Pancreatic Cancer Archives - Good Shepherd News - Fastest Growing Religious, Free Speech & Political Content https://goodshepherdmedia.net/tag/pancreatic-cancer/ Christian, Political, ‎‏‏‎Social & Legal Free Speech News | Ⓒ2024 Good News Media LLC | Shepherd for the Herd! God 1st Programming Sat, 29 Apr 2023 10:44:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://goodshepherdmedia.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Good-Shepherd-News-Logo-150x150.png Pancreatic Cancer Archives - Good Shepherd News - Fastest Growing Religious, Free Speech & Political Content https://goodshepherdmedia.net/tag/pancreatic-cancer/ 32 32 Pancreatic cancer: What you should know about the disease that led to Jerry Springer’s death https://goodshepherdmedia.net/pancreatic-cancer-what-you-should-know-about-the-disease-that-led-to-jerry-springers-death/ Sat, 29 Apr 2023 10:35:02 +0000 https://goodshepherdmedia.net/?p=13711 Pancreatic cancer: What you should know about the disease that led to Jerry Springer’s death?

PHOENIX – The topic of pancreatic cancer has returned to the spotlight following the passing of talk show host Jerry Springer.

Springer died on April 27 at his home in Chicago. Initially, a family spokesperson said Springer passed away following ‘a brief illness,’ but on April 28, his representative confirmed that the longtime television host died of pancreatic cancer.

Here’s what you should know about the disease.

 

What is pancreatic cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatic cancer grows in the tissues of a person’s pancreas, an organ that is located behind the lower part of a person’s stomach.

Cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic’s website, occurs when cells within a person mutate and multiply out of control.

There are two types of pancreatic cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic, with exocrine tumors, or pancreatic cancer that begins in the cells that line the pancreas, making up 90% of all cases. Meanwhile, less than 10% of pancreatic tumors are neuroendocrine tumors, or tumors that originate from specialized cells that link up a person’s hormone management system to the nervous system.

How common is pancreatic cancer?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pancreatic Cancer is the 10th most common cancer in men and people assigned male at birth, and the 8th most common cancer in women and people assigned female at birth.

Cleveland Clinic officials say currently, pancreatic cancer it is responsible for 3% of all cancers in the United States, but cases are on the rise, and pancreatic cancer could be the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. by the year 2030.

What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:

  • Abdominal pain that radiates to a person’s back
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Jaundice, or the yellowing of a person’s skin, as well as the whites of their eyes
  • Stools that are light-colored
  • Urines that are dark in color
  • Itchy skin
  • A new diabetes diagnosis, or an existing case of diabetes that is becoming more difficult to control
  • Blood clots
  • Fatigue

What are the risk factors for pancreatic cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, there are a number of risk factors for pancreatic cancer, some of which can be changed.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer that can be changed, according to the ACS, include:

  • Use of tobacco, with about 25% of pancreatic cancers are thought to be caused by smoking. Risks start to drop once a person stops smoking
  • Obesity, with people whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or more having 20% high risks in developing pancreatic cancer
  • Chronic pancreatitis, or long-term inflammation of the pancreas, which is often seen with heavy alcohol use and smoking
  • Exposure to certain chemicals used in dry cleaning and metal working industries

Risk factors that, according to the ACS, cannot be changed include:

  • Age, as almost all pancreatic cancer patients are older than 45, with an average age at the time of diagnosis being 70.
  • Gender, with men being slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than women
  • Race, with African-Americans being slightly more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than a white person
  • Family history, as the disease seemingly runs in some families. However, the ACS states that most people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer do not have a family history of it
  • Inherited genetic syndromes, such as hereditary breast cancer, familial pancreatitis, and heriditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome

What is the survival rate for pancreatic cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer is 12% overall, based of people diagnosed with the disease from 2012 to 2018.

The ACS also noted that with localized cancers, or cancers with no sign of spreading outside of the pancreas, the five-year survival rate is 44%, and cancer that has spread to other, distant parts of the body, such as lungs, liver, or bones, having a five-year survival rate of 3%

Why is the survival rate so low?

According to the website of Florida-based Orlando Health, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer because symptoms usually do not surface until the cancer is already in a late stage, which makes the cancer difficult to treat.

In addition, officials with Orlando Health say there is the cancer is deadlier because it can be tough to treat, as pancreatic cancer tumors do not respond as well to commonly used cancer therapies.

In addition, officials with University of Utah Health say pancreatic cancer surgeries are trickier because the organ is surrounded by several blood vessels, and the cancer is highly likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Besides Jerry Springer, are there other well-known people who have died from the disease?

Springer is one of a number of well-known people who died from the disease in recent years.

In 2020, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died from the disease. In that same year, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek also died from the disease. He was diagnosed in 2019.

Other well-known people who died from pancreatic cancer include British actor Alan Rickman, who was known for his role in the Harry Potter movie series, American actor Patrick Swayze, and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

What can I do to reduce my risk of getting pancreatic cancer?

According to Mayo Clinic officials, people can reduce their risk of pancreatic cancer by quitting smoking, maintaining a health weight, and choosing a healthy diet. source

This website does not provide medical advice. The information provided above are meant to be informative, and nothing on this site should be considered as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have concerns about your health, reach out to your primary care doctor or other health care providers.

Pancreatic Cancer

What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer refers to tumors that start in the cells of the pancreas, an organ located behind your stomach that helps you digest food. Cancer develops when cells grow in an uncontrolled manner and form masses or tumors in the pancreas, instead of growing into healthy pancreatic tissue, which may also spread to other parts of the body. Tumors can interfere with the functions of the pancreas and cause pain and other symptoms.

Top 5 things you probably didn’t know about Pancreatic Cancer with Dr. John A. Chabot

What is a pancreatic tumor?

Normally, cells only divide to form new cells when the body needs them, and the body destroys old cells that are no longer functioning properly. Mutuations in cell DNA can cause cells to grow and divide uncontrollably, or may prevent old cells from dying when necessary. The reasons these mutations occur are still being researched, but it is known that the mutations can either be inherited or acquired during life. When extra cells accumulate and form a mass, it is called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant.

What is the difference between a benign tumor and cancer?

If a tumor remains in one place and stops growing, it is considered benign. Benign tumors do not possess the ability to invade other tissues and organs. This is why benign tumors are not cancerous. However, they can cause health problems by placing pressure on nearby organs, blood vessels, or nerves.

If a tumor continues to spread, it is considered malignant – also called cancer. Malignant tumors are dangerous because they can spread to other organs and tissues. The process of spreading beyond the original organ is called metastasis: if a tumor has spread to other tissues or organs, it is called metastatic (it has metastasized to other locations).  Physicians assign the cancer a stage depending on how wide it has spread.

Tumors in the pancreas can either be exocrine tumors (about 95% of pancreatic cancers) or endocrine tumors (about 5% of pancreatic cancers).

What are exocrine tumors?

Pancreatic cancer can develop in any part of the pancreas. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma, also called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, orPDAC, originates in the exocrine tissue (which constitutes the majority of the pancreas) and is the most common kind of pancreatic cancer (95%). Pancreatic adenocarcinoma arises from abnormal cells lining the pancreatic duct. These cells may form glands, or a collection of cells surrounding an empty space. Unless otherwise specified, nearly all accounts of pancreatic cancer refer to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or PDAC.

Other rare forms of exocrine tumors include acinar cell carcinoma, adenosquamos carcinoma, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.

The information on this site refers mostly to exocrine tumors, and specifically pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

A few of the cancer types that affect the pancreas and gallbladder

What are endocrine tumors?

Endocrine tumors are cancers that originate in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas,* the islet of Langerhans cells. Because endocrine tumors begin in cells that produce hormones, the tumors themselves may produce hormones that cause symptoms in addition to the problems caused by the presence of an abnormal mass.

Of all pancreatic cancers, endocrine tumors account for less than 5%. They may also be called neuroendocrine or islet cell tumors. Islet cell tumors affect approximately 2500 people in the United States annually. Some of these tumors secrete excessive amounts of hormone and are referred to as functional neuroendocrine tumors. More common functional islet cell tumors include insulinomas and glucagonomas, whereas VIPomas and somatostatinomas are much more unusual. Nonfunctional tumors are less common and do not secrete excess hormones.

*Note: Endocrine tumors may also form in hormone-producing cells in other parts of the body such as the adrenal gland, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary gland, lung and gastrointestinal tract.

Insulinoma

Insulinomas arise from the islet cells of the pancreas and produce excessive amounts of insulin, resulting in low blood sugar. Typically small and noninvasive, these tumors are benign 90% of the time.

Symptoms

Symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, uncontrolled shaking, hunger, and at times psychiatric disturbances. A history of fainting related to low blood sugar and weight gain commonly affects patients.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis for this disorder requires observation of insulin level as it relates to blood sugar level. A low blood sugar level combined with a high insulin level confirms the diagnosis that an insulinoma exists. After diagnosis, the next step is localization of the tumor, accomplished using imaging studies including CT, MRI, octreotide scanning (injection of radioisotope into the vein and subsequent scanning to record the radiation given off by the radioisotope), and ultrasound. However, in some patients, these imaging techniques are unable to localize the tumor. In these cases, attempts to locate the lesion are performed by experienced endocrine surgeons during an operation and are successful in the majority of patients.

Treatment

Treatment for an insulinoma usually includes surgical removal of the tumor. Because these tumors are often small and benign, this surgery is curative. Larger tumors may require removal of part of the pancreas depending on location.

Nonfunctional Neuroendocrine Tumors

Nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors represent about 40% of all tumors affecting the islet cells. These tumors are termed nonfunctional or clinically silent because they do not produce excessive hormones. They are slow growing and may be very large by the time of diagnosis. About half of these tumors are malignant.

Symptoms

Patients often suffer from nonspecific abdominal complaints or symptoms related to the biliary system (bile, bile ducts or gall bladder).

Diagnosis

The most common diagnostic tests employed for these tumors are CT scans, octreotide scans, and pancreatic polypeptide/chromogranin level tests. CT scans are most often used to evaluate the tumor in order to demonstrate its location within the pancreas and screen for spread of the disease to the liver. Octreotide scans are performed preoperatively to identify visible tumors and again postoperatively to screen for recurrence of disease. Octreotide scanning involves injection of radioisotope into a vein, and subsequent scanning to identify sites of concentration. Because blood levels of pancreatic polypeptide and chromogranin are elevated in approximately 90% of patients with nonfunctional neuroendocrine tumors, physicians monitor these levels to evaluate patients for recurrence of disease as well.

Treatment

The standard treatment for these tumors is surgical removal. Due to the large size of the lesions at the time of treatment, almost all patients require removal of part of the pancreas, depending on the location of the tumor. Tumors located in the tail of the pancreas require partial removal of the pancreas. In many cases, this can be done while preserving the spleen, and in some cases minimally invasive techniques may be employed. Tumors located in the head of the pancreas may require the removal of the head of the pancreas along with the duodenum. source

]]> The Health Benefits of Propolis https://goodshepherdmedia.net/the-health-benefits-of-propolis/ Fri, 06 Jan 2023 11:22:58 +0000 https://goodshepherdmedia.net/?p=8186 What is propolis?

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Along with the other fruits of their labor, including honey and royal jelly, bees create propolis from the resin of trees. After gathering the resin, bees transform it into a very sticky and antimicrobial mixture that they use to patch up their hive.

Due to its antimicrobial properties, it also disinfects the hive and prevents outbreaks of viruses and bacteria. Bees even use propolis to immobilize intruders (source). So basically, propolis is bee duct tape!

Bees living in hollow trees will coat the inside of the cavity thickly with propolis.  After an experiment, researchers at The University of Minnesota found that bees housed in a nest box coated with propolis had lower bacterial loads in their body and also ‘quieter’ immune systems compared to the colonies with no propolis coating.

So, although bees never eat propolis, this unique substance plays a key role in their immune system. Through the same properties, propolis can boost our immune system and overall wellness.  

Why I take propolis

General immune system support – Propolis supports the immune system in various ways. First, the antimicrobial properties suppress harmful bacteria and infections. Further, it actually stimulates the immune system and raises the body’s natural resistance (source).

I diligently take my dose of propolis during cold and flu season. I can’t, however, credit any one part of my diet or supplement regime for keeping me healthy (not a single cold this year! *knocks on wood*). I do take a double dose of propolis if I wake up and feel something coming on, and I will feel better the next day.

Acne – Used internally and externally, propolis may improve skin and reduce breakouts. One study (discussed here) showed that propolis showed activity against the bacteria primarily responsible for breakouts. I suggest taking propolis internally (I explain how to take it at the end of this post).

To use propolis externally, dab propolis honey directly on the pimple (do a test first to see if your skin reacts) and leave it on for 5 – 15 minutes. I also use the propolis honey as a mask, applying a thin layer over my entire face and rinsing it off after 15 minutes.

Improved energy – I can testify to this point! Many individuals report “Improved energy” by taking propolis daily. Although this is a subjective statement and I am not aware of any clinical research backing it up, I’ve found this true in my own experience.  A general “get ‘er done!” attitude. It wasn’t anything like a caffeine buzz, but just a very gentle little boost of energy throughout the day. With that said, I am very sensitive to all foods and supplements so my experience will not necessarily be your experience.

Health Benefits of Raw propolis

Anticancer Activity

In the August 2009 issue of the Oncology Report, a group of scientist’s looked into the growth inhibitory activity of Propolis in human colon cancer cell lines.More than 300 bio-active compounds have been identified from bee propolis in various regions of the world. The objective of this study was to examine whether the propolis may exert anticancer activities in four human colon cancer cell lines.In three of the four cell lines, the propolis caused a marked dose-dependent growth inhibition on the cancer cells. In the fourth cell line, propolis induced apoptosis (complete cell death) in the cells after 72 h of treatment. (this is amazing!)The report concluded that their findings indicate that the propolis contain components that may have anticancer activity. Ultimately, one of the many bee propolis health benefits may be as a colon cancer preventative and treatment. But propolis’ effect don’t appear to be limited to just colon cancer – studies are showing that it has positive activity against other cancers as well.

Asthma

Propolis has a good reputation for having beneficial effects in asthma patients. But the mechanism was not clearly understood so scientists looked at the effect of a compound called CAPE (caffeic acid phenethyl ester). CAPE is the most extensively studied component in propolis and has shown tremendous results in many other studies for conditions ranging from inflammation to athletic performance.The scientists concluded that propolis (more specifically the CAPE in propolis) inhibited the inflammatory and immune response that asthmatics often experience. They went on to say that “this study provided a new insight into the mechanism of CAPE in immune response and the rationale for propolis in the treatment of asthma and other allergic disorders.”I just recently began using propolis with a long term allergy and asthma sufferer. Results have been very promising so far. Their occurrence of chest colds has decreased to zero so far. I’m having him continue with the propolis through the summer so it will be interesting to see how his allergies improve.

Radioprotective Effect

The aim of this study was to assess whether one of the many bee propolis health benefits is a radio protective effect in mice exposed to a single radiation dose.The mice were treated with quercetin or propolis each day for three consecutive days either before or after being exposed to gamma-irradiation. The scientists found that the mice that received the propolis before being exposed were less sensitive to irradiation than those given the propolis or quercetin after being exposed. So it is a good idea to take your bee propolis each morning before you begin using your cell phone or microwave.We are all exposed to radiation on a daily basis now due to the countless cell phone and satellite signals that surround us. I take propolis on a daily basis in order to help protect me from this excess radiation. I also take an extra dose leading up to any flying I may be doing as radiation levels are quite high in commercial planes.

Minor Burns

A study submitted to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine by Scott R. Gregory, MSII, and fellow colleagues of the School of Medicine at the University of Texas, showed that bee propolis speeds the healing of minor burns. The study was designed to compare the therapeutic effects of Brazilian propolis skin cream to treatment with silver sulfadiazene on second-degree burns in human subjects. While the research team did not observe any clinical difference in microbial colonization in the superficial wounds between the two treatment groups, they did notice that the group receiving bee propolis experienced significantly less inflammation. In addition, cicatrisation was enhanced, meaning less scarring took place.

Propolis Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Cells

There weren’t a lot of details included with this study, but as reported in the Journal of Natural Products on July 2, 2009, a group of scientists found that propolis was able to inhibit human pancreatic cancer cells under nutrient-deprived conditions.The scientists found that one particular compound in propolisexhibited the most potent cytotoxicity in a concentration and time-dependent manner. (what that means is that the more of the compound they used and the longer they exposed it to the cancer cells, the better the results they obtained) It was also found that another compound in propolis induced apoptosis-like (programmed cell death) changes of pancreatic cancer cells within 24 h of treatment. Essentially, the bee propolis caused the cancer cells to ‘self destruct.’ Of the dozens of bee propolis health benefits, this particular capability just may be the most exciting of all as pancreatic cancer has very low rates of survivorship. It is very difficult to treat and standard chemotherapy treatments are not effective in most cases

Cholesterol

As reported in the Journal of Food Science in June/July 2009, rats were fed either a control diet or a propolis diet for 8 weeks to determine if one of its many benefits includes the ability to reduce body fat and cholesterol levels. What the scientists found was that the rats fed a propolis diet had lower adipose tissue levels than the rats fed the control diet. Furthermore, the propolis group showed significantly reduced levels of cholesterol and triglyceride compared to the control group.While more studies do need to be done, it is possible that the administration of propolis reduces the accumulation of body fat while improving lipid metabolism resulting in reduced cholesterol.

Dental Health

According to the National Institutes of Health, initial studies demonstrate that using a mouthwash containing bee propolis may inhibit oral bacteria, reduce inflammation associated with periodontitis and prevent the formation of dental plaque. In addition, Brazilian ethanol propolis extract may inhibit candidiasis of the mouth, while a dental gel consisting of propolis and caffeic acid phenethyl ester appears to lessen dental pain. Andrew Weil, M.D., further notes that bee propolis is being investigated as potential tooth sealant and enamel hardener.

Herpes

This study on the anti-viral effects of bee propolis was reported in the August 12, 2009 issue of Phytomedicine.Genital herpes caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted disease. The scientists aimed to determine if one of the main bee propolis health benefits is an ability to kill the HSN-2. What they found was that both a water based propolis extract and an alcohol based extract exhibited high levels of antiviral activity against HSV-2 in tests. They also found that infectivity was reduced by greater than 99% and anti-herpetic activity could be demonstrated for both extracts. The more concentrated the dose and the longer it was applied yielded greater anti-viral activity. The doctors also noted when they analyzed the propolis extracts, they found many different polyphenols, flavonoids and phenylcarboxylic acids. These are the powerful health promoting compounds that provide the many bee propolis health benefits

Immune Function

Animal-based and in vitro studies indicate that bee propolis may stimulate the immune system and may deter various viral infections, including herpes simplex virus and intestinal infections caused by Helicobacter pylori. However, as NIH states, more research is needed in this area to support these preliminary findings.

Cell Phone Radiation

More and more people are becoming concerned about the negative health effects of long term cell phone use. I know I certainly am!But who would have thought that one of the many bee propolis health benefits is it’s ability to protect us from EMF radiation?This very interesting study examining if propolis can indeed protect us was reported in Toxicology and Industrial Health, Vol. 25 in 2009.In the study, the scientists aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of a powerful compound found in propolis called caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of rats exposed to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF). This would be similar to the EMF you are exposed to each day using your cell phone.What the scientists found was that in the rats that received the propolis extract, anti-oxidant levels remained elevated (this is very good as anti-oxidants protect us) whereas in the rats that did not receive the propolis, the EMF reduced the anti-oxidant levels. Ultimately, they concluded that the propolis extract CAPE may prevent the 900 MHz EMF-induced oxidative changes by strengthening the antioxidant defense system and increasing anti-oxidant activity. If you must use your cell phone daily for long periods of time, I highly recommend you take bee propolis several times throughout the day to help protect yourself from the radiation being emitted by your phone.

Inflammatory Disease

NIH notes that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that bee propolis exerts anti-inflammatory effects, which suggests that this substance may help to treat various inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatism. Dr. Weil makes a similar reference to this use of bee propolis in his online blog.

Other health benefits of propolis

Parasites – Research shows the potential use of propolis for parasite treatment. One preliminary trial showed that those who took propolis experienced a 52 to 60 percent rate of successful elimination of the parasite giardiasis (source).

Since parasites are difficult to diagnose (symptoms frequently look like other health problems), parasites pose a challenging and unexpectedly widespread health issue. Propolis, due to its soothing and immune-supporting factors,  can be generally to support health even if you aren’t sure of a parasite infection. Additionally, it can usually be combined with other parasite treatments.

Canker sores – Many people experience quick relief from canker sores by applying a drop of propolis tincture directly to the sore 2-3 times per day.

Endometriosis  – a quickly growing number of women struggle with endometriosis, a disorder where the tissue lining the uterus grows outside of the uterus into other organs of the body. It causes pain, fatigue, bowel issues, infertility and more. In one study, women with endometriosis took propolis to increase fertility. Those taking propolis had a pregnancy success rate of 60% compared to 20% taking the placebo (source).

 Cavities – In an animal study, propolis cut cavity rates by up to 60% and partially impairs the enzyme that causes dental plaque. All-natural propolis toothpaste (it contains “purified water, baking soda, xanthan gum, propolis extract, grapefruit oil, clove oil, tea tree oil”) provides the powerful cavity-fighting compounds directly to the teeth. You can also dab propolis tincture directly on the cavities a few times per day. For a full protocol to reverse tooth decay and cavities, I recommend the book Cure Tooth Decay.

Bee propolis has so many uses and is used in the production of chewing gum, throat lozenges, cosmetics, creams, lotions and other types of personal care products. It is also used in the manufacturing of wood varnishes. Bee propolis is also a traditional polish used by makers of musical instruments to highlight the grain of wood. In fact, according to Maaret Toprakci, B.S., of Nutritional Consultants Group, Inc., Antonio Stradivari, the famed maker of the prized Stradivarius violin, reputedly used it.

How to take propolis

There are a few options for taking propolis:

  • I take this organic propolis and raw honey blend. A general dose suggestion is 1/2 teaspoon twice per day (I take it morning and afternoon). I eat it straight from the jar – just scoop out a serving and swallow it. It tastes sweet – a bit like molasses – and delicious! It can also be applied topically for acne.
  • You can also take propolis tincture. Mix 5 drops into a little bit of honey and swallow. Take 3 times per day. I find this method more time consuming and messy.
  • Finally, there are propolis capsules, an easy and mess-free method but you can’t use it topically. Take 1-2 capsules twice per day.

 

 

 

 

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