Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Is There A Prostate Cancer Cure?

Just as women are susceptible to breast cancer, men are at a high risk for developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is most common in men over the age of 50, however it is important to note that any man, no matter the age can suffer from prostate cancer. This is the reason why it is extremely important for all men to have the proper screening when it comes to prostate cancer.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may wonder whether or not there is a real prostate cancer cure. There is no real answer to that question. A prostate cancer cure depends on the severity of the cancer and how quickly it is discovered. Many men have real success with a prostate cancer cure when they are young, relatively healthy and begin their treatment as soon as the cancer begins. It is much hard to find an adequate prostate cancer cure when it is caught at a very late stage. Treatment and cures are two very different things. Here are some things you should know when you think about prostate cancer cure.
*Treatment: There are many treatment options available for prostate cancer. No two men are alike and no two men respond the same way when it comes to a prostate cancer cure. For example, if you find a tumor and your doctor feels that it might be prostate cancer, he or she might take a "watching waiting" approach, meaning that the tumor will be monitored for a time before a course of action is taken. Some men may respond well to chemotherapy and others do well with hormone therapy.
*Early detection: The best way to find the proper prostate cancer cure for you is to make sure that the cancer is detected in its early stages. Most doctors recommend regular screening if you are at high risk for developing prostate cancer. Men over 50 and African American men are at the highest risk for developing prostate cancer. Also, if you have a family history of prostate cancer, then you should also get regular screening. Screening for prostate cancer involves your doctor examining your prostate gland. He or she is looking for abnormal cell growths and tumors. If something abnormal is found, your doctor will recommend a prostate cancer treatment that is right for you.
It is important to remember that any prostate cancer cure will depend on your individual case. Your doctor will help you find a treatment that is right for you.
The causes of prostate cancer has not bee fully traced by medical experts, however risk factors had been identified that might make men predisposed to the disease. One of the identified risk factors of prostate cancer is age. Genetic is also one major risk factor of the disease. The susceptibility to the disease is higher in men whose brother or father is suffering from the disease. Another identified risk factor of prostate cancer is diet.
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You can also find more info on enlarged prostate and detect prostate cancer.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Green Tea’s Ability To Slow Growth Of Cancer Cells

Nearly all of us are aware that green tea has gained attention for research results showing that it can prevent, and possibly even treat, cancer. Green tea has been shown in many studies to have the ability to slow the growth of abnormal cells, and act as a scavenger against them. While we don’t have all the answers, it does seem clear that tea’s anti-oxidants are what make them so effective at preventing cancer. Anti-oxidants are critical to the protection of our health because they neutralize the free radicals created by our body as it converts food to energy. Free radicals damage cells and DNA and, over time, contribute to the development of diseases like cancer. But, anti-oxidants keep the free radicals in check, so that they’re not able to damage our bodies. Anti-oxidants are abundant in many sources, including fruits, vegetables, chocolate, red wine, coffee, tea and several vitamins. However, one of the most potent anti-oxidants you can find is the EGCG found in green tea. EGCG has been shown to be 100 times more potent than other significant anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E. EGCG is more abundant in green tea than black tea because of the way that black tea is processed. Black tea is fermented, which virtually rids it of EGCG. However, black tea does contain other anti-oxidants, but these do not seem to be as effective at preventing cancer. EGCG and other anti-oxidants in green tea have been shown to have significant ability to slow the growth of cancer cells. One study showed that green tea prevented breast cancer from spreading in patients who already had the disease. Another showed that breast cancer patients who drank green tea had a significantly lower risk of the recurrence of breast cancer than those who did not drink green tea. In addition, studies have shown traditional chemotherapy treatments to be more effective when administered along with green tea. With regard to prostate cancer, green tea consumption appears to have the ability to act as a sort of scavenger against a substance called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). ROS are a form of free radicals that cause prostate cell damage and that especially contribute to the development of prostate cancer, when produced in excess. But, the anti-oxidants contained in green tea have the ability to get at these free radicals and eradicate them, preventing them from developing into cancer cells. Green tea has also been shown to be an effective preventer of lung cancer. Green tea appears to cause apoptosis of abnormal lung cells. Apoptosis is the orderly process of cell death. Cell death due to apoptosis is good, because it is a process of killing off damaged or unneeded cells. Green tea seems to help the body rid itself of potentially harmful lung cells by inducing the process of apoptosis. Green tea also seems to help prevent lung cancer by inhibiting the growth of the abnormal lung cells. So, green tea keeps the cells from growing and spreading until the apoptosis can kills the cells off. These two powers help to rid the body of abnormal cells before they can replicate and cause a problem. Other research has shown green tea to be effective at preventing ovarian cancer, too. A study in Sweden reported that women who consumed green tea showed a significantly lower risk of developing ovarian cancer, and that the risk decreased as their tea consumption increased. And, green tea has been shown to prevent cancers of the digestive system. One study concluded that the women who were regular tea drinkers had a significantly lower risk of biliary tract cancer and gallbladder cancer than those who did not drink green tea. Green tea has even been shown to be effective at preventing and treating skin cancer, when given orally, or even applied topically. Topically applied green tea extract scavenges abnormal skin cells, ridding the body of them before they can mutate into cancer cells. Green tea also holds potential for preventing aging and other skin problems when applied topically. In short, it appears that green tea is powerful when it comes to preventing abnormal cell growth, which can be an important tool in preventing and treating many proliferative diseases, like cancer. So, as you can see, green tea’s anti-oxidants hold a wealth of power. They seem to be able to scavenge abnormal cells and prevent the spread of cancerous cells. An interesting report published by the UK Tea Council outlines the anti-oxidant activity of green tea and how it appears to have a potent effect on abnormal cell growth and spread. Certainly, more research is required for us to fully understand green tea’s power. But, it seems fairly clear that green tea is an important cancer preventer and health protector. And, adding green tea to your diet is likely one of the simplest things you can do to help protect your health. Green tea is easy to find, delicious and available in a wide range of forms and flavors. So, whether you like it hot or cold, flavored or plain, get your dose of green tea. It’s a refreshing and delicious way to prevent cancer!About The Author:Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and wu long tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com