How can you reduce your cancer risk? (Dailymotion)

 Related video: How can you reduce your cancer risk? (Dailymotion)

How can you reduce your cancer risk?

About five percent of cancers are genetically linked. Lifestyle factors play an even greater role. So what can you do to cut your cancer risk?

To watch video with sound, click below link:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/health/how-can-you-reduce-your-cancer-risk/vi-AA1tcjd3

5 Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally

 Learn how to get your cholesterol under control naturally.

By Heather Newgen 

Published on August 16, 2022 | 8:15 AM

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High cholesterol doesn't make the headlines that other health concerns do, but it's a hidden danger that affects millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Nearly 94 million U.S. adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Twenty-eight million adults in the United States have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL." High cholesterol often doesn't show signs, but a blood test can indicate if your levels are too high. If left untreated high cholesterol can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more. Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with  Sean Marchese, MS, RN, a registered nurse at The Mesothelioma Center with a background in oncology clinical trials and over 15 years of direct patient care experience who shares five ways to help naturally lower your cholesterol. As always, please consult with your physician for medical advice. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

1

Improve Your Diet

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Marchese tells us, "Many foods naturally lower cholesterol levels, and you can take steps to remove sources of cholesterol from your diet. Avoid saturated fats, such as red meats and full-fat dairy, and trans fats from oil, crackers, cookies and cakes. Soluble fiber reduces cholesterol absorption in the blood and is found in oatmeal, kidney beans, apples, and Brussels sprouts. Whey protein from dairy products has been shown to lower LDL and total cholesterol and may improve blood pressure. Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts and flaxseed, don't directly affect cholesterol levels. Still, they contribute to healthy heart tissue and blood vessels." 

2

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

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Marchese says, "Moderate alcohol use can contribute to higher HDL levels or "bad" cholesterol. Healthy adults should avoid alcohol as much as possible or aim for no more than one to two daily drinks. In addition to high cholesterol, recurrent alcohol use can lead to hypertension, heart failure and stroke." 

3

Quit Smoking

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"Tobacco use can increase heart pressure and heart rate, compounding the adverse effects of atherosclerosis from high cholesterol levels," Marchese explains. "Quitting tobacco improved HDL cholesterol levels by improving blood circulation and lung function. A year after quitting, heart disease risk is cut in half for most ex-smokers." 

4

Lose Weight

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According to Marchese, "People who carry weight around their abdomen tend to have a higher ratio of visceral fat, which can adversely affect sensitive organs like the liver. Extra weight contributes to high cholesterol and increases the workload on arteries and blood vessels. Reducing sugary foods, incorporating healthy snacks, and finding ways to increase activity throughout the day are all great ways to improve weight loss." 

5

Increase Activity and Exercise

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Marchese shares, "Physical activity raises the production of HDL in your bloodstream, which helps clear LDL and reduces atherosclerosis. The recommendation for healthy adults is about 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week or vigorous aerobics for 20 minutes three times per week. Try finding ways to incorporate more activity throughout your days, such as a walk during the afternoon, evening bike rides, sports or an active hobby like hiking or swimming."

5 Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally — Eat This Not That

9 Warning Signs of Lung Cancer You Might Ignore

 Most lung cancers do not cause any symptoms until the disease has advanced. However, some people do have early lung cancer symptoms. 

If you visit your doctor when you notice these early symptoms, your cancer can be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when the treatment is more likely to be effective. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:

1. A lingering cough

The majority of people with lung cancer have a cough, sometimes with blood. If you have a dry cough, and it lasts for over a month, you'd better get it checked out.

2. Chronic infections

Most of the time, viruses are to blame for lung infections like chronic bronchitis. However, if you are getting sick repeatedly, and the sickness seems to go straight to your chest, it could be an early sign of cancer.

3. Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is common for people with lung cancer. You may feel like you can't get enough air into your lungs and It can be a scary sensation. It's important to tell your doctor if you are having difficulty breathing.

4. Weight loss

A more advanced tumor may make proteins that tell your body to lose weight. If you are dropping pounds without a change in your diet or workout, you'd better go to the doctor.

5. Bone pain

If the cancer has spread to other organs in your body, you may feel an ache deep down in your bones or joints. The back and hips are common sore spots.

6. Swelling in your neck and face

If a lung tumor begins pressing against your vena cava, you may notice swelling in your neck and face. Your arms and upper chest can also be affected.

7.  Overwhelming fatigue

80% of people with cancer note "excessive tiredness" as a sign. But It is different than feeling tired. It is a feeling so worn out that you can't wait to climb into bed.

8. Muscle weakness

Lung cancer affects your muscles as well as other organs. One of the first areas to be impacted is your hips. You may find it hard to even get out of a chair. Weakness can also be in the shoulders, arms, legs.

9. High calcium levels

Some lung cancers make hormone-like substances that upset the balance of minerals in your body. In some instances, excess calcium gets released into the bloodstream and this can cause: frequent urination, constipation, excessive thirst, belly pain and dizziness. If you notice any number of these symptoms, you need to visit your doctor.

How Common is Lung Cancer?

Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of death throughout the world. Statistics from the American Cancer Society estimated that there will be about 244,000 new cases of lung cancer in the United States and about 154000 death were due to the disease.

Lung cancer is predominantly found in older people; almost 70% of people diagnosed with lung cancer are over 65 years of age.

What are the causes and risk factors for lung cancer?

Research has shown that the chief cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. It is said that around 90% of lung cancers can be attributed to tobacco use.

Passive smoking is also an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer. It is said that a nonsmoker who resides with a smoker has a 24% increase in their risk of developing lung cancer. It is estimated that more than 7,000 lung cancer deaths occur each year in the United States that are attributable to passive smoking.

https://www.buzzaura.com/9-warning-signs-of-lung-cancer-you-might-ignore/

Watercress Blocks Cancer and DNA Damage

Increasing evidence is finding that watercress inhibits the development of cancer in the body. As the research has matured, active anticancer compounds in watercress are getting more attention among researchers

Cancer development in smokers is slowed

Posted on: 

Wednesday, August 9th 2017 at 8:00 am

Written By: 

Case Adams, Naturopath

Originally published at Heal Naturally

Researchers from the University of Minnesota tested 82 smokers for what is called NNK activation. NNK is a carcinogen - long form is also known as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. It is a leading cause of cancer from smoking. The smokers were given either the active compound in watercress - phenethyl isothiocyanate - or a placebo for a week. Previous research has established that phenethyl isothiocyanate or PEITC is significantly anticancer.

The researchers gave the smokers special cigarettes so they could measure NNK metabolism. They found that in just one week, NNK activation was reduced by 7.7 percent. That's not bad for chain-smokers!

The researchers concluded:

The results of this trial, while modest in effect size, provide a basis for further investigation of PEITC as an inhibitor of lung carcinogenesis by NNK in smokers."

The evidence has been mounting

As hinted at above, this is not the first study showing watercress' anticancer ability.

A 2012 study from Scotland’s Edinburgh Napier University found that watercress reduces DNA damage and oxidative stress - two main components of cancer development.

The researchers studied ten healthy young men (average age 23) for four months. The men were tested before and after the study, and on a daily basis, before and after exhausting aerobic exercise. During one eight-week period, the subjects took 85 grams of watercress supplements daily. They took the supplements two hours before exercise. During the other eight-week period, they worked out without the supplements.

When given the watercress supplement, the men showed a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species levels, and reduced DNA damage. Blood samples also revealed that levels of lipid peroxidation - the major cause for artery disease - were also significantly lower when taking the watercress.

Strenuous exercise typically produces DNA damage, which the body will hopefully repair. The ability of watercress to reduce DNA damage confirms earlier research showing that watercress reduces mutation and cancer growth.

The researchers commented on this aspect of the study:

The study demonstrates that exhaustive aerobic exercise may cause DNA damage and lipid peroxidation; however, these perturbations are attenuated by either short- or long-term watercress supplementation, possibly due to the higher concentration lipid-soluble antioxidants following watercress ingestion."

A 2014 study from China's First Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College found that Phenethyl isothiocyanate halted the growth of leukemia cancer cells.

Another 2014 study from the University of Pittsburgh found that isothiocyanate and sulforaphane - also present in watercress as well as broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables - can halt the growth of prostate cancer.

Georgetown University researchers established in 2011 that isothiocyanate inhibited the growth of cervical cancer and breast cancer cells.

There are other anticancer agents in watercress

Cancer researchers love to hone in on one special anticancer agent. They are looking for single bullets. But nature doesn't work like that. Nature's anticancer foods like watercress will contain other anticancer agents to fight cancer. Yes, nature fights cancer.

Besides isothiocyanate and sulphorophane, watercress contains a host of antioxidant nutrients, including xanthophyll, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol (two forms of vitamin E), each of which have been shown to slow free radical formation in the body. As other studies have shown, this in turn can reduce the rate of DNA damage and cancer formation in the body. Learn more about watercress on the GreenMedInfo database: Watercress Research.

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Reference

Yuan JM, Stepanov I, Murphy SE, Wang R, Allen S, Jensen J, Strayer L, Adams-Haduch J, Upadhyaya P, Le C, Kurzer MS, Nelson HH, Yu MC, Hatsukami D, Hecht SS. Clinical Trial of 2-Phenethyl Isothiocyanate as an Inhibitor of Metabolic Activation of a Tobacco-Specific Lung Carcinogen in Cigarette Smokers. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016 May;9(5):396-405. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-15-0380.

Fogarty MC, Hughes CM, Burke G, Brown JC, Davison GW. Acute and chronic watercress supplementation attenuates exercise-induced peripheral mononuclear cell DNA damage and lipid peroxidation. Br J Nutr. 2012 Apr 5:1-9.

Wang X, Govind S, Sajankila SP, Mi L, Roy R, Chung FL. Phenethyl isothiocyanate sensitizes human cervical cancer cells to apoptosis induced by cisplatin. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Oct;55(10):1572-81.

Gerhauser C. Epigenetic impact of dietary isothiocyanates in cancer chemoprevention. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2013 Jul;16(4):405-10. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328362014e.

Wang Y, Wei S, Wang J, Fang Q, Chai Q. Phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibits growth of human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells via reactive oxygen species generation and caspases. Mol Med Rep. 2014 Jul;10(1):543-9. doi:
10.3892/mmr.2014.2167.

Sakao K, Vyas AR, Chinni S, Amjad AI, Parikh R, Singh SV. CXCR4 Is a Novel Target of Cancer Chemopreventative Isothiocyanates in Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2015 Feb 23. pii: canprevres.0386.2014.

Case Adams is a California Naturopath with a PhD in Natural Health Sciences, and Board Certified Alternative Medicine Practitioner. He has authored 26 books on natural healing strategies. His focus is upon researching, writing about and authenticating traditional therapies with clinical evidence. Some of his books can also be found on the Greenmedinfo store.

Key Research Topics

Substance

Watercress

Disease

Cancers: All

Pharmacological Actions

Anti-cancer

Therapeutic Actions

anti-cancer

https://www.greenmedinfo.health/blog/watercress-blocks-cancer-and-dna-damage

Pancreatic Cancer: You Can Spot This Killer Before It’s Too Late

Genetic tests can help determine your risk—and possibly save your life…

Diane M. Simeone, MD, an internationally recognized surgeon and scientist, the associate director for translational research at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health and director of its Pancreatic Cancer Center in New York City. 

Date July 1, 2019   Publication Bottom Line Health

CANCER PREVENTION

Pancreatic Cancer: You Can Spot This Killer Before It’s Too Late

Pancreatic cancer is often lethal because it is rarely detected in early stages. Now, life-saving screening can monitor your risk. Read on…

Pancreatic cancer is a frightening disease because it’s usually diagnosed only when it’s reached an advanced, all-too-often lethal stage. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Everyone knows about screening guidelines for colon cancer and breast cancer, but few are aware that screening tests for pancreatic cancer also are available. Recognizing the key risk factors for this malignancy will help you and your doctor decide whether such tests are appropriate for you or a loved one.

When a pancreatic cancer is found via a screening program, there is an 80% to 90% chance that the tumor can be removed, and up to 30% to 35% of those individuals will live for five or more years. 

However, when a pancreatic cancer is found in a person who has not been regularly screened and he/she has already developed symptoms (such as abdominal or back pain, weight loss, nausea and/or jaundice), there is only a 15% chance that it can be removed. This lack of early detection, along with the need for improved therapies, has resulted in a persistently low overall survival rate of 9% for pancreatic cancer patients.

Here’s how to spot pancreatic cancer before it’s too late…

Know Your Risk Factors

The first step to staying ahead of pancreatic cancer is knowing how to assess your risk factors. Your risk is higher if you have any of the following…

• Two or more relatives with pancreatic cancer, including one first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child). 

• A first-degree relative who developed pancreatic cancer before age 50.

• An inherited genetic syndrome  linked to pancreatic cancer such as Lynch syndrome, which is also associated with colorectal cancer…or BRCA mutations, which predispose a person to breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. 

Note: People of Ashkenazi Jewish (Central and Eastern Europe) descent aren’t the only ones who can have BRCA mutations. Though less common, individuals of Norwegian, Swedish, Italian and other ethnic groups have been found to also carry certain BRCA mutations. 

Other factors that increase your risk for pancreatic cancer…

• Long-standing type 2 diabetes (more than five years), which increases pancreatic cancer risk by twofold. Note: New-onset diabetes—especially when weight loss instead of weight gain appears—may be an early sign of pancreatic cancer.

• Chronic pancreatitis, which can be caused by heavy use of alcohol (usually four or more drinks a day), increases risk for pancreatic cancer by about threefold.  

• Personal history of another type of cancer, such as breast or colon cancer or melanoma. 

• Smoking. About 25% of all pancreatic cancer cases are associated with smoking.

• Age. Most people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed after age 45.

• Gender. Men are slightly more at risk than women. 

• Obesity. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more are 20% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer.

• Workplace exposure to certain chemicals. Research has found significant links between workplace exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides, asbestos, benzene and chlorinated hydrocarbons, and increased risk for pancreatic cancer.

• Diet. Eating a diet high in processed meats and/or red meat has been linked to increased risk for pancreatic cancer. For every 50 g of processed meat consumed daily (roughly the equivalent of one hot dog or four strips of bacon), risk for pancreatic cancer increases by 19%. The increased risk linked to red meat consumption is less significant but also present—especially in men.

Important: An easy-to-use online Pancreatic Cancer Risk Assessment tool (Find-PanCancer-Early.org) can help determine your risk level based on your answers to a few brief questions about your personal and family medical history. You also can work with your own physician to do a thorough family history if you’re more comfortable with that approach.

Next Steps

If you have any risk factors for pancreatic cancer that are controllable, take immediate action. For example, stop smoking…reduce or eliminate alcohol if you are a heavy drinker…lose weight if you’re overweight…and avoid diabetes or treat it if you’ve already been diagnosed with this condition.  

Meanwhile, if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, talk to your doctor about getting your DNA examined through germline genetic testing, a blood test that looks for specific hereditary mutations in your cells and can help determine your risk. The cost of germline testing has plummeted in recent years, and there are validated tests that check a panel of gene mutations that can be performed for as little as $250. In individuals with a family history of pancreatic cancer, germline testing is typically covered by insurance.

Guidelines published in 2018 in Journal of Clinical Oncology recommend that all patients with pancreatic cancer consider having germline testing. Individuals with a strong family history of pancreatic cancer also are advised to undergo testing and screening. 

At the multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Center at the NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, we found that 15% of pancreatic cancer patients have a germline mutation (also known as a “hereditary mutation”) that increased the patient’s risk of developing the disease, even if a strong family history wasn’t present. 

Knowing whether such a hereditary, or germline, mutation is present in a pancreatic cancer patient may change the treatment strategy…and have implications for testing siblings and children who might also be at higher risk. 

Genetic counseling will help you understand the test results and decide whether it’s appropriate to consider enrolling in a screening program run by specialists in pancreatic cancer. To locate a certified genetics counselor, consult the National Society of Genetic Counselors at NSGC.org.

If an individual is deemed to be high risk, annual imaging of the pancreas is recommended. Two types of tests are used—a pancreatic MRI/MRCP (a special type of MRI)…and an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

We usually start with the MRI/MRCP and then check with an EUS the next year, alternating the exams each year. The two tests are complementary and examine the pancreas in slightly different ways. Insurance should cover these tests. 

The MRI is noninvasive. With EUS, an upper endoscopy is performed, passing a thin scope down the esophagus into the stomach and the first part of the small intestine after sedation is given (much like a colonoscopy, but no prep is needed). The scope has an ultrasound probe at the end, and the pancreas can be readily visualized, as it is next to the stomach.

Both tests have only very minor risks, but it’s important that the screening be done in a multidisciplinary clinic where there’s collaboration among various health-care providers, such as genetic counselors, gastroenterologists, pancreatic surgeons, radiologists and social workers as well as a tumor board, where this team of experts, along with oncologists, meets to discuss each patient’s unique situation. Pancreatic cancer is a complicated disease, and decision-making in high-risk individuals is best done with an experienced team guiding your care.

Important: Even with a genetic mutation linked to pancreatic cancer, most people will not get the disease. But with an increased risk, it is crucial to know that screening can be an effective strategy to combat pancreatic cancer. I tell my patients, knowledge is power. As we do a better job in identifying individuals at risk, we will be much better positioned to shift the disease from the advanced state to one in which many more patients have easier-to-treat, surgically resectable disease.

With a concerted effort in early detection (and prevention), along with the development of more effective therapies and clinical trial strategies, it is likely that we will see a change in survival in pancreatic cancer patients in the coming years—and it’s about time. 

This is a rapidly moving field, so ask questions and seek information from doctors who are at the forefront of the research. 

Getting the Best Care

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan.org) is a patient-advocacy group that serves as a resource for finding a high-quality pancreatic cancer center. It’s the driving force behind Precision Promise, a multicenter “adaptive” clinical trial initiative that allows multiple novel therapies to be evaluated alongside standard-of-care approaches to speed the development of new treatments.

Other excellent resources: Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (RolfeFoundation.org), a nonprofit dedicated to early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, research that aims to cure the disease and resources for patients and their families…and Project Purple (ProjectPurple.org), another nonprofit group that funds research to defeat pancreatic cancer and supports patients and their families.

https://bottomlineinc.com/health/cancer-prevention/pancreatic-cancer-you-can-spot-this-killer-before-its-too-late