“Whom can you trust when your culture is the biggest enemy of your health? Can you trust your culture’s leading authorities? Can you trust your culture’s government? Can you trust your culture’s private industry?”

We asked those questions in 1995, at the end of our book, Dressed To Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras. Before writing our book, we sent details of our research to the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, President’s Cancer Panel, American Women’s Medical Association, National Organization for Women, National Women’s Health Network, and National Women’s Health Resource Center. There was no response. Not one. Given the lack of interest, we decided to publish our findings in a book, getting the information directly to the women who needed to hear it.

But are women getting the message?

It has been 13 years since our book was first published. Over that time, more than 500,000 women in the US alone have died from breast cancer, with another 2,000,000 having been diagnosed with this terrible disease — a disease that is in most cases preventable by simply loosening up or eliminating the bra. And yet, this lifesaving information has been actively suppressed and censored by the medical and lingerie industries.

Examples of Suppress and Censorship

A large public relations firm in New York City was willing and eager to help us release this information to the public. “My wife just had breast cancer, and I’m sure you are right,” the head of the firm confessed. A big media announcement and celebration were planned. Days later, however, the firm withdrew its offer to help, stating that one of their clients, a large medical center, objected to their working with us.

A Sydney, Australia public relations firm agreed to help publicize our work when we were doing outreach efforts in their country. But it, too, reversed itself. We had asked if they had any conflicts of interest, such as lingerie industry clients. They said they had none. But as it turned out, they did represent a pharmaceutical company that makes a breast cancer treatment drug, and the prevention of breast cancer and its treatment are in conflict, they explained.

The Intimate Apparel Council (which is the US trade association for the multi-billion dollar bra industry) threatened our publisher, Avery Publishing Group, with a lawsuit if Dressed To Kill was released. The publisher said the publicity would help spread the word. The lawsuit never materialized.

After the book was released, the NBC television news show, Dateline, was interested in doing a story on our work. We were extensively interviewed by a skeptical reporter who became a supporter. The story was then abruptly terminated. The producer confidentially explained that the policy of General Electric, which owns NBC, is to avoid airing news stories that can adversely impact on other GE interests. As it happens, GE is a manufacturer of mammography machines.

Women’s magazines, such as Glamour, Self, and others, ran critical stories condemning our work, and finding “experts” to encourage women to continue wearing bras. Elle magazine planned a positive story about the bra/cancer link, but was coerced into pulling the story by bra advertisers. In various newspapers around the world, such as the Guardian in the UK, stories were pulled prior to publication because of fear that they may “panic the public”, including their lingerie advertisers.

The British Fashion Council (which is the UK’s equivalent of the Intimate Apparel Council) published the Breast Health Handbook in 1996 to oppose our efforts. They announced the formation of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Foundation, which was to receive donations from bra sales to fund genetic research into breast cancer. The book criticized our work, claiming, “The idea that wearing a bra encourages cancer by trapping toxins was recently put forward by researchers at the Institute for Culturogenic Studies (sic) in Hawaii. Researchers from more august establishments promptly dismissed it as claptrap.” Without any medical evidence or research, the book informs women that wearing bras is a health necessity, and should be worn as early in life as possible to prevent breast damage.

Our original publisher, Avery, was purchased by giant Penguin Putnam in 1998. The new publisher did not list the book for three years and refused to revert publication rights to the copywrite holders, Singer and Grismaijer. The book was virtually unavailable, and it was thought to have gone out of print. Finally, after repeated requests, the publishing rights were released to us in October, 2001. (ISCD Press has been keeping it in print since then.)

A television documentary was produced in the year 2000 by Channel 4 in the UK, called, Bras- The Bare Facts. In the documentary, 100 women with fibrocystic breast disease went bra-free for 3 months to document the effect on breast cysts and pain. Two prominent British breast surgeons conducted the study. The results were astounding, and clearly demonstrated that the bra is a serious health hazard. We were interviewed for the program to discuss the bra/cancer connection, which was considered highly plausible and important by the doctors interviewed. Some theorized that, in addition to lymphatic impairment, the bra could also cause cancer by overheating the breasts. The documentary made newspaper headlines in British Commonwealth countries throughout the world, but no mention of it was made at all in the US. The following day, headlines in the U.K. tried to suppress fears of the bra/cancer link, and the doctors in the study quickly distanced themselves from the cancer issue, telling women to continue wearing bras. Their research for the documentary was supposed to be published in a medical journal, but never was. And no further research ever materialized to follow-up on their work, which they said they would do. Extensive news coverage of the program was available on the Internet soon after it aired, but most articles were removed shortly thereafter.

No follow-up studies have been done to refute or confirm our research. None. While a Harvard study, published in the European Journal of Cancer in 1991, discovered that bra-free women have a lower rate of breast cancer, the results were not central to the research they were conducting and were considered unimportant and not followed-up. In fact, apart from our initial 1991-93 Bra and Breast Cancer Study, discussed in detail in Dressed To Kill, and our follow-up research in Fiji, discussed in our book, Get It Off!, there are still no other studies on the bra/cancer link. Not even a letter or discussion of the issue can be found in any medical journal. After decades of breast cancer research, the bra is still completely ignored as even being a potential factor for consideration. It’s like studying foot disease and ignoring shoes.

Keeping the Public Mystified

This lack of research, and the consequent ignorance, are then used by cancer organizations to justify further suppression of the issue. As the American Cancer Society states on its website, (ignoring the Harvard study), “There are no scientifically valid studies that show a correlation between wearing bras of any type and the occurrence of breast cancer. Two anthropologists made this association in a book called Dressed To Kill. Their study was not conducted according to standard principles of epidemiological research and did not take into consideration other variables, including known risk factors for breast cancer. There is no other, credible research to validate this claim in any way.” And they don’t seem interested in funding any such studies in the near future, either. There are other organizations that are similarly critical of the bra/cancer link for lack of research evidence, while at the same time discouraging any research on the subject.

Of particular interest is when breast cancer organizations antagonistic to the issue declare the bra/cancer link to be “misinformation” or a “myth”, without any scientific study supporting their claims. They say bras are important for women to wear for support, without any evidence showing bras are safe or necessary. They then encourage regular mammograms, cancer prevention drug therapy (not realizing that “prevention therapy” is an oxymoron), and even preventative mastectomies (which means that those who are high risk for breast cancer but who don’t want to get it can have their breast removed as a prevention strategy). Of course, it is better to remove the bra instead of the breasts, but bra removal is not a billable procedure.

Keep in mind that bras have been associated with other health problems, such as headaches, numbness in the hands, backache and other postural problems, cysts, pain, skin depigmentation, and more. And lymphatic blockage, which is the result of bra constriction, has already been associated with various cancers. Clearly, the bra/cancer link needs further research, while women take the precaution of loosening up.

Why the resistance?

What harm could there be in following our simple advice, or in even researching this issue? Why the defensive reaction?

There are three reasons:

1. The bra industry fears class action lawsuits. Many insiders have admitted to us that for years the industry suspected underwires were causing cancer. They know that tight bras cause cysts and pain. It is only a matter of time until a lawsuit is made against a bra manufacturer. As a defense, the industry is shifting the blame to the customer, claiming that most women are wearing their bras too tightly, and should get professional fittings. (How do you get a properly fitted push-up bra?) Breaking ranks with their industry peers, and trying to capitalize on the bad news, are several bra manufacturers that now offer newly patented bras claiming to mitigate the damage, including cancer, caused by conventional bras.

2. The medical industry is making billions each year on the detection and treatment of breast cancer. As mentioned above, there is a conflict between the prevention and the treatment of disease, especially if the prevention does not include drugs or surgery. The fact is that our treatment-focused, profit-oriented medical system is making a killing treating this disease, and has billions to lose if breast cancer goes out of fashion along with bras.

In addition, the bra issue will revolutionize the breast cancer field, embarrassing many researchers. Breast cancer research to date that has ignored the bra issue is seriously flawed as a result, which is why the “experts” are still unable to explain the cause of over 70% of all breast cancer cases. Career cancer researchers who have ignored the bra issue will have to admit this fatal flaw in their work, which they are not inclined to admit in their lifetimes.

3. Finally, there is the dogmatic, fearful resistance from some women who find their personal identity so connected to their bras that they would rather risk cancer than be bra-free (which some women have actually told us.) Women are cultural entities, and so long as our culture scorns a natural bustline, many women will submit to the pain, red marks and indentations, cysts, and even the threat of cancer rather than face potential public ridicule (which never really happens.)

There are also women who believe the myth that bras will prevent droopy breasts. The bra industry admits this is a myth, while it still promotes it to improve sales. In fact, bras cause breasts to droop, as the breasts become dependent on the bra for support and the natural supportive mechanisms atrophy from non use.

Despite the resistance, however, some women have gotten the message. And many health care professionals, who have also suspected bras for years, are now spreading that message. As women hear the news and discover that eliminating the bra also eliminates cysts and pain, the news further spreads by word of mouth.

There are now thousands of websites on this subject, many from health care professionals including medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, osteopathic doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, lymphatic specialists, nutritionists, and others who care about women and helping end this epidemic. Grassroots efforts to keep this information alive and spreading have supplanted the traditional medical research approach, which has disqualified itself for lack of interest and conflict of interest.

When a disease is caused by the culture and its habits, attitudes, fashions and industries, there is bound to be resistance to change. Industries that contribute to disease will be defensive, and industries that profit from disease will be conflicted. However, the truth has a way of getting out, despite the resistance and suppression. Thank Goodness the truth does have a way of getting out.

Adapted from www.cityslim.com

Everywhere you turn these days, you can easily find yourself bombarded with campaigns advising you to “Go Green.” Go green to save the environment, to conserve energy… but to stop cancer? Yes, that’s right. Now, you can go green (in terms of your tea selection) to save, well… yourself!

Green tea stands apart from other teas due to its possession of a special ingredient: EGCG, or Epigallocatechin-3-gallate. This biologically-active constituent of green tea imparts numerous health benefits to its drinkers, such as alleviating rheumatoid arthritis, improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol, preventing cardiovascular disease and infection, and improving impaired immune function.[i] However, the most compelling evidence of the powers of EGCG becomes evident when examining its effects on various types of cancers.

A powerful antioxidant, EGCG has been shown to inhibit growth of ovarian cancer cells and sensitize them to certain anticancer drugs.[ii] In the laboratory where I work at Columbia University, studies have recently been published examining the mechanism by which EGCG inhibits colon cancer cell lines in vitro.[iii] Moreover, our laboratory was the first to propose a novel mechanism by which EGCG exerts anticancer effects in various experimental systems. EGCG has been proposed to target multiple components in cancer cell membranes, thereby disrupting several aspects of membrane organization and function.[iv] Myriad other laboratory studies demonstrate the natural anti-cancer effect of EGCG in the inhibition of the growth and development of tumors in a vast array of human cancers.

Overall, the results of EGCG’s anticancer effects look promising. However, Dr. I Bernard Weinstein, Director Emeritus of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Research Center (ICRC) and head of an ICRC oncology laboratory, advises that before we can go around telling people to drink tea, more studies are needed on smaller doses. “The doses our laboratory works with are very high; the amount of EGCG we use would be the equivalent of about 8-10 cups of tea.” While we cannot be sure that the benefits of EGCG hold true for lower doses, the live-saving potential of EGCG certainly exists.

Not a fan of drinking tea? You can still get your fix of EGCG without the brew!

Here’s how:

Kashi Heart to Heart Toasted Oat Cereal

I’ve been eating Kashi’s tasty Heart to Heart Toasted Oat Cereal for years, but I have only recently discovered the “green tea extract” hidden amongst the other heart-healthy ingredients on the nutrition panel. Eat your EGCG daily with this crunchy, honey-sweetened breakfast. Bonus: Heart to Heart also includes the anti-oxidants beta-carotene, grapeseed extract, lycopene, and vitamin E. Approximately $3.75/box.

T Bar

Made by the Tze The company, this nutrition bar boasts 130 mg of EGCG and 4 g of fiber, with a Rice Krispy Treat-esque consistency. Three grams of green tea leaves combined with brown rice and other whole grains give an earthy, but sweet, taste to this healthy treat. Approx. $18/dozen.

Luna Tea Cakes

With 130 calories and 1.5 g of fat and described as a “cross between a cookie and an energy bar,” Luna Tea Cakes are baked with green tea. The vanilla-macadamia variety has over 80 mg of EGCG, as well as about 3 g each of protein and fiber. Approx. $16/dozen.

And finally, a company called Neuchatel produces Green Tea Chocolates, containing EGCG extract from Green Tea. However, Neuchatel has informed me that their chocolates, which come in varieties such as Dark Swiss Chocolate and Sugar-Free Milk Chocolate are created especially for people with cancer. These chocolates contain very high EGCG concentrations and are not recommended for the general public.

In the wise words of an ancient Chinese proverb: “Better to go three days without food than one without tea.” Go green!

READ MORE ON WWW.CITYSLIM.COM

[i]http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_7_26/ai_n18629771

[ii] Chan MM, Soprano KJ, Weinstein K, Fong D. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate delivers hydrogen peroxide to induce death of ovarian cancer cells and enhances their cisplatin susceptibility. J Cell Physiol. 2006 May;207(2):389-96.

[iii], [iv] Adachi S, et al. The inhibitory effect of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate on activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor is associated with altered lipid order in HT29 colon cancer cells. Cancer Res. 2007 Jul 1;67(13):6493-501.

Copyright 2008 by Carol L. Kornmehl. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without express written permission from the author.

Prostate cancer is a common diagnosis in men, especially in the older population. Other medical problems, such as heart disease, are also frequent in this age group.

Hormone therapy is a helpful treatment for many men with prostate cancer and aspirin is protective for those with heart disease. Since many of these men are diagnosed with both heart disease and prostate cancer, it seems intuitive that they should take both aspirin and hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy reduces the blood level of testosterone, the male hormone that prostate cancer cells tend to thrive on. Aspirin, on the other hand, is a blood thinner that helps to prevent blood clots and heart attacks. In addition, hormonal therapy can raise a man’s risk of having a heart attack, so taking baby aspirin seems like a sensible approach to decrease this possibility.

However, a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated the finding of elevated liver function blood tests in men using both agents. The study included 206 men with localized prostate cancer who were enrolled in a clinical trial to compare the outcome of radiation therapy alone versus radiation therapy plus six months of hormonal therapy.

Men who completed six months of hormonal therapy were three and a half times less likely to die from prostate cancer than men who received less than the full course. When liver function tests were found to be elevated, the implication was the hormone therapy had to be discontinued until the tests normalized.

As it turned out, men who took aspirin were more likely to need to discontinue hormone therapy. Extrapolating from animal data, investigators inferred that the amount of aspirin that entered the bloodstream was magnified 100-times in men who received hormone therapy.

Whenever treating a person, medical doctors need to weigh the benefits and risk of their medical decisions. Therefore, a compromise appears to be the following: men who take aspirin for prevention can forego it for the six months of hormonal therapy. On the other hand, a man who absolutely needs aspirin will forego hormone therapy instead.

The good news is that by practicing holistic medicine, such as by looking at the whole man and not just his medical problem(s), physicians can make the best decisions that affect the prolongation of the person’s life.

Generally speaking, tumors that grow in the brain are often good candidates for radiosurgery. This involves an application of radiation that goes through the skull and tissue and concentrates on the targeted mass. The whole process is bloodless, so skin and skull do not have to be opened to apply.

Radiosurgery is the common term for a type of radiation therapy that is usually done on the brain. Also known as stereotactic surgery, it usually involves one application of strong radiation concentrated on the tumor, yet saving the healthy normal tissue. The patient will receive radiation via linear accelerator or some radiation source directed by a collator. There will be many small beams sent through the skull into the brain converging on the mass. Radiation therapy will work both for malignant and non-malignant tumors.

Types of Radiation Brain Surgery

Radiation therapy has been a great boost for the field of brain surgery. This is a technique that will not only mean less invasive methods, but the patient’s cost and recovery time is greatly reduced.

Radiation particles come in many forms, for example the company Elekta’s radiosurgery tool, the “Gamma Knife,” uses doses of gamma rays that bombard the cancer growth. This uses 201 beams of small focused radiation to converge onto the cancer tumor. The source of radiation comes from an isotope of cobalt. The concept was created more that 30 years ago by a scientist named Lars Leksel, Professor of Neurosurgery at Karolinsk Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

Another radiosurgery tool, with the trade name Cyberknife, sends out tumor killing x-rays instead of Gamma ones. The beam is controlled by a robotic arm that uses data from mapping software to target the mass. The software that is used, called 6D, maps the tumor in an unusual way. It will compensate for patient movement as well as use the x-ray data to pinpoint the targeted area while compensating for projected error. They claim to bring the accuracy to 0.5 mm of error. Like the Gammaknife, it can be used for both malignant and non-malignant matter. However, one main different between the two is that Gammaknife is designed only for cranial radiation therapy.

Patient Expectations with Radiosurgery

Because the radiation therapy is done non-invasively, patients will spend less time recovering, often not even needing to recover by rest at all. In the example of using the Gamma Knife procedure, the patient can resume normal activity a day after the procedure.

The Gamma Knife does take long to administer either. It can take 15 minutes to an hour of set up. There are some surgical procedures that are done on the cranium to fit the headset where the beamlets are to be sent through.

Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer. In the United States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and women. The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Colorectal cancer causes 655,000 deaths worldwide per year. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. Colon cancer often causes no symptoms until it has reached a relatively advanced stage. Cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world.

In most cases, colorectal cancers develop slowly over a period of several years. It is common in the Western world and is rare in Asia and Africa. Colorectal cancer is potentially a very serious condition and can be life-threatening. Symptoms can include blood in the stool, narrower stools, a change in bowel habits and general stomach discomfort. Crohn’s disease of the colon, approximately 30% after 25 years if the entire colon is involved. S Crohn’s disease of the colon, approximately 30% after 25 years if the entire colon is involved. These polyps may follow a bout of ulcerative colitis. Some inflammatory polyps may become cancerous, so having ulcerative colitis increases your overall risk of colon cancer.

Treatments of colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination. Aspirin should not be taken routinely to prevent colorectal cancer, even in people with a family history of the disease. Chemotherapy can be used to destroy cancer cells after surgery, to control tumor growth or to relieve symptoms of colon cancer. In some cases, chemotherapy is used along with radiation the Some larger polyps may be removed using laparoscopic surgery. Radiation therapy, which also stops tumour cells from dividing and growing, may also be used as this has been shown to be beneficial to some patients.The drugs bevacizumab (Avastin), cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix) can be administered along with chemotherapy drugs or alone.

Colorectal Cancer - Prevention and Treatment Tips

1. Surgery (colectomy) is the main treatment for colorectal cancer.

2. Radiotherapy is not used routinely in colon cancer, as it could lead to radiation enteritis.

3. Aspirin should not be taken routinely to prevent colorectal cancer.

4. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

5. Some larger polyps may be removed using laparoscopic surgery.

6. Survival is directly related to detection and the type of cancer involved.

An epidemiologic study suggested eating a lot of fruit and vegetables may help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in men.

The case-control study involved 585 pancreatic cancer cases and 4,779 controls in eight Canadian provinces between 1994 and 1999. The dietary habits were surveyed and analyzed using a multivariate analysis method. Identified and grouped were three dietary patterns, WESTERN characterized by high intake of meat, sugar, and refined grains; FRUIT/VEGETABLES characterized by high intake of fresh fruits and cruciferous vegetables; DRINKER characterized by high intake of liquor, wine and beer.

The study found that those who ate the highest amount of fruit and vegetables (highest quartile) are 50 percent less likely to have pancreatic cancer than those who used the lowest amount of fruits and vegetables (lowest quartile). There was no association with the Western dietary and drinker patterns.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and the fifth in women. As predicted by the American Cancer Society, about 32,180 people in the US will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 31,800 will die of the disease.

The study was conducted by André Nkondjock and collegues from University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and other organizations. The results were published in the May 1 issue of International Journal of Cancer.

Pancreatic Cancer

by: Dr. John Roberts

Find more about Pancreatic cancer at this site:

http://pancreatic–cancer–symptom.blogspot.com/

Cancer affects more people than the sufferer alone. Although they bare the brunt of the physical pain, their suffering has a huge affect on friends and family too, which can be very distressing. It’s therefore not surprising that in addition to cancer help groups for sufferers themselves, many forms of support for friends and families of cancer sufferers have also risen up. Help is available in a range of mediums; self help groups, one on one councillors, phone lines, internet forums and traditional publications such as books and leaflets.

Cancer tends to have more than just emotional implications; the cost of cancer can be very substantial, especially if the sufferer is a bread winner. However, help is at hand as there are benefits that sufferers and their families can apply for. The Disability and Carers Service is a government body that is responsible for the disability benefits, disability livings allowance and attendance allowance and also carer’s allowance, and there are help lines which you can ring to see whether you qualify for financial help.

These help lines will also be able to offer advice on other financial matters such as insurance. As cancer is considered a pre-existing medical condition by most insurers, getting travel insurance from a normal broker can be difficult. Therefore, it’s normally better to go to a specialist who is prepared to look into your individual circumstances in detail and evaluate the situation.

It’s not just financial information that cancer sufferers and their friends and family need. Often, there is a great desire for more knowledge of the condition itself. People want to know as much as they can about what’s happening to them, what is likely to happen to them in the future, and how they can do things to help themselves.

Thankfully, the world is awash with books, magazines, journals and websites about every type of cancer that exists. There are also cancer support information centres throughout the UK which you can visit in person to speak to specialists and pick up leaflets, booklets and audio-visual materials.

Cancer can be very tough for all involved, but remember there is help available to you every step of the way. From the medical help you’ll receive at the hospital, to the emotional support you can get from phoning a help line or attending a self help group, to the help available online when you log on to a cancer sufferers’ forum and share your problems with hundreds of people who are going through the same thing, help, support and advice is always there.

One of the ways that sufferers of cancer and their friends and family can help to understand the condition is by obtaining as much information about the condition as possible. Discovering and understanding what is happening to your body and why, is a very important part of getting through cancer.

Today, we are lucky, in that information is so much more readily available than in previous decades. Cancer charities and government run initiatives mean that there are now many channels of information available to us. For starters there is face to face support, where sufferers can go and talk in total confidence to a specialist in a one-on-one environment. You will also be able to take home leaflets, booklets and brochures allowing you to read up on the subject at a later date.

However, it may not always be feasible for you to travel to meet with someone in person; perhaps you don’t drive, are immobile, or live in an area that is not well served by public transport. Luckily, there are mobile cancer information centres that tour the country, visiting places that may not have a cancer centre already. Such cancer centres offer free, confidential information and support to people in their communities, and appointments are not generally necessary. These centres are open to anyone, whether they have a cancer diagnosis, are visiting on behalf of a friend or relative, or are just worried about cancer.

To those who would prefer to get support or information about cancer from the comfort of their own home, there are many free cancer support phone lines that cater for cancer sufferers and their families. There are even phone lines that are aimed at specific language groups so help is just a phone call away no matter where you are from in the world.

And for those who have internet access at home, the web is now a massively useful source of information and support. The rise of social media on the web has led to hundreds of specialist cancer support mailing lists, newsgroups, chat rooms, forums and other informational sites. Here, users can not only read about the various forms of cancer, but can also participate in discussions with other cancer sufferers, and thereby give and get advice and support, and even become part of a community to help others who are going through the same experiences as you.

With so many sources of cancer available, it’s easy to get help and support. Whether it’s online, on the phone or in person, so whatever the time of day, or day of the week, there will be someone you can turn to for cancer support.

Cancer of the penis is quite rare. Cancer is a big worry for many people though. It is estimated now that at least 300,000 people a year are now diagnosed with every year in the UK. The most common forms of cancer are breast, lung, colon and prostate cancer. Cancer of the penis is much rarer.

In Britain around 400 men a year are diagnosed with cancer of the penis and it mostly affects men who are 60 of age or older. It is more common in South East Asia and Africa.

Causes

The research into penis cancer is not very advanced and not much is known about it. Cancer of the penis is believed to be related to general hygiene and is found to be less common in men who have been circumcised. The reason being that men who haven’t had their foreskin removed will find it much harder to pull back their foreskin to clean thoroughly underneath. The human papilloma virus human (HPV) that causes penile warts also increases the risk of cancer of the penis.

Cancer of the penis is not hereditary and so other members of the family are not likely to develop it. Cancer of the penis is not contagious either.

It is vital to keep a check on penis health because some skin conditions can develop into cancer if left unchecked and untreated. Please check for white patches, red scaly patches and red moist patches of skin on your penis.

Signs and symptoms

The first signs penile cancer is most likely to be changes in the color and thickness of the skin of the penis. This may then lead to symptoms including growth or sores on the penis which will be most likely around the head the penis or on the shaft. This may lead to discharge or bleeding. Most penile cancers are painless.

It is vital as with most cancers to have an early diagnosis and therefore gain treatment quickly to bring about a positive outcome. Cancers can sometimes appear as flat growths that are blue-brownish in colour, or as a red rash, or small crusty bumps. It is vital to pull back the foreskin regularly to check because often it is the only time these symptoms are visible.

At this point that we must say that other illnesses than cancer can bring about these conditions however if you have any of these symptoms please visit you doctor or health specialist straight away.

Diagnosis

If you go to your doctor with any suspicious symptoms your doctor will examine you then if feel it is prudent will refer you to a hospital specialist for advice and treatment.

The specialist will examine the whole of the penis and the lymph nodes in your groin. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes they may be enlarged. To make a firm diagnosis, the doctor will take a sample of tissue (a biopsy) from any sore or abnormal areas on the penis. This will usually be done under a local anaesthetic so that the area is numb. The biopsies will be examined under a microscope.

If the biopsy comes back positive for cancer then to assess the seriousness most doctors will do more test to make sure the cancer hasn’t spread into the body.

Cancer is spread through either the blood of through the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of he body’s defence against infection and disease. It works as a network of lymph glands linked by fine ducts containing lymph fluid. Tests are done to see how best to treat a patient.

Other tests include:-

Chest x-ray

A chest x-ray is usually done to check whether or not the cancer has spread to the lungs.

CT (computerized tomography) Scan

A CT scan is a specialized type of x-ray. A series of pictures is taken and fed into a computer to build up a detailed picture of the inside of the body. The scan can show whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. It is painless and takes 10 to 30 minutes.

Lymph node biopsy

If you have any enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, your doctor may put a needle into the node to get a sample of cells. This is to see whether or not the enlargement is due to cancer. Enlarged lymph nodes are often due to infection and not cancer, so your doctor may also give you a course of antibiotics to see whether or not the swollen nodes shrink.

Once you have been diagnosed then doctors can go about treating the problem. The earlier the prognosis the more chance of survival if you feel you may have penile cancer then please visit you doctor. You are not being silly.

The need of support depends on many individual criteria from the type of treatment you received to the type of person you are. In the case of radiotherapy there are side effects that can cause problems with gaining and maintaining an erection. This can be tough and when paired with the possibility of not being able to pass urine as before can be mentally challenging. In most instances you will be informed of all possible side effects before treatment takes place.

It is vital to try and be honest about the emotions you may go through. It is a very tough time and sharing you feelings with others will help you cope. The type of emotions people feel are anger, guilt, fear and anxiety. This can lead to you feeling tearful (without knowing really why), restlessness and losing the ability to sleep. This will all be natural and is how the body reacts and tries to cope. The feeling of desperation and hopelessness will pass eventually. The only way is to talk through them however hard they maybe. It is important to remember there are many people in the same position and that there are support groups out there.

You do not have to cope with these feelings on your own; there are people available to help you. Some hospitals have their own emotional-support services with specially trained staff, and some of the nurses on the ward will have received training in counselling. You may feel more comfortable talking to a counsellor outside the hospital environment or to a religious leader.

Life after Penile Cancer

The most common question is will I ever be able to have sex again? The answer is in the majority of cases penile cancer will not affect your ability to have sex. There are some instances when though when the penis or part of the penis has been removed will affect sex life. This thought very distressing can be overcome through counselling and time.

Talking to your partner about your feelings and changes in your relationship is key to overcoming any emotional problems. This can be difficult and there is trained counselling and support out there. If there are problems then contact your doctor who can help or point your towards some place that can such as a counsellor or a nurse. Never keep your feelings or worries to yourself. You are not alone and it is time to enjoy life.