By James Turner

Most people accept the notion that the development of a tumor is not manifested by specific signs. This is not entirely true. There are many cancer symptoms that are typical for one or more of these types of conditions. Regrettably, both men and women often ignore them or prefer to deny that they have a problem. That is why it is worth learning more about these ignored cancer warning signs and symptoms, as well as their significance.

Untypical bleeding is one of the extremely common cancer symptoms that can be easily ignored. The truth is that it can point to different types of cancer. Coughing blood can be a sign of a tumor development in the throat. If you see blood in the toilet bowl, it might be due to the presence of kidney or uterine cancer. The blood on stools is not necessarily associated with the presence of hemorrhoids. In some cases, it might be present due to tumors in the colon or rectum.

Many women ignore bleeding from the vagina between menstrual periods. This is particularly true to those in menopause. It is true that for some women this is common and is not caused by a disease. However, in most cases it is a disturbing sign. The bleeding from the vagina can be caused by endometrial and cervix cancer.

The enlargement of the lymph nodes is another one of the widely ignored cancer symptoms. It is true that your lymph nodes become larger and tender and often even painful during an infection. However, when the condition is persistent this might signal the development of a tumor. That is why it is a good idea to see your doctor, if you have noticed a persistent enlargement in the neck, underarm or groin lymph nodes and/or swelling in these areas.

Unexplained changes in the skin can also be hidden cancer symptoms. Mole changes are certainly a disturbing sign that should not be ignored. This is also applicable to any sudden and untypical changes in the skin's texture, such as scaling. A change in the skin of the breast can signal a very rare, but serious form of breast cancer.

Do not blame difficulty swallowing on a sore throat. This can be one of the most notable gastrointestinal tract cancer symptoms. In fact, it is often the first sign of esophagus cancer.

It is extremely important for you to see a doctor, if you have any of these cancer symptoms. Keep in mind that treatment in the early stages is much more effective.

By James Turner

Many people believe that the symptoms of cancer are not present until the malignant tumor has spread beyond the stages at which it can be treated. This is not entirely true. Some types of cancer tend to be particularly "elusive" and do not manifest themselves in any way. However, most forms of the condition have noticeable symptoms. The problem is that they are usually similar to the ones of common and much less serious illnesses.

For all this reason it is worth learning more about the most common cancer warning signs that can be easily ignored. It is true that the symptoms may signal another medical condition, but this should not stop you from seeing your doctor immediately. In this way, you will have the peace of mind that you are fine. Even if you are diagnosed with a less serious medical condition, it will still need treatment.

Pain is probably the most common of all symptoms of cancer. We are used to the notion that the malignant tumor cannot cause pain. However, this is not true. When it spreads within an organ and particularly when it starts affecting other organs, cancer can become painful. The level of pain and its type may differ from one patient to another, depending on the place of the tumor and its size and spread. However, all pain caused by malignant tumor development is characterized by persistence. For this reason, if you have continuous pain, you should see your doctor immediately.

Weight loss is another one of the common cancer symptoms. The human body has natural mechanisms that make weight loss challenging. For this reason, a rapid and unexplained weight loss is certainly a warning sign that there might be something wrong. The reality, however, is that most women are even happy to see such a change. For this reason, it is essential for you to overcome the excitement and see your doctor, when you start losing weight rapidly without reason.

Bleeding is one of the most serious cancer symptoms that should never be ignored. Blood on the stool or on the toilet paper is a common symptom of colorectal cancer. It is natural for this warning sign to be attributed to hemorrhoids, but it is essential for you to see a doctor, if you have it. The presence of blood in the urine is a warning sign of bladder cancer. It is easily noticeable in men. Women might have it mistaken for vaginal bleeding, however.

Despite this, vaginal bleeding in women between periods and in women after menopause can be a serious cancer symptom. It may be a warning sign for cervical and endometrial cancer, in particular. Even though around 85% of all women with menopause bleeding do not have any medical conditions, it is essential to see a doctor.

Coughing up blood is a serious warning sign that should never be ignored. It is usually one of the first symptoms of lung cancer. It is true that the symptom might be caused by a different medical condition, but most of the diseases that can cause the coughing up of blood are particularly serious in general. That is why seeing a doctor immediately is crucial, especially if a specific persistent cough is present as well.

Any changes in the lymph nodes can also be warning signs of cancer and lymphoma, in particular. If you notice that a lump or swelling of the lymph nodes and it is persistent, a medical check is necessary. If these symptoms are not caused by an infection or another illness, you will most likely be tested for cancer.

Skin changes the most notable skin cancer symptoms. An abnormal mole is relatively easy to notice. It should be examined by a physician right away.

Difficulty swallowing is one of the symptoms of cancer that is extremely easy to notice. It is a signal that you may have a type of gastrointestinal cancer and esophagus cancer, in particular. It might also suggest the present of a tumor in the throat.

Changes in the breast of women, in their texture, skin or temperature may be warning signs of breast cancer. This is true for changes in the nipples as well. Men should be equally worried, if they notice these symptoms and mass building in their breast area, in particular.

In general, try not to deny the presence of these symptoms of cancer and take measures for identifying the problem straight away.

By James Turner

It is true that the causes of most types of cancer are unknown. However, it is also true that the right amounts of different types of nutrients in our bodies can keep us healthy. Researchers have studied these nutrients and the foods they come from and have come up with optimistic results that these foods may help prevent and fight cancer. Here is a list of the top anti-cancer foods.

1) Beans are one of the best anti-cancer foods. All types of beans and black and pinto beans, in particular, are rich in powerful antioxidants. These compounds can protect the cells from damage. Laboratory studies have shown that these antioxidants can slow tumor growth. In addition, they can prevent it from spreading to other cells. Given all this, it is more than recommended to serve beans or dishes with beans on your table regularly.

2) Grapes and purple grapes, in particular, have recently gained great popularity as an anti-cancer food. They contain resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that has the potential to prevent process in the body that may trigger cancer. Research on resveratrol is still limited and the optimistic results are not fully proven yet. Despite this, you can readily enjoy grapes, grape juice and grape jam as part of your diet. When you eat grapes, keep in mind that the largest amounts of resveratrol are present in the seeds and skin.

3) Tomatoes are also known to fight cancer. Some scientists claim the power of these red vegetables comes from the pigment that gives them their distinct color - lycopene, but this is not proven yet. Still, a number of clinical studies reveal that tomatoes can reduce the risk of specific type of cancer and prostate cancer, in particular. Researchers have also found that tomato juices, pastes and other processed products might be almost as powerful as the actual vegetable.

4) Asparagus is one of the most beneficial anti-cancer foods. It is rich in folate, a vitamin from the B group. Various studies have shown that this vitamin can effectively prevent the different types of cancer, including colorectal and breast cancer which are some of the most common. Folate is abundantly present in asparagus, but if you do not like this vegetable, you can include more eggs, sunflower seeds, chicken liver and green leafy vegetables in your diet. These are also rich in this powerful nutrient.

All of these anti-cancer foods are beneficial in general. There are a lot of delicious and healthy recipes you can make with them.

By James Turner

We know that smoking increase the risk of certain types of cancer and primarily lung cancer, significantly. Recent studies have suggested that the same, or the link between the consumption of alcohol and cancer are linked. The natural question to ask here is whether alcohol consumption increases the cancer risk.

A recent research has come up with disturbing results. It links alcohol consumption to an increased level of risk of breast, liver, throat, mouth, rectum and esophagus cancer. This is quite disturbing, indeed. In addition, other studies support the results.

Despite these findings, there is no clear link established between drinking and the development of malignant tumors in the body. Furthermore, there is no explanation of exactly how alcohol affects these organs and their cells in particular. Another interesting fact to note is that the different types of liquor seem to pose the same level of cancer risk. However, we know that drinks with lower alcohol levels are less dangerous in general.

Another interesting fact that springs from research is that women are more negatively affected by drinking than men. It has been suggested that even limited and moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer significantly. On the other hand, even the high consumption of alcohol in men has not shown to increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

In general, the increase of risk of this disease due to the consumption of alcohol is unknown. It may be insignificantly small or moderately large. In addition, both researchers and physicians admit that there are different factors that can affect the level of cancer risk liquor consumption poses. It depends on the age and gender of the person and on their family medical history. Additionally, it has been suggested that drinking increases the risk of cancer in smokers the most.

It seems that there might be a link between cancer risk and alcohol consumption. However, this link is not identified yet. You are probably asking yourself what you should do in this situation. The reality is that prominent oncologists cannot agree either. Some recommend the consumption of no more than a glass of alcohol two to three times a week. Others say that you will not be at higher risk of developing cancer if you drink a small amount of liquor every day.

Overall, it is up to you to decide whether to follow the advice of doctors and to what extent. Keep in mind that excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to very serious medical condition, even if it does not have a direct link to cancer risk.

By Crystal L Hogg

For many thyroid cancer patients, a major challenge to overcome is the notorious low-iodine diet. This special eating plan is usually implemented weeks prior to radioactive iodine treatments, which follow a thyroidectomy. The idea is to starve any remaining thyroid cells of iodine so that radioactive iodine (RAI) will be consumed and, thus, remaining cells ablated.

The process can be a grave obstacle for anyone preparing for this treatment by fasting iodine. Why? In the 1920s, the American government thought it would be a good idea to add iodine to salt to prevent goiters and other iodine deficient diseases. Because of this, most salt contains traces of iodine. The fasting of iodine becomes a fasting of salt for the patient, even though sodium is not iodine.

Iodine-free salt can be found in grocery stores. When I had to fast iodine two years ago, I went to three different grocery stores before finding an iodine-free salt. I couldn't eat bread, dairy, fish, sauces, salad dressings or anything that contained salt in the label. If salt is listed on a product label, it is not guaranteed the salt used is iodine-free and, in fact, chances are high it is not.

An iodine-free diet also means avoiding egg yolks, red dye, and anything served in a restaurant. Everything has to be made at home with salt-free butter and iodine-free salt. Luckily, there is a low-iodine cookbook available online. The problem with an iodine-free diet: salt seems to be the only thing that tastes good, especially to one who can't have it!

Throughout history, salt has been an important element. It has been the subject of myths and superstitions, mentioned in folk tales, and even incorporated into religious ceremonies. It has even served as currency or offered as etiquette for guests in some cultures. In ancient Greece, slaves were traded for salt. Have you ever heard the expression "not worth his salt?"

Egyptians used salt in mummification and considered it so important they painted murals about salt-making. The Hopi Indians would fast salt in preparation for important ceremonies to please the Sun god. Roman soldiers were paid with rations of salt known as salarium argentum, a Latin term that gave birth to our word "salary." Early Christians were taught to be the "salt of the earth." The word "salvation" is derived from the word "salt."

Even today, salt is a major part of myths, tradition and religion. Buddhists believe salt repels evil spirits. Jews dip bread in salt in remembrance of a past tradition of using salt in temple offerings on the Sabbath. The Catholic Church uses salt in purifying rituals. These purification ideas give rise to the rituals in most pagan communities to banish deviant spirits or ghosts from a place by laying down salt. Shintos use salt to clean an area of bad energy. India uses salt for good luck. And the Pueblos still worship the Salt Mother.

It is believed the production of salt gave rise to cities and even wars. But why was salt so important? It's a fact that salt makes up nine percent of the body. Salt aids in proper nerve conduction, in the passage of nutrients into cells and in the maintenance of blood pressure. Salt also helps maintain proper blood volume, blood pressure and pH of body fluids. It also contributes to many body functions including acid-base balance, muscular activity and the movement of water between fluid compartments, thus, it is essential for the digestion of food. With such an important role in the body, it is no wonder the two major tastes for humans are sweet and salty. Humans crave salt as a built-in survival mechanism.

The hardest part of my iodine fast was the ban on pizza. Despite the wonderful recipes in the low-iodine cookbook, I couldn't find good ideas for pizza substitutes. After completing radiation, I bought a whole pizza and ate the entire thing myself! I was like a ravaged and crazed addict. On the other hand, this diet proved to be one of the best challenges in my life because it forced me to change some bad habits. This diet made me trade chocolate (yes, chocolate contains iodine), potato-chips and popcorn for bananas and unsalted nuts. I learned to eat healthier as a result.

After three weeks on my iodine fast, I felt a lot better. Because I was eating only fresh, healthy foods, my body became depleted of all the junk food my "busy schedule" allowed me to justify eating every day. I lost a few pounds and had more energy. As a result, I have actually kept a lot of the low-iodine diet-particularly the avoidance of non-processed foods-as part of my daily nutritional plan. It takes a lot longer to prepare my meals without them but is worth the effort. Processed foods are those items mostly found in the aisles or frozen food sections of the grocery store, usually packaged in cans, boxes or bags. Not surprisingly, they also dominate the menus of most drive-throughs and restaurants.

Not only do I save money by not eating out as much, but my diet is much healthier. For the most part, I eat a lot of fresh fish or chicken, steamed vegetables, and superfood shakes. Of course, I do allow myself two junk meals or treats a week! I've learned that depriving myself of junk foods and treats make them crave them all the more- causing indulgence.

By Steven R Newton

Our bodies are naturally built to fight off disease. All things being healthy, they do it very well. But when things are out of balance, the body has to work harder in some of its systems to help others do what they're supposed to do. Pollution, in its many forms, and toxins from unnatural food sources deplete our bodies of their nutrients and vitamins and cause that imbalance. There are more free radicals and less antioxidants, for example, and the immune system is forced to work harder to try to keep us healthy. Over time, with less natural source nutrients in our diets and more toxins in our bodies, our immune systems have been genetically weakening. But fortunate for us, science has once again come forward with a solution. Synthetic vitamins and nutritional supplements have been developed in labs and mass produced for several decades now. We don't need rich, organic soil any more. We can use lots of fertilizers to grow enough food for everybody, and we can get our nutrients off the store shelf...or can we? What exactly is it we're getting off the store shelves these days?

Vitamins are organic micro-nutrients that the body needs to metabolize fats, carbohydrates and some proteins to create energy. Vitamins assist this process but they are not metabolized to provide energy nor are they manufactured by the body for the most part. They play a specific and critical role in the body's disease prevention, which has evolved from natural diets containing many nutrients. Vitamins are generally classified into one of 4 fat soluble types (A, D, E & K) or 9 water soluble types (C & 8 B's). The fat soluble types can be stored in the body for a period of time, whereas most of the water soluble types cannot and must be consumed frequently. In its natural form, a vitamin is a working process that made up of nutrients, enzymes, coenzymes, antioxidants, and trace minerals. Clearly, the body's utilization of vitamins and nutrients is highly complex so how is it that the body can process synthetic vitamins? Or perhaps a more pertinent question is...can the body process synthetic vitamins the same way as those from natural food sources?

Vitamins are a complex biological process that only works when all of the parts of that process are present and working together the way they are supposed to be in concert with several other complex processes within the body. Vitamins will not work as they are intended if they are isolated from those processes. In fact, when they are isolated into their synthetic commercial forms they can act as toxins in the body and challenge the immune system. Large doses of synthetic vitamins can have very serious toxic effects, which can lead to illness or disease. Why is it that synthetic vitamins can be toxic to the body and natural source vitamins are not?

Naturally occurring food source vitamins function within a group of complex processes that the body is designed to depend on. If the process is incomplete, the body will attempt to build or repair that incompleteness, whereas in the natural complex it does not have to. This defence mechanism is genetically programmed into the body at the cellular level. When a synthetic incomplete compound is introduced into the system, the body views this as a mistake and assumes that there is supposed to be the complete process and attempts to add the missing pieces that it knows should be there. It works hard to convert the incomplete synthetic vitamins through the kidneys, skin and other organs. So the body doesn't receive what it needs in the first place, which is a form of stressor, and it has to work harder to repair which is yet another stressor. The end result from taking synthetic vitamins can be some form of negative health effect. So it makes sense that you should be taking natural source vitamins.

It is estimated that nearly 95% of all vitamin products in the stores today are synthetically manufactured. Some are fully synthetic and others are a mix of synthetic and naturally occurring. Note the term "naturally occurring" and not "natural". The term "natural" is a fairly loose word that is used extensively throughout a wide range of product marketing. You see it in food, hygiene, and household products. Because there is no exact definition of what natural is, many marketers have used it to try to position the product as being healthy the but the reality is a little more shocking than that. For example, food manufacturers are allowed to use the word natural, as in "natural fruit flavours", but they are not legally required to have any component of real fruit in it. Many processed food manufacturers are using chemical compositions to create the flavour. Same thing goes with the synthetic vitamins.

Most, if not all, synthetic vitamin manufacturers will use the term "natural" as part of the healthy marketing scheme. The only natural part of it might be some yeast or algae by-product that has been blended with synthetics. Because the yeast or algae by-product is derived from natural botanicals, the manufacturers can legally call them "natural". In fact, those few that use the term "naturally occurring", where they also identify the food source, have a product that has actual food source vitamin content in its composition. Given huge competition in the health supplements marketplace, it should come as no surprise that the large chain stores would buy their vitamin products in huge volumes so as to be competitive in price. Mass produced synthetics are definitely cheaper than the naturally occurring vitamins which are more expensive to produce. So now that you're all concerned about all those synthetic vitamins you've been taking all these years, you can rest assured that there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

The inspiration for this article come from an excerpt of a book that is published on the Organic Consumers Association website. The book is titled "The Vitamin Myth Exposed" by Brian Clement and from my perspective, if you're at all concerned about nutrition, vitamins and/or what's going on in the vitamin industry this is a must read. There is a movement afoot that is charged with the implementation of a new set of Naturally Occurring Standards (NOS), certification procedures, and labels which are truly "organic and beyond," and to expose the fact that 90% or more of the vitamins and supplements now on the market labeled as "natural" or "food based" actually are spiked with synthetic chemicals. There's more information on the website.

So, the next time you go to buy some vitamins, take a look at the label for the term "naturally occurring". If it's not there, you're probably looking at a product that is loaded with synthetically manufactured ingredients. For any alternative cancer treatment or cancer prevention plan, consider naturally occurring vitamins.

By Steven R Newton

Tough to put the pen down on a topic like this. Vitamins are supposed to be good for us...right? Here's a little bit of an insight into vitamins. More precisely, the difference between synthetically manufactured and naturally occurring vitamins from nature. It takes a few minutes to read so grab yourself a cup of green tea and enjoy the read.

Science is a wonderful thing. It has been at the basis of pretty much all technical and medical advances the planet has seen. We put a man on the moon. We discovered electricity. We can talk and see someone around the world in real time. We can measure very precise changes in a star several galaxies away. We can measure how far that star is away because we know how fast light travels. We can map body parts at the genetic level. And of course we've cured many diseases. Yet there is one thing that we've been told that science cannot do yet. And that is, cure cancer.

There are all kinds of science and money going into discovering that elusive cancer cure. In fact, it's one of the largest drivers in the global medical economy. Science has developed all sorts of cancer treatments, both in the conventional and alternative worlds. We all know that the standard approach to treating cancer by the conventional western medical community is usually based in chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. In fact I just heard from a friend that sounds all excited because tomorrow is her last round of chemotherapy and then she's off to Las Vegas for a few days before starting on surgery. Truth be told, I suspect it is the Vegas trip that is winning the excitement race with her right now. But all of these, and several other conventional cancer treatments exist today because of advances in science. Even most aspects of the alternative cancer treatment exist because of some form of science.

Several alternative cancer treatments are based in nutrition. One very common theme throughout this approach is that cancer is a deficiency disease, and that it can be treated by supplementing the diet either with natural food sources and/or using vitamins. In fact, the one thing that the conventional and alternative cancer treatment worlds can probably agree on is that people should eat healthy. Many people believe that natural balanced organic vegan diets based in fruits and vegetables can in fact cure cancer, but that claim is immediately dismissed by the majority of the conventional medical world. Yet one thing that you will find in many of the conventional and alternative cancer treatments is the use of vitamins and nutritional supplements.

Science is a wonderful thing. It has given us the ability to manufacture nutrition in a lab. But here's the kicker; no living thing, whether it be human, animal or plant has been successfully created from chemical compounds. It just hasn't happened yet. There have are some interesting things that have been done around cloning and stem cell research. No doubt about it. But those technologies have been based in existing living or preserved cells. No one has been able successfully create life from mixing a bunch of chemical compounds together. They've been able to duplicate the construct of something exactly, yet not give it life. A simple example is that of salt water where scientists can duplicate exactly the chemical composition of an ocean but no fish have been able to survive in it. So why is it that we would presume that vitamins and nutritious supplements made in a lab would provide us with the exact same benefits as those found in nature? Those very same vitamins and nutrients that the human body has evolved over many thousands of years to depend on for its very survival, or allow our brains to think and make sense of things, or keep our immune system working properly so we stay healthy. But the human body is unable to manufacture most of the vitamins it needs itself, so it takes them from other sources. Let's explore what the differences between synthetic and natural source nutrition might be. Let's talk dirty.

Most land based creatures have evolved on a diet based in plants, and from other creatures that eat plants. The plants need water to survive, but they also need nutrients which they take in from the soil. When those plants are eaten, the nutrients are passed on to the creatures that eat them. At all levels of the food chain, nutrients are passed on in a similar way. Our bodies have developed a highly efficient way of taking in and utilizing vitamins from natural foods, primarily plant sources. So we've come to depend on fruits, nuts and vegetables as a mainstay in our diets. Back in the day, before large scale commercial farming, most people had some sort of garden that they depended on. They knew that if they introduced natural source compost, whether it be plants or the manure from animals that had eaten the plants, then they would have healthier soil. This translated into healthier vitamin rich food crops and, consequently, healthier people. But then something happened.

As medical science evolved, the survival rates of people also increased. We were discovering new cures for just about everything. So as people lived longer, and survival rates increased, the population began to grow in turn creating more demand for food. So our agricultural practices transitioned from smaller scale, localized farms into massive economies-of-grand-scale industrial operations. Traditional farming methods were labour intensive, for the most part. The newer industrial operations, however, utilized machinery and farming became a profitable business to be in. The population was growing. Demand for agricultural products was growing so more people got in to it. But then something changed.

Science delivered to us that agricultural savior, the chemical fertilizer. Farmers loved it because they were able to harvest greater yields on an acre of land than they ever had before. So the population continued to grow and people needed more food. The farmers needed more fertilizer to grow more food. The cycle continued for decades. It was a good thing. However, science had created an agricultural fertilizer that didn't have the natural source nutrients that nature had once provided from the soils. So the fertilized food crops that people were eating were very deficient in the nutrients that our bodies needed. It's been discovered that today's modern agricultural practices have depleted the soils from over 70 of their trace elements (nutrients) to somewhere around 6 to 8. Because of this, people have not been getting the nutrients that they need and their immune systems have been working overtime to try to fight off disease. Any cancer treatment needs a strong immune system.

By Jackie Roberge

Part 1 of a 4 part series

There are several key elements that need to be in place to maximize the chances of complete and lasting healing from cancer. The first is to have a strong, well-functioning immune system supported by a healthy body. We also need to be emotionally well balanced and have achieved a good level (knowing no one is perfect) of peace, harmony and fulfillment in our lives. This may sound like a tall order but over the next 4 articles I will be talking about how this is possible and, in fact, how a cancer diagnosis can actually help one achieve this result.

As you know, we all develop cancer cells over the course of our lives. The body, using its innate intelligence, is normally able to identify and destroy these cells without our even realizing it. It is part of the normal functioning of our immune system.

When a cancerous tumor is able to grow out of control, there are likely two things happening. First, your immune system has been weakened in some way so it is not able to naturally stop the rapid growth and spread of cancer cells. This can happen for many reasons including; long-term stress, fatigue, injury, infection, dietary deficiencies, electromagnetic radiation, extreme shock, sadness and/or feelings of hopelessness. The second factor at play is likely a toxic internal environment or body terrain. This can be caused by such factors as negative emotions, too much poor quality or processed food or by the presence of toxins. You can think of your body's internal environment as being like a bath that your cells are constantly immersed in. If the bath water turns toxic it creates an environment where cancer cells can thrive. Cancer cells like an anaerobic, acidic environment and they use the inflammation process in order to expand and penetrate neighboring cells*. If the environment is like this for long enough, cancer cells are able to thrive- meaning they rapidly reproduce and expand their territory and may eventually form a tumor.

Here is an outline of 4 key factors that contribute to fueling cancer cell growth as well as examples of the causes or underlying conditions that support the toxic bath water;

1. Low oxygen - cancer cells thrive in an anaerobic environment
a. Poor breathing - often caused by stress, worry or being rushed
b. Breathing polluted air (in cities) or stale air (as in some office buildings)
c. Lack of exercise - exercise helps increase the circulation of oxygen throughout the body and also helps toxins move through and get flushed out of the body
d. Lack of circulation - often caused by tension, tightness, the build up of stress hormones or the presence of scar tissue
e. Chemo and radiation therapy - both can lower the oxygen level of the blood

2. The presence of inflammation - cancer cells use the inflammation process to invade neighboring cells and sustain growth
a. Injuries - can lead to localized inflammation
b. Diet:
- An imbalance in the ratio of Omega 6's (that promote inflammation) and Omega 3's (that help reduce inflammation). Most people in the Western world consume too much Omega 6's (ex. meat, dairy products, vegetable oils).
- Consumption of hydrogenated fats (altered Omega 6 fats that become less digestible and increase inflammation even more than Omega 6's)
- High levels of sugar promote inflammation factors and are like cancer cell fertilizers.
c. Negative emotions such as anger and depression
d. Pollutants such as smoke, pesticides etc.

3. An acidic pH level - cancer cells thrive in a highly acidic environment

Diet
a. Too much processed / junk food
b. High intake of animal proteins
c. Not enough alkaline producing fresh fruits and vegetables
d. On-going stress and negative emotions

4. High levels of blood sugar - cancer cells love sugar and use it to grow!

Diet
a. High intake of processed sugars, especially sugars like high fructose corn syrup (sodas, iced tea, chocolate bars, cookies etc.)
b. Consumption of highly refined carbohydrates (white flour, white pasta)
c. Consumption of foods that are high on the glycemic index (food and drinks that cause a rapid spike in blood insulin levels)

Now let's look for a moment at the incredible intelligence of the body. It coordinates, synchronizes and harmonizes billions of bits of information every second. It manages over 10 trillion cells and does so with precision and speed that is greater than any super computer - that is how powerful it is. So you may be asking; 'why has this mass formed in my body if the body is so powerful and intelligent?'.

If we consider that the bath water is toxic for normal cells, but is ideal for the growth of cancer cells, then we can view the development of a tumor as a warning sign or a cry for help. If seen from this perspective, cancer is not an evil destructive force that enters the body and reeks havoc but rather it is, at least partially, a consequence of a toxic internal environment. The cancer can be seen as a message from your body, and your cells, that it is time to change the bath water.

If the internal environment is not changed, conventional medical treatments, like surgery and chemotherapy will likely not be enough to prevent a re-occurrence. The underlying conditions that may have contributed to the rapid growth of the cancer cells need to be addressed otherwise, the bath water may continue to be an ideal breeding ground for cancer cells.

The good news is that many of the factors that influence the growth of cancer cells are within our control. What I help people do is to identify the aspects of their lives that may be out of balance or the things that may be contributing to the creation of a toxic internal environment. I take a holistic approach, looking at diet, fitness regimen, emotional state and spiritual health in order to create inner harmony that will allow the body's natural resources to take over and change the bath water.

Part 2 of this series of articles will look at how we can make simple changes to starve the cancer cells; Part 3 addresses ways in which the immune system can be stimulated in order to help it function at its optimal level because without a strong and healthy immune system complete and lasting healing is not possible. Finally, in Part 4 I will discuss the emotional aspects which contribute to lasting healing.

The remaining three parts of this four-part article will be published weekly under the following headings:
Part 2: How To Stop Feeding Cancer Cells
Part 3: Fueling the Immune System for a More Rapid Cancer Recovery
Part 4: The Emotional Side of the Cancer Healing Equation

* For a thorough description of how inflammation feeds cancer cells growth please refer to Dr. Servan-Schreiber's book Anti-Cancer, A new way of life.

Jackie offers both individual and group coaching (via teleseminars). To find out more about upcoming Cancer SHIFT Coaching courses please visit: http://www.cancershift.com.

By Chris Teo, Ph.D.

PC, 63-year-old female, had coughs for about three weeks. Then she developed fevers. She went to a hospital but the doctor could not find any wrong with her. She was sent home with a supply of Panadol (paracetamol). Not satisfied, PC went to a private hospital in Ipoh. A chest X-ray showed left pleural effusion (i.e. fluid in her left lung). The fluid was tapped out. An ultrasonography on 23 September 2009 showed a 2.6 cm lesion (suggestive of hepatoma or liver cancer) in the right lobe. In addition, there was underlying liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and ascites. The spleen is enlarged. Biopsy of the lesion was not advisable in view of ascites, low platelet and the tumour site too deep and adjacent to the portal vein.
PC was asked to go home. There would be no treatment for her. She was also told that she had only two months to live. Four days later, 27 September 2009, PC came to CA Care for help. She presented with the following:

 Difficulty sleeping
 Poor appetite
 Tiredness
 A bit of difficulty in breathing
 Feeling of "muscle pull" in the chest once a while.

PC came to see us after being told by one of our patients who had been doing well with our herbs. We prescribed PC with Capsule A and B, Lung 1 and Lung 2 teas, Liver 1 and Liver 2 teas. We reminded her that after taking the herbs for a few days, she might feel tired, have diarrhea, etc. This is a healing crisis and there is nothing to worry about - continue taking the herbs. These are natural herbs with no additives. They have to be brewed. The taste and smell of the concoction are not going to be pleasant. PC replied: "If I want to get well, I have to drink them!"

Two months on the herbs, PC came back and told us that both her sleep and appetite had improved. Similarly her breathing had also improved. There was no more feeling of "muscle pull" in her chest. One year and four months later, on 14 January 2011, PC was still well.

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After one and half years, PC was doing fine. Her blood test results did not show deterioration of her condition although some numbers are not good. Platelet count is low and we advised PC to take papaya leaf tea for a month or two. After that, go for another blood test. Hopefully her platelets will increase. PC is not keen to drink this tea because of its bitter taste!

Like most patients, PC is more interested to see if she can reduce the daily intake of her herbal teas! As much as we understand that it is really "difficult, bothering or even sickening" having to drink the awful tasting herbal concoctions, we told PC that she has no choice but to continue doing what she is doing. No change!

We have to remind PC of what happened when she went to see her doctors in September 2009. She was told that there would be no treatment for her. Just go home. She has only two months to live. Now PC has survived one and a half years without any problem. She is able to sleep well, her appetite is good and there is no pain. Life has been good all the while. What more can she ask for? We reminded PC that she must learn to be grateful and thankful for what she is now. Taking "bitter" herbs is a small price to pay for being alive - and good life too!

Our message to PC and to all patients: Be well behaved if you want to live longer! And there is no point being alive if you think that drinking herbal teas is an intolerable chore. And above all, learn to be thankful and grateful for what you have and what you are.

By Alina Kapur

Chemotherapy treatment is used for treating cancer. It is the most systematic and useful method for treating cancer as it destroys and obstructs the growth of cancerous cells in the body. Some of the common side effects of this treatment are constipation, fatigue, vomiting, hair loss, nausea and changes in the nervous system.

The chemotherapy treatment is given in two ways. They are intravenously and orally.

Intravenous Chemotherapy: This treatment is the most common technique used to administer chemotherapy treatment to the patients through the vein. In this method, the chemotherapy drugs are given through a device which is placed in the vein and removed after the treatment is over. This device is known as VAD or Venous Access Device.

This treatment is given in cycles and the number of cycles to be administered to the patient is determined by the doctor. This treatment is given initially for one day and then the next cycle of treatment would be given after four weeks rest to the patient.

Oral chemotherapy: The oral chemotherapy is given in the form of tablets and capsules. The main benefit of this treatment is that the patient can easily take these pills prescribed by the doctor at home by swallowing it with water.

The patient need not come to the hospital for treatment. It also provides you relief from the pain that other treatments like injections would cause while undergoing the treatment. However, you have to also take into consideration some very important aspects. They are taking the medicines for prescribed period only and at right times specified by the doctor.

You should strictly follow all the guidelines given by the doctor such as washing the hands after taking medicines, taking the drugs either before meals or after. In case, you forget to take the pills or did not understand the instructions for taking the medicines then you should consult the doctor or medical professional for assistance and clear all your queries.

Another method for giving this treatment is through injections. In this method, the drugs are directly injected into your blood stream. These medicines are either injected into your muscle, vein or under the skin.