HOW TO PREVENT CANCERS

Endometrial hyperplasia is a bad news for those who have obesity, diabetes, PCOS, or having estrogen replacement therapy. Endometrial hyperplasia is an over thickening of uterus lining. The lining is called endometrium.



What can cause endometrial hyperplasia?

Endometrial hyperplasia mainly caused by hormonal imbalance. Inadequate progesterone cannot reduce the endometrium thickening done by estrogen. Before the ovulation time, estrogen make the endometrium thicken to prepare it for pregnancy. After the ovulation occurs, our body release progesterone to balance the action of estrogen so the endometrium doesn't thicken overly. If there is no conception within 14 days after ovulation, the lining shed. This shedding of uterus lining is called menstruation.

Skin whitening products becoming a must to almost all Asian Women. Especially in Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Arabs. They think that white skin is more beautiful thank dark skin. It brings luck to many skin care company that sell skin whitening products. But do you know? Our skin gets darker when it exposed to sunshine because of it's natural action to protect our skin. Melanin increase as a response of UV exposure and protect our body from the bad thing caused by UV rays. Of course the increase of melanin will darken the skin. But it does protect you. Darker skin protect you more, so you doesn't need to spend more money on skin care product. As long as you're healthy, you are beautiful :)

A new study by the American Cancer Society (ACS) finds that putting on the walking shoes and staying off the couch can extend the lives of colon cancer survivors.  The findings reinforce the latest recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine that cancer patients should - whenever possible - be regularly active as well as avoid inactivity.

The ACS researchers used the large Cancer Prevention Study II to compare activity levels with length of survival in around 2300 colon cancer patients.  The results showed that how active as well as how sedentary patients were both before and after diagnosis had a real impact on how long patients lived after being diagnosed with the disease.

 Those patients who walked around 2.5 hours per week after diagnosis were 40 percent less likely to die of any cause during the length of the study than those who walked less than an hour a week.  A history of walking that same amount before diagnosis lowered the risk of dying by 28 percent.

Being sedentary - regardless of how activity patients were - also had a important link with survival.  Those who spent six or more hours per day sitting before diagnosis had a 36 percent greater risk of dying of any cause during the study than those who sat less than 3 hours per day.  After diagnosis, sitting for six or more hours per day increased the risk of dying specifically of colon cancer by 62 percent.

The data on the benefits of exercise keep accruing - both in preventing disease and in extending life (and quality of life) after a diagnosis.  And the amounts that provide real benefit are fairly modest.  Two and a half hours of walking translates to a little over 20 minutes a day, which can be built up with small bouts - walking to the store, walking to the park, walking home from the bus stop, or taking the stairs more often.

Cutting back on sedentary time is also fairly easy. At work or school, take walking breaks when possible or set up your desk so you can stand while working - a cardboard box to set your computer on can really cut down on daytime sit-time.   Simply turning off the TV, computer, or tablet can spur interest in less sedentary pursuits.  It can take some time and effort to change well-worn habits (especially following cancer diagnosis and treatment), but the benefits can make it well worth the effort.

For more on healthy behaviors after a cancer diagnosis, see:  CANCER SURVIVORS' 8ight Ways to Stay Healthy after Cancer.

A Bumpy Start

On March 26, 2008, an article in the New York Times placed a promising test for lung cancer on shaky ground. The piece detailed that tobacco company money had paid for a 2006 groundbreaking study of the test, the results of which found that screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans could greatly reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer. Until this time, no good screening test had been found for lung cancer – the most deadly cancer in the United States – and the study’s findings were met with cautious optimism in many scientific circles and wide praise in the broader media.

The results of the 2006 study – published in the New England Journal of Medicine – were impressive in their magnitude. They estimated that 80 percent of smokers screened with low-dose CT would survive for ten years, a percentage much higher than the average five-year survival rate of the disease.

Scientifically, the study had some issues (as we detailed in a post at that time). There was no comparison group, and the large long-term benefits of screening were projections based on only three years of follow-up, not on actual data from following patients over ten years. Despite this, the results showed potential for using low-dose CT to screen for lung cancer.

Then, the New York Times article came out detailing that not only had tobacco company money paid for the study but that it also funded a research foundation presided over by the principal investigator, who also happened to own pertinent patents in CT scanner technology. These revelations shook the scientific community, and the results of the study were called into question by many, with Dr. Catherine DeAngelis, then editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, capturing the overall feeling: “I would never publish a paper dealing with lung cancer from a person who had taken money from a tobacco company.”

New Data. New Screening Guidelines

This could just be another story of tainted work quickly exiting into obscurity. Yet, the positive results for low-dose CT scanning for lung cancer have, somewhat surprisingly, largely been born out over time in more rigorous analyses, with the American Cancer Society releasing last week new lung cancer screening guidelines that focus on low-dose CT scans. Though benefits have been more modest than those in the 2006 study, a large randomized controlled trial (National Lung Screening Trail (NLST)) found that over an average of six years, current or former smokers screened with low-dose CT had a 20 percent lower risk of dying from lung cancer than those screened with standard chest X-rays.

These newer, more rigorous analyses, though, also highlighted the health risks that accompany the benefits of low-dose CT scans. While serious complications resulting from CT screening were rare in the NLST study, nearly 40 percent of patients receiving all three scheduled CT scans had at least one abnormal result requiring some sort of follow up. In comparison, just over 20 percent of women over age 40 who’ve had a mammogram report abnormal findings. And even though follow-up for an abnormal lung cancer screen most often involved just an additional CT scan, close to three percent of patients with abnormal scans had to have an invasive follow-up procedure, like biopsy or surgery.

“The risks of screening often get lost in the headlines,” says Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, a Professor of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and Associate Director of Prevention and Control at the Siteman Cancer Center. “But they’re very important to consider, not only when forming guidelines but also in terms of someone’s personal preference for balancing the risks and benefits of having a screening test.”

The high percentage of abnormal scans with low-dose CT is a real concern, especially as this percentage will continue to grow as people continue to get scans. The large majority of these will be false alarms, but they can still be stressful and anxiety-inducing, as well as risky if follow-up needs to reach beyond additional scans to procedures like biopsies and surgery.

Who’s Likely to Benefit from Screening?

Despite such risks, the American Cancer Society’s new lung cancer screening guidelines detail who is most likely to benefit from screening with low-dose CT. This includes those between the ages of 55 and 74 who are relatively healthy current heavy smokers (1 or more packs a day for 30 years, for example) or former heavy smokers (those who quit less than 15 years ago). Screening should take place annually up to age 74 and in facilities or medical centers that have the experience and staffing to provide reliable scans, evaluation, and follow-up care. “If such a setting is not available and the patient is not willing or able to travel to such a setting,” the guidelines state, ” the risk of cancer screening may be substantially higher than the observed risks associated with screening in the NLST [study], and screening is not recommended.”

Quality and completeness of care is an important concern with CT screening, especially with such a high rate of abnormal results even in academic settings that are well staffed and trained in such scans. “It’s unclear how well these numbers will translate to broader medial care settings across the country,” says Colditz. “It’s a very specialized field. Outside of well-trained and well-staffed medical centers, the risks linked with screening could become much greater, and the benefits diminished. ”

The decision to get screened ultimately comes down to a personal decision. The guidelines state that screening is a decision that should be made along with one’s health care provider after weighing risks, benefits, and personal preferences. Those placing high priority on lowering the risk of dying from cancer who can also tolerate the uncertainty and anxiety of high rates of false alarms and follow-up procedures may choose annual screening. Those with lower tolerance for uncertainty of scan results may choose to not be screened regularly.

Benefits of Cessation

Whether or not someone chooses to be screened for lung cancer, the best thing any smoker can do for his or her health is to quit smoking, and the best thing any non-smoker can do is stay smoke free. Even given the significant benefits of low-dose CT scans, it doesn’t take long for the prevention benefits of cessation to surpass them, especially since smoking is linked to many other cancers as well as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes (figure).

The benefits of cessation match or exceed the known benefits of low-dose CT screening for lung cancer.

“Smoking cessation is prevention,” says Melody Goodman, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Whereas, “low-dose CT is a method of detection that helps find cancers early if they exist.” Screening and detection is very important, but preventing cancer outright, though cessation or other means, is always a top priority, continued Goodman.

Despite a rough start and some still unanswered questions about who exactly would benefit from low-dose CT screening, the addition of an effective screening test for lung cancer has great potential to reduce the burden of cancer in the United States. In 2009, over 200,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer and close to 1600,000 people died from the disease. Any progress that helps lower these numbers – whether through screening, cessation, or both – will have a positive effect on individuals, on family and friends, and on the health system in general.

Hydroquinone is a chemical substance found in many skin whitening product, especially in Asia and Africa. I'm not going to talk about the molecular or chemical things about it because you can read the whole thing on wikipedia. What I'm trying to explain is that hydroquinone actually never do any good to you.
You might think that hydroquinone save your look as it wipe out your dark spot. But do you know, that hydroquinone do its favor to whiten your skin by decreasing the production of melanin. Hydroquinone change the nature of our skin because it breaks melanocytes that produces melanin. Therefore, our skin is more exposed to ultra violet that can cause skin cancer.
Hydroquinone is also considered as carcinogenic substance. Study suggest that applying 4% hydroquinone or larger amount for a long time can increase the risk of cancer. It has a mutagenic effect that can makes our body cells to become malignant.
The use of hydroquinone is banned in Europe as well as India. In many other countries, hydroquinone is only allowed in skin care product as long as they maintain the dosage to be under 2%.

Sitting is form of resting. It's good for your body, but only in a certain condition. As reported by http://www.enriquesantos.com, sitting can be more harm than smoking.

"Going to work could be more harmful than smoking, a new study shows. That is if your job involves sitting around for long periods of time. Research carried out by the American College of Cardiology shows that prolonged sitting is linked to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and even early death and could be just as dangerous, if not more so, than smoking. Cardiologist Dr David Coven said: ‘Smoking certainly is a major cardiovascular risk factor and sitting can be equivalent in many cases. The fact of being sedentary causes factors to happen in the body that are very detrimental.’ He told CBS that when you sit for long periods of time your body goes into storage mode and stops working as effectively as it should. And just like smoking, the more you do it, the greater the likelihood of developing one or more of the diseases.  Paul Golin told CBS he was sitting up to eight hours a day until he had a health scare which he believes was largely brought on by sitting down all day. "

Our body is just not meant to sit all day. We need to move to help circulating our blood and exercising our bones. The most common disease caused by too much sitting is anus muscle inflammation. The symptoms includes pain in the anus that makes you can't sit well. Scientists also suggest that sitting for long period can increase the chance of having diabetes.

In a Hadits quoted by Tirmidzi, Rasulullah Muhammad (PBUH) said that predawn prayer (tahajud) can wash away sins, bring tranquility, and help avoid disease. Tahajud is praying (salat) at around 2PM untill 3.30PM. Those time is a golden time, where our body system doing a reset. The move of salat help the blood circulate better. And tahajud also prevent us from having nightmares.
This Hadits is proven by Hj Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal, mayor of Nangroe Aceh Darussalaam (a district in Indonesia). She held a training and research with 250 participants to regularly do tahajud everyday. After a few weeks, participants reported that they easily reduce stress resulting in improvement of body endurance. According to fact, tranquility can improve immunological endurance, reduce heart cancer risks, and makes a person live longer.

source: http://salam-online.com

Since the ancient times here in Indonesia, marriage consider to be a way to accomplish healthy life. The more kids you have, the healthier you are.
This folk is finally proven in the modern medical science where hormonal imbalance is becoming a main cause of reproduction system cancer (uterine cancer, breast cancer, servical cancer, etc).
When a woman is pregnant, her hormonal system maintain it's stability. Therefore, no period occur during pregnancy. The absence of period gives a 9 month rest to our hormonal system. It's like resetting after years full of fluctuation.
Your doctor may suggest TTC if you are diagnosed with hormonal imbalance, especially when you don't want to have a synthetic hormone therapy. Pregnancy is a natural way to help balancing your hormone.

The man behind this book is Jerry D. Gray. He converted to Islam after he saw the truth of Islam when he was in the U.S. Air Force. He learned that Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), have a very healthy lifestyle that prevent Him from being sick. Muhammad (PBUH) is the first man telling us that there 360 joints in our body, not 340 as the scientist said until 1996.
Rasulullah reveals the benefit of honey to every disease. Also the benefit of brushing tooth, eating dates, fasting, sitting while drinking, not to blow food if they're too hot, etc.
Rasulullah really gave detailed information, and whoever follow Him, will be healthy inside and outside.
More about the content of this book can be read on http://media.kompasiana.com/buku/2011/09/15/rasulullah-is-my-doctor/

Photo courtesy of bardgabbard

Adding even more weight to the evidence that sugary drinks play an important role in weight is a new analysis showing that even short term increases in soda intake can lead to weight gain.  In the analysis, which appears online in the British Medical Journal, researchers from New Zealand combined the results from over 60 studies and looked to see what effect increasing intake or decreasing intake of sugary soda had on the weight of both adults and kids.

What they found was that restricting soda intake over a period of 10 weeks to 8 months led to a 0.8 kg (1.75 lbs) weight loss.  Increasing soda intake had the opposite effect, leading to a .75 kg (1.65 lbs) weight gain.  The biggest weight gains were in those who'd increased intake the longest (longer than 8 weeks), where gains were a substantial 2.73 kg (6 lbs).  But even over the short term (less than 8 weeks), soda was linked to a .5 kg (1.1 lbs) increase.

The findings for kids were less solid than those for adults, but the analysis still found a link between soda intake and weight.  Kids who drank the most soda were found to have a 50 percent higher risk of being overweight than kids who drank the least soda.

While this link between soda and weight may not seem groundbreaking - nor the amount of gains and losses - this paper provides solid data that have been lacking and should give a boost to efforts to curb sugary soda consumption.

One way sugary sodas can lead to weight gain is simply by adding to the total of daily calories.  The calories in sodas aren't as filling as those in solid foods, so even though sodas add significant calories to the daily diet, they do so in a stealthy manner, little noticed by the body. So it's easy to not compensate for them by cutting back elsewhere.  Sugary soda can also cause spikes in blood glucose level, which then cause spikes in blood insulin levels as a way to bring glucose back down.  This big drop in glucose, though, can bring on feelings of false hunger, leading to extra eating and calories.

This spiking and crashing of glucose and insulin is also one mechanism through which sugary drinks (and sugary foods) can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes.  And the weight gain linked to soda consumption can raise the risk of a number of chronic diseases, including stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and many cancers.

In an accompanying editorial, Walter Willett and David Ludwig note that efforts to restrict soda consumption are very import - and are showing some promise - but should also be part of a larger effort to improve the overall quality of carbohydrates people consume.  Starchy foods like potatoes and highly refined grains can boost blood sugar levels just as forcefully as sugary drinks.

Important steps to improving the quality of carbohydrates include:

• Limiting sugary drinks, including soda, energy drinks, and fruit punch

• Choosing whole grains products more often, like brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread, popcorn (little salt, no butter) and whole oats

• Limiting refined grains, like white rice, white bread, and pasta

• Eating a lot of whole fruits and vegetables (except potatoes)

When you sick, the value of your doctor is more than a medical care person, but you'll think that he/she will be your savior. So, finding the right doctor is so important, not only for your physical health, but mentally as well.

But how to make sure that you find the right doctor? Consider the following steps:

1. A good doctor, is one who have so many visitors. This is just so obvious. 
2. Ask the medical informant to find a right specialist according to your symptoms.
3. A good doctor will always encourage their patients to survive the sickness, they will be kind and friendly and willing to answer many of your questions
4. A good doctor will consider to have a lab check (blood, USG, urine test, etc) before deciding anything.
5. A good doctor will give logical medication, not easily give high dosage to quickly relieve your symptoms

Good luck :)

Isoflavone is a substance that can help balance your hormonal system. Study suggest that eating 2-3 portion of soya products reduce the risk of cancer. Soya beans is rich of isoflavone, as rich as clover and mungbeans. For women who have polycystic ovary sindrome (PCOS), eating isoflavone-rich food can help to lower androgen level, because isoflavone act as phytoestrogens. It means that it can mimic the function of estrogen in our body, therefore they can help to balance estrogen level.
For best results, eat soya beans from the fifth days of your period to help maturing your egg. Continue daily untill 14 days before your next period. Because 14 last days of your period, estrogen level have to be lowered to induce menstruation.

Ovulation is an important to most of woman, especially those who are trying to conceive. Since ovulation only occur in a particular time in your periods, predicting ovulation is necessary so that you can know the best time to "do it".
There are several ways to predict ovulation. The most accurate way is to have ovulation test packs. Go to your local drugstore to purchase some of those test packs in a reachable price. The other ways that you can do are:

1. Inspect your cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is normal for women, as long as it's not smelly or make you feel itchy or pain. When the ovulation time occurs, your cervical mucus will be clear and stringy. You can stretch the mucus for 5 inch without breaking it. Sometimes a little pinky blood appear.
2. Chart your body basal temperature. Ovulation makes your body temperature rise sligthly betwen 0.5-1 celcius. It's better that you record you temperature daily every morning right after you wake up, before you even get out of your bed. It's the most accurate way to measure basal body temperature.
3. Numerical Analysis. If you have regular periods, you may do simple math to predict your ovulation. Your ovulation time is 14 days before your next period.
4. Ask medical expert to do ultrasound check. Transvaginal ultrasound can accurately check whether you have a mature egg or not. This is an accurate but not convenience way.

Some women (including me) experience mid-cycle bleeding or bleeding between her periods. The bleeding usually light to moderate. If you experience this, consider the following:

1. Check if there any other symptoms, such as pain, cramps, nausea, dizziness, or any feeling that disturb your daily activities. If one or some of those symptoms occur, you need to see your doctor immediately.
2. If only light bleeding occurs, but no other symptoms detected, usually you just have to reduce stress, take a good rest, and eat nutritious foods. It's usually caused by hormonal imbalance due to bad daily routine. But if the bleeding continues for the next 2 months, you need to go to doctor to have complete examination of your hormone level.

What can cause mid-cycle bleeding?  

1. Hormonal imbalances. Most cause of mid-cycle bleeding is hormonal imbalances, or your hormone level is not in the right level. In this case, the blood usually dark or brownish and the bleeding is heavier. You may feel a little pain or cramps. Your doctor usually give hormone therapy after a full blood check. Hormonal imbalance can cause serious problems (cancer, infertility, etc) if not cared well. Usually it cause small bump in uterus, like what i got  now. On the right the USG picture of my uterus, showing 0.72 cm bump (marked with small "x"). But it's not a big problem. The bump will vanish with 3 month medroxyprogeterone acetate therapy.
2. Ovulation. The good news is: that ovulation sometimes cause a light mid-cycle bleeding occurs, and it is very normal. No worry about that. During the ovulation, the ovary follicle ruptures to release egg, and cause a very light bleeding. The blood usually pinkish and your cervical mucus will be clear and stringy.  To identify this, you have to be sure that you are ovulating when the bleeding occurs. There are numerous ovulation test pack which you can purchase on your local drugstore. 
3. Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the peritoneum which lines the abdominal cavity. The uterine cavity is lined with endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones. Endometrial-like cells in areas outside the uterus (endometriosis) are influenced by hormonal changes and respond in a way that is similar to the cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms often worsen with the menstrual cycle. (source: wikipedia).
4. Pregnancy or misscariage. First or second week of pregnancy can cause a light bleeding. It is normal, and considered as a sign of pregnancy. Bleeding can also be sign of misscariage if you're pregnant. 
5. Infection. Mid-cycle bleeding usually caused by infection if you experience pain and smelly cervical mucus. 

What is an irregular period?

As I read on Doctor Marcelle Pick's article, I found out that women with irregular period are those whose more than 50% of their periods are not in usual length. They sometimes skip some period during the year, or experiment some mid-cycle bleeding.  Irregular periods can very annoying sometimes, and can cause frustration which wild drive more irregularity, especially for those who try to conceive.

How can I know that I have irregular periods?

The most accurate way to detect the problem is having your periods tracked. There are numerous charts, tables, and even software to help doing the tracking. Lots of them are completed with ovulation and unwanted symptoms tracker. Here are some links to download menstrual trackers:

http://www.whenmybaby.com/menstrualchart.php
http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/
http://www.bodycalc.com/menstrual-ovulation-cycle

You can ask Google to give you more trackers :)

What are the cause of irregular periods?

Most of irregularities on menstrual cycles are caused by hormonal imbalances. But the hormonal imbalances them-self are caused by and can cause a lot of things.
Things that can cause hormonal imbalances are:

1. Genetics factor. Not much you can do to deal with this factor :(
2. Poor nutrition, or eating too much sugar, carbohydrate, and chemical-additive-rich foods
3. Lack of sleep, frustration, over-work
4. Medications, especially hormonal medications (birth control pills, transgender medications, etc)

And things caused by hormonal imbalances (sex hormones) are:

1. Irregular periods
2. Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
3. Uterine/ovary cysts, uterine/breast cancer
4. Abnormal hair growth (men-like hair growth)
5. Acne and oily skin
6. Abnormal development of sexual reproduction organs 

Hormonal system in our body is a very complex thing. Once a hormone goes wrong, other hormones tend to go wrong too.
Other cause that can drive your period to be irregular is anatomical. You may have abnormal uterine shape, abnormal blockage of cervix, etc. An ultrasound check may detect this anatomical abnormalities.

What can I do so my period get back to normal?

Reducing stress, daily exercise, and good nutrition work as a natural way to improve your cycle. These steps alone give the body a much needed boost and will support the natural hormonal balance. If they don't work, you may need to have a hormonal medication to help balancing your hormones. A full blood check usually needed before the medications are prescribed, considering the side effects of the medications. If you have history of breast or uterine cancer, your doctor may give another appropriate medication, because hormone therapy can increase the risk of cancer.

A recent article in MedPage Today highlighted the birth of a new tanning salon industry-sponsored group that has the sole intent of refuting well-established and peer-reviewed science showing the dangers of tanning bed use.

The new group - the American Suntanning Association (ASA) - which, intentionally or not, seemed to receive cozy treatment in the article, has as one of its primary goals, says ASA board member Diane Lucas: "to address and factually dispel these myths and educate the public about intelligent, practical sun care for tanners and nontanners,"

Such industry-sponsored groups have been around ever since health research has performed science running counter to industry interests, perhaps reaching its audacious peak with the battle over big tobacco.  And well-funded industries continue to mount campaigns against sound science.

The reality of tanning bed use, however, is that it significantly raises the risk of skin cancer - both deadly melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.  A 2012 analysis of over 25 studies found that having ever used a tanning bed raised the risk of melanoma by 20 percent compared to those who had never used a tanning bed.  Use in early life boosted risk even more.  Using a tanning bed before age 35 raised the risk of melanoma nearly 90 percent.  A similar analysis of 12 studies of non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) found similar results with age and history of use.  These are important numbers that show a big population impact.

Tanning bed use is a clear health risk and has been deemed carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). And it may even be an addictive activity, especially for youth, who are most vulnerable to its effects.   

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) - a public policy entity of the American Academy of Dermatology - goes so far as to support a total ban on tanning beds except for medical use.  Outside of an outright ban, the AADA recommends:

1. Prohibiting access to indoor tanning for minors (under 18 years old)
2. Educating all indoor tanning customers about the skin cancer risks and requiring their informed consent
3. Implementing and enforcing labeling recommendations outlined in the Tanning Accountability and Notification (TAN) Act
4. Encouraging enforcement of state regulations