Like it or not, humans are vain creatures. One of the top fears of a cancer patient, beyond the thought of losing life, is the concern over losing hair. Since cancer treatment is half medicine and half attitude, overcoming the vain concerns is key in most treatment plans. Here’s where good wigs can come into play, but for many, the expense is great.

Through American Cancer Society sponsorship programs and even through agencies like Locks of Love, anyone can get involved in helping make sure high-quality wigs get to the patients who need them. Wearing a wig is maybe not the same as having a full head of one’s own hair, but if a high quality wig is offered, the only one who is likely to know the difference will be the person wearing it. Plus, wigs can even be fun, whimsical and fantastic for those who don’t face treatment.

Wigs of today are not the same as they were in years gone by. High quality wigs look natural, mimic genuine colors and are fitted correctly to a person’s head so a natural appearance is presented. Super high quality wigs can cost hundreds of dollars though, so for the cancer patient, the expense can be prohibitive.

Youngsters who have faced hair loss can be helped through organizations such as Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids. Locks of Love provides wigs made of human hair for optimum natural appearances. There are even programs tailored especially for adults and those who face hair loss for other medical reasons.

Supporting agencies that provide wigs to those in need is fairly simple for anyone to do. Most American Cancer Society branches, for example, take donations for their wig programs. The branches provide fittings and wigs free of charge to patients who cannot afford them. Everything from a $1 to $1,000 and beyond helps and just about every penny donated stays local, and monies can even be earmarked for set programs.

Locks of Love takes donations of money and hair. Donors of hair all over America and beyond give to this program by growing their locks to a set length and having them chopped for the wig creation organization. The hair is then shipped to the agency, which processes it for use in wigs for youngsters who need them.

When people look good, they tend to feel good. For the cancer patient, attitude can be half the battle. The horrors of the disease alone can be hard for some to face, but the hair loss that goes along with it can be a blow that’s hard for many to take. To get involved in donating full wigs, hair or money to the cause, check with agencies such as Lock of Love or the American Cancer Society for programs in your region.

A wig might seem like a simplistic thing to give a cancer patient, but it’s not. In fact, the little bit of self-esteem it returns to the person can make all the difference in the world.

Feeling good about yourself

Undergoing cancer treatment can change your look, which in return provokes a low self-esteem. To feel better, both physically and emotionally, being a cancer patient, you need effective skin care products to address your specific needs. These products must be designed to enable you to keep your freshness despite the cancer and its treatment. Indeed, retaining a good physical appearance can help you to maintain your morale and confidence.

How can our radiation skin care, cancer skin care products help you?

Lindi Skin care products combine the latest medical information with innovative ingredients to formulate superior, safe products for people undergoing cancer treatment. While many skin care products abound, they are not made for people with chemotherapy or radiation related skin issues. As they may cause nausea due to scent, irritation, and even inflammation. The main role of Lindi skin care product is to reverse the external effects of the cancer treatment on your skin, nails, hair and face. The idea is first to preserve your image. Thanks to our products, treating cancer and its side effects on your appearance is possible. These natural products, made especially for people undergoing chemotherapy, allowing you both to retain an image vis-à-vis yourself and vis-à-vis others.

Facial care

First, keep in mind that you don’t have to look awful during and after cancer treatment. That can affect your confidence. You must keep your skin clean, by removing makeup, dander and impurities. We have a variety of products for all your special needs. For your face, use our natural Face Wash followed by our Lindi Face Moisturizer application. Hydration of the skin is essential during radiotherapy and chemotherapy; use a moisturizer adapts to your skin type to keep your skin moist and soft. For your eyes, remove the make up with our special makeup remover is necessary before going to bed.

To better manage these side effects, along with our products, please try the tips below:
* Moisturize your skin while it is still damp
* Protect your skin from chemical irritants and heat
* Drink at least seven (7) glasses of water every day
* Take special care around your eyes, and on your lips
* For acne, use a non-irritant natural lotion or soap
* Apply special cream and lotion to keep your skin moist
* Drink a lot of carrot juice daily - it is great for your blood and skin health
* using makeup will also help you to hide these small transient imperfections
* Protect your skin from irritation and cuts by using an electric razor when shaving
* For dry skin, use a lotion containing lanolin. Avoid hot water; it removes your natural skin oil
* Avoid prolonged exposition to the sun. Even if you have dark skin, you need to protect yourself from the sun during chemotherapy and radiation

If I told you about a plant that is 10,000 times more toxic to colon cancer cells than a common chemo drug; lethal to 12 different kinds of malignant cells, especially those that cause lung, prostate, and breast cancers; safe enough that it protects healthy cells instead of killing them; doesn’t cause extreme nausea or hair loss; doesn’t make cancer patients drop huge amounts of weight, get weak, or compromise their immune systems — would you want to know about it? Do you think someone with cancer that you know would like to know about it?

Well, the billion dollar drug company nearly covered this one up. They did for seven years, but thanks to an employee with a heart, let the cat out of the bag. The reason that they never went public with their findings was because they could not find a way to make a synthetic version that worked so they could patent it. The kind of information that I am about to reveal to you should never be covered up.

This incredible natural plant from the Amazon is called Graviola. The naturally occurring chemicals in graviola literally destroy cancer cells. And without harming healthy cells. In fact, extracts from the same plant actually boost immunity!

It was in 1976 when this was discovered. Since then, over 20 different lab studies, including prolonged research by Purdue University and the National Cancer Institute, all pointed to the same thing: Graviola is a dynamo when it comes to destroying cancerous cells.

What is Graviloa?

Graviola is a small, upright evergreen tree growing 5 to 6 meters in height with large dark green and glossy leaves. It is indigenous to most of the warmest tropical areas in South and North America. It has a large heart-shaped edible fruit that is 6-9″, yellow green in color.

The earliest studies were between 1941 and 1962. In an 1976 plant screening program by the National Cancer Institute, the leaves and stem of Graviola showed active cytotoxicity against cancer cells and researchers have been following up on this research ever since.

Three separate research groups have isolated novel compounds in the seeds and leaves of Graviola which have demonstrated significant anti-tumorous, anticancerous and selective toxicity against various types of cancer cells. One showed that Graviola was cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells in which it was 10,000 times the potency of adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug).

Graviola is also known (AKA) as Paw Paw. North American Paw Paw is said to be much stronger than South American Paw Paw.

The purpose of this article is not to teach you everything about Graviola, but to inspire you to do your own research on this amazing plant, if you have or know anyone that has cancer. This could be the answer to prayers.

They evaluated the smoking and drinking (or abstinence) patterns of 453 patients in all, about equal numbers of men and women.

Patients who smoked did tend to develop pancreatic disease at a younger age and there were dose-related effects, Anderson said. Heavy smokers (such as those who have smoked more than a pack a day for 40 years, or more than two packs for 20 years) presented with pancreatic cancer an average of seven years before nonsmokers.

The average age of onset of pancreatic cancer is between 70 to 80, experts noted. Heavy drinkers, defined as having more than three daily drinks, presented with pancreatic cancer 10 years younger than those who did not drink.

Comparing beer, wine and hard liquor, the team found that beer lowered the age of developing pancreatic cancer most, Anderson said. When she compared beer drinkers to non-beer drinkers, the effect was statistically significant; however, when she considered other variables that may affect cancer onset, the effect disappeared.

Cigarette smoking is already a well-known risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Heavy alcohol intake may induce chronic inflammatory changes that are also linked with cancer, Anderson said. The combination of chronic smoking plus drinking had no stronger effect on pancreatic risk than either habit alone, the researchers found.

Pancreatic cancer is expected to be diagnosed in nearly 38,000 people in the United States this year, according to the American Cancer Society, and about 34,000 will die of the disease. The lifetime risk is about 1 in 79 but is affected by factors such as advancing age, obesity and family history.

Because it is often emerges without symptoms, pancreatic cancer is often not detected until its later stages, when treatment is less effective. But even if caught at stage one the outlook is bleak, researchers said. At stage one, the 5-year survival from pancreatic malignancy is about 33 percent.

The pancreas, about 6 inches long and less than 2 inches wide, extends across the abdomen. It makes key hormones, including insulin, and helps to balance blood sugar.

Pancreatic cancer is a relatively rare disorder, accounting for about 3 in 100 cases of all cancer in the US. However, the disease, which mainly affects people over 50, is becoming more common in the US as life expectancy increases. Pancreatic cancer occurs almost twice as frequently in men as in women and the disease is slightly more common in African-Americans and Polynesians. People with pancreatic cancer usually have few symptoms until the disorder reaches an advanced stage and often not until it has spread to other parts of the body, typically the lymph nodes in the abdomen and the liver. The disease is nearly always fatal and is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in the US. Little is known about the causes of pancreatic cancer, but it has been linked with diet, in particular with fatty foods and high alcohol consumption. A higher incidence of the cancer in certain ethnic groups indicates that genetic factors may be involved. The risk of the disease is greater in people who smoke and in those with chronic pancreatitis.

The pancreas is an organ involved in endocrine functions, such as the secretion of insulin and exocrine functions, such as the secretion of insulin and exocrine functions, such as the secretion of enzymes involved in digestion. It is located underneath the stomach and liver and adjacent to the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine).

Causes: The cause of this cancer remains unknown. The most established risk factor for the development of this cancer is cigarette smoking. Other less common risk factors are:

• A high fat diet

• Diabetes

• Chronic pancreatitis, generally related to high alcohol intake

• Workers in contact with organic chemicals

Symptoms: when the cancer originates in the head of the pancreas, which is the closest area to the duodenum, patients suffer from jaundice and generalized itching. If, on the other hand, the tumor originates in the area of the tail of the pancreas, which is furthest from the duodenum, the tumor can grow to larger sizes before causing symptoms. This condition can result in the obstruction of bile excretion leading to the development of

• Jaundice

• Pale-colored stools

• Generalized itching

• Abdominal pain

• Weight loss

• A palpable mass.

Many patients with pancreatic cancer also have symptoms of cancer that has spread to other organs.

Diagnosis: Cancer of the pancreas can be easily seen with computed tomography or ultrasound of the abdomen. The diagnosis needs to be confirmed by obtaining a biopsy.

Complications: Complications arise from the spread (metastasis) of the cancer to other organs or from the physical size of the tumor causing obstruction of the bile duct or other internal structures.

Treatment:

Self Treatment: An overall healthy lifestyle with a well balanced diet is essential to maintain general health during the treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Medical Treatment: Although treatment with chemotherapy has not been very encouraging, promising new chemotherapy agents are always being investigated. Combinations of treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy may help control symptoms in some cases of advanced cancer. Surgical Treatment: Removal of the tumor offers the only chance for cure of this type of cancer. Unfortunately, only about 15 percent of patients can have their tumor fully removed. The rest of the patients have cancers that have grown too extensive to remove completely.

Prevention: the only well established risk for the development of pancreatic cancer is cigarette smoking. Smoking cessation should, therefore, result in a decreased chance of development this type of cancer.

How many health benefits can a small fruit provide? Well, in the case of the tomato, numerous health benefits can be attributed to this particular fruit. Tomatoes are loaded with countless health properties that aid in reducing and preventing some of the most life threatening diseases.

First of all, tomatoes contain four major carutenoids: alpha carotene, beta carotene, lutein, and lycopene. All of these carutenoids have individual health benefits and they offer great health advantages when they all work together. The red pigment contained in the tomatoes is Lycopene. Lycopene is one of the strongest antioxidants and it is very beneficial when it comes down to neutralizing free radicals which damage the cells in the body. Lycopene is also very beneficial when it comes down to heart health, prostate health and pancreatic health. A study has shown that men, who consumed ten tomatoes per week, reduced their chances of developing prostate cancer by an overwhelming forty-five percent. Other studies indicated that people who consumed more than seven servings of raw tomatoes lowered their risk of developing stomach, rectal or colon cancers by sixty percent.

The prevention of lung cancer is yet another health benefit of consuming tomatoes. Recent studies show that tomatoes contain two important compounds, coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid. These two compounds block some of the carcinogens that are found in tobacco. When these carcinogens are blocked, our bodies are protected from second hand smoke and we are less likely to develop lung cancer. And last but certainly not least, tomatoes are extremely rich in potassium, something that many of us lack in our daily diets. For instance, a single cup of tomato juice contains 534 milligrams of potassium. Clearly, with all of these health benefits, many of us should incorporate more tomatoes into our diets.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes includes individuals dependent upon insulin to prevent ketosis (abnormal accumulation of ketones in the body as a result of a deficiency or inadequate utilization of carbohydrates). A keytone is an organic compound having the group -OH- linked to two hydrocarbon radicals.

This category (Type 1) of diabetes is also known as the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) subclass and was previously called juvenile-onset diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes deals with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

These categories of diabetes were conveniently and strategically created by the National Diabetes Data Group of the National Institute of Health. When you see or have the word institute, you should see the connection to the word institution. When you want to perpetuate a thing, you institutionalize it. That’s why the United States is full of institutes (research centers and foundations) for various degenerative diseases.

Diabetes is predicated upon lack of insulin secreted by the cells of the pancreas. Knowing this alone can help us to heal from diabetes. So, what is insulin? Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas in response to increased levels of glucose in the blood. Now look at this truth hidden in the medical definition of insulin. Insulin is naturally occurring. Naturally pertains to Nature! So-called diabetics have deviated.

The following are the components to the disease called diabetes: 1. Insulin (a hormone) 2. Hormonal or endocrine system 3. Pancreas (gland, organ) 4. Digestion, 5. Digestive enzymes 6. Sugar in the blood (blood sugar level) 7. Conversion of sugar into heat and energy.

The major problem with diabetes pertains to the gland called the pancreas, which in so-called diabetics does not secrete insulin. This is a hormone secreted into the bloodstream along with digestive enzymes which regulates blood sugar levels and aids in digestion.

All internal glands that are secretory (function of secreting) in nature have a duct. That duct in so-called diabetics is clogged! Why? Because of the hardened mucus around it! The pancreatic duct is covered with dried and hardened boogers (mucus) that prevents secretion of insulin. So-called diabetics are eating things with sugar (unnatural, man-made sugar to be specific) or things that break down into sugar (i.e. complex carbohydrates). Because the pancreas is unable to secrete insulin into the bloodstream to regulate the sugar in the blood and it is also unable to convert the sugar into energy, the blood sugar levels go very high and the unconverted/unburned sugar converts into FAT. This explains the obesity factor in diabetes. What medical doctor with a college degree can or will elucidate diabetes to the degree as explained above? The word doctor derives from the Latin word docçre which means to teach.

Most medical doctors will never teach you what causes your health problem or pathology and how to fix it for fear of losing a good-paying client. Because the so-called diabetic cannot convert sugar into energy, they convert the sugar into fat causing obesity. This is linked to a nonfunctioning colon that is compacted with excessive fecal matter and waste that causes the colon to protrude, even to the point of now pressing against the already nonfunctioning pancreas. The problem is now exacerbated.

In addition, excess fat in the body greatly hampers bodily circulation, which is why so-called diabetics have poor circulation. The condition of poor circulation prevents blood, oxygen, and minerals from circulating throughout the body, mainly to the extremities (hands and feet), especially in the feet, which causes the legs of so-called diabetics to turn gangrene blue. And what does your beloved and entrusted doctor do for the poor circulation? He/she prescribes pharmaceutical grade drugs! And what do these drugs do? They make the body MORE acidic than it already is. These pharmaceutical drugs, especially the synthetic insulin these doctors prescribe, greatly inhibit circulation, even to the point of thinning the blood (i.e. the drug Coumadin) causing a STROKE!

I know what I’m talking about People because I have dealt with many so-called diabetics and when they began dealing with me, their condition got a lot better and most of them got off of drugs altogether and completely healing from diabetes in a matter of weeks. Yes, for me, it’s that simple! Diabetes is easy to heal. Any disease is easy to heal when you know what the cause of the disease is.

When a so-called diabetic’s circulation is cut-off to the legs and feet and the legs turn swollen blue, what does the doctor suggest for this situation? AMPUTATION! Amputate. n. To cut off (a part of the body), esp. by surgery. [Latin. Amputâre, cut around] SOURCE: American Heritage Dictionary, 4th edition

That’s right! Instead of reviving the so-called diabetic’s leg, the doctor will recommend amputation. Do you know why? Because amputation calls for surgery and surgery is BIG MONEY in America! This is the only reason for amputation. Doctors, most of them, don’t care about “people” - God’s children, who strayed and became sick (law of cause and effect). The motivation of money blinds a doctor’s heart (4th Chakra, seat of love and compassion) and therefore NO allopathic doctor heals or will tell you that he/she healed (or assisted in healing) a person with diabetes or any other disease. Doctors don’t heal or cure! They TREAT symptoms and MANAGE disease. That’s all! Who wants to manage or treat genital herpes, AIDS, diabetes, or cancer instead of healing from it entirely?

Heartburn, a problem affecting the esophagus, is perhaps the most common type of indigestion. Your esophagus is a 10-inch-long tube leading from the back of your mouth to your stomach. Food travels down the esophagus to the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent food and acids from escaping from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn occurs when this lower esophageal sphincter is weak or dysfunctional, allowing stomach acid to escape.

People who are overweight are at increased risk for developing indigestion because excess weight can increase pressure on the abdomen which, in turn, can make it difficult for the lower esophageal sphincter to stay tightly shut. Pregnant women also experience a higher incidence of the condition because they, too, experience increased pressure on the abdomen. In addition, people who smoke are at increased risk because cigarettes relax the lower esophageal sphincter.

Signs and Symptoms

Abdominal tenderness and distention

Feeling of fullness and discomfort in the upper abdomen

Burning sensation in the chest, often originating in the upper abdomen and radiating to the neck

Regurgitation of bitter liquid into the throat or mouth, commonly when lying down

Nausea and vomiting

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you suffer from indigestion only occasionally, you may experience relief by taking over-the-Counter antacids, which neutralize gastric acids. You also can prevent future cases of indigestion by avoiding any food or drink that irritate your stomach.

If you experience indigestion frequently, see your doctor, who will try to determine when your indigestion occurs, what foods and drinks seem to trigger it, in what part of the abdomen the discomfort is strongest, and how long it typically last. Your physician also may want to run a series of tests to make sure that your indigestion is not being caused by a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, colon cancer, stomach ulcer, gastritis, pancreatic disease, or irritable bowel syndrome. A barium X-ray, endoscopic examination of the digestive tract, or stool sample may be necessary. In order to rule out disorders of the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder, your doctor also may recommend an ultrasound examination of those organs.

If over-the-counter products do not offer relief, your physician may prescribe cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), or omeprazole (Prilosec) to block acid production in the stomach. A medication that increases the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter, such as metocopramide or bethanechol, also may be prescribed.

Smoking causes build up of toxins in the body especially in the lungs, even with second hand smoke. Nonsmokers and children are vulnerable and do not have a choice to inhale the toxins, smokers around them make that decision for them. Every organ in our bodies is effected by the toxins that are found in cigarettes. When I quit smoking I took natural herbs to cleanse and detox my body.

I look younger feel better lost the cough and do not smell like stale cigarettes. Also I took allot of natural health products to give my body good quality fuel it needed to heal. I drank allot of water took Bee Pollen products and key minerals, fruits, vegetables, herb blends, green super foods to fight fatigue and exercised to aid in the cravings to smoke.

4000 chemical agents and 60 carcinogens are in cigarette smoke. Not just the smoke at the end of the cigarette, but the smoke that is exhaled as well. You are putting your body at risk of getting: heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, respiratory illnesses, bladder cancer, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease and kidney, cervical, stomach, pancreatic cancers on every puff you take off a cigarette . There is a very effective method of living your life without nicotine; simply by removing the nicotine from your system naturally. Detox and replenish your body from not just nicotine but the toxins that are in cigarettes as well. Have a healthy body and save allot of money from not buying cigarettes every day. Live a life irritability, inpatient, hostile, and anxiety free from nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine is the # 1 addictive drug in the United States. Getting the nicotine comes in different forms, cigarettes, gum, chewing tobacco, patches, inhaler, pipe and snuff.

Nicotine is one of over 4000 chemicals found in the toxic cancer causing tobacco products sold to the hard working American citizens today. Nicotine was introduced to the public in the early 1800 it is a poison which kills in big doses.The average smoker takes in about 20 too 40 MG a day. Nicotine is a chemical found in various species of tobacco plants. Nicotine increases the levels of dopamine in the brain causing you to feel pleasure.The cigarettes smoked today contain not just nicotine but thousands of toxic cancer causing chemicals that break down an enzyme located in the brain called Monoamineoxidase which regulates the level of dopamine.The result in the desire to feel pleasure so you give your body a shot of nicotine by smoking a cigarette. Every puff you take increases the levels of dopamine in the brain making it difficult to quit smoking. More than 450,000 U.S. Citizens are killed every year by tobacco. More than any other drug addiction, psychological, mental, accident, car, combined. Nicotine causes over 120 billion dollars in health care cost per year.

Nicotine is a sedative and stimulant which could lead you to become slightly hyperglycemic. Nicotine addiction is similar to other drug addictions that cause a release of dopamine in the brain where motivation and pleasure are controlled. Nicotine in high doses are found in insecticides it could cause vomiting, tremors, convulsions, and death. Nicotine addiction starts after a couple of cigarettes within a few days. Nicotine addiction is a serious and fatal addictive disorder more difficult to overcome than any other addictive drug; the hardest chemical too beat. Vitamins and nutrients that benefit the body are depleted by smoking. So detox after quitting smoking and take control of your life,be healthy be safe.

Cholelithiasis also known is Gallbladder. Gallstones are concretions that form in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder. Gallstones are formed within the gallbladder, an organ that stores bile excreted from the liver. Further complications of gallbladder disease include gallstone pancreatitis, gallstone ileus, biliary cirrhosis, and gallbladder cancer. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand, or they may become as large as an inch in diameter, depending on how long they have been forming. A stone blocking the opening from the gallbladder or cystic duct usually produces symptoms of biliary colic, which is right upper abdominal pain that feels like cramping.

If the stone does not pass into the duodenum, but continues to block the cystic duct, acute cholecystitis results. Gallbladder calculi are relatively uncommon in children. However, the incidence of cholelithiasis has been increasing recently. Children may harbor cholesterol gallstones, black- or brown-pigmented stones, or mixed-type gallstones. Complications that occur in adults with this condition may also occur in children. Gallstones may cause irritation and inflammation of the gallbladder mucosa, resulting in chronic calculous cholecystitis and symptoms of biliary colic. Chronic gallstone disease may lead to fibrosis and loss of function of the gallbladder and predisposes to gallbladder cancer. Excision of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) to cure gallstone disease is among the most frequently performed abdominal surgical procedures.

Gallstones are a common health problem worldwide. Gallstones can occur anywhere within the biliary tree, including the gallbladder and the common bile duct. Obstruction of the common bile duct is choledocholithiasis; obstruction of the biliary tree can cause jaundice; obstruction of the outlet of the pancreatic exocrine system can cause pancreatitis. Gallstones are rocklike collections of material that form inside the gallbladder. Different types exist, and they are categorized by their primary composition; cholesterol stones are most common (75-80% in the United States) followed by pigment, then mixed stones. The stones form when there is an imbalance or change in the composition of bile. The first is how often and how well the gallbladder contracts; incomplete and infrequent emptying of the gallbladder may cause the bile to become overconcentrated and contribute to gallstone formation.

The second factor is the presence of proteins in the liver and bile that either promote or inhibit cholesterol crystallization into gallstones. Increased levels of the hormone estrogen as a result of pregnancy, hormone therapy, or the use of birth control pills, may increase cholesterol levels in bile and also decrease gallbladder movement, resulting in gallstone formation. The pain of biliary colic is not characteristically positional, pleuritic, or relieved by bowel movement or flatus.Other symptoms, often associated with cholelithiasis, include indigestion, dyspepsia, belching, bloating, and fat intolerance. However, these are very nonspecific and occur in similar frequencies in individuals with and without gallstones; cholecystectomy has not been shown to improve these symptoms.

Gallbladder sludge is crystallization within bile without stone formation. Cholesterol gallstones may become colonized with bacteria and can elicit gallbladder mucosal inflammation. Lytic enzymes from bacteria and leukocytes hydrolyze bilirubin conjugates and fatty acids. Gallstones are present in about 80% of people with gallbladder cancer. Symptoms of gallbladder cancer are usually not present until the disease has reached an advanced stage and may include weight loss, anemia, recurrent vomiting, and a lump in the abdomen. When the cancer is caught at an early stage and has not spread deeper than the mucosa (the inner lining), removal of the gallbladder results in five-year survival rates of 68%. If cancer has spread to deeper layers, more extensive surgery or other treatments may be required. Sickle cell disease has been identified as an independent risk factor associated with an increase in the frequency of cholelithiasis. Cholesterol gallstones develop when bile contains too much cholesterol and not enough bile salts. Besides a high concentration of cholesterol, two other factors seem to be important in causing gallstones. Acute gallstone pancreatitis is often characterized by epigastric tenderness. In severe cases, retroperitoneal hemorrhage may produce ecchymoses of the flanks and periumbilical ecchymoses.

There are several available treatments for Cholelithiasis. Electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has also been employed to treat cholelithiasis. Urodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, ursodiol), a more contemporary medical therapy, is successful in only 40% of cases. Both CDCA and UDCA therapies are useful only for gallstones formed from cholesterol. Surgery-Removal of the gallbladder, or cholecystectomy , is usually needed to treat symptoms associated with gallstones. It is a relatively safe procedure that does not cause any nutritional problems. Oral Bile Salts-If surgery is not desirable, bile salts to dissolve gallstones can be taken by mouth. However, it may take a long time to dissolve the gallstones, and because the gallbladder is still present, gallstones may recur. Laparoscopic techniques, which have been used for years in the field of gynecology, have recently been adapted to cholecystectomy, in an effort to decrease complications, recovery time and cost. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a lower incidence of intra-abdominal adhesions, wound site hernia and scar formation. Postoperative pain is also reduced, and recovery time is shorter. Lithotripsy has been investigated as adjunctive therapy for failed endoscopic stone retrieval and for retained ductal stones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.