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.

Many older people develop macular degeneration as part of the body’s aging process. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that affects the macula, a part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail.  Age-related macular degeneration destroys sharp central vision. Central vision is what you see directly in front of you. It is the vision you need for everyday tasks such as reading, watching TV and driving. AMD affects as many as 15 million Americans with about 200.00 new cases every year. It never causes complete blindness, but can affect your daily lifestyle in many ways. In many cases the impact of macular degeneration on vision is minimal. Even people with more advanced cases continue to have some useful vision and are able to take care of themselves.

Studies indicate that people over the age of 60 are at greater risk for age-related macular degeneration than other age groups. it is the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness in people 55  years of age or older.  Because our life expectancy continues to increase, AMD has become one of the major public-health concerns.

Age is not the only risk factor. Smoking, obesity, family history, race and gender can also play a role in age-related macular degeneration. Whites are more prone to AMD than African Americans and women are more at risk than men. If someone in your family had AMD the odds of you developing the disease is higher. Exposure to cigarette smoke and smoking doubles your risk. People with light colored eyes are also at greater risk of developing the disease. Cardiovascular disease contribute to the risk, such as  high blood pressure,heart attack,coronary artery disease and stroke. Low levels of nutrients, minerals, zinc, antioxidants and vitamins A,C and E play a role in developing AMD. Antioxidants may well protect the cells from oxidation, which is responsible for the effects of aging and the development of disease. Although the exact causes of AMD are not fully understood, researchers may be getting closer to an effective way of preventing it. They believe that vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid may have a significant effect in slowing the progression of this disease. More studies need to be done  on the actual prevention of age-related macular degeneration.

Eating the right foods is essential to healthy eyes and will help you avoid or slow the progress down of  age-related macular degeneration.  Eat foods containing antioxidants.  The antioxidants and minerals found in green leafy vegetables and fish can help keep your eyes healthy and help prevent many diseases such as cancer and those affecting the heart and  immune system. Antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E . These antioxidants can help prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye diseases. Good sources of antioxidants are found in highly pigmented fruits and vegetables.  When choosing fruits and vegetables choose the ones with more color to them.  Fish is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and can also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

It is also important to note that vitamin supplements are not a cure nor will they restore any of the vision you may have lost due to AMD.  The antioxidants  and vitamin supplements can reduce the impact by slowing down the progression of AMD.

Take a look at this you tube video for keeping your eyes healthy.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NnEdcw6GhE[/youtube]

Stay healthy everyone,

ChucknGayle

Traditionally herbal medicine has a long history of use in the treatment and prevention of immune- related problems. One of the most commonly prescribed herbs for immune -related disorders is Echinacea. Echinacea stimulates production of white blood cells, helps the immune system and the lymphatic system and helps the body defend against infectious diseases such as the common cold and flu. This herb provides the body with an overall feeling of well being. It contributes to the bodies natural disease fighting ability. It has been referred to as the natural antibiotic and may be used to fight and reduce inflammation caused by respiratory problems, sore throat, bronchitis, strep throat and enlarged prostate glands.

The Cherokee Indians used Goldenseal for health purposes and introduced this herb to American Settlers. Goldenseal strengthens the immune system, cleanses the body and acts like an antibiotic and is also effective for infections. When congestion and inflammation occur due to a cold or flu Goldenseal helps to soothe the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and helps the eyes, ears, nose and throat heal. Infections of the bladder and the intestines can be treated with Goldenseal. It also helps reduce fever, eases peptic ulcer inflammation, aids digestion and relieves constipation and cleanses and promotes healthy glandular function. Canker sores, yeast infections and topical wounds can be treated with this herb. Goldenseal’s numerous uses are attributed to its antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and astringent attributes. When combined with Echinacea, it has a powerful immune strengthening and congestion reducing action.

A combination of these two herbs, Echinacea Goldenseal, can be taken to prevent and maintain your best health. Most important is the frequency and timeliness of the dosage for these herbs. It is suggested that it best be taken every two hours until symptoms are relieved for acute cold or flu infections followed by three times daily for a week or two to ensure complete recovery and healthy immune function. Be sure to read the instructions on the bottle for best results.

As always, check with your doctor and watch for any adverse side effects it may have on you before taking any supplements. Click here for more information about: Echinacea Goldenseal.

Happy Anti-Aging,

Chuck and Gayle

Resources:

www.viable-herbal.com/combos/herbs

www.healthy.net/scr/article

www.bodybuildingforyou.com

Recently I received a letter indicating that I needed to be tested for this life threatening disease. It takes several weeks to get results from your blood tests because of the volume of people that need to be tested. I had so many questions running through my mind; Have I unknowingly acquired a potentially fatal disease or lifelong serious illness? Am I a victim of gross negligence by the medical professionals that treated me? Not only is this a constant worry, but each time there is a news broadcast or article in the paper, and there is one almost everyday, it just fuels my anxiety and makes me angrier. To make matters worse when I met with my primary physician, I was told since my colonoscopy was so recent, I would have to be tested again in June. It seems I will have to wait even longer before I know I am totally free of any life threatening disease. There is an incubation period for Hepatitis B and C when the tests may not show positive during that time period, therefore it is necessary to be tested again in 6 months.

I am devastated, fearful and very, very angry at the doctors and nurses who allowed this to happen. These are individuals who are supposed to be the caretakers of the public health, prevent disease and use good judgment when dealing with health issues and the public welfare. These doctors and nurses carried out unsafe practices, jeopardized thousands of people and risked public safety. Someone should have blown the whistle and put a stop to this a long time ago. The nurses involved indicated they were ordered to engage in the dangerous practice of reusing syringes and single-dose medicine vials. Nurses as well as doctors take an oath to prevent disease whenever they can and have a special obligation to the welfare of the public. I fault them as much as the doctors involved. Knowing or even fearing they might lose their job if they reported these practices is inexcusable. Are they all without a conscience, integrity and lack good judgment? They certainly did not treat their patients to their best ability or live up to the oath they took. They were only concerned about saving their jobs. Obviously the oath they took means nothing to them.

Eight to ten thousand deaths occur each year resulting from the complications of Hepatitis C. Eighty percent of affected people can become chronically infected and risk serious long term disease. Hepatitis C can cause serious liver damage, cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. There is no cure for this disease. Not knowing if I am infected for sure is the biggest concern right now. Who to trust when I do need medical help and advise is another worry I need to deal with. No matter how important it is to have a colonoscopy, fear itself could keep me from having another one. I work very hard at living a healthy lifestyle, getting proper exercise and maintaining my weight through good nutrition. Now all my hard work is in jeopardy. There is no good reason anyone should have to risk death or a life-long chronic disease when getting a routine medical procedure to check for colon cancer. This entire travesty is absolutely outrageous and certainly uncalled for!

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Jon, our son, was a strapping 6 foot 3 man and rarely sick. He loved to water ski and snow ski. While he was in the Navy they sailed to the Phillipines where he spent several weeks in sick bay with a mysterious illness. As we look back we wonder, was this the start of Pick’s? The doctors did not know what was wrong at the time. There were signs that Jon was very troubled, which may have been a red flag. We had no idea that he was terminally ill with a form of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. As the disease progressed it was necessary to place him in a facility where he could live on his own for a time, however, it became more and more of a struggle to meet his needs. At this point we had a choice, care for him at home or place him in a private Alzheimer’s facility. We chose to place him in the private facility where he would have constant and professional care. He remained there for about 2 years and then through a doctor friend we were able to place him in a state accredited Alzheimer’s lock up unit. Most of the patients here were much older than Jon. Pick’s disease usually strikes younger people.

Jon became increasingly worse over the next few years, reaching a point where he couldn’t even feed himself. This was a horrible and difficult time for our family and friends to witness Jon going through the progression of this disease. At the young age of 38 we lost Jon.

Both forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease in the old and Pick’s disease in the young , is still a mystery to the medical community. To this day we do not know what caused Pick’s disease to develop in our son. As is the case with many diseases we felt that his immune system had broken down. At the time we asked if an autopsy would reveal the cause. Medical science had no answers for us. We hope and pray that medical science will soon come up with a cure for this hideous and rare disease.

Is freedom from Alzheimer’s just around the corner ?

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