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Offline Graybeard

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Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« on: March 19, 2008, 11:53:14 AM »
This just in from Newsmax via e-mail to me. No URL on this one.


1. Beer Fights Cancer

Researchers are always looking for the magic bullet to kill cancer, and now they may have found it in a surprising place — a glass of beer! (Who knew?) It turns out that hops, which is the flavor component of beer, contains a cancer-fighting compound called xanthohumol.

Xanthohumol turns out to be toxic to several kinds of human cancer, including prostate, ovarian, breast, and colon. Further, it inhibits enzymes that can activate the development of cancer, and also helps detoxify carcinogens. It even seems to slow down tumor growth in the early stages. Scientists are trying to produce hops that contain even more xanthohumol, and the Germans are racing to develop a “health” beer.

But wait – there’s more! Other compounds in hops are potent phytoestrogens which may help with post-menopausal hot flashes and also prevent osteoporosis.

Beers that provide the most benefits contain the most hops, and include strong brews such as ale, stout, and porter. In general, the darker the beer, the better. For those who can’t stand beer, herbal supplements made from hops contain the highest concentrations of beneficial elements.

Editor's Note:

Can Eating the Right Foods Prevent Cancer? Yes!
Discover Details Here.


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2. RFA Increases Lung Cancer Survival Time

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) — an interventional treatment that “cooks” and kills lung cancer tumors with heat — greatly improves survival time from primary or metastatic inoperable lung tumors, according to a study released today at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting. Of the 244 patients suffering from lung metastases (195 patients) or primary non-small cell lung cancer (49 patients), 70 percent were still alive at two years, including 72 percent for lung metastases and 64 percent for primary lung cancer. These survival results are similar to surgical results from other studies, but the interventional treatment is less invasive and has far fewer side effects and less recovery time. The researchers found that RFA often can completely destroy the primary tumor and, therefore, extend a patient’s survival and greatly improve his or her quality of life. Survival thus becomes dependent on the extent of disease elsewhere in the body.

Of the 49 patients (ages 27–85) with non-small cell primary lung cancer who were treated with RFA, 85 percent had no viable lung tumors after one year on imaging, and 77 percent had no viable lung tumors after two years, which indicates a cure. This study was conducted in tumors four centimeters in diameter or smaller, and even better results were obtained for tumors smaller than two centimeters.

“About two-thirds of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer are ineligible for surgery and typically have less than 12 months to live. A subset of these patients ineligible for surgery can be treated with RFA with the intention of curing the primary tumor. Thus, 70 percent of my patients gained at least another two years. This new outpatient treatment is effective, allowing us to treat patients who historically have only palliative options, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy,” said Thierry de Baere, M.D., interventional radiologist with the Institut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France.

These results are similar to studies in the United States and add to the growing body of evidence for RFA in extending survival time.

RFA is effective for local control of lung cancer, providing an attractive option for patients who may not be ideal surgical candidates, who wish to avoid conventional surgery or who have failed conventional treatments. A trial is needed to define if RFA can replace surgery in a subset of patients.

By the time lung cancer becomes symptomatic, 85 percent of patients are incurable, often due to serious coexisting health conditions or poor respiratory function. Most patients who are diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer are not surgical candidates at the time of diagnosis. For these patients, minimally invasive interventional radiology procedures can improve survival, reduce pain and improve quality of life. Interventional radiologists are uniquely skilled in using imaging guidance to deliver targeted cancer treatments throughout the body.

Radiofrequency energy can be given without affecting a patient’s overall health, and most people can resume their usual activities in a few days. It is a safe, minimally invasive tool for local pulmonary tumor control with negligible mortality, little morbidity, short hospital stay and positive gain in quality of life. Lung function is generally better preserved after RFA than after surgical removal of a tumor. This is especially important for those whose ability to breathe is impaired, such as current or former cigarette smokers. It can also be repeated if necessary or combined with other treatment options.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved RFA for the treatment of tumors in soft tissue that includes the lung.

Editor's Note:

'Good Bacteria' May Save Your Stomach, Colon and Stop Cancer.


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3. Cancer Detected Earlier With New Imaging

Doctors may one day be able to detect early stages of colon cancer without a biopsy, using a new technique developed by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

This imaging technology is one of many new ways of detecting cancers in the body in real time, said Christopher Contag, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and of microbiology and of immunology, who led the study. Contag said he hoped it might be one of the first to be used routinely for early detection of cancer.

"Detecting colon cancers is just the first step," said Contag. He predicted similar techniques will eventually be able to find a wide range of cancers, monitor cancer treatment, and deliver chemotherapies directly to cancerous cells in the colon, stomach, mouth and skin. The study will be published online March 16 in Nature Medicine.

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women, with about 150,000 people diagnosed each year. Although colonoscopy isn't perfect, it's currently the best way of finding colon cancers when they are still at the most treatable stage.

If doctors find suspicious growths during a routine colonoscopy, they take a sample, called a biopsy, and send it to a pathology lab to screen for cancer. That step takes time and not all people have ready access to a nearby pathologist. What's more, doctors biopsy only the cancers that form easily visible growths called polyps. Early stage cancers that remain flat aren't detected.

The trick to picking up cancer without a biopsy is to find a way of seeing which cells are cancerous while they are still in the body. That's what Contag and his group succeeded in doing.

In the initial trial with 15 patients, the technique detected 82 percent of the polyps that were considered cancerous by a pathologist.

Contag thinks this technique, developed in part through the cancer imaging program at the Stanford Cancer Center, could also be adapted to detect cancers in the mouth, esophagus and stomach. In addition, real-time screening could be used as a way of assessing whether a chemotherapy regimen is working. Contag said that if a tumor responds to a given chemotherapy, changes in the cells might be visible immediately. That response could allow doctors to switch patients to a new, more effective treatment if the first one results in no improvement. Currently people go through several rounds of chemotherapy before the first screen to find out if the treatment is working, a delay that prevents people from moving on to an effective treatment as soon as possible.

Editor's Note:

You Could Be Getting the Wrong Tests — These Are the Ones You Really Need.


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4. Some Memory Loss Common in Dementia-free Elderly

In 2002, more than 5 million older Americans had cognitive impairments that did not reach the threshold for dementia, according to research findings published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week. These impairments include some loss of memory and thinking ability.

The findings also indicate that about 12 percent of individuals progress from cognitive impairment to dementia each year.

"Cognitive impairment both with and without dementia can be a problem in late life, but the number of individuals affected by these conditions in the U.S. is unknown," Dr. Brenda Plassman, from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, told Reuters Health.

In a study of 856 people age 71 years and older evaluated between 2001 and 2003, Plassman's team found that 22 percent had some cognitive impairment that did not reach the level of dementia.

Among 180 subjects with cognitive impairment without dementia who were re-assessed 16-to-18 months later, 39 had progressed to dementia.

Plassman's group estimates that in 2002, about 22.2 percent (5.4 million) of individuals in the US age 71 years or older had cognitive impairment without dementia and that the annual rate of progression to dementia was 12 percent, as mentioned.

Plassman said her team is involved in many different types of studies looking, for example, on "how cognitive impairment with and without dementia affects families and the US health care system — so we will be able to see the true human and economic costs of these conditions."

"Hopefully this research will also lead toward developing interventions and treatments, so that cognitive impairment is not one of the leading concerns in late life when our children are in their 70's and 80's."

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, March 18, 2008.
Copyright Reuters

Editor's Note:

Doctor: You Can Prevent Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Worse . . .


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5. Exercise Reduces Heart Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Aerobic exercise significantly decreased the chemical imbalances that can lead to heart disease and stroke in postmenopausal women according to a study in the spring issue of the Journal of Women and Aging.

Estrogen is known to reduce the chemical imbalances that can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke in postmenopausal women. However, recent studies have reported detrimental effects of long-term use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or estrogen replacement therapy, including an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and breast cancer. Faced with these potential consequences, more women are turning to exercise as a natural way to combat postmenopausal effects.

The study found that HRT users and non-HRT users benefited equally from the exercise.

“Given the controversy with HRT, postmenopausal women can now use aerobic exercise training to lower chemical stress levels, thus reducing another risk factor for chronic disease,” said Michael D. Brown, Ph.D., a co-author and associate professor of kinesiology at Temple University’s College of Health Professions.

The chemical imbalance or stress — called oxidative stress — occurs when oxidants, harmful chemicals that damage tissue and cells, outnumber antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants protect cells and tissues against oxidants. Postmenopausal women have higher levels of oxidative stress.

A single bout of intense exercise acutely raises oxidative stress by increasing the production of oxidants. Conversely, regular exercise of moderate intensity appears to reduce oxidative stress through an adaptive process that increases antioxidant activity.

The study followed 48 sedentary postmenopausal women (21 on HRT and 27 not on HRT) through an exercise program consisting of three supervised sessions of aerobic exercise per week for 24 weeks. Participants were between 50 and 75 years of age and were postmenopausal for at least two years.

“No one is too old to begin an exercise program, but it is imperative to consult your physician before taking part in any exercise program. It is important to start off slow and build your program to your comfort level. Exercising is not difficult. You just have to want to do it,” Brown added.

Editor's Note:

Heart Disease Caused by Your Salt and Sugar-Filled Diet.
Doctor Discusses Findings Here.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline jhm

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2008, 03:50:59 AM »
Bill:  I didnt read the whole post!!  Just the part about Beer fighting Cancer, and If that was TRUE I would have never had any Throat Cancer because I sure had my share and probably several others share of it before I was diagnosed with it, anyhow now that it is gone lets ALL sit down and have a Medicinal Bottle of Sam Adams Black Lager.   JIM

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2008, 04:17:56 AM »
Like you I didn't read the entire thing either. But it does specify certain types of cancer that it is known to prevent/cure and the type you had wasn't listed. That sounds like one likely brought on by tobacco use might that be the case for you?



Bill aka the Graybeard
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Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline rex6666

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2008, 05:55:59 AM »
Bill
can you tell me how to pronounce XANTHOHUMOL i am having a little trouble with it. ;D
Rex
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2008, 11:22:38 AM »
Zan-tho-hu-mol would be my guess. The X is almost always pronounced as if a Z but then I'm no resident expert on such things.

One thing I found interesting was the part about the RFA. I can't say for sure if it's the same or even similar to a treatment Matt has been messing around with but it made me thing of it at least. He has put together a circuit board with wires that provides an electrical shock. In practice at his house when trying his personal one on me prior to deciding whether to build one for me he put the leads in a glass of salty water to wet them and then attached them to my wrist rather tightly. There was some kinda cloth or something ont he ends to soak up the salt water to conduct the electricity. He then had me adjust the rheostat to make sure I didn't get shocked too much too fast. I really had to turn it all the way and it still took awhile for me to feel any shock as I seem to have a really high tolerance for such.

He claims this is supposed to cure all sorts of things in folks and says it's gonna fix my high blood pressure, shortness of breath, acid reflux and who knows what else. Me I kinda doubt it.

BUT there is a fellow he works with who was on the verge of dying of cancer. The man had three different types all diagnosed as inoperable and soon to be fatal. He asked Matt to hook him up and after the required time period and I don't know what that is as Matt's not yet explained the whole process to me the man went back to his doctors and was declared to be in remission and now in no further need of treatment for the cancer. Me I got no clue but Matt claims this is factual.

I don't pretend to understand the science behind it but he has been doing a lot of research on this and it's not his invention at all but just something he copied from some place he found it on the internet.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Leatherstocking

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2008, 04:17:52 PM »
My Oma (German for Grandma) always said "A beer and an apple a day keeps the doctor away"!! Born in Munich and she lived to be 88.
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"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise" - Aldo Leopold (1949)

Offline williamlayton

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2008, 09:43:59 PM »
I have been reading this with some interest.
Almost all drugs have some connection to chemicals found in plants.
I was particularly glad too know that this thing on beer will make many drunks sleep better tonight  ;D ;).
I did say that with enough tongue-in-cheek too get across the humorous thought didn't I? Oh Well!
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Offline oldandslow

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2008, 04:10:29 AM »
Guess that gives me a reason to drink that Shiner Bock my kid left in the refrigerator at Christmas.

Offline dw06

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2008, 10:40:40 AM »
Well I should be good with the hops,my homebrewed english ipa has a bunch and is what I drink the most of.I'll let you in 40 years when I hit 90.
If you find yourself in a hole,the first thing to do is stop digging-Will Rogers

Offline Brett

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2008, 02:55:11 PM »
Perhaps now my family and friends will stop chiding me for drinking beer that "looks like used 40w motor oil".
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Offline jimster

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2008, 05:01:10 PM »
Anybody have any info on Capt. Morgan? 

Jim

Offline Buckhammer74

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2008, 09:18:30 AM »
just FYI

Color and yeast(Ale or Lager) wouldn't have anything to do with the hop benefit.  The higher hop levels come from the style of beer that is brewed. DW06 is on the right path, IPA(India Pale Ale) is a style which was brewed with a very high hop rate to survive the long trip from England to India. The high hop rate, along with higher alcohol level in IPA acts as a preservative to prevent spoilage. Another reason for high hop rates in beer is to balance the sweetness, that is why English Barleywines and Imperial stouts are so high on the hop scale.

If you are looking for a very highly hopped beer for medicinal purposes ;) It would be hard to beat Stone Brewings Arrogant Bastard Ale.

Man that stuff is bitter!

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2008, 11:27:02 AM »
I don't drink alcoholic beverages of any type but the Samuel Adams commercials claim they use more hops than anyone else. They claim to use a full pound per barrel and claim others use only a couple ounces or so. How true that commercial claim is I have no clue. Oh wait if it wasn't true they couldn't say it on TV now could they? Or is that another commercial that says that.  ???


Bill aka the Graybeard
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!

Offline Buckhammer74

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #13 on: March 23, 2008, 12:33:01 PM »
Graybeard,

In their commercials, Sam Adams is referring to their competition in the American Lager market IE Budweiser,Miller,Coors, etc.

I know you said you dont drink, but if you did, all you would have to do is take one sip of SA and compare it to any of the big three and you would taste that they are telling the truth. Along with more hops Sam Adams is more expensive than the big commercialized swill because they dont use cheap fillers like rice and corn.

Offline Dee

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2008, 12:56:29 PM »
This newly found medical information will make millions of drunks all over the world rejoice to know that cancer will not be their demise, and can now look forward to the pancreas or liver failing instead. Oh happy day! ;D
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline rebel dunn

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #15 on: March 25, 2008, 01:29:16 AM »
This newly found medical information will make millions of drunks all over the world rejoice to know that cancer will not be their demise, and can now look forward to the pancreas or liver failing instead. Oh happy day! ;D


   It seems to me that moderation would be the key.
Rebel

Offline Dee

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #16 on: March 25, 2008, 02:37:01 AM »
Moderation IS the key. My remarks were tongue in cheek. ;)
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline rebel dunn

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #17 on: March 26, 2008, 02:01:59 AM »
I knew it was but there are some that subscribe to the theory that one drink once in your life makes you an alcoholic
Rebel

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Beer Fights Cancer - Who'd a thunk it?
« Reply #18 on: March 26, 2008, 02:08:35 AM »
No number of drinks taken makes you an alcoholic. What makes one an alcoholic is the inability to control the consumption of alcohol. Is it the addictive nature of alcohol or some trait one is born with that determines this? I dunno but some folks can take a drink or a few and then stop and go about their business with no burning need to continue. Others just cannot stop and must have it daily and to excess. Those are alcoholics.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
256-435-1125

I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life!