Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Heart transplants lead to skin cancer
Whenever a body part is surgically implanted, the body recognizes it as a foreign object and proceeds to attack it. Patients who undergo organ transplants usually have to take immune suppressant drugs for the rest of their lives in order to prevent the body from rejecting the organ. These drugs increase patients' risk of developing cancer and other serious diseases.
The Mayo Clinic study evaluated what types of skin cancers emerged following a heart transplant and found that all sorts of skin cancers, from minor to fatal, afflicted patients. While relatively rare, researchers discovered that some patients developed malignant melanomas, the most serious type of skin cancer. One study participant died from malignant melanoma.
A 2005 study published in the journal CANCER revealed that patients who undergo kidney transplants are four times more prone to getting melanoma. As patients age, that risk continues to increase due to the long term immuno-suppressive action of the drugs. Other studies have found that organ transplant patients are at a higher of developing all cancers, not just skin cancer.
Many doctors are encouraging patients who have undergone transplant surgery to perform self evaluations on a regular basis to identify the presence of skin cancer. By finding it early, the majority of skin cancers can be eradicated. Some also recommended that post surgery patients be screened regularly to help catch a developing cancer as early as possible.
Amazingly, some experts believe that the increased cancer risk following surgery highlights the amazing success of contemporary transplant surgery techniques. Their logic concludes that since surgery prolongs a person's life, those extra years allow additional time for future problems to materialize that would have otherwise been unable to.
While it may seem like a great success to have developed advanced ways of transplanting organs, many may argue that having to take potentially life-threatening drugs in order to keep the organs functioning is actually an ironic failure. Not every transplant patient will end up getting cancer but a great many will live out the rest of their days in poor health due to severe drug side effects.
Sources for this story include: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandst... http://www.sciencedaily.com/release
References : http://www.naturalnews.com/028140_heart_transplants_skin_cancer.html
Free prostate cancer awareness evening
This year it is estimated 20,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Australia with approximately 3,300 deaths.
Prostate cancer is most common in men over 50 years of age but with younger men it is often more aggressive.
Early curable prostate cancer is often without symptoms.
A family history of the disease increases the risk of being diagnosed.
Men, women and families are welcome to attend a free information evening on Monday, February 22 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the South Whyalla Football Clubrooms, Beach Road, Whyalla.
Dr Darren Foreman - urologist will present an overview of prostate cancer.
Ms Natarsha Croser Whyalla hospital lifestyle co-ordinator will speak on a Do it for Life Program.
Prostate cancer survivors will share their experiences.
The aim is to provide information about testing for prostate cancer, diagnosis, treatment, post treatment plus the importance of a healthy life style.
The evening is sponsored by the Lions Club of Whyalla Mount Laura, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia with assistance from the Whyalla Hospital and conducted by the Prostate Cancer Action Group (S.A.) Inc. www.pcagsa.org.au
To register phone Events Whyalla 8645 5223.
Enquiries to Brian Marshall on 0408 849 653 or alternatively, you may simply attend on the evening.
How to Care for Your Skin After 40 Read more at Suite101: How to Care for Your Skin After 40: Ways to Remain Beautiful at 40 and Beyond http://derma
When your 40th birthday comes along, the signs of aging begin becoming more pronounced. The little flaws and imperfections which were once only noticeable in glaring light are visible even in the evening or in candlelight. What are the tell-tale signs of aging that begin to appear when you enter your fifth decade, what causes them and, most importantly, what can be done to diminish the signs of the life experience which has given you your wisdom? The visible signs of aging which occur at this age are:
- More wrinkles appear and existing wrinkles deepen.
- Collagen production begins to decrease.
- Skin's resilience and elasticity decrease.
- Sun damage, primarily in the form of discoloration, becomes more pronounced.
- Fluctuations in hormone levels cause changes in the production of sebum.
Unfortunately, there is no way to stop time and maintain the same complexion you had in your 20s, but slowing the advance of time and further signs of aging is possible.
How Can You Make Sure Your 40something Skin Looks Great?
It is more than genetics which allows one woman in her 40s to still get carded and another to offered a seat on public transportation. Looking your best after 40 means focusing on health and maintenance, beginning with the following basics:
- Get your beauty sleep. Lack of sleep takes a toll on your appearance, your health and your spirit.
- Get regular exercise. This maintains your weight, your circulation and your mood.
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet. This is not just about weight—all of the anti-oxidants and phyto-nutrients in a healthy diet will be reflected in the appearance of your skin.
- Minimize stress in your life. The influence of stress on your appearance and health is insidious.
- Always use sunscreen. Damage from the sun and discoloration will appear more quickly as you age.
- Getting enough anti-oxidants. They are not just hype. They fight free radicals (essentially mercenary electrons) which cause damage in all cells of the body, including the skin.
- Re-evaluate the products you are using. Choose an age appropriate cleanser, a mild toner and perhaps switch from your old skin moisturizer to a glycolic acid moisturizer.
- Exfoliate regularly. Exfoliation becomes more important as you age because of the slow down in cell turnover rate.
- Add trouble spot specific treatments. Your dermatologist can tell you what will work best: facial chemical peels, facial dermabrasion, hyaluronic acid etc.
- When menopause begins make sure that you regular get your hormone levels checked. Severe fluctuations in hormonal levels can give you breakouts, excessive facial hair and of course, mood swings.
Vigilant maintenance and proper skin care can give you skin at 40 that will have people thinking you are 10 years younger. There is no reason you can not look absolutely gorgeous at 40 and beyond. Proper maintenance is more important than when you were in 20 or 30. But a few minutes of your time two times a day with the right products will keep you looking fabulous. Focus on the inside out, feed your body with all it needs for proper health and nutrition. Then add a great skin care regimen. Follow your daily maintenance with make-up made for your age range. Step out and show the world that the Cougar Town slogan is right, 40 really is the new 20.
reference : http://dermatological-treatments.suite101.com/article.cfm/how-to-care-for-your-skin-after-40Beautiful Skin : Every Woman’s Guide To Looking Her Best At Any Age
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US: Iran risks lives of hundreds of thousands of cancer patients by enriching fuel
VIENNA — A senior U.S. envoy accused Tehran’s leadership Wednesday of hypocrisy for opting to pursue “ever more dangerous nuclear technology” instead of accepting an international plan meant to assure the supply of medical isotopes to Iranian cancer patients.
The sharp criticism from Glyn Davies, the chief U.S. delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency, came a day after Iran began enriching its uranium to a higher level, increasing international concerns about its nuclear aims.
Tehran says it wants to enrich only up to 20 percent — substantially below the 90 percent plus level used in the fissile core of nuclear warheads — as a part of a plan to fuel its research reactor providing medical isotopes to hundreds of thousands of Iranians undergoing cancer treatment.
But the West says Tehran is not capable of turning the material into the fuel rods needed by the reactor. Instead it fears Iran wants to enrich to make nuclear weapons.
The move is viewed with concern internationally because it would create material that could then be processed into weapons-grade uranium more quickly and with less effort than Iran’s present stockpile of 3.5 percent enriched uranium.
“Why is Tehran gambling with the health and lives of 850,000 Iranian cancer patients in pursuit of ever more dangerous nuclear technology?” asked Davies.
“This move is callous and chilling,” he told The Associated Press.
David Albright of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security said higher enrichment means that Iran is getting a step closer to the ability to make nuclear weapons.
“Iran is slowly expanding its breakout capability,” Albright said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. He said achieving the 20-percent level “would be going most of the rest of the way to weapon-grade uranium.”
Western powers blame Iran for rejecting an internationally endorsed plan to take Iranian low enriched uranium, further enriching it and returning it in the form of fuel rods for the reactor — and in broader terms for turning down other overtures meant to diminish concerns about its nuclear agenda.
Iran, in turn, asserts that it had no choice but to start enriching to higher levels because its suggested modifications to the plan were rejected.
That plan was welcomed internationally because it would have delayed Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapons by shipping out about 70 percent of its low-enriched uranium stockpile, leaving it without enough to make a bomb. Tehran deniesnuclear weapons ambitions, insisting it needs to enrich to create fuel for an envisioned nuclear reactor network.
The proposal was endorsed by the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — the six powers that originally elicited a tentative approval from Iran in landmark talks last fall. Since then, however, mixed messages from Tehran have infuriated the U.S. and its European allies, who claim Iran is only stalling for time as it attempts to build a nuclear weapon.
On Wednesday, Iranian Vice President Ali Akhbar Salehi said the process of higher enrichment was going smoothly while insisting that Iran was ready to stop any time it received the needed amount of 20-percent enriched uranium from abroad.
A senior official from one of the six world powers dismissed that offer, however, saying it would not solve the problem of providing the research reactor with fresh fuel rods before it runs out of its present supply.
The official said that Iran’s reaction is strengthening suspicions that they are using their enrichment activities either as “a bargaining chip or for a weapons program.” He asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.
______
Associated Press writers Ali Akhbar Dareini in Dubai and Bradley S. Klapper in Geneva contributed to this report.
Can Lip Gloss Cause Sun Damage?
How a Popular Cosmetic Could be Causing Health Problems
The majority of people are aware that they need to apply a good quality sunscreen to areas such as the back, legs and neck when they head off to the beach in summer. However, the same individuals might not be aware that the delicate skin on the lips needs the same, if not more, protection. Recent research has shown that women who apply lip gloss before leaving the house could be putting themselves at an even greater risk.
The Link between Lip Gloss and Skin Cancer
According to the April 2008 study, “Solar Radiation, Lip Protection and Lip Cancer Risk” by Janice M. Pogoda and Susan Preston-Martin, applying lip gloss without an SPF can cause an increased number of UV rays to penetrate directly through the skin, instead of being reflected off the skin’s surface. At worst, it is thought that the resulting skin damage can lead to potentially fatal forms of skin cancer.
Pharmacies, along with other health and beauty professionals have started to take note of such research. In New Zealand, Care Chemist, the country’s fastest growing community pharmacy group, has launched a campaign to highlight the link between skin cancer and wearing lip gloss in the sun. All 24 stores are involved in the initiative. In the USA, dermatologists such as Dr. Christine Brown, based at Baylor University Medical Centre in Dallas are also supporting the studies and are trying to educate the public on how susceptible lips can be to the harsh rays of the sun.
Why and How Does Lip Gloss Encourage Sun Damage?
Many women assume that lip gloss will create enough of a barrier to protect their skin from the sun. However, this is simply not the case. The ultra-shine of the glosses causes a magnifying effect, which actually attracts the sun.
Sun damage can also lead to premature ageing, making the already thin skin on the lips even thinner, which can cause rips and tears. Brown spots and actinic keratosis, a small scaly patch of skin that can morph into a wart-like bump, if left untreated are other possible side effects.
How to Main a Healthy, Attractive Pout
Fortunately, there a number of things that can be done to protect the skin, without giving up entirely on fashion and beauty.
- Wear a lip gloss containing sun block of at least SPF 30. Failing that, use a layer of SPF 30 sun protection under any shiny lip glosses and balms.
- Consider using lipstick instead, preferably one containing sun screen.
- Reapply sun protection regularly, especially if swimming, sweating or outside a lot.
- Remove dead skin cells by brushing lips carefully with a toothbrush and small amount of Vaseline. This will leave lips smooth and beautiful.
- Try to avoid licking the lips as this will dry them out and remove any sun protection that has been put on.
- Apply an intensive lip moisturising product before going to bed. Dry, weathered lips will be revived overnight.
The lips are more vulnurable than skin to chronic sun damage and are also more prone to developing serious cancers. However, with some care and smart shopping, it is possible to look good in the sun without worrying about putting this delicate part of the body at risk.
Read more about skin care and beauty at Suite 101: How to Choose Eco-Friendly Beauty Products http://beauty-products.suite101.com/article.cfm/how-to-choose-eco-friendly-beauty-products