Is Capecitabine Tablet a Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment?

Professor Chris Twelves of the University of Leeds (UK), has led a study that followed 1,987 patients who had undergone colon cancer surgery. It found that patients treated with Capecitabine (Xeloda) spent 85 percent less time with their doctor or at the hospital, and experienced fewer side effects. The new results, showing patients’ five-year survival rates, confirm the effectiveness of the treatment.

Prof Twelves says “Standard chemotherapy can be incredibly disruptive to people’s lives. Patients visit hospital five days a week for the injections and then have three weeks off before returning to hospital for the next course – and the side effects can be unpleasant.”

He adds “We now have long-term evidence now that clearly supports Xeloda's superiority over the Mayo Clinic regimen. There is now no reason why we should ask colon cancer patients to endure the burdens associated with that older treatment.”

The oral chemotherapy drug Xeloda (capecitabine) offers fewer side-effects and less time in hospital – and the trial has shown that patients given the drug were at least as likely to be alive and free of their disease as those on standard chemotherapy (the Mayo Clinic regimen).

Xeloda is manufactured by Roche Holding AG. The study's initial results helped the Swiss-based company win European and US approval in 2005 for using Xeloda to treat colon cancer after surgery. The medicine also is cleared for breast tumours, and in March Roche won European approval for its use with chemotherapy in people with advanced stomach cancer.

About 945,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year globally, and the disease is responsible for about 492,000 deaths, according to Roche. The cancer is curable when caught early.

Spider Veins and Varicose Veins, Cosmetic or Risky?

What are spider veins? Is there a difference between them and varicose veins? how are they formed? are they dangerous? is there a treatment?.This article tries to answer these questions by giving an overview of the whole subject.


Why Veins?

Physiologically, veins are the deposit place where blood is stored in between every 2 successive heart beats (heart muscle contractions). While arteries are designed to dilate when blood is pushed within them,veins have no elastic walls exerting a passive effect on blood movementand this is why they are supplied with valves that keep blood circulating within the circulatory system ( heart--> arteries--> veins--> heart). To help push the blood in the legs against the gravity, veins are squeezed by skeletal muscle contraction when one walks.

Formation and Appearance:

Varicose veins are formed when there is a defect in the walls of veins,and this defect makes their tone is less than than normal leading to their dilatation, as a result, veins are engorged with venous blood that is weakly circulated. The defect may be in the valves leading to leakage of blood below the valves, and is accumulated and pooled in the veins.

Varicose veins can be seen or touched as twisted and bugling swollen dark purple or blue veins that are raised above the skin surface, commonly on the back of the calves or the inside of the legs. During pregnancy, varicose veins (hemorrhoids) can form in the vagina or around the anus.

Spider veins are the smaller red or blue veins looking like spider web or tree branches, and much closer to the skin covering either a very small or very large area of skin on the leg and face, and they do not represent a risk.Hands veins are normal, healthy veins that have become more visible, and both of them and spider veins need no treatment, yet some people ask for medical interference for cosmetic purposes.

Causes:

While people that are susceptible to acquiring varicose or spider veins may inherent those genes that produce weak venous walls or valves, yet there are some risk factors , these are :
* Pregnancy.
* Occupations that require standing for long period of times.
* Trauma.
* Aging.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of varicose veins include :
* Aching pain.
* Easily tired legs.
* Leg heaviness.
* Swelling in the legs.
* Darkening of the skin (in severe cases).
* Numbness in the legs.

Complications of Varicose veins :

Varicose veins (but not spider veins) usually enlarge and worsen over time, and severe varicose veins may cause serious problems like:
1- Blood clots: Severe venous insufficiency allows venous blood to stagnate carrying a lot of waste and noxious products, leading to severe infection and blood clotting. Blood clots in the deep veins can be very serious as they can move from leg veins to the lung and can block lung and heart functions.

2- Sores or skin ulcers: they are formed on skin tissues around the varicose veins, causing ongoing irritation, swelling, and painful rashes of legs. Care of these ulcers are difficult as long as there are varicose veins.

Doctor Visit:

To cut on the varicose veins and prevent their silly prognosis, you should see your doctor if:1- There are sores or rash on the leg or near the ankle with the varicose veins.2- The varicose veins become swollen, red, or very tender, or warm to the touch.

Treatment :

1- Medical :
It can be used for temporary varicose veins like those formed during pregnancy, They contain mostly active ingredients derived from horse chest nut (aesculus hypocastanum) and flavonoids derived mostly from the citrus fruits.

2- Sclerotherapy:
It is the most common treatment of both spider and varicose veins. It involves injecting some chemicals into the affected veins to cause their scarring, and in a few weeks the vein should fade. Among the techniques implemented are, Microsclerotherapy and Ultra-sound guided sclerotherapy.

3- Laser Surgery:
It either uses laser directly on the spider veins in the leg to make them disappear, or uses endovenous techniques to treat deeper varicose veins of the legs.

4- Surgery:
used mostly to treat very large varicose veins, which are mostly superficial veins.

All treatment types have side effects ranging from mild to serious ones,depending their location, procedure used, and skill of the practising physician.


Some herbal remedies:

1- Rub apple cider vinegar on the spider or the varicose veins in the morning and in the evening for one month. You can add 2 teaspoonful to a cup of water and drink them in the morning and in the evening.
2- Put some Cabbage leaves to some Garlic in your mixer , mince and rub the affected legs with the resultant liquid.


Can we protect ourselves from getting varicose veins? Walk and use some personal care products that contain extracts of horse chest nut and flavonoids, they can help.

These Foods Cure Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids don't last long and can be relieved with care at home, and people with them have excellent prognosis. We give you some food-made home treatments to make prognosis even better, so that you get rid of flare-ups of bleeding or discomfort from time to time.

To be aware of hemorrhoids earlier, we give you a brief discussion about the whole problem.

What are hemorrhoids :Hemorrhoids are dilated, blood-filled, painful veins in the rectum. According to the anatomical distribution of veins, hemorrhoids can be classified into:
1-Internal hemorrhoids which is formed of swollen internal veins which unless they are severe, they cannot be seen or felt.
2-External hemorrhoids which are formed of swollen external veins which can be seen around the outside of the anus and, in many times can be felt.

The 3 main ailments that can be associated with hemorrhoids are; Constipation, Liver diseases, and Pregnancy, where there is increased pressure that leads blood to pile-up in the hemorrhoid veins causing them to swell.Hemorrhoids are very common and have been estimated to occur in up to half the population by age 50.

How do you feel hemorrhoids ;Unless the internal hemorrhoids are severe, you can only know that you have external hemorrhoids, when you see bright red blood topside the stools, or dripping into toilet. It is not long lasting bleeding. External hemorrhoids can be classified into 2 types :
1- Prolapsed hemorrhoids :
It is formed when the internal hemorrhoids swell and then extend through the anus, from outside. Itching in the anus may develop from prolapsed hemorrhoids.Many times you can solve the problem by rubbing them with Castor oil and pushing them back through the anus. If the hemorrhoids cannot be pushed back, then they may swell even more , and you need to see a doctor.
2- Thrombosed hemorrhoids :
The stagnant blood in hemorrhoids may form a clot leading to more swollen hemorrhoids and causing an increased pain, which is worsened by bowl movement or sometimes with sitting. This also may require a doctor's examination and treatment

In general, if there is bleeding, prolapsed hemorrhoids that does not go back through the anus, or if you feel a significant pain from hemorrhoids, you should see your doctor. A special care should be considered, if you are over 40 and have a family history of Colon Cancer.


Self-Care at home is recommended by doctors :
Procedure of treatment of hemorrhoids, most of the time is conservative and performed at home.There are certain measures to be considered for a hemorrhoids patient including:

1- Sanitary control :
Hemorrhoids occurring in an extremely difficult place, should receive a special hygienic care, this include :
# Hot sitz baths: A sitz bath is recommended 3 times a day and after each bowl movement for at least 15 minutes (sitting in a few inches of warm or luke water).
# Be sure to thoroughly dry the skin and the anus after each bath so that it does not rub and becomes torn
# If these antiseptic solutions are sold OTC in your country,they are helpful for thoroughly cleansing:
* Potassium Permanganate solution 1:8000.
* Povidone-Iodine 10% solution (Betadine) .

Dietary :
1- Drink more water and eat more leafy green vegetables.2- Increase the amount of bran and fibers in your diet.

Stool Softener :
Laxatives of different sorts have been used to ease excretion of stools. Laxatives that produce watery stools that may cause infection in the anus should be avoided.

Sitting Restrictions :
Some doctors recommend their patients not to sit for a long period of time, and some people feel more comfortable sitting on an air doughnut.

Over-The-Counter medications :
Many creams, ointments, and suppositories are sold as medicines and pain relievers for hemorrhoids in many countries. Some of them contain corticosteroids and might cause the hemorrhoids to take longer to heal, so consult your doctor first.


Use These Food Remedies:

l- Eat 1 teaspoonful fenugreek seeds daily. Boil the seeds to soften it and if you do not like its taste , boil it repeatedly. Also you can mince the softened seeds in your mixer with your preferred flavor whether sweet or spicy. It will soften your stool normally without any need to other laxatives.

- Use Lemon regularly to treat hemorrhoids.

ll- The following foods are made into cream like preparation using plants and oils. Should you feel more satisfied about its consistency, mix it with your OTC cream:

1- Roasted Caraway seeds are ground and powdered on the hemorrhoids.

2- Eggplant + Bitter Almond + Green Almond + Olive oil. Boil all ingredients and paste them into a cream like base. Mince if you need.Apply locally.

3- Grilled Onion is pasted with Olive Oil. Apply locally.
# Onion may be sliced and mixed with honey, put on a cotton pad and applied,
leave for 2-3 hours.
# Onion and Garlic may be chopped, put on a cotton pad for 3-4 hours then
applied on hemorrhoids.
4- Chamomile flowers+ Olive oil. Boil until charring the Chamomile,then filter and apply the remaining oil after washing and drying the anus.

5- Kale juice + Aloe gel. Mix and apply locally every day. You can add Olive oil to this mixture.

6- Unripe green walnut shell + Olive Oil. Boil until the shell is completely rut, mince, paste and apply it locally.

7- Apply some baking soda to help with the itch from the hemorrhoids.

8- Mix grounded Bayberry, Golden seal root, Myrrh, and white Oak with some Vaseline, and apply them to relieve pain in the hemorrhoids.

Use 1 oz of each of the recommended ingredients. If you need to increase the amount of an ingredient for a better consistency, increase the oil amount.