Mirror Athlete Blog Articles

November 24, 2009

Pancreatic Cancer Statistics and Recommendations

Filed under: Cancer, Depression, Diet, Pancrease, Prevention, celebrity deaths, disease, mortality — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 20:01
Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast

The pancreas is a long flat gland behind the abdomen and stomach.  Its function is to aid in digestion and blood sugar (glucose) regulation through enzyme and hormone production.   Once your body is diagnosed, or riddled with pancreatic cancer, the 5-Year survival life expectancy is dismal.  But hope in response to cancer treatment can give a possibility of a longer life.  This hope is greatly dependent on if the tumor can be reduced enough after chemo to surgically remove it.  I recently wrote an article comparing the pancreatic cancer deaths between Patrick Swayze and Michael Landon.  The one commonality between the two was that they both drank and smoked excessively for long periods of time.  Pancreatic cancer rates are 2 times higher for smokers than nonsmokers.  There is also a higher rate of pancreatic cancer cases in countries with high fat diets.  Cancer as a whole regardless of cancer type appears to be on the rise in the US.  The statistics below show all cancer diagnosis from 2000 to 2008 dominating in 4 states.  Pancreatic Cancer estimates in 2009 prove to be the 4th deadliest cancer in the US.  For the full Pancreatic Statistics & Recommendations including all other forms of cancer, click on cancer.org link below for Free American Cancer Society reports.”

  • States with highest cancer diagnosis during year 2000 – Geographically (California 113,200), Florida (88,100), Texas (76,100), NY (81,500), US diagnosed “All” Cancer Totals – 1,220,100
  • States with highest cancer diagnosis during year 2008 – Geography (California 156,530), Florida (101,920), Texas (96,320), NY (97,130), US diagnosed “All” Cancer Totals – 1,437,180.
  • Pancreatic Cancer estimates in 2009 ~42,700 people will be diagnosed resulting in ~35,420 deaths will result making it the fourth deadliest cancer (American Cancer Society).

Jennifer Landon “There are many studies that show low-fat, plant-based diets have low cancer rates.  Large studies in Europe shows 40% of vegetarians… Less likely to develop cancer over meat eaters” (Cancer Project is an affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine). 

Preventative Measures:  Those that add sugar to coffee, tea; drink diet sodas and eat deserts daily increase pancreatic risk up to 50-90%.  Risk factors:  Tobacco, alcohol, poor diet, obesity, diabetes; 10-15% diagnosed – poor genetics.  Recommendation: There is no screening test or symptoms prior to the spread of pancreatic cancer.  If you experience abdomen pain, darkening of urine, or if cancer runs in your family see a doctor. Request a CT scan.  Have blood drawn to see if cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) results in increased levels indicative of pancreas cancer. Reduction of tumor size to surgically remove it is the patient’s 5-year or better survival hope before it spreads to lymph, or liver.

References:  World Wide Web,

http://www.cancerproject.org/media/news/090120.php

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/content/STT_1x_Cancer_Facts__Figures_2009.asp

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=87670

http://channels.isp.netscape.com/whatsnew/package.jsp?name=fte/sugarandcancer/sugarandcancer&floc=wn-nx

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=87669

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Facts+about+actor+Patrick+Swayze/1993617/story.html

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2009 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

October 24, 2009

Is Pancreatic Cancer on the Rise?

Filed under: Cancer, Chronic Pain, Depression, Diet, Men's Health, Pancrease, Prevention, Product Toxins, Women's Health, celebrity deaths, disease, immune system, mortality, pancreatic — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 16:53

                                MAE VIDEO – Marc Compares Swayze & Landon\’s Pancreatic Disease Deaths      Marc MAE Fitness & Pain Management Consultant               

 I  was motivated to know more about Pancreatic Cancer after the death of Patrick Swazye.  But I was most impacted in 1991 by Michael Landon’s death.  However at that point, I was in a different time and place with my life.  Instead of realizing the seriousness of this insidious death sentence, I thought “how unfair and what a loss to all that admired his work “and the person.”  I figured this was an isolated and unfortunate rare occurrence. Then the news of Patrick Swazye’s pancreatic cancer story came and went some 18 years later.  He too was someone I admired like many of you out there.  This left me to ponder… Is pancreatic cancer or cancer in general on the rise?  Is it a geographical thing?  After all, both of these actors lived in Southern California.  Is there any way to prevent, or remove this cancer from the body once it takes hold?  I had so many unanswered questions in my head at this point in time.  These two people I greatly admired for their work.  This drew upon my curiosity as a health conscious individual to know more about their lifestyles and could they have done anything differently to change their outcome?  I decided to write this piece as a two part article.  First, let’s look at these two individual’s to see if we can determine some commonalities.  In the second piece (part2), we’ll review the statistical cancer information to draw on some presumptive conclusions in answering these questions.

 Like most of you I was an avid follower of Michael Landon.  My favorite shows as a kid were Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven series.  Michael Landon was diagnosed with Aden Carcinoma at the age of 54 on 5 April 1991 and immediately underwent chemo therapy.  His cancer had spread to his liver at first causing stomach cramps receiving his diagnosis 7 weeks later.  The cancer became inoperable due to the cancer spreading to the liver and lymph node system.  Only 1% of patients with this combination survive the full five year period.  He died in Malibu, CA on 1 July 1991.  Potential cause of cancer for this patient, heavy alcohol consumption and a four pack per day smoking habit.   I also followed many Hollywood movies that Patrick Swazye appeared in.  Three of his movies I can think of immediately, “Dirty Dancing, Next of Kin and Roadhouse.”   Swayze was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in March 2008 and underwent chemo therapy with new experimental drugs (vatalanib/gemcitabine) to shrink the tumor by preventing the development of new blood vessels that would otherwise nourish it.   After more than a year of cancer, Swazye completed 13 episodes of the beast without pain medication.  Swayze Died, 14 Sept 2009 at the age of 57.  Since the cancer spread to his liver surgery would help him.  His life expectancy after diagnosis was 5 months.  He lived 20 months after diagnosis.  He’s a strong guy, and he’s got a great attitude,” says Ron Wise, a Cedars-Sinai spokesman, “in my experience, that has a lot to do with how things go.”  Patrick Swayze’s biggest regret was his smoking which he continued to do until his death.  Doctor’s agreed, even if he quit at the time of diagnosis would have no bearing on his outcome after diagnosis.  See part two of this article continuation, “Pancreatic Cancer Statistics and Recommendations.”

 World Wide Web References:

  1. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PatrickSwayze/patrick-swayzes-death-shows-tough-pancreatic-cancer/story?id=8583819
  2. http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20114945,00.html)
  3. http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/HillsideObituaries/michaellandon.htm
  4. http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/news/20090915/patrick-swayze-dies-of-pancreatic-cancer
  5. http://www.aol.com.au/lifestyle/story/Patrick-Swayze-Admits-His-Biggest-Regret/2042631/index.html

 Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2009 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

June 25, 2008

Toxins in Our Families Home Use Products?

Filed under: Anti-Aging, Cancer, Consumer Safety, Environmental Toxins, Mental Health, Prevention, Product Toxins, Wellness, Women's Health, celebrity deaths, disability, disease, immune system, infection, manage depression, tips, well-being — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 07:36

Back in November 2007, I wrote an article “Is Cancer in Your Tub?” The information within this article predominately came from Network News and Publications(www.netnewspbl.com).  In essence the literature discusses FDA approved chemicals in our foods and house hold products as an outrage to our families health!  Many of your everyday use items have carcinogenic toxins that within a laboratory controlled study, in many cases “confirm serious health issues with long term use of our FDA Qualified “SAFE” products!”  To read the full article “Is Cancer in Your Tub?  Visit our Health Repository, look under “Environmental Toxins, and scroll over to Mirror Athlete free read articles column.”

Recently I procured brochures from author Debra Lynn Dadd, “Please Protect Yourself from Household Toxics.  I would like to share a portion of the information that was in her literature.  She writes,

“While certain people may be more sensitive than others, and some chemical(s) may bring on reactions only after many years of repeated exposure, I discovered through my research that chemicals may bring on reactions only after many years of repeated exposure, I discovered through my research that chemicals in the home could put anyone at risk.  Cancer, birth defects, genetic changes, heart disease… Almost any symptom imaginable, both physical and psychological, has been associated with chemicals in common household products.  Recently, scientists have discovered that toxic chemicals can lodge in our endocrine system contributing to thyroid problems, diabetes, weight gain, and infertility.  At greatest risk are fetuses, children, the elderly, and those who are already ill, but these chemicals are threatening the health of everyone, every day.”

Also, as I combed through AARP Bulletin Today, May 2008, Vol.49 No. 4, there is an excellent article I’d like to share with you.  “Hazards at Home,” by Reed Karaim.

“And older people are more likely to have conditions – such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes – that can dramatically reduce their ability to withstand exposure to environmental hazards… The stakes are high.  Older people tend to process and eliminate toxicants from their bodies more slowly than younger people.  And “as we age, we become less efficient at detoxification – the slowing down of kidneys, liver and immune system functioning all play a role.  In this older people are more like infants and children in their ability to fend off toxic assaults,says Sandra Steingraber,the author of Living Downstream:  An Ecologist Looks at Cancer and the Environment.”

“Cleaners – Chemicals to avoid in cleaners, says McRandle (Paul McRandle, Deputy Editor at the National Geographic Green Guide), run from ammonia, which is known to trigger asthma, elements in chlorine bleach, which is a lung irritant and will kill you if you swallow it, to things like glycol ethers, which are used to dissolve grime and dirt, and can cause nerve damage.”  Protect your skin by wearing rubber gloves and your lungs by ventilating your work area or wearing a mask.”

It simply was amazing to see within these articles, glycol ethers and propylene Glycol (ingredient found in anti-freeze), are ingredients within many of your household shampoos, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, toothpaste and pet food?”  Why is it necessary to put these carcinogenic solvents in our consumable house hold products?  Especially, when company’s know how to make a non-toxic human product?  The answer is very clear.  “It’s all about the money.”  It’s obvious to me that cost cutting “skimming SAFE quality products” and outsourcing American business is “the” critical” element required when profits are king.

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2008 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing, www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

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