A Prostate Cancer Journey

2011-11-16T19:27:00.002-08:00

Well, here I am in 2011 alive and well with a PSA of less than 1. But I did have radiation treatments a year ago. I continue to follow the regimen as outlined in all my earlier blogs. I have probably become less rigid about their application but still follow diet, exercise, meditation, supplements, massage therapy etc. I feel very well with no known impediments to a healthy and happy life.

2009-01-30T19:36:00.002-08:00

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

I have returned to my blog after much difficulty in getting access to publishing blogs. I think I have it figured out now.

I am 5 years and 8 months out from diagnosis and in very good health. I have still had no conventional treatment but follow a rigorous regimen of diet, exercise, supplements, and meditation as outlined in this blog below.

I continue to be monitored every 6 months with DRE and PSA test.

2009-01-30T19:35:00.002-08:00

RESEARCH ON PROSTATE CANCER>

Metabolic syndrome increases risk for prostate and other cancers and it also
inhibits PSA levels which have to be interpreted in a different way, with lower
levels of PSA indicating possible disease in men with this syndrome.
PSA screening may cause psychological harms, and its benefits are uncertain.
Stress-related psychological factors may increase cancer rates and cancer death
rates, and decrease survival times.
Certain interpersonal styles, specifically interpersonal sensitivity may complicate
the recovery of sexual function after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
To improve the experience of prostate cancer care for patients, health care
providers should identify and respond to each individual’s information needs and
preferences regarding decision-making.
There was some preventive benefit for the men taking soy protein in this study.
Soy protein isolate reduces androgen expression in the prostate, which may help
prevent prostate cancer.
Soy protein supplementation may benefit men at risk of developing advanced
prostate cancer.
Long-term vitamin E supplementation may reduce risk of advanced prostate
cancer.
A ‘male lumpectomy’ can successfully treat some prostate cancers, while
preserving urinary continence and sexual potency.
Prostate cancer patients treatments choices are determined by physician specialty
rather than patient preference.
Men who have had EBRT end up with a higher incidence of urinary and
gastrointestinal symptoms than other men of the same age.

From.........Inspire Health Research Summaries, Vancouver, B.C.

2009-01-30T19:31:00.002-08:00

This report summarizes the scientific evidence, translated in easy to
understand language, following is important information
for men with prostate cancer to know to optimally support their
health:

Active surveillance is an underused treatment option that should be carefully
considered by eligible men with early-stage prostate cancer.
Active surveillance is a safe option for some men with early-stage prostate cancer.
Acupuncture may help reduce urinary side effects in men treated with radical
prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
Although alcohol increases the risk of other types of cancer, it does not appear to
increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Overweight/obesity and high C-peptide concentrations both increase risk prostate
cancer and the likelihood of dying from prostate cancer. Patients with both have
the worst outcome.
Men with high blood calcium levels are at increased risk of fatal prostate cancer.
If you are already taking statins it is possible they may lower your risk of
advanced prostate cancer.
Men with low blood cholesterol levels have a reduced risk of aggressive prostate
cancer.
Resistance exercise is beneficial for men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy
for prostate cancer; it does not impact testosterone suppression and can increase
physical fitness.
Longer and more intense exercise is needed to decrease risk of prostate cancer.
High blood levels of IGF-1 moderately increase risk of prostate cancer.
Telephone-based diet counseling decreases fat intake, and significantly increases
vegetable intake and blood levels of carotenoids in men with prostate cancer.
Plant-based diets may slow PSA increase in men with recurrent prostate cancer
through weight loss and by improving hormone levels in the body.

From.........Inspire Health Research Summaries, Vancouver, B.C.

2008-04-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

Six Reasons to Eat Blueberries

Any way you buy them - fresh, frozen or dried - blueberries are packed with nutritional power.

If you need any reason other than their taste to snack on blueberries, keep these nutritional vignettes in mind:
Anthocyanins – the pigments that make blueberries blue - are potent antioxidants: A half cup of blueberries provides the antioxidant power of five servings of peas, carrots, apples, squash or broccoli.
Berries are a healthy, low glycemic-index carbohydrate, an especially good choice for diabetics.
Blueberries are a source of vitamin C, important for a healthy immune system.
Blueberries offer two grams of fiber per one-half cup serving.
Blueberries have shown promise in addressing the effects of aging: animal studies have shown improved motor skills and a reversal of age-related short-term memory loss.
Blueberries may have health benefits ranging from preventing cancer and defending against urinary tract infections to protecting the brain from stroke damage and reducing heart disease risks.

Look for organic blueberries at your local produce stand, and toss some in a salad, on cereal, as a snack, or make a blueberry pie. If fresh organic blueberries are cost prohibitive, substitute with frozen or dried blueberries - all three forms provide health-protective benefits. Keep in mind that dried blueberries are a concentrated source of sugar, so enjoy them in moderation.

....from Dr. Weil website

2008-04-26T10:44:00.001-07:00

Posh pomegranate

Article By: Cynthia Ross Cravit

Packed with antioxidants, this ruby red fruit could help to prevent heart disease and prostate cancer.

The pomegranate, popular in Greek mythology, is enjoying a surge in popularity. New products featuring this versatile fruit – foods, beverages, and cosmetics – are popping up everywhere. In fact, in the US, 258 new pomegranate products were introduced last year, up from 19 in 2002, according to Datamonitor's Productscan Online which tracks new products.

From the Oscars' Red Carpet Martinis (vodka, Grand Marnier and pomegranate juice, garnished with a gold leaf) to pomegranate chewing gum, lip gloss and shaving cream just to name a few, pomegranate seems to be the ingredient of choice. But the juiciest part is that in this case, trendy also means healthy.

Pomegranate, which has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, has proven to have a variety of modern health benefits, according to a report
in The Seattle Times.

2008-03-13T08:49:00.001-07:00

Vitamin D for Longer Life

Taking vitamin D supplements could help you live longer. That’s the latest word from a French analysis of 18 studies looking at the effects of taking vitamin D. More than 57,000 individuals took part in the 18 trials. All told, the investigators found a seven percent reduction in all causes of death among the study participants who had taken vitamin D over an average follow-up period of 5.7 years. The doses taken varied widely, from 300 to 2,000 IU daily, but averaged 528 IU. The researchers said that they don’t know why people who took vitamin D in these studies had a lower risk of death than those who didn’t supplement, but vitamin D deficiencies are associated with illness such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and improving vitamin D status may have reduced the risk of developing those life-threatening diseases. The study was published in the September 10, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine

...from Dr. Weil website

2008-03-12T08:35:00.001-07:00

GETTING RID OD INFLAMMATORY FOODS.

An important first step in creating a healthy kitchen is to read and understand food labels. When you begin restocking your pantry, food labels are your best resource to assess what to keep and what to toss. This practice will also give you an overview of your choices in the supermarket, and is a good starting point to modify your shopping habits. Use the list below to determine what items to discard. Many of these ingredients are considered pro-inflammatory and therefore unfavorable to healthy aging. If the list of ingredients contains one or more of these undesirables, toss and don't buy again!

Animal fat, such as lard
Artificial sweeteners or non-nutritive sweeteners
Coconut oil
Corn oil
Cottonseed oil
Fractionated oil
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
Hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening
Margarine
Palm or palm kernel oil
Partially hydrogenated oil (source of trans-fat)
Blended vegetable oils
Safflower oil
Soybean oil
Sunflower oil

....from Dr. Weil website

2008-02-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

FOODS AND CANCER

A healthy diet can help the body in its efforts to heal itself, and in some cases, particular foods can strengthen the immune system and lessen the risks of serious illness. To help reduce your risk of some types of cancer, try the following:

Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).

Increase omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Reduce consumption of animal foods and try to replace them with vegetable proteins such as whole soy products.

Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible.

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Eat shiitake, enokitake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms frequently.

Drink green tea daily.

...from Dr. Weil website

2008-01-15T09:03:00.000-08:00

Testosterone linked to cancers

BY SHARON KIRKEYCanwest News Service

H o r m o n e s u p p l e m e n t s , already shown to be harmful to women, may pose an “ urgent” h e a l t h r i s k t o m e n , s o m e researchers are warning.

Doctors who treated two men who developed unusually aggressive and fatal prostate cancer within months of them taking the same over- the- counter supplement for stronger muscles and “ enhanced sexual performance” say testosterone supplements may promote the growth of prostate cancer and stop anticancer drugs from working.

“ Given that testosterone supplements are in high demand, there is significant concern that HHDS ( herbal/ hormonal dietary supplements) other than the one evaluated in the current study may pose an urgent h u m a n health risk,” University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center researchers report in the journal, Clinical Cancer Research.
F o r l e g a l r e a s o n s t h e researchers won’t name the supplement, which was removed from the market, and say they have no direct proof that it caused the prostate cancers.
But a leading Canadian urologist warns that men who take nutritional supplements advertised as having male hormones are “ really playing with fire.”

“ Many men are on androgen replacement therapy or some kind of male hormone replacement and there’s always been a concern this may stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells,” says Dr. Laurence Klotz, chief of the division of urology at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Science Centre.
“ It’s a very controversial question and the answer is still not clear.”

...from Vancouver Sun

2008-01-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

Three Reasons You Should Take Supplements

While there is ongoing debate over optimal use of supplements and their effectiveness, and while supplements cannot take the place of a healthy diet, Dr. Weil recommends them for a variety of reasons:

1. A good daily multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement can work as insurance against gaps in the diet - for example, to cover those days when you are on the road and simply can't get the fruits and vegetables you need.

2. The more regularly we supply our bodies with antioxidants and phytonutrients, the better our nutritional requirements will be met on a daily basis, and the better our overall health will be.

3. Supplements can provide natural therapeutic agents in optimal dosages that may be difficult to obtain from diet alone, and that may help prevent and address age-related diseases

...from Dr. Weil website.

2008-01-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

Vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin - may be a potent defense against cancer.

Vitamin D has long been linked with the body's ability to maintain healthy bones and prevent the onset of osteoporosis. And now yet another study adds to the body of evidence that says the “sunshine vitamin” may also help to cut the risk of cancer.

The four-year study, conducted at Creighton University in Nebraska, found that people who took calcium and vitamin D and had higher levels in their blood were 77 per cent less likely to develop cancer after the first year, compared to those who took placebos or only calcium. The study involved 1,024 women over the age of 55.

Based on this finding, the Canadian Cancer Society now recommends that adults take vitamin D – but with caution. After consulting a doctor or healthcare provider, the society suggests that Adults living in Canada
consider taking vitamin D supplementation of 1,000 international units (IU) a day during the fall and winter.

• Adults at higher risk of having lower vitamin D levels should consider taking Vitamin D supplementation of 1,000 IU/day all year round. This includes people who are older, have dark skin and don't go outside often or wear clothing that covers most of their skin.

“We're recommending 1,000 IUs daily because the current evidence suggests this amount will help reduce cancer risk with the least potential for harm,” says Heather Logan, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society. “More research is needed to clearly define the amount of Vitamin D that will maximize health benefits.”

....from MSN Health website.

2008-01-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

MORE ON VITAMIN D

Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, and a growing body of evidence suggests that it also protects against some types of cancer and multiple sclerosis. Now comes word that a deficiency of “D” raises the risk of heart attack. This finding comes from the famed Framingham Heart Study and was published in the Jan. 7, 2008 rapid access journal report of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers looked at 1,739 offspring (average age 59) of the participants of the Framingham study and found that those with blood levels of vitamin D below 15 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) had twice the risk of heart attack, heart failure or stroke in the next five years compared with those with higher levels of “D.” They also found an increase in cardiovascular risk with each level of vitamin D deficiency and noted that in many areas of the United States 20 to 30 percent of the population has moderate to severe vitamin D deficiency, due to lack of sun exposure, dark skin that prevents absorption of the sun’s rays (which triggers vitamin D production in the body), and a diet lacking in vitamin D enriched foods.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-12-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

PERSONAL UPDATE.

It is now 4 years and 7 months since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I have had no conventional treatments but continue a disciplined regimen of exercise, diet, supplements and a spiritual quest. My condition is stable and my PSA is 6.6.

2007-09-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

FRUIT - VEGETABLES CITED IN PROSTATE RESEARCH.

Low fat, plant based diets may help prevent or slow the progression of prostate cancer, according to a new research review. A number of studies, though not all, have suggested that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may help ward off prostate cancer, while "Western" style diets heavy in animal fat and dairy products may increase a man's risk of developing the disease. In the current study, researchers reviewed 25 previously published studies that examined the effects of plant-based diets on prostate cancer development or progression.

....from Vancouver Sun, September, 2007.

2007-09-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D increases life expectancy, study finds

Updated Mon. Sep. 10 2007 4:12 PM ET
Angela Mulholland, CTV.ca News

An intriguing new study finds that those who take vitamin D supplements can increase their life expectancies by one to two years.
The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is just the latest to add to the growing body of evidence that "the sunshine vitamin" is not just good for strengthening bones but also appears to increase survival.
Past studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiencies might be associated with a higher risk of death from cancer, heart disease and diabetes -- illnesses that account for 60 to 70 per cent of deaths in high-income nations.
This study finds that taking extra vitamin D brings health benefits, even in the short term.
This study looked at the results of 18 previously published studies involving a total of 57,311 participants.
Dr. Philippe Autier, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France, and Sara Gandini, of the European Institute of Oncology, Milano, Italy, analyzed the studies and evaluated doses of vitamin D ranging from 300 to 2,000 international units, with an average dose of 528 international units.
Most commercially available supplements contain between 400 and 1,000 international units.
After an average of 5.7 years, those participants who took vitamin D had a seven per cent lower risk of death than those who did not.
"We had a reduction in all-cause mortality after a follow-up of about six years. So it means that may represent something like an increase of two to three years of your life expectancy," Autier told CTV News.
"With vitamin D, you could say yes, finally, if there is one supplement to take, with all the evidence so far, the best is to take vitamin D -- ordinary doses of vitamin D, not high doses."
The editorial that accompanies the article points out that the study did not consider specific causes of death. The studies were generally short, so the impact of vitamin D was seen on diseases that express themselves in a shorter period of time. For chronic diseases that have a long period of time to develop, the impact of vitamin D would be underestimated by this analysis.
The authors note that it's not clear how vitamin D supplementation lowers death risk. They say it could be that the vitamin inhibits some mechanisms by which cancer cells multiply and grow. Or, it may boost the function of blood vessels or the immune system, they note.
Where the sun don't shine
The editorial notes that vitamin D supplements may simply be compensating for a deficiency that many people appear to have.
"In recent years, an increasing number of researchers from various fields have been arriving at the conclusion that the levels of vitamin D in many people are inadequate for optimal health," the editorial reads.
Heather Chappell of the Canadian Cancer Society says this latest study supports the growing body of evidence of the health benefits of vitamin D. It also supports their recommendations, issued earlier this year, that the entire adult population of Canada begin taking vitamin D supplementation.
"We want to remind Canadians that in Canada, the sun is not strong enough in the fall and winter to produce enough vitamin D. So the Cancer Society recommends that adults start talking 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily.
"The sun's rays become less strong as we move into the fall, so people should start taking a supplement in the fall and winter... probably near the end of September."
Toronto physician, Dr. Linda Rapson says she finds that many of her patients with chronic pain and other ailments are also deficient in vitamin D.
"I have seen people with levels so low that their muscles are weak and they can't get out of a chair easily. After a couple of weeks of taking vitamin D, there is a huge change," she says.
"I think people should be aware vitamin D is essential, that you have to take it. And you don't just take it for a while and you are fine; you have to keep taking it."

...With a report from CTV medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip

2007-09-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

Six Simple Tips for Prostate Health

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, common in American and European men over the age of 50. While the actual cause is not completely understood, experts believe it is closely linked to hormone levels. Try the following to help reduce the risk of BPH:

Eat a diet low in saturated and trans-fats, focusing instead on the healthier monounsaturated and omega-3 fats.

Eat more whole soy foods. Asian men have a lower risk of BPH and some researchers believe it is related to their intake of soy foods.

Avoid symptom triggers such as caffeine and alcohol, which increase the need to urinate and may irritate the bladder.

Avoid constipation by increasing fiber in your diet. The pressure from constipation may make the symptoms of BPH worse.

Have regular check-ups. The National Institute on Aging recommends that men get regular medical checkups including a prostate exam.

Try Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). If symptoms of BPH do occur, try managing them with saw palmetto. The best form to use is an extract standardized to 85-95% total fatty acids. Use 160 mg twice a day. Although saw palmetto does not shrink the size of the prostate, it often helps promote healthy function and decreases symptoms.

Consider herbs and nutrients such as green tea extract, stinging nettle root, ginger, rosemary, zinc, lycopene, and selenium. All have been shown to help maintain and promote normal prostate health.

Keep in mind that it may take at least eight weeks of using these supplements before you see a positive change in your symptoms. Be sure to consult your physician and discuss any medications you are taking - including supplements - to avoid interactions.

....from Dr. Weil website

2007-08-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Pomegranate Juice Fights Prostate Cancer

Pomegranate juice seems to be appearing on more and more store shelves these days, and it is a fortuitous trend. The delicious, deep-red juice is high in health-protective antioxidants and ellagic acid, a potent anti-carcinogen. Good news on the pomegranate front can be found in a UCLA study published in the July 1, 2006, issue of Clinical Cancer Research. The three-year clinical trial concluded that drinking an eight-ounce glass of the juice daily quadrupuled the period in which prostate-specific antigens (PSA) levels in men treated for prostate cancer remained stable.
The study involved 50 men who had undergone surgery or radiation but who quickly exhibited increases in PSA, a sign that their cancers were progressing again. The UCLA team saw positive changes in the average doubling time (increasing from 15 to 54 months) in the men who drank juice.
This makes perfect sense to me. The healing power of deep-colored fruits and vegetables is being confirmed in laboratories around the world. Black raspberries are being shown to have similar action against some cancers; read about it here. Foods that inhibit or in some cases even heal tumors in cancer patients offer lowered risk of cancer for the rest of us, and everyone should eat - or drink - them regularly.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-08-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

LINK BETWEEN CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES AND PROSTATE CANCER.

Canadian research led by Cancer Care Ontario has found a link between a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables and lower rates of aggressive prostate cancer.

.
The study examined the eating habits and cancer severity of 1,338 men living with the disease and found that:
Fruit and vegetable consumption was not related to prostate cancer risk overall

.
Risk of aggressive prostate cancer (stage III or IV) decreased with increased vegetable intake

.
The most prostate-healthy vegetables were cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower

.
Past studies have looked at the link between vegetable intake and prostate cancer risk but findings have been inconsistent and the data on advanced prostate cancer (stage III or IV) is limited.

.
The current study is part of a larger long-term prospective randomized screening trial (the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial). It is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

...from Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada.

2007-07-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

FINDING MAY END UNECESSARY PROSTATE SURGERIES.

Scientists have found a new way to identify a particularly deadly form of prostate cancer in a breakthrough that could save tens of thousands of men from undergoing uncessary surgery each year.

In contrast to many cancers, only certain prostate tumours require treatment. Many are slow-growing and pose little threat to health. But separating the "tigers" from the "pussycats" - as oncologists dub them - is tricky.

Now that is set to change with research published on Monday showing how a genetic variation within tumour cells can signal if a patient has a potentially fatal form of the disease.

"This will provide an extra degree of certainty as to whether a cancer is going to be aggressive or indolent, and that's really what we want to know," Colin Cooper professor of molecular biology at Britain's Institute of Cancer Research, says.

"Many people get treated radically but probably two-thirds of them never needed treating," he added.

...from The Vancouver Sun, July 17, 2007.

2007-06-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

A PERSONAL UPDATE.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May, four years ago. My Gleason score was 6 and my PSA was 4.4. I have had no conventional treatment, but have a disciplined regimen of diet, exercise, and lifestyle change. (see website for details). I report to the Cancer Clinic every six months for a DRE and a PSA review. I have just had my most recent visit. My PSA is 5.8, and on examination, I am "stable." Overall, my health is excellent. I am thankful!

2007-06-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

DR. WEIL ON LYCOPENE RESEARCH.

What do you think of the study showing that eating tomatoes offers no protection against prostate cancer and that, in fact, consumption of large amounts of beta carotene may increase the incidence of aggressive prostate cancer?
.
Answer (Published 6/18/2007)
The study you're talking about got a lot of publicity, but I wouldn't rush to dismiss the cancer-protective effect of lycopene found in tomatoes on the basis of these findings.
.
Here's what happened: researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle selected men already enrolled in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Screening Trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. A total of 28,243 people between the ages of 55 and 74 participated in the study. None of the male participants had a history of prostate cancer when they signed up. Over eight years, 692 of the men developed prostate cancer and were matched to 844 men in the study who did not. The investigators found no significant difference in blood levels of lycopene between the men who developed cancer and those who didn't. Lycopene is the red carotenoid pigment in tomatoes believed to account for lower prostate cancer risk in men who eat more tomato products. The investigators also saw an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer (disease that has spread beyond the gland) among men whose blood levels of beta carotene was higher than it was among other men in the study. (Beta-carotene is a related pigment in the carotenoid family, found in many brightly colored fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes.)
.
While this study was widely touted as including more than 28,000 men, the conclusion was based on data from just over 1,500. Instead of carefully following diets for eight years and then comparing consumption of lycopene-rich food to the development of prostate cancer, they selected those who had already developed prostate cancer and tried to make assumptions from blood levels of carotenoids. And while these investigators concluded that on the basis of their retrospective analytical methods lycopene and other carotenoids had no effect on prostate cancer, we have very good evidence from other studies that lycopene does in fact lower the risk.
.
The FDA scrutinized this evidence very carefully before deciding in 2005 that tomato-based products could carry the claim that they may reduce the risks of prostate, gastric, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. I don't think this latest study makes a compelling case against the findings of earlier trials, many of which were actually designed to look at the lycopene/cancer-risk connection, rather than draw conclusions after cancer developed.
.
....from DR. Weil website

2007-06-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

BOOK: A GUIDE TO PROSTATE HEALTH.

I have read extensively about prostate cancer and I must tell you that the book noted below is the best! It is a sound discussion of conventional and alternatives approaches. It is informing and very helpful. It is practical....a doable regimen. It is current in its discussion of treatment, nutrition and exercise etc. AND it is written by an MD!

Name of Book: DR. KATZ'S GUIDE TO PROSTATE HEALTH: From Conventional to Holistic Therapies.

Author: AARON E. KATZ, M.D. (Director of the Center For Holistic Urology, Columbia University Medical Center).

Publisher: FREEDOM PRESS, 1801 Chart Trail, Topanga, California. 90290.

(info@freedompressonline.com).

Published in 2006.

2007-06-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Landmark Health Study Suggests Taking Vitamin D Supplements

May Prevent Thousands of Cancer Cases in Canada Each Year

“The most important cancer prevention study ever published” says InspireHealth

MEDIA RELEASE
VANCOUVER, BC (June 8, 2007) – Vancouver-based InspireHealth – Canada’s leader in
integrated cancer care and prevention - today announced that a newly-released U.S. study,
which provides evidence that Vitamin D substantially reduces the risk of cancer development, is
the most important cancer prevention study ever published.

The study released today by researchers from Creighton University in Nebraska is a doubleblind,
randomized placebo-controlled trial – the highest standard in medical research, and is
being published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“The study shows that in women over 55, Vitamin D supplementation may be able to reduce
cancer incidence by 60 per cent. That’s a staggering finding,” said Dr. Hal Gunn, M.D.,
Co-Founder and CEO of InspireHealth. “Translated into numbers, more than 35,000 Canadian
women could be saved from getting cancer each year. If Vitamin D is helpful for younger
women and men as well - which seems likely based on other evidence - the numbers are even
greater. This is remarkable for something as simple as Vitamin D supplementation.”

Physicians at InspireHealth, aware of the growing body of research supporting the use of
Vitamin D in recent years, have been prescribing Vitamin D for cancer prevention and
treatment for the last 10 years since InspireHealth’s founding in 1997. “Over the last 15 years,
there has been a growing body of research showing that Vitamin D plays a very important role
in the prevention of cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, lung, stomach, bladder, pancreas,
uterus and ovary,” said Dr. Gunn. “This new study proves that link, and demonstrates that
Vitamin D supplementation may provide a simple means to prevent the majority of cancer
cases.”

“In short, this study clearly indicates for the first time, we may have a simple and effective
means to prevent the majority of cancer cases, and put an end to the cancer epidemic that has
plagued the western world for the last century,” said Dr. Gunn. “The Vitamin D study is a
landmark study in cancer prevention.”

2007-06-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE HEALTH.

Yesterday we discussed diet and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as part of Men's Health Month; today's Daily Tip discusses nutritional supplements for prostate health. The following have been shown to have a positive effect on the prostate, and may help to prevent or lessen the risk of BPH and other prostate-related conditions:

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). If symptoms of BPH do occur, try managing them with saw palmetto. The best form to use is a standard extract of 160 mg twice a day. Although saw palmetto does not shrink the size of the prostate, it often helps promote healthy function and decreases symptoms.

Herbs and nutrients such as green tea extract, stinging nettle root, ginger, rosemary, zinc, lycopene, and selenium have been shown to help maintain and promote normal prostate health.
Keep in mind that it may take at least eight weeks of using these supplements before you see an improvement of your symptoms. Be sure to consult your physician and discuss any medications you are taking - including supplements - to avoid interactions.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-06-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

BPH.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, common in American and European men over the age of 50. While the actual cause is not completely understood, experts believe it is closely linked to hormone levels. Try the following to help reduce the risk of BPH:

Eat a diet low in saturated and trans-fats, focusing instead on the healthier monounsaturated and omega-3 fats.

Eat more whole soy foods. Asian men have a lower risk of BPH and some researchers believe it is related to their intake of soy foods.

Avoid symptom triggers such as caffeine and alcohol, which increase the need to urinate and may irritate the bladder. Avoid constipation by increasing fiber in your diet. The pressure from constipation may make the symptoms of BPH worse.

Have regular check-ups. The National Institute on Aging recommends that men get regular medical checkups including a prostate exam.
.
...from Dr. Weil website

2007-06-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D dramatically cuts cancer risk: study

Updated Thu. Jun. 7 2007 6:26 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff

A landmark new study is raising the tantalizing spectre that a simple and cheap vitamin supplement may offer a highly effective way of preventing cancer.

The research, published in the online edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, finds that a combination of vitamin D3 and calcium has a substantially marked effect on reducing cancer incidence.

The four-year study out of Creighton University in Nebraska found that women who regularly took vitamin D3 had a 60 per cent reduction in cancer infections compared to a group taking placebos.

The study followed 1,179 healthy, women 55 years and older from rural eastern Nebraska between 2000 and 2005. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 1400-1500 mg of calcium alone, or supplemental calcium plus 1,100 IU vitamin D3, or placebo.

The researchers studied only vitamin D3, which comes from animal sources and seems to be more active than vitamin D2, which is derived from plant sources.

Among the 288 women taking placebo, 20 developed breast, colon, lung or another form of cancer. Among the 445 women taking just calcium, 17 developed cancer. But among the largest group -- the 446 women taking vitamin D daily -- just 13 developed cancer.

"What we found is that a vitamin D supplement decreased the cancer incidence in postmenopausal women by about 60 per cent," lead investigator Joan Lappe, an associate professor of both medicine and nursing at Creighton University, told CTV News.

On the premise that some of the women who did develop cancer may have entered the study with undiagnosed cancers, researchers then eliminated the first-year results and looked at the last three years of the study. When they did that, the results became even more dramatic with the calcium/vitamin D3 group showing a startling 77 per cent cancer-risk reduction.

"The findings are very exciting. They confirm what a number of vitamin D proponents have suspected for some time but that, until now, have not been substantiated through clinical trial," said Lappe.

"Vitamin D is a critical tool in fighting cancer as well as many other diseases."
While the study was open to all ethnic groups, all participants were Caucasian, she noted. Lappe said further studies are needed to determine whether the results apply to different ethnic groups, to men, and to women of all ages.

This is not the first time that researchers have noted the health benefits of vitamin D. In February, two studies found that the vitamin was linked to lower rates of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. The "sunshine vitamin," as it's sometimes called, has also been shown to kill some cancer cells in laboratory experiments.

"There's a lot of evidence out there that populations in first world countries are deficient in vitamin D and if you give them more, we can prevent cancers and other diseases that have been reported to be prevented with vitamin D," said Lappe.

Humans can absorb vitamin D when ultraviolet rays from the sun trigger vitamin D synthesis in our skin. But because of our short summers in Canada and our latitude, most Canadians don't get anywhere near enough of it all year long.

That's why Dr. Reinhold Vieth, who has conducted numerous studies of vitamin D at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, believes every Canadian could benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement.

"The vitamin D story is what I call a 'no-lose' proposition. Take it. You can only win," he told CTV News.

2007-06-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

Four Tips to a Healthy Immune System

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Your immune system is your interface with the environment. A healthy immune system is the cornerstone of good health - it allows you to come in contact with germs, allergens and carcinogens, helping to avoid infections, allergic reactions and cancer.

Immune deficiency can be avoided with preventive measures:
Maintain good oral hygiene (gum infections can use up a lot of the body's immune resources).
Use antibiotics only when absolutely necessary and avoid immunosuppressive drugs unless there are no other alternatives left to consider.
Cut back on sugar and stop eating polyunsaturated vegetable oils and artificially hardened fats - instead use olive oil and eat fresh fruits when craving something sweet.
Don't forget moderate exercise - it can raise the level of your body's natural killer cells.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-06-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS.

We all need essential fatty acids for optimum health, but most Americans are eating too many omega-6 fatty acids (mainly from vegetable oils), and not enough omega-3 fatty acids (found in oily fish, walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed). This imbalance can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, inflammatory conditions, cancer and other health concerns. While eating several servings of oily fish (Dr. Weil prefers wild Alaskan salmon and sardines) per week is a start, you may want to take fish oil supplements, especially if you don't enjoy fish. Available in liquid or capsule forms, fish oil is effective at helping to reduce blood pressure, is beneficial to the nervous system, can help treat mild to moderate depression, and more. Look for capsules or oil that are certified free of contaminants, and begin with small daily doses, building up to the recommended amount.
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from....Dr. Weil website

2007-05-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

CENTER FOR INTEGRATED HEALING CHANGES NAME.

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Welcome - A New Name, New Identity & Ten Year Anniversary
The Centre for Integrated Healing has a new name - InspireHealth. Our new identity reflects our vision and belief that personal empowerment and engagement in health through nutrition, exercise and emotional and spiritual support are vitally important foundations to optimal cancer care, prevention, health and healing.
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With 10 years of experience, our programs have become the new standard in integrative cancer care – at the forefront of a patient-driven movement to engage in health while undergoing cancer treatment. Our physicians guide patients in optimally supporting their health and creating a personalized cancer care plan integrated with their conventional treatments. This integrative approach, which engages mind, body and spirit, optimally supports health and there is growing evidence that it is of vital importance in the treatment of cancer.
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Check them out at www.inspirehealth.ca.

2007-05-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

A Diet to Protect Against Cancer

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A healthy diet can help the body in its efforts to heal itself, and in some cases, particular foods can strengthen the immune system and lessen the risks of serious illness. To help reduce your risk of some types of cancer, try the following:
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Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).
Increase omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseeds, and walnuts.
Reduce consumption of animal foods and try to replace them with vegetable proteins such as whole soy products.
Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat shiitake, enokidake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms frequently.
Drink green tea daily.
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from....Dr. Weil website

2007-05-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

PROMISING CANCER RESEARCH.

A new class of compounds developed by two university of Kentucky researchers shows promise as a nontoxic treatment of some cancers previously treated with toxic chemotherapy.

In a study published in the academic journal Chemistry and Biology, researchers describe a compound that acts directly on LMP2, a component of the immune proteasome variant that has been identified as abundantly expressed in certain types of tumours, including some prostate cancers.

The compound dubbed UK-101, inhibits LMP2 while not attacking normal cells, indicating that it could be an effective cancer treatment that does not produce the kinds of unpleasant side effects repoted by many patients currently treated with broadly acting proteasome inhibitors and chemotherapeutics.

2007-04-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

NUTS.

Nuts, especially Brazil nuts, contain high levels of antioxidants such as quercetin and kampferol and the mineral selenium - all helping suppress cancer activity.

2007-04-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

SPICY VEGETABLES.

Spicy vegetables such as chili peppers and jalapenos contain capsaican that helps neutralize cancer - causing nitosamines.

2007-04-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

SPICES.

Spices , especially tumeric and rosemary, contain powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients that help neutralize cancer risk.

2007-04-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

GARLIC.

Garlic contains allyl sulphur compounds documented in studies to be effective inhibitors of the cancer process.

2007-04-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

BERRIES.

Berries, especially blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries contain powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins that may protect against cancer.

...from, ALIVE, April, 2007.

2007-04-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES.

Cruciferous vegetables contain glucoinolates that help boost the body's immunity and help it detoxify endrocine disrupters. These vegeatbles include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, turnips, bok choy and Chinese cabbage.

...from, ALIVE, April, 2007.

2007-04-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

Five Top Green Tea Health Benefits

What can green tea do for you? It might be easier to list what it can’t do. A fascinating analysis published in the November/December 2006 issue of Explore found numerous ways that studies have demonstrated that green tea (or compounds in it) promote human health, including:

Fighting viruses, including influenza.
Lowering levels of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol.
Battling cancer. Tea compounds have been shown to help prevent or alleviate cancers of the lymph nodes, bladder, breast, cervix, colon, esophagus, lung, bones, pancreas, prostate, skin and stomach.
Aiding endurance.
Promoting weight loss in animal and human studies.

In short, drinking green tea is one of the best health moves you can make. And if you want to avoid caffeine, drink decaffeinated versions or remove the caffeine yourself.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-04-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

EATING VEGETARIAN.

Studies show that eating more vegetables and less meat significantly reduces your risk of cancer. The December, 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that a maximum of 0.73 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily may reduce markers of cancer risk. Try to eat at least five servings of vegetables daily, especially cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, which support liver detoxification enzymes and deactivate carcinogen toxins.

Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates - a cancer cell's best fuel. Instead choose lignans, the soluble fibre in flaxseed, and other soluble fibres from psyllium, nuts, and seeds. They help normalize estrogen metabolism, eliminating excesses that can lead to breast and prostate cancers. Nuts and seeds also contain omega - 3 fatty acids, which are associated with reduced cancer risk.

...from, ALIVE, April, 2007.

2007-04-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

TUMERIC.

Tumeric is a member of the ginger family, grown and commercially harvested in India, Asia, and other tropical countries. The thick, cured rhizomes contain protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and yellowish orange volatile oils called curcuminoids that are responsible for the biological activity of tumeric.

Tumeric shows real promise as an anticancer agent due in part to its antioxidant activity. Several recent studies demonstrate that the frequent use of tumeric has been linked to lower rates of breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer.

...from, ALIVE, April, 2007.

2007-03-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Does Milk Cause Cancer?

I've seen conflicting articles about milk consumption and cancer. Does it raise or lower the risk?

You raise an interesting question. Recently, a Harvard researcher gave a provocative talk on the association between cancer and cow's milk and other milk products. The scientist, Ganmaa Davaasambuu, M.D., Ph.D., a native Mongolian, noted that ingestion of natural estrogens from cows (particularly from pregnant cows) in milk may be linked to breast, prostate, and testicular cancers in humans. All are "hormone-dependent" tumors, meaning that they need sex hormones to grow.

Dr. Davaasambuu cited a study comparing diet and cancer rates in 42 countries that showed a strong correlation between milk and cheese consumption and the incidence of testicular cancer among men age 20 to 39 – rates were highest in high consuming countries such as Switzerland and Denmark and low in Algeria and other parts of the world where people eat less dairy. She also linked rising rates of dairy consumption to the increased death rates from prostate cancer (from near zero per 100,000 men five decades ago to seven per 100,000 men today) and noted that breast cancer also appears to be linked to milk and cheese consumption.
Dr. Davaasambuu emphasized that natural estrogens are 100,000 times more potent than environmental estrogens and that today's cow's milk is particularly rich in them. The principal reason is that dairy farmers now milk their cows about 300 days per year. For much of that time the cows are pregnant, and as pregnancy progresses, the estrogen content of their milk increases. According to Dr. Davaasambuu milk from cows in the late stage of pregnancy can contain up to 33 times as much of the hormone estrone as milk from non-pregnant cows.
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....from Dr. Weil website

2007-03-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

SURVIVING PROSTATE CANCER - A BOOK.

I have found a new book that gives a balanced view of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.

"Surviving Prostate Cancer".

Author: E. Fuller Torrey, M.D.

Publisher: Yale University Press.

Date: 2006.

2007-03-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

IP-6

Inositol hexaphosphate ( IP-6 ), is a naturally polyphosphorylated carbohydrate found in cereal grains, beans, brown rice, corn, sesame seeds, wheat bran, and other high fiber foods. It aids in the metabolism of insulin and calcium, hair growth, bone marrow cell metabolism, eye membrane development, and helps the liver transfer fat to other parts of the body. Many researchers believe that some of the health benefits may be due to the antioxidant, immune enhancing, and cardiovascular supporting activities of IP-6. In-vitro and animal research has shown IP-6 to have significant protective and growth regulating effects on various cells and tissues including those of the colon, breast, and prostate.

.....from website of Ray Sahalian, MD.

2007-02-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

COFFEE.

On the down side are coffee's well-documented side effects: anxiety, insomnia, tremor and irregular heartbeat. It can also irritate the digestive system, bladder and prostate. If you experience any of these effects, you're better off avoiding coffee (and decaf, which contains substances that may contribute to the symptoms) no matter what potential health benefits it may have. The way coffee affects you is your surest guide to whether or not you should be drinking it at all and, if so, how much.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-02-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Food and nutrient Supplements:

Prostate dysfunction has been called a nutritional disease. It is much more common in developed Western countries that emphasize animal-derived foods, such as red meat, dairy products, and eggs, all foods that tend to accumulate environmental toxins. In contrast, fruit- and vegetable-rich diets exert a protective effect.

Scientific studies are challenging some entrenched views on what we have traditionally considered nutritionally wholesome foods. For example, growing evidence suggests that milk may be bad for the prostate. Overall, countries that consume the most milk have the highest incidence of prostate cancer. The culprit appears to be milk’s calcium. Excessive calcium intake, regardless of source, apparently suppresses the synthesis of a form of vitamin D that inhibits prostate cancer.

In contrast, men who consume tomatoes, tomato-based foods (e.g., ketchup, pasta, etc.), guavas, watermelon, and pink grapefruit are reportedly less likely to get prostate cancer. These foods contain a powerful antioxidant agent called lycopene (see http://www.lycopene.org/) that gives them their characteristic red color. Available as a nutritional supplement, lycopene not only prevents prostate cancer but also may reduce existing tumor size.

Another prostate-protecting food is fructose, the sugar in fruit that is used to sweeten many foods. Overall, its consumption is associated with a reduced prostate-cancer risk. Unlike calcium, fructose stimulates the production of a vitamin D form that inhibits tumors.

Several trace nutrients that are often deficient in our diet also enhance prostate health. For example, a lack of zinc especially affects the prostate because this gland uses it much more than any other body part. By altering steroid hormone metabolism, zinc supplementation can reduce prostate enlargement. Interestingly, pumpkin seeds, a traditional folk remedy promoting male reproductive and prostate health, are rich in zinc.

Selenium is another often-deficient trace nutrient that is essential for prostate health. Increasing selenium intake, whether through supplements or selenium-rich foods (e.g., Brazil nuts), has been shown to reduce prostate-cancer risk.

Other nutritional factors that may inhibit prostate cancer include vitamin D; vitamin E, an antioxidant that inhibits cancer growth; soy-based foods, which contain the cancer-inhibiting agent genistein; and garlic, which possess cancer-fighting, sulfur-containing compounds.

...from Natural Prostate Health website.

2007-01-29T11:48:00.000-08:00

GO EASY ON MEAT AND DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Many studies have confirmed that the higher your intake of meat and other animal products, the higher your risk of heart disease and cancer, especially for the major cancers like colon, breast, prostate, and lung cancer.

Meat does not contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that protect us from cancer. But it does contain lots of saturated fat and other potentially carcinogenic (cancer - causing) compounds, including pesticide residues, heterocyclic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may form when meat is grilled, fried, or broiled.

...from, ALIVE, January, 2007.

2007-01-25T08:48:00.000-08:00

Have Some Tomato Sauce with Your Broccoli

Men may get more prostate cancer protection from tomatoes and broccoli if they eat the two together rather than separately. A 22-week study in rats implanted with prostate cancer cells suggests that a tomato/broccoli diet (in this case, food containing 10 percent broccoli powder and 10 percent tomato powder) reduced prostate tumors more effectively than other diets studied, including those containing either tomato or broccoli powder alone, a supplement of lycopene (the pigment in tomatoes believed to protect the prostate from cancer) or finasteride, a drug used to treat enlarged prostates. The only approach that worked almost as well as the broccoli/tomato combo was castration, the University of Illinois researchers reported. They suggested that the dietary approach might help older men with slow-growing prostate cancer who have chosen watchful waiting over chemotherapy and radiation. To get the effects seen in the study, they advise that men eat 1.4 cups of raw broccoli daily, plus 2.5 cups of fresh tomato or one cup of tomato sauce or 1/2 cup of tomato paste. The study was published in the January 15, 2007 issue of Cancer Research.

...from Dr. Weil website

2007-01-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

People who undergo spontaneous healing of advanced, untreatable cancer tend to share the following characteristics:

They have a deep belief in their body's ability to heal in spite of being told by experts that their illness is terminal.

They regain a sense of control in their lives - a feeling of personal autonomy.

They assume responsibility for creating a recovery program that is right for them - they do not simply abdicate responsibility for their treatment to experts.

They undergo a 'spiritual transformation' - an awakening of the true values and aspirations that have lain dormant deep inside themselves.

Truly alive - perhaps for the very first time - this spiritual re-awakening brings a new authenticity to their life as they reconnect with their deepest feelings, values and aspirations.

Once healed, they often look back upon their illness as a 'gift' that transformed their life.

They bring a new authenticity to their relationships with others.

They fully reassess their lives - often making very significant changes to their diet, life-style, career, goals, and relationships with others.

They often make radically healthful changes in their diet - away from refined, processed foods towards healthful, wholesome foods. They eat more fruits and vegetables and less animal fat, and many become vegetarian.

Many begin taking vitamins and other supplements for the first time.

They take more time to simply relax and enjoy their life. For many, daily meditation or prayer becomes an important part of their life.

They learn to 'listen' to their bodies and to surrender to, rather than resist, the day-to-day fluctuations of energy, symptoms and emotions that accompany the healing process.

They reconnect with their sense of community and reclaim the joy that comes from being of service to others. In healing themselves, they facilitate healing in others.

......from The Centre for Integrated Healing - Vancouver, Canada.

2007-01-10T22:27:00.000-08:00

Slim Down to Reduce Cancer Risk

It’s not necessarily the number of calories you eat that influences your risk of cancer, according to results of a new study of mice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Instead, researchers there found that body composition – whether you’re lean or, ahem, not – may be what actually makes the difference. The study, published in the January 1, 2007, issue of Cancer Research, reported that in mice predisposed to prostate cancer, the disease progressed more slowly among those than were lean than it did among obese animals. To perform the investigation, the researchers put the groups of study mice into two controlled environments, one with a temperature of 27 degrees centigrade, the other somewhat cooler at 22 degrees centigrade. They then fed the two groups equal amounts of food. The mice in the cooler chamber burned more calories to keep warm, lost weight and became leaner than the mice in the warmer chamber. The researchers concluded that it isn’t the number of calories consumed, but how lean or obese you are that influences cancer risk.
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.......from Dr. Weil website

2007-01-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

PERSONAL UPDATE.

It is now 3.5 years since diagnosis. Today I had my 6 month examination at the cancer clinic. PSA is down since last examination, and DRE is "stable".

2006-12-30T15:05:00.000-08:00

A CANCER - PROTECTIVE DIET.

Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).

Increase omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Reduce consumption of animal foods and try to replace them with vegetable proteins such as soy.

Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Eat shiitake, enokidake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms frequently.

Drink green tea daily.

...from Dr. Weil website.

2006-12-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

Are your men eating their veggies?

Men probably don’t need another reason to eat their vegetables, but here’s one: Research indicates that men who eat plenty of soluble fiber have a lower risk of prostate cancer than those who avoid it. While heart-healthy fiber can be found in fresh produce, oatmeal and beans, fiber from vegetables was shown to be the most beneficial for prostate health. How to achieve this feat? Be adventurous! Replace meat with beans in soups; make a vegetable-based casserole the main dish at dinner; try a veggie pizza instead of a meat version; include a fresh, organic vegetable salad or a side of steamed veggies with lunch and dinner. The possibilities are endless, and your prostate will thank you.

....from Dr. Weil website

2006-11-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

Fish Oil for Health

Available in liquid or capsule forms, the omega 3’s in fish oil are effective at helping to reduce elevated blood pressure, are beneficial to the nervous system, can help treat mild to moderate depression, and more. Look for capsules or oil that are molecularly distilled and certified free of contaminants.

.....from Dr. Weil website

2006-11-20T08:19:00.000-08:00

Vegetarians - Boost Your Protein

As part of an optimum diet, 20 to 30 percent of your daily calories should come from protein, which amounts to between 80 and 120 grams on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet.

If you are vegetarian and concerned about getting enough protein, one excellent source of vegetable protein is wheat meat (gluten), much used in Chinese vegetarian cuisine. Soy foods are another superior source. Baked tofu in dishes such as fajitas and stir fries has a consistency similar to cooked chicken or turkey and comes in a variety of flavors. In addition to being an excellent source of protein, whole soy foods also contain healthy types of fat and isoflavones - unusual compounds that may offer significant protection against cancer, particularly hormonally driven malignancies such as breast and prostate cancers.

....from Dr. Weil website

2006-11-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

RURAL HEALTH AND PESTICIDES.

The US-based Agricultural Health Study (AHS) is the only major long term study on rural health that includes the effects of pesticides on farmers and farm families. Launched in 1994, the study involves over 89,000 people from Iowa and North Carolina.

The goals of AHS are to investigate the effects of environmental, occupational, dietary and genetic factors on the health of the agricultural population. Among other findings to date, researchers have found links between pesticides and prostate cancer, retina degeneration, respiratory effects and lung cancer. AHS findings will be important to any modern farmer and farm community as these studies will explore the health effects of lower, insidious doses od pesticides over a long period.

The AHS study is sponsored by the National Institute of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency.

...from, Organic Lifestyles, 2006.

2006-11-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

MATCHA GREEN TEA.

Matcha Green tea is one of my favorite drinks, and my favorite green tea is Matcha. Literally “powdered tea,” matcha is a carefully crafted green tea that is whisked with hot water in a bowl to make a frothy beverage. Preparation of matcha is the focus of the Japanese tea ceremony and has a long association with Zen. Matcha is the only form of tea in which the whole leaf is consumed, and because it is made from top-quality leaves that are treated with great care, it delivers more of the healthful elements of green tea than other forms. In addition to providing trace minerals and vitamins (A, B-complex, C, E, and K), matcha is rich in catechin polyphenols, compounds with high antioxidant activity. These compounds offer protection against many kinds of cancer, help prevent cardiovascular disease and slow the aging process. They also reduce harmful cholesterol in the blood, stabilize blood sugar levels, help reduce high blood pressure and enhance the body's resistance to many toxins. Matcha also has a significant amount of dietary fiber and practically no calories. Try substituting matcha for coffee or other caffeinated drink.

from............Dr. Weil website

2006-11-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

How Supplements Can Benefit You

A good daily multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement can work as insurance against gaps in the diet - for example, to cover those days when you are on the road and simply can't get the fruits and vegetables you need.

The more regularly we supply our bodies with antioxidants and phytonutrients, the better our nutritional requirements will be met on a daily basis, and the better our overall health will be.

Supplements can provide natural therapeutic agents in optimal dosages that may be difficult to obtain from diet alone, and that may help prevent and treat age-related diseases.

....from Dr. Weil website.

2006-10-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

EXPERIMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES.

Hundreds of experimental and alternative therapies for prostate cancer are being studied around the world. A few of these potential treatments are summarized here:

Trans Perineal Microwave Ablation of the Prostate (TAP)
TAP uses microwave energy to heat the prostate and kill cancer cells. It has been used in patients whose cancer has not spread outside the prostate and who did not benefit from radiation therapy. It is an outpatient procedure with few side ffects. Early results suggest this treatment may offer a cure. TAP was developed at the University of Toronto.

Gene Therapy
Genes that have been specifically created to treat disease are inserted into cells. The Toronto General Hospital is testing one type of gene therapy to improve a man’s odds after prostatectomy. Sometimes prostate cancer returns even after the prostate has been removed because small numbers of cancer cells have already spread to other parts of the body before surgery. Researchers are testing a gene therapy which is used a month before surgery and encourages the body to kill cancer cells that have spread beyond the prostate. This research is still in early stages but the results so far are hopeful.

Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery (or cryotherapy) is the use of extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. Traditionally cryosurgery has been used to treat external tumours (ex. tumours on skin) but advances in technology are allowing researchers to test it on internal tumours.
Thin metal probes are inserted through the skin of the perineum into the prostate. Liquid nitrogen, given through the probes, forms an ice ball that freezes the prostate cancer cells. When they thaw, they burst. Early research results are hopeful, but there is not enough proof yet to draw conclusions about its long term effectiveness.

Clinical Trials
For more information on clinical trials in prostate cancer, please visit www.clinicaltrials.org, which provides a comprehensive listing of clinical trials underway in Canada and the U.S.

2006-10-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

GREEN TEA.

Green Tea Researchers have known for years that the incidence of prostate cancer is considerably lower in Asian countries. One possible explanation advanced by scientists is the high consumption of plant foods among Asian populations. Another is the growing number of laboratory studies indicating that green tea ( the most popular tea in China, Japan and other Asian countries) has anti-tumor effects.

2006-10-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

Eat Less and Exercise Vigorously to Prevent Cancer.

New guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS) emphasize exercise - real exercise, not just strolling from the car to the mall - as key to cancer prevention. The old recommendation was a cumulative total of 30 minutes a day five days a week of any type of everyday physical activity. Now the ACS is asking us to get serious and put in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity in addition to everyday activities and suggests that more (45 to 60 minutes) is better. Moderate activities recommended are walking, dancing, cycling, skating, golfing and mowing the lawn. Vigorous activity means jogging or running, weight training, aerobics, swimming, soccer or racquetball. Losing weight by exercising more and eating less can prevent breast cancer in postmenopausal women. And an ACS spokesperson said it might also cut down on cancers of the colon, endometrium, esophagus and kidney. Other malignancies including cancers of the pancreas, gallbladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin disease and aggressive prostate cancer may also be linked to excess weight. The new ACS recommendations were published in the September/October 2006 issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

....from Dr. Weil website

2006-10-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

FLAXSEED
(comments by Dr. Weil)

Freshly ground flaxseeds are an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid. The human body needs long-chain omega-3s (EPA and DHA), which are found in salmon and other oily, cold water fish. It can make them from ALA, but the conversion is not efficient and is inhibited further if the diet is rich in the omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in most vegetable oils and processed food.

As you know, omega-3s are associated with reduced risks of heart attacks and stroke and also may decrease the risk of macular degeneration (a leading cause of age-related blindness) as well as breast, prostate and colon cancers. If you don't like fish (and don't eat the recommended three servings of cold water fish per week), ground flaxseeds can help fill the gap. I recommend buying whole flaxseeds, storing them in the refrigerator and grinding a half-cup at a time in a coffee grinder. You can then sprinkle a tablespoon or two over salads, cereals, or potatoes or add them to baked goods such as breads and muffins.

In addition to providing some omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds are an excellent source of fiber, which helps prevent constipation, and of lignans, compounds with beneficial estrogen-like effects that offer protection against breast and prostate cancer.

I often recommend supplementing the diet with fish oil as an omega-3 source, but I'm less enthusiastic about flaxseed oil. One tablespoon daily will give you seven to eight grams of ALA, but little of that will be converted to EPA and DHA. Flaxseed oil spoils easily so be sure to keep it refrigerated (it should be refrigerated when you buy it). If you notice that it tastes like oil paint, throw it away. Rancidity is oxidation, and oxidized fats are toxic.

Although flaxseed oil seems to be safe for women, I still haven't seen any data showing that it is safe for men. In October 2004, Nutrition Journal published an analysis of nutrition and cancer. One meta-analysis included in that publication reviewed nine studies that revealed an association between flaxseed oil intake or high blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid and increased risk of prostate cancer. The author speculated that the lignans in flaxseed are a major component of its anti-cancer effects and that the lack of lignans in most brands of flaxseed oil may explain why flaxseed oil is not beneficial. Until we know more about the risk flaxseed oil appears to present, I recommend that men avoid it, or at least stick to brands that put the lignans back in. Flaxseeds, however, present no danger to men.

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...from Dr. Weil website.

2006-09-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS.

Some experts say there is a direct correlation between red meat consumption and prostate cancer. researchers theorize that a diet high in saturated fat increases the levels of testosterone in the body, which stimulates the prostate, along with any cancerous cells. Essential fats, on the other hand, are necessary for proper body function and have anti-inflammatory properties. They are found in fresh seeds, nuts, and wild fish.

...from, ALIVE, September, 2006.

2006-09-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

WHOLE FOODS OFFER PROSTATE PROTECTION.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to support prostate health is by eating whole foods. Whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, vegetables, and fruits are important for the prevention of any cancer, including prostate cancer.

Zinc rich foods: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, mushrooms, spinach, whole grains and seafood.

Garlic: One clove per day.

Lycopene- containing foods: tomatoes, strawberries, watermelons and pink grapefruit.

High-Fibre Foods: leafy green vegetables, barley, quinoa, buckwheat (or kasha), wild rice, brown rice, and oats.

...adapted from, ALIVE, September, 2006.

2006-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

VITAMIN D AND CANCER.

Vitamin D has been getting a lot of press lately as more and more studies link it with reduced rates of a number of types of cancer (18 at last count) as well as with lower risks of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some experts estimate that thousands of cancer deaths could be avoided in the United States each year if everyone got enough vitamin D.
The connections between vitamin D, cancer and other diseases stem from observations that certain disorders, including some forms of cancer, occur much less frequently in areas with sunny warm climates than they do in places where the sun doesn't shine brightly throughout the year. For example, in 1980 a team of epidemiologists found that rates of colon cancer were much higher in populations that were exposed to the least amount of light (especially in major cities and in high-latitude rural areas).
Bear in mind that our bodies make vitamin D in response to exposure to the ultraviolet B rays of the sun ("B" lightwaves are medium-length, as opposed to the long "A" waves). If you live in an area where the sun isn't strong year round or if you rarely venture outside or always put on sunscreen when you do, you could be shortchanged on vitamin D unless you take supplements. It isn't easy to get enough from your diet. The best sources are fortified milk and cereals, eggs, salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines. (Unfortunately, most fortified foods provide vitamin D2, a form which is much less well utilized by the body than D3.)
Recent research has suggested that vitamin D regulates cell proliferation and can hold in check the sort of wild cell growth that leads to cancer.

...from Dr. Weil website.

2006-08-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

BROCCOLI

.................from, ALIVE, August, 2006.

2006-08-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

STRESS STIMULATES CANCER.

The hypothesis that stress can worsen cancer makes intuitive sense, but has been difficult to demonstrate in the laboratory. Now, there is hard experimental evidence to confirm the idea.

When mice with ovarian cancer were stressed by confinement in a small space, their tumors grew and spread more quickly, according to a study by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and published online on July 23, 2006, in advance of publication in Nature Medicine.

Further, when the researchers blocked stress hormone receptors in the mice using an anti-hypertension drug known as a beta blocker, they were able to stop the accelerating effects of stress on tumor growth.

But, for human beings, one does not need prescription drugs to mitigate the effects of stress. Exercise, meditation, breathwork and a strong support network – including human and animal companions – have been shown to lower stress dramatically. In my view, every treatment plan for cancer should incorporate stress-reduction protocols, not as an afterthought but as a vital part of the treatment plan.

...from Dr. Weil website

2006-08-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

POMEGRANATES, PSAs AND PROSTATE CANCER.

Pomegranate juice seems to be appearing on more and more store shelves these days, and it is a fortuitous trend. The delicious, deep-red juice is remarkably high in health-protective antioxidants and ellagic acid, a potent anti-carcinogen. The latest good news on the pomegranate front follows a UCLA study published in the July 1, 2006, issue of Clinical Cancer Research. The three-year clinical trial concluded that drinking an eight-ounce glass of the juice daily quadrupuled the period in which prostate-specific antigens (PSA) levels in men treated for prostate cancer remained stable.
The study involved 50 men who had undergone surgery or radiation but who quickly exhibited increases in PSA, a sign that their cancers were progressing again. The UCLA team saw positive changes in the average doubling time (increasing from 15 to 54 months) in the men who drank juice.
This makes perfect sense to me. The healing power of deep-colored fruits and vegetables is being confirmed in laboratories around the world almost daily. Black raspberries are being shown to have similar action against mouth and esophageal cancers. Foods that inhibit or in some cases even heal tumors in cancer patients offer protection from cancer for the rest of us, and everyone should eat – or drink – them regularly.

...from Dr. Weil website

2006-07-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

A Dozen Reasons to Go Organic

Eating fresh produce is the best way to obtain daily nutrients, but the pesticides used on many crops remain a major health concern. By choosing organic foods, you can reap the health benefits of fruits and vegetables without exposing yourself to potentially harmful chemicals. Make sure you purchase only organic varieties of the produce listed below. According to the Environmental Working Group, common growing practices make these crops the most likely to contain pesticide residues.

Apples
Bell peppers
Celery
Cherries
Imported grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries

...from Dr. Weil website

2006-07-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

MORE RESEARCH ON POMEGRANATE JUICE AND PROSTATE CANCER.

(This information is provided by The Center For Integrated Healing, Vancouver, B.C.) A very interesting study was published this month in the Clinical Cancer Research Journal - a study of the use of pomegranate juice for the treatment of prostate cancer. The researchers found that drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice resulted in a slowing of the rise of PSA in patients who had a recurrence after conventional treatment (surgery or radiation), indicating that pomegranate juice may be helpful in the treatment of prostate cancer. A larger, randomized control trial is now underway.

Based on this early study, pomegranate juice may be helpful for men with prostate cancer. If you are on high blood pressure medication, please use pomegranate juice with caution. If you are taking prescription medications, pomegranate juice may, theoretically, affect the absorbtion of some medications.

2006-07-17T17:24:00.000-07:00

PERSONAL UPDATE

It is now 3 years and 3 months since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. To this date I have not had conventional treatment but follow a rigorous regimen as outlined in my website www.prostatejourney.com and on these blogpages. I have just completed my six month review (PSA and digital rectal examination) at the Cancer Clinic. All is "stable" and I am healthy!

2006-07-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

JUICING.

Eating vegetables, especially raw, is critical to maintaining good health. But how do we fit in the recommended daily allowances of five to ten servings? Here's the simple answer: juice them. Vegetable juicing is one way to eat more raw food than we otherwise might.

If your'e a first-time juicer, start with an easy to tolerate combination of celery, fennel and cucumber. Then get a little more sophisticated by adding leafy green vegetables like green leaf or romaine lettuce, spinach, kale and cabbage. Sweeten the flavour with a few seedless grapes or an apple.

------------------------------------------------------

Each vegetable has its own particular healing property:

*Celery is a natural diuretic containg vitamins A,B and C as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and iron.

*Kale is high in calcium and rich in carotenoids, powerful anticancer agents.

*Cabbage is a cancer preventitive, rich in vitamins and minerals.

*Fennel stimulates healthy digestion.

...from, ALIVE.

2006-07-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

ANTIOXIDANTS AND CANCER.

Scientific studies have demonstrated that high doses of certain antioxidants can help prevent cancer by counteracting free radicals and boosting the immune system. Antioxidants in green tea have been shown to have a protective effect against cancer; the active component in the tea is epigallocatechin -3-gallate. It helps to activate p53 and stop abnormal cell growth. A component of grape skins known as resveratrol has been shown to have similiar protective antioxidant effects. The human body utilizes a complex network of antioxidants composed of several players that work together as a team, so it is important to consume a balanced spectrum of antioxidants.

It would be impossible to eliminate all toxins and pollutants, and the body produces free radicals as normal byproducts of metabolism. However, you can make a positive contribution to the cellular war against oxidative free radical damage and keep cancerous cells at bay by consuming a well-balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Including a comprehensive, high-quality multivitamin and multi oxidant dietary supplement will ensure your all-important p53 gene is protected, keeping your cells youthful and "rust-free."

....from, ALIVE.

2006-07-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

BEST ANTIOXIDANTS FOR CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT.

* vitamin A

* vitamin C

* green tea

* selenium

* tumeric

* sulphoraphane

* quercetin

* resveratrol

* n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)

....from, ALIVE.

2006-07-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 12 - GO BLUE.

A study published in Cancer Letter in January 2006 determined that blueberries inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells.

...from, ALIVE

2006-07-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 11 - GO GREEN.

Cruciferous veggies may prevent prostate cancer. Eat broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, collard greens, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, turnips, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, and arugula.

...from, ALIVE.

2006-07-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 10 - DOSE UP ON D.

Exciting new research is showing that vitamin D3 reduces prostate cancer risk.

....from, ALIVE.

2006-07-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 9 - TAKE ZINC SUPPLEMENTS.

Men with prostate cancer have been found to have suboptimal levels of zinc. Choose citrate, chelate, or other easily absorbed sources, and take about 25 mg daily.

......from, ALIVE

2006-07-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 8 - TAKE FOLIC ACID.

Take at least 400 mcg daily in supplement form and eat leafy green vegetables every day.

...from, ALIVE.

2006-07-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 7 - ADD ISOFLAVONES.

Add isoflavones from soy foods to your menu. Eat tofu, miso, and soy yogurt. Drink soy milk and smoothies made with organic fermented soy powder.

.....from, ALIVE

2006-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 6 - ELIMINATE OR REDUCE COFFEE.

Drink more water. Drink green tea to boost your body's cancer-fighting antioxidants.

...from, ALIVE

2006-06-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 5 - ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTS.

Include vitamin E, selenium, and other antioxidant supplements in your daily supplement program.

..from, ALIVE.

2006-06-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Prostate Protection from Vegetables

Attention Men: Need another reason to eat your vegetables? Research indicates that men who eat plenty of soluble fiber have a lower risk of prostate cancer. Heart-healthy fiber can be found in fresh produce, oatmeal and beans, but fiber from vegetables was shown to be the most beneficial for prostate health.
How to achieve this feat? Be adventurous! Replace meat with beans in soup and casserole recipes; make a vegetable-based casserole the main dish at dinner; order a veggie pizza instead of a meat version; and include a fresh, organic vegetable salad with lunch and dinner. All taste good…and good for you.

...from Dr. Weil website.

2006-06-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 4 - LIMIT DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Milk products are suspected of increasing the potential for prostate cancer.

...from, ALIVE.

2006-06-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASER # 3 - EAT NUTS AND SEEDS.

Eat nuts and seeds. Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and ground flaxseeds are especially good for prostate health.

...from - ALIVE.

2006-06-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASERS #2 - USE HERBS AND SPICES.

Use herbs and spices, especially garlic, oregano, rosemary, and cinnamon to boost the antioxidant content of meals.

...from, ALIVE.

2006-06-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

PROSTATE PLEASERS...#1- EAT COOKED TOMATOES.

Eat cooked tomatoes several times a week. Lycopene, one of the phyto-chemicals in tomatoes and watermelon reduces the risk of prostate cancer.

...from, Alive.

2006-06-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

Food as Medicine: Cancer Prevention

Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).
Increase omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold-water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseeds, and walnuts.
Reduce consumption of animal foods and try to replace with vegetable proteins such as soy.
Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat shiitake, enokidake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms frequently.
Drink green tea daily.

..................from Dr.Weil website

2006-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Study examines need for prostate cancer treatments (Reuters)

Most men diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer may not need radical treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy, which can have serious side effects, British researchers said on Thursday.

A modeling study by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research in England has shown that men whose cancer is detected early with a screening test are unlikely to die from the illness.
So treatments such as surgery to remove the prostate gland or radiotherapy which can cause incontinence and impotence will probably not improve their survival.

"Most men with prostate cancer detected by PSA screening will live out their natural span without the disease causing them any ill effects," said Dr Chris Parker whose findings are reported in the British Journal of Cancer.

"The decision whether to have radical treatment can be tremendously difficult for the patients," he added.

The modeling study predicted that the chance a man aged 55-59 with a low grade cancer dying of the disease within 15 years, even without treatment, is about one in a 100.
But the research suggests that men with high-grade advanced cancer would benefit from treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy.

The PSA test measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen, which is produced by the prostate gland, in the blood. It has enabled doctors to detect the cancer much earlier than they previously could.

Parker and his team are testing a new prostate cancer management technique called Active Surveillance which aims to target treatment only to men who need it.

"Patients are closely monitored and the choice between radical treatment and continued observation is based on evidence of disease progressions," he explained.

Prostate is one of the most common cancers in men. Each year 543,000 new cases are reported worldwide. The disease kills 200,000 mostly older men in developed countries, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

2006-06-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

Chemical in Plastics Is Tied to Prostate Cancer

Bisphenol A, found in baby bottles and microwave cookware, permanently altered genes in newborn lab rats, a study finds.

By Marla ConeLA Times Staff Writer

Linking prostate cancer to a widespread industrial compound, scientists have found that exposure to a chemical that leaks from plastic causes genetic changes in animals’ developing prostate glands that are precursors of the most common form of cancer in males.
The chemical, bisphenol A, or BPA, is used in the manufacture of hard, polycarbonate plastic for baby bottles, microwave cookware and other consumer goods, and it has been detected in nearly every human body tested.

Scientists and health experts have theorized for more than a decade that chemicals in the environment and in consumer products mimic estrogens and may be contributing to male and female reproductive diseases, particularly prostate cancer.

The new study of laboratory rats suggests that prostate cancer, which usually strikes men over 50, may develop when BPA and other estrogen-like, man-made chemicals pass through a pregnant woman’s womb and alter the genes of a growing prostate in the fetus. One in every six men develops prostate cancer, a rate that has increased over the last 30 years.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Cincinnati exposed newborn rats to low doses of BPA and found the structure of genes in their prostate cells was permanently altered, a process of reprogramming in early life that promotes cancer in adulthood.

“The present findings provide the first evidence of a direct link between developmental low-dose bisphenol A … and carcinogenesis of the prostate gland,” ...
Exposure to the chemical “may provide a fetal basis for this adult disease” in humans, the report said.

Prins, Ho and other researchers cautioned that the study was conducted on rats, which sometimes reacted differently to chemicals than humans did. Replicating the work in humans is virtually impossible because 50 or more years usually pass from exposure in the womb to the onset of prostate cancer.

Posted in Healthcare by Administrator

2006-05-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

Five Veggies You Should Be Eating

A healthy kitchen promotes variety, especially when it comes to vegetables. Keep your kitchen stocked with produce that covers the whole spectrum of colors, including the following:

Onions: This must-have vegetable adds flavor to meals. Allicin, a phytochemical found in most varieties of onions, may be responsible for its health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Garlic: This fragrant bulb should be a staple in every kitchen. It contains many of the same phytochemicals as onions, as well as antibiotic and antiviral properties. It may help boost the immune system, prevent colds, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and fight fungal or yeast infections.

Spinach: This dark leafy green (and others like it, such as kale and collards) contains lutein and zeaxanthin; antioxidant carotenoids that may help prevent cataracts and macular degeneration. Spinach is also a source of calcium and folate, a B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects. Buy organic spinach, since pesticides are commonly used on conventionally grown varieties.

Cabbage: This low-cost yet highly nutritious cruciferous vegetable contains nutrients called indoles, which may protect against both breast and prostate cancer. It also provides significant amounts of fiber and vitamin C.

Sweet potatoes: Rich in beta carotene, these vegetables may help boost the immune system, deliver vitamin C and folate (which may reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent certain birth defects), and are low on the glycemic index and glycemic load charts. Plus, their naturally sweet, delicious taste could easily substitute for a dessert!
.
..............from Dr. Weil website, May 29, 2006.

2006-05-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Daily Tip - Spiritual Wellness

Praying for wellness has recently become an unexpectedly controversial practice, but one I feel is a legitimate addition to conventional medical treatment. It has no potential to cause harm, and its benefits are boundless. Appealing to a higher power to restore health is recognized across all cultures throughout history, and speaks to the spiritual aspect of our being.If you're interested in this subject, I recommend you read an excellent book on this topic, "Reinventing Medicine: Beyond Mind-Body to a New Era of Healing," by Larry Dossey, M.D., (Harper San Francisco, 1999). In his book, Dr. Dossey describes a growing body of scientific evidence attesting to the power of prayer in healing.

...form Dr.Weil website

2006-05-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

Prostate Cancer Patients Often Seek Alternative Therapy

Use of complimentary medicine is a very common in patients who have a diagnosis of prostate cancer. In fact about one third of prostate cancer patients in the United States use some type of complementary or alternative medicine. This finding was revealed in a large national study. The survey also showed that as many as half of patients who use such alternative therapies don't discuss this issue with their physicians. It is important that all patients who are using alternative or complimentary forms of treatment convey this information to their physicians. Past studies have found that prostate cancer patients often begin taking alternative or complementary medicines after receiving their diagnosis. To investigate more specifically, Elkin and his colleagues looked at use of more than 50 different types of complementary or alternative medicines in a group of 2,582 men in a registry of prostate cancer patients. One third reported using some type of alternative medicine, with 26% using mineral or vitamin supplements, 16% taking herbs, 13% taking antioxidants and 12% taking some type of alternative treatment for "prostate health," such as saw palmetto or lycopene.

2006-05-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

Gabor Mate in his book, “When the Body Says No” (2003), says :

“Whichever modality of treatment people choose – conventional medicine with or without complementary healing; alternative approaches like energy medicine or various mind – body techniques; ancient Eastern practices like Ayurvedic medicine or yoga or Chinese acupuncture; the universal practice of meditation techniques; psychotherapy; nutritional healing – the key to healing is the individual’s active, free and informed choice.”

2006-05-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Pomegranate Juice Affects Prostate Cancer -Study

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pomegranate juice, a deep red juice becoming popular as a health drink, works against prostate cancer cells in lab dishes and in mice, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.Prostate tumors shrank in mice infected with human prostate tumors who drank pomegranate juice, the researchers report in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences.The juice is rich in antioxidants -- chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their deep colors and which also act against the chemicals that damage cells, leading to cancer and other disease."Our study -- while early -- adds to growing evidence that pomegranates contain very powerful agents against cancer, particularly prostate cancer," said Dr. Hasan Mukhtar, a professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, who led the study."There is good reason now to test this fruit in humans -- both for cancer prevention and for treatment," he said in a statement.It is a far step from treating mice infected with human cancer to treating people, but other studies have also suggested pomegranate juice and other antioxidant-rich foods may help fight tumors.

2006-05-09T15:54:00.001-07:00

Salmon To Prevent Prostate Cancer

Everyone knows that eating fish rich in omega-3 fats may protect you from heart attacks. Now there is one more reason to eat fish rich in omega-3 fats. Recent research has shown that fish that contains good amounts of omega-3 fats may actually protect men from prostate cancer.Omega-3 fatty acids together with omega-6 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize. This has to be supplied from external sources and is shown to protect from heart attacks.Rich sources of Omega-6 fats include vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. Omega 3 fats are found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel.This study led by Dr Mick Brown found while Omega-6 increased the spread of tumor cells into bone marrow, omega-3 blocked the spread."We only need about half as much omega-3 as omega-6 - that will still stop cancer cells from spreading," Dr Mick Brown said.........

2006-05-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

MY OWN STORY.

This story follows a chronological order from my own experience. It is written to assist others who have a prostate cancer diagnosis or for family members who care about them. All that follows is seen through my strong commitment to the value that the body can heal itself and one needs to examine alternatives to the wisdom of conventional medicine. This must be seen, then, as a viewpoint mixed with fact and description and not as a recommended prescription for others to follow. One of the significant learnings of my journey to date is that we are intelligent people with multiple resources to assist in making personal choices about our own health, including treatment for prostate cancer.

Read the story at: www.prostatejourney.com

2006-05-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

ULTRASOUND TREATMENT FOR PROSTATE CANCER.

The most cutting edge treatment for prostate cancer is the high intensity focussed ultrasound, often abbreviated to HIFU. With the patient under anaesthetic, a rectal probe fires highly focussed ultrasound waves at the prostate, burning off cancerous tissue without damaging surrounding organs. The operation takes less than three hours - compared to weeks of radiation- and hasn't the risk of incontinence and impotence from a radical prostatectomy. Currently, there are two operational HIFU's in Canada, both privately operated - one in Windsor, Ont., and the other in Toronto.

...from, MACLEANS, May 1, 2006.

2006-04-29T08:49:00.001-07:00

PRAYER.

Praying for wellness is quickly proving to be a legitimate addition to conventional medical treatment. If you're interested in this subject, I recommend you read an excellent book on this topic, Reinventing Medicine: Beyond Mind-Body to a New Era of Healing, by Larry Dossey, M.D. (Harper San Francisco, 1999). In his book, Dr. Dossey describes a growing body of scientific evidence attesting to the power of prayer in healing - and not only the prayers you make for yourself or that friends and relatives may offer when you're ill. It seems the prayers of strangers - people who know only a patient's first name and diagnosis, and live many miles away - can also influence the medical outcome.

...from Dr. Weil website, April 29, 2006.

2006-04-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

GARLIC AND CANCER.

The link between garlic and the prevention of several types of cancer (especially stomach, breast, prostate, bladder, and colon cancers) is particularly strong. The US National Cancer Institute recently reported "a host of studies provide compelling evidence" that compounds in garlic inhibit cancer, and a 2003 Israeli study published in the Journal of Molecular Cancer Therapy credits allicin, a sulphur compound in garlic with stopping tumour growth within two weeks.

...from, ALIVE, April, 2006.