It’s not a vitamin you hear about often, but getting more vitamin K could decrease your risk of lymphoma – a serious form cancer that affects immune cells known as lymphocytes – causing enlargement of the lymph nodes. This cancer may initially involve only one group of lymph nodes, but over time it can spread throughout the body if not treated. Lymphoma is becoming more common as the population ages and people live longer. Could getting more dietary vitamin K be a way to prevent this relatively common form of cancer?
There are Two Types of Cancer of the Lymph System
Lymphomas are divided into two main types – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is usually seen in young adults – and can even be seen in children. It has a fairly good prognosis if treated early. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more commonly seen in older people.
Although the symptoms of swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue, and shortness of breath are similar in both types of lymphoma, the two forms can be distinguished by looking at lymph tissue under the microscope. In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of abnormal cell called a Reed Sternberg cell is usually seen.
Vitamin K and the Risk of Lymphoma
In a study carried out at Mayo clinic, researchers examined the vitamin K intake of 603 patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 603 healthy controls. They found that those with the highest vitamin K intake were forty-five percent less likely to get non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma compared to those with the lowest intake of vitamin K. More vitamin K seems to have some advantages when it comes to reducing the risk of lymphoma.
Why Would More Vitamin K Reduce the Risk of Cancer of the Lymph System?
The researchers believe that vitamin K blocks that action of inflammatory cytokines – proteins that send messages to other cells and, in this case, succor the fast, uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes. More research is needed to determine the exact procedure in which vitamin K affects cancer growth.
How to Regain More Vitamin K
Vitamin K comes in two forms: phylloquinones (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin B2). The best sources of vitamin K1 are green, leafy vegetables, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. (the sterling green stuff), while vitamin K2 is abundant in fermented cheese and other fermented products such as natto.
Some vitamin K1 can be converted to K2, so eating lots of green, leafy vegetables will improve levels of both forms of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 absorption can be increased by eating veggies with a little olive oil. A true deficiency of vitamin K is rare since it’s produced by bacteria in the stomach ‘” although some people may not get enough to help ward off diseases such as lymphoma.
More Vitamin K to Reduce the Risk of Lymphoma?
These results may be preliminary, but getting more vitamin K has other benefits as well. It’s important for blood clotting – and low levels of vitamin K are associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis and coronary artery disease. One precaution. People who are taking blood thinners should avoid eating too many vitamin K rich foods and should stay away from supplements – since vitamin K can reduce the effects of these medications.
References:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/509074
Related posts
Filed under Mesothelioma Prognosis by on Sep 16th, 2010. 
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is usually caused due to exposure to asbestos. In mesothelioma, the malignant cells start developing in the mesothelium, the layer that acts as a protective layer on almost all the internal organs. It is commonly found on the lining of the chest wall and lungs (pleura), but it can also be found in the abdominal cavity lining (peritoneum), the heart, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis.
It is a celebrated case among people who would have worked in places where they would have inhaled the particles of asbestos. It is also found that there is an increased risk of getting mesothelioma if one washes the clothes of a person who works in a situation where there is a high concentration of asbestos. There has been no relation established between smoking and mesothelioma, although smoking leads to lung cancer.
Some of the symptoms of mesothelioma include running short of breath resulting from pleural effusion, paining of chest wall, and other general symptoms like loss of weight. The patient can be diagnosed with the help of X-ray of the chest and CT scan. Mesothelioma can be confirmed by conducting microscopic examination and biopsy. A thoracoscopy can be done in order to take biopsies. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to introduce substances like talc to raze the excess fluid that is putting pressure on the lungs. Even after strong treatments like chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy the prognosis of mesothelioma is poor. There is research still ongoing to detect and prevent mesothelioma in the initial stages.
Typically, the symptoms of mesothelioma occur after twenty to fifty years of asbestos exposure. Some of the symptoms of mesothelioma are cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain due to fluid accumulation around the lungs. Other symptoms of mesothelioma include cachexia and loss of weight, swelling of the abdomen and abdominal afflict, bowel obstruction, abnormalities in blood clotting, fever and anemia. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body then there may be additional symptoms like swelling of throat and face, pain and difficulty in swallowing. In particular, if the pleura are affected by mesothelioma then the following symptoms and signs will occur:
–Pain in the chest wall
–The fluid surrounding the lungs will be excess, pleural effusion
–One may feel short of breath even if not doing any activity
–One id diagnosed with anemia and is experiencing fatigue
–The person is wheezing, sounds hoarse, or coughs continuously
–The person coughs out blood, a condition called hemoptysis
In cases where mesothelioma becomes very severe, the person may develop several tumor masses. The affected person may also develop pneumothorax, a condition when the lungs collapse. There are chances that mesothelioma may spread to other organs of the body. The tumor that develops in the abdominal cavity does not show any symptoms until it has reached the last stages. Some of the symptoms of mesothelioma that affect the abdominal cavity are:
–Pain in the abdomen.
–Atypical collection of fluid in the abdomen.
–Swelling of the abdomen.
–Trouble in the functioning of bowel
–Abnormal loss of weight
Sources:
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org
www.maacenter.org/mesothelioma/symptoms.php
www.mesotheliomacenter.org
Related posts
Filed under Mesothelioma Treatment by on Aug 6th, 2010.
After receiving my husband’s diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, we researched everything we could find on the subject. Summarized here are the first steps you must take after receiving this diagnosis. Go ahead and experience the full gamut of emotions. You are entitled. Then regain down to the business of fighting this disease!
My husband has Type 2 Diabetes and pre-chemotherapy lab tests revealed that he was slightly anemic. These were two very vital factors in the treatment belief. Your overall health condition as well as any prescriptions and over the counter drugs AND supplements you are taking have a huge impact on both the treatment and what you can expect from treatment. In our case, the diabetes necessitated a close collaboration between the oncologist and the endocrinologist. The anemia also had to be proactively and consistently dealt with because chemotherapy can and often does cause anemia.
Have your primary care physician and any specialists you are seeing forward your medical history and current treatment plans to the oncologist prior to your initial consultation. Your oncologist will need this information and will usually request it from your doctor(s). But, by making sure that this information is forwarded before your first visit, you will help your oncologist to be better prepared to answer your questions about your specific case.
Preparing for the initial consultation with your oncologist:
In matters regarding your personal health you are the MVP. You have to participate. You have to be involved whole-heartedly. You have to know exactly what is happening in your body at all times. And, you have to understand your treatment options completely. Your active participation is vital to the success of your treatment plan and aftercare. Prepare to take notes and ask questions. If you have problems with medical terminology or have difficulty adjusting to the diagnosis emotionally (and who wouldn’t? ), take someone with you who can understand and steal notes. In fact, I recommend having someone with you whether you think you can handle all this or not. This person is your advocate, your ally and an integral part of your team. I can’t emphasize strongly enough that this person HAS to be someone who will be actively and completely involved in your care! If you are lucky enough to have a spouse (or significant other) or adult child or close friend who can fill this role then you are truly blessed. I find it necessary also to situation right here and now that this is ALL about you and no one else’s feelings need be considered. Settle the person who will fill the role. Period.
Okay, you have your support onboard. You have had your medical history and list of your prescription medications sent to the oncologist. In addition, I recommend the following:
- Remove a list of all over-the-counter drugs, supplements and vitamins you engage on a regular basis.
- If you haven’t already, thoroughly research Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and available treatment options.
Be prepared to discuss what you’ve found with the oncologist.
- Have a prepared list of questions to ask the doctor. Questions you might consider include:
Do I have the aggressive or indolent form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Which sub-type of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma do I have?
How much experience do you have treating this type of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
What are my treatment choices for this sub-type?
Which course of treatment is typically recommended for this sub-type?
What does this treatment entail?
What can I expect from this course of treatment and what are the known side effects?
What adjustments need to be made regarding my current prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and supplements?
What can I do at home to enhance treatment effectiveness? (If you don’t get a definitive answer to this, don’t worry about it. It’s favorite in Western medicine. We’ll deal with that in a later article.)
How will we measure the effectiveness of treatment?
Will this treatment cure the sub-type I have?
What is the backup plan if this treatment doesn’t work?
You may have additional questions not covered here. Ask them. Make sure you understand the answers. If you don’t, now is the time to ask for explanations in lay terms. Knowledge and a firm grasp on the answers to these and any other questions you have are your armament. After all, you ARE going to war and you’re going to win!
Resources:
Texas Oncology, Inc. (www.texasoncology.com). A pioneer of community-based cancer treatment.
Dalhousie University (2008, February 16). A Ray Of Sunshine In The Fight Against Cancer: Vitamin D May Assist. ScienceDaily.
RadiologyInfo (www.radiologyinfo.org) – Current and accurate patient information about radiologic procedures and radiation therapy.
Just Cancer (www.justcancer.org). R-CHOP Chemotherapy (Oct 21, 2009).
HealthCommunities.com, Inc. – Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Types
Patients Against Lymphoma (www.lymphomation.org). Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Classifications and Sub-types.
Related posts
Filed under Mesothelioma Treatment by on Jul 22nd, 2010.
It’s not a vitamin you hear about often, but getting more vitamin K could decrease your risk of lymphoma – a serious form cancer that affects immune cells known as lymphocytes – causing enlargement of the lymph nodes. This cancer may initially involve only one group of lymph nodes, but over time it can spread throughout the body if not treated. Lymphoma is becoming more common as the population ages and people live longer. Could getting more dietary vitamin K be a device to prevent this relatively common make of cancer?
There are Two Types of Cancer of the Lymph System
Lymphomas are divided into two main types – Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is usually seen in young adults – and can even be seen in children. It has a fairly good prognosis if treated early. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is more commonly seen in older people.
Although the symptoms of swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue, and shortness of breath are similar in both types of lymphoma, the two forms can be distinguished by looking at lymph tissue under the microscope. In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of abnormal cell called a Reed Sternberg cell is usually seen.
Vitamin K and the Risk of Lymphoma
In a peek carried out at Mayo clinic, researchers examined the vitamin K intake of 603 patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 603 healthy controls. They found that those with the highest vitamin K intake were forty-five percent less likely to get non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma compared to those with the lowest intake of vitamin K. More vitamin K seems to have some advantages when it comes to reducing the risk of lymphoma.
Why Would More Vitamin K Reduce the Risk of Cancer of the Lymph System?
The researchers believe that vitamin K blocks that action of inflammatory cytokines – proteins that send messages to other cells and, in this case, encourage the rapid, uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes. More research is needed to determine the exact way in which vitamin K affects cancer growth.
How to Get More Vitamin K
Vitamin K comes in two forms: phylloquinones (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin B2). The best sources of vitamin K1 are green, leafy vegetables, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. (the good green stuff), while vitamin K2 is abundant in fermented cheese and other fermented products such as natto.
Some vitamin K1 can be converted to K2, so eating lots of green, leafy vegetables will improve levels of both forms of vitamin K. Vitamin K1 absorption can be increased by eating veggies with a little olive oil. A true deficiency of vitamin K is rare since it’s produced by bacteria in the stomach ‘” although some people may not get enough to help ward off diseases such as lymphoma.
More Vitamin K to Reduce the Risk of Lymphoma?
These results may be preliminary, but getting more vitamin K has other benefits as well. It’s important for blood clotting – and low levels of vitamin K are associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis and coronary artery disease. One precaution. People who are taking blood thinners should avoid eating too many vitamin K rich foods and should stay away from supplements – since vitamin K can reduce the effects of these medications.
References:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/509074
Related posts
Filed under Mesothelioma Symptoms by on Jul 15th, 2010.