Quit Smoking Quitting Cancer

According to a study sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute that a number of diagnosed cancer patient decided not to cease smoking gaining support from the significant others despite of the danger it could bring.

 Ancient Egypt believed that Cancer was caused by gods. Early recording shows that in 1500 B.C., the oldest case of cancer was documented in Egypt. The said recording on a papyrus showed how they discover ways on how to differentiate malignant from benign tumors.

Nowadays, a number of researches are being done in order to find ways in preventing its occurrence or to promote and improve quality of life despite of being diagnose of having such disease.

In 2008, WHO listed Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers as the top 8 caused of death in the world. Despite of the effort of health care advocate in eradicating and finding means in order to lessen its mortality and occurrence it is still considered one of the caused of fatality.

Somehow considering the Theory of Nola Pender on Health Education that Disease Prevention and Promotion of Wellness should be the top priority before Curing illness.

One of the topmost causes of cancer is cigarette smoking. In a factsheet presented by the National Cancer Institute it has been found out that 7,000 chemicals can be found in a stick of a tobacco cigarette and 250 of these chemicals are considered harmful to human body.

In the same fact sheet, it has been known that there are 69 chemicals which one can have from cigarette smoking. Facts will show that both smokers and smokers could be harm by such chemicals.

What are the possible gains if a diagnosed patient would decide to stop or avoid smoking?

Maybe it would be too difficult to explain and convince that these gains are true. Cessation to smoking would mean there will be a decreased risk or prevention of secondary complication to cancer; respiratory tract will be free from any obstruction leading to easier breathing, in relation to easier breathing, circulation would be better and oxygen distribution to the entire body will be guaranteed, and of course the treatment will be more effective and Neoplastic medication will be more efficient.

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Are You Eating Cancer?

        Most experts  say that  cancer  occurs  due to poor dietary habits. This means that people prone to eating without consideration of its kind or contents are prone to having cancer. About 35% or a quarter of the total number of cancer mortality cases has been associated to poor diet as the primary cause. Furthermore, researches say high fat diet has increased the risk to cancer.

       Fat intake is highly  related to emergence of cancer.  Low Density Lipid  (LDL) is needed for a cancer cell to grow. While one is enjoying a high fat diet from fast food, for example, there is an increase production of bile which is necessary in the digestion of fat. The over production of bile will cause congestion in the large intestine that could be converted to a Apcholic Acid,  a proven carcinogen. Without one knowing, the higher they are inclined to such comfort foods, the higher their risk of having cancer.

       Therefore, it is just right to think twice on being smart in choosing our diet. Meals taken should be well planned and balanced in terms of nutrition. Now there are some thoughts to ponder when planning what to eat.

      Good Fat versus Bad Fat.  Too much of everything is not good. A principle applying on our choice of food. Fat is also an essential component but  should be taken in moderation. Good fats include oils that can be found in fish, seafood, and legumes. These types of oil are proven to decrease the risk of having a cancer especially on women who are at risk for breast cancer. 

      Keeping Fiber Alive. High fiber diet guarantees effective elimination. With effective elimination, carcinogens has less contact with the intestinal wall which then lessens the risk for developing cancer. Fiber enables the  growth of good bacteria in the intestines inhibiting growth of carcinogens in the intestine.

     Strength of Antioxidants. It is necessary to ensure that the immune system is always healthy. One of the most effective way of boosting the immune system is eating foods rich in antioxidants. They will  serve as buffer that prevents harmful radicals from destroying healthy cells. Antioxidants will convert these harmful radical into a waste products which will be eliminated in the body.

      It is best to plan diet with your physician if you have been diagnosed to have cancer.We are what we eat so we should plan it well. A cancer-free life is a life lived well.

Understanding Stages of Breast Cancer

Learning the basics of Breast Cancer helps us cope with it better. Fear is a normal reaction, however, it is better that we also know the signs and symptoms to be able to deal with it better.

Cancer means abnormal proliferation of cancer cells. In the case of Breast Cancer, the cancer cells has develop in the breast tissues.

The behavior of  cancer cells is attributed to  the failure of one cell, produced by a mother cell, to undergo apoptysis or cell death. When these cycle continues, the number of cancer cells multiply over time which puts the affected organ in fatal condition. These accumulation of cancer cells are manifested through tumors which can be benign and malignant.

             The tumors referred as benign are non-cancerous.They remain to be encapsulated, and does not infiltrate other tissues. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are cancerous cells which harms other tissues. They have the tendency to invade other tissue even distal  part of the organ mainly affected by cancer.

Breast cancer is described according to its severity and extent of cancel cell damage through staging.

Stages of Breast Cancer

Stage	Definition
Stage 0	Cancer cells remain inside the breast duct, without invasion into normal adjacent breast tissue.
Stage I	Cancer is 2 centimeters or less and is confined to the breast (lymph nodes are clear).
Stage IIA	No tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer cells are found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm) OR the tumor measures 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes OR the tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIB	The tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes OR the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage IIIA	No tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone OR the tumor is any size. Cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, which are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Stage IIIB	The tumor may be any size and has spread to the chest wall and/or skin of the breast AND may have spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone. Inflammatory breast cancer is considered at least stage IIIB.
Stage IIIC	There may either be no sign of cancer in the breast or a tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast AND the cancer has spread to lymph nodes either above or below the collarbone AND the cancer may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
Stage IV	The cancer has spread — or metastasized — to other parts of the body.

          These stages will not only teach us the severity of the problem but the type of care we give. This will also lessen the fear as we are informed of the condition of the patient. These patients may either be strangers, our love ones or us.


         There will be nothing about cancer that will keep us calm and at peace. However, we will be able to think well as soon as we learn to accept the reality of the situation. And the reality is that, Breast cancer or Cancer in general exists and it can happen to everyone of us. The best way to deal with it is to bravely know about it and intervene in accordance to what the cancer stage needs.

Breast Cancer .. this time

Cancer remains to the most feared disease. It has again struck my family as my cousin has been diagnosed last month with Breast Cancer.

Breast Cancer does not usually have noticeable symptoms at earlier stage. It is recommended that women after having menstruation, should do breast self-examination monthly or BSE.  This is recommended to be done after menstruation. This detects breast lumps or near armpits having uneven edges and painless. In my cousin's case, she noticed yellow fluid coming from her nipple .

However, apart from knowing these, the greatest challenge  is helping her cope up with this. This is not easy for her, and also for us.

Carotenemia Made Him Yellow

        We went to have a medical check-up which included blood studies and ultrasound of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder and kidneys. I would have wanted him to undergo colonoscopy but he refused. According to my cousin, he has a scheduled colonoscopy when he gets back home in Canada. He had so much discomfort with it before that he didn't want to undergo colonoscopy  twice for this month.

       Having Dr. Rene Lacuesta read the results, we were glad that no liver complications were present. The yellow  discoloration of the skin was due to excessive intake of carrots, papaya and liver food. It was Carotenemia and not lver complcatin after all. We agreed to that because my cousin sorted to eating only organic food and non-acidic agents. This prompted my family to serve him carrots, either in meals or juiced, almost every hour.

       Carotenaemia or  xanthaemia is the presence of the yellow pigment carotene in the blood . This is caused primarily from too much intake of carrots or other vegetables increasing serum carotenoids. This leads to yellow-orange discoloration of the skin. It is said to be harmless  and will not be needing a specific treatment. The yellow discoloration of skin will gradually decrease as the patient takes lesser food rich in carotene.

       Dealing with cancer is never easy because of it's unpredictable progress. We have to be vigilant all the time for possible complications. Assessment will always play a big role not just to confirm the complications but to prompt us to send our patients for medical work-up. The earlier we detect symptoms, the earlier we find treatment.

        To me and my family, the early assessment meant taking away our worries, lessening our fear and continuing life's blissful perks.