Pancreatic Cancer, A Deadly Disease

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My Wife’s Battle With Pancreatic Cancer

My wife, Betty,  of 47 years passed away March 25th, 2005 as a result of  pancreatic cancer. It is one of the most deadly aggressive cancers,sometimes called the silent disease. It spreads rapidly and most often is not diagnosed until it is in it’s advanced stage. Often there is a lack of specific symptoms until it is too advanced for surgery. Unfortunately Betty was not eligible for surgery when she was diagnosed. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiation  for over a year.  She lost a lot of weight, was nauseous and vomiting most of the time. The radiation and chemo treatment itself, I felt, was what killed her. It drained her body of all the remaining healthy cells she had. My son and daughter-in-law, both chiropractors, both understood how serious her stage of pancreatic cancer was. They advised me not to put her through this treatment. Of course Betty and I were desperate and wanted to do whatever it took to help her beat the disease. At this point we would try anything. We made three visits to an alternative medical hospital in Mexico and three more visits to a hospital in San Francisco that specializes in the pancreas and liver. The doctors had us return after the many tests were completed even though they knew Betty was terminal and they could not operate.

Betty managed to stay with us longer than most pancreatic cancer patients. From the time she was diagnosed until she passed it was one and a half years. The last six months of her life was hideous. Her courage was awe inspiring and her suffering heart wrenching. During her illness and after,  my family and I have learned a great deal about this disease and just how horrible it is. We learned and know how important it is to pay attention to our health and maintain our bodies healthy immune system.  The body must be able to fight a disease as lethal as pancreatic cancer. Eating the right foods, getting plenty of exercise, and not smoking can really make a difference in your life. About 31,800 people in the United States alone are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and about 31,200 of these people die from it. In spite of the challenges this deadly and aggressive disease poses, there are now many new advances in diagnosis and treatment. Betty met those horrific challenges with courage and determination. She was 67 years old. Betty will remain in my heart and thoughts forever.

Live long and stay healthy everyone!

Chuck

5 Ways to Keep Pancreatic Cancer at Bay
If you’ve ever seen a loved one suffer from cancer, you’d know that it is one disease you hope you never fall prey to. Cancer can eat you away, literally. However, because of the vagaries of nature, none of us are immune to this disease, and the wisest course of action is to try and prevent it the as best as we can. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth-largest cause of cancer related deaths in the USA. It’s an aggressive form of this disease that is asymptomatic until it’s too late – by the time you start feeling the symptoms, it is often too late for treatment and you’re given only five or six months to live. If you want to keep pancreatic cancer at bay, you need to:
•    Stop smoking: Smokers are more prone to this disease, so if you need another reason to quit, this is it. The longer you smoke, the more susceptible you are to both lung and pancreatic cancer. The best way to quit is cold turkey, where you don’t look back at all. It may be hard at first, but think of all that you stand to gain and all that you stand to lose if you don’t do so.
•    Lead a healthy lifestyle: The more you exercise, the more you eat healthy food, the more vegetables and fruits you include in your diet, the more your chances are of not contracting pancreatic cancer. In short, the healthier you are and the more normal your weight is, the better your chances of keeping this disease at bay.
•    Supplement your diet with aspirin: A study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health found that women who had their diets supplemented with aspirin or products that contained aspirin were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who did not take the drug. The anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin were thought to help in preventing the onset of this form of cancer.
•    Keep your gums healthy: A study conducted by researchers at the Harvard University and those from the University of Puerto Rico reports that keeping your gums healthy and preventing periodontal disease may help in reducing your risk of pancreatic cancer. This is because gum disease could cause inflammation related disease in your pancreas and increase the risk of cancer.
As with any kind of cancer, the earlier it is detected, the better your prognosis and chance of survival. So if your family has a history of cancer or if your lifestyle makes you prone to this disease, it’s best to get yourself checked periodically.
By-line:
This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of pharmacy tech certificate at her blog The Pharm Tech Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.

Music From Chuck

Hi Folks,

Years ago I made a promotional record for Gene Norman, a night club owner and record producer. He owned the “Crescendo” a night club on the Sunset Strip. Billy Strange, Nancy Sinatra’s record producer is the band behind my voice on this recording. Recently my niece who lives in London discovered this recording on You Tube. I was probably in my late 20’s when this was made.  I hope you enjoy it. It sure was fun to hear this lost recording.

What Is This Stuff Called Resveratrol ?

Scientists and doctors agree that there is something in red wine that appears to have promising heart-healthy benefits.  It reduces bad cholesterol, prevents blood clots and helps prevent damage to blood vessels.   As a red wine lover, that is good news indeed.  That something in red wine is an extract called resveratrol.  Resveratrol, a natural compound found in the skin of red grapes, can counter the effects of a high-fat diet and might even prolong life. So, can you just drink red wine and maintain your youth? Well not quite, it would take 100-1000 bottles of wine a day to get enough of the resveratrol for humans to benefit. Most of the research on this key ingredient has been done on mice not humans.
The definition of resveratrol as defined in Wikipedia as  a phytoalexin ( antibiotic)  produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi.

Resveratrol has also been produced in labs by chemical synthesis.  A few companies sell supplements containing resveratrol.  Not enough is known about the effects of resveratrol to endorse such supplements.  Research is still continuing on the heart-healthy and age prolonging benefits of resveratrol.  Dr. David Sinclair, associate professor in Harvard Medical School’s Department of Pathology, is the lead researcher in the much-reported study about resveratrol and aging. The research he and his team did on mice found that the mice not only lived longer but had lower incidence of diabetes. When asked when do we get this pill?  Dr. David Sinclair answered,  “I would say five years to be conservative that this’ll happen within our lifetimes. I’m fairly certain about it. ”

Resveratrol can be found in peanuts, blueberries, cranberries, red grapes, acai, and camu camu berries. The most powerful ANTI AGING antioxidant berries are coming from the Amazon Rain Forest, such as acai and camu camu. There are 3000 berries that grow wild, with super powerful phytochemistry. The amount of resveratrol in food and red wine can vary significantly. It is not yet known how beneficial eating these foods might be when it comes to promoting your heart health. Basic questions of safety and biological effect in humans remain to be studied experimentally.

Dr. Oz, (Oprah Winfrey show) reports that taking resveratrol regularly could add 20 or more years onto your life.  The National Institute on Aging and  Oregon State University have also found that resveratrol, can counter the effects of a high-fat diet and  may prolong life. Check out this video with Barbara Walters on ABC news.

In the meantime we’re going to enjoy our red wine at dinner, add blueberries to our cereal and throw in a few cranberries when making our salad. We also enjoy the acai berry in a wonderful juice we have found to be delicious and healthy. We may not add 20 years to our life, but at least we are on the right track.

Have a great day!

Chuckngayle

chuga3140@gmail.com

Cholesterol Reduction and Plant Sterols

Being knowledgeable about cholesterol and its effects on your body can help reduce the risk for a heart attack.  It is very important to keep your cholesterol under control. Maintaining a healthy weight and staying physically active are excellent ways to do this. Eating foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat and free of trans fat is also important.

People get cholesterol in two ways. The body produces cholesterol, mainly in the liver, and many of the foods we eat contain cholesterol.  Foods that come from animals contain it. Foods from plants do not contain it. The body makes all the cholesterol we need. We do not need to consume it. If your cholesterol level is high you may need to reduce the amount of certain foods in your diet especially those with saturated fats and trans fat. These fats raise the level of cholesterol in our blood and increase the risk of heart disease.

Natural plant sterols may be the answer to cholesterol reduction.  Over 140 clinical studies have proven that they do lower LDL cholesterol. It is recommended that people with high cholesterol get 2 grams of plant sterols a day. That means you would need to eat about 100 pounds of  whole fruits, vegetables or nuts to get the 2 grams of natural plant sterols needed each day. That is a very taxing goal for anyone to achieve. To overcome this many of our foods are fortified with sterols and stanols by food manufacturers. Some of the breads, cereals, margarine spreads, salad dressings, vegetable oils, mayonnaise, orange juice, milk, yogurt and granola or snack bars that you consume already have been fortified with plant sterols.

In 2000 the FDA gave many food products the status of a “health claim”.  This means that it allows manufacturers to advertise the heart-healthy benefits of their product on their labels.

To help reduce the risk of heart disease and reduce cholesterol, we should be eating 0.8 grams of plant sterols a day as part of a diet low in  saturated fat and cholesterol.  Eat foods containing at least 0.4 grams of  plant sterols twice a day with meals.  The plant sterols help remove cholesterol from the body by blocking cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract. They are very similar to cholesterol physically and compete with cholesterol in the intestine, thus allowing less cholesterol to be absorbed in the body and returned to the liver. Instead of clogging up your arteries the cholesterol is eliminated with the waste.  This helps to lower the LDL cholesterol levels in your body.  Corn, soy, nuts, seeds, legumes and wheat products are good sources of natural plant sterols in very small quantities.

Reducing the cholesterol in your body is as simple as paying attention to what you eat and reading the labels on the foods you purchase.

• Use olive oil, canola oil and plant based oils for cooking and baking
• Stay away from fried foods and baked goods.
• Switch from butter to a tub margarine.  Be sure to read the label to get one with zero grams of trans fat.
• Choose the leanest of meats and low fat dairy products.
• Eat more fish and nuts for those good omega-3 fats. At least one good source daily is a good rule of thumb.
• Always follow your doctor’s advice and go in for a screening regularly.

Stay Healthy Everyone,

ChucknGayle

Age Related Macular Degeneration

We depend on sight more than any other of our senses to get around each day. Healthy eyes are extremely important for helping us understand and maneuver through our world.  Everyday from the  the moment we wake up to the moment we close them to sleep our eyes are at work.  They take in tons of information in a single glance. Our eyes work with our brains to tell us the size, shape, color, and texture of an object. They tell us how close an object is, whether it’s standing still or headed for us, and how quickly it’s moving. Our eyesight is very precious. As we age our eyesight can become a problem for many individuals. Read more

Superfoods

Just what is this thing called a SUPERFOOD?  It is a food that is rich in phytochemicals, which have been noted to have disease-fighting properties.   Phytochemicals can reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer, reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, or generally contribute to a person being healthier.

Superfoods are packed with nutrients and are powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, and, for an added bonus, put you in a better mood. Did I mention that there are no side effects? You don’t even need specific foods for specific ailments. A healthy diet incorporating a variety of superfoods will help you maintain your weight, fight disease, and live longer. Just think, anti-aging, delicious and most can be found right in your local grocery store. There are a lot of superfoods, one thing they have in common is that they are all unprocessed food. Some superfoods are hard to find because they are from remote places on earth.

You should not limit your diet to just superfoods. Other fruits and vegetables also have nutrients that are necessary for a healthy body. What makes certain fruits and vegetables special (superfoods) are the high concentration of phytonutrients found in them.

This  is a list of some of the best Superfoods;

*  Acai
* Avocado
* Bananas
* Barley
* Beans and Lentils
* Bilberries
* Buckwheat
* Camu Camu
* Green Foods
* Hot Peppers
* Kiwi
* Nuts and Seeds
* Sprouts
* Cranberries
* Beans
* Blueberries
* Broccoli
* Mangoes
* Oats
* Oranges
* Papaya
* Pomegranate Juice
* Pumpkin
* Red Grapes
* Salmon
* Soy
* Spinach
* Tea (green or black)
* Tomatoes
* Turkey
* Walnuts
* Yogurt
* Dark Chocolate

With the exception of a few of the rarer foods on the superfood list, you’ll provide yourself with a wealth of phytonutrients by eating a well-rounded diet that includes some of the superfoods and plenty of other fruits and vegetables.

Eat Super Well!

Chuck and Gayle

Keep Fit and Extend Your Life By Walking

Senior citizens and baby boomers are well aware of the importance of exercise, yet 85% do not exercise on a regular basis. The fact is, the more fit you are in your 30s and 40s, the easier it will be to maintain your fitness in your 60s and 70s. Regular activity will actually keep you young, in every cell of your body, perhaps even a decade younger than your sedentary peers. Anyone who exercises daily sidesteps heart disease (in most cases) and will live nearly 4 years longer than inactive people. Exercise truly is a fountain of youth. Read more

Extend Your Life By Keeping Fit

Welcome to one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. EXERCISE! That is happy news for fit people, not so happy for those who are not.  It is the secret to looking and feeling your best every day.  You owe it to yourself to live life with the same zest and vigor of your youth.  If you want to maintain your youth, be vibrant, sexy, energized, fit and healthy, then keep reading!

Exercise can help you take charge of your health and maintain the level of fitness necessary for an active, independent lifestyle. Regular exercise and physical activity are very important to the health of older people. Not exercising is risky business. In fact, once you pass the ripe old age of 25, your total body strength decreases by about 4% every ten years. By 30 bone mass has peaked and you begin to lose it at the rate of 1-2% a year after that. At age 40 muscles begin to shrink. In order to combat the loss of muscle strength and bring back endurance and flexibility it is important to engage in regular physical exercise. It is indeed one of the best anti- aging secrets for both men and women by far. Read more

Brain Games To Keep You Young

Your brain is constantly changing in response to everything you do and think. The brain retains this ability well into old age. This is known as “plasticity.” The aging brain is very resilient, adaptable and capable.  Keep it functional and keep it young. With the proper care and lifestyle choices you can anti-age.

Brain cells do die off as we age, but the process does not accelerate. The areas of the brain that do lose cells are not necessarily the ones that are related to memory. The structure called the hippocampus shrinks in some people. These physical changes in the brain vary from person to person. Many people reach a ripe old age and are as sharp as ever. Read more

Defy Your Age, Sharpen Your Mind

When it comes to staying young, a mind-lift beats a face-lift anyday.  ~Marty Bucella

Mental and emotional health is extremely important to healthy aging and maintaining your youth. Depression, stress and anxiety can affect your ability to recover from illness.  Spiritual, mental and physical aspects of life all influence longevity.  Living a healthy lifestyle and learning new things can keep your brain functioning optimally. A healthy mind is part of a healthy body. If you are in a good state of mind you are better able to make the best decisions for yourself about your lifestyle and your health. Longevity depends on a healthy brain and attitude. One of the most important things you can do as you age is to maintain a healthy sharp brain.

There are many things you can do to keep your mind healthy and sharp and in peak condition.  Did you know many of these things are also key to maintaining a healthy body as well?

• Reduce the stress in your life. Stress can damage the brain.
Relax, meditate and treat yourself once in a while. Managing
the stress in your life improves your memory, makes you less
sensitive to pain and more able to cope.

•  Practice the art of positive thinking. Develop a positive attitude
about yourself and the world around you. To ensure longevity
in the brain keep a positive sense of purpose and a healthy
optimism.

“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are
famous preservers of youthful looks.”
Charles Dickens

• Take time to do the things you enjoy. Pursue leisure activities.
Read books and magazines, take a walk, play golf, knit with a
friend, enjoy a movie together. Leisure activities can reduce the
risk or delay the onset of dementia.

• Stay in touch with family and friends. Staying connected and being active helps us to live longer and retain mental sharpness. Build strong social networks to help the brain tolerate told age. Lonely individuals are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Volunteer and donate your time to something worthy. It allows you to use your brain and try new things.  It is intellectually stimulating and you meet new people.
Several studies have found that people who volunteer live longer than those who do not.

• Get enough sleep.  Getting enough sleep increases your
concentration and is critical for memory and information
processing.  Sleep is when your brain sharpens new skills and
solves problems.

• If you feel depressed or anxious get help from a professional.
Depression is one of the most common conditions seniors
face.

• Free your mind and body of harmful drugs and alcohol. Stop
smoking and cut down on alcohol consumption.

• Use your mental muscles, working out your brain strengthens
neuronal pathways and builds new ones. Train your brain to
improve memory skills, reasoning and visualization efficiency.
Active learning through out your life will keep your brain
healthy later in years.

• Get regular exercise it is the best way to improve brain health,
improve memory, concentration and abstract thinking. Exercise
increases blood flow to the brain, which nourishes the brain
cells and allows them to function more efficiently. Certain areas
of the brain shrink as we age. Walking can reverse this affect. A
University of Illinois study of adults ages 60-80 revealed that
walker’s brains looked 2-3 years younger than others their
age. Walk everyday!

• Eat nutritiously to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and age-
related cognitive decline. Remember what you eat can affect how you think.

A man is not old as long as he is seeking something.  ~Jean
Rostand

Some of the myths about aging and the brain are just not true. We can all acquire new knowledge, sharpen our skills and learn new tricks no matter what our age. Learning new things can help maintain mental functions and sharpen your mind. Researchers have learned that our older brains are quite capable of learning new things. We continue to learn as we age and we gain wisdom. Older people learn things just as well as younger people.  It may take a bit more time or effort but, yes, you can teach “an old dog new tricks”.

Do a crossword puzzle, Play a game, take on a new hobby, study a language, take a college course about a passion of yours, learn a new sport, learn how to play an instrument, take dancing lessons or cozy up with a good book. Reading keeps your mind sharp for life and provides an intellectual boost, especially when reading great literature. Research believes that people who read develop a brainpower reservoir that may lessen the risk of dementia.

All of these new experiences help stimulate the area of the brain that produces dopamine.  Dopamine is a chemical involved in memory and learning.  Learning and doing new things builds brain mass and increases your mental agility. Don’t be afraid of challenging and expanding your horizons with fresh and new
activities. You do not have to excel in your new pursuits to reap the many benefits.

I still have a full deck; I just shuffle slower now.  ~Author
Unknown

Contrary to popular belief the brain does not lose brain cells everyday, rather it grows new brain cells and reshapes itself through the experiences you encounter and the learning you do. As you challenge your brain, new brain cells sprout and the brain carves a new neural pathway keeping the brain vital and sharp.  When stimulated by new activities the brain is capable of regeneration.

One of the major keys to defying your age is staying mentally active and sharpening your brain. Get out there and train your brain for longevity. You will be glad you did and smarter for it!

First you are young; then you are middle-aged; then you are old; then you are wonderful.     Norman Vincent Peale

Be Wonderful Everyone!  Happy Anti-aging!

Chuck and Gayle