Graviola: a therapeutic myth

As what i have said in my previous post, my maternal grandmother was diagnosed of lung cancer several weeks ago. It was already in its fourth stage. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. However, she said that she is growing "tired" of her treatment. Recently, a friend of hers offered her graviola supplements, which she said would "cure" her. Not really trusting her friend (she does not look trustworthy, anyway), i made my own research for graviola and here's what i found out:


Graviola (Annona reticulata) comes from the deep rainforest jungles along the Amazon. Its various parts, including the leaves, roots, fruit, fruit seeds, and bark, have been used for centuries by medicine men and women and natives of South America to treat several health problems such as dysentery, fever, diarrhea.

It has been well-publicized in the internet that graviola is a thousand-times potent anti-cancer herb. It was even said that it is even stronger than chemo drugs. However, recent post by Dr. Andrew Weil says that all of this a big MYTH.

I totally agree with his recommendation of not taking graviola supplements. Indeed, there is no direct human study of graviola among actual cancer patients. The tests done were only in vitro-- test tubes containing cancer cells. Not actual patients. Also, the ones used in the said study was from a related tree (annona glabra).

Better inform my grandma about this.

mesothelioma: a health trek

History

In 1960s, Wagner published an article about a certain disease that is strongly linked to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelium:

The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (thoracal cavity), peritoneum (abdominal cavity including the mesentery) and pericardium (heart sac). Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs (the tunica vaginalis testis) and covers the internal reproductive organs of women (the tunica serosa uteri). Mesothelium that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium, while the layer that covers the body walls is called the parietal mesothelium.

Mesothelioma defined

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining around the heart

is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum. More than 90% of mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure.

Asbestos defined

Asbestos refers to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos fibers, including Chrysotile asbestos, are not affected by heat or chemicals, do not conduct electricity, and therefore has been widely used in many industries. However, asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and exposure to asbestos has been shown to cause serious health problems including pleural mesothelioma.

cancer genes, anyone?

my maternal grandmother, in her early 60s, suddenly developed fever and cough.
she was brought to a provincial hospital.
Routine examinations reveal atelectasis and a "very white/cloudy" upper lungs.
more diagnostic exams reveal lung CA stage 4.
it has invaded her kidneys too. she was never a smoker.
she does not even visit the city where air pollution is at its peak.
she does mountain climbing almost everyday for the last 2 decades.
she was as strong as a bull.
now she's as fragile as a thread.

her sister died of breast CA.
her nephew of leukemia.
cancer is running wildly in her blood.
IN MY BLOOD.
bloody hell.