Sunny Health

Liver Cancer is the 7th most common cancer worldwide and ranks 4th most common in Singapore. Our lifestyles of having Char Kway Teow, Chicken rice and excessive consumption of soft drinks have not made it easy for our livers.

Fatty Liver is a condition where fat is being accumulated in liver cells. The consumption of drugs and alcohol are common causes of this disease. It can lead to inflammation and later scarring if left undetected. Therefore, early detection is essential to ensure that Liver Cancer Patients do not receive treatment too late. The danger is that, by the time Liver Cancer is detected, it will usually have spread to beyond the liver. Early cancers can only be treated by surgical removal (resection), destruction of the individual tumours, or liver transplantation.

To date, Singaporean research scientists and clinicians at the NCCS have been able to make a significant breakthrough in testing the effectiveness of drugs usable for certain patients. The NCCS team is now able to predict the outcomes of certain drugs when used by patients. The NCCS team does this by taking an extract of the tumour and testing it on a mouse till they get the desired result to give to patient. NCCS has found that two drugs from two giant pharmaceutical companies are more effective then the use of just one of these drugs. This has in turn led to the Phase I clinical trial testing this 2-drug combination in liver cancer patients as well as a shrinkage in tumour for some patients.

Through NCCS’ success, drug companies are using their testing Model as a platform to improve their own drug combinations.

NCCS will hold its 2nd campaign for Liver Cancer Awareness this year. The campaign will focus on how to avoid fatty liver, the risk of hepatitis and talk about the latest liver cancer treatments available.

In a bid to reach further into the heartlands, this year's public forums will be held at the Paya Lebar Kovan Community Centre in Hougang Street 21 on 12 and 13 September 2009. The forums will be held in both English and Mandarin. Attendees will receive free goodie bags as well as vouchers for free Hepatitis screening at the SingHealth Polyclinics.

Attendees will be able to gain more information about Liver Cancer through this campaign. Admission is free.



Time Programme

(English)
9:30-10 AM Registration

10 – 10:10PM Opening address by Guest of Honour Madam Cynthia Phua, MP for Aljunied GRC
10:10- 10:40 AM I have a fatty liver --What should I do? Can this lead to cancer? by Dr Tan Hui Hui
10:40-11:10 AM Hepatitis – The risks for me and my family by Dr Donald Poon
11:10 – 11:40 AM Liver Cancer -- The silent Killer by Dr Alexander Chung
11:40AM Refreshments & Voucher/goodie bag collection -
(Mandarin)
1:30-2 PM Registration -
2- 2:30PM I have fatty liver – What should I do? Can this lead to cancer? by A/Prof Chow Wan Cheng
2:30 -3PM Hepatitis—The risks for me & my family by A/Prof Koo Wen Hsin
3- 3:30PM Liver Cancer – The Silent Killer by Dr Cheow Peng Chung
3:30PM Refreshments & Voucher/goodie bag collection -

Public Form on 13th Sep Sunday
Time Programme
13 Sep, Sun 9:30-10AM Registration
(Mandarin) 10-10:30AM I have fatty liver – What should I do? Can this lead to cancer? A/Prof Chow WanCheng
10:30-11 AM Hepatitis—The risks for me & my family A/Prof Koo Wen Hsin
11-11:30AM Liver Cancer –The Silent Killer Dr Cheow Peng Chung
11:30AM Refreshments & Voucher/goodie bag collection
13 Sep, Sun
1:30 -2 PM Registration -
(English) 2- 2:30 PM I have fatty liver – What should I do? Can this lead to cancer? A/Prof Tan Chee Kiat
2:30-3PM Hepatitis – The risks for me & my family Dr Choo Su Pin
3-3:30PM Liver Cancer – The Silent Killer
3:30PM Refreshments & Voucher/goodie bag collection -
13 Sep, Sun
9:30 -10AM Registration
(Eng) 10 – 10:30AM I have fatty liver—What should I do? Can this lead to cancer? A/ Prof Tan Chee Kiat
2:30 -3PM Hepatitis – The risks for me & my family Dr Choo Su Pin
3- 3:30PM Liver Cancer – The Silent Killer Dr Wong Jen San
3:30PM Refreshments & Voucher/goodie bag collection

Quick Facts about Breast Cancer


• One in 8 women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
• More than 180,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after skin cancer.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
• Breast cancer kills approximately 41,000 women in the United States each year.
• Breast cancer is not one of the leading causes of death in women in general, but it is the leading cause of death in American women ages 40-55.
• The incidence of breast cancer has more than doubled in the past 30 years. In 1964, the lifetime risk was 1 in 20; today it is 1 in 8.
• The most important risk factor for breast cancer is being female.
• The next most important risk factor for breast cancer is age. Breast cancer risk increases directly with age.

Survival Rates
• 97% of women diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer this year will be effectively cured.
• 80% of all women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer will be alive five years after diagnosis; at least 60 percent will survive ten years after diagnosis.
• More than 2.6 million women in the United States are breast cancer survivors.

Risk Factors
• Other risk factors for breast cancer include:
• Being female
• Aging (breast cancer risk increases directly with age)
• Having had breast cancer previously
• Having a close family member (mother, sister, daughter) or 2 other relatives with breast cancer
• Having the "breast cancer genes", BRCA1 or BRCA2
• Having your first period before age 12
• Having your first pregnancy after age 30
• Having no children
• High dietary fat intake
• Being obese
• Having 2 or more alcoholic drinks per day
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• 7 out of 10 breast cancers occur in women with no other risk factors than being female.
• Fewer than 40 percent of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer are associated with heredity and reproductive history.


Extracted from Dr Donnica.com

http://www.drdonnica.com/fastfacts/00000508.htm

In our image conscious society, many are careful about what they eat. In the fight against fat, they decide to avoid meat and carbohydrates altogether.
Food has a great effect on our overall well being. There has been research to show that certain foods can affect our moods with brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are made from the foods that we eat and are present in higher concentrations after we have had our meals rather than during the meals.
The neurotransmitters that have impact on appetite are:
• Serotonin — a chemical released after eating carbohydrates (sugars and starches). It enhances calmness, improves mood, and lessens depression. Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. High levels of serotonin control appetite and satisfy cravings.

• Dopamine and norepinephrine — chemicals released after eating protein (meats, poultry, dairy, legumes). They enhance mental concentration and alertness. These neurotransmitters come from the amino acid tyrosine.


Certain foods can makes you feel more satisfied and leave you feeling fuller than others. Choose foods such as:
• whole grain breads and cereals
• potatoes with skin
• brown rice
• whole grain pasta
• pilaf made with bulgur and quinoa
• fresh fruits
• vegetables


Protein foods which are low in fat are not only heart-healthy, but are also easier to digest – they won’t leave you feeling weighted down like fried meats or high-fat choices such as spare ribs or salami. Choose items such as:
• lean meat
• skinless poultry
• fish
• tofu or textured vegetable protein
• beans and lentils
• low-fat dairy (yogurt, milk, or cheese)
Combine carbohydrates and protein in any combination that works for you:
• whole grain bread with roast turkey and tomato slices paired with an apple
• whole grain cereal with nonfat milk with a sliced banana
• salmon on a bed of lentils drizzled in fresh lemon juice, spicy brown rice, and beans topped with Greek yogurt; or
• chicken vegetable soup with a pear salad.

Much of the above information was extracted from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. For more information, Please go to
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/Nutrition/hic_What_We_Eat_Affects_How_We_Feel.aspx

I am unsure about the success rate of alternative therapy but there are several points on this website http://www.cancure.org/AlternativeTherapy.htm which I find to be rather useful.

In case you have not heard about alternative therapy, do read the following.
Alternative Therapy, as the name suggests, refers to therapy alternative to the kind you find in a conventional hospital. A typical conventional cancer treatment would include surgery, chemotherapy (the use of drugs), and radiation. However, alternative therapy includes nutritional supplements such as enzymes, diet, detoxification and it also suggests a change in lifestyle such as stress control, prevention and biofeedback.

At cancure.org, they do not suggest that alternative therapy is better but encourages you to choose on your own, depending on the nature of the cancer. They say that alternative doctors see tumour as merely a symptom of the cancer and are more interested in the cause of the cancer.

Alternative therapy practitioners believe in self healing, or a natural way of healing. They feel that chemotherapy and radiation technologies impact the immune system and can actually cause cancer if patients do not detoxify and rebuild their immune system after going through these practices.

Some of the alternative therapies that are used include:
• Nutrition – to boost the immune system, to increase natural mechanisms for eliminating the tumour, and to prevent reoccurrences. Typically this includes nutritional supplements, intravenous protocols (such as high doses of vitamin C, anti-oxidants, and immune support nutrients), and diet (such as frequent raw vegetable juices, whole grains, legumes and elimination of foods which feed cancer and weaken the immune system).
• Enzymes – to facilitate the breakdown of the protective coating around cancer cells and to support healthy metabolic processes.
• Oxygenation – to bring vital energy to the cells, reverse tumour growth and facilitate the elimination of pathogens (fungi, bacteria and viruses) which may be weakening the immune system. This may take the form of ozone therapy, deep breathing exercises and/or oxygenation of the blood directly through intravenous protocols.
• Detoxification – to eliminate substances which may be burdening the immune system, compromising metabolic processes and blocking energy flow (e.g. heavy metals, pesticides, environmental toxins, and metabolic wastes). This may take the form of herbal and nutritional products that open up the elimination channels (liver, kidney, colon, and urinary system), colonics, detoxification diets, and IV chelation protocols.
• Emotional Healing – to eliminate toxic emotions and memories somatized in the body. This may take the form of counselling, emotional release therapies, deep breathing, reiki, homeopathy, or bodywork.
• Tumour Targeting – to aggressively reduce the tumour size. This may take the form of cancer vaccines, hyperthermia, or chemotherapy alternatives such as ukrain, amygdalin, mistletoe, and carnivora.
• Life Style Change and Stress Control – to assist the individual in making the necessary changes in their life structure and belief system to minimize stress.
• Spiritual Connection – to re-connect the individual with their purpose for being alive and to strengthen their will to live. This may take the form of prayer, meditation, or spiritual counselling.