer. One prominent isoflavone is genistein, which is believed to inhibit cancer cell and tumor growth.

A diet rich in soy is also linked to a lowered risk of prostate cancer.

Several animal studies have shown that soy isoflavones reduce the growth of prostate tumors.

To incorporate more soy into your diet, substitute soymilk for cow's milk by the glass (8 ounces of soy milk contains 20 mg of isoflavones) or mix soy protein power into milk, juices, shakes and smoothies.

MAKE PREVENTION DELICIOUS
Fighting cancer can be delicious, fun and inexpensive. We recommend a good blender or mixer and a hefty stock of fresh tomatoes and carrots. Start looking for recipes that let you experiment with other fruits or vegetables. If you want to make your own soymilk, check out your local appliance stores for soymilk makers. In fighting cancer, prevention is still the key. "Prevention and early detection are still the most important and effective weapons in the battle against cancer," says Nenette Umali, senior clinical dietitian at the St. Luke's Medical Center. With these healthful thirst quenchers, cancer prevention can certainly be a refreshing undertaking.

by Connie Luayon

pancreas cancer : Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreas is responsible for producing insulin which regulates the sugar level in the body. All those who know what diabetes is would know the importance of insulin in body (and hence the importance of pancreas). Pancreas also produces pancreatic juice which helps in digestion of food. When abnormal growth of cells (malignant cells) occurs in the pancreas, it is called pancreatic cancer. Like other types of cancer, pancreatic cancer too is life threatening.

Cause of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is again one of those that happen to older people (generally those above the age of 60). Chronic pancreatitis, which is caused by consumption of large amounts of alcohol, can act as a predecessor of pancreatic cancer. Some people tend to associate pancreatic cancer to genes and family history but there doesn’t seem any concrete evidence to suggest one or the other. Generally speaking, pancreatic cancer doesn’t seem to have a relation to family history.

Symptoms and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Again, none of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer are such so as to give confirmatory indications of pancreatic cancer. Pain in the abdomen, tiredness and loss of appetite are said to be symptoms of pancreatic cancer but these can really be caused by so many other things that it might not even occur to you that this could be caused by pancreatic cancer. However, if you are skeptical and want to make sure that everything is ok, you can always consult a qualified doctor to vet out your fears. Jaundice is another symptom of pancreatic cancer but this too can be caused by other things. So, really, it comes to proper tests and diagnosis to detect pancreatic cancer. The doctors would generally go for a urine test (for bile) and a blood test as the first screening tests for pancreatic cancer. In case these tests suggest pancreatic cancer, there could be need for x-rays and other tests (as deemed fit by the doctor).

Treatment of pancreatic cancer

As is the case with any type of cancer, the chances of survival with pancreatic cancer is governed by how early you are able to catch the symptoms and diagnose pancreatic cancer. The treatment for pancreatic cancer is dependent on the size of the cancer, the stage of cancer and your general health. A major consideration is the size of the cancer and whether it has spread around or is localized. For pancreatic cancer too, the best treatment is removal of the cancer through surgical procedure (and it’s a major surgery). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are other ways of treating pancreatic cancer.

By Karen Lavender and Warren