Can't Find Out Reasons for High Incident of Cancer

Ohio child cancers confound parents, investigators

Since 1996, 35 children have been diagnosed — and three have died — of brain tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, and other forms of cancer — all within a 12-mile wide circle that includes two small towns and farmland just south of Lake Erie. With many of the diagnoses coming between 2002 and 2006, state health authorities declared it a cancer cluster, saying the number and type of diagnoses exceed what would be expected statistically for so small a population over that time.

"All you think about is what happened to these kids," said Donna Hisey, 43, the mother whose family has been devastated by cancer. "Is it gone? Or is it still here? What is it?!"

After three years of exhaustive investigation, no cause is known. Investigators have tested wells and public drinking water, sampled groundwater and air near factories and checked homes, schools and industries for radiation.

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Low Dose Aspirin Cuts Cancer Risks

08 December 2010 @ 09:46 am EST

A new investigation reveals that a long term use of aspirin in low dosage can significantly reduce the risk of dying due to cancer. A British research team presented evidence showing the a low dose of aspirin in 75 milligrams that is taken daily for not less than five years brings a drop of 10 to 60 percent in cancer risks depending on its severity and type.

These specific findings are rooted from a new analysis of eight studies which involved more than 25,500 patients. This is initially conducted in order to see the potential of low-dose aspirin to protect against cardiovascular diseases. The observations made are designed according to the previous research conducted by the same researchers. They reported in October that a long-term regimen of low-dose aspirin can, in a way, drop the risk of deaths due to colorectal cancer by nearly one third.The study team noted that the findings had provided a tangible proof that aspirin can help man in reducing certain deaths due to cancers. However, Prof. Peter Rothwell, the study’s lead author from John Radcliffe Hospital and the University of Oxford, noted that the results are not the same as to saying that all adults should instantly take aspirin. Rothwell said that there were major benefits shown in using aspirin that have not been included before into the guideline recommendations. However, the guideline also states clearly that aspirin intake can result to bleeding, which may outdo the benefits from stroke and heart attacks prevention. Rothwell further noted that the reduction in deaths caused by most common cancers will now modify the said balance for most people.

Rothwell, together with his colleagues, made their findings available online on December 7 in the online edition of The Lancet. The said research was conducted for about four to eight years. The patients, however, have been monitored for more than 20 years after. Some of them were given low dosage of aspirin while the others were not.

During the undertaking of the studies, as the authors said, the overall risk of cancer deaths plunged by 21 percent among the patients who have been taking low dosage of aspirin. The long term benefits for other patients only showed five years after the studies has ended.

After five years, deaths that were caused by gastrointestinal cancers dropped by 54 percent among the patients who underwent low-dose aspirin regimen. However, the benefit of low-dose aspirin for colorectal cancer was not visible until after 10 years. On the other hand, it took 15 years to see the benefits of low-dose aspirin in prostate cancer.

After 22 years after the initial study was conducted, death risks fell by 10 percent among those with prostate cancer. Lung cancer patients also saw an improvement, with 30 percent drop on death risks. 40 percent of colorectal cancer deaths have been cut down and lastly, 60 percent drop was visible among esophageal cancer patients.

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Protein Requirement in Chemotherapy

November 30, 2010 - By Jim Duffy

Cancer is the unrestrained increase of cells because of DNA injury (mutations) and often, because of an inherited propensity to develop certain tumors. Chemotherapy is mostly a cancer treatment that uses medication to prevent the increase of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from separating. Because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, healthy cells that normally grow and divide rapidly might also be affected by the cancer treatments. These include cells within the mouth and digestive tract and scalp causing nausea and balding, which are usually temporary and reversible.

Cancer and cancer treatments might have negative affects on nutrition along with psychologically in depressive disorders or nervousness. Chemotherapy might also bring about side effects that interfere with eating and digestion. The subsequent unwanted side effects are common: poor appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, inflammation and sores within the mouth, changes in the way in which food tastes, and infections [Wojtaszek et al, 2002].

Whereas as normal, healthy adult could only require 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of actual body weight per day, patients undergoing chemotherapy require 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight every day [Gelinas et al, 1990, Bell et al, 1996]. Because of this it is clear to see why nutrition is crucial for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. The goal for almost any cancer patient, before after as well as during treatment is always to attain an adequate amount of calories every day for weight maintenance and protein to optimize the immune system, strength, and tolerance to treatments. However, it is grueling for a number of patients to get the nutrients needed to develop healthy blood counts between chemotherapy treatments when dealing with the negative effects that come with the treatment. In cancer patients nutrition therapy is advantageous in treating uncomfortable side effects and providing the necessary nutrients to help tolerate and get through treatment, avert weight loss, and sustain general health. Nutrition therapy includes supplements high in calories and protein, and tube feedings.

In cancer patients going through chemotherapy it is critical that diet and nutrition be centered on what can be tolerated in managing the various symptoms. It’s vital to manage these symptoms while maintaining the aims for sufficient calories and protein.

The most common secondary diagnosis in people diagnosed with cancer is protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) which stems from insufficient intake of carbohydrate, protein, and fat to satisfy metabolic requirements and/or the reduced absorption of macronutrients. [McMahon et al, 1998, Colasanto et al 2005]. Anorexia is an nearly universal side effect in people with advanced cancer because the loss of appetite or need to eat is usually gift in fifteen to twenty five percent of all cancer patients at diagnosis and may also occur as a side effect of treatments.

Good nutrition practices can help cancer patients maintain weight and also the body’s nutrition stores, offering relief from nutrition impact symptoms and improving quality of life [American Cancer Society, 2002]. Over and over again patients with inadequate nutrition practices wind up malnourished, with worse treatment uncomfortable side effects, and increased risk of infection which reduces their probabilities of survival [Vigano et al, 1994].

In an endeavor to avert losing weight cancer patients normally require a high calorie diet. They’ll additionally require a diet that’s high in protein content to forestall muscle wasting Foods which are rich in protein provide the body with amino acids, that help to assemble, fix, and sustain cells and muscle tissue, to repair wounds, also to maintain the immune system.

Your body utilizes proteins for tissue growth and repair. Cancer patients going through chemotherapy commonly go through an increase protein loss. If untreated this will cause malnutrition. Protein supplements like casein and whey help our bodies in supplying the increased demand for proteins. Unfortunately digesting abilities might be impacted by the side effects of chemotherapy. For that reason little recurrent meals of easy to digest foods need to be given every day is what is recommended. Casein meets this criterion. Casein’s capability to form a clot in the stomach that releases amino acids into the blood stream at a decelerated rate and its simple digestibility allow it to be perfect in this application. This facilitates with our body’s need for an increased supply of amino acids essential for energy and protein synthesis. Chemotherapy treatments decrease one’s immunity levels. In an effort to boost immunity one might take whey protein. In a normal person, GSH is present in the body, which prevents the formation of cancerous cells. The precursor of GSH is the amino acid cysteine which can be available in whey proteins. The concentration of important amino acids is higher in whey protein than it is in all of the vegetable proteins. It is suggested that casein and whey proteins are used to support chemotherapy nutrition since the amino acids within whey are efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body.

References
American Cancer Society.: Nutrition for the Person with Cancer: A Guide for Patients and Families. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society, Inc., 2000.

Bell SJ, Forse, RA. Positive Nutrition for HIV Infection and AIDS. ChroniMed: Minneapolis, 1996

Colasanto JM, Prasad P, Nash MA, Decker RH, Wilson LD.: Nutritional support of patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Oncology (Huntingt). Mar;19(3):371-9, 2005

Counous, G: Whey protein concentrates (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment. Anticancer Research, 20: 4785-4792, 2000.

Gelinas MD, Bell SJ, Akerman P, Blackburn GL. A practical guide to managing nutrition in cancer patients. In: Bloch AS (ed.). Nutritional Management of the Cancer Patient. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 138-158, 1990.

Langstein HN, Norton JA: Mechanisms of cancer cachexia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 5 (1): 103-23, 1991.

McMahon K, Decker G, Ottery FD: Integrating proactive nutritional assessment in clinical practices to prevent complications and cost. Semin Oncol 25 (2 Suppl 6): 20-7, 1998.

Source:


Tisdale MJ: Cancer cachexia. Anticancer Drugs 4 (2): 115-25, 1993.

Vigano A, Watanabe S, Bruera E: Anorexia and cachexia in advanced cancer patients. Cancer Surv 21: 99-115, 1994.

Walzem RL, Dillard CJ, German JB: Whey components: millennia of evolution create functionalities for mammalian nutrition: what we know and what we may be overlooking. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 42:353-375, 2002

Wojtaszek CA, Kochis LM, Cunningham RS: Nutrition impact symptoms in the oncology patient. Oncology Issues 17 (2): 15-7, 2002.

Source: http://www.helpwithcancer.org/?expref=next-blog

The Tragedy of Preventable Blindness

Sanitation, funds, simple operations could save sight for millions

According to the World Health Organization, some 314 million people are visually impaired worldwide, 45 million of them totally blind. The tragedy is that three-quarters of all blindness can be prevented or treated.

Avoidable blindness poses an enormous challenge to the global health care system, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. There are 9 million people in Africa alone with preventable blindness, 50-75 percent due to cataracts and 5 percent from glaucoma, says Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, who represents the NGO Right to Sight, and who is to present research he did in Africa at the Irish Forum for Global Health biennial conference Nov. 29 and 30.

And, while Pradhan’s work has centered on Africa, his research applies equally to Asia. There are 4 million blind in Pakistan, 1.3 million in Indonesia. There are 12 million blind in India, with eye-damaging diabetes increasing in what health authorities call epidemic proportions. Most visually impaired people are older and females are more at risk at every age, in every part of the world. About 87 percent of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries.

Although 50 to 75 percent of blindness is attributable to cataracts, the health response has been appalling. According to the WHO, cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective treatments that can be offered in developing countries. It can allow people to increase their economic productivity by up to 1,500 percent of the cost of the surgery during the first post-operative year.

In Pakistan, for instance, it is a simple one-hour procedure that costs about US$30, but that figure is well beyond what many can afford in the developing world.

Besides cataract and glaucoma, other causes are age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacities, diabetic retinopathy, trachoma, and eye conditions in children including those caused by vitamin A deficiency. Age-related blindness is increasing throughout the world, as is blindness due to uncontrolled diabetes. The Netherlands-based IRC International Water and Sanitation Center reports that simple face washing and improved access to safe water and sanitation would play a major role in eliminating trachoma, which currently blinds more than 6 million people across the world, with 150 million at risk from infection.

NGO Right To Sight is dedicated to eradicating preventable blindness through the use of proven techniques in cost recovery, training and surgical practice. One of his major landmarks is his contribution to improving eye care and preventing avoidable blindness in India as well as many countries in Africa.

There are many challenges to initiatives that aim to eliminate avoidable blindness and two major ones are inconsistent quality of care and shortage of healthcare workers. One of the novel approaches Right To Sight brings in Africa is using private public partnership to engage the private sector in public health. Most of health care in sub-Saharan Africa is in the public sector and Pradhan envisions a growing role of the private sector in meeting public health needs in the region. According to a research study, US$20 billion of additional investment is needed for health care in private sector to improve health outcomes in Africa.

Preventing avoidable blindness mandates a stronger response at all levels and from all stakeholders. The biennial conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health could change the game for evoking a response to eliminate avoidable blindness.

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More Bad News For Smokers

Passive Smoking 'Kills 600,000' Worldwide

Children are particularly at risk of the effects of passive smoking in their own homes

The first global study into the effects of passive smoking has found it causes 600,000 deaths every year. One-third of those killed are children, often exposed to smoke at home, the World Health Organisation (WHO) found.

The study, in 192 countries, found that passive smoking is particularly dangerous for children, said to be at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma.

Passive smoking causes heart disease, respiratory illness and lung cancer.

"This helps us understand the real toll of tobacco," said Armando Peruga, of the WHO's Tobacco-Free Initiative, who led the study.

'Deadly combination'
The global health body said it was particularly concerned about the 165,000 children who die of smoke-related respiratory infections, mostly in South East Asia and in Africa.

It said that this group was more exposed to passive smoking than any other group, principally in their own homes.

"The mix of infectious diseases and second-hand smoke is a deadly combination," Mr Peruga said.
As well as being at increased risk of a series of respiratory conditions, the lungs of children who breathe in passive smoke may also develop more slowly than children who grow up in smoke-free homes.

Worldwide, 40% of children, 33% of non-smoking men and 35% non-smoking women were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2004, researchers found.

This exposure was estimated to have caused 379,000 deaths from heart disease, 165,000 from lower respiratory infections, 36,900 from asthma and 21,400 from lung cancer.

According to the study, the highest numbers of people exposed to second-hand smoke are in Europe and Asia and the lowest rates of exposure were in the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.

The research also revealed that passive smoking had a large impact on women, killing about 281,000 worldwide. This is due to the fact that in many parts of the world, the study suggests, women are at least 50% more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke than men.

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Source: BBC Online: 26 November 2010 Last updated at 05:48 GMT