Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Defeated With PH Balance and Nutritional Therapy

As a person diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) since 2001, I've had my eyes trained on Google Alerts and on the web in general, regularly looking for breakthroughs, both conventionally and in the alternative medicine arena. Many people who are diagnosed with CLL are told to hold off on any treatment, as the disease often progresses slowly, and any improvement with treatment is not permanent. Worse yet, the course and aggressiveness of the disease can change at any time. Patients are told to "watch and wait." This is not a happy way to live.

No role models. The sad truth is that, until this past January 2009, I could find no reference (not one) of any person who was cured of CLL through any kind of traditional medical -- or alternative -- therapy. The only exception are those who have been cured by way of a bone marrow transplant (BMT). Unfortunately, many people do not survive the procedure. It is extremely risky. Worse yet, a patient can survive the BMT and still have CLL, or develop CLL again at a later date.

The five-year time-line. Despite all the research and trials, there is still no conventionally-sanctioned therapy (chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, etc.), short of BMT, that can effect a cure. Doctors give patients the hope for a complete remission of five years with some of the available therapies. Not all patients achieve complete remission in the first round of chemotherapy. And the chance of success, measured by five-year survival, decreases with each new form of conventional therapy. Not an encouraging picture. This situation has been evident to me since 2001, when I was forty-six and first diagnosed. Who wants to hear about a five-year life plan when you're forty-six? Not me! While there have been some promising conventional "breakthroughs," the survival rate remains pretty much the same today.

The search for an alternative. My search for an alternative treatment, or treatment protocol, has been equally difficult. I have been able to find testimony on the web of leukemia patients who have become cancer-free (acute myelogenous leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia), but no such luck for CLL. At best, there were stories of people who had held off their CLL with the controversial laetrile (apricot seed extract). But no one with CLL had become cancer free. I was discouraged, but I never gave up the search, or my attempt to discover a blueprint to good health.

The 2009 breakthrough. In January of this year, my Google Alerts revealed an article written by Steve Freier, a man with CLL who recovered to full cancer-free health. He regained his health by having his root canals removed and also by taking coral calcium. Because of his experience, I am in the process now of having all my mercury amalgams replaced with safer porcelain fillings. To find information about his recovery, type "Steve Freier" and "CLL" into Google.

Breakthrough #2. In April 2009, while searching for information about infrared saunas and its effect on leukemia, my husband came across this website: http://www.CLLDefeated.com. It is the story of Hessel Baartse, of Adelaide, Australia. He has totally defeated his CLL by means of removing his root canals and mercury amalgams, and by drastically altering his diet and supplementation, with a concentration on restoring his pH levels to a healthy balance. He credits his dentist, www.ericdavisdental.com for his complete recovery.

There are finally role models for CLL recovery. What used to be a complete mystery now is a challenge with a blueprint for success. There are now at least two cases of men who have beat the odds and defeated their CLL by means of mercury amalgam and root canal removal, nutritional therapy, and pH balance. The further good news is that this program is likely a blueprint to health for people with many other chronic health issues, including cancers.

The future. Because of the Internet and the speed with which we can share information, more people will be able to find a way to recover their good health through alternative means.

D. Rodgers is a writer from Michigan, whose web site, http://www.EMFDamage.com, explains the link between dangerous levels of electromagnetic fields and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer and is one of many illnesses that occur with the exposure of benzene. Like other kinds of leukemia, it develops in the bone marrow spreads to the blood, lymph nodes, organs, the nervous system and other body parts. If it is not detected early enough, AML can be fatal within a few months.

Benzene Exposure

Exposure to benzene for a long period is a known risk factor. This carcinogen is a solvent used in industries that create drugs, rubber, dyes, plastics and other things. People working in these industries have a higher risk of developing AML.

Groundwater is another place where exposure to benzene can occur. This can happen near petroleum plants and gas stations when a leak happens or waste products were not disposed as it should be. Then these and other dangerous chemicals may soak into the groundwater and residents close by may consume these chemical

An individual who was exposed to this carcinogen for a long period and then developed acute myeloid leukemia may be allowed to seek compensation for the damages suffered. If you think your illness was caused by being exposed to benzene, contact a lawyer.

Additional Risk Factors

More factors increase the risk of acute myeloid leukemia consisting of:

• Smoking
• Some chemotherapy drugs, especially if combined with radiation therapy
• Some illnesses of the blood includes myelodysplastic syndrome, which damages the development of blood cells and may grow into leukemia

Common and Specific Symptoms

Common symptoms of this leukemia are likely to be similar to conditions that are not as severe. These symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Lack of appetite or weight loss

More specific symptoms include:

• Anemia and its related symptoms (lightheadedness, weakness, headache)
• Chronic infections
• Bone/joint pain
• Abdominal inflammation
• Swelling, pain, bleeding of the gums
• Rash (spottiness or bumps) on the skin

Diagnosis and Treatment

It is important that acute myeloid leukemia be diagnosed early and treated as soon as it is diagnosed for a positive result. In diagnosing this leukemia, doctors will need a complete medical history about the patient. A doctor will be able to tell if the patient was exposed to any risk factors such as benzene. A series of tests will be run including blood tests, lab tests and other related tests. If the illness was found in any tests, treatment plans will be set, for example:

• Chemotherapy
• Operation
• Radiation treatment
• Bone marrow transplant
• Clinical trials

Other treatments a doctor may suggest to relieve an individual's pain is acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, etc.

Diagnosed with AML?

Contact a lawyer if you were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia because of being exposed to benzene for a long period. Medical lawyers are experienced in these types of cases. They will evaluate your case at no cost and they will advise you of your legal options. You may be entitled to money damages for the medical costs and other associated expenses due to your condition.

David Austin is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases. You can learn more about Acute Myeloid Leukemia at his website. http://www.Burke-Eisner.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Austin

Did We Give Our Child Cancer?

PART 1: The worst day of my life:

I knew that it could be serious when our doctor called and said he'd made an appointment for our 4 year old daughter Laura, at the Children's ward of a major hospital 50 miles away.

We packed up the car and started out. Not much was being said between my wife an I. It was a dreary day, overcast with a little light rain. As we drove down the highway, I remember hoping for some sort of a sign .... maybe the clouds would suddenly separate and the sun would break through and shine down on us ... maybe a car would drive by and the people inside would look over and give us a friendly smile ... anything that would assure me that someone from above was telling me everything was going to be OK. But there were no signs.

We managed to find the hemoc/oncology unit with little trouble. My initial reaction as we entered the room was that of horror, seeing all those precious young children in such poor health. I said to myself "why are we here ? My daughter can't be this sick." Girls and boys, both walking very slowly, some with limps, no hair on their heads, some with scars, others pulling an IV along with them. Was this a preview of what my daughter will soon look like?

After a lengthy wait, it was time for Laura's test - a spinal tap. My wife held her in her lap as the drugs were administered .... it was only 3 or 4 seconds before my daughters eyes rolled back in her head and her body went limp. It was a vision I will never be able to get out of my mind. My eyes filled with tears, as it appeared the life had been taken completely out of her. She was placed on a table, and we were politely asked to leave. What a gut-wrenching feeling I had in my stomach as I walked away from her now motionless body.

The nurse said, "she'll be OK, she's just sleeping .. the procedure won't take long, and she'll soon be back in your arms".

From that point on, time seemed to stand still. I could hear the clock ticking. 10 minutes went by, then 20 and pretty soon 30 minutes had elapsed and still nothing. It was then that I knew that this was as serious as Laura's pediatrician had thought. The waiting was unbearable.

Finally, the doctors emerged and their faces said it all. There were no smiles. The lead doctor came over and invited us into another room, and then it came ... "I'm sorry, but your daughter has leukemia". There was total silence.

PART 2: The reason why?

As time went by, I kept thinking to myself, "why did this happen? We've had no history of cancer on either side of our families, much less leukemia". Were we being punished for some reason?

We had our home and the babysitter's home tested for radon gas ... both came back negative.

We don't live near a bunch of powerlines, so electromagnetic wires were not the culprit.

Could this have happened during childbirth? (Laura was delivered by C-section)

So many questions were being asked, without getting any answers, which only led to more questions.

The one that kept coming back into my head was "How"? How did this happen .. and why her? I felt so helpless, but knew that I had to do something to help my little girl (as well as my other daughter, my wife and myself). Something brought this on, I just didn't know what.

So I started educating myself, not just on leukemia, but health in general, and what I found out was disturbing to say the least. We are living in a toxic mess - exposing our bodies to a virtual onslaught of dangerous chemicals every day.

Chemicals in body wash, in shampoos, in soap, in body lotion, in toothpaste, in mouthwash, in hair spray, in cosmetics, in air fresheners, in household cleaners, in dish detergents .. the list goes on and on. Could this be what caused my daughter's illness? Could it have been brought on by the lifestyle that my wife and I were living prior to conception? Could it have been brought on during the pregnancy? Could it have happened after Laura was born?

Was her sickness caused by these things that we used on a daily basis?

To this day, we still don't have all the answers, but we have changed our lifestyle. I didn't realize how much I took health and life for granted until I thought my daughter's was in jeopardy. Every day is a gift now.

I believe everything in life happens for a reason. Perhaps God chose me deliberately .. to go thru this, learn from it and then pass along my new found knowledge. My guess is, his plan was for me to teach others so that they may never have to endure the pain and agony of watching their child (or some other loved one) go thru what our child went thru. Learn from my experience, so that you may possibly avoid one.

Knowledge is one thing, but action is quite another. The second part of this plan must have been to align me with a company which offers products of unrivalled purity and effectiveness - free from any harmful ingredients. It is this company and their products that I now use and recommend to all that come in contact with me. I feel it's my duty in life and something that I was meant to do.

Cancer is a dreaded disease that has robbed us all of so many wonderful people. I have seen first hand what it's like to watch somebody battle thru it. It's not fun and it's not pretty. In fact some researchers are predicting that by the year 2030, 26 million people a year worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer, with 17 million dying from it.

So it is my mission to educate people on the dangers in the products they are using on a daily basis and offer them healthy alternatives. I'm actually quite angry at what is being sold to unknowing customers ... products being touted as "safe", as "natural", as "gentle", as "organic" ... are really anything but that. Products with catchy names and slogans in brightly colored, fancy shaped packages - all in the hopes of making a healthy profit, but making it anything but healthy for the end user. Unless we change our lifestyles and start supporting companies like the one I've aligned myself with, those researchers may well have made an accurate prediction for the year 2030. My goal is to make those numbers much, much less .. one person or one generation at a time.

In closing, let me leave you with a thought - perhaps the final part of God's plan was for you to read this story and then see if you'll act on it.

Like I said earlier, I believe everything in life happens for a reason.

Jim Kueny Contact me at http://yesorganic.mionegroup.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Kueny

How Do Famous People With Cancer Get Special Medical Treatment?

Even in these difficult times, wealth will still get you far better service than the average person. Would you do anything different if you were faced with life and death and were really rich? Money is there to be used, after all.

This is how someone with a terminal illness spent $250,000 to add years to his life.

Mr. Joseph, a senior executive at a large company learned that he had terminal Stage 4 kidney cancer. Mr. Joseph was not famous but he was wealthy. He took bold action and contacted consultants for drug companies and offered himself as their next project.

He spent $50,000 to get a personal medical symposium - with four of the best kidney cancer experts in the world - immediately organized. The doctors soon recognized the best treatments for him, recommended the most appropriate drugs and treatment programs and got him admitted into a treatment program.

Mr. Joseph's health improved dramatically from the treatments, just like the not- so- wealthy people in that same program. But he stayed relatively healthy, while other patients with similar disease stages were going downhill; these other people did not have the knowledge or money to find the best therapy or the money to travel to the specific treatment site was at. But Mr. Joseph's health began to decline after six months in the program. By that time, other patients, not in the program, were already beginning to die.

But now he needed another treatment regimen or he was a goner. The medical researchers recommended experimental treatments for him, and the consulting company tried to get him admitted into these clinical trials.

Mr. Joseph was not allowed into these clinical trials because he had other unusual medical conditions. No amount of money would get him into controlled clinical trials. So he needed another way to get those medications.

Sometimes drug companies will make exceptions, but not this time. No amount of money was enough to open a slot for him in controlled clinical trials. So he needed another way to get the medications. He didn't have enough money to buy a drug company, so he did the next best thing.

Mr. Joseph spent $100,000 to have the experimental medicines formulated - just for him - by medicinal chemists. By that time, his symptoms had become very serious, and he was too tired to get out of bed. He knew he had only a few months of life left.

But the chemists delivered on time and Mr. Joseph got his very own supply of an experimental cancer drug. With that drug, he began to recover within two weeks. Three weeks later, he got out of bed and four weeks after that, he was able to walk around his neighborhood. Then, he went back to work part-time. That wonderful situation lasted almost a year when the cancer spread again and he began to go downhill once more.

Another $100,000 got Mr. Joseph a second experimental cancer drug and kept him alive and at work for almost another year before the cancer began to spread again. But this time, it kept spreading and none of the experimental medicines could help. He died a year later, surrounded by his friends and family. His money bought him an extra two years with his wife and kids.

Would you do anything different?

Stephen Goldner is the President of Cancer Information Center and the organizer of the Colon Cancer Resource and other cancer related web sites. He is a toxicologist and lawyer with almost 40 years experience in the medical field as inventor, developer and innovator of drugs and medical devices for people.

The Colon Cancer Resource website is dedicated to providing a complete understanding of colon cancer and colorectal cancer in clear understandable language for patients and their families.

Learn About the Several Colon Cancer Types

Cancer is a condition that has become all too popular and moving thousands of people. There are loads of various types of cancer. Some of the more common types include; breast cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.

Out of these, colon cancer - also referred to as colorectal cancer - is the most popular. According to health stats 1 out of 17 people that reside in the United States only will be diagnosed with colon cancer. It has been rated the third most common cancer that men will be diagnosed with.

The things that makes this so deathly is how hard it is to diagnose it in the early stage. There are numerous contrasting types of it that will bear upon a person differently. Some are more extreme than others and if they are not spotted early there is no hopeful treatment for the patient.

Adenocarcinomas

This type is the most popular type of colon cancer that will start in a patient's glands. This type has two distinct subtypes that include; signet ring cell and mutinous. 90 - 95% of people who are diagnosed with colon cancer will suffer from the adenocarcinomas type.

Leiomyosarcomas

This type will start out inside of the smooth muscle that is within the colon. Less than 2% of people who are suffer from colon cancer will be diagnosed with this type. They also have an increased chance of recovering.

Lymphomas

Lymphomas is a rare type that ordinarily begins inside the rectum before moving to the colon. It is viable for them to start out in other parts of the body. When this takes place the cancer has an increased risk of spreading to the colon before traveling to the rectum at a faster pace.

Melanomas

This is also a rare type that will commonly form in a different area of a patient's body before it spreads to the colon and the rectum. Not even 2% of people diagnosed with colon cancer will be diagnosed with this condition.

Neuroendocrine Tumors

These tumors have been separated into two classifications; indolent and aggressive. The aggressive type are neuroendocrine tumors that can be large or small cell. Carcinoid tumors are indolent.

There are several Colon Cancer Types that doctors can use different Treatments For Colon Cancer.

Your Treatment Options For Colon Issues

I never set out to be as knowledgeable as I have recently become about colon surgery. But if you want to know the real lowdown on a procedure, ask someone who has gone through it.

First a few basics: The colonoscopy is the gold standard for detecting colon issues. If you wait until you have symptoms in the case of colon cancer, it is usually too late. Fecal occult blood test would not have found my polyp (it wasn't bleeding). Sigmoidoscopy -- i.e. looking up the descending (left) colon as far as the first bend, is a numbers game. It will discover a lot of abnormalities, but it wouldn't have found mine: mine was in the transverse colon on the right (far) side. Women especially should insist on a full colonoscopy: statistically women tend to experience more issues higher up in the colon whereas men tend to have polyps and cancers closer to the rectum. Virtual colonoscopy is less annoying to prepare for, but the results aren't as good. Don't settle for anything less than a full colonoscopy. If you are going to test, get the best test.

Second: So-called colon cleansing products have no effect on colon cancer, and it's highly dubious if they prevent it. They make a lot of money for those who sell them, but the colon is designed to clean itself, and will do so happily if provided with high quality nutrition. High colonics and enemas are not good for you when done regularly. Mixtures such as psyllium/bentonite will certainly pull a lot of water from your body and give you a temporary light feeling, but psyllium is an irritant to some. Likewise, chronic laxative use is bad and can set up a dependency. The best prevention is to maintain proper weight, eat little or no red meat, sugar, transfats and refined carbs and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and exercise regularly and drink lots of water.

You are probably reading this because you or someone you love has been diagnosed with some sort of colon abnormality and you are looking at surgery. Your abnormality may already been diagnosed as cancer, or you may have been told, as I was, that a polyp that size (between pingpong ball and baseball sized) is almost sure to contain cancer. So naturally you want it out of there post haste.

Unfortunately, surgery is pretty much your only option, but be educated about the finer details and you will have dramatically better results.

Too big to do through the endoscope? The endoscope is the flexible tube with cameras and instruments that is inserted in your anus during a colonoscopy. A normal endoscopist is trained to snip small polyps, especially the common kind that grow on a stalk, with a tool called an endoscopic snare. It's basically just an adjustable loop of fine wire that they poke out the tool head of the flexible tube containing the scope. They make it big enough to go around the polyp, then they tighten it up until it cuts off the polyp. They retrieve the polyp and biopsy it but the assumption is that the majority of small polyps are benign. It's only the ones that get left in a long time and grow big that are more likely to contain cancer. If the endoscopist determines that the polyp is small enough, he/she just snips it automatically. If you are looking at surgery like I was, it is because your polyp is large, and/or sessile (that means it has a very broad base and is well anchored on the inside of the colon.) Mine was both.

Bowel Resection: The current standard procedure for a large polyp if the rest of the colon is otherwise healthy is what I had: a bowel resection: meaning they basically remove the segment of bowel containing the polyp and then reattach the ends of what is left. There are numerous ways to do this, depending on the skill of the surgeon, the location of the polyp and the condition of the patient.

Open abdominal surgery: Prior to the mid 90's bowel resections were usually done as open abdominal surgery. This means they cut a large incision in your abdomen to access the colon and they work through it. Your body cavity is open for the duration of the surgery and when it's done you have a large incision that is slow to heal because it was open for so long.

Modified laproscopic procedure: In the mid 90's they started doing this procedure laproscopically, i.e. they insert three small tubes under your skin and muscle layer and operate through the tubes. When they have dislodged the bad bit and bagged it and sutured the ends of the colon they then create an incision to remove the bad bit. Because the incision is smaller and open only for a few minutes, it heals much faster and better, necessitating a much shorter hospital stay. This procedure is contraindicated for an obese patient or in someone who has already had multiple previous surgeries. Apparently the laproscopes don't work very well with a lot of stuff on top of them. This is what I had done.

Experimental combo lapro/endo: This is what I wish I could have had done. I wondered why they couldn't just roto-root, scrape out the polyp like a D&C and remove it in chunks through the anus. There are three reasons why they don't: one, risk of perforating the colon, two, if it is cancer they need to be careful not to let any cancer cells escape to start a new colony, and three if it is cancer you would want to take the surrounding tissue anyway. It turned out my polyp, although huge, was benign, but there was no way to know that until it was all out. There is a technique now where they do this but I'm guessing they will do it only if the risk of cancer is low. My risk of cancer was considered to be very high. I of a case where the patient had a polyp too large for a standard endoscopic snare and they went in through the rectum with an endoscope with some souped up tools and basically roto-rooted the polyp, while another doctor made laproscopic incisions and watched the outside of the colon with a laproscope to make sure it didn't get perforated. If they perforated the colon they had a plan B, which was to go ahead and do a laproscopic bowel resection. And if anything they scraped out of that patient had cancer in it, they were prepared to go back in and give him a bowel resection anyway. Lucky for that patient, they didn't perforate him, and his polyp turned out to be benign and he walked out that day with only a couple band-aids on his abdomen. This procedure is regarded as experimental and is not widely used, but I predict it will be within the next five years. I heard that it was invented at UCLA Med center so if you live near there you might wish to investigate further.

Colon suture options: All the illustrations I found on the net show the ends of bowel reattached end-to-end so eventually it just looks like a somewhat shortened but continuous tube. A lot of times, however, they bring up the two bowel ends even, suture across the top, and then make a new hole for the fecal matter to travel through. This seems kludgey, bumpy and ugly to me but that is what they did. According to two surgeons I consulted both ways work equally well. One of them said the ugly way is less likely to rupture and the other said they were about the same. When I get to be a constipated old lady I will update and let you know if my modified colon is giving me any problems, but so far it's working just fine.

Your exit scar: Unless you are fortunate enough to have the latest minimally invasive surgery you will either end up with a big scar, or a smaller scar and three laproscopic incisions. The small incisions heal quickly. You will want to do everything you can, including acupuncture and self massage, to soften up that scar as soon as it heals. You will also not be able to use your core abdominal muscles for a little while or lift anything. Do not push this because you do NOT want your incision to get a hernia!

Finally, find other people your surgeon has operated on and Google your surgeon! Laproscopic bowel resection is regarded as a difficult procedure and it takes a long time for a surgeon to get good at it. You will have to live with the results of his/her work for the rest of your life.

What Are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. And it occurs most often in people older than 50. With 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. When it is found early, it is easily treated and often cured. But because it usually is not found early, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Knowing what are the symptoms of colon cancer is very important because it is easily treated if it is found early. The key is to find it as early as possible.

The first symptoms of colon cancer are usually vague, like bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue (tiredness). Local (bowel) symptoms are rare until the tumor has grown to a large size. Generally, the nearer the tumor is to the anus, the more bowel symptoms there will be.

The cecum and ascending colon are on the right side of your abdomen. Cancer in this area may bleed, causing blood in the stool and symptoms of anemia, including fatigue and weakness. The amount of blood may be small and so well mixed with stool that your stool may look normal. The transverse colon goes across your body from right to left. Cancer here may cause abdominal cramps. The descending colon and the S-shaped sigmoid colon are on the left side of your abdomen and join the rectum. Cancer here may cause narrower stools and bright red blood in the stool.

The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 7%. Colorectal cancer can take many years to develop and early detection of colorectal cancer greatly improves the chances of a cure. If you or your doctor thinks you have colon cancer then you will need a test, called a colonoscopy, that lets the doctor see the inside of your entire colon and rectum. During this test, your doctor will remove polyps or take tissue samples from any areas that don't look normal.

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Colon Cancer Symptoms - How to Know If You Have Colorectal Cancer

Colon cancer is a serious disease characterized by abnormal cell growth in the colon, which creates a cancerous tumor. This kind of illness ranks third in the list of the most common forms of cancer and are most often prevalent in people over 50 years old, but can occur in patients of any age.

Cancers of the colon, or of the rectum, are highly treatable if they are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease. However, many people often are not diagnosed in time as early symptoms are not always recognized and, when they are, people are somewhat hesitant to discuss the details of their symptoms with a doctor.

The symptoms include:

1. Abdominal pain, bloating, or discomfort
2. Bloody stool
3. Long, thin stool (often described as pencil-like)
4. Unintended weight loss
5. Loss of appetite
6. Changes in normal bowel habits (rectal bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, or feeling an inability to completely empty the bowel).

Each year nearly 150,000 new cases of this disease are reported. There is no identifiable cause for it, but the following are some of the factors that may increase the risk of its development:

• Gender (Both men and women are equally prone to developing the malady. However, men tend to develop the rectal version at slightly higher rates, while women are more prone to the colon variety)
• Age (The sickness can be developed at any age, but the chances are increased in people over the age of 50 years old.)
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Poor diet
• Family history
• Personal history.

People with a family history of colorectal cancer are slightly more prone to developing it. If more than one family member has been diagnosed with the problem, the risk is even higher. Also, diets high in calories and fat, and low in fiber add to an increased risk of developing the disorder. Anyone over the age of 50 should undergo regular screening for the disorder, but anyone in any of the above risk groups should begin earlier.

Screening normally consists of an annual rectal exam, including stool samples. Some exams may require a scope to be inserted into the rectum in order to view the entire bowel. If there is cause for concern or further examination of the colon's tissue, a biopsy may be ordered for a closer analysis. If cancer is discovered, other tests, such as an ultrasound, CT scan or X-ray would be done in order to determine whether it has spread to other areas. Of particular concern is the liver as it is one of the more likely places that this dangerous disease spreads to.

Because the risk can be reduced by a high fiber diet, proper weight management (including exercise) and by not smoking, it is highly recommended that people opt for healthier lifestyles and decrease their chances of developing this type of life threatening ailment, and others, as much as possible.

Anyone who has experienced some of the previously mentioned symtoms, or who are in one of the risks groups for the disease, is advised to seek screening tests as early as possible since colorectal cancer responds very well to treatment in the earliest stages.

Colorectal Cancer and Available Treatments

Colorectal cancer is also known as colon or rectal cancer because it is a cancer that is found in either the colon or the rectum. In most cases colorectal cancer will begin as a polyp that develops on the lining of the colon and in most cases in benign. Even though these polyps may be benign at one point, they can turn cancerous at any time and when they do they will continue to grow and spread until detected.

It is important to know what puts you at risk for colorectal cancer and how you can prevent it. Even more so, regular screenings and checkups are crucial to catching colorectal cancer especially because polyps can easily be removed before they pose any danger to you. Though there are always different things that cause colorectal cancer and no one ever knows what that could be for them specifically, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important ways to guard yourself from developing colorectal cancer.

Understanding what the symptoms are for colorectal cancer along with knowing if you are at risk at all because of your lifestyle choices or family medical history are your two best ways to measure whether you might have colon cancer, or to put yourself on guard to recognize the symptoms. Unlike other cancers which sometimes make patients very ill with the identifiable symptoms, colon cancer has very insignificant symptoms for most individuals. There are a few things to watch for though if you suspect you might have colorectal cancer including, bleeding in the stool, a change in bowel habits all of a sudden, abdominal pain, anemia and sudden weight loss.

If an individual does present with colorectal cancer there are three basic types of treatment available which sometimes may be used together to cut out the cancer entirely. The first and most often used is one of several different types of surgery, that basically seek to remove or kill the cancer where ever it may be in the colon. If the cancer is discovered early on and has not had a lot of time to grow it is easier to remove the cancer without affecting the colon entirely. In cases where the cancer is larger it may be necessary to cut out and then reattach ends of the colon or to attach a colorectal bag to a stoma in the stomach. Other types of surgery attempt to kill cancer where it is in the colon while avoiding removal of the cancer and any of the colon.

The two other types of colorectal cancer treatment which are often used in addition to surgery are radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Both of these types of treatment are very aggressive, but they also have a really good rate of success making them a standard practice by doctors. Even after treatment though, it is necessary to continue care for colorectal cancer as there is always the chance that cancer cells can develop again on any new polyps that might appear on the lining of your colon. Always be diligent in obtaining screenings and maintaining your health.

The High Cost of Chemotherapy Does Not Have to Keep Patients From Getting Cancer Treatment

The high cost of chemotherapy does not have to keep patients from getting cancer treatment. Coloncancerresource.com reports there are over 550 active clinical trials in colon cancer. These are always free and usually pay some travel costs and all laboratory fees.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness month. Even in these difficult economic times, there is help for people who cannot afford medication and treatment.

A recent article advised that one in eight people turn down life saving medication because the cost of chemotherapy and other cancer costs are too expensive for them. Even worse, 25% of patients in advanced stages of the disease refuse treatment because they earn less that $40,000 and cannot afford the drugs. USA Today, October 13, 2008.

Coloncancerresource.com is a new web site especially useful for people having trouble figuring out how to understand the medical jargon. They also report that there are many ways for people to get the drugs and treatment they need even though:

•12% of late-stage colon cancer patients spend more than $25,000 for cancer treatment costs.

•20% of all cancer survivors delay or miss needed care because of the cost of chemotherapy and medical charges.

The Medicare program is available for people over 65 and for disabled persons. Some states have programs that force hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities to treat needy patients. There is the Veterans' Administration if you have served in the Armed Services. And most pharmaceutical companies provide some patients with free or almost free drugs.

Don't miss out on vital medical service or drugs because of tight money problems.

www.ColonCancerResource.com is a new web site that shows how people without enough money can still get necessary colon cancer treatment and drugs. It is written in easy to understand language especially for people who are struggling to understand how to cope with their colon cancer problems.

Colon Cancer Treatments

A Look at the Treatments Available for Colon Cancer

If you are diagnosed with colon cancer a lot of the treatments, risk factors and survival rates will be determined by the stage of the cancer when it is detected and diagnosed. Even a difference of a couple months can make a lot of difference in how much the cancer has grown, spread and is treatable. There are different treatments available for colon cancer though and three of them are pretty standard. In addition there are always new types of treatments being offered in the form of clinical studies that have not become standard forms of treatment, but if they prove promising they very well may become standard.

The most commonly used treatment for colon cancer is surgery, and this goes for all stages of colon cancer. Surgery is performed to remove the cancerous tissue and possibly some of the healthy tissue around it to eliminate it from the area entirely. This second, and more drastic of the two, types of surgeries with tissue removal is called anastomosis. Once the colon tissue with the cancer is removed, the opposite ends of the colon are then joined together shortening the colon. A third surgery is even more life altering and is known as a colostomy, where an opening is made to the outside of the body where a colostomy bag is attached to collect the waste as it passes through the stoma.

Two other types of surgery are frequently used as well, but do not require cutting or reattaching of the colon at any point. The first type of the two surgeries is known as Cryosurgery and occurs when the cancer tissue is frozen where it is so that it cannot grow or spread. Radiofrequency ablation requires the use of tiny electrodes that are passed into the body through small incisions and used to kill the cancerous tissue.

In addition to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are used as standard forms of treatment for colon cancer. In some cases doctors find it necessary to follow up surgery with chemotherapy or radiation treatments to make absolutely sure that all the cancer cells have been destroyed. Radiation therapy though, consists of using a source of radiation to kill the cancer either externally or internally. When this is done externally, a machine that delivers radiation is used on the body and focuses on the area where the radiation is occurring. If radiation is delivered internally, catheters or wires are used to deliver radiation directly into the cancer or into the area surrounding it.

Like radiation therapy, chemotherapy treatments are very intense for the patient, but it is used because of the high success rates the drugs have in killing cancer. In chemotherapy, drugs are used to reach cancer tissue through the bloodstream, or they are used by placing directly into the area where the cancer is occurring for a better chance at killing the cells. The location and size of the cancer will determine which type of chemotherapy treatment is used by the doctors.

Clinical therapy is another treatment option, but this choice is extremely varied and it is up to a doctor to determine if a patient is able to undergo the treatments used for the therapy. There are also several different requirements that all patients must meet so getting into a clinical therapy is not always a guaranteed thing.

2 Simple Ways to Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is on the rise and is becoming the number two leading cancer causes for death. Should this be a surprise with the diets and chemicals being distributed among our foods today. Read on to find out a few simple things you can do to prevent colon cancer from afflicting you.

Don't let the word Cancer scare you, if you want to be scared be scared by the amount of junk that's in our water and food.

Two ways to reduce the risk of colon cancer

They say life and death begin in your colon. These are two ways that will increase your chances for a better life.

1. Meal Times - eating earlier will reduce the burden you put on your colon to process foods and will reduce your chances of undigested foods fermenting in your colonic area. The later you eat the better chance you food will not digest properly, this means the opportunity for more toxins to settle in your colon exists. Over time you can see how this habit can damage your insides.
2. Meal Frequencies - eat less at each meal, but eat more meals. This way you take the load off of you digestive system which lightens the load on your colon. Especially during times that you are rushed to eat and stress can disrupt your digestive process.

Of course exercise, diet, sleep are other factors to consider, but the above are simple changes that can have a huge impact over time.

Your colon is where absorption takes place and the delivery of nutrients starts. When this system has problems it can lead to many other problems that you might not relate to your colon. By taking care of your colon you will find other health issues could very well be solved.

There is more to health.

Causes of Colon Cancer and What to Watch For

Colon cancer has had the benefit of several research breakthroughs in the last few years, especially when it comes to determining some of the things that can be the cause or a contributing factor to causing cancer. The bad news is that there are several causes of colon cancer that a huge percentage of the population can check off the list as putting them at risk. Knowing them though can be a huge factor in changing the way you eat and live to better protect yourself from continuing with an unhealthy lifestyle choice. In addition, knowing what to watch for when it comes to colon cancer can also be crucial in a patient's chance of getting an early diagnosis or even going to see a doctor in the first place.

Some of the biggest causes of cancer are items that you have no control over and just have to watch, such as age. Age is one of the highest causes of colon cancer, and as you age your risk of getting colon cancer increases. This is partly because your chance of developing polyps is greater, but also because some of the nutritional and lifestyle choices you make on a daily basis have more of an effect on you and your overall health as time progresses. Other factors that can determine whether or not you are at a greater risk of getting colon cancer, but are not lifestyle choices include gender, genetics and family history. If your family has a history of colon cancer, you might want to be a little more vigilant in avoiding some of the known causes and getting regular checkups.

As far as lifestyle choices that cause cancer go, there are several. Two of the biggest habits that can be cut out with some work and dedication are smoking and alcohol. Both smoking and cancer have been the topic of much research that has gone into the study of colorectal cancer and it was found that when drinking it depends on how much an individual consumes, how often they consume and they type of alcohol they are consuming. In the case of smoking, smoking in general is not good for those who are at risk of developing colon cancer and a large part of it has to do with research that has shown that smoking deposits carcinogens in the colon and increase polyp size.

These examples are some of the biggest causes of cancer, and even though some are not able to be helped, the latter two causes can be dealt with if a patient wants to cut out that risk. In general it is a good idea to get an annual colonoscopy to determine if you are at risk for developing cancer, but some major symptoms to watch for include fatigue, anemia and weight loss. Bleeding in the stool is also a big indicator and a fecal occult blood test can be given to determine if this is caused because of colon cancer or something else entirely.

Background of Leukemia

Cancer hits many families and many people at all ages of life. It is a devastating diagnosis for the patient and friends and family. Leukemia is a form of cancer where immune cells proliferate without normal regression after disease has been terminated. It is named for the "milky" coloration of blood from the high count of white blood cells. Leukemia often hits children and symptoms can be disregarded and not properly diagnosed if not treated immediately.

Leukemia is actually a broad medical term. Leukemia cancer is separated into two, more defined forms named chronic leukemia and acute leukemia. Acute leukemia cancer tends to afflict children and young adults. Its proliferation of bone marrow cells inhibits bone marrow to make properly healthy cells. It is an extremely dangerous form of cancer since malignant cells are readily available to the blood stream to transport to other organs.

Chronic leukemia cancer is better known for the abnormal proliferation of mature white blood cells. When your body is faced with disease, white blood cells divide rapidly to quickly eliminate intruding microbes. A normal immune system will later destroy the excess white blood cells, however with leukemia they continue to proliferate. Chronic leukemia mostly afflicts older adults, and therapy is monitored through typical, regular doctor appointments.

The abnormal response from immune cells in cancer patients of leukemia will eventually suppress the immune system giving rise to symptoms of the disease. One life threatening side effect of abnormally high white blood cells is the lowered amount of red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body. The low red blood cell count causes anemia in leukemia patients. Other typical reactions include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and sweats. Fatigue and lethargy are often acquired. For acute symptoms, bone pain, joint pain, and severe paleness are shown in patients.

Some leukemia patients do not even show signs of high white blood cells in diagnosis tests. A rare form called aleukemia exists where test results can return as normal, however the patient still possesses abnormal growths of bone marrow tissue.

Theories as to the causes of leukemia cancer are thought to arise from mutated DNA in somatic cells. The DNA mutations inhibit natural cell death, division, and proliferation. These mutations are thought to be the result of exposure to radiation or other carcinogens.

Viruses can also account for certain samples of leukemia in patients. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human T-lymphotropic virus are thought to carry with them a form of leukemia.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with leukemia, there are some common treatments to expect. Chemotherapy is probably the most common form of anti-cancerous treatment. Chemotherapy is used in most forms of cancer as an efficient way to kill cancer cells. Interferon treatment is a new, less traumatic form of therapy. It stimulates the immune system to fight off the disease. Other forms of treatments are marrow transplants and radiation treatment. Transplants will replenish bone marrow with healthy cells while radiation will target harmful cancer cells for elimination.

What is Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that may be caused by long term or intense exposure to benzene. This group of cancers is fairly rare and is derived from lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. The many subtypes of this cancer are mostly categorized by their aggressiveness and speed of progress. The not so aggressive (slow-growing) form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will change a person's life for a long period of time whereas the more aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can be fatal.

A British physician, Thomas Hodgkin, found and defined the first form of lymphoma in 1832. Later, a pathologist, Henry Rappaport, proposed The Rappaport classification which became the accepted classification of lymphomas other than Hodgkin's.

Lymphoma Linked with Benzene Exposure

Scientists have linked exposure to benzene with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is known that benzene is derived from vehicle exhaust emissions. Benzene is also frequently used in pesticides, drugs, and rubbers. Many people who have been around the chemical benzene have developed some type of leukemia. Having these cancers have altered their lives tremendously and have even been fatal.

Some Known Symptoms linked to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

There are a variety of symptoms that have been linked to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma:

* Unintentional weight loss

* Severe itchiness

* Nighttime sweats

* Swollen lymph nodes

* Swelling in the abdominal region

* Pain in the chest area

If you or someone you know has been exposed to benzene you will want to contact an attorney who has experience with benzene cases. This will insure that you receive the legal advice and guidance you need and deserve.