Supplements, herbs, and foods that support a healthier heart Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/041210_healthy_heart_supplements_curcumin.html#ixzz2gXw7rCVi

All who enter here must abandon the myths involved with fats and cholesterol. They remain as dogma only because too many health practitioners and journalists are still stuck with that misinformation.

Yes, diet has a lot to do with whether you have good cardiovascular health or not. But it's not from a low or no fat diet.

Nor will statin drugs help out. They do lower cholesterol, but cholesterol is necessary for brain and myelin sheath tissue to maintain nerve transmissions and for cellular reproduction.

Epidermal cholesterol is the first part of converting UVB rays from sunshine or tanning beds into vitamin D. You may wind up with with dementia and still have a heart attack while on statin drugs.

The types of fats you eat are important. Most fats used in processed and fast foods, the staples of SAD (Standard American Diet) and in many homes for occasional cooking or salads are processed hydrogenated fats, toxic fats that create inflammation.

Cardiologists Stephen Sinatra, MD (1) and Dwight Lundell, MD, (2) are among the leaders of those who are breaking out and writing books against the mythology that has increased heart disease over the last part of the 20th Century.

Both doctors have books listed on Amazon. Dr. Robert Lustig gave a fantastic lecture that went wildly viral on YouTube. (3)

They all cite decreased healthy fats, increased unhealthy fats, an extremely out of proportion ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, processed grains, and increased sugars, especially HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) in our processed and junk foods as the sources of arterial inflammation that lead to heart disease 

So for starters, cut out the low fat foods and processed foods and start eating organic whole foods, including saturated fats such as coconut oil and organic real butter. Healthy fats don't make you fat.

Supplements and foods you can add for a healthier heart

A superior more assimilable antioxidant form of CoQ10 known as ubiquinol is a highly recommended supplement for anyone within a high cardiac event risk profile, including high blood pressure. It's good for anyone, but Dr. Sinatra recommends double dosage for higher risk types.

L-Arginine supports the production of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO). The endothelium is a thin layer of epithelial cells lining the inside of the blood vessels and heart. EDNO is a potent substance that dilates blood vessels and allows more blood to course through them, thus lowering blood pressure.

It can even reverse the development of heart disease, including hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), the most serious form of heart disease. It has other benefits as well. (4)

Curcumin from turmeric is a clinically proven powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer herb that also helps prevent heart disease. Learn more about this here (http://www.naturalnews.com/040330_turmeric_heart_health_curcumin.html).

Free-floating calcium that isn't absorbed into bone matter is common in our culture of excessive calcium intake. This situation offers the possibility of arterial calcification, literally. Vitamin K2 is important for ushering calcium out of the blood and into bone matter (http://www.naturalnews.com/027832_vitamin_K_osteoporosis.html).

Vitamin C: Make sure you get plenty every day.

Supplementing magnesium, a vastly underrated, more important mineral for bone structure than calcium also provides an important factor for maintaining regular heart beat rates (http://www.naturalnews.com).

Here's a terrific triple threat against heart disease: Cayenne at 40,000 or more heat units, hibiscus tea, and hawthorn berry. These foods can all be used daily with very little expense. Here's how (http://www.naturalnews.com/026285_health_cayenne_tea.html).

Moderate exercise and good mental and emotional health are very important contributors to heart health.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/041210_healthy_heart_supplements_curcumin.html#ixzz2gXwFdm8J

Excess salt consumption found to be the cause of millions of heart disease deaths worldwide

New cases of cardiovascular disease continue to mount in the U.S. and worldwide, making this the leading killer of men, women and children in western cultures. Enlightened, health-conscious individuals now understand that heart disease is not only preventable, but also treatable in all but the most advanced stages. Lifestyle modifications including elimination of processed and fried foods, smoking cessation, stress reduction and adequate physical activity are among some of the changes that promote heart health and dramatically lower future disease risk.

Excess salt consumption from synthetic salt products is a known risk factor for early heart disease, but researchers now report that sodium, largely coming from the disproportionate amount of processed foods that many people eat, is killing millions around the globe. Scientists from the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health now report the result of their research that found how eating too much salt contributed to 2.3 million deaths from heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related diseases throughout the world in 2010, representing 15 percent of all deaths due to these causes.

Excess dietary sodium increases blood pressure, dramatically increasing incidence of heart attack and stroke

Researchers presented their findings to the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions. Lead study author, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian commented "National and global public health measures, such as comprehensive sodium reduction programs, could potentially save millions of lives." To conduct their study, scientists analyzed data from 247 surveys of adult sodium intake, sorted by age, gender, and region spanning 50 countries over a 20 year period.

The team then determined how the amount of sodium people were consuming was affecting their risk for cardiovascular disease in a large cohort of 107 randomized trials that determined the impact of sodium consumption on elevation of blood pressure. They determined that an optimal daily sodium intake of 1,000 mg was optimal. The current target in the U.S. for adults is 2,300 mg per day, and many people who eat regularly at fast food restaurants and prepare meals using processed and refined foods can consume 3,500 to 5,000 mg per day, placing them at considerable risk for chronic vascular disease.

Researchers determined that nearly one million deaths occurring during the study period were due to excessive sodium consumption. This represented 40 percent of all deaths recorded, as 60 percent occurred in men and 40 percent in women. The U.S. ranked 19th out of the 30 largest countries where 429 deaths per million (one in 10) were attributable to excess sodium intake. Nutrition experts explain that added salt should always be from natural salts containing the full-spectrum of minerals that encourage healthy cellular metabolism. Eliminating canned and refined food consumption, and closely monitoring processed salt usage could prevent the early demise of millions worldwide over the next decade.

Treat your high chloresterol and clogged arteries naturally with curcumin: Research

The humble spice that gives curry powder its characteristic yellow color may hold the key to helping people lower their cholesterol and fight heart disease naturally, research suggests.

The spice in question, turmeric, has a long history of use as a traditional medicine across Asia. In recent years, Western scientists have conducted numerous studies on turmeric and the trio of yellow pigments that it contains known as curcuminoids. The curcuminoids (sometimes simply called "curcumin," after the most famous of the three) are antioxidant polyphenols known to function as potent anti-inflammatories.

According to a study published in the journal Atherosclerosis in 2004, turmeric extract may reduce the susceptibility of LDL ("bad") cholesterol to oxidation, an important step in the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Turmeric extract also reduced overall LDL and total cholesterol levels. Notably, the study found the most benefit to turmeric extract at a lower rather than a higher dose.

Another, more comprehensive, study was conducted by French researchers in 2008, presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Annual Conference in 2009 and published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research in 2012. Mice predisposed to develop atherosclerosis were fed either a control diet or the same diet plus curcumin supplements for four months. At the end of this time, researchers found 26 percent fewer fatty artery deposits in the mice fed the curcumin-enhanced diet. Fewer atherosclerotic lesions were seen in these mice. In addition, the researchers found that curcumin seemed to actually change the expression of genes related to plaque buildup in arteries.

Turmeric outperforms cholesterol-lowering drugs?

Another study on mice predisposed to heart disease was conducted by researchers from Kyungpook National University in South Korea and published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research in 2011. In this study, the mice were fed a high cholesterol diet that was supplemented either with curcumin, the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin or a placebo. After 18 weeks, the researchers found that just like lovastatin, curcumin lowered blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, while increasing levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. It also led to changes in gene expression that could be expected to reduce the risk of artery damage and heart disease.

"Long-term curcumin treatment lowers plasma and hepatic cholesterol and suppresses early atherosclerotic lesions comparable to the protective effects of lovastatin," the researchers concluded. "The anti-atherogenic effect of curcumin is mediated via multiple mechanisms including altered lipid, cholesterol and immune gene expression."

Turmeric for your heart and health

Lowering cholesterol and fighting arterial disease are not the only ways that turmeric improves the health of your heart, or of your body as a whole. In a trio of studies published between June and October 2012, researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan found that curcumin supplements improved two measures of heart health (vascular endothelial function and arterial compliance) as much as an aerobic exercise program, while a combination of the two lead to even more dramatic benefits. A combination of curcumin and exercise was also found to significantly slow age-related degeneration in the heart.

Studies have also suggested that turmeric and curcumin can help fight infection, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and numerous forms of cancer.

The body absorbs curcumin best from turmeric root (which is more commonly consumed in the West ground up, as a spice), rather than from supplements. As seen in the 2004 study, evidence suggests that the greatest health benefit comes from consuming curcumin and other "nutraceuticals" at low doses over a long period of time, rather than from short-term, high dosage schedules.

Skipping Breakfast May Increase Coronary Heart Disease Risk

• Here's more evidence why breakfast may be the most important meal of the day: Men who reported that they regularly skipped breakfast had a higher risk of a heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease in a study reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
• Researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes for 16 years (1992-2008) on 26,902 male health professionals ages 
• Men who reported they skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease than those who reported they didn't.
• The men who reported not eating breakfast were younger than those who did, and were more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol.
• Men who reported eating late at night (eating after going to bed) had a 55 percent higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didn't. But researchers were less convinced this was a major public health concern because few men in the study reported this behavior.
• During the study, 1,572 of the men had first-time cardiac events.

"Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time," said Leah E. Cahill, Ph.D., study lead author and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass.

"Our study group has spent decades studying the health effects of diet quality and composition, and now this new data also suggests overall dietary habits can be important to lower risk of coronary heart disease," said Eric Rimm, Sc.D., senior author and Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.

Men who reported eating breakfast ate on average one more time per day than those who skipped breakfast, implying that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional make-up meals later in the day. Although there was some overlap between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate late at night, 76 percent of late-night eaters also ate breakfast, researchers said.

The study collected comprehensive questionnaire data from the participants and accounted for many important factors such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, BMI, and social factors like whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams, or smoked currently or in the past.

While the current study group was composed of men who were of 97 percent white European descent, the results should also apply to women and other ethnic groups, but this should be tested in additional studies, researchers said.

"Don't skip breakfast," Cahill said. "Eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. For example, adding nuts and chopped fruit to a bowl of whole grain cereal or steel-cut oatmeal in the morning is a great way to start the day."

Eating breakfast (meal timing) lowers heart disease risk by more than 25%

Eating breakfast and avoiding after dinner snacks lowers blood pressure and normalizes blood lipids

To perform this study, researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data on 26,902 male health professionals, aged 45 to 82 years over a period of sixteen years. Lead study author, Dr. Leah Cahill commented "Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time." The team accounted for modest differences in diet, physical activity, smoking and other lifestyle factors and found the association between skipping breakfast and eating very late at night did not diminish the strong correlation with coronary heart disease.

During the study period, 1,572 of the men had a first-time cardiac event. The study revealed that men who reported they skipped breakfast had a 27 percent higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease than those who reported they didn't. Additionally, men who reported eating late at night after going to bed had a 55 percent higher coronary heart disease risk than those who ate nothing after their dinner meal.

Dr. Cahill concluded "Don't skip breakfast... eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals." Prior studies have shown that eating late at night alters metabolic repair processes that increase the risk of developing multiple chronic conditions. The bottom line is simple. Eat a healthy breakfast every morning within the first hour after rising, and stop eating after dinner to dramatically lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How to turn deep breathing into a second heart

A second heart

So how do you actually have a second heart within your body? The answer is really very simple...deep breathing. How does deep breathing create a second heart? Through deep diaphragmatic breathing from low down in the abdomen (dan tien area about one inch below the navel) you're bringing the diaphragm itself into play far more than when only performing upper chest breathing. The diaphragm is a muscular but flexible membrane that separates the chest from the abdominal cavity. When you inhale and the lungs expand it pushes the diaphragm down into the abdominal cavity. This gentle expansion during deep abdominal breathing is what helps to gently push huge amounts of blood throughout the system thereby taking a huge load off the heart.

The diaphragm is the most powerful muscle in the body and it acts as a perfect force pump which compresses the internal organs such as the liver, spleen, intestines, lymphatic and blood vessels and greatly aids the venous circulation from abdomen to thorax or middle and upper chest area. Due to the large surface area of the diaphragm, a large amount of blood is moved throughout the body when it is employed via the mechanism of deep breathing. Even though this muscle is moving slower than the heart on a per minute basis, the greater surface area and the amount of blood it moves means that it actually functions as a "second heart" in the body and thus greatly reduces the amount of work that the heart itself must do.

Be aware that when you first start practicing deep breathing, because most people are chronic chest breathers and this is especially true of the elderly, sedentary and overweight, you may feel some tightness or discomfort in that area as this muscle begins to be used and stretches out. With practice and time, this should disappear. In time, abdominal breathing will quickly become second nature.

How to begin

If you have never tried breathing from low down, start off slowly by taking just 5-10 abdominal breaths per day and eventually work up to at least 30 or more. Outside is the best place to practice all breathing exercises as long as the outside air is relatively clean. If you're in an area with polluted air, then indoors in a room with plants or an ionizer would be a better place to practice deep breathing.

So if you're concerned about your heart health, as we all should be, then start breathing from low down in the dan tien area every day. Learn to make deep diaphragmatic breathing a daily habit and in time this will become second nature. This will help you to gently move large amounts of blood through the body with each breath, taking a huge strain off the heart and helping it to last a lifetime as it was designed to do.

Benefits of olive oil for the heart, skin and hair

Benefits of olive oil for the heart, skin and hair:

Cholesterol and Heart Health

Despite the drama surrounding the use of fats and oils, these things are an essential part of a balanced eating plan. The key is to choose your fats wisely. Olive oil is one of the healthiest types of fat around. The monounsaturated fat in olive oil has been shown to control LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol. This can potentially lower your risk of heart disease.

When you digest your food, free radicals that are naturally produced by the body can damage the cells. Free radicals from environmental factors such as dust, smog, cigarette smoke and pesticides don't help the situation. The antioxidants contained in olive oil can help fight off and repair some of the damage that free radicals can cause.

To get the best heart-healthy results from olive oil, the U.S Food and Drug Administration recommends eating two tablespoons daily. You can easily get this amount in your diet by following the examples of top chefs and using it in your favorite foods.

Skin and Hair

The antioxidants contained in olive oil can benefit more than your heart. Because this substance prevents cell destruction, it fights the signs of aging and gives you a more youthful appearance. When applied topically, olive oil moisturizes and softens dry skin. Since the product is natural, adverse reactions are not common.

The problem with a lot of commercial skincare products is that the moisturizing ingredients don't penetrate the skin. Extra virgin olive oil is composed of more than 80 percent oleic acid. This substance easily penetrates the skin, and allows the oil to heal damage, reduce wrinkles and improve texture.

If you struggle with dry, brittle hair, keeping a bottle of olive oil handy can help. A weekly deep conditioner of olive oil can be used in the place of products that contain silicone ingredients to make the hair more manageable. Shampoos that contain sulfates will strip the moisture out of your hair and make it look drab and lifeless. Using olive oil in the place of your regular commercial conditioners can moisturize the hair and give it a healthy sheen.

Olive does more than make scrumptious dishes. It is well documented that, when combined with a nutritious diet, this oil's antioxidant properties can have a positive impact on cholesterol levels and heart health. In addition, when added as part of a regular beauty regimen, it can improve the health of your skin and hair.

How to prevent, treat and reverse heart disease with diet and natural remedies

Tips to prevent and remedy heart disease issues

First cut back on refined sugar (sucrose) and refined starches such as white flour products and refined grains. Avoid HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), sometimes called corn syrup, completely. The fructose of whole fruits is okay unless excessively consumed, especially as juice.

But HFCS is a really unhealthy processed compound that is poorly metabolized by the liver and stored as fat instead of being used for glucose energy. Besides, the type of corn used is undoubtedly GMO and the process for making HFCS contaminates it with traces of mercury.

Increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake. Both cardiologists mentioned above refer to the imbalance of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 as an inflammatory factor in the standard American diet (SAD).

Omega-3 is high in fish and krill oils, fatty fish, freshly ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds as well as avocados and free range eggs. The oils from those plants are also beneficial if they are organic and cold pressed.

Avoid oils that are processed by heat or hydrogenated. These cause inflammation, and they're ubiquitous in processed and fast foods. But there is one cold pressed oil to avoid, Canola (rapeseed) oil. It's not the health food it's promoted to be.

Increase your magnesium intake. It's the most important ignored mineral in existence involving 300 metabolic processes. It directly affects heart health, especially with heart beat regulation. Yet most Americans are magnesium deficient.

Greens are excellent sources of magnesium, which can also be supplemented orally with magnesium citrate formulas or topically with magnesium chloride, and even by soaking in Epsom salts.

Studies have determined that pomegranate juice helps unclog arteries by reducing artery thickness. L-Arginine is a supplement that helps increase blood vessel nitric oxide to repair arterial inner lining damage.

Master herbalist Dr. John Christopher was nicknamed doctor cayenne because he praised its value as a heart health tonic, which if strong enough could halt a heart attack in progress.

Jamaica tea (hu-my-ku) reduces blood pressure, and Hawthorn berry tea or extracts are traditional Chinese heart tonics that have stood up to western clinical research.

Cancer

Key facts

• Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008 (1).
• Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most cancer deaths each year.
• The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women.
• About 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use.
• Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing 22% of global cancer deaths and 71% of global lung cancer deaths.
• Cancer causing viral infections such as HBV/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries.
• About 70% of all cancer deaths in 2008 occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
• Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 13.1 million deaths in 2030 (2).

---

Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are malignant tumours and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and spread to other organs. This process is referred to as metastasis. Metastases are the major cause of death from cancer.

The problem

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. The main types of cancer are:

• lung (1.37 million deaths)
• stomach (736 000 deaths)
• liver (695 000 deaths)
• colorectal (608 000 deaths)
• breast (458 000 deaths)
• cervical cancer (275 000 deaths) (3).

About 70% of all cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 13.1 million in 2030.

What causes cancer?

Cancer arises from one single cell. The transformation from a normal cell into a tumour cell is a multistage process, typically a progression from a pre-cancerous lesion to malignant tumours. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person's genetic factors and three categories of external agents, including:

• physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
• chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant) and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and
• biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria or parasites.

WHO, through its cancer research agency, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), maintains a classification of cancer causing agents.

Ageing is another fundamental factor for the development of cancer. The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age, most likely due to a build up of risks for specific cancers that increase with age. The overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older.

Risk factors for cancers

Tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are the main cancer risk factors worldwide. Chronic infections from hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and some types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are leading risk factors for cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Cervical cancer, which is caused by HPV, is a leading cause of cancer death among women in low-income countries.

How can the burden of cancer be reduced?

Knowledge about the causes of cancer, and interventions to prevent and manage the disease is extensive. Cancer can be reduced and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention, early detection of cancer and management of patients with cancer. Many cancers have a high chance of cure if detected early and treated adequately.

Modifying and avoiding risk factors

More than 30% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including:

• tobacco use
• being overweight or obese
• unhealthy diet with low fruit and vegetable intake
• lack of physical activity
• alcohol use
• sexually transmitted HPV-infection
• urban air pollution
• indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels.

Tobacco use is the single most important risk factor for cancer causing 22% of global cancer deaths and 71% of global lung cancer deaths. In many low-income countries, up to 20% of cancer deaths are due to infection by HBV and HPV.

Prevention strategies

• Increase avoidance of the risk factors listed above.
• Vaccinate against human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• Control occupational hazards.
• Reduce exposure to sunlight.

Early detection

Cancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. There are two components of early detection efforts:

Early diagnosis

The awareness of early signs and symptoms (for cancer types such as cervical, breast colorectal and oral) in order to get them diagnosed and treated early before the disease becomes advanced. Early diagnosis programmes are particularly relevant in low-resource settings where the majority of patients are diagnosed in very late stages and where there is no screening.

Screening

Screening is defined as the systematic application of a test in an asymptomatic population. It aims to identify individuals with abnormalities suggestive of a specific cancer or pre-cancer and refer them promptly for diagnosis and treatment. Screening programmes are especially effective for frequent cancer types for which a cost-effective, affordable, acceptable and accessible screening test is available to the majority of the population at risk.

Examples of screening methods are:

• visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer in low-resource settings;
• PAP test for cervical cancer in middle- and high-income settings;
• mammography screening for breast cancer in high-income settings.

Treatment

Cancer treatment requires a careful selection of one or more intervention, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The goal is to cure the disease or considerably prolong life while improving the patient's quality of life. Cancer diagnosis and treatment is complemented by psychological support.

Treatment of early detectable cancers

Some of the most common cancer types, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer and colorectal cancer have higher cure rates when detected early and treated according to best practices.

Treatment of other cancers with potential for cure

Some cancer types, even though disseminated, such as leukemias and lymphomas in children, and testicular seminoma, have high cure rates if appropriate treatment is provided.

Palliative care

Palliative care is treatment to relieve, rather than cure, symptoms caused by cancer. Palliative care can help people live more comfortably; it is an urgent humanitarian need for people worldwide with cancer and other chronic fatal diseases. It is particularly needed in places with a high proportion of patients in advanced stages where there is little chance of cure.

Relief from physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems can be achieved in over 90% of advanced cancer patients through palliative care.

Palliative care strategies

Effective public health strategies, comprising of community- and home-based care are essential to provide pain relief and palliative care for patients and their families in low-resource settings.

Improved access to oral morphine is mandatory for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain, suffered by over 80% of cancer patients in terminal phase.

WHO response

In 2008, WHO launched its Noncommunicable Diseases Action Plan which includes cancer-specific interventions.

WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer research agency of WHO, collaborate with other United Nations organizations and partners to:

• increase political commitment for cancer prevention and control;
• coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis;
• develop scientific strategies for cancer prevention and control;
• generate new knowledge, and disseminate existing knowledge to facilitate the delivery of evidence-based approaches to cancer control;
• develop standards and tools to guide the planning and implementation of interventions for prevention, early detection, treatment and care;
• facilitate broad networks of cancer control partners and experts at global, regional and national levels;
• strengthen health systems at national and local levels to deliver cure and care for cancer patients; and
• provide technical assistance for rapid, effective transfer of best practice interventions to developing countries.

Blood Clots or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Brain Tumors

Many patients with brain tumors are at risk of getting clots in one or both legs.  Patients with malignant brain tumors, such as GBM or anaplastic gliomas, are at the highest risk.

What is a DVT?

A deep vein thrombosis can happen when a blood clot (thrombosis) forms inside a vein. This is most common in the calf or thigh.  This clot can change blood flow.  Also, a piece of the blood clot can break free and travel to the heart or lungs.  This would block blood flow in these parts of your body. 

What are the risk factors?• Immobility
• Cancer
• Injuries
• Infections and inflammatory diseases
• Smoking
• Overweight
• Traveling long distances (sitting too long)
• Inherited clotting disorders
• Pregnancy
• Birth control pills

What are the signs of a DVT?

Many times a DVT may happen without clear signs.  Call your doctor if you notice:

• Pain or tenderness in the calf part of the leg
• Swelling of one foot, ankle, or calf – more than the other side
• Redness in the calf or ankle
• “Hot spots” or a feeling of more warmth in part of the leg
• Discoloration or obvious large veins

Seek help right away if you have:          

• Shortness of breath
• Rapid pulse
• Increased  sweating or anxiety
• Sharp chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Dizziness or fainting

How is a DVT Diagnosed?

The most common test to find out if you have a DVT is the Doppler scan or Doppler ultrasound.

• This non-invasive test uses a wand-like device (a transducer) and sound waves to check the flow of blood in your veins.
• A gel is put on the skin of the leg, and the wand is passed back and forth over the leg.
• The computer turns the sound waves into a picture that shows where the clot is found.

How is a DVT treated? 

Sometimes these medicines are called “blood thinners”.  Their function is to decrease clotting and to stop the clot that is already there from getting bigger.  They also stop new clots from forming.  Over time, your body will naturally break up the clot that is there.

Anticoagulant medicines

• Low molecular weight heparin (Lovenox®or Enoxaparin® and Fragmin® or Dalteparin®)
o Given as a shot (subcutaneously)
o No blood tests needed
o Risk of bleeding low
o Rarely interacts with medicines

• Warfarin (also called Coumadin®)
o Given as a tablet
o Needs blood tests often
o Is adjusted  based on the results of the blood test
o May cause bleeding
o Interacts with many medicines

• Heparin -
o Given through an IV- in the hospital
o Needs blood tests often
o Is adjusted based on the results of the blood test
o May cause bleeding
o Interacts with many medicines

Azacitidine (Vidaza or Mylosar) for the treatment of cancer

Azacitidine is given to treat patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).  It changes the structure of DNA in abnormal blood forming cells made in the bone marrow.  Normal blood cells are then restored.

How It Is Given

• Injections are given under the skin into fatty tissues.
• Doses can be divided into two syringes and injected into two separate sites.
• Injections are given for 7 days, every 28 days.  (They may be given 5 days in a row.  Rest for 2 days, and then given for 2 more days.  For instance: give: Monday – Friday, rest the weekend, resume Monday – Tuesday).

Common Side Effects

• Nausea and vomiting - Pre medications will be given
• Reduced blood counts.  Your health care team will discuss with you if you need a blood transfusion..
• An injection site reaction – raised, red, bruised, and tender
• Fatigue, arthralgia (joint pain)

Less Common Side Effects

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

When to Call your Health Care Provider

• Fever of 100.8° F or greater
• Bleeding
• Inability to eat or drink
• A painful injection site not relieved with Tylenol® or Benadryl® cream or lotion
• Constipation not relieved with stool softener and/or Milk of Magnesia®.

Special Concerns

• Rotate the injection sites at least 1 inch apart; inject under skin not in muscle.
• Never inject in an area that is tender, bruised, red, or hard.
• Never use ice before or after an injection.  This may decrease the absorption of the drug.
• Never use hot compresses.  This may increase the symptoms or cause blisters to form at the injection site.
• You may apply cold or warm compresses for 24 hours after the injection.
• Use precautions to prevent pregnancy.

Arimidex A Hormonal Agent for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Description

A medicine given to postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

How It Is Given

Taken by mouth once a day.

Role of Arimidex and How It Works

Breast cancer growth may be estrogen dependent.  It is important to suppress estrogen for this reason.  Aromatase is the principle enzyme in the body that converts androgen to estrogen in postmenopausal women.  Arimidex is a medicine that inhibits aromatase that then prevents the formation of estrogen and keeps the estrogen levels in the blood minimized.

Who Can Use Arimidex

Arimidex is used for women who no longer have working ovaries.  This includes postmenopausal women as well as younger women of premenopausal age who no longer have working ovaries.  Arimidex should not be taken by women with working ovaries or pregnant women.

Common Side Effects

• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Muscle aches

Less Common Side Effects

• Swelling of the arms and/or legs
• Pain
• Blood clots

An Overview of Prostate Seed Implantation

This handout explains what happens when a prostate seed implant (PSI) is done.  It talks about what a PSI is and how your doctor determines if a PSI is right for you.  It also briefly reviews the PSI process.

What is a Prostate Seed Implant (PSI)?

A Prostate Seed Implant is a type of treatment for prostate cancer.  It uses radiation “seeds”.  The “seeds” are put into the prostate gland by your radiation doctor.  They remain in place permanently.  The seeds spread cancer-killing radiation to a small area.  Large parts of the bladder and rectum are avoided.  Patients who undergo a PSI must follow radiation safety precautions.  These are explained in HFFY # 6567 Radiation Safety for PSI. 

overtime.

Is a PSI right for me?

Your radiation doctor will determine whether a PSI is right for you.  Many factors are involved.  He or she will talk to you about these factors.  If the radiation doctor thinks you may be a candidate for this type of treatment, and you want to go ahead, we will begin the PSI process.

The PSI Process

A person having a PSI takes part in a 3-phase process.  This process takes place over a number of weeks.  The first phase of the process is called the “Work-Up”.  In this phase, various issues are addressed to make sure that a PSI is right for you.  These issues are explained in HFFY # 5508, The PSI Work-Up.  The PSI Work-Up may show that a PSI is not right for you.  If this is the case, the radiation doctor will talk to you about other treatment options.  The second phase of the process involves tasks that you must complete before the day of the procedure.  These are explained in HFFY # 5731, How to Prepare for your Prostate Seed Implant.  The third phase of the process speaks to what happens after the PSI is done.  These issues are explained in HFFY #6568, What to Expect after a Prostate Seed Implant. 

Anemia Information for You

When your red blood cell count is low, you have anemia.  Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.  They carry oxygen throughout the body.  When there are fewer red blood cells, the body tissues may not get enough oxygen.  Anemia can be measured by a blood test.  The table below lists the normal values.

	Hematocrit (Hct)	Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Men	40-52%	13.6-17.2
Women	34-46%	11.6-15.6

Causes
There are many causes of low red blood cells:  too little iron, blood loss, cancer, genetic disorders, and medicines.

Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin
• Ringing in the ears
• Light-headedness
• Pounding heart rate

TreatmentIron supplements, vitamins, hormones or growth factors may be used.  Blood transfusions may be needed.

Ways to Reduce Symptoms

• Plan frequent, short rest periods.
• Change positions slowly.
  • Lying to sitting
  • Sitting to standing
• Stand awhile before walking.
• Dress warmly.
• Eat a well balanced diet and drink lots of fluids .
• Exercise to lessen feelings of fatigue.  Talk with your doctors and nurses about an exercise plan.

Anal Cancer

The Anus

The anus is the end of the large intestine, below the rectum.  Stool passes through the anus to leave the body.  The anus is made up partly of skin layers and partly from intestinal tissues.  Two muscles, called sphincter muscles, control the passage of stool from the body.  The anal canal, the part of the anus between the rectum and the anal opening, is about 1 ½ inches long.

Anal cancer makes up about 1-2 percent of all cancers of the large bowel and its outlet.  Most (80-90%) are called squamous cell cancers.  These arise from the outer layer of the skin.  

Anal cancer can spread into nearby tissues, such as the skin and sphincter muscle, or organs such as the prostate, bladder, or vagina.  Tumor cells can spread via the lymph system to nearby or distant lymph nodes.  They can also travel through the blood stream to distant organs.  Anal cancer is highly treatable.  It can most often be cured in the early stages. 

Risk Factors

Chronic anal inflammation is linked with anal cancer.  Listed below are some of the risk factors.

• Age – increased risk over age 50
• Having multiple sexual partners
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Fissures, fistulas, hemorrhoids, and certain sexually transmitted diseases
• Receptive anal sex
• HIV
• Smoking cigarettes

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of anal cancer are listed below.  In the early stages there may be no symptoms.

• Bleeding or discharge from the anus or rectum
• Pain or pressure in the rectal and anal area
• Anal itching
• A lump near the anus
• A change in bowel habits

Prognosis

The prognosis depends on certain factors.  Some of theses are listed below.

• The size of the tumor.  There are higher cure rates with smaller tumors.
• Where the tumor is in the anus.
• Whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs.

Diagnosis

These tests may be used to diagnose anal cancer.  They also help to decide on the stage of disease (extent of the cancer).  This is helpful to know in order to make a treatment plan.

• History and physical exam - a digital rectal exam, review of health habits, past illness, and treatments
• CT scan
• Anoscopy –an exam of the anus and lower rectum using a scope.
• Proctoscopy –an exam of the rectum using a scope.
• Transrectal or transanal ultra sound – A scope is placed into the rectum and the ultrasound is done.  This test helps to find out if the cancer has spread to local lymph nodes. 
• Biopsy

Stages of Anal Cancer

The stage of anal cancer describes whether the cancer has remained within the anus, has spread to nearby or distant lymph nodes, or other organs. 

Stage 0 – cancer is found only in the inner lining of the anus. 

Stage I – the tumor is 2 cm or smaller

Stage II – the tumor is larger than 2 cm

Stage IIIA – the tumor has spread

• to lymph nodes near the  rectum, or
• nearby organs

Stage IIIB – the tumor has spread

• to nearby organs and to lymph nodes near the rectum, or
• to lymph nodes on one side of the pelvis and/or groin, and may have spread to nearby organs, or
• to lymph nodes near the rectum and in the groin, and/or lymph nodes on both sides of the pelvis and/or groin, and may have spread to nearby organs

Stage IV – the tumor may be any size and cancer may have spread to lymph nodes or nearby organs and has spread to distant parts of the body

Recurrent anal cancer – cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated.  It may come back in the anus or in other parts of the body.

Treatment Overview

Radiation Therapy is  a cancer treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells.  There are two types of radiation. 

External beam – uses a machine outside the body to send radiation to the cancer. 

Internal beam – uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed into or near the cancer. 

Chemotherapy (chemo) uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemo is a treatment that can reach the cancer cells throughout the body.  It is used with radiation

Surgery is used if there is still disease after the chemoradiotherapy.  Surgery may be done for small amounts of tumor, keeping sphincter muscle control.  For more advanced disease, surgery may be required to remove the anus, rectum, and lymph nodes.  A colostomy may be needed.

 

Follow-Up Care

Careful follow-up exams are needed.  Exams with anoscopy should be performed every 3 months for 3 years, then every 6 months for 2-3 years.  Careful exams of lymph nodes, liver function blood tests, and CT scans are all part of complete follow-up care.