An anti-viral molecule, TBK-1, that the body uses to fight viruses, seems to be vital to the survival of cancer cells. Blocking one enzyme, aldose reductase, was found to stop colon cancer cells in cell culture laboratory tests and in mice implanted with human colon cancer cells, according to University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center researchers.

“We got the surprise that this mechanism is involved in cancer cell survival, even though it’s normally involved in immune response,” stated Dr. Michael White, associate professor of cell biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

“We found something a little bit different — an Achilles heel of cancer cells that’s apparently broadly conserved among many types of solid tumors. This is making us think that there are many other surprises awaiting discovery regarding biological systems that are inappropriately subverted during development of cancer.”

The discovery is called dramatic and could lead to new treatments for colon cancer. If blocking a single anti-viral molecule does shut down the biochemical signals that promote inflammation and colon cancer cell growth, as the researchers are reporting from the results of this study, it will be a dramatic discovery.

September is the month for Prostate Cancer Awareness. In United States alone, approximately 234,460 men will learn that they have prostate cancer, and nearly 27,350 will die from the disease. However if diagnosed and detected earlier, prostate cancer can be treated in time. The survival rate is far up to 100 percent. As per a study, men are at a much higher risk for prostate cancer and are more likely to suffer as due to lack of screening for this disease. However most of the cases can not be prevented or treated because of the risk factors beyond a man’s control (such as age, race and family history), there are few steps that can certainly reduce the risk for prostate cancer. As per a research, eating a high fiber, low-fat diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables daily can help reduce the risk for both prostate and colorectal cancers. Another way out is to reduce the risk is to get checked for prostate cancer every year, usually after the age of 50. However, African-American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer need to begin annual testing by age 45.

Usually, Prostate cancer has no symptoms in it’s early stages but as it becomes complex, the prostate cancer affected patients can face the symptoms like difficulty in urination.

Screening for prostate cancer consists of two steps: a doctor’s exam of the prostate gland and a blood test that measures a protein made by cells in the prostate. The blood test is called a PSA, which stands for “Prostate-Specific Antigen.” High PSA levels in a man’s blood indicate a prostate problem, but not necessarily cancer! Since neither of these screening techniques are 100 percent effective, it is the combination of the two that allows for the early detection of prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer is the second most found cancer in men, next to skin cancer. We hope that with this program in pursuit, many men will realize and be proactive regarding their health issues and be a good decision-maker as far as the necessity of screening for prostate and colorectal cancer is concerned. Stat says that one out of six will get prostate cancer.

We hope that this program will help in eliminating cancer and its sufferings through awareness and education.