Cancer alert over tin can and plastic bottle chemical

A gender-bending chemical found in babies' bottles and tin cans may cause breast cancer, scientists have warned.

Bisphenol A, used in the manufacture of CD cases, lunchboxes, sunglasses, water bottles babies' bottles and tin cans, has been linked to health problems ranging from cancer to miscarriage and infertility.

Industry has previously claimed the chemical is broken down by the body, making it safe to use. But new research casts doubt on this, with experiments showing the chemical remains carcinogenic.

The research has reignited calls for the compound - a manmade version of the female sex hormone oestrogen - to be banned.

The scientists looked at what happens to bisphenol A inside the body and whether it affects the growth of breast tumours.

They found that while the chemical is initially broken down, chemicals produced by cancerous tumours can lead to it quickly returning to its original state. Once back to normal, the chemical can go on to speed up the growth of the tumours.

Researcher Dr Theodore Widlanski said: "Enzymes present on the surface of breast tumour cells appear to convert the modified bisphenol A back into bisphenol A."

The Indiana University biochemist said the results meant he was unable to give the chemical a clean bill of health.

"We set out to show the opposite, that bisphenol A is not harmful," he said. "If the answer to any of our questions had been 'no', then we would have concluded bisphenol A was not dangerous. But we can't do that, or we can't do it yet."

Advising pregnant women and those with hormone disorders to be particularly wary of the chemical, he said: "It doesn't mean that your bottled water is any less safe today than it was yesterday.

Industry profits

"It just means that if it isn't safe, we might be able to explain why." He added that was unlikely that bisphenol A was 'the only culprit' in causing or speeding up breast cancer. Instead, it is probably one of a cocktail of cancer-causing chemicals.

The experiments - which were been done in the test-tube, rather than in the body - looked at the effects of levels of bisphenol A similar to those the average person would be exposed to over their lifetime.

The findings, published in the journal Chemistry & Biology, have alarmed British experts, who called for industry to re-think its stance.

Gwynne Lyons, a World Wildlife Fund chemicals expert, said: "This should be another nail in the coffin for bisphenol A. It is well known that this substance can derail oestrogen, the female hormone, and evidence for a potential role in breast cancer is now mounting.

"Unfortunately, proof will be very difficult to achieve, and regulators seem more concerned with industry profits than protecting our health."

There is also evidence that synthetic oestrogens affect the environment, leading to fish changing sex and snails' reproductive systems going into overdrive.

DES, a pregnancy drug similar to oestrogen, has been linked to a string of health problems, including cancer an infertility.

By FIONA MACRAE, dailymail.co.uk

Plastic Bottle and cancer

Many are unaware of poisoning caused by re-using plastic bottles. Some of you may be in the habit of using and re-using your disposable mineral water bottles (eg. Evian, Aqua, Ice Mountain, Vita, etc), keeping them in your car or at work. Not a good idea. In a nutshell, the plastic (called polyethylene terephthalate or PET) used in these bottles contains a potentially carcinogenic element (something called diethylhydroxylamine or DEHA).

The bottles are safe for one-time use only; if you must keep them longer, it should be or no more than a few days, a week max, and keep them away from heat as well. Repeated washing and rinsing can cause the plastic to break down and the carcinogens (cancer- causing chemical agents)can leach into the water that YOU are drinking. Better to invest in water bottles that are really meant for multiple uses. This is not something we should be scrimping on. Those of you with family - please advise them, especially for their children's sake."

Mesothelioma: Question and answer

Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

1. What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

2. What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

3. How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

4. What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

5. Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

6. What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

7. How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

8. How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

9. Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI’s cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI’s Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.







source: National Cancer Institute

mesothelioma cancer

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is being discovered more and more frequently in elderly men. The most common cause of mesothelioma is from asbestos exposure and affects the membrane of many of the most vital internal organs such as the lungs and heart. Mesothelioma is particularly hard to diagnose because it shows similar symptoms to many other more common diseases.

The most common form of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma accounts for 75% of all mesothelioma cases. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and has symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, breathing and swallowing difficulties, shortness of breath, wheezing and weight loss. These symptoms apply to many less serious diseases but anyone with signs of these symptoms are strongly advised to consult their doctor as soon as possible.

A less common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma and this form of the cancer affects the abdomen. The tissue lining the abdomen is called the peritoneum and this is what is affected. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 20% of all mesothelioma cases. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are weight loss, abdominal pains, loss of appetite, weakness, nausea, and abdominal swelling. These symptoms become more and more severe as the cancer develops.

source: www.ezinearticles.com

How To Rid Yourself of Bad Habits

We all have habits---some good; some bad. What qualifies as a habit? It is a routine practice that is done in the same way for the same reason, over and over again. A habit becomes second nature and is intrinsically neither good nor bad. When a habit is negative, it hinders or harms and when a habit is positive, it fosters health, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships.

You may be wondering why we develop habits and whether habits are important or not? Habits help us establish order and allow us to do things automatically, with little thought. This in turn, allows us to focus on other areas of our lives that demand our immediate attention. Originally, our habits are developed because they meet a perceived need. When they no longer meet a need, they continue on automatic and may be reinforced by people around you.

Stages of Change

Typical bad habits include drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs, gambling, nail biting, lying, procrastinating, cursing, cheating, etc. Like most people, you probably have at least a few bad habits you’d like to change. How do people change their habits? After all, change is not easy. First, if you want to stop a bad habit, decide on one habit you personally want to change (not should change). Also, make sure you don’t choose to change a habit just because it will please someone else. Next, explore your readiness to change. Psychologists, Prochaska and DiClemente have studied and described the process of how people change a negative behavior or habit. They have portrayed the following five stages people usually go through in their mind before they actually effect a change. When successful, these stages are progressive, building toward an eventual commitment to change:

The Five Stages:

	PRECONTEMPLATION – the person sees no need to change
	CONTEMPLATION – the person recognizes the problem
	PREPARATION – the person plans for change, but tomorrow (not now)
	ACTION – the person admits to having a problem and starts taking positive behavior/action
	MAINTENANCE – the person continues the new, positive behavior for more than 6 months

Planning for Change

Once you’ve reached the Preparation Stage, you can plan to change in the following way:

	1. Make a list of what you’ll gain or how you’ll benefit from accomplishing your goal.
	2. Break it into small doable steps and brainstorm multiple ways to achieve those steps.
	3. Choose 3-4 action steps that are objective and measurable.
	4. Set a timeline with a set date to re-evaluate your progress.
	5. Decide on some immediate rewards you’ll use for positive steps you accomplish.
	6. And finally, don’t forget to enlist the support and encouragement of others and remember to remind yourself of previous successes.

“The 5 Stages of How People Change” indicate that “action” or external change only occurs after a person has fully engaged in the preparation stage. By engaging in this process, one becomes a “change manager” rather than a “change victim.

If you have a goal to break a bad habit, first identify when you do the negative behavior and second, analyze what is triggering this behavior. You’ll also want to evaluate the benefits and dangers of changing. Consider the following:

	What pleasure or release of tension does the habit produce?
	What harm is the habit causing?
	What will improve by breaking the habit?

Action: Making a Change

Once you’ve explored these questions, you’ll need to prepare for action. Begin this process by removing any temptations associated with your bad habit. You can also create obstacles to interfere with past things that maintained your bad habit. Next, try to reduce your overall stress level since stress is often a trigger for engaging in a bad habit. I also recommend you enlist the support of your friends and family. Find valuable reinforcers and rewards and then commit and act. Throughout the change process, maintain a log of your habit behavior - when, where, what feeling, and any obstacles. Be fair to yourself and remember this: the bad habit was not “built in a day” and neither will it be destroyed or replaced in a day. Research shows that the average smoker attempts to quit approximately seven times before s/he is successful. So no matter how slow, keep trying. “People do not fail; they only give up trying.”

Bad Habit or Addiction?

Sometimes, after numerous attempts to change a bad habit, a person may want to consider if s/he is dealing with more than just a bad habit. Sometimes, repeated failure is indicative of a serious addiction. An addiction results in a loss of control and usually involves a compulsive use of a mood or mind altering chemical(s), along with the inability to stop the use in spite of the fact that such use is causing problems in one’s life. The person may have a physical and/or psychological dependence on a substance. Some experts also apply this term to compulsive behaviors that produces chemical changes in the brain, such as gambling or compulsive sex. Unlike something that is simply a bad habit, an addiction, such as taking a substance becomes the sole focus of one’s life.

If you’re not sure whether you’re dealing with a bad habit or an addition, the following signs may suggest that you need professional help with an addiction:

	Multiple tries to break the bad habit have been unsuccessful.
	You give up other things that are important to you in order to indulge your habit.
	You continue the negative behavior even though you know it’s damaging you and your relationships.
	You have symptoms of withdrawal or overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety or depression when your stop.
	You need more and more of the substance or behavior to obtain the same level of pleasure or satisfaction.

Summary

If you believe you’re ready to make a change, remember these tips: 1) Give yourself sufficient time to change. 2) Set realistic expectations and goals 3) Focus on 1-2 change strategies at a time. 4) Think in terms of small steps. 5) Review and reward your progress daily. 6) Seek help when needed.

7 CRAZIEST CANCER MYTHS

Myths about the causes and prevention of cancer have been floating around for years. While some have been tame, there have been some cancer myths that are downright outlandish and ridiculous. Check out the craziest cancer myths in this Top 10 style list.

1) Myth: Fellatio Greatly Reduces a Woman's Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

Truth: An email circulated with a link to what appeared to be a bonafide CNN news story claiming that a study found that women who performed fellatio reduced their risk of breast cancer. The truth is that there is no evidence that performing fellatio will reduce your risk of cancer. Fellatio is an oral stimulation of Penis.

2) Myth: Designer Lipsticks Contain Lead that Cause Cancer.

Truth: The FDA regulates all cosmetics manufacturing. It is logical to think that if a lipstick contained an ingredient that is sure to cause cancer, it would be pulled from the shelves immediately. This email hoax is still popping up in inboxes and striking fear in women. It is a hoax and there is no brand of lipstick that can cause cancer. Read more about lipstick and cancer...

3) Myth: Wearing Deodorant Can Cause Breast Cancer.

Truth:There is so significant data that shows that wearing deodorant causes cancer, yet people are still buying into it. The suggestion is that a chemical is absorbed through the skin through a shaving nick or cut, and causes breast cancer. Again, there has been no significant study to support this claim.

4) Myth: Piercing Your Nipples May Causes Breast Cancer in Men and Women

Truth: An injury to the breast or nipple cannot lead to cancer development. The only real medical risk factor for piercing the nipple is infection. Read more about pierced nipple and cancer...

5) Myth: Men Don't Get Breast Cancer.

Truth: Just ask Richard Rountree, the star of Shaft if men get breast cancer. Male breast cancer may be less common than breast cancer in females, but it does happen.

6) Myth: There is a Cure for Cancer, but Drug Companies Wouldn't Make Money.

Truth: If this was true, how come the family members of these drug company employees are still suffering from cancer? The likelihood of there being a general cure for all cancers is not realistic because they are caused by different factors. It is estimated that almost 30% of Americans believe this myth.

7) Myth: Forwarding Emails to Friends Will Donate Money to Cancer Charities.

Truth: Aol, The American Cancer Society, or any other major corporation does not rely on the use of email forwarding to make charitable contributions. The email sent usually contains the story of a child with cancer, perhaps with a photo, claiming that for every person your forward the email to the child will receive $.03 for treatment costs. Don't waste your time forwarding, folks. This is a cancer hoax and myth.

RICE THAT WE SHOULD EAT

Brown rice

Brown rice (or otherwise called "hulled rice") is unmilled or partly milled rice, a kind of whole grain. It has a mild nutty flavor, is chewier than white rice, becomes rancid more quickly, but is far more nutritious. Any rice, including sticky rice, long-grain rice, or short-grain rice, may be eaten as brown rice.

In some parts of the world, the word "to eat" literally means "to eat rice." All varieties of rice are available throughout the year, supplying as much as half of the daily calories for half of the world's population.

The process that produces brown rice removes only the outermost layer, the hull, of the rice kernel and is the least damaging to its nutritional value. The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. Fully milled and polished white rice is required to be "enriched" with vitamins B1, B3 and iron.

The Difference Between Brown Rice and White Rice

Brown rice is simply white rice that has not had the bran covering the rice grains removed. Removing the bran is done so that the rice is fluffier and cooks faster. Since brown rice still has the bran intact, it is a much better source of fiber. In fact a cup of brown rice has 3.5 grams of fiber while white rice has less than one gram of fiber. We all need from 15 to 25 grams of fiber in our diet every day.

Another benefit from eating brown rice is caused by the fiber slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates. This will help tame the blood-sugar roller coaster that can happen from a high sugar-low fiber meal. Fiber also has a healthy effect on our cholesterol levels and may help to reduce this risk of cardiovascular disease.

Besides the fiber found in the brown rice, the bran contains nutrients like magnesium, manganese, selenium, tryptophan and zinc. White rice has reduced levels of these nutrients, but is often fortified with iron, and some B vitamins.

Brown rice, cooked 1.00 cup 195.00 grams 216.45 calories Nutrient Amount DV (%) Nutrient Density World's Healthiest Foods Rating manganese 1.76 mg 88.0 7.3 excellent selenium 19.11 mcg 27.3 2.3 good magnesium 83.85 mg 21.0 1.7 good tryptophan 0.06 g 18.8 1.6 good World's Healthiest Foods Rating Rule excellent DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10% very good DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5% good DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%