In today’s world, is it that occurrences of breast cancer are growing much more than it was years ago, or it is just that breast cancer is getting more visibility in the press and medical journals? It appears that the answer is a little bit of both. The population is increasing and therefore the actual number of cases is more, although the actual percentage of people diagnosed with breast cancer is not significantly different (although it is higher) than in years past.

One of the things that many people fail to understand is that anyone can get breast cancer. Although it is thought to be tied somewhat to being hereditary, that does not mean that you will not get breast cancer if there is no occurrence of it in your family history.

Another thing that is equally puzzling is why more people, particularly women where breast cancer is most likely to happen, do not get regular checkups from their doctor to check for it. I know of multiple people who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and when asked when the last time they had a mammogram done to check for the presence of breast cancer, they indicated it had been a number of years. This is truly unfortunate because like most things, if breast cancer is caught as early as possible, the chances of beating it become incredibly greater.

You should be aware of the symptoms of breast cancer, sometimes also known as inflammatory breast caner so that you can see your doctor as soon as possible if these symptoms exist. These symptoms include:

* A breast that appears bruised, or is pink or purple.
* If your breast is feeling tender or firm and enlarged.
* A consistent warm feeling in the breast.
* Pain or itching in the breast that is constant.
* A ridged or dimpled skin texture, kind of like an orange peel.
* Flattened, retracted, swollen or crusted skin around the nipple.
* Lumps or enlarged lymph nodes under the arm or around the collarbone.

This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms but if you are experiencing any of these symptoms or signs, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to get checked out. Most health insurance companies will pay for this examination, because they realize that it is going to cost them much more if the cancer is allowed to grow instead of being diagnosed, caught, and remedied early on in its development stages.

Many of these same symptoms can also indicate the presence of a breast infection called mastitis. This type of infection most frequently (although not exclusively) occurs in younger women, usually under age 35, who are breast feeding young children. This is not breast cancer but is a simple infection that is most easily treated with prescription antibiotics. It is frequently accompanied by fever. The difference here is that breast cancer does not cause a fever, nor does it respond to antibiotics.

The bottom line is that you need to be aware of the classic symptoms of breast cancer, since the earlier it is diagnosed and treated, especially with the advances in today’s medicines, the better your chances of beating it.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintain a variety of web sites based on his knowledge and experience. For more information about Breast Cancer, please visit his web site at Breast Cancer Explained.

Have we discovered a cancer prevention vitamin? Are cancer prevention vitamins really possible? Is the cancer prevention vitamin here?

New studies show we just might have! Some forms of cancer may be preventable with the use of a cancer prevention vitamin. Hardly any family in the United States has NOT had a family member die because of cancer. This could change with the addition of this cancer prevention vitamin to our daily diets.

There are two studies that have been conducted using very sophisticated analysis which revealed that we are close to having a cancer prevention vitamin. Almost half of the cases of breast cancer and almost two thirds of colorectal cancer, in the United States, have been helped with what appears to be the cancer prevention vitamin, Vitamin D, (25-hydroxyvitamin D). T

he data from the breast cancer study showed individuals with the highest blood levels of 25(OH)D HAD the lowest risk factors for cancer. Wouldn’t it be great if we could prevent most breast cancers? The researchers for this cancer prevention vitamin divided the data from two studies into five equal groups from the lowest blood levels of 25(H)D to the highest level of 25(OH)D. The data showing whether or not the individuals developed cancer was also included with these studies. This is strong evidence that we are closer to developing a cancer prevention vitamin for breast cancer.

The cancer prevention vitamin data from the colorectal study was an analysis of five studies relating to 25(OH)D with risk of colon cancer. All these studies involved subjects with a risk of colon cancer and explored the association of blood levels of 25(OH)D. The levels were then checked 25 years later for the development of colorectal cancer.

According to one of the doctors involved in the study of the cancer prevention vitamin stated, “We project a two-thirds reduction in incidence with serum levels … which corresponds to a daily intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3. This would be best achieved with a combination of diet, supplements and 10 to 15 minutes per day in the sun.”

We have several sources of vitamin D3 (possibly THE cancer prevention vitamin) in our daily routine. We get vitamin D3 through exposure of the skin to sunlight, or ultraviolet B, our diet, and with nutritional supplements. (It is important to note here that the researchers underscored the importance of limiting sun exposure such that the skin does not change color (tan) or burn.) If you are sensitivity to sunlight, or you or a personal or family has a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer, any amount of extra sun exposure would be inadvisable. Therefore a cancer prevention vitamin may be taken in higher dose for those how have this sensitivity. That cancer prevention vitamin is easily available in some vitamin supplements.

Analysis of the colorectal cancer study had shown that in 2006 that a low dose of vitamin D (cancer prevention vitamin) didn’t protect against colorectal cancer within seven years of follow-up. However, the researchers wrote, the analysis did show that a higher dose (of cancer prevention vitamin) may reduce its incidence.

I am not a doctor so please consult your healthcare provider.

Keith Standifer is a business owner and an advocate for healthy diets for all. Read more about some of the high quality nutritional supplements he uses. Visit his site at http://www.healthisyours.usana.com or visit his blog at http://here4health.blogspot.com

Jenny (not real name), 53 years old, was diagnosed with left breast cancer in January 2006. A mastectomy was done followed by chemotherapy. After her first chemotherapy on 22 February 2006, Jenny felt weak with a heavy head. She vomited for three days. Jenny was supposed to have 8 cycles of chemotherapy but after her fourth chemotherapy, she decided to stop chemotherapy totally. This was because of the severe side effects.

On 29 November 2006, we interviewed Jenny. Below is the transcript of our conversation.

Question: Okay, when you did your second, third and fourth chemo, did the doctor know you were on herbs?

Jenny: No. I hinted about taking herbs during my consultation. They said: “No, no, no. Don’t take herbs.” But I took it quietly without their knowledge. After the fourth chemo and it was time for the fifth chemo, I called and informed them that I intended to stop the treatment. I told them that I am a Christian and I believe in God’s healing. I heard from God to stop the chemo. And I said I wanted to go for herbs. Initially the oncologist said, “Okay, it’s your choice. Do whatever you want. If you have any problems you can come back here.” I accepted that.

Jenny’s Platelet Count Went Up

Jenny: Every few weeks I had my blood test done before this. Every blood test, the blood platelets kept going up. My friends told me through their experiences the blood platelets usually go “down” not “up”. If it is “up” it is not good. Also the red blood cells must go up, white blood cells must go up but the blood platelets must come down. When I saw my blood platelets went up, I asked the oncologist. He told me, “No, it is okay. All must go up. Then your body is responding to the chemo.” So, I was very happy and continued with my second, third and fourth chemo. The platelets went up higher and higher until it exceeded the range. So, for the third and fourth chemo, the platelets already exceeded the range. I asked the oncologist: “The platelet had already exceeded the range! Is it dangerous?” The doctor replied, “No, it’s good! It must go up”.

One month after I stopped the chemotherapy, I went back to him again for a check up. They did a blood test and found that the platelets count was dropping. The red blood cells and the white blood cells were up, but the platelets came down. Seeing this I panicked because the oncologist said the platelet count must go up. Initially, when I entered the room, the oncologist said: “You are doing very well. You are okay.” But as we went through the readings of the blood and came to the part on platelets count, from 600+ it dropped to 300, I asked him, “How? Why it dropped so much? Last time you said 600+ is good. Now, it has dropped to 300+. What is wrong with this? Is it okay?” Then he said, “Well, you go for herbs. That is why it is like this. You go for organic food, you believe in God’s healing – that is why it is like that! What organic food you are talking about. What is organic food?” I was very confused. I felt like crying. I had no one to consult.

I went to have another test done at the Wellness Laboratory. Yes, the platelets dropped to half the amount! I enquired from the technician about this drop in platelet count. He told me it was good for me. Eh? I was dumbfounded. There were two opposing views and I didn’t know whom to believe. Then I waited until you (Dr. Teo) came and spoke to you. Then, you clarified that it was good that the platelet count went down.

Question: Your impression was that you were doing badly after the blood test showed a drop in the platelet reading?

Jenny: Yes.

Comment:

With regards to the platelet count, when the oncologist said: It is good. It must go up! The body is responding to the chemo, he was both deadly wrong and also right. He was deadly wrong because a rise in platelet count or thrombocythemia, may cause clotting in blood vessels and abnormal bleeding. Abnormal clotting of the blood is a more common complication than abnormal bleeding. A blood clot can occur in either an artery or less frequently, in a vein. This complication can be very serious if the clot blocks blood flow to an organ, such as the brain (causing a stroke) or heart (causing a heart attack). The oncologist was absolutely right when he said abnormal elevation of platelets was the body’s response to chemotherapy except that it is NOT for good, it could be deadly!

What is real sad about this case is that the oncologist did not tell his patient the truth! He misled her – either deliberately or through sheer ignorance!

For more information about complementary cancer therapy visit: http://www.cacare.com, http://www.NaturalHealingForYou.com, http://www.BookOnCancer.com

I like to read articles and books written by medical doctors. Needless to say, sometimes I am amazed, baffled and surprised to learn that some of them are rather forthright, blunt and honest when making comments about their own medical profession – especially when talking about the medical treatments for cancer. I cannot help but wonder why these people say such things. What have these people to gain if what they write is not true? Absolutely nothing. Perhaps what they say is true then. That is moral integrity. These are honorable people and they know what they are saying. It is wonderful that they dared speak up and shared their thoughts with us. Let me give you three examples of such great men.

Dr. Seymour Brenner, radiologist, Brooklyn, New York, USA. He said: “The frustration of cancer is that we really don’t know what we are doing … it is a frustrating thing to go to school for thirty years, to work for twenty, thirty years and at the age of sixty not know what you’re doing!”

After thirty years of practising radiology Dr. Seymour Brenner concluded: “We’re making very little progress … Billions of dollars and countless work hours have been expended to achieve something and nothing has been achieved.”

Dr. Bernie Siegel, neurosurgeon and teacher at Yale University (quoting from Cancer and Consciousness by Barry Bryant. pg. 31) said: “Too many doctors are depressed because they only see their failures - all you know is that everyone has cancer, everybody dies. And it just wears you out.”

Dr. Ang Peng Tiam, medical director of the Parkway Cancer Centre, is Singapore President’s Scholar and a leading senior consultant medical oncologist. He is also vice-chairman of the medical sub-committee of the Breast Cancer Foundation. In his hospital’s website, he said:

• Oncology is not like other medical specialties where doing well is the norm.

• In oncology, even prolonging a patient’s life for three months to a year is considered an achievement.

• Achieving a cure is like striking a jackpot!

• Not all cancers can be cured.

As doctors, we try our best

• to cure those who can be cured,

• to control the disease for those whose lives can be extended, and to comfort those for whom little can be done.

To the above doctors, we salute you for being honest and truthful. Thank you for your most esteemed opinions.

Points to Ponder

1. Cancer patients wish to known — Is there a cure for cancer? Is it cure that you want, when you go and see your doctors? Or are you just happy with being able to live only 3 to 12 months longer?

2. Is finding a cure like going to a casino trying to strike a jackpot? Where then is the so-called science in medicine? What is the difference between seeing a medium, who pulls out a stick / card and predicts your luck?

3. If cure is like striking a jackpot – who is the gambler? Oncologists gambling with patients lives and patients are the “gambling chips”?

4. Patients should ask their doctors this question: “Can you cure my cancer?” Before you gamble your life away or your life’s saving away – ask! Know what you are going into before you commit yourself to any invasive procedures.

5. Pateints wonder if going for holistic healing not A BETTER OPTION? Is this non-toxic, non-invasive option not an effective, cheaper and more humane way of managing cancer than the so-called scientific medicine?

I know of many patients who were given 3 or 6 months to live went on to live for many more years without any problem after taking going for alternative or complementary healing.

For more information about complementary cancer therapy visit: http://www.cacare.com,
Source of above (APT): http://www.pgh.com.sg/news-291106-ST-healthfocus-chemotherapy.jsp
The Straits Times, Mind Your Body Supplement, Pg. 22, 29 November 2006.

Sex -

From my short- time experience and from what I have heard already from other sufferers – this is one of those topics that men most want to know about- but few medics are specific about. All too often, the individual reality remains hidden behind terms and statistics like 30% impotence- but what does that mean exactly to the individual?

“Impotence” can be a very general term - to some it means an inability to sire children – yet to others it means the ability to have an erection and satisfy a partner. What does it really mean on a Saturday night when you are alone with a partner, you’ve had a nice meal, the mood is right- and you wish to indulge in some sexual activity?

In discussing this issue honestly and openly, it is necessary for me to ask you to first take the element of “love” right out of the equation. I’m primarily talking about sex and not love or lovemaking. We will put it in back later, but first in raw terms it is necessary to discuss the most basic drive (and function) in all males- the ability to have an erection and please or satisfy a partner.

Having an erection or being able to have one, is at the base of everything we hold dear as being the men that we are. Little wonder, problems with being able to achieve that, can strike at the very core of our sense of wellbeing and confidence.

Physically, each prostate case is different, and how the individual is affected long term entirely depends what is removed by whichever procedure. Given that there are two main “tubes” on either side of the prostate that supply the penis with the “wherewithal” to function properly, in most surgery’s one or even both tubes may have to be removed depending on the spread. Nowadays Surgeons are very careful to try to save as much as possible- but it’s not always possible. If a man’s cancer is on one side of the prostate, as it usually is, it’s almost a certainty that he will lose one of the two tubes. In such a case, his capability may be affected (although not necessarily) if prior to the procedure he had no difficulties in achieving full, firm erections etc. If on the other hand he was experiencing difficulties before one tube was removed, it is highly likely that his capabilities will be even further reduced.

From what I have been able to find out so far- most men with one tube intact may be able to function satisfactorily with or without assistance from such modern day marvels as Viagra or Cialus. This is a fantastic thing because it is not so long ago that there were fewer medical alternatives available, but now many men and their partners are benefiting from these recent medical advances.

If a man loses both “tubes” in radical surgeries, there is another alternative that is still viable in many cases . He can inject himself - (usually alprostadil) into the base of his penis. This is perhaps, not as radical as it sounds and I have two friends who, due to other medical conditions, have happily relied on these injections for several years and have reported few difficulties. They also stress it is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. These options have opened up the way over recent years for men to still indulge in ordinary sexual activity. If a guy is still experiencing difficulties- further adjustments with medications may help correct any imbalances.

One of the reasons why Brachytherapy is enjoying such a positive reputation, is because the procedure leaves the tubes intact, (although atrophied) which in turn, reportedly leaves men functioning better afterwards. In time, emissions will dry up and in cases of surgery where there has been removal, ejaculation will simply end up in the bladder. There will be the sense of cumming as well as an orgasm, but nothing will come out.

Again, all cases are individual and no information here can be relied upon as gospel – but there is cause for optimism because from what I have been told and from what I have been able to find out- in most cases a reasonable form of sex life has been possible post procedure or surgery.

One man I know had his prostate removed thirty years ago and he reports to have had a very active sex life up until very recently (he’s now 85). Although following the procedure he has been unable to produce any ejaculate, he said that he always believed his orgasms were even more intense and no less satisfying.

I mentioned in the beginning of this article that I was mainly speaking of only the ability to perform penetration with a weapon that functioned, but it would be remiss of me not to mention the special assistance that can be provided by a loving understanding partner within the confines of a relationship. While I’m not going to address that issue here simply because my research so far has been limited in that area, it is worth noting that in most cases a satisfying sex life encompasses much more than just penetration- and even though a man may be robbed of some aspect of his sexuality- the door is still open to explore and enjoy many other techniques of sensuality. It is seldom a case of coming to the end of the world!

Certainly, in these times, impotence is not the big bogeyman that it once was and in future times I look forward to exploring this topic more and posting information. If you have some experience in this area and would like to share it with me under a blanket of anonymity to share it with others, please feel free to contact me via the “contact me box” and your experience could be invaluable in assisting other men.

Dan Jarrett - one man’s journey battling prostate cancer includes a diary, resources and blog. We look at things in layman’s terms and discuss matters such as sex openly covering things that the medics don’t tell you.
http://www.dansprostate.com

Cancer is only a physical symptom of underlying emotional stress on the body and the body’s cells. But how does emotional stress cause cancer in the body? And why does emotional stress only cause cancer in some people, while not in others?

For the majority of people, coping with stress and highly stressful or traumatic events or conflicts is dealt with, with relative ease. Although those in this larger group feel the devastating effects of stress, stressful events, trauma, and conflicts, including grief and loss – stressful events are seen as part of life’s challenges, life’s ups and downs, and they are for they most part anticipated and not completely unexpected. These people are able to move on with their lives quickly afterwards.

Those susceptible to cancer, are highly vulnerable to life’s stresses and trauma, and feel unable to cope when life throws a curve-ball their way. These people are perfectionists and live in fear of conflict, stress, trauma and loss and are deeply frightened of negative events “happening” to them. And when faced with a highly stressful or traumatic event they have not anticipated, which inevitably happens during their life, react adversely and are unable to cope.

They experience Inescapable Shock and remain deeply affected by the experience. They have difficulty in expressing their inner grief, their inner pain, their inner anger or resentment, and genuinely feel there is no way out of the pain they are feeling inside. And because their mind cannot fathom what has happened, and remains in a state of disbelief or denial, these inner painful feelings are continually perpetuated, shooting up stress hormone levels, lowering melatonin and adrenaline levels, causing a slow breakdown of the emotional reflex centre in the brain, and creating the beginning of cancer progression in the body.

When faced with a major trauma, the cancer personality feels trapped and unable to escape from the memory of the traumatic experience and the painful feelings of the experience. Stress hormone cortisol levels skyrocket and remain at high levels, directly suppressing the immune system, whose job it is to destroy cancer cells that exist in every human being. High stress levels generally means a person cannot sleep well, and cannot produce enough Melatonin during deep sleep. Melatonin is responsible for inhibiting cancer cell growth. This means cancer cells are now free to multiply. Adrenaline levels also skyrocket initially, but are then drained and depleted over time. This is especially bad news for the cancer personality.

Adrenaline is responsible for transporting sugar away from cells. And when there is too much sugar in cells of the body, the body becomes acidic. This means normal body cells cannot breathe properly because of low oxygen. Cancer cells thrive in a low oxygen state, as demonstrated by Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg. Cancer cells also thrive on sugar to keep them alive. Put simply, too much internal stress causes a depletion of adrenalin, leads to too much sugar in the body, resulting in the perfect environment for cancer cells to thrive in the body.

For the cancer personality, the news of being diagnosed with cancer and the fear and uncertainty of death represents another Inescapable Shock, creating another spike in stress hormone cortisol levels, and a further drop in melatonin and adrenalin levels. There is also a further breakdown of the emotional reflex centre in the brain that causes cells in the corresponding organ to slowly breakdown and become cancerous.

Learned helplessness is a key aspect of the cancer personality when facing a perceived inescapable shock, and is a strong developmental factor of cancer. Researcher Madelon Visintainer took three groups of rats, one receiving mild escapable shock, another group receiving mild in-escapable shock, and the third no shock at all. She then implanted each rat with cancer cells that would normally result in 50% of the rats developing a tumour. Her results were astonishing.

Within a month, 50% of the rats not shocked at all had rejected the tumour; this was the normal ratio. As for the rats that mastered shock by pressing a bar to turn it off, 70% had rejected the tumour. But only 27% of the helpless rats, the rats that had experienced in-escapable shock, rejected the tumour. This study demonstrates those who feel there is no way out of their shock / loss are less likely to be able to reject tumours forming within their body, due to high levels of stress weakening the immune system. [Seligman, 1998, p.170]

Cancer occurs at the cellular level. And there are a number of factors that create stress on the body’s cells, causing them to become (1) depleted of adrenaline, (2) high in sugar and (3) low in oxygen, where they are more prone to mutate and become cancerous. The higher the sugar content of the cell caused by a depletion of adrenaline, and the lower the oxygen content, the greater the likelihood of normal cells mutating and becoming cancerous.

There are a number of factors that contribute to a normal cell becoming depleted of adrenaline, high in sugar and low in oxygen. Physiological stresses include (and are not limited to): Poor nutrition, Chemicals, Toxins, EMF Radiation, Parasites, Liver / Colon / Kidney disease, Lack of Exercise, etc. Psychological stresses include (and are not limited to): Inescapable Shock, Repressed Feelings, Depression, Isolation, Poor Sleep, Emotional Trauma, External Conflict, etc.

In the vast majority of those with cancer, there exists both a combination of psychological as well as physiological stresses that have contributed to the body’s cells becoming depleted of adrenaline, high in sugar and low in oxygen, causing them to mutate and become cancerous.

For further information on Stress & Cancer, the Cancer Personality and the Cancer Chain of Events, go to http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/The_Cancer_Personality.html
GLEN RUSSELL, CERT.HYP.HYPCA.CNSL

Glen Russell is a certified counsellor and hypnotherapist and graduated from the Alpha Hypnosis Training School having studied a Diploma in Advanced Hypnotherapy & Neural Linguistic Programming.

It was during this time that Glen decided to specialize in working with cancer patients. Glen embarked on an ambitious training regime further to his training at Alpha Hypnosis Training School to ready himself for the challenge of working with cancer patients in the specialized field of ‘hypnosis for cancer’. After reading Stephen J Parkhill’s internationally acclaimed book “Answer Cancer: The Healing of a Nation”, Glen undertook training with Stephen to learn the art of healing illnesses created by the mind using hypnotherapy as a tool to access deep core emotions.

Having completed his training with Stephen, Glen undertook further training with the prestigious Omni Hypnosis Training Center in DeLand, Florida and after completing his final examination, received certification as a ‘Hypnosis for Cancer Specialist’.

The first message that she was dying came by bicycle. Sean Patrick rode up the steep trail on Smuggler Mountain, Aspen, Colorado, on a cool, pre-fall day in 1995. She had spent many summer afternoons biking through the Aspen groves, enjoying the late sun shining patchwork on the trail. Normally energized from the strenuous workout and her daily 15- to 22-mile rides, Patrick was shocked when she became so out of breath that she had to get off the bike to avoid throwing up.

“It was radical,” she says. “I couldn’t get up.” At first she thought she had over trained or suffered from exhaustion from too much traveling. Confirming her ideas, Patrick’s doctor suggested that she slow down and get a hobby. “If you can’t’ slow down,” he said to her, “I can always give you a prescription for Valium.”

After weeks of still not being able to ride or rock climb—her favorite sport—Patrick returned to her doctor, who did blood work, but found nothing obviously wrong. He told her not to worry. It wasn’t until 1997 that she finally found out that she had a rare form of ovarian cancer called Micropapillary Serous Carcinoma. After the late discovery, Patrick endured seven surgeries and, at one point in 2001 after being flown to a hospital via flight for life, doctors told her she wouldn’t live past six weeks.

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Patrick did live, and she says, in large part it was due to her experiences in the mountains. She was strong from regularly biking and lifting weights, and she was mentally balanced after decades of rock climbing. The wilderness and leadership skills she gleaned in places like the Rocky Mountains prepared her for the greatest challenge of her life—surviving that six-week ordeal in the hospital.

While on her deathbed in the ICU, a doctor inserted a blood gas line in her body, and it hurt like hell, she says. “I snapped and got angry, and at that moment I came back into my body.” She likens the feeling to being really scared after a rock climbing fall or when she has been stuck on the side of a mountain on a ledge in a thunderstorm. “I would get scared and then angry, and that would act as a catalyst to get moving. I knew if I did not keep moving in the face of my disease that I would not make it.”

Since her extraordinary recovery six years ago, Patrick continues to move rapidly forward. Not only does she still climb and play in the mountains—she topped out on the Grand Teton after 22 hours of climbing through blizzard conditions in 2004—but she also decided to make it her mission to raise awareness and money for the cancer that almost killed her. “My life’s goal is to prevent as many women as possible from going through what I experienced,” she says.

In the last few years Patrick has helped create an ovarian cancer website for the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, and she regularly travels around the country on speaking engagements. Patrick’s crowning achievement is the non-profit HERA Foundation (Health, Empowerment, Research, Advocacy), which she created in 2002. She organizes Climb For Life events around the country and in Mexico, which bring women and men together to rock climb, do yoga, watch climbing slide shows and films, and, most importantly, learn about and raise money for ovarian cancer.

Friend and Climb for Life volunteer, Deanne Pranke says that Patrick’s climbing events have been incredibly inspirational for thousands of people. “Sean has brought ovarian cancer out in the open and empowered many women such as myself to take charge of our health and educate our loved ones and friends about this kind of cancer.”

Adds Patrick, “The need for perseverance forces women to reach deep inside themselves when they feel like they can’t go further. The lessons you learn from climbing and taking care of yourself in the wilderness translate into successful life strategies on a day to day basis.” In fact, Patrick has never seen a sport as empowering as climbing is for women. “Often when I’ve seen women get to the top of a route in the gym, the transformation on their face is phenomenal,” she explains.

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Sean Patrick’s wide smile greets the climbers as they stream into the third-floor room of REI Denver, spring 2004. Running her hand through a shock of white blonde hair, she says she’s nervous when speaking publicly, but her voice is steady and vibrant as she talks about ovarian cancer and the HERA Climb for Life REI Road Tour (now in its third year), sponsored by REI, Black Diamond, and HERA. She speaks to the audience with the fluency of someone who possesses a vast knowledge of the disease and the politics surrounding it.

After her diagnosis, Patrick became a “research maven,” reading everything she could find on the subject and hounding doctors all over the country. With her energetic and insistent attitude, she’s penetrated the wall of scientific jargon to understand her disease. What she learned inspired her to reach out to others.

Since its inception, she says, the foundation has provided doctors with research grants; provided seed grants to a number of small communities, which have allowed them to offer immediate assistance to aid patients with travel, hotel rooms, and childcare while they are undergoing treatment; and established awareness programs throughout the United States.

Patrick has also convinced thousands of women and men to work with her. Among those women are famous alpinist Kitty Calhoun and Salt Lake City, Utah, resident Hillary Silberman. Both women worked with Patrick to create a video highlighting the HERA Foundation and ovarian cancer.

According to Silberman, making the video and volunteering for HERA changed her life. Silberman’s mother died in 2003 from ovarian cancer, and she says that she felt helpless in the face of her mother’s illness. “My involvement with HERA gave me the tools to work with to deal with my mother’s death as well as people to connect with who understand where I’m coming from.”

By being involved and being proactive, Silberman explains, she has done something positive for others by presenting them with information. “I have also done something positive for myself by beginning to think about what I needed to do to protect myself and get early detection.”

With cancer affecting most of the female members of her family, Silberman is at a high risk for contracting the disease, although she doesn’t currently have it. Her nurse practitioner tried to convince her not to worry, but Patrick and the Climb for Life events convinced Silberman to follow through on her own to seek the medical services she needs for early detection. “The feeling of strength, perseverance and tenaciousness that climbing engenders made me not give up when professionals were telling me not to worry.”

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As with most female-specific diseases, says Patrick, ovarian cancer has typically been ignored by the medical industry. Despite the fact that it kills women of all ages and more women than all the other gynecological cancers combined, many doctors are ignorant of its symptoms and think the disease affects only the elderly. This, explains Patrick, partially results from the medical field’s traditional focus on men and male-specific diseases.

For example, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that “although coronary heart disease (CHD) causes more than 250,000 deaths in women each year, much of the research in the last 20 years on CHD has either excluded women entirely or included only limited numbers of women.”

Additionally, doctors treat women different than men in hospitals. According to a fall 2001 study published in the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, “women’s pain reports are taken less seriously than men’s, and women receive less aggressive treatment than men for their pain.” Also, women were “more likely to have their pain reports discounted as ‘emotional’ and therefore, ‘not real.’”

“I have had several experiences with this kind of dismissive treatment by both male and female doctors,” says Patrick. “It is a flaw in how medicine is taught—women complain, men don’t, so they take men’s complaints more seriously. To get the best treatment, you have to find a doctor—male or female (one is not better than another in being more empathetic)—that sees you as a person and not a statistical group.”

Although Patrick seeks to change the way doctors view ovarian cancer and other women-specific diseases, she believes it’s more imperative to encourage women to take control of their own health. Ovarian cancer is not a silent killer, she says, “the disease has symptoms, and it’s important that women are made aware of what they are. Women who go to the doctor with gastrointestinal symptoms must make sure that ovarian cancer is ruled out.”

Through climbing, Patrick believes that women can be taught to stand up for themselves. Not only do these events teach women self-reliance, but they are also “places where we can turn our passion for climbing into a passion for making a difference.”

“I think success in climbing no matter what level you climb at—5.4 to 5.14—translates to successful life strategies,” Patrick says. “I want women who are empowered by the mountains to take this back into everyday life, and as it relates to the medical community, I want them to trust their intuition despite their doctor’s contention that they may not have a problem. In climbing and in life, trust yourself.”

For more information on ovarian cancer and the HERA Foundation, please visit the HERA Foundation Website at www.theherafoundation.org. Climb For Life events are held regularly around the country. The next 2007 event will be held in Boulder, Colorado. Registration has started.

Lizzy Scully
Writer
lizzy@girlsed.org

To find out more about registering or volunteering for the June 15-17, 2007 event, please visit: http://www.climb4lifeco.kintera.org/.

Asbestos has been used for centuries and is not, as some think, a recent product. At one time items made from asbestos were regarded as having an equal value to gold. In fact, it is reputed that Charles the Great, (King of the Franks in the year 768) had a tablecloth made from asbestos. It does have a resistance to fire and heat and has been used over centuries for this practical purpose - from historical uses such as lamp wicks and Egyptian burial shrouds through to modern brake pad linings. It has been used for high temperature wiring insulation as well as in the construction of buildings to insulate and protect against fire.

There are many forms of asbestos but there are three main types, white, brown and blue.

White asbestos: otherwise known as chrysotile is the type preferred in industry. It has a flexible property and has been used in many theatres for fire safety curtains, as well as for firefighter’s protective clothing. Some evidence exists that it is harmful but not as harmful as some other types.

Brown asbestos: also known as amosite, this type usually originates from Africa and is highly bio-hazardous.

Blue asbestos: also known as crocidolite comes from Australia and Africa. This type is believed to be the most dangerous type of asbestos, therefore it is extremely bio-hazardous.

There are other types that someone may come across, some of which include actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos and tremolite asbestos. These are not as commonly used industrially, but may still be found in some products.

The main danger to health from asbestos is from the fibres, which can be inhaled. The four main diseases associated with asbestos fibre inhalation are asbestosis, mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestosis: Caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, generally from heavy exposure. It is defined as lung fibrosis.

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer where cancerous or malignant cells are found in the mesothelium. This is the protective sac that most of the body’s organs are covered with. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura and the peritoneum, which surrounds the lower digestive tract. Around 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma show the patient to have had a history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung cancer: For many years now asbestos exposure has been recognised as a high risk factor for the development of lung cancer. It is not possible, however, to put a direct number to the amount of cases of lung cancer, which have been caused by asbestos. This is because there are other risk agents that cause the disease, tobacco smoke for instance. Unfortunately it is not possible to distinguish which risk agent was the cause of a case of lung cancer.

Diffuse pleural thickening: As mentioned previously the pleura is a membrane covering which lines the inside of the rib cage and also surrounds the lungs. If asbestos fibres are inhaled, some may work their way into the pleura and this can lead to scarring and or fibrosis. This may cause the pleura to thicken. The condition will show up on an x-Ray. If this thickening spreads over a large area it may cause a restriction of expansion of the lungs.

It has now become clear that exposure to asbestos can be harmful. Because of this, the use of it has virtually disappeared. If there are products in the home that may contain asbestos, it is advisable to have a professional contractor inspect them. It is a complex process to remove asbestos and should always be done by a qualified person. It can be a highly dangerous and even lethal substance. If in doubt then call someone out.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Discussions involving the Law of Attraction or the Secret of Attraction predominately revolve around money and wealth. However, wealth is only one aspect of life. Health is of greater daily concern to us than is wealth but it does not appear to receive the same attention.

The Law of Attraction applies to all aspects of our lives including our health. We attract our state of health just as we attract our state of wealth. This attraction is, for most people, usually by default. While we are usually cognizant of attracting good health into our lives by our activities and philosophies, we are usually totally unaware of attracting disease into our lives. Very few patients with whom I have dealt have stated initially that they knew they created their disease.

Cancer is one of the areas where I spend a lot of time with patients, families and medical staff. As I ponder the Law of Attraction, I often think about the universal focus on cancer. Cancer is a hot topic. The treatment of cancer is a hot issue. The medications for cancer treatment are an expensive issue. Newspapers, radio stations and television stations regularly carry articles and programs about some aspect of cancer. Governments feed more money into cancer research and treatment. Pharmaceutical companies develop more expensive medications for its treatment and make more and more money. Physicians specialize in its diagnosis and treatment. Treatment teams are set up to work with the cancer patient and his family. Public forums are held and even court battles are fought over one type of cancer being given preferential treatment. And the incidence of cancer continues to escalate!

Why? Why, with all the focus on cancer and the enormous amounts of money being spent, does the incidence of cancer continue to rise? With all the expensive treatments, why do people continue to have recurrence of their cancer? Why do some families appear to be magnets for the disease while others appear to be immune?

Certainly, I believe, environmental issues play a large part in the development of cancer. Genetics play a part. Lifestyle, eating habits and smoking all play a part. But what about the Law of Attraction? Does it somehow explain the increasing incidence of cancer throughout the world.

The Law of Attraction requires three steps: ask, believe and receive. According to Law of Attraction, the universe will give us exactly what we ask for. Is not the attention that we give to cancer in a way sending a message to the universe that we are asking for more (is not preparing for it asking for it?)? Is not the ongoing devotion to the business of cancer telling the universe that we believe we are ready to receive more of it. We are receiving it with open arms!

I am not suggesting that any individual wishes to have cancer. Nor am I suggesting that we should stop our research and treatment or our funding for such. That would be foolish. I do notice that very little emphasis is placed on prevention. As a society, if we were not ready to receive cancer, would we not be taking steps to get rid of the environmental and publicly promoted lifestyle and eating habits that we know contribute to cancer?

I believe the Law of Attraction adds a viable explanation to the increasing rates of cancer (as well as many other diseases) in our society. I believe it applies at both the macro level and the individual level. I expect little significant change will occur at the macro level and that it is up to each individual to apply the tenets of the Law of Attraction to their own lives to protect themselves. I do not believe our governments, industry or large institutions have the best interest of the individual in their focus. Thus we must learn to protect ourselves from these diseases by every means possible.

I work in a medical setting with people who span the spectrum from complete happiness to total despair. I have come to appreciate how people create their own reality but seldom ever take credit for it. This has led me to search for materials to help me understand the dynamics and to assist the people I help. And it has enabled me to change my thinking and lead a better more fulfilling and prosperous life.

Every year there are about one million prostate biopsies carried out in the United States alone, of which about 25 percent show the presence of prostate cancer. However, another 25 percent of these biopsies also produce false negative results, which means that a quarter of those men undergoing a prostate biopsy are being cleared by their biopsy, despite the fact that they do in fact have prostate cancer.

These results do not means that there is anything wrong with the prostate biopsy procedure as a tool for identifying prostate cancer, but it does mean that there is a need to identify those patients who, despite returning a negative result, are at high risk from prostate cancer and should therefore undergo a second follow-up biopsy.

Until now there has been no simple way of identifying patients at risk, however, a recent study of more than 500 patients being investigated for prostate cancer may provide a solution.

All of the men in the study group had previously received a negative biopsy result and researchers found that when they looked at both a patient’s prostate specific antigen (PSA) test results and adjusted this for the size of the prostate gland they were able to identify those patients who were more likely to receive a positive result on a follow-up biopsy.

The researchers also discovered that a Gleeson score of 7 or higher suggested the presence of a life-threatening prostate cancer and the need for a further biopsy. The Gleeson score, which runs on a scale between 2 and 10, is derived from a microscopic investigation of biopsy tissue, with a low score indicating a cancer with a low risk of spread and a high score indicating a cancer which is more likely to spread.

A prostate biopsy is an expensive procedure and one which can also be very worrying for the patient. It can also be a painful procedure which can be accompanied by bleeding and patients run the risk of infection following the biopsy. For these reasons it is in everyone’s interest to identify those patients for whom a second biopsy is advisable and to reduce as far as possible the number of unnecessary follow-up biopsies being performed each year.

ProstateCancerExplained.com provides information on a wide range of topics including the prostate gland, an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, prostate surgery and finding a prostate cancer cure.