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Choline & Breast Cancer by Karl Dorads

There is a lot of excitement over the discovery of potential links between choline an essential nutrient and breast cancer. Recent studies have raised hopes that an adequate intake of choline on a daily basis can reduce breast cancer risk by as much as 24%. This article will look at choline and how it actually makes a difference.

There have been a lot of articles in the press lately regarding the benefits of choline for women in terms of breast cancer prevention. The nutrient choline has been linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk in initial clinical trials and seems to be a promising candidate in the battle against breast cancer. Let us go through the link between choline & breast cancer.

Choline is not a part of the Vitamin B family right now, but it has a chemical structure which is very similar to others in the family and is usually mentioned with them in most manuals of biochemistry. The mechanism by which choline produces its effects in the body is not fully known and research on this is still in its nascent stage. This chemical entity interacts with folate and methionine in the body to produce most of its actions. Choline can be produced in the body and is available through dietary sources as well. The interest in the link between choline & breast cancer is because choline serves various functions in the human body. For example it is an important component of cell membranes, it plays a role in protecting the livers from accumulating fat and has an important role as the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The human body can produce small amounts of choline, but it must be a part of the diet to maintain health. In the human body, choline is found in molecules called phospholipids. The most common phospholipid which choline associates with is lecithin. These phospholipids of which choline are components of the cell membranes as mentioned before.

Several studies link an adequate intake of choline to a reduction in breast cancer risk. In 2003, a Harvard University study indicated that subjects who consumed more eggs which are one of the richest source of choline , vegetable fat, and fiber than the average girl during adolescence had a smaller risk of developing breast cancer as adults. Eating one egg per day was associated with an 18 percent reduction in risk . A recent study has again shown that choline is associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, according to a study supported by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. This study only adds to the growing body of evidence from research that links egg consumption to a decreased risk of breast cancer. This study has provided solid evidence linking choline & breast cancer. As of now just ten percent of Americans currently meet the recommended intake for choline.

According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended choline intake is 550 milligrams per day for men and breastfeeding women, 425 milligrams per day for women, and 450 milligrams per day for pregnant women. One egg contains 125.5 milligrams of choline, or roughly a quarter the recommended daily supply. This makes eggs an excellent source of choline, a valuable nutrient. Choline is found exclusively in the egg’s yolk. Other good food sources of choline include liver, wheat germ and cauliflower.

You can visit our website for more information about Cancer and Sarcoma. We have a lot of articles about Lung Cancer , Ovarian Cancer , Sarcoma Muscle Cancer, …

Article Source: Life Is Cheerful

Latest Treatments on Breast Cancer by Karl Dorads

Treatment for breast cancer involves many types of approaches. The initial diagnosis and clinical work up is the guide to the type of treatment you will undergo.There are some criteria on which your cancer treatment depends like the cellular composition of the cancer, the size of the tumor, the stage of cancer you have and your hormonal status. You general health status also plays a role in deciding the line of treatment. This article will take you through some of the latest treatments on breast cancer.

Surgery and radiation therapy are most effective when the tumor is localized to the breast and can be easily removed. Benign tumors and small sized tumors are treated in this way. The latest treatments on breast cancer include advances in chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and biologic therapy. These are used in advanced stages of cancer when the tumor is no longer confined just to the breast. They are used in metastatic cancer which has spread to other parts of the body as well.

Breast cancer surgery aims at removing the bulk of the cancerous tissue. Better surgical options have emerged which give patients the chance to undergo reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy. Surgery may also be in the form of a breast or lymph node biopsy which is done for a diagnosis. Latest treatments on breast cancer have surgical options which include a prophylactic mastectomy or a removal of the ovaries in some cases.

Radiation therapy destroys the cancer cells and prevents them from proliferating within the body. This helps prevent the spread of cancer. Radiations has also advanced by leaps and bounds. The latest treatments on breast cancer also include targeted radiation. This is more effective and prevents injury to the surrounding healthy cells as well. Radiation can now be delivered in appropriate doses with lesser side effects.

Chemotherapy is considered systemic therapy as it targets cancer cells in the entire body. New schedules of chemotherapy include adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy. These can also be supplemented by a stem cell or bone marrow transplant which is useful in cases where the immune system is severely depressed. Stem cell therapy has become the cynosure of all eyes as it offers unbelievable potential in cases like breast cancer. Stem cell therapy is one of the latest treatments on breast cancer. It allows the patient to receive stem cells which have the potential to turn into any of the body’s cells and replicate at a faster pace to combat the cancer cells.

Targeted biologic therapies are another chapter in the latest treatments on breast cancer. These therapies are designed to disrupt cellular processes that contribute to the continued growth of cancer cells. Such therapies include drugs like Tykerb, Herceptin, Avastin and Iressa. Breast cancers are frequently dependent on estrogen for their growth. Anti-estrogen hormone therapy starves tumor cells of the estrogen they need to grow, resulting in cancer cell death. This type of therapy may be delivered before surgery, or concurrently with radiation.

Hormone therapies can include estrogen receptor blockers, aromatase inhibitors, oopherectomy and chemical ovarian suppression.

You can visit our website for more information about Cancer and Sarcoma. We have a lot of articles about Lung Cancer , Ovarian Cancer , Sarcoma Muscle Cancer, …
Article Source: Life Is Cheerful

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Why Would I Lose My Hair As a Healthy Middle Aged Woman? by Ryan English

All women will lose some hair at some point in their lives. There is hair loss in healthy middle aged women. All women will experience some thinning. Sometimes it’s just not noticeable, but in some cases it is. There’s no need to be embarrassed. It can be remedied. Let’s talk a bit about hair loss, otherwise known as alopecia. It simply means someone is losing more hair than usual. Hair usually grows about 1/4 inch per month and does so for about six years. Generally, hair loss is thought of only in men, but it can happen to women as well, just usually not to the same degree. It can, however, in rare cases lead to baldness. There are two main causes of hair loss in healthy middle aged women and they are psychological and physical.

The psychological part is too much stress, anxiety, overwork or even just fatigue. These factors need to be controlled or they could unbalance your body functioning, producing alterations that could lead to hair loss.

The physical causes are different. It could be due to a hormonal imbalance. It is the main cause of hair loss in middle aged women. Estrogen controls DHT, which is the one that is in charge of the malfunctioning of the hair production in certain areas. It is produced by testosterone but as previously stated is controlled by estrogen.

So what can you do about your hair loss you might ask? First you need to find out if it’s physical or psychological reasons causing your hair loss. If it’s psychological then you should schedule rest and spare time. You should also exercise and see a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. If it is physical it is probably caused by imbalanced estrogen, maintaining healthy amounts of hormone in your body are the most important thing to consider here. There is also the option of surgery. They can take 1-4 strands of your hair from the non-balding areas and plug them in where your hair is thinning. Another option is going in for laser surgery. In laser surgery the idea is that the blood rushes to the top of the head bringing up the follicles. One other option is homemade remedies. You can find plenty of those in books or on the internet.

You’ve basically just got to keep yourself healthy in every sense of the word. Body and mind must be in harmony and well kept. If you ever think you’re too stressed, take some time for yourself. If you’re feeling down, go for a jog or a ride on a bike. Don’t let the world get you down. If you feel it’s necessary go to your Doctor and talk about it. Perhaps a Psychologist could help as well. Just don’t give up. There’s always help out there for you and you’ll find the right answer.

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Article Source: Life Is Cheerful