Ginger Kills Cancer

Judy Ferguson 

New study reveals that ginger powder induces death in cancer cells.

A recent study conducted at the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that ginger powder induces death in cancer cells.

Kills cancer cells
This was especially so in all ovarian cancer cells to which ginger powder was applied. While still requiring more extensive research before coming anywhere close to being accepted by the medical community, it is a ray of hope that the treatment of cancer doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to chemotherapy and radiation alone.

Another piece of promising news is that ginger is effective in slowing the growth of colorectal cancer cells. This study was conducted at the University of Minnesota and offers a much kinder, natural alternative in the treatment of cancer.

Besides these breakthroughs in cancer research, ginger has for long been beneficial as a remedy for a wide spectrum of ailments. Here are a few that you may already have heard of.

Lowers stress levels
The next time you are sick to your stomach with worry, have a ginger drink. Gingerol, the potent antioxidant in ginger also helps cleanse the harmful chemicals that build-up in our bodies when we’re stressed. Some studies also suggest that just a whiff of ginger uplifts your mood too. A wonderful way to de-stress would be to chop up some ginger and drop it into hot water with a slice of lemon. Or have it the traditional Malaysian way – teh halia kurang manis!

Aids digestion

Dietician Alice Mackintosh told the Daily Mail, “Ginger helps stimulate the taste buds, triggering digestive secretions.” This knobby root deftly improves the absorption and assimilation of nutrients in our bodies, easing any form of stomach discomfort in the process. Incidentally ginger also helps impede motion sickness, beat heartburn and reduce flatulence too. The best way to enjoy it is by mixing a teaspoon of ginger juice with lime juice in water. Bring to a boil then mix with a bit of honey. Yum!

Eases inflammation
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or joint inflammation due to injury, a good natural remedy would be ginger. Chew on some or grate some into your drink to relieve pain and discomfort. If it’s your throat that’s inflamed, a warm ginger drink with honey three times daily will soothe your throat and boost your immune system, possibly preventing a relapse.

Effective painkiller
Got a headache? Instead of popping a pill, try applying some ginger juice on your forehead instead. If it’s a toothache that’s ruining your day, some ginger juice on your cheek or jaw area is claimed to soothe the pain.

Aphrodisiac effect
Some quarters believe that ginger has a stimulant effect that makes it an effective anti-impotence drug. While some suggest adding ginger juice to hot tea with a little raw honey, others say a teaspoon of ginger juice in a half-boiled egg with a spoon of honey taken on an empty stomach every night for a month does the trick. Any brave men out there to prove this right? Beats relying on that blue pill every time!

Read more here:

About Skin Cancer

by Beth Buczynski

To ensure that you don’t become part of these frightening statistics, check out the infographic below:



Read more here:

Genetic Codes of 21 Breast Cancers Mapped

Study unpicks gene changes behind breast cancer

May 18, 2012

LONDON, May 18 — Scientists have mapped the complete genetic codes of 21 breast cancers and created a catalogue of the mutations that accumulate in breast cells, raising hopes that the disease may be able to be spotted earlier and treated more effectively in future.

The research, the first of its kind, untangles the genetic history of how cancer evolves, allowing scientists to identify mutational patterns that fuel the growth of breast tumours, and start to work out the processes behind them.

“These findings have implications for our understanding of how breast cancers develop over the decades before diagnosis in adults and might help to find possible targets for improved diagnosis or therapeutic intervention in the future,” said Mike Stratton, who led the research team.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to delve fully into breast cancer genomes in such a thorough way,” said Peter Campbell, head of cancer genetics and genomics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, where the studies were led.

The work had given scientists “a full panoramic view of the cancer genome” and helped them identify “mutational patterns rather than individual mutations in specific genes”, he added.

“We’ve known for many years now that all cancers are due to abnormalities of DNA... that occur in every single cell of the body over the course of a lifetime,” said Stratton.

“But although we’ve known that, it’s remarkable how rudimentary our knowledge is about what the processes are that cause these abnormalities, these mutations in our DNA.”

Stratton’s team sequenced the genomes of the 21 breast cancers and catalogued all the mutations. They found five major processes that cause one letter of code to be changed to another letter. Genetic code comes in four DNA letters, A, C, G and T.

Stratton said one of the most exciting findings was that one of these processes is characterised by small pockets of massively mutated regions of the genome. This sudden “storm” of mutations is often seen in breast cancers, he explained in an audio briefing. While his team don’t fully understand the process behind these storms, they think it may be down to components of the cell whose normal function is to edit, or mutate, DNA.

“What we believe... is that sometimes in normal cells... this stops functioning properly and over-functions. It causes too many mutations and the accumulation of those mutations pushes the cell along the line to become cancer.”

The team found that these and other mutations accumulate in breast cells over many years, initially slowly, but picking up greater momentum as genetic damage builds up. By the time the breast cancers are large enough to be diagnosed, they are made up of a number of genetically related families of cells, with one family dominating the cancer, Stratton explained.

Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust which helped fund the work, said the results showed how scientists are starting to see the landscape of mutations in breast cancer “in something approaching its full complexity”.

“As this work continues, we can hope to understand how breast cancer develops and thus how it might be treated more effectively,” he said in a statement. — Reuters

Read more here.

Life Beyond Breast Cancer - An International Symposium

Come join hands for an International Symposium on Breast Cancer
and at the same time enjoy and experience the beauty of Malaysia

Please browse through the brochure attached below for more information, benefits, contacts and to register as a participant.

Life Beyond Breast Cancer Symposium -

Curry Spice Can Kill Cancer!

Read more here:

KILL....A spicy way has been found to kill cancer cells.  SCIENTISTS have discovered that a substance found in turmeric, a basic curry ingredient, can kill cancer cells within 24 hours.  Researchers at Ireland's Cork Cancer Research Centre who treated oesophageal cancer cells with curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric, observed that it triggers lethal death signals in the cells. The cells eventually digest themselves and die. The results of the study were published in the British Journal of Cancer on Wednesday.   Curcumin gives turmeric (curcuma zangais) its orangy-yellow colour. The rhizome, a close relative of the ginger, is commonly used in Asian cooking as well as in traditional medicine.  Chinese and Ayurvedic medical practioners use turmeric as a treatment for many ailments as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties and believed to lower cholestrol.  The results of the Cork Cancer Research Centre study were published in the British Journal of Cancer on Wednesday. "These exciting results suggest that scientists can develop curcumin as a potential anti-cancer drug to treat oesophageal cancer," said Dr Sharon McKenna who led the study.  Turmeric, a close relative of the ginger, is commonly used in Asian cooking as well as in traditional medicine. Turmeric, a close relative of the ginger, is commonly used in Asian cooking as well as in traditional medicine.  She said scientists had known hat natural compounds had the potential to treat faulty cells that become cancerous, adding they also suspected curcumin's possible therapeutic value.  She said medical researcher Dr Geraldine O’Sullivan-Coyne who had been looking for new ways of killing resistant oesophageal cancer cells tested curcumin on resistant cells.  She found that they started to die using an unexpected system of cell messages. Normally, faulty cells die by committing programmed suicide or apoptosis which occurs when proteins called caspases are ‘switched on’ in cells. But these cells showed no evidence of suicide and the addition of a molecule that inhibits caspases and stops this ‘switch being flicked’, made no difference to the number of cells which died. "This suggested that curcumin attacked cancer cells using an alternative cell signalling system," she added.  Oesophagus cancer kill more than half a million people in the world each year. The cancers are exceptionally deadly, with five-year survival rates of between 12 and 31 per cent.   The number of oesophageal cancer cases have gone up tremendously since the 70s and this is thought to be linked to rising rates of obesity, alcohol intake and reflux disease. (Cancer Research UK)

Anti-Cancer Drug Weaken Bone Density

Anti-cancer drug for women weakens bone density

February 08, 2012

After two years, women taking a drug used to prevent breast cancer had a high loss of bone density at a common fracture point in the wrist called the distal radius, and also at the lower end of the tibia, compared with their counterparts on placebo. – shutterstock.com

PARIS, Feb 8 – A drug tipped for widespread use to prevent breast cancer in post-menopausal women also accelerates loss of bone density, thus potentially boosting the risk of fractures, a study published today said.

Exemestane – brand name Aromasin – is part of a drug class called aromatase inhibitors, which lower levels of the oestrogen that some breast cancers need in order to grow.

Canadian bone specialists took a look at a group of patients who had taken part in a study into the effectiveness of exemestane among 4,500 healthy women with a worrying family history of breast cancer. Overall, the big study showed that the drug was highly effective, reducing the risk of breast cancer by almost two-thirds.

The bone sub-study looked at 351 women who had been taking either exemestane or a dummy lookalike pill and whose bone density was measured with hi-tech scanners.

After two years, women taking exemestane had a high loss of bone density at a common fracture point in the wrist called the distal radius, and also at the lower end of the tibia, compared with their counterparts on placebo.

The exemestane users also had an eight-per cent decline in the thickness of cortical bone, which comprises the protective outer shell of the bones.

That finding in particular is worrying because nearly four out of every five fractures in old age occur in cortical bone. These accidents are a huge source of disability.

“Women considering exemestane for the primary prevention of breast cancer should weigh their individual risks and benefits,” says the study, headed by Angela Cheung of the University Health Network in Toronto. “For women taking exemestane, regular bone monitoring plus adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation are important.”

Source here:

13 Healing Power of Lemons

by Michelle Schoffro Cook 

1. Bowel-Cleansing: 

The bitter taste of lemon gives these fruit the ability to increase peristalsis–a pumping-motion in the bowels–which helps to eliminate waste from the bowels and improve regularity. Add the juice of one lemon to warm water and drink first thing in the morning. 

2. Cancer:  

Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including limonene—a naturally-occurring oil that slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors in animals. Lemons also contain a substance called flavonol glycosides which stop cell division in cancer cells. 

3. Colds and Flu:  

Lemons are rich in vitamin C and flavonoids that work in conjunction for a serious punch against infection. 

4. Liver: 

Fresh lemon juice added to a large glass of water in the morning is a great liver detoxifier.

5. Nutrition: 

Lemons contain vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber. 

6. Balances Body Chemistry: 

While lemons are acidic they interact with the body’s metabolism to have an alkalizing effect on the bodily fluids helping to restore balance to the body’s pH. 

7. Allergies:  

Lemons contain the phytonutrient hesperetin which has been shown in studies to alleviate allergic symptoms. 

8. Brain and Nervous System Disorders: 

Containing the potent phytonutrient tangeretin in the peel, lemons have been proven to be effective for brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease. 

9. Eye Disorders: 

Rutin, found in lemons, has been shown in research to improve the symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy. 

10. Anti-Viral: 

In addition to being effective against cold and flu viruses, terpene limonoids found in lemons have proven anti-viral effects on other types of viruses. 

11. Diabetes: 

In addition to improving eye problems linked with diabetes, lemons contain hesperetin which lowers blood sugar levels (when they are high). 

12. Gall and Kidney Stones:  

The citric acid found in lemon juice helps to dissolve gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones.  

13. Anti-Aging:  

The vitamin C found in lemons helps to neutralize free radicals linked to aging and most types of disease. 

Read more here:

Enzymes in Cancer Treatment & Prevention

Cutting-Edge Cancer Therapy 

Enzymes extracted from food sources like pineapples and papayas, among others, are showing tremendous promise in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Enzymes have been used for many years in Europe to treat cancer and other diseases. Numerous European studies on enzyme therapy have been commissioned by the European Union in an effort to establish policy on enzymes for cancer treatment. Here are some of the findings: Read more here:

Bacon, Processed Meat Liked to Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers in Sweden suggest that eating an extra 50g of processed meat each day — that a couple of slices of bacon or a link of sausage — could increase your risk of pancreatic cancer by 19 percent.

The risk of pancreatic cancer increases by 38 percent for people who eat 100 grams a day and 57 percent for people who eat 150 grams a day of processed meat, compared to those who eat none. Researchers analyzed data from 11 other trials, involving 6,643 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, concludes that, “processed meat consumption is positively associated with pancreatic cancer risk. 

Red meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in men. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.”  

Pancreatic cancer has a relative survival rate of about 5.5 percent, making it one of the most lethal types of cancer. Processed meat has been linked to a host of other health problems.  

Sara Hiom, director of information at Cancer Research UK, said:  
“The jury is still out as to whether meat is a definite risk factor for pancreatic cancer and more large studies are needed to confirm this. But this new analysis suggests processed meat may be playing a role.

“We do know that, among lifestyle factors, smoking significantly ramps up the risk of pancreatic cancer. Stopping smoking is the best way to reduce your chances of developing many types of cancer and other diseases as well.” 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/bacon-processed-meat-linked-to-pancreatic-cancer.html#ixzz1jUapv1oc

Treat Cancer Without Surgery

New cream could treat cancer without surgery

January 12, 2012

ROME, Jan 12 – Italian scientists have discovered a painless, non-surgical skin cancer treatment using radioactive cream that could treat cancer in as little as two hours.

According to media reports in recent days, the breakthrough treatment was tested on 700 patients with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, less aggressive forms of skin cancer, with a success rate of 95 per cent after one to three treatments.

While basal cell carcinoma – caused by exposure to harmful UV rays – accounts for about 80 per cent of skin cancer cases, it isn’t metastatic, meaning it doesn’t spread to other organs in the body. But treatment usually requires surgery that can leave scars, particularly problematic on the face.

While trials are currently being held in Germany and Australia, researchers believe that the cream could be available for market within two years.

Other non-surgical treatments already used to treat skin cancer is a light-induced technique called photodynamic therapy (PDT), in which chemical cream is applied to the skin cancer tumour. The Guardian in the UK reports that it is usually suitable for lumps that do not penetrate too deeply into the skin. – AFP

 Read the source here.

Happy New Year 2012

Sincerely from;

The CloriousCloud

Merry Christmas 2011

To readers and visitors of this blog

thank you and best wishes

Sincerely from:

The GloriousCloud

Breakthrough In Live Cancae Cells

US breakthrough in live cancer cells

December 20, 2011

US researchers announced they have discovered how to keep tumour cells alive in the lab. – Photo by shutterstock.com

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 – US researchers said yesterday they have discovered how to keep tumour cells alive in the lab, generating buzz in the scientific community about a potential breakthrough that could transform cancer treatment.

Until now, scientists have been unable to make cancer cells thrive for very long in the laboratory in a condition that resembles the way they look and act in the body. Doctors have largely relied on biopsied tissue that is frozen or set in wax to diagnose and recommend treatment.

The advance has sparked new hope that someday doctors may be able to test a host of cancer-killing drugs on a person’s own tumour cells in the lab, before returning to the patient with a therapy that is likely to be a good match.

“This would really be the ultimate in personalised medicine,” said lead author Richard Schlegel, chairman of the department of pathology at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“The therapies would be exactly from their tissues. We would get normal tissue and tumour tissue from a particular patient and specifically match up their therapies,” Schlegel said.

“We are really excited about the possibilities of testing what we can do with this.”

The method, described in the online edition of the American Journal of Pathology, borrows on a simple method used in stem cell research, experts said.

Lung, breast, prostate and colon cancers were kept alive for up to two years using the technique, which combines fibroblast feeder cells to keep cells alive and a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor that allows them to reproduce.

When treated with the duo, both cancer and normal cells reverted to a “stem-like state,” Schlegel said, allowing researchers to compare the living cells directly for the first time.

Read more here

Six Cancer-Fighting Snacks

Don’t smoke, wear sunscreen, exercise—you likely know these top habits for reducing your risk for breast cancer and other forms of the disease (and hopefully you’re already practicing them!). 

But there’s one more step you can take every day to cut your cancer odds that’s not only simple, it’s also enjoyable: Eat well! “Research suggests the phytochemicals in food can fight cancer by doing everything from preventing cellular changes to stopping the flow of blood to a cancerous tumor,” says Sally Scroggs, R.D., of the Cancer Prevention Center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. 

As a general rule, aim to eat 2½ cups of fruit and vegetables each day—vary your choices to get a mix of antioxidants and phytochemicals in your diet. For your main protein sources, eat mostly fish, poultry and beans; studies show consuming more than 18 ounces of red meat per week may increase the risk for colon and pancreatic cancer. Keep your grains whole: Fiber helps move poten-tially carcinogenic waste through your system quickly, which may lower the risk for colorectal cancer, Scroggs says. And finally, sip tea, which contains catechins, antioxidants that may lower cancer risk. 

Want recipes to get you started? These tasty snacks are so delicious, you won’t even notice how good you’re being. Enjoy two every day.

 

Vegetables With Creamy Onion Dip

In a glass bowl, microwave 1 diced scallion in ½ tsp olive oil until fragrant, 1 minute. Whisk in 3 tbsp nonfat plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp light sour cream, 1 tsp mayonnaise, ¼ tsp each salt and onion powder and a pinch each of black pepper and gar-lic powder. Serve with 1 cup chopped broccoli and cauliflower.

How it fights cancer:
Cruciferous veggies, a class that includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, appear to prevent breast, lung and colon cancer. “Different types of estrogens have been associated with both increased and decreased cancer risk. Cruciferous vegetables help your body process estrogen in a way that might lower risk,” says Gregory A. Plotnik-off, M.D., senior consultant for health care innovation at Allina Hospitals and Clinics in Minnesota.

 

Super Savory Popcorn

Pop one 100-calorie bag microwave popcorn. Toss with ½ tsp sweet smoked paprika and a pinch of garlic powder.

How it fights cancer:
Whole grains have cancer-fighting antioxidants, according to research from the University of Scran-ton in Pennsylvania. Popcorn has the most antioxidants in the snack group; pastas made with whole wheat tops the grain list.

 

Edamame With Iced Green Tea

Cook 2/3 cup edamame as directed on package. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Serve with 8 to 12 oz iced green tea mixed with ½ tsp honey.

How it fights cancer: 
To pump up the disease-fighting potential of green tea’s catechins, add a squeeze of citrus: Lemon juice protects the chemicals so more of them are available to your body, a study from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, reveals.

 

Tomato Bruschetta

Spread 1 tbsp part-skim ricotta and 2 tbsp store-bought tomato bruschetta topping on each of 3 slices melba toast or toasted whole-grain baguette.

How it fights cancer:
Scientists suspect that the lycopene in tomato works as an antioxidant that protects the body’s cells against certain cancers. Bonus: It also helps reduce your risk for heart disease.

 

Cheese Plate

Serve 1 oz reduced-fat cheddar with 3/4 cup red grapes and 2 whole-grain crackers.

How it fights cancer:
Like vino, the skin of fresh red grapes contains the protective chemical resveratrol, which may reduce your risk for both cancer and heart disease and also sharpen your brain. “And there’s no alcohol, which has been linked to certain cancers,” says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., spokeswoman in Sarasota, Florida, for the American Dietetic Association.

 

Honey-Ginger Blueberries With Mascarpone

In a pan, heat 1 cup blueberries with 1 tbsp honey and ¼ tsp ground ginger until berries become jammy, 5 minutes. Top berries with 1 tbsp mascarpone and ½ sheet graham cracker broken into bits.
How it fights cancer: 
Anthocyanins, the pigments behind blueberries’ hue, may fight cancer while also helping brain cells fire faster, so you stay sharp. And the berries’ vitamin C may block the effects of cancer-causing free radicals, help prevent cancer from spreading and enhance immunity. 

Source: Here.

Top 10 Superfoods

by Melissa Breyer

These are my favorites for fall, based primarily on nutritional variety and strength, but that also give me that primal, sensuous satisfaction that comes with eating what’s in season: 

Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin

The dark orange vegetable family outdoes all others in vitamin A content. Sweet potatoes are also packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. Other dark orange vegetable standouts include pumpkin, carrots, and butternut squash. For more, see 11 Ways to Use a Pumpkin.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Crucifers such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards and turnips contain indole alkaloids that may help prevent cancer. They are also high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Along with their fabulous flavor, once you get the hang of cooking them, they may have an added bonus: they may help bolster memory as you age. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that women who eat the most of these foods are the least likely to be forgetful.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates have very high antioxidant activity, offering brain and memory protection. And research shows that drinking pomegranate juice may help with lowering the risk for hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. Read Prime Time for Pomegranates for more.

Beets

The pigment that gives beets their super-beautiful fuschia depth-betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets’ potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies. Beets are also particularly rich in the B vitamin folate.

The Alliums

Garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives and shallots contain sulfur compounds that may protect against heart disease and some cancers, they can all help the liver eliminate toxins and carcinogens.

Beans

An excellent source of protein, antioxidants, folic acid, potassium, dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates, beans are flavorful, nutritionally dense, inexpensive and versatile. Read about heirloom varieties and cooking tips.

Olive oil

Several large studies suggest that the monosaturated fat in olive oil is good for the heart. Olive oil lowers bad cholesterol levels and increases good cholesterol. It is high in antioxidants–and is one of the superstars of the Mediterranean diet. Recent research shows that heart-attack survivors on a Mediterranean diet had half the death rates of those on an ordinary low-fat diet.

Tea

The caffeine content in tea is useful for stimulating alertness, mood and motivation, but is also a rich source of the antioxidant called catechins. Studies suggest that catechins protect the artery walls against the damage that causes heart disease and prevents formation of blood clots. It also does wonders for the spirit on a cool autumn day. See 9 Reasons to Drink Green Tea Daily.

Red Wine or grape juice

Grapes provide vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6–red grapes also contain powerful phytochemicals (especially phenolics) that may help decrease risk of cardiovascular disease. These phenolic compounds are housed mostly in the skin of the red grapes, which is what makes red wine red and dark grape juice red or purple. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic stilbene found in the skins of red fruits including grapes, may be responsible for some of the health benefits ascribed to the consumption of red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-10-superfoods-for-fall.html#ixzz1ZuoMD3Qd