Scoping Out Colon Cancer!

It’s not likely to make anyone’s bucket list, but a colonoscopy could save you from needing to do everything on that list anytime soon.

A new study confirms that regular colonoscopy screening, which involves inserting a scope through the rectum and into the intestines to detect and sometimes remove growths, can lower the risk of colon cancer by 77%. That number changes depending on the exact site of tumors: risk is reduced just 56% if the growth is on the right side of the intestines (which is harder to reach with the scope), but that is still a big improvement over people who did not get routine screenings.

Common wisdom calls for a colonoscopy once every 10 years for anyone over age 50, but that advice has been questioned by recent studies suggesting that the invasive and relatively expensive procedure does not find more tumors than less expensive tests that analyze fecal blood or use a shorter scope. The reason for the varying results may be operator skill; proper preparation and thorough execution of the test could improve its effectiveness.

For patients, it may be worth seeking out such skilled physicians, since colonoscopy is one of the few screening tools that can both detect precancerous growths and remove them, preventing cancer in a single procedure.

This information is from Time Magazine Jan 17, 2011, Lab Report by Alice Park.

If you are over 50 please discuss with your doctor scheduling a colonoscopic screening for your health and life.

To your Health, Leigh

Use Music to Soothe Cancer Treatments

Listening to music can be good therapy for people undergoing cancer treatment, according to recent research. The American Cancer Society reports that music therapy can help reduce pain and relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Studies also have shown that listening to music can slow your heart and breathing rate, reduce blood pressure, improve mood and even help you sleep better.

Here are some easy ways to get your musical "dose":

Bring an iPod or CD player with a headset to medical appointments. Listen to classical music, instrumental arrangements or anything you find soothing in the waiting room or during chemo infusions.

Tune your car radio to easy-listening stations. Or, listen to favorite CDs while driving to or from the clinic or hospital. Avoid jarring tunes and downbeat news stations.

If you play a musical instrument, carve out time for personal jam sessions.

Sing along to your favorite tunes-don't by shy!

this article was in the Healthmonitor Magazine, Feb/Mar 2011.

Check for this magazine at your doctors office, they have some great articles.

Good health and wealth to all,

Leigh

Jennie-O Turkey Burger Recall, Does it effect you?

On April 2, 2011, Jennie-O Turkey Store, owned by Hormel, issued a recall of 55, 000 pounds of frozen ground turkey burgers that may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to US Dept of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service. The recall pertains to packages of “All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat” with a “use by” date of December 23, 2011.

The ground turkey, which comes in four pound boxes containing 12 patties, is sold exclusively at Sam’s Club. Consumers who have purchased the product should not consume it and return it to a Sam’s Club for a full refund, Jennie-O said.

If you are a cancer patient and on chemotherapy, or have any other immune weakness for an illness or age, infants and the elderly, Salmonella infections can be life-threatening. Salmonella's is caused by consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella and is one of the most common bacterial food borne illnesses. The most common symptoms of the Salmonella are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever (according the FSIS). Additional symptoms may be chills, vomiting and nausea that can last up to 7 days.

Be sure to check your Turkey Burger Packages NOW!

To your Health, Leigh

Mammograms find more than Breast Cancer.

Mammograms Do Double Duty! Mammography is one of the best ways to detect breast cancer early, but the routine scans may also be useful in picking up signs of kidney disease. X-ray based mammogram screenings expose calcium deposits - one of the by-products of malfunctioning kidneys - in the arteries of breast tissue. This was reported in the Feb 11th issue of Time magazine in the briefing section, Lab Reports, by Alice Park. This just adds to the reason to be sure to get your mammogram; Early detection of breast cancer and early detection of kidney disease. To your health Leigh

Relay for Life, American Cancer Society Support!

It is Relay for Life time, Get your teams together and get signed up. This annual event to benefit the American Cancer Society is coming up the first of May and now is the time to start collecting sign ups and contributions.

There will be events from the 24 hour walk/run to Survivor walks.

This is one of the biggest Cancer events of the years and it supports ACS research for a cure for breast cancer as well as other cancers.

I will be walking for myself as a Survivor of breast cancer and for my best friend that past away 6 months ago from breast cancer. My sister will be walking (if she is well enough) as a survivor of bladder cancer.

If you do not have a team of your own contact your local hospital or doctors office and find one you can join.

WE can stop cancer through research. Join in now!

get more information here: www.relayforlife.org/

To your health!

Leigh

Bladder Cancer, What Now!

My sister just had her bladder removed last week due to bladder cancer. For 10 years she has had a cystoscopy starting at every 6 months to in the end having them every three months. She has gone through 2 sets of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatments which did not make much difference. Luckily the cancer stayed a stage 1 for most of that time and only in the past year has become aggressive in its growth. It has gone from what the doctor described as broccoli to looking like a full forest.

I will be covering some of the information I have found out about this cancer from different web sites and also some of the trials and triumphs that have occurred.

This is the basic definition of BLADDER CANCER as defined by the MayoClinic.com site.

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that begins in your bladder — a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. Bladder cancer begins most often in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Bladder cancer typically affects older adults, though it can occur at any age.
The great majority of bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage — when bladder cancer is highly treatable. However, even early-stage bladder cancer is likely to recur. For this reason, bladder cancer survivors often undergo follow-up tests to look for bladder cancer recurrence for years after treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer please ask your doctor questions. He or she should be your first line of action. But never be afraid to look to others for more information. The internet has a wealth of information and support groups across the country can help answer questions also.

Good Health to us all!
Leigh


This information in not medical advise and is information only. Please discuss any questions with your doctor.

Women, Coffee and Stroke Risk!

According to an article published online Thursday in the American Heart Association Journal Stroke, women who enjoy a daily dose of coffee may be lowering their risk of stroke.

Women in a Swedish study who drank at least a cup of coffee everyday had a 22-25 percent lower risk of stroke, compared to those who drank less coffee or none at all.

"Coffee drinkers should rejoice. Coffee is often made out to be potentially bad for your heart. There really hasn't been any study that convincingly said coffee is bad", said Dr Sharonne N Hayes, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "If you are drinking coffee now, you may be doing some good and you are likely not doing harm," she added.

The study shouldn't send non-coffee drinkers running to their local coffee shop. The study doesn't prove that coffee lowers stroke risk, only that coffee drinkers tend to have a lower stroke risk.

Well, I am headed to Starbucks for my daily cup of coffe, have a good one.

Good health and wealth to all,

Leigh