With the vast amount of media attention given to cervical cancer since the introduction of the new HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccines, any female or parent could certainly be forgiven for believing that the risk of cervical cancer is a serious health threat to the female population.

But exactly how serious is the risk, and what percentage of the population is actually affected?

Consider these facts. Cervical cancer only represents a small proportion of all cancer diagnoses and deaths each year. For example, according to the American Cancer Society, American women are 16 times more likely to develop breast cancer than cervical cancer. And once diagnosed, they are 11 times more likely to die from breast cancer than they are from cervical cancer.

To put this in terms of real numbers, U.S.A. estimates for 2007 indicated that of the 11,150 that were likely to be diagnosed of cervical cancer, 3670 were estimated to die. This equates to an approximate risk of 1 in 100,000 (U.S.A. population) chance of being diagnosed with cervical cancer, and an approximate 1 in 1,000,000 (U.S.A.) population chance of actually dying from the disease.

The question every female and every parent or caregiver of young daughters / females must ask themselves is this:

• Does this kind of risk warrant a mass recommendation (and in some cases - mandating) of a new drug or medical procedure onto such large sections of the (female) population so soon after its introduction onto the market, - given that the drug or medical procedure itself carries its own risk and potential complications (both in the short and long term), and given that prior to its public introduction, a drug\’s testing is limited to a clinical trial setting?

The truth is this.

While the risk of cervical cancer has been highlighted (and many would believe - exaggerated) in recent campaigns throughout the world, the fact is that the serious risks associated with the 2 new HPV vaccines said to provide protection against this disease - (Gardasil and Cervarix) - have been seriously down-played, overlooked or deliberately side-stepped.

The introduction of these new vaccines raises many more questions than it answers. Simply put, anyone considering either of these vaccines should be thoroughly aware of the actual risk of cervical cancer, before consenting to a procedure that in itself has been associated with risks and outcomes even more tragic and permanent than an actual cervical cancer diagnosis.

Author Bio: Angela Perin is author of the highly regarded and newly published book \’Cervical Cancer Vaccine: The Truth\’ - an essential, fully referenced guide for every female and every parent of young daughters. Together with her husband Dennis [author of \'Vaccination Truth: The Shocking Facts Parents Aren\'t Told & Why!\'], Angela shares a passionate interest in health, and remains a firm advocate of informed choice and revealing the truth. Angela is mother to 3 beautiful daughters and supports every individuals\’ right to make their own choices based on questioning and fact, not fear or on mass compliance. Read Angela\’s full free report at: http://www.cervicalcancervaccinetruth.com

Unless you\’ve been living in isolation for the past 1 - 2 years, you would have found it almost impossible to avoid hearing about the risk of cervical cancer, and the two new HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccines (Gardasil and Cervarix) that have now been introduced as a prevention strategy against this disease.

In a revolutionary age where media campaigning has tremendous power and potential to infiltrate thinking and ideas on national and global scales, distinguishing fact from emotion becomes a confronting, yet subtle dilemma.

The platform for the introduction of these 2 new HPV vaccines onto the worldwide market has been on the basis of the threat and risk of cervical cancer, and has presented the same dilemma to potential recipients of these vaccines.

The problem is, although facts are a far more logical basis on which to make such a decision, emotion is often a far more powerful motivator for action or compliance in situations where health is the prime factor. And in this situation, the fear of cervical cancer has formed a very solid basis for the HPV vaccine campaigns.

There\’s certainly no question that cervical cancer disease \’can\’\’ and \’does\’ have serious (sometimes fatal) outcomes. However equally so, \’any\’\’medical procedure, artificial drug, pharmaceutical product or vaccine by its very nature also carries with it varying degrees of risk - both temporary and permanent. This includes the HPV vaccines.

The unfortunate truth is that the bulk of media campaigning and information disseminated to the public has avoided, disguised or cleverly side-stepped pointing out the facts and health risks associated with the actual vaccines, which to date have included (but are not limited to): loss of consciousness, paralysis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, hospitalisation, permanent disability and death.

The questions any female or parent (of daughters) considering this vaccine needs to ask themselves are these:

• \’Is\’ cervical cancer as widespread and as serious a health risk as portrayed in media campaigns and by our health authorities?
• Is it merely coincidence that solid media campaigns against cervical cancer disease have been hand-in-hand with the introduction of these vaccines?
• Have all the facts regarding all the risks of both the disease and the vaccine been accurately revealed?

The challenge for any potential recipient, is in identifying the true facts about the risk of cervical cancer versus the associated risks and benefits of the vaccine. Unfortunately, many recipients of these vaccines have based their decision on limited information provided in media campaigning that has ignored \’all\’ the facts - resulting in decisions made on emotion rather than sound logical judgment.

Tragically in many cases, the associated health risks of the vaccine has resulted in more devastating and irreversible outcomes than an actual cervical cancer diagnosis. As challenging as it might be, you owe it to yourself to research the facts before deciding whether or not these vaccines are of benefit, and whether these benefits outweigh any potential risks.

By basing your decision on fact, not fear, - your decision will be an informed one, and the one that\’s right for you in your individual situation. Whatever you decide, make it an informed one.

Author Bio: Angela Perin is author of the highly regarded and newly published book \’Cervical Cancer Vaccine: The Truth\’ - an essential, fully referenced guide for every female and every parent of young daughters. Together with her husband Dennis [author of \'Vaccination Truth: The Shocking Facts Parents Aren\'t Told & Why!\'], Angela shares a passionate interest in health, and remains a firm advocate of informed choice and revealing the truth. Angela is mother to 3 beautiful daughters and supports every individuals\’ right to make their own choices based on questioning and fact, not fear or on mass compliance. Read Angela\’s full free report at: http://www.cervicalcancervaccinetruth.com

Many people who suffer from cancer choose to go an alternate route rather than the conventional one and choose therapies that might not be considered within the boundaries of Western medicine. Others choose to integrate conventional medicine and alternative medicine in an effort to try and get the best of both worlds. They do this for a number of reasons. The most common reason being that conventional therapy simply does not work for them and they are in a situation where they are willing to try anything to live. Others are simply more unconventional by nature and may not believe in Western medicine or have more faith in alternative medicine in the first place. Whatever the reasoning behind their decision, everyone has the right to choose their own form of therapy and to have that decision respected.

There are 2 ways that one can go about choosing an alternative therapy, the one is by choosing a particular treatment and the other is to choose a particular practitioner. You can go with a practitioner that has been recommended to you and that you have heard many good things about, and who, when you see him or her, makes you feel comfortable and at ease. This places the type of treatment used second in the list of priorities. Or the type of treatment could be more important to you than the practitioner, so long as the practitioner is experienced and professional you don’t really mind about anything else. Most people consider both issues to be of roughly equal importance, they want a particular treatment but they also want a recommendation and to feel comfortable and at ease with the practitioner.

Naturopathy involves the use of natural medicine to treat and prevent illness. Their approach is holistic, thus looking for the cause or imbalance and treating the whole person. It includes training in anatomy, physiology, herbal medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, flower essences, mineral therapy, iris diagnosis, massage and colonic irrigation. It is becoming more evidence and scientific as more and more of the “folk lore” knowledge is being proved. Their eclectic approach has been getting remarkable results for years. In the case of cervical cells that have been returned with an abnormal test result, there is a treatment whereby a mixture of specific herbs and enzymes is applied topically along with herbal suppositories for 6 weeks. The women are advised to ingest specific nutrients that have been proved to assist cervical cells return to their normal structure. In addition to this appropriate lifestyle and dietary measures are implemented. Portland’s National College of Naturopathic Medicine has completed a preliminary study of 43 women with abnormal smears to test the effectiveness of this kind of treatment. Of the 43 women, 38 had PAP smear results that returned to normal, 3 showed partial improvement and 2 showed no change. None got worse. These results are very encouraging.

Mind-body therapies are designed to help the mind’s ability to affect the body’s functions and symptoms. This means that with the right techniques you can learn to alleviate pain and discomfort. These techniques include relaxation, meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback and hypnosis. The symptoms and conditions that you can relieve include: chronic pain, cancer, headaches, post-heart attack care and pre-surgical preparation. It should be remembered that no matter how effective the treatment, and even though the side effects are minimal, you should always remain under the care of your alternative care professional.

Therapeutic touch and reiki healing are energy-based techniques. They help activate the self-healing processes and also aid in the reduction of pain. Despite the name, there is no actual physical contact, only close physical proximity between the patient and the practitioner. In several studies over the years beneficial results with no significant adverse effects have been found but more in depth, scientific studies are needed for the results to be more conclusive.

Acupuncture has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as beneficial for almost 30 different diseases or conditions. The main benefit is in the field of pain relief. It is also beneficial regarding the following: headaches, lower back pain, menstrual cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and myofascial pain, but it may require an additional therapy in order to fully treat the condition.

If you feel that you would like to add alternative therapies to your conventional ones, especially if you’re going to add herbal remedies to your medicinal drugs, you need to be aware that there is a possibility that they could interfere with each other. They could be metabolised in the same area in the liver and one could cancel the other out, they could interact negatively, they could reinforce each other in ways that no one foresaw and suddenly you’re on a super drug. A lot of things could happen so it is best to keep all of your health care practitioners, both alternative and conventional, informed of what you are doing. This not only helps keep them up to date and in the loop, but when in a medical emergency, it’s nice to know that there are at least 2 people out there that know what drugs/herbs have reacted badly in your system and who will be able to give you the right medicine at the hospital.

Recommended sites:
http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/center.asp?centerid=1
http://www.rosenthal.hs.columbia.edu/cancer/info/choosing.html
http://goldbamboo.com/topic-t1058.html
www.clevelandclinic.org/health/

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Tell Her UK cervical cancer one of the leading cervical cancer websites on the net

Cervical cancer does not necessarily mean that you will become infertile but the odds are extremely high. This is not an easy concept to come to terms with, even for women who have gone through menopause or who have made up their minds to never have children. The enforced, involuntary removal of the womb is a very final act beyond which there is no going back. The ability to decide for oneself is taken away. It may even feel as though one’s womanhood is being stolen, especially if one’s identity is bound more in one’s physicality than one’s spiritual and psychological being. Many women find that if they allow themselves to grieve, as for the death of a loved one, it helps them to make sense of the loss and to integrate the experience into their sense of self.

Some pre-cancer treatments can adversely affect your fertility, the cone biopsy for example. There is a small chance that the cervix can close very tightly after a cone biopsy procedure, so tightly that sperm isn’t able to enter it. This condition is known as cervical stenosis. If you are still able to menstruate after the cone biopsy then you don’t have complete cervical stenosis, if the womb lining can get out, sperm can get in. Women who have had cone biopsies are also more likely to give birth before 37 weeks, their babies are more likely to have a low birth weight and they are more likely to give birth by caesarian section. The increased risk of early birth is because the cone biopsy weakens the cervix, which is really a muscle that keeps the entrance to the womb closed. If the cervix has been weakened, the weight of the baby pressing down on the cervix may cause it to open too soon and induce labour. This can be prevented by your doctor giving you a “running stitch” to hold it shut. Your doctor may be more technical and call it a purse string suture; the suture is cut before you go into labour, at around 37 weeks.

LLETZ stands for large loop excision of the transformation zone, and has roughly the same effects as cone biopsies i.e. early birth, low birth weight and increased caesarian sections. It is also more likely to rupture membranes. In a review it was revealed that the amount of cervical tissue removed had an impact on the risk of early birth etc. If the excision was more than 10mm deep then the risk for early birth increased. Laser therapy, cryotherapy and diathermy are unlikely to affect your fertility.

If you are already pregnant when the abnormal cells are discovered your doctor will not recommend a cone biopsy unless he or she suspects that there is cervical cancer. The biopsy could weaken the cervix and result in a miscarriage. You may, however, undergo a colposcopy. It’s perfectly safe and won’t affect your delivery, or your chances of falling pregnant again. Usually treatment for pre-cancerous cells is scheduled for after you’ve given birth, when you and the baby are out of danger.

When you actually have cancer and have to go for treatment your chances of infertility are increased as the treatment becomes more aggressive and invasive. Chemotherapy causes infertility although for some people the effects are only temporary. The permanence of chemo’s infertility depends on the drugs used, the dosages, whether a combination of drugs is used as a combination is more likely to result in infertility, the age of the patient and the general health of the patient. If you are still young and have your heart set on having children it may be possible to choose a chemotherapy that will least affect your fertility, but it also depends on the circumstances.

Radiotherapy is given directly to the affected area, so it would be aimed directly at the pelvic area and cervix. This can obviously lead to infertility and is more likely to be permanent. The risk is increased with the strength of the dose and the increased age of the patient. Total body irradiation will usually cause permanent infertility and only a very rare few will go on to have children afterwards.

Surgery to remove cancer does not generally affect fertility, however in the case of cervical cancer where it might be necessary to have the womb or ovaries removed, infertility is an inevitable consequence. Some types of surgery to the cervix, vagina and vulva also result in infertility.

Cervical cancer is not a death sentence; in fact it is one of the most curable cancers around. It is ironic, however, in that for many women it does mean the end of life, or at least the end of the continuation of life, the end of progeny. For many women this in itself is a death sentence. They need support and love to help them through this very difficult time and to enable them to see that they still have so much to offer the world. A woman can be a whole woman on her own terms and she can decide those terms for herself. Sometimes all she needs is a little help to be able to see that.

Recommended sites:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2783

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Resourcessupport/Symptomssideeffects/Fertility/Fertility

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Tell Her UK cervical cancer one of the leading cervical cancer websites on the net

Cervical and breast cancer are two types of cancer which not only affect a woman physically but mentally too e.g. dealing with all the trauma after being diagnosed with the disease. A large percentage of women admit to living in fear of the big C, however cervical or breast cancer free women admit that the thought of contacting the disease never leaves their thoughts.

Sadly, self breast examination seems to be unimportant for some women who choose to ignore a health issue as vital to secure their well being, ignoring any indication that breast cancer is developing can result in the patient having to fight for their life. If an examination of the breasts had taken place in some unfortunate cases the whole scenario would have just involved treating the breast cancer and no involvement of an undertaker. Women need to wise up because if they continue to carry ignorance as an ally to help beat this battle - then they lose. Winning includes modern medicines. Early cancer treatment betters survival odds hence giving a patient the chance to carry on with their life instead of throwing it away.

Aside from bosom blunders where ignorance may have prevailed we have cervical cancer. Women need to be aware of all involvements i.e. what to expect throughout any cervical cancer treatments. The cervix is the lower part of the womb or uterus and is commonly referred to as the ‘neck of the womb’.

The cervix and its purpose are to help maintain a normal pregnancy. In non-pregnant women, the cervix has no obvious function. In the UK cervical cancer is down on paper as the sixth most common cancer in women. It is of the utmost importance for a woman to keep healthy in mind body and soul by having regular cervical cancer smear tests - oft times referred to as a Pap smear test. Smear tests are commonly carried out in order to detect any cell changes that come before cancer. It’s a waiting game, meaning, it can take years for these cell changes detected at the time of a cervical smear test to become cancer. Luckily some changes have been known to go away by themselves.

Women who waited in anticipation for their cancer results said they found it more of an ordeal coping with the wait than that of receiving the actual prognosis (cervical cancer).

Suffering in silence is not healthy, not all abnormal test results indicate that cervical cancer is present. It is through early diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous changes that development of actual cancer can be prevented. Early detection is most profound to help fight the disease.

There are two types of this cancer; the squamous cell cancer and aden-ocarcinoma. Cervical smear tests detect the early changes of squamous cell cancer. Early stage growths of certain cancers can be treated with surgery or radiotherapy thus resulting in a cure.

Regular questions asked about cervical cancer are what the causes are; well there is no definite single cause, however study points the finger at a viral infection of the cervix or cancer sticks (cigarettes). Fags are a major health hazard relating to lung cancer, smoking is said to also increase the risk of developing cervical cancer and even the number of partners in youth trial runs of intercourse have also been linked to being connected to the cause. In the UK cervical tests are routinely performed every three years, lives are being saved because of this.

Females face a silent but deadly situation because; pre-cancerous changes of the cervix that show up on cervical smear tests unfortunately do not give symptoms. Undergoing a biopsy of the cervix is the way cervical cancer is diagnosed. The process is normally done with an internal examination called a colposcopy.

Treating cancer of the cervix will purely depend upon the severity of the disuse, meaning, has it spread to the pelvis. A radical hysterectomy or Wertheim’s hysterectomy may be suggested as treatment. It is at this stage that a specialist gynaecologist will conduct surgery. Radiotherapy destroys tumour cells that the gynaecologist cannot see.

Remember “out of sight out of mind”, is not a healthy approach for a cure; a healthy approach is to keep it in mind and any cervical cancer symptoms must be kept in sight.

Womens Cancer http://www.spotthepimple.com

Depressed Women http://www.overcompulsivedisorder.com

Cancer Concerns http://www.remedy4wrinkles.com

There are so many factors to take into consideration once your have been diagnosed with cervical cancer. Various side effects not only from treatment, but also of long and short term effects both physically and mentally. Every patient is different and everyone will have his or her own personal issues and fears about it.

One of the deciding factors will be the stage that the cancer was diagnosed at. If it is caught early on, the physical aspects won’t be as long lasting as a person who got diagnosed at a crucial stage. The various types of treatment will also bring their own problems.

The first step to living through cervical cancer is to become as well researched as possible on the matter. Although it will be your doctor’s responsibility to explain, doing research into the terminology will make it easier in the long term for you. You should also be aware of the risks and effects that will happen so you can start dealing with it as soon as possible.

Having discussions with your doctor is the best place to start. Understanding exactly what will happen, the chances, the effects as well as finding out if he/she knows of any counseling groups that might help you to deal with the psychology aspect. Questions of “why you” and “why now” are normal. Some of the treatments will have an effect on you physical that will change your own self-image of yourself, such as scarring or hair loss. Having a group to help you deal with it might be crucial for your own peace of mind.

In some cases of cervical cancer, a hysterectomy might be the only answer. In severe cases, this might involve the removal of your womb, tissues around your womb, top of your vagina and lymph nodes around the womb. In these cases, infertility is almost completely unavoidable. Most women need help to come to terms with the idea of not being able to give birth and the prospect of not having children. Unfortunately, surgery isn’t the only type of treatment that might have this effect.

Chemotherapy also has harsh effects of infertility. It might also have an effect of heart problems later on and early menopause. Both radiation and chemotherapy have long term risks and problems, which you will need to discuss with your doctor. Other common side effects during treatment include nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, sleeping problems, fatigue, urinary problems and hair loss.

Doctors might suggest that after treatment, spending some time in a rehabilitation center might be the solution to recovering. Having fears is natural and to learn to accept that will take time. Rehabilitation centers will offer 24-hour support and help with regaining physical function and independence. You body will take a physical blow and having swelling in the limbs, weight loss or gain plus fatigue afterwards is common.

The rehabilitation center will be able to advice on nutritional counseling to help quicken the recovery rate, as well as help with preventing the cancer from coming back. This also includes exercises and lifestyle changes. One of the more important aspects is the counseling, not only for you, but family and friends. They generally build a goals list with the individual to priorities what needs are most important.

A person should never feel alone during the process, as well as afterwards. One of the other ways to also release your fears, anxiety or concerns is to keep a personal journal. One of the biggest fears of a cancer patient is the risk of it returning. This fear gets less in time, which is the good news. You might hear your doctor talk about pelvic exenteration, which is when the cervical cancer comes back in the pelvis. Areas of the pelvis include the womb, cervix, ovaries, bladder and rectum.

Keeping communication channels open is vital between you, your doctor, support team and family/friends. Change is a scary process and not knowing for certain what the outcome is, is even worse. It is a heavy burden and learning to allow people to help you carry it, will help you in the long term.

Celeste writes for Tell Her, a website dedicated to Cervical Cancer for women in the UK.

If you’ve ever had to do research and at some stage everyone has had to, you will know that it is one of the driest things in the world to do. It is as dry as sawdust. You just have to put your head down and work your way through. You do stumble across some interesting facts, it is rather the point of the whole venture, but it is somehow never enough to get you really excited about the process. Some research does not involve trawling through aeons worth of library books or internet pages, some research is a bit more practical. Scientific and medical research for example, reading is involved of course, but those involved also get to examine specimens under microscopes and make enlightened “aha, hmm” noises. In terms of dryness that type of research is practically sopping.

“Cancer research”, funnily enough, is the study of cancer. Cancer research ranges from the basic biology of the disease to the effects of different types of treatment. Every aspect of the disease is studied i.e. causes of cancer, how cancer forms, methods of treatment and methods of prevention etc etc. The primary goal of cancer research is to produce effective treatment and prevention for all types of cancer.

There are different areas of cancer research all of which are interrelated and affect one another. Basic Research: Tries to answer some very general questions such as how do cells work? Why do cells grow? How do cells know when to divide? The main aim of basic research is to find out what makes cancer cells different from normal cells. They look at molecules and the building blocks of molecules, protein and DNA. They try to find out what goes wrong in cells when cancer develops. As an example, in a study in Scotland, scientists were studying proteins and they found a protein called MYC that contributes to 1 in 7 cancer deaths. Our cells actually need this protein, MYC, so that they can divide, but when we have cancer the cells are faulty and go into overdrive, the MYC turns on a specific proteins that cause rapid cell growth and division of cells. If scientists could find which of the proteins are activated they might be able to find ways to slow down their division or growth. Basic research is the foundation on which all other research in built.

Translational research: takes discoveries from the lab (i.e. basic research) and turns them into potential new treatments or diagnostic tests for patients. For example there is a study in Cambridge on how cells divide, where they found a group of proteins called MCM proteins, which are essential to the division process. One protein, MCM5, is being used to develop a diagnostic test for some cancers. MCM is found in high level in all dividing cells. Cancer occurs when cells go wrong and start multiplying out of control. MCM5 is found in many these out of control cells and not in normal cells. MCM5 is found in cervical, bladder, prostate and bowel cancer cells. The presence of MCM5 in a Pap Smear improves the accuracy in diagnosis for cervical cancer. Translational research bridges the gap between researcher and patients. It also involves investigating why a treatment may suddenly stop working after it has been working for a while or why a treatment produces unwanted side effects. One of the most important tasks of translation researchers is to improve current treatments.

Clinical research: The goal of clinical research is to develop more effective treatments. The scientists try new combinations and doses of existing treatments to see if they can come up with something that works better than the standard treatments in use. They also make use of translational research to develop new treatments. These scientists work in hospitals and not in labs like the two types above, this is so that they can have access to the patients. But not in a mad scientists way, they’re allowed access to the patients in order to conduct clinical trials, which are regulated and ruled strictly. Cancer patients, usually in advanced stages of cancer, who have tried standard treatments and who have not benefited from them, volunteer to take part in these clinical trials. There are 4 phases to each trial. Phase 1 – to find out if a new drug or treatment is safe in people and how much of it should be given. This is the first time that the drug is tested on people. Phase 2 – to see if the drug is effective. Phase 3 – directly compares the new treatment with the standard treatment to see if the new treatment is better. Phase 4 – looks at the long-term safety and benefits of the treatment/drug.

Behavioural and population research: This type of research is undertaken in order to identify factors that influence our risk of getting cancer. They take a look at things like lifestyle choices, patterns, trends and incidences of different types of cancers so that they can develop strategies for prevention and good health.

Psychosocial research: This is research on the emotional and social impact that cancer has on patients, families and carers. It looks at the importance of support and help and tries to measure the quality of life, which is how the physical and psychological health affects enjoyment of life. Some questions that they consider and try to answer are: how do people react to the news that they have cancer? How do they cope with the treatment? Are people with cancer more likely to have mental health problems? How do cancer and its treatment affect daily life? Why do some patients decide not to finish treatment? How do families react to having a relative with cancer?

Some research is as previously stated, so dry and boring you could use it to start fires and have no trouble even in a hurricane. And some research would catch fire in the Sahara, that’s the best kind and as an added bonus it’s usually the most important kind. Research for this was kind of fun if you want to find out more try: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerandresearch/aboutcancerresearch Those guys doing basic cancer research might have the word basic in the title but there is nothing basic in what they do. In addition to being important and life saving and foundation building for all other cancer research, they get microscopes and sharp instruments and other fun medical tools. Some people get all the fun.

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Tell Her UK cervical cancer one of the most informative and reader friendly sites on cervical cancer on the web

In this modern age where everything is mobile this and cellular, that and can be done at the touch of a button or the click of a mouse, it is understandable that we have developed rather sedentary lifestyles. We sit in our air conditioned offices all day, behind computer screens and type our days away and then we get home and sit in front of bigger television screen and watch our nights away. On which we see advertisements for meals that are quick and easy to prepare. So we buy them in order not to waste time in the kitchen so that we may return all the sooner to the TV screen. On which we see advertisements for Internet banking so that we can bank from home so that we may save time driving to the bank and standing in queues and interacting with the teller. So we sign up in order to spend that time saved in front of the television. We can even do grocery shopping online and have it delivered to our doorsteps so we never have to leave our homes once we arrive from work. Isn’t life convenient?

And we wonder why obesity is on the rise along with diabetes, heart disease, blood pressure and other chronic diseases. It’s because no one gets out and does anything anymore. Of course it doesn’t help that when you do venture out, you get mugged, but that’s what big dogs are for, take them for walkies and you should be fine. Hopefully. The thing is, physical activity is extremely important. It’s not something that we like to hear, because it’s not something that we like to do therefore we’re not doing it, but it’s important nonetheless. And not just in a general “oh we have to stay healthy” kind of way, but in a very specific, exercise reduces the risk of cancer kind of way.

Physical activity makes your bones healthy and strong, it builds muscles and muscle and muscle mass and it increases the strength and flexibility of your joints. It also improves your psychological well-being even though you might think that you’d have to be nuts to exercise (the true lunatics are long distance runners, we all know they are completely round the bend). http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter.pressreleases/PhysicalActivity states that according to an IARC report regular physical activity reduces the risk of colon cancer by 40 – 50% and breast cancer by 40%. Those are not insignificant figures. Physical activity also reduces the risk of lung and endometrial (uterus) cancer by 30-40% and prostate cancer by 10-30%.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends moderate-intense physical activity for 30 minutes 5 or more days a week. The National Cancer Institute is exploring how cancer might be able to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors. 1- testing the feasibility and benefits of a home based moderate exercise programme for breast cancer survivors. 2- testing the effectiveness nurse directed walking exercise programme to mitigate fatigue and maintain the physical functioning of prostate, breast and colorectal cancer patients during treatment.

http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC/menuitem.169f5d85214941ccfd748f68ee37a01d/?vgnextoid=e80241eca8daa010VgnVCM100000ed730ad1RCRD
Makes the link between physical activity and cancer survival and recurrence. Studies have shown that patients who suffer from breast and colon cancer who walked 3-5 hours a week lowered their risk of death by 50%. That is a very encouraging figure and one that should get every cancer patient walking regardless of the type of cancer that they have. In 2006 the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) published an article that claimed that patients with early and advanced bowel cancer who exercise routinely after treatment are more likely to survive. In 2003 the same journal, JCO published an article stating that men with prostate cancer who exercised regularly showed decreased fatigue and an improved quality of life versus men who did not exercise or who exercised infrequently. The physical activity regulates hormones associated with prostate cancer risk; the same applies to breast cancer and exercise.

For those with cancer who want to start an exercise programme it is vital that they consult their doctor before they begin. This warning comes with every exercise programme and I doubt anyone ever pays any attention to it but its very serious for cancer patients. The programme must be designed to suit their level of fitness and their fitness goals. The activity recommended will depend on their medical condition. It is vital that they do not overexert themselves. This will not do them any good and will move them several step backwards instead. They should start with a short workout and gradually increase the time and the intensity. As with all workouts they should choose activities that they enjoy to prevent boredom and they should also alternate activities. Try to involve water sports if possible. Swimming is very good cardiovascular exercise and weight resistance, it is also easy on the joints. Tai chi and yoga are also good options as they promote strength and flexibility as well as relaxation. They also work on the mind as well as the body.

Physical activity might seem like too much of a mission to bother with but its benefits are literally life saving. Its not like we’re talking about running a marathon or riding the Tour de Farce, a quick half hour walk a day will do, and then you can get back to the television with the self satisfaction of knowing that you earned your quick meal that night.

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Tell Her UK cervical cancer one of the most informative and reader friendly sites on cervical cancer on the web

There are various ways to treat cancer. Like the disease itself, none of them are fun or pleasant. You can have chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. As an added bonus you can have them in any combination depending on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Each type of therapy offers you a whole range of side effects, which vary in intensity depending largely on individual sensitivity. Treating cancer is a roller coaster fun ride of hospital visits; cell killing x-rays, hair loss and puking your guts out. But on the bright side, you get to live at the end of it and that’s got to be worth a few days of diarrhoea, surely. http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk was very enlightening on the subjects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a treatment with cell killing drugs it can be used with one drug or a combination of drugs. There are 60 chemotherapy drugs currently in use and more are being created all the time. Chemotherapy can be used as a treatment all on its own for cancers that are chemo sensitive, or it can be used in conjunction with radiotherapy, which is known as chemoradiation, it can be used with surgery as a treatment before or afterwards, it can be sued with hormone therapy, or it can be used with immunotherapy, or it can be used in any combination of these. Chemo affects the way in which cancer cells grow. It circulates in the bloodstream and so is able to attack cancer cells anywhere in the body. It is therefore called a systemic treatment as opposed to surgery and radiotherapy, which are local treatments. Chemo is used if there is a chance of the cancer spreading or if the cancer has spread already. It is also used to shrink before surgery or radiotherapy, to try and stop cancer from recurring after surgery or radiotherapy, and as its own treatment for chemo sensitive cancers.

The side effects of chemotherapy include: sore mouth and mouth ulcers. Mouth ulcers may appear 5-10 days after the chemo treatment and clear up in 3-4 weeks. There is a chance that the ulcers may get infected in which case you should see a doctor immediately so that they can be treated properly. It might be wise to use a mouthwash but not one that contains alcohol. If your mouth get sore tell the nurse on duty at the hospital where you get your chemo, she will get you some painkillers. For some people the pain is so bad that they have to be given morphine. You may find that your taste changes. Food may taste salty, bitter or metallic. This may pass after a while or it could last the duration of your chemotherapy. It will not continue after your chemotherapy has ceased. To combat the change in taste you could try some spicy foods or new foods that you’ve never tried before. Try interesting herbs and spices in cooking to add different flavours to your food. For sore mouths try brushing your teeth gently with soft bristled toothbrushes, even children’s toothbrushes, and gargle with lightly salted water, this has a soothing as well as an antibiotic effect for mouth ulcers. Hair loss, the most well known of the chemo side effects. It is possible that hair might only get thinner and the difference will not be all that noticeable, or some people will only lose some of their hair. If you were going to lose your hair though, it would probably be preferable to lose all of it rather than some of it. In some cases other body hair will also fall out. It usually happens about 2-3 weeks after treatment starts and the loss is gradual. Hair loss depends on the type of drug being used, the dosage, individual sensitivity and past drug treatment. It is important to remember that your hair will grow back when your treatment stops, it may grow back a different colour and slightly curlier than before but it will grow back. Digestive system: loss of appetite, this can be due to changes in taste, tiredness and feeling sick.

Diarrhoea: the chemo drugs irritate the lining of the digestive system. It can be severe depending the on drugs used. It is important to keep your liquid intake up to remain hydrated and tell your doctor so that she/he can give you some tablets at your next chemo session. In a total reversal, constipation, which is relatively rare but can still occur. Drink plenty of liquids and eat as much fresh fruit as you can. If your constipation lasts for longer than 3 days, tell your doctor so that he/she can treat you with a mild laxative.

Radiotherapy is essentially being treated with radiation or x-rays. You don’t feel anything at all during the treatment. You get external radiation therapy – x-rays, “cobalt irradiation”, electrons and rarely any other particles like protons and you get internal radiation therapy – radioactive material in or close to the tumour being treated. Radiotherapy destroys the cancer cells in the area being treated, it destroys normal cells too but they are better able to repair themselves than the cancer cells. If the normal cells cannot repair themselves then it is possible that the side effects experienced could remain permanent. Each treatment session is called a fraction and there is a fraction once a day from Monday – Friday with a rest on weekends so that the cells can try to repair themselves. Radiotherapy is used for several reasons: it can be curative, palliative – to relieve symptoms, before surgery, after surgery and in total body irradiation as in cases of acute or chronic leukaemia.

Side effects are similar to those of chemotherapy. Patients feel tired, they may want to sleep all day in a condition called somnolence syndrome, they feel as if they are coming down with the flu, there is some skin soreness, hair may fall out in the treated area only, anaemia. An antidote to tiredness is exercise, it may help to take a short walk during the day when you feel least tired and gradually increase the time you spend walking until you able to walk for half an hour. Physical activity has numerous benefits for cancer patients and not all of them are physical, some are psychological.

It sounds like hell, and probably is. But then so is the alternative, depending on the life you’ve led. I jest. At least we know that we’ve got a cure and that it does work. It’s still not something that you would want to go though alone. It is a time of family, friends, love and support, use them, they want you to.

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Tell Her UK cervical cancer one of the most informative and reader friendly sites on cervical cancer on the web