Cancer

National CFIDS Foundation Funds Leukemia Research Investigations

The National CFIDS Foundation announced that they will be funding two grants totaling $225,000 to fund new research into CFIDS/ME and its association with a leukemic cell phenotype that it has identified in some patients with the disease. A paper written by Kerr also noted abnormal expressed genes “associated with hematologic disease. You can read Karr’s paper at this link: Gene Expression Subtypes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Through bone marrow biopsies and blood samples, researchers say they have a “preliminary indication” that problems exist in the bone marrow of the ME/CFS patients with this problem.

By using the latest in flow cytometry technologies combined with cytogenetic profiles, the NCF has been able to advance its own theories about the disease. This has allowed us to share important data with various top experts worldwide in the leukemia field as well as those engaged in bone marrow research.”

Receiving these research grants are Hany El-Shemy, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry at Cairo University in Egypt. He will be will be evaluating numerous compounds in-vitro against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines. He likes to use plant-based botanicals to eradicate the acute myeloid leukemia cell lines.

Receiving the other grant is Tsvee Lapidot, PhD, Professor of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. His research interests include the mechanisms of stem cell migration and immune development, the regulation of the bone marrow reservoir of immature and maturing luekocytes as part of host defense and repair during homeostasis and alarm situations and the role of stromal cells, cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and proteolytic enzymes in normal and leukemic human hematopoiesis.

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Breast Cancer – Click For Free Mammograms

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The Breast Cancer Site gives away free mammograms to women who need them by clicking on their site, but they have not been hitting their quota lately. They need a lot of clicks daily in order to meet their quota of one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman.

It only takes a second to click each day and by clicking you can help save someone’s life. Please pass this on to as many people as you know so that the site can continue giving away these much needed mammograms.

My paternal grandmother died as a result of breast cancer so this is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart. I watched her die a slow, horrible, miserable death from breast cancer. The last time I saw her I told her I loved her, but she was so out of it and in so much pain she didn’t even know who I was. It was heartbreaking.

Please Keep This Family In Your Prayers…

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I have been reading this blog, Bryce D. Brown, for a while now and my heart goes out to this family. I believe this family could really use a large prayer circle right now and I am sending this out hoping that everyone reading will pray for Bryce, his wife and their baby daughter today, and every day.

Bryce has skin cancer, Melanoma, and he is a Stage 4. He has been battling hard for quite some time now and the strength of this family is amazing. They continue to fight against all of the odds and refuse to give up and refuse to let cancer win.

Please stop over at the website, read about Bryce, and leave a nice comment for them.

The other week when I was reading through the blog and some of the comments I was horrified. I could not believe how insensitive some people could be and the hurtful and ignorant things they were saying to this family knowing what they are going through.

Bryce and his wife have a beautiful baby girl and everyone is rooting for him to be around to see her grow up. Again, please keep this family in your prayers.

More News on Aspartame’s Role In Cancer

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Italian researchers published a new study recently that showed aspartame might cause leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer in rats.

This was the second study by the same lab that showed aspartame causes cancer in rats.

After hearing of yet another claim from researchers that aspartame causes cancer, a U.S. consumer group called for an urgent FDA review. But once again, the FDA concluded that aspartame is safe as a “general purpose sweetener in food”.

One of the concerns is that aspartame is found in so many products, not just diet sodas, so people are consuming more and more aspartame all of the time. You can actually view the Italian study in PDF form here.

I don’t think it matters how much proof is given to the FDA on aspartame causing cancer. The FDA is not always looking out for our best interests. It’s all about the money in my opinion.

Is New Alli A Cancer Worry?

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I was reading a post on The Cancer Blog that discusses the new Alli (which was formerly a prescription diet drug by the name of Orlistat) as a cancer worry.

The over-the-counter version weight loss pills are supposed to be more effective with less side effects but it is believed to cause colon cancer. A non-profit group, Public Citizen, says Alli has been shown to cause pre-cancerous lesions in the colons of mice.

The group believes that since there were no long-term studies done on humans that the FDA should never have approved the drug.

” It’s not clear whether or not the pre-cancerous spots will lead to colon cancer but the mere suggestion that it might is enough”, says a Public Citizen spokesperson.

“What we do know is that these lesions occur much more frequently in people who do get colon cancer,” he said. “Why do we recommend that everyone get a colonscopy at the age of 50? Because you pick up on these polyps when you do one. And, even though not all of the polyps are pre-cancerous, no (doctor) does a colonscopy without removing every single polyp that is found. And you do this because you know if you don’t, it greatly increases the chances of getting cancer.”

Stress Contributing To Cancer

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A study conducted at Wake Forest University has found that the “fight or flight” stress hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) may contribute to the development of cancer and cause cancer cells to resist treatment. Epinephrine is found to be elevated in those suffering from depression.

Epinephrine is produced by the adrenal glands. When we are in a stressful situation, our levels of epinephrine are increased and they can continuously be elevated during continual stess and depression.

Back in April 2007, a report was published that scientists from Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that epinephrine causes changes in prostate and breast cancer cells that may make them resistant to cell death.

George Kulik, DVM, PhD, an assistant professor of cancer biology adn senior researcher on the project said, “These data imply that emotional stress may contribute to the development of cancer and may also reduce the effectiveness of cancer treatments”.

Even though a link between stress and cancer has been suggested, studies in large groups of people have been mixed. There is currently no evidence that stress DIRECTLY changes cancer cells.

While studying prostate and breast cancer cells, Kulik and other researchers found that the protein BAD that causes cell death becomes inactive when cancer cells are exposed to epinephrine.

Kulik is now studying blood samples of prostate cancer patients to determine if there is a link between levels of stress hormones and severity of disease. They have also started studying the effects of epinephrine in mice with prostate cancer.

New Technology for Brain Tumors

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Technology is amazing these days. There is a new operation for brain tumors called Gamma Knife Surgery where the surgeon does not have to cut the patient.

This brain tumor treatment is accomplished by discharging a powerful beam of energy that destroys brain tumors. Many people are still not aware that this type of treatment is available.

With this type of surgery, only the head area is exposed to radiation and the rest of the body is protected.

Anti-Breast Cancer Vitamin Every Woman Should Take

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A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that one of the most important vitamins a woman’s body needs to prevent breast cancer is folate. The study showed that the more folate a woman consumed, the less chance she had to develop breast cancer. This is especially true for women who drink a moderate amount of alcohol – too much of which seems to block folate’s beneficial effects.

As always, before beginning any treatment talk to your doctor. He or she can tell you how much folate you should take per day.

Drop In Breast Cancer Rates vs. Hormones

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New research has shown that there has been a big drop in breast cancer rates due to millions of women going off of their menopause hormones. Doctors are worried that this news will cause even more women to stop taking their pills. Doctors are also worried that women who have severe menopausal symptoms will overreact to the risks and will deny their bodies from the hormones.

The use of hormones by women has dropped dramatically since 2002 when a study found that it raised the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and other problems for women. Prior to 2002, it was believed that these same pills prevented many of these conditions and doctors prescribed them eagerly.

Camera Pill To Detect Colon Cancer

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A colonscopy is the main technological standard for colon cancer screening. But many people will not get tested as they should because they fear the testing and don’t like the preparation for it either.

There is a new exciting option that may be available soon for patients. Still waiting approval is a capsule the size of a large vitamin that has two cameras in it. Once the patient swallows the capsule, the capsult will transmit images to a pager type device worn on the patient’s waistbad.

The physician can then download these images to a computer to screen for cancer and other abnormalities. Within 10 hours, the capsule will pass through through the patient’s stool.

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