Cancer and Green Tea - Sorting Through The Evidence

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :

By now most of us have heard that green tea may have tremendous potential in terms of helping us win the war against cancer. There have been many studies that have shown that green tea has been shown to prevent the development of cancer when it is a significant part of your diet. In addition, there have even been studies that have shown that green tea may even have potential for treating cancer.

But, then occasionally you'll find a study that makes it sound as though green tea may actually have some negative effects on our health. So, it can be easy to get confused as to whether we really should be adding green tea to our diets for health benefits or not.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

Here are a few things that are known for sure.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Cancer and Green Tea - Sorting Through The Evidence

Anti-oxidants are good for us. They combat the free radicals that are created in our bodies as we process food. When our diet is low in anti-oxidants the free radicals damage our cells and our DNA. Over time this leads to aging and disease.

Tea contains EGCG and polyphenols. These are two of the most potent forms of anti-oxidants, making tea, particularly green tea, because of its lack of fermentation, rich in the substance that protect us from aging and disease.

There are no known side effects to drinking green tea. Green tea is lower in caffeine that coffee or black tea, so it's a good beverage choice for those who must watch their intake of caffeine. And, it's completely natural. A simple cup of tea will have no additives, preservatives or processed substances.

Asian cultures drink a large amount of green tea and have a significantly lower than incidence of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Of course, there may be other factors in the Asian lifestyle that affect their lower incidence of disease. However, there are some statistics that are startling. For instance, nearly 75% of all Japanese men smoke, yet their risk of lung cancer and heart disease is significantly lower than that of American men.

It's true that we still need additional research on humans to gain more conclusive evidence about green tea and its potential in preventing or treating cancer.

Many of the studies that have been conducted have been on mice. Human research takes years of follow up to be conclusive and is more difficult than laboratory research. And, there are many more factors that must be considered during human studies, such as habits and genetics.

One interesting discussion of the studies that have been performed on green tea and their results, both positive and negative, is in the National Library of Medicine. This publication gave an overview of several studies done on green tea and cancer. The breakdown looks like this.

In 5 studies on colon cancer, three concluded that it might prevent cancer, one concluded that green tea might contribute to cancer.

In 4 studies on rectal cancer, one reported that green tea could prevent cancer, but two showed that it might actually contribute to developing the disease.

In 10 studies on stomach cancer, 6 suggested that green tea might prevent cancer and 3 suggested that it might contribute to cancer. The most comprehensive study on stomach cancer reported that green tea is an effective preventer of cancer.

Nearly all studies on pancreatic and esophageal cancer suggest that green tea has a preventative effect, and most lung cancer studies have shown positive results, though there has been at least one study that reported and increased risk associated with green tea.

So, as with many other health research concerns, there is still much work that needs to be done. And, there have been a few studies that have shown a possibility that green tea might actually increase your risk of cancer. However, when you take the research as a whole, it seems probable that you're better off drinking green tea than avoiding it.

As research continues, we'll learn more definitive information about the level of protection that green tea can provide, and just exactly how it provides this protection. As we learn more, we'll be better able to determine how much tea you really need to drink and on which cancers it seems to be most effective.

In spite of the few studies that have shown some negative results, overall researchers believe that green tea shows great promise in the area of cancer prevention and treatment. For centuries, Asians have used green tea to prevent and treat all kinds of illnesses, even before there was scientific research to support it.

In the mean time, there seems to be no reason to avoid green tea. It's refreshing, has no side effects and can be a great way to lower your intake of caffeine. Keep your eyes out for the new research findings as they emerge - it's sure to be exciting to find out all the potential that lies in green tea.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Cancer and Green Tea - Sorting Through The Evidence

What Are the Different Types of Cancer? Find Out All You Need to Know

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We do not know many things about cancer, even though research is extensive and ongoing. One of the things we do not know is why some types of cancer are more frequently occurring than other types. Despite this, it is worth learning more about the different types of cancer. In this way, you will be able to take more adequate and timely measures for prevention.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer. In the Unites States the estimated number of new cases for 2010 is 222,520. The projected number of deaths from this disease is 157,300. This statistical data is quite frightening for one simple reason - the expected deaths are more than half of the newly diagnosed cases.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

The surprising fact is that even though it is the most common type, lung cancer is perhaps the most preventable type of all. Anywhere between 85% and 90% of all cases are due to cigarette smoking. A large percentage of the remaining cases are due to passive smoking. In turn, the best way for prevention is to protect your lungs from the carcinogenic substances in tobacco. Nonsmoking can reduce the risk of getting the condition 25 times. A smoker who quits will experience a reduction in the risk to this level 15 years after quitting. For this reason, if you are a smoker you should do your best to quit right away.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :What Are the Different Types of Cancer? Find Out All You Need to Know

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer. In fact, some researchers believe that almost every man above the age of 80 has some traces of it. The condition is expected to affect around 217,730 men in America in 2010. The number of deaths for this year is estimated to be 32,050.

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a small gland that is right under the bladder. It is close to the rectum as well. For this reason, the condition can be easily spotted during a routine rectal exam. Since the causes of this disease are unknown, regular rectal examinations are the optimal method for prevention. Men over 50 years of age are recommended to have them annually. Other factors that can reduce the risk of prostate cancer include a diet that contains little or no animal fats.

Breast cancer is the third most common type of cancer. It has been estimated that the number of newly diagnosed patients for 2010 in the United States will be over 208,000. Of these 207,090 will be women and 1,970 will be men. Around 39,840 female patients are expected to die from the condition. The number of deaths in men is expected to be around 390.

The causes of breast cancer are unknown. For this reason, there are no effective methods for prevention apart from having regular screenings with mammogram testing. Self-examination is also a method for spotting the condition early. There are some breast cancer risk factors that you can work on to eliminate. These include obesity, above average alcohol consumption and smoking.

Colon and rectal cancer, usually referred to as colorectal cancer is another one of the most common types of cancer. It is expected to affect around 142,570 men and women in the United States in 2010. The estimated number of deaths is 51,370.

The causes of colorectal cancer are unknown. However, the risk of getting this condition can be reduced significantly. Regular screening is recommended to individuals who have or have a family history of colon polyps. A diet rich in dietary fiber, found in fruits and vegetables, can also reduce your risk to an extent. It is important for you to see a doctor, if you notice a change in your bowel habits or blood in your stools. These symptoms can be associated with much less dangerous conditions, such as hemorrhoids, but it is best to get examined just to be on the safe side.

Other common types of cancer include bladder cancer, with 70,530 new cases expected in 2010 in the US, and melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, with 68,130 new cases estimated for 2010. The list is completed by Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system, kidney cancer, also known as renal cell cancer, thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer, pancreatic cancer and leukemia.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :What Are the Different Types of Cancer? Find Out All You Need to Know

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

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Diabetes affects the manner in which the body handles digested carbohydrates. If neglected, diabetes can cause serious health complications, ranging from blindness to kidney failure.

Approximately 8% of the population in the United States has diabetes. This means that approximately 16 million people have been diagnosed with the disease, based only on national statistics. The American Diabetes Association estimates that diabetes accounts for 178,000 deaths, 54,000 amputees, and 12,000-24,000 cases of blindness annually. Blindness is 25 times more common among diabetic patients compared to nondiabetics. It is proposed that by the year 2010, diabetes will exceed both heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death through its many complications.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

Diabetics have a high level of blood glucose. The blood sugar level is regulated by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, which releases it in response to food consumption. Insulin causes the cells of the body to take in glucose from the blood. The glucose is used as fuel for cellular functions.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Diagnostic standards for diabetes have been fasting plasma glucose levels greater than 140 mg/dL on two occasions and plasma glucose greater than 200 mg/dL following a 75-gram glucose load. More recently, the American Diabetes Association lowered the criteria for a diabetes diagnosis to fasting plasma glucose levels equal to or greater than 126 mg/dL. Fasting plasma levels outside the normal limit require additional tests, usually by repeating the fasting plasma glucose test and (if indicated) giving the patient an oral glucose tolerance test.

The symptoms of diabetes include excessive urination, excessive thirst and hunger, sudden weight loss, blurred vision, delay in healing of wounds, dry and itchy skin, repeated infections, fatigue and headache. These symptoms, while suggestive of diabetes, may be due to other reasons also.

There are two different types of diabetes.

Type I Diabetes (juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes): The cause of type I diabetes is caused by pancreatic inability to produce insulin. It is responsible for 5-10% of cases of diabetes. The pancreatic Islet of Langerhans cells, which secrete the hormone, are destroyed by the body's own immune system, probably because it mistakes them for a virus. Viral infections are thought to be the trigger that sets off this auto-immune disease. It is more common in caucasians and runs in families.

If untreated, death occurs within a few months of the onset of juvenile diabetes, as the cells of the body starve because they no longer receive the hormonal prompt to take in glucose. While most Type I diabetics are young (hence the term Juvenile Diabetes), the condition can develop at any age. Autoimmune diabetes can be definitely diagnosed by a blood test which shows the presence of anti-insulin/anti-islet-cell antibodies.

Type II Diabetes (non insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes): This diabetes is a result of body tissues becoming resistant to insulin. It accounts for 90-95% of cases. Often the pancreas is producing more than average amounts of insulin, but the cells of the body have become unresponsive to its effect due to the chronically high level of the hormone. Eventually the pancreas may exhaust its over-active secretion of the hormone, and insulin levels fall to below normal.

A tendency towards Type II diabetes is hereditary, but it is unlikely to develop in normal-weight individuals eating a low- or moderate-carbohydrate diet. Obese, sedentary individuals who eat poor-quality diets based on refined starch, which constantly activates pancreatic insulin secretion, are prone to develop insulin resistance. Native peoples such as North American Indians whose traditional diets did not include refined starch until its recent introduction by Europeans have extremely high rates of diabetes, up to 5 times the rate of caucasians. Blacks and hispanics are also at higher risk. Though Type II diabetes is not fatal within a matter of months, it can lead to health complications over several years and cause severe disability and premature death. As with Type I diabetes, the condition is found primarily in one age group, in this case people over 40 (which is why it is often termed Adult Onset); however, with the rise in childhood and teenage obesity, it is appearing in children as well.

If neglected, diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications such as kidney damage (nephropathy), heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), retinal damage and blindness(retinopathy), and hypoglycemia (drastic reduction in glucose levels). Diabetes damages blood vessels, especially smaller end-arteries, leading to severe and premature atherosclerosis. Diabetics are prone to foot problems because neuropathy, which affects approximately 10% of patients, causes their feet to lose sensation. Foot injuries, common in day-to-day living, go unnoticed, and these injuries do not heal because of poor circulation through the small arteries in the foot. Gangrene and subsequent amputation of toes or feet is the consequence for many elderly patients with poorly-controlled diabetes. Usually these sequelae appear earlier in Type I than Type II diabetes, because Type II patients have some of their own insulin production left to buffer changes in blood sugar levels.

Type I diabetes is a serious disease and there is no permanent cure for it. However, the symptoms can be controlled by strict dietary monitering and insulin injections. Implanted pumps which release insulin immediately in response to changes in blood glucose are in the testing stages.

In theory, since it caused by diet, Type II diabetes should be preventable and manageable by dietary changes alone, but in practice many diabetics (and many obese people without diabetes) find it personally impossible to lose weight or adhere to a healthy diet. Therefore they are frequently treated with drugs which restore the body's response to insulin, and in some cases injections of insulin.

Please note that this article is not a subsitute for medical advice. If you suspect you have diabetes or are in a high risk group, please see your doctor.

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Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

The Risks of Obesity on Your Life

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Controversy continues to rage in the medical field. How life-threatening is obesity as a whole? An original CDC (Center for Disease Control) study shows that 300,000 Americans die each year as a result of obesity-caused or obesity-effected disease. Another study done in 2005 shows that number to be 112,000.

But does that matter? With 61 percent of the adult community in America considered overweight or obese, it's the risk that's important. Whether 300,000 or 112,000 Americans a year, the reality is that obesity kills a lot of people. It's a scary thought, but it's true. If you're struggling with obesity, it's important to understand the risks involved, and the reality you may be faced with if you cannot make a change in your life. Even a small change will make a difference. Studies have shown that the more obese a person is, the greater the risk to his or her health. A person with a BMI of 30, for instance, is at less risk of developing life-threatening health problems than a person with a BMI of 40 or even 50.

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Studies have shown that a person that is about 40 percent above their ideal weight is twice as likely to die prematurely as a person of average weight. Twice as likely. That's a scary statistic. Death from obesity-related factors occurs due to a large variety of diseases and disorders.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :The Risks of Obesity on Your Life

Increased Risk of Heart Disease

High blood pressure is twice as common in obese adults as in those with a normal weight. Especially in obese persons with a large amount of abdominal fat, obesity leads to a much higher occurrence of cardiovascular disease.

Increased Risk of Some Cancers

In 2001, experts concluded that some cancers, specifically breast, colon, endometrium (uterine), esophagus, and kidney, are closely associated with obesity. Others studies have also showed a close relation between obesity and pancreatic, gallbladder, and ovarian cancers. In 2002, about 41,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in the United States were determined to be caused by obesity.

A weight loss of even 5-10% can greatly reduce these risks.

Increased Risk of Diabetes

In 1990, about 11 million American suffered from diabetes. In 1999, less than ten years later, that number was up to 16 million. As lifestyles change and people make more and more unhealthy food choices, diabetes is becoming an epidemic. In all, 97 percent of all cases of type two adult-onset diabetes are caused by obesity or excessive weight.

In addition to the risks outlined, obesity also increases the risk of fatty liver disease, stroke, chronic venous insufficiency, gallbladder disease, deep vein thrombosis, arthritis, and breathing problems. So it's important to understand that losing weight will have more than a positive effect of your self-esteem and lifestyle-- it will also make a vast difference in your health later on in life.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :The Risks of Obesity on Your Life

The Most Deadly Cancers

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There are a huge number of potential cancers that a person can have. Skin, lung, pancreatic, brain, esophageal, and pretty much any other tissue can develop tumors that become cancerous. While the huge number of cancers all share the fact that they are all deadly if untreated, not all cancers, if treated, have the same mortality rate.

The mortality rate is the percentage of individuals that develop a specific type of cancer that then die. It can be tracked at the five year mark, ten year mark, and so on. One of the misleading facts of tracking mortality further out is that a person may die due to other causes. Because people typically develop cancer later in life, it is a very real possibility that an individual that is treated successfully for skin cancer at 60 may die of a different cause by the time he or she hits 80.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

Overall, pancreatic cancer is the most deadly form of cancer. Fortunately, it is not a terribly common form of cancer. In 2008, there were 37,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer. While that may sound high, there were more than a million non-melanoma cases of skin cancer in the same year. Unfortunately, more than 90% of all people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will die before they reach the five year mark. This is mostly due to there not being an effective test for the disease that will let it show up in the early stages. Because there is no test for the disease, by the time a person goes to the doctor with symptoms it is typically too late.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :The Most Deadly Cancers

Lung cancer is another deadly form of cancer. Roughly 75% of all people diagnosed with a form of lung cancer will die before the five year mark. Lung cancer is dangerous because it has a very strong ability to spread to other parts of the body quickly. In addition, it is not typically a possible treatment option to remove a person's lungs. Fortunately, around 80% of all people who are diagnosed with lung cancer have or do smoke. This means that individuals who have not lived with smokers and have never smoked have a less likely chance of falling into this group. The other 20% of cases are attributable to a variety of other causes, like asbestos exposure.

Leukemia is another cancer with a high mortality rate. Of the individuals diagnosed with leukemia, roughly half will die. This data is somewhat misleading though because there are numerous types of leukemia. Some types of leukemia are harder to treat than others and so just because a person is diagnosed with leukemia does not mean that the person has a 50/50 chance of surviving to five years.

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Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :The Most Deadly Cancers

Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate - Dare To Know Your Chances

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A pancreatic cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

This disease is one of the deadliest of all cancers and one with the lowest survival rates. According to the American Cancer Society, only 5% of patients with this disease are alive 5 years after the cancer is found.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

In the United States, it is estimated that more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with this disease each year. What is surprising is that many people don't know this and in addition, most of them are not even sure what cancer of the pancreas is. Another little known fact about this disease is that more than 60,000 cases are diagnosed in Europe each year.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate - Dare To Know Your Chances

The pancreas is a gland behind the stomach that is shaped a wee bit like the shape of a fish. It is six inches long and less than 2 inches wide. It extends across the abdomen. The pancreas has two functions. It breaks down fats and proteins in foods we eat for body absorption. The pancreas also produces hormones to help balance the amount of sugar in the blood.

While cancer of the pancreas can affect anyone, the American Cancer Society has identified several risk factors for this disease:

* Nearly 70 percent of patients with this disease are over 55 years.
* Men are affected more often than women.
* Blacks are more likely to have this disease than whites.
* The risk is higher among smokers.
* There may be a link with the consumption of large amounts of red meat and pork, especially processed meats (like sausage and bacon).
* Very overweight people are 20% more likely to develop this disease.

This type of cancer is a fatal disease and pancreatic cancer survival rate is very poor. The cancer of the pancreas is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Over 98% of patients with cancer of the pancreas die.

Diagnosis of this cancer at an early stage is very difficult because the symptoms in the early stages are vague and diagnostic procedures are not very reliable in diagnosing the disease at an early stage. The diagnosis is usually made at an advanced stage of the disease, making it very difficult to treat. Complete tumor resection is also not curative and pancreatic cancer survival rate is only 1 amongst 20 people.

Recent studies and clinical trials are offering promising results but at the moment, curative resection remains the only hope to improve the over-all pancreatic cancer survival rate.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rate - Dare To Know Your Chances

Survival Rates of Patients with Leukemia

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Although medical science has evolved significantly in the last decades, the treatment of leukemia is still a major issue in present. Modern medicine doesn't hold the cure for leukemia and medical treatments available these days provide differentiated results. Survival rates depend on the promptitude of diagnosis, the type of treatment and the patients' responsiveness to specific cancer therapies and treatments. Although leukemia can't always be completely overcome, the progression of the disease can be slowed down and its malignant effects can be contained with the help of existent cancer treatments. Thus, the life expectancy of patients with leukemia has risen considerably in the last three decades. By contrast, the mortality rate registered among patients with leukemia has known a pronounced decrease in the last decade.

The treatment of leukemia is focused towards achieving a complete remission with minimal side-effects. Complete remission refers to absence of leukemia traces at cellular level. Patients who present no evidence of malignant cellular activity after completing the treatment of leukemia are considered to be completely cured. By contrast, relapse indicates a recurrence of leukemia specific symptoms and physiological signs.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics

In the case of patients with acute leukemia, a remission that lasts for more than five years after the treatment suggests a complete recovery. This five-year period is considered to be critical for leukemia sufferers, as it can make the difference between relapse and complete recovery.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Survival Rates of Patients with Leukemia

In the last few decades, the five-year survival period of patients with leukemia has tripled. While in the 60's the five-year survival rate was around 15 percent, nowadays it revolves around 50 percent. This five-year survival period is strongly influenced by patients' age and the type of leukemia. Statistics indicate that the five-year survival rate for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is around 60 percent, while the five-year survival rate for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is higher, reaching the value of 70 percent. By contrast, the prognosis of patients with myelogenous leukemia is less favorable. The same five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is around 14 percent, while an estimated 32 percent of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) exceed this five-year survival period.

The five-year survival rate for children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia revolves around the value of 80 percent, while the overall survival rate of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia is less than 45 percent. This type of leukemia is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in children. Due to the fact that it predominantly affects young patients with ages between 3 and 15, the disease is referred to as childhood leukemia.

In the United States, the mortality rate for children with leukemia has decreased with 60 percent in the last three decades. In spite of this fact, leukemia is still the leading cause of death among young patients with ages under 15.

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics :Survival Rates of Patients with Leukemia