http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/could-kennedys-tumor-have-been-caught-5-years-ago.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/could-kennedys-tumor-have-been-caught-5-years-ago.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
“I’m pretty confident they could have caught Kennedy’s cancer 5 years ago,” says Dr. Anthony Martin author of “Medical Crisis: Secrets your doctor won’t share with you.”

Dr. Martin did not treat the senator, but believes Kennedy was experiencing warning signs for half a decade before his May 20th seizure.

“His seizure was prompted by the size of the tumor, but before it got that large the bell would have been ringing ‘check the engine – something’s wrong!”

It takes more than 5 years for most cancers to grow to the size of the tip of a ball point pen. By the time cancer is found by routine tests or massive symptoms (like a seizure) the patient may have missed precious time.

“Your car has dashboard warning lights to alert you that the oil is low or you’re out of gas,” says Dr. Martin, “the body has those same warning signals. You just have to know how to read them.”

As a U.S. Senator Kennedy had access to the best health care and routine exams, but Dr. Martin says the doctors wouldn’t have been running the tests they should have.

“By the time routine blood tests come back abnormal, the disease has already spread. It takes quite a long time for tests to show the body has broken down. That is precious time for someone with a growing cancerous tumor they don’t know about.”

Dr. Martin says Kennedy would likely have been experiencing a high free radical count, fatigue, inflammation and an acidic PH level. All those things could have been ‘caught’ by a urine test, two blood tests and a saliva test.

Most doctors know these warning signs, but few sit back to contemplate how these symptoms work together to affect your health.

“More than half of people who make appointments with their doctors complain of fatigue,” says Dr. Martin, “but doctors rarely bother to ask why you’re tired or how that affects long-term health. They (doctors) wind up prescribing sleeping pills or dealing with the short-term affects of exhaustion. They don’t stop to think that lack of energy is a big, red, flashing warning sign that something is seriously about to go wrong with the body.”

Dr. Martin suggests once you’ve got a realistic idea of where you stand you can start giving yourself the antidote. “Change your attitude, change your diet, change your exercise habits and change your supplements.”

“So much of what Americans are dying from these days is 100-percent preventable,” says Dr. Martin. He believes breast cancer and prostate cancer are among the diseases that don’t need to be fatal.

It is too late to catch Senator Kennedy’s cancer in the early stage. It remains to be seen how he will recover – if he recovers at all.

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Dr. Martin is a certified as a Natural Medicine Practitioner as well as a qualified Chiropractor. He is a respected and renowned nutraceutical consultant, nutritional practitioner, author and medical spokesperson. He is a world famous research leader in the fields of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and environmental toxins and has spoken at seminars across the United States, Canada, France, China and South Korea. Dr. Martin is also a frequent guest on television and radio across the US and Canada, where he also hosts his own radio show “Ask The Doctor.” He heads up his own practice, The Martin Clinic, in Sudbury, Ontario and is passionate on educating people about the importance of proper nutrition. His says his personal purpose in life is to help people regain their health. Dr. Anthony Martin’s website can be found at www.drmartin.ca

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/skin-cancer--basal-cell-cancer-1.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/skin-cancer--basal-cell-cancer-1.html Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Causes of Basal Cell Cancer

It is one the most frequently diagnosed skin cancer.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the main risk factor for developing BCCs. While its occurrence is more in older people, it is becoming more common in younger people even in their 20s and 30s.

Fair-skinned people have a much greater risk for BCC. Radiation treatments, as well as immune suppression, also increase one's risk. In western countries, those who use tanning beds also have an elevated risk for BCCs. People with several inherited disorders that manifest a greater sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, have an increased prevalence of BCC.


Signs & Symptoms of Basal Cell Cancer

Basal cell carcinoma is seen most often on the head and neck, but can affect any area.

The typical signs of BCC are:

An open sore that has not healed in three weeks and is oozing, bleeding or crusting.

A irritated patch of skin, especially on the face, neck, chest, arms, or legs.

Any new, smooth skin nodule (bump) with a raised border and indented center. Or a smooth, shiny, or pearly bump that looks like a mole or cyst.

A scar especially on the face, with a shiny look of tight-looking skin, and poorly defined edges.

Occasional BCCs can be pigmented (dark), particularly in darker-skinned individuals. In these cases, the tumors manifest the same signs of a non-pigmented variant, except they are brown instead of pink.

A fairly common BCC variant is superficial BCC. It rarely invades and is typically confined to the epidermis. It is seen on the trunk and extremities and appears as a red, scaly plaque, with crusting. Because of its similarity in appearance and slow growth, to that of eczema or psoriasis, it becomes difficult to diagnose.

A form of BCC known as morpheaform or sclerosing BCC causes a more aggressive lesion. It looks whitish, without a defined edge, and is firm to the touch. It may look like a scar and can blend in fairly well with the surrounding skin, thus escaping detection for years, while continuing to spread. When these tumors are removed, they are surprisingly larger than expected.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

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DoctorGoodSkin.com is a popular skin care guide where you can find a lot of information, articles and tips about acne, skin care, STDs, skin diseases and conditions, skin treatments, procedures, skin care products, etc. If you love solving quizzes and tests, visit funquizcards.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/kidney-cancer-synopsis.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/kidney-cancer-synopsis.html Sat, 05 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
They are also part of the process of red blood cell production and work to control blood pressure. Each kidney is a package of many small filtering units, called "nephrons". Kidney transplants are a fairly common operation now and it is possible for a person to donate one of their kidneys and live the rest of their lives, using the one remaining kidney. Just like any other organ in your body, your kidneys can develop cancer.

In its early stages, kidney cancer very rarely shows any symptoms, so unless it is detected by a doctor, by a urinalysis test, the chances of a person noticing anything unusual, or out of the ordinary, relating to the cancer, are very slim. Children and adults tend to develop two different types of kidney cancer. The type that adults are most likely to develop is called (renal adenocarcinoma) and the type of kidney cancer that children are most likely to develop is called (Wilm's tumor).

In its later stages, when it generally does start to show some physical symptoms, these symptoms will tend to be as follows. Noticeable blood in the urine. It is possible to have blood in your urine in such small quantity that it is not noticeable to the naked eye. Small amounts of blood can be detected by a doctor by testing the urine for blood. Another symptom of kidney cancer is a loss in weight.

Some people can tend to see weight loss as a blessing. Particularly weight loss that has occurred through no effort. Sudden unaccounted for weight loss however is a symptom of many types of cancer and diseases. So unless a person has made an effort to lose weight, it is wise to view unaccounted for weight loss, particularly large weight loss that occurs suddenly, with some measure of concern. Another symptom of kidney cancer is back pain that doesn't seem to go away.

Like so many other cancers, an early detection is a key to a full recovery. The longer a cancer, like kidney cancer, remains undetected the better the chance it has to spread to other parts of your body. When a cancer spreads to another part of your body it is said to "metastasize". If detected early though, the chances for a full recovery are very good. There are several forms of treatment for kidney cancer and what stage the cancer is in, can be a major determinating factor in what type of treatment is used to attack the cancer.

In the past, surgery for kidney cancer involved the removal of the entire kidney. Research has led to a change of procedure in recent years. It was determined that by removing only the tumor and leaving the kidney intact, when it was possible, the patient faced a lesser chance of kidney failure and an increased quality of life after the treatment.

Another type of treatment for kidney cancer is referred to as "arterial embolization". This is a procedure where the vessel that supplies blood to the cancerous kidney is blocked. Other treatments include radiation therapy and chemo therapy and immunotherapy, which uses your bodies own immune system to fight the cancer.

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Article by Sven Ullmann, who runs Deserved Health - information on health for you and your family. Read more about kidney cancer.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/complete-information-on-colorectal-cancer.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/complete-information-on-colorectal-cancer.html Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
It is common in the Western world and is rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing. Cancer that starts in these different areas may cause different symptoms. In most cases, colorectal cancers develop slowly over many years. The risk of developing colorectal cancer more common in people over 50. Women who have a history of ovarian, uterine or breast cancer have a somewhat increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. A diet high in fat and calories and low in fiber may be linked to a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer.

People with diabetes have a 30-40% increased risk of developing colon cancer. Parents, siblings, and children of a person who has had colorectal cancer are somewhat more likely to develop colorectal cancer themselves. If many family members have had colorectal cancer, the risk increases even more. About 112,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer annually, and about 41,000 new cases of rectal cancer are diagnosed each year. Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool for more than a couple of weeks.

Other symptoms are the rectum bleeding or the blood in yours stool, persisted stomach and intestines uncomfortable, for example the cramp, the gas or the pain, the stomach and intestines your intestines incompletely dump the pain by the intestines movement, the feeling, weakness or is weary and without the showing reduction. Has increase development disease person's risk some factors. The treatment is decided by the cancer staging. When the colorectal cancer is seized at the early surgery still is the main treatment when the chemotherapy and/or the radiotherapy is perhaps recommended the basis independent patient's staging and other medical factors.

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Juliet Cohen writes articles for health problems. She also writes articles for modern hairstyles.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/hopefully-one-day-soon-we-will-have-a-treatment-for-cancer-that-works-more-safely.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/hopefully-one-day-soon-we-will-have-a-treatment-for-cancer-that-works-more-safely.html Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Chemotherapy is a prime treatment for cancer. It works as a poison in the human body in order to kill the cancer cells. Unfortunately, poisons aren't good for our bodies. This is where cancer victims have to fight for their lives and sanity while losing their hair. It's a gut wrenching process, but one we humans have to deal with. Researchers are always on the lookout for that new treatment for cancer. This disease probably affects our species worse than any other illness. While some believe the HIV virus to be the worst of illnesses known to man, simply because it ensures death at some point when AIDS kicks in, I feel that cancer is much worse because it can't be prevented. Even those who eat well and live right can still be afflicted with cancer.

I recall standing in line at a grocery store, and the man ahead of me was very jovial and physically fit. I didn't really give him a second thought until I heard him interact with the sales clerk. She asked him if he wanted to donate a dollar to a breast cancer foundation. He responded with a resounding, no. The sales clerk looked slightly annoyed at his reaction, but I'm sure she'd heard it a million times. Then the man stated why he didn't wish to donate. He said, "I had cancer and needed their help, but they wouldn't help me. It seemed I had the wrong kind of cancer." The sales lady looked speechless.

Treatment for cancer can not only be harsh on the body, but hard to afford as well. This is why there are foundations in place. It's clear that research must be done before checking with certain cancer treatment organizations for assistance. Hopefully one day soon we will have a treatment for cancer that works more safely and effectively than what is offered today, or better yet, a cure.




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Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and has been researching and reporting on Internet Marketing for years. For more information on treatment for cancer, visit his site at Treatment for Cancer

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/balance-estrogen-naturally-with-diindolylmethane-dim.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/balance-estrogen-naturally-with-diindolylmethane-dim.html Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0600
The estrogen hormone tells cells in the body to grow. Throughout our lives, estrogen has important a vital functions such as orchestrating menstruation from the time we reach puberty through the time we reach menopause, keeping our bones strong, and maintaining low cholesterol levels. Estrogen is made in our ovaries and then sent through our bloodstream, where it comes in contact with every cell in our body. However, only certain cells with estrogen receptors will respond to its presence.

Estrogen dominance is characterized by an abundance of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include: mood swings, feeling anxious, painful periods, sore breasts, hot flashes, night sweats, foggy thinking, low libido, problematic PMS, and stubborn weight gain. It can begin by exposure to estrogen mimics (xenoestrogens), which are certain chemicals in the environment such as pesticides, plastics, soaps, emulsifiers, household cleaning products, and even car exhaust. These estrogen mimics look and act enough like natural estrogens that our body accepts them as estrogen. They latch on to estrogen receptors on cancer cells, and signal the cancer cell to grow and divide, making the cancer spread. They can also latch onto estrogen receptors on healthy cells and send false signals, or block the natural estrogen hormone from binding to its receptor, causing more estrogen to circulate in the bloodstream. Estrogen dominance can also be caused by a slow estrogen metabolism. If the rate of the metabolism that breaks down estrogen after they complete the activity on their target cells is too slow, an excess of unmetabolized estrogen is left circulating the body.

Researchers have also discovered that estrogen can be metabolized in two different pathways in the liver, which results in two different kinds of estrogen, “good” and “bad” estrogen. “Good” estrogen metabolites are released into the bloodstream there they cause many of the benefits estrogen provides, such as prevention of heart disease, and strong, healthy bones. “Bad” estrogen, in large quantities, can result in many health problems including autoimmune disorders, breast cancer, cervical dysplasia, clinical depression, fibroid tumors, infertility, magnesium deficiency, osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and zinc deficiency.

When dealing with estrogen dominance, it is not a good idea to take more progesterone to even out hormonal balance. Taking more progesterone won’t necessarily restore hormonal balance. Rather, it might be metabolized into more estrogen, resulting in an even greater hormonal imbalance and greater estrogen dominance. Instead, one should take the DIM supplement, which improves hormonal balance and eliminated estrogen dominance by shifting the way that estrogen is metabolized in our body. This creates more “good” estrogen metabolites and less “bad” estrogen metabolites. Although it does not increase or decrease estrogen levels, it directs how the estrogen is metabolized.

Research has suggested that DIM may also help to prevent breast cancer. After studying a group of women for periods up to nineteen years, the women who developed breast cancer were noted to have a significantly lower ratio of “good” estrogen metabolites as compared to “bad” estrogen metabolites. In comparison, those who did not develop breast cancer had a high ratio of “good” estrogen metabolites to “bad” estrogen metabolites. Scientists have determined that DIM actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells. It enhances the activity of enzymes found in certain pathways of the liver, which are important for the healthy estrogen metabolism that reduces the risk of cancer development.

When buying a DIM supplement, it is suggested that you read the label of the DIM product you’re going to buy. Be certain that you are getting 120 mg of DIM complex, which is standardized to 30 mg DIM per dose. Because DIM is very hard to absorb, the products needs to be in a specialized complex that improves bioavailability. Although most women only need one dose of DIM per day, women suffering with a large amount of estrogen dominance symptoms may find greater relief by doubling the dose and taking DIM twice a day. Because some women may have a minor stomach ache after taking DIM, taking the supplement with food will eliminate the problem. Research of DIM’s safety has shown no harmful effects, even when the doses were at hundreds of times the amount provided in the supplements. A common side effect of DIM is a harmless changing of the color of your urine. Because these changes can occur when you eat a large amount of broccoli or asparagus also, drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day will solve the problem.

If you have estrogen dominance, adding more hormones will only put you at a greater risk for cancer. Instead, restore your hormonal balance by taking the powerful, all-natural DIM supplement. DIM can be found at your local Health Food Store or Internet Health Food Store.

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Visit VitaNet Health Foods at http://vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells high quality supplements like DIM for Estrogen Balance. Please link to this site when using this article.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/breast-cancer-alternative-treatment-and-diet.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/breast-cancer-alternative-treatment-and-diet.html Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:12:25 -0500
Despite the progress of medical science, the frequency of breast cancer is increasing every day around the world. He is the most common cancer in women. One woman out of twelve will be affected by breast cancer during her lifetime, according to several medical statistics. The disease becomes so popular to the point that a large majority of women are afraid to undergo a mammogram. Women of all classes feel concerned about breast cancer. Billions of dollars are spent in studies, but the causes are still poorly understood, healing is hypothetical.

To increase their chance of being cured of breast cancer, some victims turn to alternative treatments. Either alone or along with the conventional treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonotherapy, surgery, etc.) every day more and more women use natural medicine to fight breast cancer. If you are one of them, this article will be an additional weapon in your war against breast cancer.

Is there an alternative way to eradicate breast cancer besides chemotherapy and radiotherapy?

Immunotherapy - is a type of therapy consists of stimulating the normal defenses (immune reactions) of the body to fight or protect the body against pathogenic attack, including the development of cancer cells. Immunotherapy is not new as many may think; however, in the past, physicians believed that the immune system fought only against bacterial and viral attacks. About 100 years ago, Dr. William Coley has demonstrated that it can cure or control the proliferation of cancer cells by injecting vaccine that strengthens the immune system. However, the theory was not so appreciated by the medical elite.

After years of studies, researchers have found that the immune system plays an essential role in protecting the body against cancer. Studies have also shown that patients who have a strong immune system not only more likely to be cured from breast cancer but also to reverse the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. That is, your chance to be healed depending largely on the health of our immune system.

How can you boost your immune system naturally?
There are many supplements, If taken regularly and as recommended, that can give you the immune system of a child. Some of them include:

Lignans - Lignans are non steroidal compounds of the family of phytoestrogens (also known as dietary estrogens) found in large quantities in fruits and vegetables, soy, flaxseed and grains. They have preventive and curative effects on breast cancer, according to new studies conducted by a group of French and German doctors in premenopausal women with breast cancer and healthy premenopausal women. It seems that lignans affect the breast tissue by blocking the synthesis and movement of female hormones, preventing tumor development. The medical elite do not confirm these studies yet; if you are a cancer victim, however, you can increase your lignans intake.

Ellagic acid - ellagic acid is a polyphenol antioxidant present in many fruits and vegetables such as raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, pecans, grenades, etc. Researchers have found that Ellagic acid may inhibit or slow the development of cancer cells. It is also suggested that ellagic acid can help reduce heart disease, liver problems, and birth defects. However, to get satisfying results, this supplement must be taken with a diet rich in fruits and cruciferous vegetables.

Astragalus - Astragalus propinquus (or simply Astragalus) has been used in herbal medicine for centuries to strengthen the body against diseases including but limited to colds, upper respiratory infections, heart disease, lower blood pressure, diabetes, liver problems, and many types of cancer. Astragalus has been shown in medical studies to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, antiviral and diuretic properties. Using it regularly as recommended, Astragalus can not only prevent or eradicate cancer cells, but also a wide range of other ailments.

Graviola - also known as sour, Brazilian Paw Paw, Guanábana, Graviola boosts the immune system, reverses some chemotherapy side effects, and enhances the effectiveness of other cancer remedies. Thus, it is recommended to take it with other supplements.

Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) - Ip6 is another supplement you can take to fight breast, colon, and prostate cancer. For more details on these supplements and other natural remedies, visit breastcanceralternative.com, or click on the link in About Author below.

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Remy is a multi-topic writer with years of experience in nutrition and naturotherapy. He loves to share his own personal beneficial experience with natural alternative to others. For your research on health problems, beauty and personal care, please visit breast cancer alternative

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/diep-flap-breast-reconstruction.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/diep-flap-breast-reconstruction.html Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
If you are a woman facing mastectomy due to breast cancer you have a decision to make: do you want breast reconstruction? If the answer is "yes", plastic surgery and particularly DIEP breast reconstruction, may hold the key. Although reconstruction cannot replace the breast(s) you were born with or allow you to breastfeed, it can restore your natural silhouette and make you feel "whole" again following mastectomy.

Depending on your health, breast reconstruction can be performed immediately after your mastectomy so you can wake up with new breasts already in place. While the cosmetic results with immediate mastectomy reconstruction are generally superior, reconstructive surgery can also be performed at a later time once the cancer treatment has been completed.

DIEP flap surgery represents today's gold standard in breast restoration. Advances in breast reconstructive techniques have made it possible to use excess skin and fat from the abdomen (rather like the tissue removed during a tummy tuck) to construct a new, "natural" breast without the need for implants or the sacrifice of abdominal muscle. The DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flap is a sophisticated modification of an existing surgery known as the TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous) flap.

TRAM flap surgery is a common breast reconstruction technique that requires the rectus abdominus (sit-up) muscle to be sacrificed and relocated to the upper abdomen. Unfortunately, this technique can be associated with significant post-operative pain, prolonged recovery, loss of abdominal muscle strength (up to 20%), abdominal bulging (or "pooching"), and even abdominal hernia.

DIEP flap breast reconstruction is similar to the TRAM procedure but spares the rectus abdominus muscle. SKIN AND FAT ONLY are removed from the abdomen, transplanted to the chest and connected using microsurgery to create the new breast. NO MUSCLE is sacrificed. As the sit-up muscle is left behind in its natural place many of the above complications are avoided and the patient essentially receives a tummy tuck at the same time. There also tends to be far less pain and a quicker recovery time because the abdominal muscles are left in place.

Knowing the significant advantages of DIEP flap surgery it is easy to understand the reason for all the hype, especially for active individuals who donít want to sacrifice the strength of their abdomen. A breast that has been reconstructed with fat and skin will also look and feel more natural than an implant reconstruction and will last longer without the long-term risks that can be associated with implants. Unlike an implant, the reconstructed breast also ages like a natural breast.

As with all types of breast reconstruction however, 2 or 3 stages performed a few months apart are often required to complete the reconstruction process and to obtain the best cosmetic result. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the surgery very few centers in the US perform the DIEP procedure so many patients will have to travel for the procedure. The good news is that many of these specialist centers will accommodate out-of-state and even international patients. So how do you find a top DIEP flap surgeon? To learn if a breast center or plastic surgeon near you offers this advanced procedure, please check the following website:

www.diepbreastreconstruction.org/diepdocs1.htm

The list on this website seems fairly thorough. Having said that, currently there are only about 40 plastic surgeons in the US that routinely perform DIEP breast reconstruction. Before choosing a DIEP surgeon ensure that he/she is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience with this type of surgery (preferably over 100 procedures). Ask about the success rate in their hands (most specialists boast a flap survival rate of 97% to 99%+) and how many cases they have performed.

Unfortunately, some patients will face difficulties in gaining access to specialists offering DIEP breast reconstruction even though insurance companies are federally mandated to pay for the cost of breast reconstruction. Here again it pays to seek out plastic surgeons who specializing in these procedures as typically an insurance specialist is available to help patients with insurance issues. Learn more about the DIEP flap breast reconstruction procedure here.


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Dr Chrysopoulo - Plastic, Reconstructive and Microsurgical Associates (PRMA) of South Texas is one of the largest private practices in the US offering microsurgical breast reconstruction. Our board certified plastic surgeons specialize in DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer and perform more than 300 microsurgical breast reconstructions each year. Tel: (800) 692-5565.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/cancer-warning-adds-wrinkle-to-cellphone-debate.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/cancer-warning-adds-wrinkle-to-cellphone-debate.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500 NEW YORK
Cancer
cellphones

NEW YORK - When Amy Morris' twin boys, then 11, went on an academic trip to Washington last year, she agreed to give them cellphones at the program's request. But this summer she was dismayed to learn that girls at her 8-year-old daughter's day camp were using cellphones they'd taken along in their backpacks.

"We were outraged," says the Connecticut mother, who adds that the camp didn't know. "These girls think it's a cute game. But it's inappropriate, and it's unnecessary."

It's a signature parenting dilemma of the wireless age: Should kids have cellphones? And how old is old enough? It pits our understandable desire to keep tabs on our offspring - not to mention make them happy - against the instinctive feeling that it's simply, well, wrong for youngsters to spend their time chatting and texting over the airwaves.

Now, there's further ammunition for Morris and other reluctant parents like her to stand firm: The warning last week by the head of a prominent cancer-research institute to his faculty and staff. Limit cellphone use, he said, because of the possible cancer risk - especially when it comes to children, whose brains are still developing.

The warning from Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, was based on early, unpublished data and came despite numerous studies that haven't found a link between increased tumors and cellphone use.

But it's struck a nerve among parents who already have other reasons to resist their children's entreaties.

"Now we hear about this possible medical risk," says Marybeth Hicks, an author, columnist and mother of four. "I couldn't possibly know if it's real or not. But I know that it's probably not necessary for most children to have a cellphone."

To her, "it's part of this whole rush to adulthood - Hello Kitty backpacks for third-graders have cellphone pockets in them! Marketers have skillfully created a groundswell of begging among kids - and we all know that begging can work."

Hicks, whose book "Bringing Up Geeks: How to Protect Your Kid's Childhood in a Grow-Up-Too-Fast World," is about just such problems, has personal experience with persistent children.

"My 10-year-old daughter thinks she's deprived," Hicks says. "She's been saying she's the only one at school without a phone, and it's actually getting to be true." And her son, she says, was the only kid in his eighth-grade class without a phone. (He just got one, right before freshman year in high school.)

Hicks, who lives in East Lansing, Mich., is aware that some parents feel cellphones are an essential security tool for their kids.

But, she says, "I always know where my kids are. A cellphone is a tool to negotiate the world once you have the responsibility to be out in the world on your own."

Morris, of Weston, Conn., has decided that for her own kids, middle school is about the right time. "My boys are starting to walk home alone sometimes," she says. "I want them to have a phone."

Being boys, though, they tend to forget the darned things all the time - especially in situations when they actually need them.

So far, Morris has avoided giving one to her younger child, she says, not an easy thing in a society where kids, especially girls, are so sensitive to social pressures. "I think a lot of parents in this country just give in," she says. She's especially concerned about the rampant text messaging among the younger set.

Statistics from the Pew Research Center show just how deeply ingrained in our daily lives cellphones have become: Fully 78 percent of all adults own them, including 86 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds and 55 percent of Americans 65 and older. Pew doesn't compile statistics on those under 18.

Text messaging, on the other hand, is the province of the young: 74 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds do it but only 6 percent of the 65-plus crowd.

Should the latest medical news cause huge concern among parents who have given in? "If you've got good reasons for them to have it, I'd go ahead," says Frank Barnes, a professor who chaired a recent report on the subject. However, he added, "they've probably got other things they should be doing."

Ultimately, parents have to make their own rules - but that's difficult when the social pressure is so strong, says Lisa Bain, executive editor of Parenting magazine. "The age is creeping down," she says. "Girls tend to get them younger. It's become a status symbol - it makes them feel grown up."



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Ultimately, parents have to make their own rules - but that's difficult when the social pressure is so strong, says Lisa Bain, executive editor of Parenting magazine. "The age is creeping down," she says. "Girls tend to get them younger. It's become a status symbol - it makes them feel grown up."

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/courthouse-in-palm-springs-exposed-to-asbestos-cancer_1.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/cancer/courthouse-in-palm-springs-exposed-to-asbestos-cancer_1.html Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:18:35 -0600
City Officials say they aren’t sure just how much asbestos has been found or the risk it poses to the community, but investigators are currently investigating the issue.

Signs of Asbestos Caution Posted

Since the asbestos cancer problems were discovered, signs warning locals of the potential for developing fatal forms of cancer like mesothelioma cancer have been posted around the courthouse.

Protective clothing and respirators have also been used by investigators since the scope of the situation has yet to be determined.

Employees at the courthouse have been moved to a different part of the building to continue their work to prevent them from being exposed to asbestos cancer diseases.

Cancer Risks Associated with Asbestos

Health experts say that the dangers of asbestos have been proven and once the fibers are released into the air, serious health complications often result.

Employees at the courthouse have voiced their concerns over the issue and question whether they should be working in the building at all.

However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that if the asbestos removal is done properly, employees won’t be at risk.

(Source: KPSP)

Are you living with mesothelioma cancer? If so, please contact mesothelioma treatment centers to speak with someone about the legal resources available to you.

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Treatment for mesothelioma cancer and asbestos cancer diseases. More information on deadly mesothelioma and asbestos cancer can be found at Mesothelioma Treatment Centers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>