The figures involving annual cancer deaths in the United States are astounding. According to the American Cancer Society, for 2001 there are a total of 553,400 annual cancer deaths in the US. The fourteen cancer killers are lung and bronchial cancer (157,400), cancer of the reproductive system cancer (58,500), colon cancer (48,100), breast cancer (40,600), cancer of the pancreas (28,900), cancer of lymphoma (27,600), cancer of the urinary system (25,000), leukemia (21,500 out of which 2,300 are resulted from myeloid leukemia), liver cancer (14,100), stomach cancer (12,800), cancer of the brain and nervous system (13,100), cancer of the oesophagus (12,500), skin cancer (9,800) and cancer of the mouth and throat (7,800).
Information provided is courtesy of and compiled by the Academy of Anti-aging Research staffs, editors, and other reports.
According to World Health Organization, the cancer rate will continue to go up, surpassing cardiovascular disease as the number one cause of death. The numbers are indeed scary, but real. Chances are 1 in 3 adults will die of cancer. Just because there are no clinical signs of detectable cancer does not mean that cancer does not exist in the body. It means that our diagnostic test is simply not sensitive enough to pick it up.
We know from molecular medicine that our cells are bombarded by free radicals every day. Poor diet, stress and environmental pollution contribute to this. Mitochondrial dysfunction is rampant by age 40, and cellular mutation that can lead to cancer should be accepted as a norm rather than exception.
Those interested in anti-aging must take a pro-active lifestyle in cancer prevention through supplementing with high levels of antioxidants (from diets rich in fruits and vegetables as well as nutritional supplements), stress reduction, and exercise. Doing any less is an invitation to cancer.
Regardless of the statistical chances of getting cancer, once a person has cancer, life will never be the same. Act smart and act now. While pursuing an anti-aging and anti-cancer lifestyle does not guarantee that cancer will not occur, it is the best alternative we have today given our technology.
It’s no secret that stress is the source of a host of medical issues and impact the number of annual cancer deaths. Cancer is just one of the ailments among the long list of stress induced problems. Let’s first touch on the system through which our bodies handle and cope with stress. The NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response is our body’s pathway through which reactions to stress take place. It all starts with the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, signals from there then travel to the pituitary gland, and finally to the adrenal glands. That aspect of the NEM Stress Response is known as the HPA axis.
Now that we know the path through which stress is processed, let’s now discuss how that system reacts from a clinical approach. Most of the end burden is placed on the adrenal glands which, among other things, produce a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is known to take a large role in muscle wasting, an extremely detrimental process which can add toxins to the body. Cortisol also, over the long term, can lead to inflammation issues. Since cortisol is linked to the adrenal glands, extended periods of stress can lead to adrenal fatigue and even adrenal exhaustion, at this point inflammation can explode throughout the body.
Inflammation has a very dark side. It can actually help to grow tumors and spread cancer around the body. Because of this, it is very important to try to limit and lower levels of inflammation. Limiting levels of stress is just one way that you can lower levels of inflammation. Physical exercise is another way to limit the damaging effects of high inflammation. Not only does exercise do this, but it also has many other benefits to the body and contributes in a large way to overall health.
Many people have a fear of cancer because we all known someone what has passed away from it and we also all known someone who is currently suffering. Why don’t we take steps to keep ourselves out of their shoes? Reducing stress and recovering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) are two very prudent steps in lessening cancer risks. When the stakes are this high it is almost a given that we should do something about our health. We may not be able to control all of the variable that are related to cancer but mitigating the risks should be a priority in everyone's lives.
