Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer

Ways to Prevent Cancer

Cancer, the name itself is shocking to the general population; what to speak of the victims! In the recent past, there has been tremendous research in understanding the behavior of cancers and effort to prevent the disease by various possible means, including preparation of vaccine. As far as our present understanding goes, the causes can be multi-factorial, ranging from environmental factors to genetic predisposition; for which a particular approach to prevent or cure the disease does not succeed. There have been many evidence based suggestions to prevent the disease to some extent or help in the early detection of it. Some of those small things are mentioned here;

Ultraviolet rays and cancers

Ultraviolet ( UV ) rays are of three types, basing on their wave lengths. Those are, C (200-290 nm), B (290-320 nm) and A (320-400 nm). Ultraviolet B and C are responsible for skin cancers like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The white population is at more risk due to less amount of pigment in their skin called melanin, which is responsible for effective filtration of the UV rays. So, excessive exposure to sun light may do harm to them more easily, though no other race is immune to it.

Vitamin D and cancer

Ultraviolet rays from sun act on cholesterol to transform it to Vitamin D in the skin of individuals. This exposure is decreasing day by day because of the changing work culture, demanding indoor stay; resulting in lack of exposure to sun light. Vitamin D may prevent cancer of ovary, breast, pancreas and intestine; researchers point out. So, enough outdoor activity is to be encouraged, but clearly not in excess to cause harm to skin. About 10 minutes to 30 minutes daily exposure to intense sun with exposed limbs may fetch enough vitamin D for a person. Supplementation of vitamin 400 IU to 600 IU per day, depending on age may also be sufficient.

Sedentary life style Vs exercise

Now-a-days, more people remain in the indoors due to the nature of their work and follow a sedentary life style. It makes patient obese due to increase in fatty tissue, which has been linked to cancer of breast apart from its other harmful effects. It is said that exercise switches off the genes responsible for various cancers; decreases fat which is thought to fuel cancer cell to multiply. Adequate exercise may go a long way in preventing cancers and at the same time boost the immune system to fight against it.

Vaccines, communicable diseases and cancer

Long back, BCG vaccine was being tried to prevent melanoma; and did not succeed in a significant way. Viruses like Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Ebstein Barr virus (EBV) have been incriminated to cause cancer cervix and certain lymphomas, respectively. Vaccination against these viruses may prevent these cancers to the extent held responsible. Hepatitis B and C may become chronic to cause changes leading to cancer of liver. Vaccination against hepatitis B may prevent a fraction liver cancer. H. Pylori infection of stomach is associated with cancer of stomach, and is transmitted through feco-oral route. Prevention of contamination of water and food though difficult to achieve; may be tried.

Tobacco smoking and chewing

Tobacco smoking and chewing has been clearly linked to cancer of cheek, tongue, esophagus, stomach, respiratory tract etc. Prevention of smoking at public places in US has been responsible for remarkable decline in the number of cancer cases in the last decade. But, it is yet to be enforced in letter and spirit in India and many other countries. Passive smoking is equally dangerous as direct smoking.

Circumcision and penile cancer

Jews, who follow the ritual of circumcision early in the childhood, are less likely to suffer from cancer of penis. The present proposition, not to deny circumcision to anybody, if otherwise not contraindicated may prevent some penile cancer.

Multiple childbirth, bad hygiene and cervical cancer

Multiple child births cause repeated tear of the cervix of uterus in female and may be responsible for cervical cancer. The trend of having many children in a family is being discouraged now a day. Use of unhygienic tampon and un-cleanliness may initiate sepsis in the genital tract of woman to cause cancer of cervix. Maintaining hygiene is not a costly affair, can be practiced.

Breast feeding, early menarche and late menopause

Breast feeding has been seen to prevent cancer of breast in mother. Early menarche and late menopause i.e. long reproductive life is linked to increase in incidence of breast.

Diet and cancer;

Non-vegetarian diet, especially red meat is associated with increase in incidence of intestinal cancer. The long colonic transit time of non-veg. diet facilitates the toxins to remain in contact with colonic mucosa for a longer period to induce changes in the cells. Smoked and charred foods contain nitrosamines, which may cause stomach cancer. Smoke from burning hydrocarbons may cause respiratory cancers. Junk food, tinned foods and fried foods promote cancer. Fibers in diet prevent cancer of colon by increasing the colonic transit time and adsorbing the toxins present in the food. Ground nuts and some other food may get contaminated by aflatoxin liberated from fungal infestation of nuts, and if taken may cause cancer of liver. Careful preservation, safe consumption may prevent some cancer of liver. Some chemicals like curcumin in turmeric; and some chemicals in pepper and certain other spices used in the preparation of food have cancer limiting effect.

Antioxidants

Some vitamins like E, D and C act as radical oxygen scavengers; prevent damage to the cells and mutations, may have a role in cancer prevention. Some other trace elements like selenium, chromium and zinc are said to prevent cancer. Ingredients like resveratrol present in grape seeds said to have cancer preventive property. Chlorophyll present in the green leaves and red skinned fruits may have antioxidant property to limit cancer formation.

Early detection of cancer is also termed as prevention of cancer. Self assessment for unusual mass in the accessible organs like breast and testes will ensure an early of treatment. This is not difficult. People having family history of cancer should go for screening tests in consultation with their doctors. That will ensure early detection of cancers. Reporting abnormalities in skin, bowel habit and voice for further assessment may be helpful in early diagnosis. Abnormal discharge from breast, vagina and other natural orifices may be warning signs of some of the cancers. Leading a little careful and active life; adhering to certain values and customs may prove beneficial for us. There has been a lot of work in the genetic front to understand the cancer.

In the near future, many more things are likely to come up. Deletion, replacement or modification of cancer genes early in the life may be able prevent cancer later on. Time may not be far away, when a genetic horoscope will be prepared at the time of birth of a baby in place of present horoscope, made according to the position planets. This genetic horoscope will tell the remedial measures to be taken in the place of remedial measures taken at present basing on the planetary horoscope and advice of priests.

Antioxidant Levels Key To Prostate Cancer Risk In Some Men

Greater levels of selenium, vitamin E and the tomato carotenoid lycopene have been shown to reduce prostate cancer in one out of every four Caucasian males, or those who inherit a specific genetic variation that is particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, say US researchers.

Conversely, if carriers of this genetic variant have low levels of these vitamins and minerals, their risk of aggressive prostate increases substantially, as great as 10-fold, over those who maintain higher levels of these nutrients, they write in today’s issue of Cancer Research.

“This large prospective study provides further evidence that oxidative stress may be one of the important mechanisms for prostate cancer development and progression, and adequate intake of antioxidants, such as selenium, lycopene and vitamin E, may help prevent prostate cancer,” said Dr Haojie Li, a researcher at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The new findings are based on an analysis of 567 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1982 and 1995, and 764 cancer-free men from the Physicians Health Study.

The initial goal of this study was to assess the effect of aspirin and beta-carotene on men’s health. Li’s team decided to check for variants of the gene that codes for manganese superoxide dismutatase (MnSOD), an important enzyme that works as an antioxidant in human cells to defend against disease.

The MnSOD gene is passed from parents to offspring in one of three forms: VV, VA or AA.

“Compared with men with the MnSOD VV or VA genotype, people with the AA genotype seem to be more sensitive to the antioxidant status,” said Li. “Men with the AA genotype are more susceptible to prostate cancer if their antioxidant levels are low.”

The study’s results found that a quarter of the men in the study carried the MnSOD AA genotype, half carried the VA genotype, and the remaining quarter carried the VV genotype.

The results indicated that the VA and VV men were at equivalent risk for developing prostate cancer across all levels of antioxidants in their blood.

But compared to MnSOD VV or VA carriers in the lowest quartile of selenium levels, MnSOD AA males had an 89 per cent greater risk for developing aggressive prostate cancer if they had low blood levels of the mineral.

On the other hand, MnSOD AA carriers with high selenium – those men in the highest quartile – had a 65 per cent lower risk than the MnSOD VV or VA males who maintained low levels of selenium.

“The levels of selenium in the highest quartile of these men are not abnormally high,” Li said. “Our range is neither extremely high nor extremely low.”

While similar trends were observed for lycopene and vitamin E when tested independently, the contrast in relative risk was most pronounced for the men who had high blood levels for all three antioxidants combined, said the researchers.

“Among men with the MnSOD AA genotype, we observed a 10-fold difference in risk for aggressive prostate cancer, when comparing men with high versus low levels of antioxidants combined,”said Li. “In contrast, among men with the VV or VA genotype, the prostate cancer risk was only weakly altered by these antioxidant levels.”

“Our study, as well as many other epidemiological studies, encourages dietary intake of nutrients such as lycopene from tomato products, or supplements for vitamin E and selenium to reduce risk of prostate cancer,” said Li.

Prostate cancer is one of the biggest cancer killers in industrial countries and affects more than 500,000 men worldwide every year. This number is expected to increase with the ageing population.

Similar interactions between dietary antioxidants and the variations in the MnSOD gene have previously been linked to risk for breast cancer.

For more information visit: Prostacet

Health: Terra med Alliance News FDA Approved Leukemia Drugs Shows Promise In Ovarian Cancer Cells

Terra med Alliance News: The drug Sprycel, approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, significantly inhibited the growth and invasiveness of ovarian cancer cells and also promoted their death, a study by researchers with UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found.

Terra med Alliance News: The drug, when paired with a chemotherapy regimen, was even more effective in fighting ovarian cancer in cell lines in which signaling of the Src family kinases, associated with the deadly disease, is activated.

The study appears in the Nov. 10, 2009 edition of the British Medical Journal.

Ovarian cancer, which will strike 21,600 women this year and kill 15,500, causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Few effective therapies for ovarian cancer exist, so it would be advantageous for patients if a new drug could be found that fights the cancer, said Gottfried Konecny, an assistant professor of hematology/oncology, a Jonsson Cancer Center researcher and first author of the study.

“I think Sprycel could be a potential additional drug for treating patients with Src dependent ovarian cancer,” Konecny said. “It is important to remember that this work is only on cancer cell lines, but it is significant enough that it should be used to justify clinical trials to confirm that women with this type of ovarian cancer could benefit.”

Recent gene expression studies have shown that about one-third of women have ovarian cancers with activated Src pathways, so the drug could potentially help 7,000 ovarian cancer patients every year.

In this study, the UCLA team tested the drug against 34 ovarian cancer cell lines and they conducted genetic analysis on all cell lines. Through these analyses, the researchers were able to identify genes that predict response to Sprycel. If the work is confirmed in human studies, it may be possible to test patients for Src activation and select those who would respond prior to treatment, personalizing their care.

“We were able to identify markers in the pre-clinical setting that would allow us to predict response to Sprycel,” Konecny said. “These may help us in future clinical trials in selecting patients for studies of the drug.”

Sprycel is what is known as a “dirty” kinase inhibitor, meaning it inhibits more than one pathway. Konecny said it also inhibits the focal adhesion kinase and ephrin receptor, also associated with ovarian cancer.

The next step, Konecny said, would be to test the drug on women with ovarian cancer in a clinical trial. The tissue of responders would then be analyzed to determine if the Src and other pathways were activated. If that is confirmed, it would further prove that Sprycel could be used to fight ovarian cancer. In studies, women would be screened before entering a trial and only those with Src dependent cancers could be enrolled to provide further evidence, Konecny said, much like the studies of the molecularly targeted breast cancer drug Herceptin enrolled only women who had HER-2 positive disease.

“Herceptin is different because we knew in advance that the only worked in women with HER-2 amplification,” he said. “In this case, we don’t clearly know that yet. The data reassure us that the drug works where the targets are over-expressed but we need more testing to confirm this.”

The tests combining the drug with chemotherapy are significant because chemotherapy currently is the first line treatment for ovarian cancer patients following surgery. Because Sprycel proved to have a synergistic effect when combined with chemotherapy — both made the other work better — it may be possible to add the targeted therapy as a first line treatment if its efficacy is confirmed in future studies, adding a new tool to an oncologist’s arsenal. Adapted from materials provided by University of California – Los Angeles, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Terra med Alliance is a non-profit organization in the battle against leukemia  helps  children living with cancer and their families. Our goal is to make sure children battling cancer know they are not alone. For more information please visit www.terramedalliance.org.  Email at contact@terramedalliance.org

Top 10 Ways of Preventing Cancer by Medimanage.com

Cancer – either you have had it, may develop it at some point in time, or know someone who has had it or has it. Whether we like it or not, cancer affects each one of us directly or indirectly. Preventing cancer is easier than you may think. Through simple lifestyle changes, we can reduce our risk of developing many types of cancer.

Avoid smoking, whether it be active or passive smoking.
We hear at least a dozen times a day about the ills of cigarettes and the risks associated with smoking, including the risk of lung cancer. The reason for this is the fact that smoking is one such significant risk factor associated with cancer, which can easily be reduced. You would be surprised to know that smoking can increase your risk of developing a number of other cancers as well. Quitting the habit is much easier with the help of many rehabilitation centers, counsellors as well as websites providing the right kind of help that can help you give up the habit altogether.

Practice sun safety and recognize when skin changes occur.
Skin cancer is becoming more common, especially among young people. Wear sunscreen when outdoors, even if it is shady, and try to avoid going outdoors during the sun’s peak time, which is 10 am – 2 pm. Knowing your skin’s moles and spots is essential. Any changes you observe on your skin, need to be reported to your doctor as soon as possible.

Eat your fruits and veggies.
Fruits and vegetables, being rich in antioxidants, help in the repair of the damaged cells in the body. Especially, dark green leafy vegetables, and bright red and yellow coloured fruits and veggies, are your best bet. Also, as friuits and vegetables are good sources of antioxidants, they aid in the prevention of various types of cancers.

Watch the meats you eat, especially smoked foods.
Research suggests that a diet high in animal fat can lead to the development of certain types of cancers. A diet high in smoked foods, salted fish and meat, and pickled vegetables, can increase your risk to cancer to a large extent.

Limit your alcohol intake.
Drinking excessive amount of alcohol regularly, increases your risk of developing cancer. Studies suggest that men who consume two alcoholic drinks per day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day, significantly increase their risk to certain types of cancer. Hence it is recommended that you consume alcohol in moderation.

Be sure to keep up on screening tests like the Pap, mammograms, and DREs.
Make sure you regularly undergo health checkups and screening tests like the Pap smear and mammogram if you are a woman, and a DRE (digital rectal exam) if you are a man. The Pap and DRE can detect cellular changes before they become cancerous, and the mammogram may be able to detect breast cancer early.

Exercise for cancer prevention.

Being overweight greatly increases your risk factor for developing cancer. Hence, exercising to maintain your ideal weight is one of the best defenses against cancer. Exercising doesn’t have to be boring, you can get into dancing, brisk walking or simply playing your favourite sport that requires you to be on your toes, for instance, tennis or badminton. Being physically active would ensure flexibility of the body and lasting good health.

Know your personal and family history pertaining to cancer.
Research tells us that some types of cancers can be genetic. Knowing your family history pertaining to cancer can help you make more informed decisions about your healthcare. It can also aid in genetic testing and counseling, so that you can find out if you carry a mutated gene that increases your risks of developing cancer. To read more about Top 10 Ways of Preventing Cancer by Medimanage.com

Cancer And The Prevention Of It

If one were to judge by television advertising and news reports, it would seem that the “war on cancer” is all but won. What are the weapons being heralded? Drugs, research, tests and exams. They miss the point.

“Prevention” is promoted as meaning catching the disease early. Really. That also misses the point. Is it “prevention” if you call 911 when you come home and see smoke billowing from all your windows? Do we just live with a carpe diem philosophy and wait for the doctor to tell us we have a lump in our breast or a swollen nodular prostate? Is the cause of cancer a lack of one of the new cancer drugs? Is the cause of cancer really unknown, requiring endless research?

First, let me put to rest the propaganda that the war is being won. Since President Nixon declared the war (1971) and after over 200 billion dollars have been spent on research (remember, one billion is a thousand million), more Americans will die of cancer in the next 14 months than have died in all U.S. wars ever fought combined! (Where are the protest marches?) Soon, cancer will overtake heart disease as the number one killer.

Decades ago, early in the war, there were some dramatic successes such as with Hodgkin’s disease and some forms of childhood leukemia. There can be little doubt that debunking (surgical removal) of large cancers brings benefits. But the big killers such as colorectal, lung, prostate and breast cancer remain as threatening as ever. Survival gains are measured primarily in additional months (not years) added to life, not in cures. The placebo effect is by and large ignored. (People getting a sugar pill placebo in cancer studies have been known to lose their hair and some actually cure themselves by simply thinking they will be cured.) A percentage of people can experience remissions spontaneously and from simple lifestyle adjustments, but the cancer therapy is always credited with the cure. (Investigations, “Placebo Learning: The Placebo Effect as a Conditioned Response,” 1985; 2(1):23. O’Regan B, et al. 1993. Spontaneous Remission: An Annotated Bibliography. Sausalito, CA. Talbot M. 1991. The Holographic Universe. New York. Harper Collins Publishers. Townsend Letter, 2004; 251:32-3.)

Statistics can always be massaged to create the result desired. This practice is rampant in cancer research. Animal models (euphemism for real living and feeling caged creatures being tortured by the millions) do not prove effectiveness across species boundaries to humans. Neither do laboratory cell lines. That’s why all the “breakthroughs” based on tumor shrinkage never pan out. For-profit drug companies and National Cancer Institute grant-based research ignore metastases (the spreading cells of cancer through the body) in their positive reports. Instead they highlight and focus on more easily obtained lab results, such as “tumor shrinkage,” and on easily manipulated clinical data such as “five-year survival.”

Twelve new “improved” drugs introduced in Europe between 1995 and 2000 were no better than the drugs they replaced. But the prices were all higher, in one instance by a factor of 350 times. One new “revolutionary” drug, Erbitux(tm), found to “shrink” tumors but not extend the lives of patients at all costs $2,400 per week. Avastin(tm), another costly chemotherapeutic, by the best calculation, extended the lives of 400 colorectal patients by 4.7 months. Tamoxifin(tm) is proven to be effective in decreasing breast cancer. Risk is decreased by about 15% but what is not equally heralded is the fact that it increased the risk of endometrial uterine cancer by about 15%. (Patient Information: Nolvadex, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals)

Are such results worth the financial devastation and miserable life that chemotherapy, radiation and surgery impose? Is that the way to spend one’s remaining days? If such therapy does add a couple of months, are those couple of months really worth the poking, prodding, pain, unrelenting nausea, disfiguring, destruction of the immune system and increased susceptibility to other diseases? “Yes” would be a hard answer to justify.

In the face of a cancer diagnosis most people just throw up their hands in terror and surrender to the conventional cancer therapy death process. The feeling is that something must be done, and, since “doctors know best,” one must begin the “fight” by following the advice of the doctor. But fighting does not mean surrendering to the will of another person who has their own personal agenda and narrowed field of view dictated by the club they belong to. That misses the point. You must do something.

Here’s the on-point best approach: 1. Prevention means adjusting your life right now so that you are living in tune with your design. Cancer is, quite simply, the reaction of cells subjected long enough to an environment they are not designed for. The genetic apparatus loses its bearings, becomes insane, if you will, and regresses to embryonic infancy and just begins multiplying recklessly. What is the proper environment? It is that food, air, water and lifestyle you are genetically designed for. The proper healthy preventive living context is encapsulated in the Wysong Optimal Health Program(tm).

2. If you get cancer, don’t panic. First thing is follow #1 advice. Learn. Gather as much information as you can from all resources, not just what the medical establishment provides. We try to gather such information for you in The Wysong Directory of Alternative Resources.

3. Think about what has happened in your life that has caused the disease. It is caused, it does not just happen. Correct your life.

4. You take control of your own body and you make the decisions. Determine to set right what is wrong and do it. Taking control is essential to not feeling like a helpless victim and sinking into hopeless despair – a sure mindset to speed the disease along.

5. Think long and hard before submitting to unproven cancer therapies. If the doctor cannot prove effectiveness (at least prove that you will be better off with the therapy than without) and if you are not willing to take the risk of all the contraindications, then don’t submit because you think it is “all that can be done.” It isn’t. See #2 above.

All good things in life are hard. In our modern world, good health takes effort and attention. Preventing and reversing disease also takes effort – your effort. Begin today to take charge of your health and be the best you can be. Most chronic degenerative diseases have long latency periods, the time between when the disease begins and it manifests in overt symptoms. Most everyone reading this has such disease brewing within at this very moment. So take advantage of the window of opportunity and give your body a chance by living the life you were designed to live. That will not only prevent disease from gaining a foothold, but reverse disease that is incubating within.

Concept of breast feeding

Human breast milk is the healthiest form of milk for human babies.[1] There are few exceptions, such as when the mother is taking certain drugs or is infected with tuberculosis or HIV. Breastfeeding promotes health, helps to prevent disease, and reduces health care and feeding costs.[2][3][4] Artificial feeding is associated with more deaths from diarrhea in infants in both developing and developed countries.[5] Experts agree that breastfeeding is beneficial, but may disagree about the length of breastfeeding that is most beneficial, and about the risks of using artificial formulas.[6][7][8]
Emphasizing the value of breastfeeding for both mothers and children, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and then supplemented breastfeeding for at least one year and up to two years or more.[9][10] While recognizing the superiority of breastfeeding, regulating authorities also work to minimize the risks of artificial feeding.[7]
The acceptability of breastfeeding in public varies by culture and country. In Western culture, though most approve of breastfeeding, some mothers may be reluctant to do so out of fear of public opinion[says who?].
Not all the properties of breast milk are understood, but its nutrient content is relatively stable. Breast milk is made from nutrients in the mother’s bloodstream and bodily stores. Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development.[11] Because breastfeeding uses an average of 500 calories a day it helps the mother lose weight after giving birth.[12] The composition of breast milk changes depending on how long the baby nurses at each session, as well as on the age of the child. The quality of a mother’s breast milk may be compromised by smoking, alcoholic beverages, caffeinated drinks, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, and methadone.[13]
Benefits for the infantScientific research, such as the studies summarized in a 2007 review for the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)[14] and a 2007 review for the WHO[15], has found many benefits to breastfeeding for the infant. These include:
Less necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an acute inflammatory disease in the intestines of infants. Necrosis or death of intestinal tissue may follow. It is mainly found in premature births. In one study of 926 preterm infants, NEC developed in 51 infants (5.5%). The death rate from necrotizing enterocolitis was 26%. NEC was found to be six to ten times more common in infants fed formula exclusively, and three times more common in infants fed a mixture of breast milk and formula, compared with exclusive breastfeeding. In infants born at more than 30 weeks, NEC was twenty times more common in infants fed exclusively on formula.[16] A 2007 meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials found “a marginally statistically significant association” between breastfeeding and a reduction in the risk of NEC.[14]
Greater immune health
During breastfeeding antibodies pass to the baby[17]. Breast milk contains several anti-infective factors such as bile salt stimulated lipase (protecting against amoebic infections), lactoferrin (which binds to iron and inhibits the growth of intestinal bacteria)[18][19] and immunoglobulin A protecting against microorganisms.[20]
Fewer infections
Among the studies showing that breastfed infants have a lower risk of infection than non-breastfed infants are:
In a 1993 University of Texas Medical Branch study, a longer period of breastfeeding was associated with a shorter duration of some middle ear infections (otitis media with effusion) in the first two years of life.[21]
A 1995 study of 87 infants found that breastfed babies had half the incidence of diarrheal illness, 19% fewer cases of any otitis media infection, and 80% fewer prolonged cases of otitis media than formula fed babies in the first twelve months of life.[22]
Breastfeeding appeared to reduce symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections in premature infants up to seven months after release from hospital in a 2002 study of 39 infants.[23]
A 2004 case-control study found that breastfeeding reduced the risk of acquiring urinary tract infections in infants up to seven months of age, with the protection strongest immediately after birth.[24]
The 2007 review for AHRQ found that breastfeeding reduced the risk of acute otitis media, non-specific gastroenteritis, and severe lower respiratory tract infections.[14]
Less tendency to develop allergic diseases (atopy)
In children who are at risk for developing allergic diseases (defined as at least one parent or sibling having atopy), atopic syndrome can be prevented or delayed through exclusive breastfeeding for four months, though these benefits may not be present after four months of age.[25] However, the key factor may be the age at which non-breastmilk is introduced rather than duration of breastfeeding.[26] Atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, can be reduced through exclusive breastfeeding beyond 12 weeks in individuals with a family history of atopy, but when breastfeeding beyond 12 weeks is combined with other foods incidents of eczema rise irrespective of family history.[27]
Protection from SIDS
Breastfed babies have better arousal from sleep at 2–3 months. This coincides with the peak incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.[28] A study conducted at the University of Münster has shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by approximately 50% at all ages throughout infancy. [29]
Higher intelligence
Studies examining whether breastfeeding in infants is associated with higher intelligence later in life include:
Horwood, Darlow and Mogridge (2001) tested the intelligence quotient (IQ) scores of 280 low birthweight children at seven or eight years of age.[30] Those who were breastfed for more than eight months had verbal IQ scores 6 points higher (which was significantly higher) than comparable children breastfed for less time.[30] They concluded “These findings add to a growing body of evidence to suggest that breast milk feeding may have small long term benefits for child cognitive development.”[30]
A 2005 study using data on 2,734 sibling pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health “provide[d] persuasive evidence of a causal connection between breastfeeding and intelligence.”[31]
In 2006, Der and colleagues, having performed a prospective cohort study, sibling pairs analysis, and meta-analysis, concluded that “Breast feeding has little or no effect on intelligence in children.”[32] The researchers found that “Most of the observed association between breast feeding and cognitive development is the result of confounding by maternal intelligence.”[32]
The 2007 review for the AHRQ found “no relationship between breastfeeding in term infants and cognitive performance.”[14]
The 2007 review for the WHO concluded “Subjects who were breastfed experienced… higher performance in intelligence tests.”[15]
Two initial cohort studies published in 2007 suggest babies with a specific version of the FADS2 gene demonstrated an IQ averaging 7 points higher if breastfed, compared with babies with a less common version of the gene who showed no improvement when breastfed.[33] FADS2 affects the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in human breast milk, such as docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid, which are known to be linked to early brain development.[33] The researchers were quoted as saying “Our findings support the idea that the nutritional content of breast milk accounts for the differences seen in human IQ. But it’s not a simple all-or-none connection: it depends to some extent on the genetic makeup of each infant.”[34] The researchers wrote “further investigation to replicate and explain this specific gene–environment interaction is warranted.”[33]
In “the largest randomized trial ever conducted in the area of human lactation,” between 1996 and 1997 maternity hospitals and polyclinics in Belarus were randomized to receive or not receive breastfeeding promotion modeled on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.[35] Of 13,889 infants born at these hospitals and polyclinics and followed up in 2002-2005, those who had been born in hospitals and polyclinics receiving breastfeeding promotion had IQs that were 2.9-7.5 points higher (which was significantly higher).[35] Since (among other reasons) a randomized trial should control for maternal IQ, the authors concluded in a 2008 paper that the data “provide strong evidence that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding improves children’s cognitive development.”[35]
Diabetes
Infants exclusively breastfed have less chance of developing diabetes mellitus type 1 than peers with a shorter duration of breastfeeding and an earlier exposure to cow milk and solid foods.[14][36] Breastfeeding also appears to protect against diabetes mellitus type 2,[14][15][37][38] at least in part due to its effects on the child’s weight.[38]
Obesity
Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of extreme obesity in children aged 39 to 42 months.[39] The protective effect of breastfeeding against obesity is consistent, though small, across many studies, and appears to increase with the duration of breastfeeding.[14][15][40]
Other long term health effects
In one study, breastfeeding did not appear to offer protection against allergies.[41] However, another study showed breastfeeding to have lowered the risk of asthma, protect against allergies, and provide improved protection for babies against respiratory and intestinal infections.[42]
A review of the association between breastfeeding and celiac disease (CD) concluded that breast feeding while introducing gluten to the diet reduced the risk of CD. The study was unable to determine if breastfeeding merely delayed symptoms or offered life-long protection.[43]
An initial study at the University of Wisconsin found that women who were breast fed in infancy may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who were not breast fed.[44]
Breastfeeding may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in later life, as indicated by lower cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels in adult women who had been breastfed as infants.[15][45] Although a 2001 study suggested that adults who had been breastfed as infants had lower arterial distensibility than adults who had not been breastfed as infants[46], the 2007 review for the WHO concluded that breastfed infants “experienced lower mean blood pressure” later in life[15]. Nevertheless, the 2007 review for the AHRQ found that “the relationship between breastfeeding and cardiovascular diseases was unclear”[14].
Benefits for mothers
Zanzibari woman breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a cost effective way of feeding an infant, and provides the best nourishment for a child at a small nutrient cost to the mother. Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding can delay the return of fertility through lactational amenorrhea, though breastfeeding is an imperfect means of birth control. During breastfeeding beneficial hormones are released into the mother’s body[17] and the maternal bond can be strengthened.[11] Breastfeeding is possible throughout pregnancy, but generally milk production will be reduced at some point.[47]
Bonding
Hormones released during breastfeeding help to strengthen the maternal bond.[11] Teaching partners how to manage common difficulties is associated with higher breastfeeding rates.[48] Support for a mother while breastfeeding can assist in familial bonds and help build a paternal bond between father and child.[49]
If the mother is away, an alternative caregiver may be able to feed the baby with expressed breast milk. The various breast pumps available for sale and rent help working mothers to feed their babies breast milk for as long as they want. To be successful, the mother must produce and store enough milk to feed the child for the time she is away, and the feeding caregiver must be comfortable in handling breast milk.
Hormone release
Breastfeeding releases oxytocin and prolactin, hormones that relax the mother and make her feel more nurturing toward her baby.[50] Breastfeeding soon after giving birth increases the mother’s oxytocin levels, making her uterus contract more quickly and reducing bleeding. Pitocin, a synthetic hormone used to make the uterus contract during and after labour, is structurally modelled on oxytocin.[51]
[edit]Weight loss
As the fat accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk, extended breastfeeding—at least 6 months—can help mothers lose weight.[52] However, weight loss is highly variable among lactating women; monitoring the diet and increasing the amount/intensity of exercise are more reliable ways of losing weight.[53] The 2007 review for the AHRQ found “The effect of breastfeeding in mothers on return-to-pre-pregnancy weight was negligible, and the effect of breastfeeding on postpartum weight loss was unclear.”[14]
[edit]Natural postpartum infertility
Breastfeeding may delay the return to fertility for some women by suppressing ovulation. A breastfeeding woman may not ovulate, or have regular periods, during the entire lactation period. The period in which ovulation is absent differs for each woman. This Lactational amenorrhea has been used as an imperfect form of natural contraception, with a greater than 98% effectiveness during the first six months after birth if specific nursing behaviors are followed.[54] It is possible for some women to ovulate within two months after birth while fully breastfeeding.
[edit]Long-term health effects
For breastfeeding women, long-term health benefits include:
Less risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer.[10][14][55][56]
A 2009 study indicated that lactation for at least 24 months is associated with a 23% lower risk of coronary heart disease.[57]
Although the 2007 review for the AHRQ found “no relationship between a history of lactation and the risk of osteoporosis”[14], mothers who breastfeed longer than eight months benefit from bone re-mineralisation.[58]
Breastfeeding diabetic mothers require less insulin.[59]
Reduced risk of post-partum bleeding.[51]
According to a Malmö University study published in 2009, women who breast fed for a longer duration have a lower risk for contracting rheumatoid arthritis than women who breast fed for a shorter duration or who had never breast fed.[60]
[edit]Organisational endorsements

[edit]World Health Organization
” The vast majority of mothers can and should breastfeed, just as the vast majority of infants can and should be breastfed. Only under exceptional circumstances can a mother’s milk be considered unsuitable for her infant. For those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choice of the best alternative – expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than a feeding bottle and teat – depends on individual circumstances.[9] “
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, after which “infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond.”[9]
[edit]American Academy of Pediatrics
” Extensive research using improved epidemiologic methods and modern laboratory techniques documents diverse and compelling advantages for infants, mothers, families, and society from breastfeeding and use of human milk for infant feeding. These advantages include health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychologic, social, economic, and environmental benefits.[10] “
The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.[10] Furthermore, “breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.”[10]
[edit]Breastfeeding difficulties

Main article: Breastfeeding difficulties
While breastfeeding is a natural human activity, difficulties are not uncommon. Putting the baby to the breast as soon as possible after the birth helps to avoid many problems. The AAP breastfeeding policy says: “Delay weighing, measuring, bathing, needle-sticks, and eye prophylaxis until after the first feeding is completed.”[10] Many breastfeeding difficulties can be resolved with proper hospital procedures, properly trained midwives, doctors and hospital staff, and lactation consultants.[61] There are some situations in which breastfeeding may be harmful to the infant, including infection with HIV and acute poisoning by environmental contaminants such as lead.[42] The Institute of Medicine has reported that breast surgery, including breast implants or breast reduction surgery, reduces the chances that a woman will have sufficient milk to breast feed.[62] Rarely, a mother may not be able to produce breastmilk because of a prolactin deficiency. This may be caused by Sheehan’s syndrome, an uncommon result of a sudden drop in blood pressure during childbirth typically due to hemorrhaging. In developed countries, many working mothers do not breast feed their children due to work pressures. For example, a mother may need to schedule for frequent pumping breaks, and find a clean, private and quiet place at work for pumping. These inconveniences may cause mothers to give up on breast feeding and use infant formula instead.
[edit]HIV infection
As breastfeeding can transmit HIV from mother to child, UNAIDS recommends avoidance of all breastfeeding where formula feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable and safe.[63] The qualifications are important. Some constituents of breast milk may protect from infection. High levels of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk (including eicosadienoic, arachidonic and gamma-linolenic acids) are associated with a reduced risk of child infection when nursed by HIV-positive mothers. Arachidonic acid and gamma-linolenic acid may also reduce viral shedding of the HIV virus in breast milk.[64] Due to this, in underdeveloped nations infant mortality rates are lower when HIV-positive mothers breastfeed their newborns than when they use infant formula. However, differences in infant mortality rates have not been reported in better resourced areas.[65] Treating infants prophylactically with lamivudine (3TC) can help to decrease the transmission of HIV from mother to child by breastfeeding.[66] If free or subsidized formula is given to HIV-infected mothers, recommendations have been made to minimize the drawbacks such as possible disclosure of the mother’s HIV status.[67]
[edit]Infant weight gain

Breastfed infants generally gain weight according to the following guidelines:
0–4 months: 6 oz. per week†
4–6 months: 4-5 oz. per week
6–12 months: 2-4 oz. per week
† It is acceptable for some babies to gain 4–5 ounces per week. This average is taken from the lowest weight, not the birth weight.
The average breastfed baby doubles its birth weight in 5–6 months. By one year, a typical breastfed baby will weigh about 2½ times its birth weight. At one year, breastfed babies tend to be leaner than bottle fed babies.[68] By two years, differences in weight gain and growth between breastfed and formula-fed babies are no longer evident.[69]
[edit]Methods and considerations

There are many books and videos to advise mothers about breastfeeding. Lactation consultants in hospitals or private practice, and volunteer organisations of breastfeeding mothers such as La Leche League International also provide advice and support.
[edit]Early breastfeeding
In the half hour after birth, the baby’s suckling reflex is strongest, and the baby is more alert, so it is the ideal time to start breastfeeding.[70] Early breast-feeding is associated with fewer nighttime feeding problems.[71]
[edit]Time and place for breastfeeding
Breastfeeding at least every two to three hours helps to maintain milk production. For most women, eight breastfeeding or pumping sessions every 24 hours keeps their milk production high.[10][not in citation given] Newborn babies may feed more often than this: 10 to 12 breastfeeding sessions every 24 hours is common, and some may even feed 18 times a day.[72] Feeding a baby “on demand” (sometimes referred to as “on cue”), means feeding when the baby shows signs of hunger; feeding this way rather than by the clock helps to maintain milk production and ensure the baby’s needs for milk and comfort are being met.[citation needed] However, it may be important to recognize whether a baby is truly hungry, as breastfeeding too frequently may mean the child receives a disproportionately high amount of foremilk, and not enough hindmilk.[73]
“Experienced breastfeeding mothers learn that the sucking patterns and needs of babies vary. While some infants’ sucking needs are met primarily during feedings, other babies may need additional sucking at the breast soon after a feeding even though they are not really hungry. Babies may also nurse when they are lonely, frightened or in pain.”[74]
“Comforting and meeting sucking needs at the breast is nature’s original design. Pacifiers (dummies, soothers) are a substitute for the mother when she can’t be available. Other reasons to pacify a baby primarily at the breast include superior oral-facial development, prolonged lactational amenorrhea, avoidance of nipple confusion and stimulation of an adequate milk supply to ensure higher rates of breastfeeding success.”[74]
Rooming-in bassinet
Most US states now have laws that allow a mother to breastfeed her baby anywhere she is allowed to be. In hospitals, rooming-in care permits the baby to stay with the mother and improves the ease of breastfeeding. Some commercial establishments provide breastfeeding rooms, although laws generally specify that mothers may breastfeed anywhere, without requiring them to go to a special area. Dedicated breastfeeding rooms are generally preferred by women who are expressing milk while away from their baby.

TRAUMA: AN IMPORTANT EXCITING CAUSE OF CANCER

TRAUMA:  AN IMPORTANT EXCITING CAUSE OF CANCER

  A teenager got his left hand’s finger traumatised while cutting vegetable with a kitchen knife.  After some time, a big hard swelling developed on his left upper arm.  Doctors in a govt. hospital diagnosed it to be a case of caner and advised the parents of the amputation of the arm.  The parents did not agree to the advice.  They took the boy to a quack.  He is said to have incised the swelling and sprinkled a mixture of some toxic ingredients on the wound.

  Subsequently, either due to the action of toxic substance or the spread of the disease, the whole limb got enormously swollen and oozed abnormal serous discharge, the arm looking like mummy.  Meanwhile, the parents consulted physicians of other alternative system of medicine but of no use.  The progress of the disease after the incision was so rapid that the development of hard nodular swelling itself was an indication of advanced stage of the disease pathology.  The boy died within 6 months after inflicting injury to his finger.

  Another teenager, while driving a motor cycle, was suddenly stopped by some lads in a city market to offer him “Sharbat” on a religious day.  He could not control the vehicle and fell down.  His visceras were severely traumatised.  Splenectomy was performed.  He had bled profusely and could be saved by giving heavy blood  transfusion only.

  About 10 years after the said incident, the boy developed a pain like that of Appendicitis and got his appendix removed by a private surgeon.  After that a couple  of months of  the appendectomy, there appeared to be a big nodular swelling of lymph node on the right side of the neck  of the patient.  On detailed investigations, doctors found carcinoma of right kidney as the cause.  Nephrectomy was done at a medical college hospital, after which the swelling subsided but ultrasound report showed infiltration in the surrounding visceral lymph nodes and the liver.

  The patient started having low-grade fever some time after nephrectomy, which could not subside even by antipyretics prescribed by the concerned doctors.  The other day, temperature rose to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  The patient also felt cramping pain in the belly.  The attendant consulted doctors of alternative system of medicine who though brought down the temperature and pain but the patient meanwhile developed severe Jaundice, Ascites, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.  For tapping of ascetic fluid, the patient got admitted in the hospital quite often.  Meanwhile, the patient became very weak and remained in moribund condition for some days and then died.

  Mr. Rajja Pahalwi, the late Shah of Iran, some time after his deportment developed cancer.  He seemed to have got a severe shock, rather traumatised due to the manner, he was dethroned and deported to an alien country as a refugee.  In spite of the best available treatment which the Shah might have got, he died of cancer.

(As reported in media)

  Begum Nusrat Bhutto, widow of the former Pak P.M. Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, developed cancer soon after her husband was hanged to death.  She might have been tormented during her husband’s trial and hence got traumatised.  Soon after the ailment was diagnosed as cancer, she was treated successfully.  She had been very much active in public life until a few years ago and is still leading a normal life.

(As reported in media)

  The late cine artist, Sanjeev Kumar (Hari Bhai Jariwala, Mumbai, India) was a bachelor whole life.  He was very much attached to his mother, who always wished him to marry.  But Sanjeev Kumar could not find the lady of his choice.  His mother died without her cherished desire being fulfilled to see her “Bahu”.  Mr. Kumar might have got a shock on 2 counts, first he could not fulfil his mother’s wish and 2, he could not marry the woman whom he loved most.  This mental trauma could have been the cause for Kumar developing cancer.  He died despite the best available  treatment, which he might have received.

(As reported in media)

  Then there is a case of a lady who was of 50+ age.  She was suspected cancer of bowel but could not be diagnosed so as she refused to undergo the biopsy test for confirmation.  Instead of going in for pathological investigation, she chose for an alternative system of medicine.  As luck would have been, she got right kind of  treatment, at the right time and was saved from becoming an actual cancer patient and certain death as a result thereof.  Her story goes thus:

  Mrs. Y.K. was a mother of 3 grown up daughters.   2 of them were well off, the third an engineering graduate and of marriageable age.  Her husband was a gazetted officer in the state govt. service.  The lady once suffered from loose motions.  She consulted an allopath postgraduate degree holder but could not be cured.  Rather the disease took chronic course of dysentery.  The attending physician ultimately referred the patient for biopsy examination, suspecting her a case of bowel malignancy.  As referred earlier, instead of biopsy test, she consulted the writer.

  On the basis of presenting symptoms as narrated by the patient, she got relief with the very first prescription in the beginning but the symptoms subsequently got relapsed.  Once her husband came alone and reminded me about the history of cancer in the family, which in fact, I had missed to take cognizance of.  On her next visit, I  examined the case afresh.

  She was a gentle looking and mild natured, fair in complexion, medium built and a graduate.  She told me that she had no worry or tension of any kind except that her husband least talked to her whenever he is at home.  He on the other hand, was very talkative and friendly with their daughters as well as whoever came to their house.  Her only grievance was that she sacrificed her education for the sake of the family’s welfare but her husband never paid the due attention she deserved.

  In fact, she needed caressing which she might have been getting during her unmarried and early married life, and which normally is not possible in the advanced age.  In other words she was being traumatised and proceeding towards cancer of the bowel or the rectum.  The medicine was selected on the basis of her mental state and not only her physical ailment of dysenteric stools became all right but her mental trauma also got cured.  Later, she was given a medicine based on her family history to get removed her cancer diathesis.  Thereafter no relapse of the said disease occurred.  She is hale and hearty even after 10 years now.

  The above noted causes of cancer fall mainly in 2 categories so far the disease pathology is concerned:  (1) The reversible and (2) the irreversible stages of the disease.  The patient who respond to any kind of treatment, medicinal or surgical, and remain okay for a long time belong to reversible stage of the disease pathology.  Those who do not respond to any kind of treatment and ultimately die due to the disease, belong to irreversible stage of the disease pathology.

ABOUT CANCER

  One need not be surprised to learn that cancer is not a disease in itself but is the outcome of some kind of internal disturbance that takes place at the mental/physical or both the planes as a result of trauma whether physical, mental, or both and “where there is perverted attempt of the natural healing of the body.  Actual disease is already the whole systemic trouble and the body tries to localize the condition which is the so called cancer”.

                                                                                    (Dr.  W.E. Jackson, M.D.)

  Some of the cancer cases mentioned above were treated successfully while a few could not be.  These are only a handful cases out of innumerable cases which the physicians of all systems of medicine encounter day today.  Although each case seems different from one another depending upon the age, sex, and cell-tissue, organ involved, there are many common features in cancer patients such as unbearable pain, anxiety-restlessness, fear of death, protracted illness, cancer cachexia, etc.  Most of the cancer patients have one thing very common; that is their stamina or the endurance to tolerate all above noted sufferings.

  It can be safely concluded that cancer is the outcome of the exciting cause; the trauma and the greater bearing power of the person concerned.  In other words, we can say that the cancer is the ailment affecting those whose body did not suffer much physically or  mentally in the past and thus reacts more vigorously to any kind of exciting or triggering factor; the trauma.  Ask any cancer patient, you will come to know that he/she was the person who had had rarely suffered from any kind of trauma previously.  Had their trauma bearing power involved as in the case of other people who suffer from one or other kind of the traumatic effects, their trauma bearing mechanism would have been well adapted.

  “The law of causation teaches that no internal effect can arise without any external cause and that effect itself may in turn become a cause of further changes.

  (Further)  “The law of vis-inertie (internal constitution) teaches that all changes of bodies in nature are the result of an external cause for without this all bodies would remain in the same state in which they are placed.

  “Disease resulting from mental or physical trauma occurs as a result of toxic chemical or physical changes that take place in the fluid or tissue of the body through medium of nervous system which react to the morbid impression of a violent  or long continued mental emotion in the same way that it reacts to any other dynamical disturbance”.

(Dr. Stuart Close, M.D.)

  After studying 16 different cases of cancers, Dr. James Hamilton concludes that in all cases there were psychological symptoms resulting from mental tension before the development of the cancer.  He also noted that symptoms of cancer worsened when there was severe emotional stress.

  “Most purveyors of health care will declare the cause of the cancer is not known, which is outright untruth.  The only cause is faulty metabolism of the whole body of the host, but the underlying factors may be and usually are multiple and can be numbered in the billions.”

                                                            (Dr. W.E. Jackson, M.D.)

  Genetic research has identified some cancer genes in every cell of the body of every person termed as ‘oncogenes’ or cancer producing genes.  These oncogenes remain dormant until these are first activated and then undergo mutation by any kind of trauma so as to trigger the body mechanism leading to abnormal and independent growth of cancer.

  But the fact is that all those who are traumatised do not always become cancer patients.  Here comes the role of individuality or peculiarity of the person concerned.  The individuality of any person depends upon many things; the nature or temperament, body build-up or constitution, liking, and disliking, habits, body resistance or immunity, susceptibility, family history or heredity, the age, the sex, food and drinks, environment, the way one performs anything, etc.,  etc.  To  support my viewpoint,  I would  like to explain some of  the common cancers.

Cancer of the Gallbladder develops  in patients who are already suffering from cholelithiasis i.e. gall stones.  Constant irritation caused by the stones on the inner lining of the gallbladder has been attributed as a cause of cancer.  Not a single case of cancer of gallbladder has been detected without the presence of gall stones till date amply justifies this presupposition.

Cancer of the Prostate is found mostly in the old age.  “Rather it has been observed that incidence of prostate cancer is increasing due to longevity of the males.”                                                                         (Dr. S.K. Sharma, M.D.)

                         Cancer of prostate develops due to insidious but repeated effect of trauma to prostatic part of the urethra while performing (faulty) coition consciously or unconsciously.  In forceful sexual act prostatic part of the urethra strikes over the hard bony pelvis time and again and is thus gets hurt.  Moreover, routine sexual activity during and post climacteric period not only causes profound mental and physical exhaustion but also soreness of the body particularly the head.  As a result, there may be loss of scalp hair (due to synthesis of Dehydrotestosterone) and work  hypertrophy of the prostate gland in males and at times metaplegic (precancerous) and neoplegic (cancerous) condition.

Similarly, glans penis may also get traumatised if the cervix of the female is  hard enough and strikes to the soft glans penis during coition.  This is possible where the depth of the vagina despite its flexibility is short as compared to the length of the penis.

Contrary will be the result, if cervix is soft and is hurt repeatedly by glans penis during coition, parturition, and DNC’s.

Breast cancer is common occurrence in elderly females.  Breasts play dual role in the life of females.  These are mainly meant for the secretion and ejection of the milk i.e. lactation.  At the same time, female breasts are secondary or accessory sex organs since these help in attracting the opposite sex and to arouse sexual instinct in them.  The breasts are also instrumental in arousing sexual desire in female on stimulation.

  When the act of stimulation is faulty like the physical assaulting, it leads to trauma to the breast tissues.  As a result there develops nodes or lumps in the breasts.   These nodes or lumps may be soft or hard depending on the intensity and duration of the tissue mass.  These may exist for a short or long time depending on the healing process.

  In young and healthy females the repair process is spontaneous and rapid owing to rich blood supply.   But the same (repair) gets slowed or stopped totally when female reaches to the menopausal age which varies from 35 to 55 years.  This is due to the early or late withdrawal of the female sex hormones, oestrogen the main, resulting deficient blood supply and in turn dwindling i.e. subinvolution of the breasts.  The effect of trauma may persist in the form of nodes,  nodules, or lumps of varying sizes depending upon the area involved, which may sometime mat or coalesce with each other and become bigger in size  and more harder in consistency.  At times, caking of  the whole breast takes place with acute pain on mere touch and pressure or without touch.  The pathological investigation by FNAC may term the condition as cancerous.

  In view of the exciting cause (trauma) and the effect (cancer), the best way is to take precautionary measures either by  teaching the general public especially the young married couples to handle their sex organs, both primary as well as the secondary or accessory in the most sophisticated manner so  that these are not injured in any way consciously or unconsciously while frolicking or performing or  performing coition.  The tissues of these organs are prone to undergo transformation i.e. metataplasia and then to cancer or neoplasia in due course of time.  In case any person is unable to mend his/her  ways,  he/she should consult the doctor for the right kind of advice and medicine help,  which would help to eliminate the traumatic effect if already set inn and prevent any such future occurrences.

  Here, I would like to quote a case of quite healthy lady whose husband also a robust person, consulted me nearly 15/16 years ago for some  kind of ailment. He had then narrated about his wife’s unabated desire for sexual intercourse.  Before marriage she might have been gratifying her sexual desire either through masturbation or by doing so with someone else.  The lady had become mother of 4 grown-up children when she developed cancer of cervix at +40 age.  The family consulted me at the last stage of the disease after having her treatment from big hospital.  By that time the cancer had metastasized to surrounding area and the left thigh.  While preparing her history sheet, her husband’s elder brother also told me about her being of excessively sexy nature.  The patient was given palliative medicinal help.  She remained bedridden for some time in a very pathetic condition and ultimately died.

  “There should be no hesitation about pointing out clearly that cancer can be the result of people’s behaviour – including certain sexual as well as the pollution of the environment and its effects on the body itself.”

(Pope John Paul II links sex with cancer)

  Cancer of lips, mouth, tongue, oesophagus, stomach, larynx, trachea, lungs have been attributed to any thing chewed, eaten or smoked that constantly irritate/injure the mucous membrane of the organ concerned.  Intake of too much of cold food or drinks have immediate effect, where the mucous lining gets peeled off or deadened.  But the same gets repaired through normal physiological process inn due course.  In case the lining membrane has insidiously and frequently been traumatised, the  result shall be transformation of the injured tissue and slowly it may turn into the cancer growth as elaborated earlier.

  “Wrong eating and drinking habits are among the major causes of the cancer of the food pipe.”                                                                            ( Dr. Satish Jain, M.D.)

  “In case of bowel cancer, constipation, which is, otherwise, a slowing of  the transit time of  the waste matter through bowel, is certainly an underlying factor and does produce injury to these tissues.”                                                  (Dr. W.E. Jackson, M.D.)

  It is, therefore, imperative to keep the bowel free from constipation in order to avoid the possibility of occurrence of bowel cancer.

ABOUT DIAGNOSIS

  Keeping in view the most probable exciting cause of the cancer and its pathology, the diagnosis of any node, nodule, or lump should, therefore, be done in such a harmless method that no further injury is caused to the already traumatised cell-tissue of any organ or part of the body.   At present there is no such device available through which cell-tissue could be examined for the suspected cancer growth without causing trauma to them.   Hence both FNAC, and tissue biopsy procedures become faulty since they involve direct mechanical injury to the tissues during the process of  aspiration or separation of the tissues from the organ concerned and in turn there is  every possibility of  acceleration of cancer towards more irreversible stage of the disease pathology.

  In the interest of safety from cancer, it is not always advisable to undergo for the pathological diagnosis in every suspected case, especially when there is a definite history of trauma suffered recently or in the past and where there is history of cancer in the family.   “It is also true that the diagnosis once confirmed through any of the above noted procedures results in serious emotional trauma to the patient as also to the family owing to the inevitable going to happen.”            (Dr. Archana Sood, M.D.)

ABOUT TREATMENT:

  The existing modes of the treatment of cancer patients in hospitals under the modern system of medicine is also faulty in so far as it is against the principle of cure as postulated by Hippocrates, the father of the medicine, since neither principle of ‘Similia, nor Contraria’ are involved  in the treatment process.

  Whether it is chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation there always occurs further trauma to the already traumatised cell-tissue, organ or part of the body  having growth.   Rather, such methods of treatment generate further symptoms like fever, pain, anxiety, restlessness,  fear of death, loss of appetite,  cancer cachexia etc.  There is no drug available with the modern system of medicine that can eliminate any of these symptoms for all times to come.

  “Use of narcotics for alleviating pain, invite structural changes through slowing down the recuperating process.”                                               (Dr. H.A. Robort, M.D.)

  “It is thus clear that current modes of treatment of the local evidence (of cancer growth) depends on destroying the end result but paying no attention to the cause.”

                                                (Dr.  W.E. Jackson, M.D.)

PREVENTION

  After having understood the basic mechanism of activation and the resultant mutation of the oncogenes as after-effects of trauma of whatever nature coupled with other underlying factors, we are unable to foretell about the probable occurrence of  the cancer.  Hence, the following points ought to be known as preventive measures especially by those who want to led a cancer-free life.

All persons have cancer producing genes within the body cells; the oncogenes.  Normally these genes remain dormant or inactive.

These inactive or sleeping genes first get activated and then undergo mutation due to some  kind of trauma either physical, mental or both.

Various mental traumas are: shock, grief, stress, and strains, guilt and shame, anxiety-tension, helplessness, frustration, worries, confusion, depression, disgust, humiliation, suicide attempts, jealousy, fear, love-hate, disappointment, brooding over the  past events and inability to forget, perverted love, lack of love, etc.

The physical traumas are: injuries, fall, contusion, concussion, physical shock, blows, hurt, irritation, consuming too hot or cold food stuff, alcoholic drinks, synthetic preparation, etc., smoking of bidis, cigarettes, cigar, chutta, chilam, etc., getting burns, exposure to radiation, x-rays, et.

Cancer is mainly a disease of human beings as no other species of the world suffers from it.  It is because human beings do not follow laws of nature strictly.

Hence, man should act and behave in the most natural ways.  Those who go against the nature always suffer.

INFERENCE:

  I would neither recommend nor forbid any one suspected to be a cancer patient, from going for diagnosis and treatment being adopted presently all over the world under the modern system of medicine but would like to stay that patient concerned and his/her  family members must be made aware of all pros and cons in doing so

  I would also like to add that medicines available in the alternative system of medicine based on the principle of similia, must prove suitable for the treatment/cure of all diseases, even the cancer or any other disease where the cause has been ascertained without doubt.  This is possible only if the attending physician has sound knowledge of disease pathology and therapeutic application both.

  The very important aspect of cancer treatment, on which physicians of all systems of medicine have unanimity; is that any suspected case of cancerous growth in the form of anything abnormal being felt or noticed in any organ or part of the body, must consult  the doctor in the ‘very early stage’ of the problem.  This would really be beneficial in nipping the problem in the bud itself particularly in context to cancer.

  The ‘very early stage’ is precancerous stage when there is only functional disturbance.  Even if structural changes in the cell-tissue organ, or part of the body have already taken place, these should be in the reversible stage of pathology.  But,  once the disease is confirmed as cancer on the basis of pathological investigations, it always points to irreversible structural changes in the cell-tissue, organ, or part of the body.

  Lastly, I would conclude by saying; the doctors are there to treat as the medicines are a

                                                                                                    Dr. P.S. Rawat

                                                                                                    B.Sc., B.H.M.S.

Place:  Chandigarh                                                                     M.D.(Homoeo)Scholar

Date:   August 15, 2010                                                                Cum Clinical Researcher

Formerly:-   Professor & Principal-cum-officer incharge Research,              

            H.M.C & Hospital Chandigarh and 

    S.A.S Nagar (Mohali) Punjab. M.D (Homoeo)

Address for correspondence:-

Flat No. 2032/1, Sector 45-C,

Chandigarh (U.T), Pin-160047 INDIA.

Phones:  91-9456577638, 91-9463966155, 91-0172-2630069

E-mail address:  dr.psrawat47@gmail.com, premrawat182@gmail.com

vailable to cure, but it is luck of the patient concerned (which may or may not  favour him/her) to get the right kind of treatment, at the right time and from the right physician.

“Cut Them Off,” Say Some. Preventative Mastectomies Offered To Texas Women Genetically Prone to Brea

Deciphering a blessing from a curse isn’t always as clear-cut as it may seem. At least that’s true for women who have been told that they carry one of the most potentially deadly genetic mutations — one of the BRCA, or breast cancer genes, associated with an unusually high risk of the disease. While the discovery of the BRCAs are promising — eventually leading, hopefully, to prevention as medical science advances — deciding what to do after finding out one has tested positive can be just as difficult as wondering.

“It’s taking over my mind,” said Deborah Linder, 33, a medical resident at Northwestern University who tested positive.*

For many with high family incidences of breast cancer, the tendency was simply known as “the family curse.” Now, at least “the curse” has a name scientists can validate with a term more specific than “family history.” But treatment options are varied, and each comes with its own risks.

The majority of those who receive news that they carry the gene opt to have both ovaries removed, which reduces risks of both breast cancer and the often-associated ovarian cancer. About a third have a preventative mastectomy performed, which decreases the likelihood of the disease by ninety percent, and a few prefer to take prophylactic anti-cancer drugs. Still others opt for herbs and natural means of prevention, and even more decide vigilant surveillance is all that’s necessary, which can include frequent MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), mammograms, and sonograms. Yet mammograms and ultrasounds can miss half of cancers in young women, who tend to have denser breasts.

The presence of BRCA1 raises the risk of developing breast cancer anywhere from sixty to ninety percent. An estimated 250,000 American women carry it, though only 30,000 have actually been tested. According to the American Cancer Society, twenty-six percent of new cancer diagnoses are of the breast, and in Texas alone, 2,480 women are expected to die of it this year. Many more will be diagnosed.. In the Lone Star state, breast cancer is the third leading cancer diagnosis, topped only by lung and colon/rectal. Other risk factors, such as obesity, also run high in Texas. Twenty-seven percent of state residents are obese, and new studies on children in Dallas, Austin, and Houston reveal a trend that may still further increase that number.

Such statistics, combined with an overwhelming lack of health coverage — twenty-five percent of the state as a whole, and twenty-seven percent of its young adults are living without health insurance — makes facing the issue that much harder for Texan women.

The majority of breast cancer cases, in fact, are not associated with the presence of a BRCA gene. Only five to ten percent are. But still is the possibility of personal risk being almost twice that of non-carriers worth finding out? Is reducing the chance of getting the disease worth losing the opportunity to have children or breastfeed, which, in itself, would decrease the cancers’ likelihoods?

“I know the joy that my girls have brought to me,” Deborah’s mother, a breast cancer survivor, said. “If Deb misses it, she won’t know what she missed. But having experienced it, I would never have wanted to miss it.” Yet, she, too was torn. “Have the surgery as soon as possible,” she told her daughter one day after finding out others in her family were diagnosed at the same age as Deborah.*

The question becomes even more complex when one considers that new treatment options may be just around the corner. While the chances of surviving breast cancer are good if detected early, ovarian cancer, which attacks fifty percent of BRCA1 carriers, is deadly seventy-five percent of the time. A new study, published this month in Clinical Cancer Research, revealed that a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV patients may also be useful in treating drug-resistant cancers, including breast cancer. Marketed under the brand name Viracept, nelfinavir proved to have the most powerful effect on tumor growth of six protease inhibitors in laboratory experiments. The drug is currently in Phase 1 of clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Would young women, then, who have been told they carry the genetic mutation, be wise to wait for better detection and treatment methods? It would seem that the science of detecting the presence of the disease is not nearly as advanced as the science of predicting its possibility. It’s impossible to know so early on; only more time (years more) will yield the statistics necessary to determine the success rates for different prophylactic options.

If you ask Dr. Patrick I. Borgen, the director of the Brooklyn Breast Cancer Project at the Maimonides Cancer Center, who has performed several preventative mastectomies, he might advise to say goodbye to a part of the body in exchange for saving a life. “Maybe [BRCA carriers'] grandchildren will have better options, but right now a draconian operation [a preventative mastectomy] is the best thing we can do.

*As quoted in New York Times in “Cancer Free at 33, But Weighing a Mastectomy” on September 16, 2007.

Increased Critical Illness Insurance for Women who Get Cancer Tests

Ladies, if your mother or any other female blood-line relatives have a history of breast or ovarian cancer then from next year onwards, you could face higher insurance premiums. You could even be refused cover altogether.

When these women apply for life and critical illness cover, the insurance industry wants to ask them whether they have been tested for the gene mutations BRCA1 or BRCA2. These are the gene complications that increase the chances of them developing these cancers. But before the insurance companies can ask these questions on their application forms, they must get approval from the Genetics and Insurance Committee, the body that advises the Government on these and similar issues.

In the coming months the Association of British Insurers (ABI) will be requesting the Committee for authority to ask women whether they have been tested positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. These are the mutations that are present in 1 in 10 of newly diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer and 1 in 20 of new cases of breast cancer. Approximately 1 in 850 women in Britain inherit a faulty BRCA1 gene and of those, 14 – 18% will develop breast cancer during in their lives.

On the web site for the Genetics and Insurance Committee we found a notice saying, ” The Committee expects that the Association of British Insurers will submit in late 2006/2007 four revised and updated applications for the use of adverse results from the predictive genetic tests of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (breast/ovarian cancer) in helping to determine insurance premiums for life and critical illness insurance”.

So far, application forms issued by British insurance companies are only allowed to ask for the results of predictive tests for Huntington’s disease. Even then, the question can only be asked when the application is for more than £500,000 of life insurance cover or mote than £300,000 for critical illness insurance or over £30,000 for payment protection insurance. This rule is set under an agreement entered into by the insurance industry which is due to expire in 2011 but the Chairman of the ABI’s Genetics Working Party, Harpal Karlcut, is reported in the trade insurance magazine “Cover”, as saying: –

“We are looking to get approval for the breast cancer test by the end of the year”, adding, “The two breast cancers are the next conditions that we will look at but after that we don’t see the need to look at other conditions. We do keep an eye out for what diseases may come up in the future but there is nothing else on the horizon”. We add another important rider – yet!

Understanding The Major Breakthrough Of Cancer

Hunting for Genetic Mutations and Cancer
The current paradigm in medical research holds that the cause of most cancers is a genetic mutation. For instance, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), an institute at the NIH, “all cancers are based on genetic mutations in body cells.”  In fact, mutation hunting is big business. Just look at the NIH budget allocated to discoveries of genetic mutations, the number of biotech companies chasing genetic mutations, the magnitude of the licensing agreements between biotech and pharmaceutical companies aimed to utilize newly discovered genetic mutations, and the number of stories in the media on genetic mutations and their so-called “link” to disease. However, this huge effort and billions of dollars has produced few discoveries and little benefits to the public. The reason for this limited success is simple. The cause of cancer is not a genetic mutation.

The story of the BRCA1 gene is a typical example of mutation hunting.

The Mystery of BRCA1
Genes, in general, produce proteins, which are the building blocks of cells. The concentration of the protein is tightly regulated. A mutated gene produces an abnormal concentration of its protein, which may lead to disease. In 1994, Mark Skolnick, PhD, discovered the BRCA1 gene (BRCA1 is short for BReast CAncer 1). Following the discovery, scientists observed an abnormally low level of the BRCA1 protein in breast cancer tissues. The BRCA1 protein is a cell cycle suppressor, which means that the protein prevents cell replication. This observation created a lot of excitement. At the time, scientists believed that they were on the verge of finding the cause of breast cancer. The reasoning was that breast cancer patients must have a mutated BRCA1 gene, which would explain the decreased production of the protein, and the excessive replication of breast cancer cells in tumors.

In the United States, 180,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. However, the BRCA1 gene is mutated in less than 5% of these cases. In more than 95% of breast cancer patients the gene is not mutated.

So here is the mystery. If the gene is not mutated in the great majority of the breast cancer patients, why are the tumors showing low levels of the BRCA1 protein? Today, this is one of the biggest mysteries in cancer research.

The BRCA1 gene is not unique. Many normal (non-mutated) genes exhibit a mysterious abnormal (increased or decreased) production of proteins in cancer. Moreover, studies also report abnormal gene expression of normal genes in other diseases, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, osteoarthritis, type II diabetes, alopecia, type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, lupus, thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and graft versus host disease.

The Discovery
A virus is a collection of genes. To replicate, some viruses settle in the nucleus of the host cell and use the cell machinery to replicate. What is the effect of a viral gene on the production of cellular proteins?

Think of a gene as an assembly line of a protein. Like all assembly lines, the gene has two parts, a conveyor (the gene coding section), and a control panel (the gene promoter/enhancer). Imagine a cellular shop that assembles a product called BRCA1. One of the many buttons on the control panel is called N-box. Pressing the button increases production. However, only a small number of operators (called transcription factors), those who pass a special certification (called the p300 test), have permission to press this button.  What happens when a virus opens a shop across the street from the cellular shop (called latent infection) to produce its viral products? The control panel in the viral shop also has an N-box button. To start production, the virus begins to hire away some of the certified operators. What is the effect of this “hiring away” on the number of available BRCA1 units? The number decreases. Moreover, the decrease becomes apparent even before the virus starts production (the “hiring away” is what creates the effect, not the viral proteins). The viral assembly line competes with the BRCA1 assembly line for the certified operators, and by hiring them away prevents the cellular shop from producing the optimum, or “healthy” number of BRCA1 units. The lower number of BRCA1 units leads to excessive cell replication and breast cancer. (See a more technical description in a recent paper published in the European Journal of Cancer.)

The infection with the latent virus causes abnormal production of other genes, and as a result, the development of other chronic diseases. This sequence of events easily explains why people who suffer from obesity are also more likely to suffer from diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, and why a recent large scale study found that a low-fat diet does not protect against breast cancer.  It also explains another surprising observation that male pattern baldness is associated with heart disease and prostate cancer. In general, this sequence of events easily explains the numerous observations indicating a co-existence or co-morbidity of some chronic diseases.

This discovery was first described by Dr. Hanan Polansky in his book, Microcompetition with Foreign DNA and the Origin of Chronic Disease, published by The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease.

To summarize: the cause of cancer, and other chronic diseases, is not a genetic mutation, it’s an infection with a latent virus.

Reaction of the Scientific Community
What is the scientific community saying about Dr. Polansky’s discovery?  

Consider what the famous heart surgeon and “Living Legend,” Michael E. DeBakey, said about the discovery, “The theory underlying the basic concept concerning the origin of chronic diseases presented by Dr. Polansky is most interesting, indeed fascinating … Perhaps a symposium could be held to provide a forum for further discussions and critiques of this fascinating theory.”

Elena N. Naumova, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, said, “Dr. Polansky’s work compellingly demonstrates a framework that could bring together researchers from different fields. His proposed theory will work its magic by clarifying ambiguous definitions, identifying similarities and differences in various biological processes, and discovering new pathways … I believe that Dr. Polansky’s book will catalyze the scientific learning process, promote interdisciplinary cross-fertilization, stimulate development of treatment strategies and drug discovery, and leave the reader inspired.”

Sivasubramanian Baskar, PhD, Senior Scientist from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, said, “At first, I wish to congratulate Dr. Hanan Polansky for his scientific bravery to take such a unique, novel approach to further stimulate our understanding of the origin and establishment of chronic diseases. The philosophy underscored is an excellent one … The amazing correlation between theoretical predictions and observed in vivo effects seems to bring us a step closer to a deeper understanding of such complex biologic processes.”

Marc Pouliot, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Canada, said, “The concept of microcompetition will change our approach in the study of chronic diseases and will furthermore give scientists a higher level of understanding in biology. Presentation of this concept undoubtedly provides a new set of opportunities for attacking chronic diseases … They lead the way to new approaches in chronic disease treatment.”

Howard A. Young, PhD, Section Head, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, said, “In summary, Dr. Polansky is to be applauded for his attempt to provide a unifying basis for chronic diseases. His theories are stimulating and offer a basis for experimental testing and possible treatment.”

Michael J. Gonzalez, PhD, Professor, Medical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, said, “I know this book will profoundly impact medical research, drug discovery, as well as natural therapies. I also believe it will benefit the scientific community and society in general by providing further means of treatment for conditions in which only palliative care is available.”

You can find more reactions and the biographies the scientists reacting to Dr. Polansky’s discovery on the publisher’s (see link below).

Hope for Cure and Protection
The significance of Dr. Polansky’s discovery cannot be overstated. For the first time, we can start to feel a little better about these diseases. With his discovery, pharmaceutical and biotech companies can now start to design medications that will target the cause of the disease rather than its symptoms, and therefore, cure the sick and protect the healthy from these deadly diseases.