Introduction

Cancer is group of diseases with similar characteristics. Cancer can occur in all living
cells in the body and different cancer types have different natural history.
Epidemiological studies have shown that 70-90% of all cancers are environmental.
Lifestyle related factors are the most important and preventable among the
environmental exposures. Tobacco consumptions either as chewing tobacco or
smoking tobacco will account for 50% of all cancers in men. Dietary practices,
reproductive and sexual practices etc will account for 20-30% of cancers. Appropriate
changes in lifestyle can reduce the mortality and morbidity from a good proportion of
cancer and heart diseases.

Diet:

The causes of cancer in U.S.A. was estimated by Doll and Peto in 1981. Tobacco was
found to be responsible for 25-40% of cancers and diet for 10-70% of cancers. In
Kerala tobacco is responsible for 505 of cancer and diet for 10-20%of cancers.
Dietary factors may be potentiating the role of other risk factors. Most of the cancers
have some relationships with diet predominant among them are cancers of the upper
aero digestive tract (mouth, throat), oesophagus (food pipe and lungs), stomach,
large intestine, and breast cancer in women.

The idea that nutrition is an important factor in cancer causation is not new. Yong-He
Yan living in Song Dynasty( 960-1279 AD) thought that poor nutrition was a cause of
the condition now known as oesophageal (food pipe )cancer. Lambe in 1815 warned
against the danger of excess consumption of food in general and meat in particular.
Roger Williams in 1908 observed that excessive feeding especially meat, deficient
exercise and probably lack of sufficient vegetable food are the predisposing factors
for cancer. In one of the earliest epidemiological studies on record Orr 91933, who
undertook a study in Travancore on oral cancer identified low intake of vegetables
and fruits as risk factors. We have not moved far from these observations as we
enter into the 21st century.

The role of diet takes special importance in countries like India which are fast moving
towards industrialization and westernization. We had a predominantly plant based
diet and with the advent of western life style we are moving towards a diet rich in
animal proteins. This coupled with other habits like smoking and alcohol will lead to
increase in the chronic disease burden especially cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Prompt action has to be taken to spread the message of healthy life style and dietary
practices.

Epidemiological Studies:

Descriptive epidemiological studies and International correlation studies have raised

specific dietary hypothesis like meat consumption and colon (large intestine) cancer.
Studies on migrant populations stressed the role of environmental factors more than
genetic predisposition. Japanese have the highest rate of stomach cancer incidents
and very low rates of colon cancer and breast cancer. Among the Japanese who have
migrated to the USA, their stomach cancer rates have dropped considerably and the
rates of colon have increased to that of Americans. These observations were followed
by case control and cohort studies which also identified high fat, meat consumption
as risk factors and a diet rich in fruits and green and yellow vegetables protective
against many cancers.

The biologically active ingredients of the fruits and vegetables are from the
carotenoid family and they have substantial anti-cancer properties. Intervention
Studies have tried to get the advantage of eating vegetables through
supplementation of beta carotene, the most active ingredient.

A study on smokers in Finland infact enhanced the risk of lung cancer among those
who took regular supplements of beta carotene. What nature provides in its fullness
cannot be encapsulated and there is no substitute for a wholesome healthy diet.

Cancer in Kerala

Population based cancer registries have provided reliable data on the occurrence of
cancer in the State. The rate of cancer occurrence in Kerala and in India is much
lower compared to Western countries, but the large population will give rise to a
large number of cancers. It is estimated that 35,000 new cancer cases occur in
Kerala in one year. Among males 50% of cancers in the mouth, throat and lungs are
caused by Tobacco and alcohol habits. Among women tobacco related cancers are
15%.

Cancer of the head and neck:

The main risk factor for these cancers is tobacco and alcohol. A diet rich in green and
yellow vegetables has been shown to offer protection against oral cancer. Avoidance
of tobacco and alcohol is the most important preventive action against mouth, throat
and lung cancers.

Cancer of the stomach:

Japanese had the highest rate of stomach cancer of the world and the rates in
Japanese migrants have dropped to very low levels as that of Americans when they
migrated to the United States. This is clear evidence of the dietary pattern and risk of
stomach cancer. The advent of refrigeration has dramatically reduced stomach
cancer incidents as it has revolutionized food preservation. Consumption of large
amounts of red chillies, food at very high temperatures and alcohol consumption are
the main risk factors for stomach cancer in Kerala.

Cancer of the large intestine:

Heavy consumption of red meat can lead to risk of colon cancer. White meat such as
that of poultry do not have this risk. There is an international correlation in between
the occurrence of large bowel cancer and consumption of red meat. In South India
there is a trend towards increasing consumption of red meat and this can lead to
increased risk for large bowel cancer.
Cancer of the breast in women:

A large number of factors are identified as risk factors for breast cancer. Late age at
first pregnancy greater than 30 years, single child, late age at menopause etc are
some of them. A high fat diet is also identified as a risk factor. Physical activity is
found to be protective for breast cancer. The sudden changes towards affluent life
styles have reduced the physical activities to a minimum and increased the
consumption of diets rich in fat. High fat diets during the pubertal age and obesity in
the post menopausal age are risk factors for breast cancer.

Regular breast self examination by women themselves is a very good way of

detecting breast cancer in early stages. Detecting a cancer when it is in the very
early stage can improve the cure rate from breast cancer. Mammography (X-rays of
the breast ) is another way of detecting breast cancer that cannot be palpated by
hand.

Cancer of the uterine cervix:

Early age at first intercourse, multiple sexual partners, poor sexual hygiene, repeated
child birth etc are some of the reproductive risk factors for cervical cancer.
Improvements in the living standards of women has resulted in a reduction in the
incidents of cervical cancer. Regular cervical cytology examination (pap smear) by all
women who have initiated sexual activity can prevent the occurrence of cervica

Cancer

World Cancer Day 2010

WHO is supporting the International Union

Against Cancer's World Cancer Day on 4 February
2010 to promote ways to ease the global burden
of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of
life for cancer patients are recurring themes.

The theme of this year's World Cancer Day is 'Cancer can be prevented
too'.

Listen to the podcast on World Cancer Day

International Union Against Cancer

International Agency for Research on Cancer

The theme of this year's World Cancer Day is 'Cancer can be prevented too'. One of the three
components of the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases
(NCDs), and its Action Plan is prevention. This includes reducing exposure to the four common risk
factors for the four main groups of NCDs - cancer along with heart disease and stroke, diabetes,
and chronic respiratory disease.

These four main risk factors shared by these diseases are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical
inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol. The Plan also prioritises the need for strengthening health
care services for cancer and other NCDs.
Achievements in prevention and control of cancer and other NCDs, will have a major positive
impact, not only on international health but also on global development.

"Partnership will be essential for the success of the NCD Action Plan," commented Dr Ala Alwan,
Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO. "The Plan
specifically calls upon international partners, countries and WHO to promote partnerships for the
prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. The Global Noncommunicable Disease
Network - NCDnet - was created to directly support this objective. Partners are working together to
advocate collectively, increase resource availability and facilitate country-level action."

Highlights

•
Ten facts about cancer

•
Cancer is avoidable

•
Cancer control

QUICK CANCER FACTS

• Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide: it accounted for 7.9 million deaths (around
13% of all deaths) in 2007.
• Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most cancer deaths each year.
• The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women.
• About 30% of cancer deaths can be prevented.
• Tobacco use is the single most important risk factor for cancer.
• Cancer arises from a change in one single cell. The change may be started by external
agents and inherited genetic factors.
• About 72% of all cancer deaths in 2007 occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
• Deaths from cancer worldwide are projected to continue rising, with an estimated 12 million
deaths in 2030.

:: Learn more about cancer

Cancer affects everyone – the young and old, the rich and poor, men, women and children – and
represents a tremendous burden on patients, families and societies. Cancer is one of the leading
causes of death in the world, particularly in developing countries.

Yet, many of these deaths can be avoided. Over 30% of all cancers can be prevented. Others can
be detected early, treated and cured. Even with late stage cancer, the suffering of patients can be
relieved with good palliative care.

Cancer prevention
At least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-
effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer.

Tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of cancer in the world today. It causes 80-90% of all
lung cancer deaths, and about 30% of all cancer deaths in developing countries, including deaths
from cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, oesophagus and stomach. A comprehensive strategy
including bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, tax increases on tobacco products, and
cessation programmes can reduce tobacco consumption in many countries. The WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control, adopted in May 2003, aims to curb tobacco-related deaths and
disease.

- Tobacco Free Initiative

Dietary modification is another important approach to cancer control. There is a link between
overweight and obesity to many types of cancer such as oesophagus, colorectum, breast,
endometrium and kidney. Diets high in fruits and vegetables may have a protective effect against
many cancers. Conversely, excess consumption of red and preserved meat may be associated with
an increased risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, healthy eating habits that prevent the
development of diet-associated cancers will also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet,
will considerably reduce cancer risk. National policies and programmes should be implemented to
raise awareness and reduce exposure to cancer risk factors, and to ensure that people are provided
with the information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles.

- WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

Infectious agents are responsible for almost 22% of cancer deaths in the developing world and 6%
in industrialized countries. Viral hepatitis B and C cause cancer of the liver; human papilloma virus
infection causes cervical cancer; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of stomach
cancer. In some countries the parasitic infection schistosomiasis increases the risk of bladder cancer
and in other countries the liver fluke increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma of the bile ducts.
Preventive measures include vaccination and prevention of infection and infestation.

- Infectious diseases health topics

Exposure to ionizing radiation is also known to cause to certain cancers. Excessive solar ultraviolet
radiation increases the risk of all types of cancer of the skin. Avoiding excessive exposure, use of
sunscreen and protective clothing are effective preventive measures.

- Ultraviolet radiation

Asbestos can cause lung cancer; aniline dyes have been linked to bladder cancer; and benzene can
lead to leukaemia. The prevention of certain occupational and environmental exposure to these and
other chemicals is another important element in preventing cancer.

- Occupational health
 - In 2005, 7.6 million people died of cancer. More than 70% of
those deaths occured in low and middle income countries. WHO has developed a
series of six modules that provides practical advice for programme managers and
policy-makers on how to advocate, plan and implement effective cancer control
programmes, particularly in low and middle income countries.The WHO guide is a
response to the World Health Assembly resolution on cancer prevention and control
(WHA58.22), adopted in May 2005, which calls on Member States to intensify
action against cancer by developing and reinforcing cancer control programmes.
Short summary [pdf 1.93Mb]

About two out of five cancers can be prevented

4 February 2010 -- As we mark World Cancer Day, this episode focuses on cancer
prevention. Each year, over 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer kills more people than AIDS, malaria, and TB combined but the good
news is that approximately two out of five cancers are potentially preventable.

Each year, over 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer kills more people than AIDS,
malaria, and TB combined and the death toll is set to rise dramatically in the coming decades. Two-
thirds of cancer-related deaths occur in countries where resources available for cancer control and
services are limited or nonexistent. But, the good news is that approximately two out of five cancers
are potentially preventable. The World Cancer Declaration has set out targets to stop and reverse
current trends.

Mr Cary Adams: One of those targets - target 3 - is about prevention, the things that we can all
do, which will limit the chances of us getting cancer in due course. For example, stop tobacco use,
limit alcohol consumption, avoid excessive sun exposure, maintain a healthy weight and of course
protect against cancer causing infections.

Veronica Riemer: Dr Chris Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer tells
us why prevention is critical, especially in regions of the world which have the least capacity to treat
this disease as they have the least developed clinical services.

Dr Chris Wild: In the example of Africa where we currently have 500 000 new cases of cancer each
year, we have fairly precise estimates that in the next 30-40 years there will be three to four times
as many cancers in that part of the world. It is very difficult to envisage treatment being able to
respond to that challenge, whereas prevention would be a much better approach to reduce the
burden of disease.

Veronica Riemer: One fifth of all cancers worldwide are caused by a chronic infection. Some
examples are human papilloma virus (also known as HPV) which causes cancer of the cervix,
hepatitis B virus (HBV) which causes liver cancer and Helicobacter pylori causing stomach cancers.
Professor Harald zur Hausen a German virologist researching cancer of the cervix, discovered the
role of papilloma viruses, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 2008.

Professor Harald zur Hausen: HPV is clearly a causative agent of cancer of the cervix and in
addition, there is good reason to suspect that it also causes parts of all pharyngeal cancer of the
throat and in particular of the tonsils and it is also involved in other cancers in particular in anal
cancer.

Veronica Riemer: Cancer is one of several noncommunicable diseases which affects millions of
people and causes life-long illness. WHO and its partners have developed an action plan to prevent
these diseases from occurring and to help those already affected to cope. Dr Ala Alwan, is WHO's
Assistant Director-General of the noncommunicable diseases and mental health department:
Dr Ala Alwan: The global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases has
three key priorities. One is to map and monitor noncommunicable diseases which are, in addition to
cancer: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and chronic lung disease. Two is to reduce the exposure to
the risk factors and these are tobacco, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of
alcohol. Thirdly is to strengthen health care services for people with cancer and other
noncommunicable diseases.

The action plan is being implemented by all countries and so achievements in the prevention and
control of cancer and noncommunicable diseases will have a major positive impact.

Veronica Riemer: That's all for episode of the WHO podcast. Thanks for listening. If you would like
further information about World Cancer Day or the WHO Action plan, please see the links on the
transcript page of this podcast. For the World Health Organization, this is Veronica Riemer in
Geneva.

Are the number of cancer cases

Question and answer
increasing or decreasing in the world? archives

Q: Are the number of cancer cases increasing or decreasing in Submit a question

the world?

A: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and the total

number of cases globally is increasing.

The number of global cancer deaths is projected to increase 45% from 2007 to 2030 (from 7.9
million to 11.5 million deaths), influenced in part by an increasing and aging global population. The
estimated rise takes into account expected slight declines in death rates for some cancers in high
resource countries. New cases of cancer in the same period are estimated to jump from 11.3 million
in 2007 to 15.5 million in 2030.

In most developed countries, cancer is the second largest cause of death after cardiovascular
disease, and epidemiological evidence points to this trend emerging in the less developed world.
This is particularly true in countries in "transition" or middle-income countries, such as in South
America and Asia. Already more than half of all cancer cases occur in developing countries.

Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer - a trend that is expected to continue until
2030, unless efforts for global tobacco control are greatly intensified. Some cancers are more
common in developed countries: prostate, breast and colon. Liver, stomach and cervical cancer are
more common in developing countries.

A number of common risk factors have been linked to the development of cancer: an unhealthy
lifestyle (including tobacco and alcohol use, inadequate diet, physical inactivity), and exposure to
occupational (e.g. asbestos) or environmental carcinogens, (e.g. indoor air pollution), radiation
(e.g. ultraviolet and ionizing radiation), and some infections (such as hepatitis B or human
papilloma virus infection).

Key risk factors for cancer that can be avoided are:

• tobacco use - responsible for 1.8 million cancer deaths per year (60% of these deaths occur
in low- and middle-income countries);
• being overweight, obese or physically inactive - together responsible for 274 000 cancer
deaths per year;
• harmful alcohol use - responsible for 351 000 cancer deaths per year;
 • sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) infection - responsible for 235 000
cancer deaths per year; and
• occupational carcinogens - responsible for at least 152 000 cancer deaths per year.

Cancer prevention is an essential component of all cancer control plans because about 40% of all
cancer deaths can be prevented.

Cancer: Cancer is caused by an abnormal overgrowth of cells with more than 100 cancer subtypes
depending on which cell grows. In many cancers, the cells clump together to form solid tumors, but in
some the cells are dispersed around the blood stream (leukemia) or the lymphatic system (lymphoma).

Prognosis of cancer has improved greatly in modern times owing to treatment advances and early
detection programs. However, although survival rates have improved, cancer still remains the 2nd top
cause of death, second only to heart disese in the USA.

Misdiagnosis of cancer is naturally possible but not common if professional medical advice is sought,
because physicians will usually perform comprehensive diagnostic testing if cancer is a possibility.
Diagnostic tests have also improved in accuracy including newer tumor marker blood tests. Self-diagnosis
of cancer is usually incorrect and quite common is for people to fear that they have cancer based on a
symptom (e.g. weight loss, persistent cough, lumps, or frequent urination), only to find out they have other
less severe conditions. On the other hand, sadly common is for people to have cancer but be unaware of
it, because many types have a slow insidious onset without early symptoms. For this reason, regular
screening for particular types of cancer is valuable in preventing severe cancer cases.

Cancer: Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. Cancer occurs when cells become
abnormal and keep dividing and forming more cells without order or control. All organs of the body are
made up of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. If cells
divide when new ones are not needed, they form a mass of excess tissue called a tumor. Tumors can be
benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). The cells in malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby
tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from a malignant tumor and travel through the
bloodstream or thelymphatic system to form new tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is
called metastasis. 1

Conditions list: The list of conditions in the Cancer group includes:

 Cancer type by severity:

 Benign tumor - non-cancerous tumors.

 Malignant tumor - cancerous tumors.

 Metastatic cancer - spreading of cancer beyond its initial site to lymph nodes and/or other

body areas.

FE Home- Health & Pharma - Story

25 lakh cancer patients in India
Agencies
Posted: Friday, Apr 10, 2009 at 1341 hrs IST
Updated: Friday, Apr 10, 2009 at 1341 hrs IST

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Kolkata: Cancer scenario in India is quite alarming with nearly 25 lakh patients in the country currently
suffering from the deadly disease, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research.

"Cancer scenario in India is not very comfortable and every year there is an increment of 10,000 new cancer
patients and the number of total victims stands at about 25 lakh all over," Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) Director General Viswamohan Katoch said at a seminar on 'New Frontiers in
Haematology and Oncology'.

Asserting that the ICMR will encourage every aspect of cancer research in India, Katoch said that was the
reason why it had been supporting the symposium on cancer, organised by Netaji Subhas Cancer Research
Institute (NCRI) in the city.

Katoch said the ICMR has decided to fund a workshop to train 26,000 rural medical practitioners on the
early symptoms of cancer and its prevention over a period of five years using telemedicine system.

"There will be seven centres at Siliguri, Malda, Burdwan, Krishnagar, Bankura, Midnapore and Baruipur,
which will be connected with the NCRI," he said.

NCRI sources said this will help improve the healthcare system concerning cancer care in West Bengal
through proper networking.

Increasing cases of cancer in India

I do not know that how many people in India have knowledge about this
increasing trend of cancer in India. In last decade numbers of cancer cases have
increased significantly and in some sub forms of cancer India actually top the
chart. Intensity of this problem can be easily understood from few of these
headlines published in various papers in India.
Two Out of Five Cancer Cases in India Due to Tobacco
India: Alarming increase in cancer cases in textile hub
Breast Cancer Cases Rise by 100% in Urban India
Breast cancer cases on rise - Express India
Alarming increase in cancer cases in TN textile hub

These are just few of headlines which are published recently and from these
headlines we can easily access the magnitude of this problem. Many researchers
believe that change in life style of Indians is contributing mainly in the increase
of this problem. Present life style of people is full of junk food, lack of exercise
and stress. All these factors lead to the increase in free radicals in body which
ultimately increase chances of body acquiring cancer.

Though, there are numbers of other reasons also which do contribute in cancer
like exposure to some radiation, drug etc; however, present life lifestyle is main
culprit as per most of scientists. It is possible for people to reduce chances of
cancer up to 30 to 70 % by opting healthy life style. Healthy Life style include
eating healthy food full of all nutritional elements like vegetable, cereals, fruits,
wheat etc and doing regular exercise and meditation. In various independent
studies, it is proved scientifically that chance of cancer decreases significantly
with healthy life style.

However, in the present fast life style very less number of people get chance for
living a healthy life. It is very important for all of us to understand that cancer is
one of deadly diseases present in our world and it mostly gives no initial warning
to people. Present trends of cancer in India only suggest that we all Indian are
required to opt a cautious approach on this problem and start living a healthy life
style.

What is Cancer? Why it is

dangerous?
Cancer is basically a disease caused by uncontrolled growth of cells in body
which invade and spread in other parts of body also, which is in general caused
by abnormality in genetic material of cell. Cancer has today become one of the
most deadly killers because every year 12-15% people of all dead people die
from it. Moreover, numbers of Cancer cases are increasing with each passing
year. Many scientists believe that present life style is major reason behind
increase in this deadly disease.

Cancer also becomes a very deadly disease because mostly it is very-2 difficult
to save people suffering from cancer. There are many therapies available for
cancer, however, no therapy or treatment provides a 100% cure to this disease.
Cancer mostly make tumors inside body due to abnormal growth of cells, these
tumors can increase their size and spread to other parts of body. Though, in
cancer forms like leukemia (blood cancer), we do not see the formation of
tumors.
So far, scientists have not succeeded in discovering actual cause of cancer,
however, it is believed that cancer can be caused by genetic factors, smoking,
exposure to radiations, various infections or due to chemical intake. Cancer is
mostly divided in four stages and cancer in first two stages is believed as
curable, however, problem with most of cancer cases is that in very less number
of cases diagnoses of cancer takes place in first and second stage. Mostly, cancer
is diagnosed in third and fourth stage where there is no cure available for cancer.

Chances of cancer increases age and it affects more people above age of 40,
however, cancer in younger age is also very common. People can easily decrease
chances of cancer up to 30-40% by having healthy life style which includes
healthy eating habits, stress free life, regular exercise etc.

Health
The Day I Was Diagnosed Having Cancer
Sure you’ll going to be worried learning about this piece of news. It took a lot of courage in me to
discuss a sickness that is so close to death. It would mean the end of everything….From the traveling
that I enjoy the most. From breezing through the lig

How Diet Influences Cancer Risk

Diet is a double edged sword. Improper diet increases the risk of cancer but a proper, well balanced
diet reduces the cancer risk. Diet is one of the most important lifestyle factors and has been estimated
to account for up to 80% of cancers of the la

Lung Cancer 101 What You Need To Know About

Accounting about for 14% of all cancers and 28% of all cancer deaths, Lung Cancer is now the major
cause of deaths (of both men and women) in the United States apart from being the most prevalent
species of cancer. Lung Cancer is different from benign can

Dietary Carcinogens That Increases The Risk Of Cancer

One way our diet may increase the risk of cancer is by dietary carcinogens. There are four groups of
carcinogens:

Of Lumps, Bumps And Breast Cancer

You feel a mild soreness in the breast so you checked for lumps. You felt a little bump. The next best
step is to consult a doctor, you might have breast cancer. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that
starts from the cells of the breast. Breast cancer oc

Breast Cancer For Beginners

Because of the social changes, which has brought increased number of workingwoman and hence
delayed childbearing, there has been a steep rise in the number of breast cancer patients in the last
few decades. But as the incidence of the patients has risen s

The Best Way To Prevent Cancer And Get Healthy

Cervical cancer is a serious yet highly preventable illness. Having regular Pap tests and pelvic
examinations are the first line of defense for the early detection of cervical cancer and prevent it from
becoming worse. Pap tests and pelvic exams can also

Whiskey: An Antidote For Cancer?

Some scientists believe that whiskey may be one of the keys to preventing the Big C For a quite a
number of years, liquor has been known not only to bring destructive intoxication and addiction upon
 its patrons, but also as deterrent to a healthy lifes

Could Getting Spicy Aid Your Treatment Of Cancer

Wow, as a two time survivor of cancer I found it amazing that I might be able to eat my self free of
cancer. Well, that is an over statement but new research is showing that Curcumin to have strong
cancer fighting properties. Curcumin also called turmeric

Breast Cancer Statistics – How Breast Cancer Survival Rates Increased 50%
Breast cancer statistics show that over 1.2 million persons will be diagnosed with breast cancer
worldwide this year, according to the World Health Organization. For breast cancer and prevention, it
has long been known that regular physical activity has b

INTRODUCTION

�Ovarian cancer ranks fifth as the

cause of cancer death among women.
�According to NCI’s Cancer
Statistics Review from 2000-2004, a
woman has a 1 in 67 chance of
developing ovarian cancer.
�Ovarian-cancer research at the Hutchinson
Center states that it is the eighth most
common cancer (other than skin cancer) in
women.
Cancer /ˈkænsər/ ( listen) (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in
which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits),
invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis
(spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant
properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and
do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not.
The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of
cancer is oncology.

Cancer affects people at all ages with the risk for most types increasing with age.[1]
Cancer caused about 13% of all human deaths in 2007[2] (7.6 million).[3]

Cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells.[4]
These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke,
radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities
may randomly occur through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present
in all cells from birth. The heritability of cancers is usually affected by complex
interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome.

Genetic abnormalities found in cancer typically affect two general classes of genes.
Cancer-promoting oncogenes are typically activated in cancer cells, giving those cells
new properties, such as hyperactive growth and division, protection against programmed
cell death, loss of respect for normal tissue boundaries, and the ability to become
established in diverse tissue environments. Tumor suppressor genes are then inactivated
in cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions in those cells, such as accurate
DNA replication, control over the cell cycle, orientation and adhesion within tissues, and
interaction with protective cells of the immune system.

Definitive diagnosis requires the histologic examination of a biopsy specimen, although

the initial indication of malignancy can be symptomatic or radiographic imaging
abnormalities. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific
type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of
surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming
more specific for different varieties of cancer. There has been significant progress in the
development of targeted therapy drugs that act specifically on detectable molecular
abnormalities in certain tumors, and which minimize damage to normal cells. The
prognosis of cancer patients is most influenced by the type of cancer, as well as the stage,
or extent of the disease. In addition, histologic grading and the presence of specific
molecular markers can also be useful in establishing prognosis, as well as in determining
individual treatments

Causes

Cancer is a diverse class of diseases which differ widely in their causes and biology. Any
organism, even plants, can acquire cancer. Nearly all known cancers arise gradually, as
errors build up in the cancer cell and its progeny (see mechanisms section for common
types of errors).
Anything which replicates (our cells) will probabilistically suffer from errors (mutations).
Unless error correction and prevention is properly carried out, the errors will survive, and
might be passed along to daughter cells. Normally, the body safeguards against cancer
via numerous methods, such as: apoptosis, helper molecules (some DNA polymerases),
possibly senescence, etc. However these error-correction methods often fail in small
ways, especially in environments that make errors more likely to arise and propagate. For
example, such environments can include the presence of disruptive substances called
carcinogens, or periodic injury (physical, heat, etc.), or environments that cells did not
evolve to withstand, such as hypoxia[5] (see subsections). Cancer is thus a progressive
disease, and these progressive errors slowly accumulate until a cell begins to act contrary
to its function in the organism.

The errors which cause cancer are often self-amplifying, eventually compounding at an
exponential rate. For example:

• A mutation in the error-correcting machinery of a cell might cause that cell and its
children to accumulate errors more rapidly
• A mutation in signaling (endocrine) machinery of the cell can send error-causing
signals to nearby cells
• A mutation might cause cells to become neoplastic, causing them to migrate and
disrupt more healthy cells
• A mutation may cause the cell to become immortal (see telomeres), causing them
to disrupt healthy cells forever

Thus cancer often explodes in something akin to a chain reaction caused by a few errors,
which compound into more severe errors. Errors which produce more errors are
effectively the root cause of cancer, and also the reason that cancer is so hard to treat:
even if there were 10,000,000,000 cancerous cells and one killed all but 10 of those cells,
those cells (and other error-prone precancerous cells) could still self-replicate or send
error-causing signals to other cells, starting the process over again. This rebellion-like
scenario is an undesirable survival of the fittest, where the driving forces of evolution
work against the body's design and enforcement of order. In fact, once cancer has begun
to develop, this same force continues to drive the progression of cancer towards more
invasive stages, and is called clonal evolution.[6]

Research about cancer causes often falls into the following categories:

• Agents (e.g. viruses) and events (e.g. mutations) which cause or facilitate genetic
changes in cells destined to become cancer.
• The precise nature of the genetic damage, and the genes which are affected by it.
• The consequences of those genetic changes on the biology of the cell, both in
generating the defining properties of a cancer cell, and in facilitating additional
genetic events which lead to further progression of the cancer.

Mutation: chemical carcinogens

Further information: Carcinogen

The incidence of lung cancer is highly correlated with smoking. Source:NIH.

Cancer pathogenesis is traceable back to DNA mutations that impact cell growth and
metastasis. Substances that cause DNA mutations are known as mutagens, and mutagens
that cause cancers are known as carcinogens. Particular substances have been linked to
specific types of cancer. Tobacco smoking is associated with many forms of cancer,[7] and
causes 90% of lung cancer.[8] Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers is associated with
mesothelioma.[9]

Many mutagens are also carcinogens, but some carcinogens are not mutagens. Alcohol is
an example of a chemical carcinogen that is not a mutagen.[10] Such chemicals may
promote cancers through stimulating the rate of cell division. Faster rates of replication
leaves less time for repair enzymes to repair damaged DNA during DNA replication,
increasing the likelihood of a mutation.

Decades of research has demonstrated the link between tobacco use and cancer in the
lung, larynx, head, neck, stomach, bladder, kidney, oesophagus and pancreas.[11] Tobacco
smoke contains over fifty known carcinogens, including nitrosamines and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons.[12] Tobacco is responsible for about one in three of all cancer
deaths in the developed world,[7] and about one in five worldwide.[12] Indeed, lung cancer
death rates in the United States have mirrored smoking patterns, with increases in
smoking followed by dramatic increases in lung cancer death rates and, more
recently[when?], decreases in smoking followed by decreases in lung cancer death rates in
men. However, the numbers of smokers worldwide is still rising, leading to what some
organizations have described as the tobacco epidemic.[13]

Mutation: ionizing radiation

Sources of ionizing radiation, such as radon gas, can cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to
ultraviolet radiation from the sun can lead to melanoma and other skin malignancies.[14] It
is estimated that 2% of future cancers will be due to current CT scans.[15]

Non-ionizing radio frequency radiation from mobile phones and other similar RF sources
has also been proposed as a cause of cancer, but there is currently little established
evidence of such a link.[16]

Infection

Some cancers can be caused by infection.[17] This is especially true in animals such as
birds, but also in humans, with viruses responsible for up to 20% of human cancers
worldwide.[18] These include human papillomavirus (cervical carcinoma), human
polyomaviruses (mesothelioma, brain tumors), Epstein-Barr virus (B-cell
lymphoproliferative disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma), Kaposi's sarcoma
herpesvirus (Kaposi's Sarcoma and primary effusion lymphomas), hepatitis B and
hepatitis C viruses (hepatocellular carcinoma), Human T-cell leukemia virus-1 (T-cell
leukemias), and helicobacter pylori (gastric carcinoma).[18]

Experimental and epidemiological data imply a causative role for viruses and they appear
to be the second most important risk factor for cancer development in humans, exceeded
only by tobacco usage.[19] The mode of virally induced tumors can be divided into two,
acutely transforming or slowly transforming. In acutely transforming viruses, the virus
carries an overactive oncogene called viral-oncogene (v-onc), and the infected cell is
transformed as soon as v-onc is expressed. In contrast, in slowly transforming viruses, the
virus genome is inserts near a proto-oncogene in the host genome. The viral promoter or
other transcription regulation elements then cause overexpression of that proto-oncogene.
This induces uncontrolled cell division. Because the site of insertion is not specific to
proto-oncogenes and the chance of insertion near any proto-oncogene is low, slowly
transforming viruses will cause tumors much longer after infection than the acutely
transforming viruses.

Hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, can induce a chronic viral
infection that leads to liver cancer in 0.47% of hepatitis B patients per year (especially in
Asia, less so in North America), and in 1.4% of hepatitis C carriers per year. Liver
cirrhosis, whether from chronic viral hepatitis infection or alcoholism, is associated with
the development of liver cancer, and the combination of cirrhosis and viral hepatitis
presents the highest risk of liver cancer development. Worldwide, liver cancer is one of
the most common, and most deadly, cancers due to a huge burden of viral hepatitis
transmission and disease.

Advances in cancer research have made a vaccine designed to prevent cancer available.
In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a human papilloma virus
vaccine, called Gardasil. The vaccine protects against four HPV types, which together
cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. In March 2007, the US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) officially recommended that females aged 11–12 receive the vaccine,
and indicated that females as young as age 9 and as old as age 26 are also candidates for
immunization.

In addition to viruses, researchers have noted a connection between bacteria and certain
cancers. The most prominent example is the link between chronic infection of the wall of
the stomach with Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer.[20][21] Although only a minority
of those infected with Helicobacter go on to develop cancer, since this pathogen is quite
common it is probably responsible for most of these cancers.[22]

Hormonal imbalances

Some hormones can act in a similar manner to non-mutagenic carcinogens in that they
may stimulate excessive cell growth.
Immune system dysfunction

HIV is associated with a number of malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma, non-

Hodgkin's lymphoma, and HPV-associated malignancies such as anal cancer and cervical
cancer. AIDS-defining illnesses have long included these diagnoses. The increased
incidence of malignancies in HIV patients points to the breakdown of immune
surveillance as a possible etiology of cancer.[23] Certain other immune deficiency states
(e.g. common variable immunodeficiency and IgA deficiency) are also associated with
increased risk of malignancy.[24]

Heredity

Most forms of cancer are sporadic, meaning that there is no inherited cause of the cancer.
There are, however, a number of recognised syndromes where there is an inherited
predisposition to cancer, often due to a defect in a gene that protects against tumor
formation. Famous examples are:

• certain inherited mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are associated with an
elevated risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer
• tumors of various endocrine organs in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN types
1, 2a, 2b)
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome (various tumors such as osteosarcoma, breast cancer, soft
tissue sarcoma, brain tumors) due to mutations of p53
• Turcot syndrome (brain tumors and colonic polyposis)
• Familial adenomatous polyposis an inherited mutation of the APC gene that leads
to early onset of colon carcinoma.
• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, also known as Lynch
syndrome) can include familial cases of colon cancer, uterine cancer, gastric
cancer, and ovarian cancer, without a preponderance of colon polyps.
• Retinoblastoma, when occurring in young children, is due to a hereditary
mutation in the retinoblastoma gene.
• Down syndrome patients, who have an extra chromosome 21, are known to
develop malignancies such as leukemia and testicular cancer, though the reasons
for this difference are not well understood.

Other causes

Excepting the rare transmissions that occur with pregnancies and only a marginal few
organ donors, cancer is generally not a transmissible disease. The main reason for this is
tissue graft rejection caused by MHC incompatibility.[25] In humans and other vertebrates,
the immune system uses MHC antigens to differentiate between "self" and "non-self"
cells because these antigens are different from person to person. When non-self antigens
are encountered, the immune system reacts against the appropriate cell. Such reactions
may protect against tumour cell engraftment by eliminating implanted cells. In the United
States, approximately 3,500 pregnant women have a malignancy annually, and
transplacental transmission of acute leukaemia, lymphoma, melanoma and carcinoma
from mother to fetus has been observed.[25] The development of donor-derived tumors
from organ transplants is exceedingly rare. The main cause of organ transplant associated
tumors seems to be malignant melanoma, that was undetected at the time of organ
harvest.[26] though other cases exist[27] In fact, cancer from one organism will usually grow
in another organism of that species, as long as they share the same histocompatibility
genes,[28] proven using mice; however this would never happen in a real-world setting
except as described above.

In non-humans, a few types of transmissible cancer have been described, wherein the
cancer spreads between animals by transmission of the tumor cells themselves. This
phenomenon is seen in dogs with Sticker's sarcoma, also known as canine transmissible
venereal tumor,[29] as well as Devil facial tumour disease in Tasmanian devils.

Cancer is the most feared disease in the today. Cancer is a leading cause of death globally: an estimated 7.
people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years if action is not taken. More than 70% o
cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where resources available for prevention, diagnosis and trea
cancer are limited or nonexistent. It is estimated that over 40% of all cancer can be prevented. Cancer in many cases
avoidable, or curable when detected early and treated according to best treatment. The main risk factors such as tobac
junk food, declining consumption of fruit and vegetables, life style and obesity are contributing to the rise in cancer rate
particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Cancer may affect people at all ages, but risk tends to increase with a
Cancer is predominantly a disease of modern civilization and is largely due to the way we feed and treat our bodies a
wanton disregard for the environment. Even the medical establishment agrees that cancer is almost totally preventable
80-90% of all cancers have their origin in poor dietary practices, smoking or exposure to known carcinogens. The grea
single reason for the devastating toll that cancer takes is ignorance. Ignorance about what cancer is and what causes i
ignorance about how it can be prevented, and ignorance about options for treatment.

On December 18, 2009 British scientists have unlocked the genetic codes of lung and skin cancers in a breakthrough
to transform the way cancers are diagonised and treated in future. The genetic maps show most mutations in lung can
traced to chemicals in tobacco smoke and in malignant melanoma (skin cancer) to ultra violet light, confirming they are
preventable.
What is Cancer
All organs of the body are made up of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more cells only when the
body needs them. This orderly process helps keep us healthy. If cells keep dividing when new cells are
not needed, a mass of tissue forms. This mass of extra tissue, called a growth or tumor, can be benign
or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed and, in most cases, they do
not come back. Most important, cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, normal ce
cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic
system. This is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) tumor to form new tumors in other parts
of the body. A few cancers, such as blood cancers (leukemia), do not form a tumor.
Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are
many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Normal body
cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells
divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide cancer c
only to replace worn-out or dying cells and to repair injuries. producing
Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of
dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells. Cancer cells develop because
of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all activities. Most of the time when DNA
becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired.
People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. More often, though, a person's
DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the environment, like smoking.
Cancer usually forms as a tumor the abnormal growths: Neoplasia and neoplasm are the scientific
designations for cancerous diseases. This group contains a large number of different diseases.
Neoplasms can be benign or malignant. Cancer is a widely used word that is usually understood as
synonymous with malignant neoplasm.
Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and Cancer cel
blood-forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow. Often, cancer cells travel to to grow and
other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process is called
metastasis. Regardless of where a cancer may spread, however, it is always named for the place it
began.
Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are
very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why
people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.

Cancer cell

Types of Cancer
Cancers are classified by the type of cell that resembles the tumor and, therefore, the tissue
presumed to be the origin of the tumor. The following general categories are usually accepted:
Carcinoma: malignant tumors derived from epithelial cells. This group represent the most common
cancers, including the common forms of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer.
Lymphoma and Leukemia: malignant tumors derived from blood and bone marrow cells
Sarcoma: malignant tumors derived from connective tissue, or mesenchymal cells
Mesothelioma: tumors derived from the mesothelial cells lining the peritoneum and the pleura.
Glioma: tumors derived from glia, the most common type of brain cell.
Germinoma: tumors derived from germ cells, normally found in the testicle and ovary
Choriocarcinoma: malignant tumors derived from the placenta.
The general classification of Cancer are: Skin canc
Bladder Cancer
Breast Cancer
Brain Cancer
Cervix/uterus
Colon and rectum Cancer
Endometrial Cancer
Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer Oral cance
Leukemia
Liver cancer
 Lung cancer
Malignant melanoma
Prostate Cancer
Pancreas Cancer
Oral Caner
Ovary Cancer
Sarcoma
Skin Cancer (Non-melanoma)
Throat Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
All other cancers
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. A tumor that originates in the milk ducts ma
Paget's disease of the breast. Tumors may spread to other organs, such as the lungs or the liver, before being detecte
underlying cause of most is unclear. However, some risk factors have been identified, many of which suggest that the
hormone estrogen is an important factor in the development and progress of the disease. Possible risk factors include
diet, excessive alcohol intake, estrogen replacement therapy and oral contraceptive use. If a diagnosis of it is establish
tests include: Liver function tests, alkaline phosphates test to check for bone disease, chest X-ray (Radiography) and
Brain cancers are abnormal growths of cells in the brain. Although such growths are popularly called brain tumor
brain tumors are cancer. Cancer is a term reserved for malignant tumors. Some brain cancers occur when one type of
transforms from its normal characteristics. Once transformed, the cells grow and multiply in abnormal ways. As these a
cells grow, they become a mass, or tumor.
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. The pancr
gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The pancreas lies behind the stomach and in
spine. The digestive juices are produced by exocrine pancreas cells and the hormones are produced by endocrine pan
About 95% of pancreatic cancers begin in exocrine cells. Possible signs of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, pain, an
loss. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose early because the signs of pancreatic cancer, when present,
signs of many other illnesses. Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed with tests and procedures that produce pictures
pancreas and the area around it. Pancreatic cancer can be controlled only if it is found before it has spread, when it ca
removed by surgery.
Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the outer layer of the skin. A malignant growth is one that has the potential t
death. Skin cancers are often divided into two general groups: malignant melanomas and non-melanoma cancers. The
of the skin (the epidermis) contains three kinds of cells. Most of those cells are squamous cells. Cells near the bottom
epidermis are called basal cells. And cells that provide pigment (color) to the skin are known as melanocytes (pronoun
uh-no-sites). Each type of cell can become cancerous. The three types of skin cancers, therefore, are squamous cell c
cell cancer, and malignant melanoma (cancer of the melanocytes). Malignant melanoma is by far the most serious form
cancer. Basal cell cancer is the most common form of skin cancer. It accounts for about 75 percent of all skin cancers.
cell cancer is the second most common type of skin cancer. It grows more quickly than basal cell cancer, but less quic
melanoma. Exposure to sunlight is thought to be the major cause of skin cancers.
Prostate cancer: In India, there is a lack of awareness among men and there should be greater awareness of the Pr
Specific Antigen (PSA) test which should be done by all men over 50 years at least annually. The PSA test is a screen
in detecting prostate cancer early and should be encouraged by all doctors. Presently most prostate cancer patients in
being treated through open surgery due to the high cost of laproscopic and surgery using a robot.

Causes of Cancer
The major causes of cancer are a faulty diet, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and exposure to toxic chemic
radiation. It is estimated that 60% of all cancers in men and 40% of all cancers in women are caused by a diet that is to
and proteins and too low in fruits, vegetables and fiber. Fats are believed to promote cancer rather than initiate it and a
and hydrogenated fats are particularly detrimental. A high intake of protein has been associated with an increased risk
types of cancer and a high sugar intake significantly increases the risk of breast cancer. Smoked, pickled, salt-cured an
barbecued foods are also potent cancer initiators while alcohol is strongly implicated in the promotion of already initiate
cells.
Smoking and the exposure to second-hand smoke accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths. Pesticides and othe
chemicals are increasingly implicated as cancer initiators. Asbestos has been strongly linked to lung cancer and benze
leukemia and bone marrow cancers. Chlorination of drinking water is another potent cause of cancer and is estimated
15% of all cancers of the rectum and 9% of all bladder cancers. Excessive exposure to solar radiation and electromagn
can also lead to cancer. Although these causes of cancer are many and varied they have one thing in common - they a
avoidable!
Cancer is a gene disorder of somatic tissue, in which damaged genes fail to properly control cell proliferation. The ce
cycle is regulated by a sophisticated group of proteins. Cancer results from the mutation of the genes encoding these p
Cancer can be caused by chemicals that mutate DNA or in some instances by viruses that circumvent the cell’s norm
proliferation controls. Whatever the immediate cause, however, all cancers are characterized by
unrestrained growth and division. Cell division never stops in a cancerous line of cells. Cancer cells are virtually immor
body in which they reside dies. Cancer is unrestrained cell proliferation caused by damage to genes regulating the cell
cycle.
Many cancers originate from a viral infection; as viruses are responsible for 15% of human cancers worldwide. The m
associated with human cancers are human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human T-lymphotr
Experimental and epidemiological data imply a causative role for viruses and they appear to be the second most impor
factor for cancer development in humans. The mode of virally-induced tumors can be divided into two, acutely-transfor
slowly-transforming. In acutely transforming viruses, the viral particles carry a gene that encodes for an overactive onc
viral-oncogene (v-onc), and the infected cell is transformed as soon as v-onc is expressed. In contrast, in slowly-tra
viruses, the virus genome is inserted, especially as viral genome insertion is an obligatory part of retroviruses, near a
proto-oncogene in the host genome. The slowly-transforming viruses have very long tumor latency compared to acutel
transforming viruses, which already carry the viral-oncogene.
Prevention of Cancer
Prevention of cancer can be accomplished by avoiding carcinogens or altering their metabolism, pursuing a lifestyle o
modifies cancer-causing factors and/or medical intervention Generally between 80-90% of all cancers are preventable
takes knowledge and determination to act on this fact. The most important measures to prevent cancer are to eat a hea
avoid smoking and second-hand smoke, and avoid exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation. Maintaining a strong imm
system and particularly an abundant supply of dietary antioxidants are equally important.
A healthy diet is one that contains an abundance of fresh, preferably organically-grown fruits and vegetables. The da
should be rich in fiber and low in fat. Protein intake should be moderate and red meat consumption should be limited. S
alcohol, margarine and pickled, smoked, salted, and barbecued foods should be avoided.
Getting daily exercise and avoiding excessive psychological stress are also important preventive measures. Lack of
activity has recently been implicated in the development of both breast and colon cancer. A lack of sunlight has also be
implicated in the development of breast and colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis. It is important to get at lea
hour of unprotected sunlight every day and remember - sunscreens block the formation of vital vitamin D and do not pr
against melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
Antioxidants like vitamin-C and vitamin-E, beta-carotene, and selenium are all recognized cancer fighters. They wor
neutralizing the free radicals and toxins before they can initiate the gene mutation which eventually leads to cancer. Nu
scientific studies have shown that many people have a low antioxidant intake and that this vastly increases their risk of
Other studies have shown that supplementing with antioxidants can significantly lower the risk of developing many type
cancer.
A strong immune system is an essential defense against cancer. A healthy diet will go a long way towards giving you
immune system, but for optimum protection most progressive researchers recommend supplementation with appropria
of vitamins, minerals, and especially antioxidants.
Eating a healthy diet, taking the appropriate supplements, avoiding smoking and alcohol, keeping your stress level low
lots of exercise, and staying far away from radiation and toxic chemicals you can reduce your chances of developing ca
80-90%.

Diagnosing Cancer
Most cancers are initially recognized either by their signs or symptoms. Generally, cancer symptoms can be divided in
groups:
Local symptoms: unusual lumps or swelling (tumor), hemorrhage (bleeding), pain and/or ulceration. Compression of s
tissues may cause symptoms such as jaundice.
Symptoms of metastasis (spreading): enlarged lymph nodes, cough and hemoptysis, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), b
fracture of affected bones and neurological symptoms.
Systemic symptoms: weight loss, poor appetite and cachexia (wasting), excessive sweating (night sweats), anemia an
paraneoplastic phenomena, i.e. specific conditions that are due to an active cancer, such as
thrombosis or hormonal changes.
The common diagnosing methods are:
Biopsy:
A cancer may be suspected for a variety of reasons, but the definitive diagnosis of most malignancies must be confirm
histological examination of the cancerous cells by a pathologist. Tissue can be obtained from a biopsy or surgery. The
diagnosis indicates the type of cell that is proliferating, its histological grade and other features of the tumor. Together,
information is useful to evaluate the prognosis of this patient and choose the best treatment. Cytogenetics and
immunohistochemistry may provide information about future behavior of the cancer (prognosis) and best treatment.
Screening:
Cancer screening detect unsuspected cancers in the population. Screening tests suitable for large numbers of healthy
be relatively affordable, safe, noninvasive procedures with acceptably low rates of false positive results. If signs of can
detected, more definitive and invasive follow up tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis. Screening for cancer can
earlier diagnosis which may lead to extended life. A number of different screening tests have been developed. Breast c
screening can be done by breast self-examination. Screening by regular mammograms detects tumors even earlier tha
examination, and many countries use it to systematically screen all middle-aged women. Colorectal cancer can be dete
through fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy, which reduces both colon cancer incidence and mortality, presuma
the detection and removal of pre-malignant polyps. Cervical cytology testing leads to the identification and excision of
precancerous lesions. Prostate cancer can be screened for by a digital rectal exam along with prostate specific antige
blood testing.
Screening for cancer is controversial in cases when it is not yet known if the test actually saves lives. The controversy
when it is not clear if the benefits of screening outweigh the risks of follow-up diagnostic tests and cancer treatments.
Use of medical imaging to search for cancer in people without clear symptoms is similarly marred with problems. The
significant risk of detection of what has been recently called an incidentaloma - a benign lesion that may be interpreted
malignancy and be subjected to potentially dangerous investigations.
Canine cancer detection has shown promise, but is still in the early stages of research.

Treatment of Cancer
Conventional treatment:
Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy or
methods. The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumor and the stage of the disease, as we
general state of the patient.
Surgery: Cancers can be cured if entirely removed by surgery, but this is not always possible. When the cancer has
metastasized to other sites in the body prior to surgery, complete surgical excision is usually impossible. Surgery can b
effective when it comes to the removal of easily accessible, relatively small, early stage, localized tumors as for instanc
breast, colon, uterus or bladder. Some cases of stomach cancer also respond well to surgery. Surgery is no longer the
for treating melanoma and skin cancer as there are now very effective herbal-based ointments which will remove the tu
relatively short time with no danger of metastasis. Surgery, of course, does not address at all the underlying cause of th
So unless appropriate lifestyle and dietary changes are made, the cancer is likely to recur. Surgery and even biopsies
the very real danger of spreading the cancer to other organs in the body. The success rate for surgery can be improved
boosting the immune system before the operation and by timing it right.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy
valuable and most dangerous of all conventional treatment modes. It uses a variety of highly toxic drugs to kill the canc
Perhaps the greatest problem with chemotherapy is that it seriously weakens the immune system just at the time when
the most. Chemotherapy has been used with some success in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and certain lymphom
leukemias. However, chemotherapy is generally not useful in the treatment of the most common cancers like breast, c
lung cancer. Some cancer researchers are less charitable in their opinion of chemotherapy. Professor Levin goes on to
physicians "are coerced into using it by special interest groups which have vested interests in the profits of the drug ind
Drugs used in chemotherapy have devastating side effects and patients undergoing
chemotherapy, apart from being thoroughly miserable, frequently die of pneumonia, common infections or other cance
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy, X-ray therapy, or irradiation) is the use of ionizing ra
cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy uses high-intensity x-rays to prevent cancer cells from reproducing;
process it also kills off healthy cells, depresses the immune system, causes very unpleasant side effects, and greatly in
risk of developing leukemia later on. Dr. John Cairns of the Harvard School of Public Health believes that "the majority
cannot be cured by radiation because the dose of x- rays required to kill all the cancer cells would also kill the patient."
studies at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center concluded that patients who received no radiation lived longer than those
irradiated. Radiation therapy can be useful in early Hodgkin's disease, and in treating localized tumors of the prostate,
neck, and larynx. In most other cases, it is of limited value and causes more harm than good.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is the use of immune mechanisms against tumors. These are used in various form
such as breast cancer and leukemia. The agents are monoclonal antibodies directed against proteins that are charact
cells of the cancer in question, or cytokines that modulate the immune system's response.
Chronic pain due to cancer is almost always associated with continuing tissue damage due to the disease process or
treatment (i.e. surgery, radiation, chemotherapy). The failure of conventional medicine in coming to grips with cancer is
best illustrated by looking at lung cancer. Lung cancer is now the most common cause of death from cancer. Research
National Cancer Institute (NCI) admit that the current, conventional treatment of lung cancer is ineffective and state "Th
improvement in survival underscores the importance of lung cancer prevention and early diagnosis, because various th
interventions have had relatively little effect on lung cancer survival in the general population.
CyberKnife technology to treat cancer in India:
Now the most advanced CyberKnife robotic radio surgery system will be available to cancer patients from third week
2009 at the Apollo Specialty Cancer hospital, Chennai. The Apollo Hospital group has installed the most-advanced ver
system in Asia-Pacific at the cancer specialty centre in Chennai. “The advanced technology behind CyberKnife uses r
image guidance technology and computer controlled robotics to deliver an extremely precise dose of radiation to targe
avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue and adjusting for patient and tumour movement during treatment,” explained Jo
Rodenbeck Adler, professor of Neurosurgery and oncology at the Stanford University Medical Centre. “The procedure
anaesthesia, as the treatment is painless and non-invasive,”said Adler.

Alternative Treatments:
Due to the poor results obtained with conventional therapies and the great harm they can cause, alternative therapies
in acceptance and popularity. These therapies are all based on assisting the body's own
defense systems in destroying the cancer cells. They use various methods to achieve this with most of them requiring
of commitment and determination on the part of the patient. As in the case of conventional
treatments, very few, if any, controlled experiments have been carried out on the value of the various therapies, so test
their effectiveness is not known.
The experiments found that terminal cancer patients who received large, daily doses of vitamin C along with their reg
treatment lived much longer than patients who did not receive vitamin C; they also had less pain and
in general, a much improved quality of life. Vitamin C has many properties which makes it an excellent cancer fighter. I
detoxifying agent, an antioxidant, and helps to produce antibodies. It is also very important in preventing growing tumo
invading adjacent tissue. Dr. Hoffer of Victoria, Canada later expanded on the Pauling/Cameron treatment protocol by
amounts of vitamin E, vitamin B-3, other B vitamins, beta-carotene, and some minerals. Those of Dr. Hoffer's cancer p
followed this regimen lived, on the average, about 16 times longer than those who did not.
In January 1994, Dr. Donald Lamm and his colleagues at the West Virginia University School of Medicine reported th
megadose vitamin therapy significantly lessens the risk of recurrence in bladder cancer patients. Patients who received
therapy, on the average, had less than half the tumor recurrence rate than did patients who did not receive it. Dr. Lamm
combination included multivitamins (RDA dosages) plus 40,000 IU vitamin A, 100 mg vitamin B-6, 2,000 mg vitamin C,
vitamin E, and 90 mg zinc(32). The megadose vitamin therapy, so far, has only been evaluated in combination with con
cancer treatments.
Metabolic and herbal therapies aim at cleansing the body, boosting the immune system, and assisting the body in ridd
the cancer and the toxins created by the breakdown of the tumor.
The Gerson therapy believed that cancer results from a faulty metabolism and long-term exposure to pesticides and o
environmental pollutants. His treatment involves a detoxification program and a meat-free, salt-free, and low-fat diet alo
copious quantities of fresh fruit and vegetable juices as well as various supplements. The Gerson program is particular
for melanoma, lymphomas, and cancers of the liver, pancreas and colon. Success has also been achieved with inoper
cancer, metastasized breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
The Hoxsey therapy was developed by a self-taught American healer, Harry Hoxsey. The Hoxsey therapy includes th
avoidance of pork, vinegar, tomatoes, carbonated drinks, alcohol, bleached flour, and refined sugar. Various suppleme
given with the main component of the treatment being the Hoxsey tonic which consists of several different herbs, many
anti-cancer effects.
Immune therapies are used in both conventional and alternative treatment protocols. The Livingston Foundation Med
San Diego treats cancer patients with various individually-tailored vaccines, gamma globulin, and a vegetarian diet with
mineral supplements. The Immunology Research Center in Freeport, Bahamas uses injections of immune substances
the body's own immune system and claims good success with breast, colon, kidney, and bladder cancer. The Burzyns
Institute in Houston, Texas uses injections or supplements of peptides and amino acid derivatives occurring naturally in
augment the body's biochemical defense system and reprogram cancer cells so that they revert to normal developmen
Other alternative therapies are based on the use of specific formulations such as the Canadian herbal remedy Essiac
been used with apparent success since 1922. Shark cartilage has been found to be particularly effective against brain
prostate, liver and breast metastases. It works by interfering with the tumor's ability to create a vitally needed blood sup
Hydrazine sulfate is particularly effective in combating cachexia, a deadly condition which causes many cancer patient
death.
There are many highly respected alternative cancer therapies in use in Europe. The late Johanna Budwig, MD advoc
combination of sulfur-containing protein and essential fatty acids to treat many types of cancer. Dr. Hans Nieper, MD in
Germany uses a vegetarian diet and various combinations of vitamins, minerals, laetrile, and special vaccines.
Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine also have specific treatments for many cancers; the ancient tec
Gong has been found to be particularly effective.

Cancer Research
February 28, 2010: Extracts of a fruit grown on tropical vines appears to have breast cancer blocking powers, say
researchers.Scientists found key ingredients of the green bitter melon fruit (Momordica charantia called Karela in Indi
with chemical pathways involved in cancer growth. It turned off signals telling the breast cancer cells to divide and swit
signals encouraging them to commit suicide.

Experts told Cancer Research journal more trials were needed. Although promising as an anti-cancer agent, trials in a
then humans are still needed, study co-author Dr Rajesh Agarwal from the University of Colorado, US, said.
Targeted therapy which first became available in the late 1990s has had a significant impact in the treatment of some
cancer, and is currently a very active research area. This constitutes the use of agents specific for the deregulated prot
cancer cells. Small molecules (such as the tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib and gefitinib) and monoclonal antibodies
to be a major step in oncological treatment. Targeted therapy can also involve small peptidic structures as ´homing dev
can bind to cell surface receptors or affected extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor. Radionuclides which are attac
peptides (e.g. RGDs) eventually kill the cancer cell if the nuclide decays in the vicinity of the cell (vide supra Radiation
Especially oligo- or multimeris of these binding motifs are of great interest, since this can lead to enhanced tumor spec
avidity.
Considerable research effort is now devoted to the development of vaccines and to potential venues for gene
therapy for individuals with genetic mutations or polymorphisms that put them at high risk of cancer.
The clinical trial findings from WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and published in 'New En
Journal of Medicine' (April 2, 2009) indicated that HPV DNA testing was the most effective way to reduce incidence of
cancer compared to either Pap (cytology) testing or visual inspection with ascetic
acid (VIA).The study demonstrated that a single round of HPV testing was associated with a significant reduction in the
advanced cervical cancers and deaths from the disease.
Social Impact
It is general conception that cancer is a deadly disease. Progressive and disseminated malignant disease has a sub
impact on a cancer patient's quality of life, and many cancer treatments may have severe side-effects. In the advanced
cancer, many patients need extensive care, affecting family members and friends. Government, NGOs and many local
organizations offer a variety of practical and support services to people with cancer. Counseling can also provide emot
to cancer patients and help them better understand their illness.
New treatment of Cancer
TomoTherapy, a new way to treat cancer, has given a ray of hope to the cancer patients. TomoTherapy is the most a
form of image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy with several advantages. Tomotherapy combines precise 3
from computerised tomography (CT scanning) with highly targeted precise radiation beams. With this machine, radiatio
oncologists can check the location of the patient’s tumour before each treatment. They can then deliver painless and p
radiation therapy based on a carefully customised plan.

Cancer is the Latin word for crab.

Home » Health
Scientists say curry compound kills cancer cells
Updated on Thursday, October 29, 2009, 20:30 IST
Tags: cancer cells, curry, Scientists
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London: A molecule found in a curry ingredient can kill esophageal cancer

cells in the laboratory, suggesting it might be developed as an anti-cancer treatment,
scientists said on Thursday.

Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Center in Ireland treated esophageal cancer cells
with curcumin -- a chemical found in the spice turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive
yellow color -- and found it started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours.

The cells also began to digest themselves, they said in a study published in the British
Journal of Cancer.

Previous scientific studies have suggested curcumin can suppress tumors and that people
who eat lots of curry may be less prone to the disease, although curcumin loses its anti-
cancer attributes quickly when ingested.
But Sharon McKenna, lead author of the Irish study, said her study suggested a potential for
scientists to develop curcumin as an anti-cancer drug to treat esophageal cancer.

Cancers of the esophagus kill more than 500,000 people across the world each year. The
tumors are especially deadly, with five-year survival rates of just 12 to 31 percent.

McKenna said the study showed curcumin caused the cancer cells to die "using an
unexpected system of cell messages."

Normally, faulty cells die by committing programed suicide, or apoptosis, which occurs when
proteins called caspases are 'switched on' in cells, the researchers said.

But these cells showed no evidence of suicide, and the addition of a molecule that inhibits
caspases and stops this "switch being flicked' made no difference to the number of cells that
died, suggesting curcumin attacked the cancer cells using an alternative cell signaling
system.

US researchers said in 2007 they had found curcumin may help stimulate immune system
cells in the Alzheimer's disease.

Bureau Report