Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped sex gland in men that produces the seminal fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm. The growth of the cells in the prostate gland is stimulated by the male sex hormone called testosterone. Though its causes are unknown, prostate cancer is a frightening prospect for men. This cancer threatens not just their lives, but also their sexuality. Possible consequences of treatment (even if the treatment has been successful in saving a person’s life) include erectile dysfunction and bladder control problems. Prostate cancer progresses very slowly and the early stages show little or no symptoms. If detected early, effective treatment with minimum side effects is possible. Once the cancer spreads (metastizes) treatment becomes more difficult.

A man’s vulnerability to prostate cancer increases with age. Most often, prostate cancer is detected very late and people who lose their lives do not die from prostate cancer, but die WITH prostate cancer. As the cancer develops, it eventually squeezes the urethra, which surrounds the prostate. This is when signs and symptoms begin to appear:

-Urgency in urination

-Difficulty in starting urination

-Dull, persistent ache in the lower pelvic area

-Painful urination, a very slow flow (almost like a dribble)

-Intermittent urine flow, and a sensation that the bladder is not empty

-Frequent urination, sometimes including blood

-Painful ejaculation

-Persistent pain in the bones, lower back, hip and thighs

-General ill health, loss of appetite, and decline in weight

If the cells from the cancerous prostrate break away, the cancer will spread. Most commonly, prostate cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, bones in the hips or the lower back, lungs, and sometimes even the brain.

Risk factors:

The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. As with almost any other cancer, heredity also plays a key role. For reasons unknown, African-American men seem to have a higher risk of prostate cancer. A fat-rich diet and sedentary lifestyle also contributes to the risk. Fat causes an increased production of testosterone, which may in turn lead to the development of cancer cells. High levels of testosterone mean higher chances of developing prostate cancer. Therefore men who suffer from hypogonadism, or have been undergoing long-term testosterone treatments are at risk. A vasectomy may also result in prostate cancer, though there is no conclusive proof of this.

A routine screening test may reveal the beginnings of prostate cancer. A DRE (Digital Rectal Examination), which involves inserting a gloved finger into the rectum, helps the doctor to examine the prostate. Any change in shape or size of the gland may mean trouble. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test analyzes a blood sample for the levels of PSA. If a higher than normal level is detected, a prostate infection or cancer may be suspected. A transrectal ultrasound helps to further evaluate the prostate using sound waves. If initial tests produce positive results, a prostate biopsy may be done to verify the presence of cancer. If cancer is confirmed, the next step is to investigate the spread of the cancer. A bone scan, CT scan, and Ultrasound scan may be used for this.

The mode of treatment directly depends on how aggressive the cancer is. For most men, a combination of treatments (surgery, radiation paired with hormone therapy, chemotherapy) may prove effective.

The best way to reduce the risk from prostate cancer is to eat a diet rich in fiber and low in fat. Regular exercise also helps.

Hash oil operation found during child removal

While Butler County Children Services were removing a child from a home, they discovered a "butane hash oil operation," according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

Melanie Couch, 28, and Tyler Couch, 27, have been charged with cultivation of marijuana, illegal manufacturing of drugs and endangering children, authorities said.

Using butane to produce hash oil is a way of concentrating certain chemicals in marijuana.

"A drop or two of this liquid on a cigarette is equal to a single 'joint' of marijuana," according to the DEA's website.

USA TODAY

ATF warns of danger from 'hash oil' explosions

The methods used to produce hash oil prompted the ATF-issued warnings about hash oil explosions earlier this year.

"I will continue to arrest and charge those who not only manufacture illegal drugs but especially those thugs that put children in harm's way. I am glad that this was stopped before something very bad happened," said Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones.

Read or Share this story: http://cin.ci/1Lvy93T

Breast Cancer Blueprint

Treatment for breast cancer used to be "one-size-fits-all": surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. New research shows that doctors are now able to better diagnose breast cancer down to the subtype of the disease, using specialized molecular testing.  This new approach means life-saving individualized therapy for some patients.

Becky Kovatch was 44 and a mother of two when she felt a lump in her breast during a self-exam. After a biopsy, doctors determined she had stage two aggressive breast cancer.

Mark Gittleman, MD, Director of Breast Services at Coordinated Health Network in Philadelphia says in recent years, doctors have relied on standard pathology tests to plan treatment before surgery.  He says those tests aren't foolproof.

"Using those traditional tumor markers doesn't always tell us how that tumor is living and how it's multiplying," Dr. Gittleman says.

Dr. Gittleman is testing a new diagnostic tool for breast cancer. The "BluePrint" test is designed to identify the specific type of cancer down to the molecule. Using biopsy tissue, the test analyzes 80 genes.

In a study of 426 patients who had their cancer subtype identified by traditional lab tests, 22 percent had their tumors reclassified after "BluePrint" testing.

Dr. Gittleman said, "when the patients were reassigned based on molecular subtyping, there was a much better correlation of response to the chemotherapy if they were in the high risk group."

Becky says, "with the chemotherapy, it shrunk the tumor."

Becky is now cancer-free and can concentrate on her role as a basketball mom and family cheerleader. Because the procedure is performed on tissue that has already been removed during an initial biopsy, the "BluePrint", and a companion test, the "MammaPrint", do not require an extra procedure. "MammaPrint" is covered by Medicare and other insurance.

Leukemia: Could Avocados Be The Cure?

Do you like avocados? (Photo : wikipedia commons )

Could avocados hold the secret to fighting off deadly leukemia?

New findings published in the journal Cancer Research reveal that fats in avocados may help fight against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by destroying leukemia stem cells that can quickly worsen if not treated quickly.

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Researchers noted that the findings are particularly important as over 90 percent of seniors diagnosed with this disease die within five years. The new findings bring hope for this incredibly deadly type of leukemia with very few drug treatments available.

"The stem cell is really the cell that drives the disease," lead researcher Professor Paul Spagnuolo from the University of Waterloo said in a news release. "The stem cell is largely responsible for the disease developing and it's the reason why so many patients with leukemia relapse. We've performed many rounds of testing to determine how this new drug works at a molecular level and confirmed that it targets stem cells selectively, leaving healthy cells unharmed."

"It's an exciting time for our lab. With the help of CCRM we are now pursuing commercial partnership that would take avocatin B into clinical trials," added Professor Spagnuolo. "Not only does avocatin B eliminate the source of AML, but its targeted, selective effects make it less toxic to the body, too."

Though the drug is still years away from becoming approved for use in oncology clinics, the researchers are already performing experiments to prepare for a Phase I clinical trial.

Though the drug is still years away from use in oncology clinics, the researchers are already performing experiments to prepare the drug for a Phase I clinical trial. In fact, researchers are in the first round of trials in which people diagnosed with AML may have access to the drug.

Furthermore, there are also other potential applications for Avocatin B beyond just oncology.

"Extracts are less refined. The contents of an extract can vary from plant to plant and year to year, depending on lots of factors -- on the soil, the location, the amount of sunlight, the rain," concluded Spagnuolo. "Evaluating a nutraceutical as a potential clinical drug requires in-depth evaluation at the molecular level. This approach provides a clearer understanding of how the nutraceutical works, and it means we can reproduce the effects more accurately and consistently. This is critical to safely translating our lab work into a reliable drug that could be used in oncology clinics."

Related Articles

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Cannabis Oil And Bone Marrow Cancer

Cannabidiol Can Kill Multiple Myeloma Cells
News, Studies December 3, 2013 by TheJointBlog


Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow, and has a median survival rate of around 3 years. According to a study published in the most recent issue of the International Journal of Cancer, cannabidiol, a compound found in cannabis, can slow, and even kill multiple myeloma cancer cells.

Cannabidiol, one of many compounds found in cannabis.
“Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell (PC) malignancy characterised by the accumulation of a monoclonal PC population in the bone marrow (BM). Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with antitumoural activities”, begins the study’s abstract.
After studying the effects of cannabidiol on multiple myeloma cells, researchers found that; “CBD by itself or in synergy with BORT strongly inhibited growth, arrested cell cycle progression and induced MM cells death by regulating the ERK, AKT and NF-κB pathways with major effects in TRPV2+ cells.” They conclude that; “These data provide a rationale for using CBD to increase the activity of proteasome inhibitors in MM.”
The study, which validates a recent National Institute of Health study which also found that cannabidiol can inhibit cancer cells, was conducted by researchers at the School of Pharmacy at the University of Camerino in Italy.

This article is found at http://thejointblog.com/cannabidiol-can-kill-multiple-myeloma-cells/
– TheJointBlog
Tags: cannabidiol, CBD, international journal of cancer, Multiple Myeloma, university of camerino

7 commentsSkip to comment form ↓

Martin fenton
January 30, 2015 at 4:10 pm (UTC -7)
Reply
Would like to no more about it , and how I can buy it , i had stemm cell 6 years ago , but I am back on trearmrnt


Gordana
November 10, 2014 at 4:13 pm (UTC -7)
Reply
My mother has MM. She used to take Alceran first year, and now she has been taking Thalidomid for a year. MM is partly in remission. I am afraid – how those medecines affect other parts of the body. I am thinkkng aboht this oil. I don’t know – should she take Thalidomide with the oil. Or just oil.


Jen
July 15, 2014 at 10:44 am (UTC -7)
Reply
My father has MM, going on 6 yrs and 3 mo. This study really sounds great. After researching… I would like to know where I can buy in the USA? Any idea?


Sam
November 3, 2014 at 4:45 pm (UTC -7)
Reply
Jen, I had a stem cell transplant and have been in remission for almost 3 years. Except for the damage done to my ribs, I can do almost anything that I want. My back was really damaged too, but oddly enough, its the ribs that give me problems. I am also now using Frankincense and taking Pau di Arco. Someone just hooked me up with this website. So I plan on doing this too, but I wanted to send encouragement to your father.


Anonymous
March 3, 2014 at 6:57 pm (UTC -7)
Reply
Elisabeth


Zachary
December 3, 2013 at 11:23 am (UTC -7)
Reply
Still no link to sources, eh?


TheJointBlog
December 4, 2013 at 12:25 am (UTC -7)
Reply
Hi Zachary, as with most of our articles, the source is hyper-linked within the article. Here’s a direct link to the study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24293211

Cannabis oil ‘cure’ denied to Portslade woman with terminal cancer

A terminally-ill woman dying from cancer says she has been denied the right to find a potential cure because she cannot get hold of illegal cannabis oil.

Sheila O'Brien, 50, of Portslade, was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.

Despite bouts of chemotherapy, the cancer came back in 2013 and spread to her lungs and bones.

Now she wants to ingest cannabis oil because she believes it could rid her body of tumours – but says she has been denied the right to "save my own life" because of "backward laws and government policy".

Ms O'Brien said: "I have terminal cancer and was told there was no cure.

"I might have believed that had I not read an article on cannabis oil. I started to research it and to my amazement, I discovered it had cured many of thousands of people.

"But the problem for people like me is it's illegal. It's illegal for me to try to save my own life. I am denied that right. How can that be right and moral, to deny my chance to live? Where are my human rights?

"The government argument is there is no medical evidence – but there is evidence from thousands of people who have taken it and who have been cured.

"We have backward laws and government policy influenced by big pharmaceutical companies."

Ms O'Brien is the latest in a string of people in Sussex and across the country who want to or are using cannabis to alleviate medical conditions.

Sussex man Clark French, the founder of national medicinal cannabis campaign group United Patients Alliance, has previously told The Argus he relies on cannabis to relieve his crippling symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Last week Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, described the country's current drugs policy on medicinal cannabis as "inhumane".

The Liberal Democrat politician said his party's upcoming election manifesto would contain proposed reforms to drugs policy.

Ms O'Brien added: "Sadly the reality is that millions of people who don't want chemotherapy, but choose alternative proven methods, are being denied the right to save their own life.

"I chose cannabis oil but because it is illegal and I cannot access it.

"I will die at the hands of the greedy and ignorant who pull the strings."

For more information about the United Patients Alliance, visit UPAlliance.org

How a common antacid could lead to cheaper anti-cancer drugs

A popular indigestion medication can increase survival in colorectal cancer, according to research published in ecancermedicalscience. But in fact, scientists have studied this for years - and a group of cancer advocates want to know why this research isn't more widely used.

"Cimetidine is an interesting drug as it's very safe, very well-known, and has clinical results in cancer that have been confirmed in a number of trials," says Pan Pantziarka, lead author of the paper and member of the Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO) project.

Cimetidine treats indigestion by blocking histamine receptors in the gut, which decreases the production of gastric acid. It also appears to block histamine receptors in cancer cells, as well as supporting the immune system's defences against cancer.

Cimetidine has been shown to have positive effects in colorectal and gastric cancer, melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma.

"Cimetidine is one of the most interesting examples of repurposed drugs in oncology - a drug with an extensive history of pre-clinical and clinical evidence of efficacy in a range of different cancers and with multiple mechanisms of action at work," says Pantziarka.

Raising awareness of untapped medicines

An international collaboration between anticancer researchers from across the world, the ReDO project is dedicated to promoting the cause of common medicines which may represent an untapped source of novel therapies for cancer.

In a previous paper published in ecancermedicalscience, the ReDO researchers examined the anti-cancer properties of the drug mebendazole, an over-the-counter treatment currently used for threadworm.

Now, working in partnership with ecancer, the ReDO project is publishing a series of papers on drugs with enough evidence to be taken to clinical trials. Future papers will address the potential anti-cancer uses of nitroglycerin (used to treat angina), itraconazole (a common anti-fungal), diclofenac (an over-the-counter painkiller), and clarithromycin (an antibiotic).

"Such promising therapies are often ignored since pharmaceutical companies lack financial incentives to develop them further via proper clinical trials," says Gauthier Bouche, medical director of Anticancer Fund. "The ReDO project was established to find and document such opportunities."

A cheaper solution to the cancer crisis

Repurposed anticancer drugs such as aspirin and antacids may represent the future of cancer drug research, according to leaders of the ReDO project.

Cheap, accessible, and with few side-effects, these solutions are very attractive to healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income countries. Repurposed drugs could also reduce the financial burden of cancer in developed countries.

"Cimetidine is a drug that can meet patient needs now - so we need to ask ourselves: what's stopping it being used?" asks Pantziarka.

Explore further: Cheap malaria drug could treat colorectal cancer effectively too, say experts

More information: ecancer.org/journal/8/485.php

Provided by ecancermedicalscience

Concert to conquer kidney cancer set for June 23

Chestnut Hill resident Bryan Lewis, a kidney cancer survivor, sits with his family near the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., in Spring 2014. (From left: Bryan Lewis, Jackson Lewis, Marisa Lewis and Isabel Lewis.)

by Sue Ann Rybak

Chestnut Hill resident Bryan Lewis will never forget the day his doctor diagnosed him with kidney cancer. At 47 years old, he had no prior symptoms such as abdominal or back pain, weight loss or loss of appetite.

He recalled how he noticed some blood in his urine and decided he better get it checked out. Later that evening, he went to the emergency room after experiencing abdominal pain.

"The ER doctor initially said he thought it was kidney stones," said Lewis, who is executive director of Action to Cure Kidney Cancer, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise funds for kidney cancer research in the effort to find a cure.

He was given a routine blood test and advised to get a CAT scan as a precaution.

"Sometime around 2 a.m," Lewis said. "In a curtain enclosed area of the George Washington University Hospital's Emergency Room in Washington, D.C., a 20-something ER doctor said, 'Mr. Lewis, we found some significant abnormal growth on your left kidney that we are fairly certain is a tumor,'" said Lewis, the father of 1-year-old twins at the time. "The doctor said, 'it is likely cancer.' My world changed forever."

"In 2015, it is estimated that there will be 61,560 new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancer and an estimated 14,080 people will die of this disease," according to the National Cancer Institute.

But Lewis was one of the lucky ones. It was discovered in the early stages.

It's just one of the reasons he feels compelled to give back.

According to the American Cancer Society, kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in men and women.

Lewis said a colleague introduced him to Action to Cure Kidney Cancer (ACKC) and their advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill to increase funding for kidney cancer research.

"Kidney cancer research has had a rising incidence level during the past decade, yet has been grossly underfunded compared to other cancers in the top 10 of incidence levels, said Lewis, who turned 54 in March.

Since 2006, ACKC has awarded more than $6.3 million to kidney cancer researchers. This year the organization hopes to raise $50,000 by holding a series of two-piano performances by Brenda Casey and Pat Todd.

ACKC will hold its third concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 8000 Cherokee St., in Chestnut Hill. The concert is free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted to benefit kidney cancer research.

Todd, 77, of Guilford, Conn., said kidney cancer was hard to diagnose because there is no early screening test. She added that often it is discovered incidentally while undergoing tests for another condition.

"Early detection is critical because there is no chemotherapy or radiation treatment," she said. "If it is found early, your chances of survival are very high, but there are no distinguishing symptoms. However, changes are symptoms of a problem, and an alert doctor will try to find out what is causing the changes."

Unfortunately, her husband's cancer went undiagnosed until it was too late.

"My husband loved to play squash, tennis, paddle ball and loved to bike and swim great distances." she said. "He had a shell that he rowed in for hours. He was never ill, but throughout his life suffered what we jokingly referred to as the Todd Sinus – chronic sinus congestion.

"Around 2000, he was turned away at a blood drive because he was anemic," said Todd, another board member of Action to Cure. Over the years, he had donated gallons of blood. That was the first sign. He had a physical every year. That same year, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. There was the back ache which he blamed on lifting his row boat. When I look back on that back ache, I know it was the kidney – it was in his flank, it wasn't a disc type back ache. There is a long list of changes, yet, his doctor never pursued them. He himself was in chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma at the time. We didn't know that at the time. Ken was always seen by his assistant."

She said it was very difficult for them to see another doctor near them because Ken's primary care physician refused to sign "a release of recommendation" for his insurance company.

"When Ken started having night sweats that completely soaked the bed, he said, 'I can't live like this,'" Todd said.

She said her husband's sinus problem became "horrible."

"We went to see a specialist about his cough and sinus which was much worse, but a chest X-Ray revealed nothing," Todd said. "Finally, after at least 18 months of progressively awful symptoms, a doctor of infectious diseases listened to us and said, 'This sounds like cancer.'

She said an abdominal scan later revealed that he had "a size able tumor in his kidney."

"We were shocked – neither of us had heard of kidney cancer," Todd said.

Prior to Ken's diagnosis, Todd had searched the web repetitively, desperate to find out what was wrong with her husband.

"When I found kidney cancer, I discounted it because he never had blood in his urine," she said. "And the backache had gone away."

She said after he had extensive surgery to remove the tumor, his kidneys and a lot of lymph nodes, "he felt wonderful."

"No more sinus problems," Todd said. "But it was too late, the tumor had spilled over into the renal vein. Had it been discovered earlier, as an incidental finding, he would have been one of the lucky ones. He never had blood in his urine. The tumor was up against his adrenaline glands, wrecking havoc with his systems."

Neither Bryan Lewis or Ken Todd had a history of kidney cancer in their family.

Lewis said he traced both sides of his family's history back three generations.

"My mother is 97 years old and living with my father, who is 90 years old, in Virginia," he said. "My grandfather on my mother's side lived to be almost 101 years old and my other grandparents lived well into their 80s."

Lewis commented that men are twice as likely to get kidney cancer as women. He added that a recent study by the Veterans Administration found that the chances of getting kidney cancer among veterans is double that of the general population.

He said even though kidney cancer is among the top ten most common cancers in men and women, it continues to be underfunded compared to other cancer types like breast, prostate, and ovarian.

Through ACKC's advocacy efforts, the organization has initiated an appeal to the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHSE) sub-committee to request that the National Cancer Institute develop a strategic plan to combat kidney cancer.

"Over the past eleven years, we have focused our major efforts on educating the House and Senate about kidney cancer and urging Congress to appropriate money for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMR) of the Department of Defense specifically for kidney research.

"Through our efforts since 2006, Congress added kidney cancer to the list of diseases that are eligible for grants as part of the DOD's peer reviewed programs," he said. "As a result, kidney cancer researchers have been awarded $7.5 million in grants for kidney cancer research."

He added that funding for research is vital. Without funding for research, scientists cannot develop screening tests and medical treatments for kidney cancer.

"Together, we can find a cure for kidney cancer," said Lewis.

For more information about Action to Cure Kidney Cancer or Concerts to Conquer Kidney Cancer go to ackc.org.

Lung Cancer Lurks in Worsening Female Health Data

 Credit: Silvia Sala on Flickr, under Creative Commons

(WOMENSENEWS)--American women take note: Mortality rates from breast cancer and heart disease have dropped, but women are now more likely to experience poor mental health, develop diabetes, get chlamydia and commit suicide than their recent predecessors, according to a recent study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

More alarming still: the life expectancy for low-income, uneducated white women has dropped by five years over the last quarter century, from 78 years in 1990 to 73 in 2008, according to a 2013 study in Health Affairs.

"We have a major problem going on, and we don't know why this is happening," Steven Woolf, professor of family medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health, told a women's health conference in April in Washington, D.C.

One suspect in this medical mystery may startle women: a decades-ago rise in the rate of smoking that Woolf suggested may now be resulting in a surge of lung cancer. Woolf also cited other possibilities for declines in women's health, such as increasing prescription opioid use and women's lower socio-economic status relative to men.

Whatever the cause of the longevity decline among poor, white women, lung cancer is clearly taking a toll. It is now the leading cancer killer of women in the United States and other developed nations, according to a recent study in a leading cancer journal.

In the less developed world breast cancer is still the most deadly form of cancer for women, although lung cancer death rates are rising there too--at least among older women, according to a recent study. In the United States, the five-year survival rate of lung cancer is less than 20 percent, considerably lower than the 90 percent five-year survival rate for breast cancer, according to the American Lung Association.

Danger Overlooked

In the United States, more than 70,000 women are expected to die this year from lung cancer, nearly twice the number of deaths from breast cancer, the American Lung Association says.

Yet few women consider lung cancer a significant danger. Nearly 90 percent of women say breast cancer is a "top-of-mind" concern, but only 1 percent of women say lung cancer is, according to the American Lung Association's Women's Lung Health Barometer.

More women are also concerned about ovarian and cervical cancer than lung cancer, the survey finds, even though those diseases too are less prevalent and less lethal than lung cancer.

State and federal lawmakers, meanwhile, have put smoking cessation--once a national priority--on the legislative backburner, according to a January report by the American Lung Association.

Authors called 2014 a "disappointing year" because little progress was made to improve lung health. The federal government did not increase federal tobacco taxes or give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight over e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, and no states passed comprehensive smoke-free laws or significantly increased tobacco taxes, the report states.

Smoking, the main cause of lung cancer, has plummeted in the United States, from 42 percent of adults in 1965 to 19 percent today, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But women born in the 1960s are now entering the age when diagnosis of lung cancer is most common, according to the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund.

"The lung cancer deaths we are seeing today really have to do with smoking trends we saw in the 1970s, when women really started to pick up smoking," Lindsey Torre, an epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society, said in an article in HealthDay.

Path-Breaking Report

A public warning against smoking by the U.S. Surgeon General in a report more than 50 years ago wouldn't seem like a threat to women's health. But as it so happened, it was.

That path-breaking report led to a rapid drop in smoking rates among men, who were then far heavier cigarette users than women, according to the CDC. But smoking rates among women rose as tobacco companies launched marketing campaigns targeting them.

The late 1960s saw the rise of pastel-colored packaging of cigarettes and advertising campaigns that suggested that smoking prevents weight gain and empowers women, the CDC report says. Phillip Morris' 1968 ad campaign for Virginia Slims--a taller, more slender cigarette than others at the time--is a notorious example. Its slogan: "You've come a long way, baby."

The campaigns worked--and women are now suffering the aftermath as lung cancer patients.

To raise awareness about the "silent epidemic" of lung cancer in women, the American Lung Association launched a campaign with CVS Health, a national pharmacy retail chain that made headlines when it removed cigarettes from its shelves last year.

"Not only are women disproportionately affected by lung disease," the campaign says on its website, "but they also influence more than 80 percent of health care decisions for their families. By educating women, we will expand our impact and increase the likelihood that women will not only make healthy decisions for themselves, but also for their families--including the men, women and children that they love."

Allison Stevens is a writer in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Drinking beetroot juice before exercise can boost heart function in COPD patients

Washington, Jun 11 (ANI): An easy walk, slow dancing, leisurely sports such as table tennis, household chores and other light-intensity exercise may be nearly as effective as moderate or vigorous exercise for older adults, if they get enough of that type of activity, as per a new research.

The Best Anti-Cancer Diet

A recent article in the The New York Times questioned common prevailing recommendations for the diet that is the ultimate cancer foe.  Most current books and resources on anti-cancer nutrition emphasize a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lower in animal fats and heavily processed foods.  The notion of eating superfoods (like chia and flaxseed), and consuming other anti-oxidant-rich foods, especially those with varying phytochemicals has been promoted as the uber-health diet.  The New York Times article suggests that much of this wisdom is based more on folklore and less on science.

At a recent meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, nutrition and diet was at the forefront of discussions attended by over 18,500 researchers, scientists and health professionals.  Believe it or not, coffee was identified as having the possible impact of lowering the risk of some cancers, while levels of vitamin D were highlighted as having strong ties to cancer risk.  

One speaker, Dr. Walter C. Willet, a Harvard epidemiologist and internationally accepted authority on nutrition, has spent much of his professional life looking at how nutrition impacts health, especially the risk (or not) of cancer.  He acknowledged the influences of certain dietary choices with regards to diseases like heart disease and diabetes (though much more research is needed), but suggested that when it comes to cancers, we don't know a whole lot.  Specifically, he was not convinced that scientific research had clearly identified that fruits and vegetables prevent cancer and that a diet high in fatty foods increase risk.  He concurred that avoiding or reducing obesity helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes type 2, hypertension, and stroke, but he is currently not convinced that the available research identifies specific foods that do or don't cause cancers.

If you reflect on history, the World Cancer Research Fund published clear reports and conclusions on diet back in the 1990s, suggesting that consistent fruit and vegetable consumption might reduce various cancer risks by as much as 20 percent.  Back then, a review of thousands of studies appeared to suggest that:

Green vegetables could reduce risk of lung, stomach cancers

Broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts might reduce risk of colon and thyroid cancer (interestingly enough we now know that hypothyroid patients shouldn't eat Brussels sprouts and cabbage)

Onions, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, and citrus fruits might help to lower overall risk of cancers

Go to sometime in the year 2007, and many of these conclusions appeared to now be "intuitive but unfounded."  To date, the research seems slim on whether or not singular foods can cause or prevent cancers.  The prevailing idea, that colon cancer risk is directly related to red meat consumption, appears to be ambiguous at best.  If red meat has an impact, it may be very marginal, not enough to warrant dramatic dietary commitments.  So what do we know?

There may be a connection between high fat diets (saturated fat specifically) and risk of breast cancers

Eating vegetables may help to reduce the risk of estrogen-negative breast cancers

Reducing consumption of milk and other dairy products may reduce risk of prostate cancer

Reducing inflammation in the body may reduce risk of certain diseases

Eating beans may help to lower LDL

Not smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer

Being fat may be causing more fatalities now than smoking

Let's focus on that last one, because that is something we can change.  Read Kitchen Tips for Healthier Meals to learn simple tips for portion control and healthier cooking.

Amy Hendel is a Physician Assistant and Health Coach with over 20 years of experience.  Noted author, journalist and lifestyle expert, she brings extensive expertise to her monthly shareposts.  Her most recent book, The 4 Habits of Healthy Families is available for purchase online, and you can watch her in action on her shows Food Rescue and What's for Lunch?  Sign up for her daily health tweets or catch her daily news report at www.healthgal.com.

My Dance With Cancer

Content extracted from http://www.phkillscancer.com

My Dance With Cancer


The Dance Begins

Dear Son…”I am coming to Hawaii. Shall I bring a tent or buy one there?”

Dear Dad…”Don’t bother with a tent. I am caretaking a place and there is a vacant cabin just for you.”

Well, I went to Hawaii and had one adventure after another. Including camping, fire dancing, getting in between a battle between growers and rippers, announcing a couple man and wife at a gathering, learning Hawaiian fruits and hunting them, living in cabins, house sitting, trip to India, two visits from my wife, getting to know my son, and much much more.

One adventure I was not prepared for was a devastating visit to a doctor after my return from a trip to India. Previously, I was struggling with some other health news concerning my heart, but this one…this one was the ‘killer’.  It put me to the test.

I had passed the test in India where I made a $30.00 symbolic gesture for life by deciding to have a tooth filled instead of continuing the attitude “I am dead anyway, so why fix anything”. That was huge! And I needed it to carry me through what was waiting for me. I am crying now just thinking about what happened.

A PSA test which registered 22.3 raised some huge flags. The doctors made appointments for a biopsy.  Which, if you never had one make sure they numb your prostate.

Because I swear after the 8th bite from that jaw-headed needle springing into my prostate to grab a bit of flesh it was not my prostate that was numbed. It was someone else’s.  When I yelled out “the F word!” on the ninth hit the ‘torture team’ decided they had enough samples. They had wanted 12.

The biopsy report indicated that I did indeed have prostate cancer. This called for the next step – a bone scan. That scan was like a trip into space. I laid myself onto this bedded slab which guided my ‘bones’ into that picture-taking-oversized-donut. The report from this scan as well as a Pelvic Cat Scan is where the doctors decided I was afflicted with aggressive prostate cancer. In their technical terms they described it on the report dated 17Mar 2008:

“Reviewed CT and bone scan. Bone scan showed metastatic disease at R sacrum and L illiac wing”.

So…they patted me on the back and told me I had aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to the bone. I felt bad for the young doctor who was from North Carolina. He felt bad for me and did not know how to express it.

Me…I didn’t know how to express it either. This was a whole new gig. On my walk away from the doctors,  I felt my eyes welling up. On my return flight to Hilo from Honolulu I wish I had sun glasses.

My primary care physician (bless her heart) decided to get a second opinion even though a team of doctors already diagnosed me. She sent me to an Oncologist. This is what he said on the report:

“Ancillary Studies: These are largely mentioned in the history of present illness. The pathology confirms the presence of prostate carcinoma of high grade. The T stage would appear to be stage III but without obvious invasion into the seminal vesicles on CT scan. The radionuclide bone scan and plain films confirm the presence of skeletal metastasis in the sacrum and the left illium. In addition, on my review of the CT scan of the pelvis, a number of other small sclerotic lesions are noted within the pelvis. Pre-treatment PSA was 22 but has decreased to 5.88 after institution of Finasteride and Casodex. TNM classification, T#NXM1. AJCC stage IV.”

(What? Stage IV? Is that what I think it says? There is no Stage V)

He went on to discuss with me possible and improbable treatments. What he basically said is that there are none. In fact, he mentioned that he even found a few more spots that the first team of doctors missed.

Lucky me! At least he told me that I shouldn’t be buying my coffin just yet. You see…I had no idea what bone cancer was suppose to mean to me.  When the first set of doctors informed me that I had  prostate cancer that had spread to the bones, I didn’t know if that meant my bones were going to melt away or what.

In any event, I left this doctor feeling better. Not because I was happy with the diagnosis’s. But because  he, at least, explained a few things to me that the other doctor did not. Plus I was becoming used to the fact that I was a dead man walking. Hahaha!

Well….I found out that my muscles weren’t going to fall off my bones. I did get a lot of warnings about pain. Never the less, this story continues.

Even though I was feeling better with this new information, I was still devastated.  The Dance had begun, and I don’t know if I was a willing partner or not. I was just too numb! Numb as in “I felt like my Soul was sucked out of me.”

Now I am going to fast forward here a little bit.  You don’t need to know or experience how empty I felt. So I am jumping ahead to Oregon.

Somehow through some miracle, my son, who lives in Las Vegas, mentioned to me something about pH and how pH affects the body. Now this grateful information I got from my son did not get to me as I was leaving the doctor’s office. It came to me after I left Hawaii.

Even though it seemed incidental at the time, having my tooth filled in India planted a seed in me that, unbeknownst to me, would carry in it  a desire to live.

I let the pH info I got from my son incubate for a few days before I did any pH research. The research  lead to Cesium Therapy. Cesium is a mineral, that according to internet studies, likes to eat up cancer. It attacks the tumor from the inside out. And of course, it is highly alkaline.

I was anxious to become friends with cesium. I had nothing to lose. I do not and did not care what the naysayers say. I wanted to do something. So Cesium it was! But wait…the cesium got lost in the mail. Oh crap, now what do I do? Wait for a reshipment? No…Can’t do that. I am on a roll; need to do something quickly. The next allopathic test is around the corner.

That is when I decided to try baking soda. It was something that I ran across on the internet that suggested  that it too would raise my body’s pH. Now both of these pH raising substances did not indicate they would be successful in killing bone cancer. Quite the contrary! The research indicated neither would help get rid of bone cancer. So, I decided to add a twist. I added Black Strap Molasses as the carrier.

Long story short. I did it. I drank a baking soda solution   I started 2 June 2008 and quit 12 June 2008. I quit because I was scheduled for another bone scan on 13 June 2008. They wanted to see how far that doctors’ thing spread or if what they were doing has slowed it down.

I have to mention here that at this ‘baking soda’ point in this adventure I am not in Hawaii. My sibling family in Oregon rallied around me and invited me to come ‘home’ to them. They wanted to keep an eye on me; be there for me; and give me love. My real thoughts were, “I am going home to die.”

Plus, the VA Hospital in Portland was close by. At least I wouldn’t have to make that Hawaiian Island to Island jump to get more bad news.

My son in Hawaii, who I was having the absolute most fun with was crushed that I would leave. He brought me to tears when he said, “Dad, stay with me. I will do what it takes to take care of you. I will get another job. Two if I have to”. Believe me that took me over the edge. Again, this cry baby, is crying while I write this.

But I thought it best to go to Oregon. Especially when my brother promised me that he would play Backgammon with me (I love that game).  I felt I was soon to be a burden and did not want my son to be part of that. It is more complicated than that, but I did what I thought best.

So back to the follow-up bone scan (I am in Oregon now)…. I went through another space ride through a fat donut once more. This time, however, I was hoping for hope. I don’t know why I was hoping, because all my research indicated that once cancer got into the bones you are toast. Anyway, I got bone scanned and waited for the report. The report arrived in the mail a few days later.  I was nervous and did not want to open it. As a matter of fact I am crying right now just thinking about it. I finally opened it to these words:

“NO CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF AN OSSEOUS METASTATIC PROCESS”

I bawled like a baby.

Two days later I got another report in the mail about my blood tests: PSA is now 0.1…. That is zero point one!

Do I have a conclusion? No I don’t. I just told you some of my story……Vernon

PS: Where is the Cesium? It finally showed up around 11 June 2008. Will I take it? Yes, in a heartbeat. When? When I decide! And I decided to a few weeks later, but that is just a part of this continuing story.

Sometimes I describe this adventure as “Being Hit by a Rainbow.” You may ask what does this have to do with being hit by a rainbow. Well…I describe any thing good or miraculous as being hit by a rainbow. My son turning me onto adjusting the body’s pH from acidic to alkaline as a possible way to create some hope was a good hit. I did not act right away on the pH factor, but within a few days I was busy on my Asus laptop googling away.

My sibling family bribing me out of Hawaii to come to Oregon was another rainbow hit. By the way, my brother promising to play backgammon with me – that was a ruse. He just said that because I was not initially excited about leaving Hawaii. In fact, I was not excited about anything. He wanted me to be close by, so he lied to me about playing backgammon. He hates backgammon. His goal (thank you brother) was to get me to his house.

One of my sister’s sending me a good chunk of travel money was definitely rainbow mterial. Probably more like a pot of gold hitting me. She also corresponded or called me almost daily. How nice is that!

In any case, those were just a few of the getting-smacked-around-by-a-rainbow things. But the Baking Soda was a big one. Arm and Hammer to the rescue! I later found out that Arm and Hammer is shunned by some baking soda users because of the idea that it has aluminum in it. Well, at the time, I could have cared less. Hey man, my body is hanging on to some pretty corrupt bones. What would you do?

As I later found out from research and a visit to a natural food store, aluminum is not in baking soda, It is in baking powder. The employee specializing in the vitamin and mineral department said that  Bob’s Red Mill Baking Powder is aluminum free and so is, as far as she knows, all baking soda brands. Oh crap! I am sure there will be discussion on that.

Speaking of baking soda I am sure many people are interested to know what proportions of baking soda I used with the molasses. As a matter of fact I am sure of it, because invariably that questions pops up when I speak about baking soda and my dance with cancer.

Thank all the gods that I took notes. Larry of Stocko fame (and a true Rainbow) on one of the Yahoo Cesium groups drilled into me the necessity of good notes. He told me that it is for my good and for the good of others. Good for me especially if I live. Larry, by the way, was instrumental in providing me with information. You see he and his wife have had some some of their own experiences with cancer. It is quite a story.

I met Larry while researching cesium. He was very helpful. I was lucky to have his experience. He was definitely rainbow material and cesium at the time was my focus. Larry sent me website after website loaded with natural cures. I cannot pretend that I read them all, but I did cruise through a few of them while waiting for my cesium to arrive.

Well, like I mentioned earlier, the cesium got lost in the mail. Most people would think that sucked, but not me. It was another rainbow miracle because it opened the door for baking soda to get itself busy alkalizing my body.

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Cosmetic Laser Treatments: Enhance Your Looks. Improve Your Life.

Published: February 20, 2013

Not ready to go under the knife? How about going under the light? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of laser skin-resurfacing procedures has more than doubled since the year 2000, while the number of surgical face-lifts has declined. Less-invasive procedures with a shorter recovery or no downtime are in demand.

The latest fractionated CO2 lasers use pulses of light that vaporize skin in a pattern of micro "dots," leaving the surrounding skin intact, for quicker healing. While it's not a substitute for a face-lift, customized laser resurfacing treatments effectively reduce lines, wrinkles, blood vessels, discoloration, and scarring. The nonablative laser stimulates collagen growth, allows for tightening, and leaves the skin noticeably smoother, with a vibrant, more youthful appearance.

Looking for a lunchtime treatment with no downtime? Intense pulsed light (IPL) removes redness, dark spots, acne, sun damage, and other skin irregularities. It may take several short sessions to achieve the desired results, but the noninvasive anti-aging treatment can boost collagen and improve skin tone, clarity, and texture.

Say goodbye to waxing and shaving. Laser hair removal is one of the top five minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, as the newest lasers make permanent hair removal more comfortable and faster than ever. And you can keep the hair on your head with low-level laser light therapy (LLLT) that stimulates cell metabolism and improves blood flow to the scalp.

Metro Detroit medical professionals are utilizing laser and other energy treatments for skin rejuvenation and much more. Get ready to step into the light.

Northwest Dermatology Group, PC

Q: Can Laser Therapy Improve Psoriasis?

A: "One of the best treatments for psoriasis is ultraviolet light, but we don't want to increase the risk of skin cancer by irradiating healthy skin, as would happen if you were tanning. We use the XTRAC excimer laser that delivers a focused beam of UVB light to targeted areas on the skin, limiting radiation exposure to the patient," explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Robert Singer.

"Treatments are highly effective, safe, and painless. The laser works great on hard-to-treat areas like the scalp, where it's difficult and messy to apply creams and lotions."

Patients are also seeing wonderful results with laser hair removal. The noninvasive diode laser treats almost all skin tones. It removes unwanted hair quickly and precisely from the face, legs, arms, and other areas.

"Another laser treatment we often recommend is IPL, or intense pulsed light, to address the effects of photoaging and sun damage. IPL treats freckles, sun spots, and broken blood vessels," Dr. Singer says. "It works tremendously well on broken capillaries around the nose."Northwest Dermatology Group provides expert care for a wide variety of skin conditions, and offers a range of cosmetic treatments and products for more youthful-looking skin.

"We try to be very reasonable about the treatments we recommend, always keeping in mind the costs to our patients," Dr. Singer says. "I'm very conscious of the financial hardships many people are experiencing. I try to limit my recommendations to the best treatments and the products that are the most essential for each of my patients."

Northwest Dermatology Group, PC

Robert Singer, MD, Lawrence Krugel, MD, Emily Levin, MD, Craig Singer, MD, Daneen Locke, PA-C, Lisa Pilley, PA-CDermatologyAddress: 29355 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 200, Southfield, MI 48034Phone: 248-353-0880Fax: 888-368-7898Website: www.nw-derm.comEmail: nwdermatology@comcast.netHospital Affiliation: Providence Hospital

Boyd Cosmetics

Q: How Do I Treat Dark Spots?

A: Many people suffer from dark spots, or hyperpigmentation, on their face or body. Typically caused by chronic sun exposure, dark spots can also result from trauma and inflammation to the skin. The best approach to avoiding hyperpigmentation is prevention, but once you have a dark spot, in most cases it can be treated. Dr. Charles Boyd, a board-certified plastic surgeon, recommends that patients have their skin checked by a physician prior to undergoing any cosmetic treatment.

One of the most effective therapies for hyperpigmentation utilizes cutting-edge laser technology. Laser skin treatments can clear your complexion and even out your skin's overall tone and texture. Patients can choose from varying levels of invasiveness and downtime, from lunchtime treatments with intense pulsed light (ILP) to more ablative procedures with fractionated CO2 laser.

Your first step to beautiful, even-toned skin is a conversation with a skilled cosmetic surgeon who has expertise in laser treatments.

Charles M. Boyd, MD, MBA, FACS

Facial Plastic SurgeonAddress: 135 East Maple Birmingham, MI 48009Phone: 248-433-1900Fax: 248-433-1901Address: 1000 East Stadium Boulevard, Suite 4, Ann Arbor, MI 48104Phone: 734-669-6000Fax: 734-669-6006Website: www.boydbeauty.comEmail: info@boydbeauty.comHospital Affiliation: UnaSource Surgery Center, St. Joseph Mercy Health System

Image by Design Plastic Surgery

Q: What Are the Benefits of Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing?

A: "The older 'ablative' CO2 lasers would literally destroy the outer layer of the skin, and although the rejuvenating effect was dramatic, it required a prolonged healing time. The patient's skin would be red for months," says board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Melek Kayser. "With fractional technology, the skin cells are vaporized in a pattern. Think of it like aerating the lawn. That leaves intact skin surrounding the tiny holes, which heal over, so recovery time is faster."

The injury to the skin stimulates collagen growth, reducing fine wrinkling and creating smoother, more youthful-looking skin over time. Dr. Kayser talks with his patients about the outcome and the amount of downtime they are willing to endure.

"They can go with a very, very light treatment, where they're probably red for a day or two, to a full fractional treatment where they're red seven to 10 days," he explains. "With a light treatment you are not going to achieve the endpoint result of a higher laser setting, but you can have multiple treatments and good results while avoiding a longer downtime," he says. "Most people choose a full fractional treatment. They want the biggest bang for their buck and are willing to take time off to heal."

Laser hair removal is another popular treatment. While the basic technology has remained unchanged, today's treatments are more comfortable and quicker, Dr. Kayser says.

"Patients come in and their treatment is done in no time. We have a dual laser so we can also treat spider veins and skin lesions during the same visit."

Image by Design Plastic Surgery

Melek Kayser, MD, FACSBreast and body contouring, cosmetic surgery, facial plastic surgeryAddress: 20905 E. 12 Mile, Suite 300, Roseville, MI 48066Phone: 586-776-3223Fax: 586-776-6670Email: mrkmd@sbcglobal.netWebsite: www.imagebydesignmd.comHospital Affiliation: St. John Macomb Oakland Hospital

Dr. Myra Danish

Q: What Types of Lasers Can Improve My Complexion?

A: Not as popular as it once was, C02 laser resurfacing removes the top layers of skin and requires a prolonged recovery period with crusting and redness. If you are a suitable candidate, the CO2 laser produces good results — but most people are not willing to undergo the lengthy recovery, says facial cosmetic surgeon Dr. Myra Danish, M.D., F.A.C.S.

"Today, the most popular laser treatments are those that have minimal to no downtime and a low risk of side effects or skin irritation. The laser photo facials have no downtime and are able to regenerate collagen, minimize fine lines, improve acne by killing bacteria in the skin, and help with discoloration, including redness. Your overall complexion will improve with a series of treatments," Dr. Danish explains.

"The vascular laser helps to eliminate broken blood vessels, with a healing period entailing a little bruising. Laser hair removal has made remarkable advances as far as being able to achieve permanent hair removal that is quick and essentially painless. While all of these laser modalities require several treatments, they provide outstanding results and are ideal for patients who cannot afford to take time off for an extended period," she says.

Dr. Danish recommends a facial analysis and consultation to determine the treatment options that will help her patients look younger and fresher, and will give them the very best results.

Myra Danish, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Facial Plastic SurgeryAddress: 4550 Investment Drive 290, Troy, MI 48098Phone: 248-267-9700Fax: 248-267-9711Website: www.drdanish.comCo-located: Pure Rejuvenation CenterHospital Affiliation: Beaumont, Royal Oak

Spa Renaissance

Q: What Is Customized Skin Resurfacing?

A: Unlike traditional CO2 lasers that would obliterate all of the epidermis, a new generation of fractionated CO2 lasers allows the surgeon to control the energy and the density of the pulsed laser "dots" for a customized treatment.

"If someone has a couple of brown spots on their face I can decrease the energy and the density for a very, very mild peel," says board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. William Stefani. "We can be more aggressive with someone who has acne scarring or large pores. We'll use a bit more energy on those, smooth out the skin, and then we'll do less energy in the surrounding area and blend it in."

Dr. Stefani can customize a laser peel for skin color, skin type, specific areas of the skin, and the length of recovery and results the patient desires.

"Now, with the fractional laser, we can turn down the energy and treat the neck, the chest and the hands," he says.

Spa Renaissance & Renaissance Plastic Surgery

William A. Stefani, M.D., F.A.C.S., Jeffrey L. Williams, M.D., F.A.C.S.Plastic & Reconstructive SurgeryAddress: 85 E. Big Beaver, Troy, MI 48083Physician Office: 586-779-3030Spa/Salon: 248-498-8100Website: www.renaissanceps.comEmail: renaissanceps@earthlink.netHospital Affiliation: William Beaumont, Troy & Grosse Pointe, St John's Hospital & Medical Center

Michigan Hair & Skin Center

Q: Is There Anything I Can Do to Re-grow My Hair?

A: At Michigan Hair & Skin Center, people of all ages have stopped losing their hair and have experienced regrowth through a program utilizing noninvasive low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and vitamin-rich hair products that cleanse and nourish the scalp.

"We had a 76-year-old client who was balding on top, and he just wanted to keep what he had. When he finished the program he had twice as much hair as when he started," says owner Carol Wagner. "Another client shaved his head because he was so embarrassed about his hair loss. His head was cold in the winter and he would get sunburned in the summer, so he always wore a hat. Three months into the program, he had enough hair that he didn't need the hat. He was thrilled to pieces."

FDA-approved LLLT clears away buildups of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) that clog hair follicles. The laser therapy also increases blood flow to the scalp so that active hair follicles receive the nutrients needed to re-grow hair.

"We had a woman who lost a good amount of hair during chemo. Through our process, she gained her hair back in two months. Without this process, it would have taken a lot more time," Wagner says. "Another client had lost hair due to a serious thyroid condition. After having medical treatment and going through our program, she very quickly had her full head of hair back.

Most people don't get all of their hair back because some hair follicles have already died, so that was amazing."

Michigan Hair and Skin Center

Natural, Noninvasive, Pain-free, and Permanent Solution for Thinning HairAddress: 312 Town Center Drive, Troy, MI 48084Phone: 248-678-3633 or 248-250-7640Website: www.hairandskincenter.comTroy, Novi, Dearborn and Eastside locations

FACE Skincare~Medical~Wellness / Cutler Integrative Medicine

Q: How Can I Get Rid of Facial Redness?

A: Skin management experts at the award-winning FACE Skincare~Medical~Wellness take a threefold approach to treat redness in the skin using the latest noninvasive lasers. Following a consultation, a treatment protocol is designed to suit the individual's needs. The plan may include therapy with one or more distinct lasers — one to treat superficial redness, one to reduce dermal redness, and another to diminish broken capillaries.

Facial redness can be triggered by external factors like sun exposure or internal factors such as digestive problems, autoimmune disease, and genetics. It's important to find the root cause of your skin condition to achieve the optimal treatment results. From an internal perspective, licensed naturopathic physician Dr. Doug Cutler, of the wellness division, Cutler Integrative Medicine, typically conducts specialty testing of a patient's gastrointestinal system, "the foundation of health," to identify and treat any problems that are producing redness symptoms. He also helps to pinpoint food sensitivities that cause the immune response of redness on the face.

FACE Skincare~Medical~Wellness

Doug Cutler, ND; Holly CaSaroll, CEO Non-Invasive Skin Rejuvenation and Laser Services, Naturopathic / Holistic Medicine, Injectables, Liquid Face-Lifts and Celebrity Facial TreatmentsAddress: 29350 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI 48034Phone: Dr. Cutler 248-663-0165FACE 248-663-0161Fax: 248-352-4748Email: info@facebeautyscience.comWeb: www.facebeautyscience.com & www.cutlerintegrativemedicine.com

Grosse Pointe Dermatology

Q: How Can Light Therapy Heal My Skin?

A: Dermatologists use light-based therapies to treat a variety of skin disorders, the most common of which is acne. For people with mild to moderate acne, LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy offers very good results with no downtime, says Dr. David Balle, a board-certified dermatologist.

"There are two forms of LED that help to improve acne. One is a blue LED that kills the bacteria responsible for inflammation. The other is a red LED that acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps to minimize the redness of acne lesions," he explains. "Generally, people have a series of eight treatments over four weeks, one blue and one red each week. The 20-minute treatments are noninvasive and produce no unwanted side effects."

LED technology is also used for anti-aging treatments. Dr. Balle points out that with aging, our skin-cell function starts to slow down. Damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays speeds up the process.

"Our skin cells produce collagen and elastin, which make us look youthful. We use the red LED light and an invisible infrared LED light to target those cells that are responsible for the skin's supportive structures. The therapy helps to repair damage and support growth," he says. "Patients continue to see improvement in the tone, clarity, texture, and smoothness of their skin upward of four to six months after their series of treatments ends."

Dr. Balle uses the topical cream Allumera with the red LED light to further reverse the signs of aging, helping the skin look younger, clearer, and revitalized.

Grosse Pointe Dermatology Associates, P.C.

David S. Balle, M.D.DermatologyAddress: 18050 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230Phone: 313-886-2600Fax: 313-886-2099Email: ageless@grossepointedermatology.comWebsite: www.drballe.com & www.grossepointedermatology.comHospital Affiliation: St. John Providence Health System and Beaumont Health System

Arnold Gross, D.P.M., PC, Eric Foreman, D.P.M.

Q: Is there a safe and effective treatment to get rid of toenail fungus?

A: In just one 30-minute office procedure, The PinPointe FootLaser can painlessly vaporize unsightly fungus under the nails."Toenail fungus is very common and there has never been a good treatment," says board-certified podiatrist Dr. Arnold Gross. "Until now, your choices have been topical creams and liquids that rarely work, or a pill that has a long list of possible side effects."Dr. Gross and his partner, Dr. Eric Foreman, are the first doctors in Michigan to offer the state-of-the-art, FDA-cleared PinPointe laser system.

The procedure has no complications, and within three months of treatment, patients start to see new growth of smooth, clear, fungus-free nails.

Arnold Gross, DPM, PC, Eric Foreman, DPM

PodiatryAddress: 31500 Telegraph Road, Suite 235, Bingham Farms, MI 48025Phone: 248-646-6882Trial Clinic BuildingAddress: 18254 Livernois Avenue, Suite 2, Detroit, MI 48221Phone: 313-863-0600Lakes Medical CenterAddress: 2300 Haggerty Road, Suite 1175, West Bloomfield, MI 48323Phone: 248-960-4444Website: www.footdocs.com

Gina Randhawa, M.D.

Q: When Should I Start an Anti-aging Skin Regimen?

A: Taking care of your skin at any age will help to keep the skin more youthful, but the earlier you start, the better, says Dr. Gina Randhawa, an internal medicine physician who recommends a good regimen with cleansing and moisturizing skin care products.

"As we grow older we tend to lose moisture and collagen, the glue that holds the cells together. This leads to sagging of the skin and wrinkles," she explains. "The most effective measure is to start a skin regimen at an early age, when there is less damage to repair."Patients who see early signs of aging in the face and neck, such as skin laxity and fine lines and wrinkles, are getting great results with Thermage, a nonsurgical treatment that tightens skin and renews facial contours.

"Thermage is completely noninvasive and treats the deeper layers of the skin," Dr. Randhawa says. "It stimulates collagen production, making the skin smoother, firmer, and more resilient."

Gina Randhawa, MD, PC

Internal Medicine and BariatricsAddress: Yorktowne Executive Offices, 5777 West Maple Road, Suite 180, West Bloomfield, MI 48322Address: Rochester Office Parc, 6585 Rochester Road Suite 105, Troy, MI 48085Phone: 248-539-9358Fax: 248-539-9088Website: www.ginaMD.com

Skin & Vein Center

Q: What Can Be Done to Stop Excessive Underarm Sweating?

A: Millions of people suffer from excessive underarm sweat, a medical condition known as primary axillary hyperhidrosis, in which the underarm sweat glands are overactive. Those who struggle daily from the embarrassment and frustration of sweat outbreaks and stained clothing can now find lasting relief with the FDA-approved, nonsurgical miraDry procedure.

"It's one of the most rewarding things we do. People come in in tears when they find out there is something that can permanently get rid of their underarm sweating," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Eric Seiger, whose office is one of two in Michigan that offers the noninvasive treatment.

"The procedure takes about an hour and a half. We numb the patient's underarms so they don't feel a thing," he says. "The miraDry machine delivers controlled electromagnetic energy that heats the skin to the depth of one or two millimeters, where the sweat ducts lie, and eliminates them."

People are sore and have some swelling afterward, but most go back to work or return to normal activities the next day. Patients experience a dramatic reduction in the amount of their underarm sweat and no longer worry about excessive odor and wetness.

"We consistently get an 80 percent reduction in underarm sweat," Dr. Seiger says. "We've seen many moms come in with an 18- or 19-year-old daughter who is embarrassed by the sweating and wants to feel comfortable wearing a dress to a wedding, and she is so excited to have the treatment. It's truly life-changing."

Skin & Vein Center

Eric Seiger, DO, Christofer Buatti, DODermatologyAddress: 305 N. Leroy, Fenton, MI 48430Phone: 810-629-9200Fax: 810-629-9653Address: 44056 Mound Rd., Suite 101, Sterling Heights, MI 48314Phone: 586-314-1400Fax: 586-739-2033Address: 32669 W. Warren, Suite 9, Garden City, MI 48135Phone: 734-762-0798Fax: 734-762-6682Website: www.skinandvein.comHospital Affiliation: McLaren–Pontiac, St. Joseph–Pontiac

BLASTPAIN

Q: What non invasive treatments can reduce bruising or promote healing to the face & body?

A: Blast Pain not only relieves the misery of pain; it promotes healing & reduces bruising, too! BLASTPAIN laser therapy is primarily used for relieving patients pain with noninvasive, soothing warmth. BLASTPAIN's laser, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010. It works by emitting photons that penetrate deep into damaged tissue — decreasing inflammation, swelling, and the formation of scar tissue. At the same time, BLASTPAIN's laser therapy increases blood supply to the injury site, accelerates collagen production, and enhances cells' ability to take in nutrients needed for healing. The BLASTPAIN laser gets better results than any than any other treatment options — so much better, in fact, that BLASTPAIN offers an initial consultation and the first treatment for free. BLASTPAIN provides a confident treatment without drugs, injections, surgery or side effects.

BLASTPAIN.COM

Pain ManagementAddress: 6585 Rochester Road, Suite 103, Troy, MI 48085Phone: 248-879-1100Fax: 248-879-1288Email: troy@blastpain.comWebsite: www.BLASTPAIN.com

Renew Hair & Skin Center

Q: What Are the Basics of Hair Maintenance?

A: Healthy hair begins within, starting at the cellular level. At Renew Hair & Skin Center, FDA-approved low-level laser light therapy (LLLT) is helping to prevent the progression of cell damage that occurs on a daily basis.

"Follicle cells can be damaged by aging, stress, free radicals in the environment, medications, diseases, and medical conditions including iron deficiencies, thyroid problems, infections, and diabetes," says Renew co-owner Robin Welford. "People who are going through chemotherapy lose their hair because the drug treatment not only kills the bad cancer cells, but also healthy cells in the body. Medications you take regularly for high blood pressure, cholesterol, acne, and other conditions may also cause cell damage and lead to hair loss."Renew co-owner Suzie Meklir adds: "The healing light of the low-level laser stimulates cell metabolism and improves blood flow, awakening dormant hair follicles.

Noninvasive, no-downtime low-level laser therapy is used for many different medical concerns. Our laser, as part of a patented program of vitamin supplements and nourishing hair and scalp products, is capable of stopping hair thinning, thickening existing hair, and promoting an increase of new growth."

Hair maintenance also involves eating a healthy diet of whole foods and taking supplements, if needed. Choose hair products that are free of parabens and sulfates. Deep-condition your hair before coloring, and use protective oils to nourish dry hair and to prevent heat damage from flat-ironing and blow-drying. These simple lifestyle measures, along with LLLT treatments, will help to keep your hair healthy for years to come.

Renew Hair and Skin Center

Low-Level Light Therapy Programs, At-Home Laser System, Exclusive Specifically Formulated Hair Rejuvenation Products (Paraben, Sulfate and Gluten Free), Skin Care Products for All Skin TypesAddress: 30150 Telegraph Road, Suite 173, Bingham Farms, MI 48301Phone: 248.723.NEWU (6398)Toll Free: 877.723.0020Fax: 248.723.6399Email: info@renewhs.comWebsite: www.renewhs.com