In my post last Sunday, I asked whether or not we can change our bad habits. I concluded that we can make that decision and live healthier lives. If we are to live healthier lives, though, how far should we take this new healthy living?

My definition of camping is when the hotel doesn't have room service. I believe chocolate is an essential food group. I like the smell of body lotion. I have to force myself to exercise. If I am to commit to a healthy lifestyle that will protect me from cancer and other diseases, will I have to turn into a vegetarian marathon runner who doesn't use soap? I think that is the fear we all struggle with when our doctors or society tells us we have to be healthier. Do we have to go so far that we are not recognizable anymore? Is it worth it to make small changes?

Studies say that a few small changes can really add up. Three ten-minute walking sessions every day and you are keeping your heart healthy. Cutting the fat off your meat and eating even one serving less of meat a week can have health benefits. Doing more does not even always mean more health benefits. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, concluded that eating more than the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables does not give you any greater protection against cancer than the recommended daily servings. To me that is good news, because it means that I do not have to go overboard in my efforts to live a healthier life. (One statistic to remember on this though: Only 23% of Americans actually get five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.) We can all do more to be healthier, but we do not have to eat only green stuff and chant all day long in order to reap any benefits. Is there a small change that you can make to live a healthier life?

I have recently been thinking on the reasons we do not do the things that we know are good for us.Why do we continue to eat fatty foods? Why do we not exercise? Why do we continue smoking? Why do we do these things while we know the consequences?

Why did my aunt go in for her mastectomy without quitting smoking beforehand? Why did she go outside for a cigarette right after coming out of the ICU after recovering from a collapsed lung? What is it that prevents me from exercising every day? Why do we still suffer from diseases that are either totally or partially preventable if only we would change our lifestyles?

One answer could be found in research done at MIT. It seems that our brains form neural pathways when we have an ingrained habit. So, our brains will not let us change! That would be the easy answer, wouldn't it? How do we then explain the people who do change? The people who stop smoking, stop eating junk and start exercising? I think we all know the answer. They made a decision and stuck to it. Their health became more important to them than their habits. We can change our minds.

My aunt decided that her cigarettes were more important to her than anything else. Before she passed away she wondered if there would be cigarettes in heaven. I hope heaven changed her mind. Can you change your mind today?

During the recent Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Canada, there was a different kind of cancer support. During the first day of the greatest outdoor show on earth all the participants and spectators were asked to wear pink to show support for breast cancer. The proceeds from the gate admissions on the sneak a peak day were donated to cancer research.

The campaign showed me that cancer support can come from all kinds of sources. The grand parade marshals were four young men that skated across Canada to raise money fro breast cancer research. They wore pink and skateboarded the parade route. The cowboys who were there for the rodeo competitions wore pink. Spectators wore pink. It was a celebration of peoples' commitment to eradicate cancer through research.

It was also a chance for many people to remember loved ones that had been lost to this disease. In the midst of the bands and floats were stories of mothers, sisters, daughters and friends who triumphed and those who did not. It was an opportunity to celebrate and to remember. For me it was a chance to realize that there is a lot of support out there from a lot of different places. That gives me hope.

I am a Licensed Practical Nurse with five years' experience in this profession. I believe it is essential to go back to the basics in all things in order to really understand them. I am fascinated by how our bodies work and I hope I can get my readers to share my fascination. I hope we all learn new things and marvel again at the things we already know. This feature -- which includes a closing section on how disease affects the topic in question -- will run on The Cancer Blog on Wednesdays, and The Cardio Blog and The Diabetes Blog on Thursdays. [The contents in this post are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.]

We looked at the cell in a series of six articles and now we are moving into the fascinating world of tissues. A tissue is a group of cells with similar structure and function. The tissue then contributes to the functioning of the organs in which it is found. Epithelial tissue exists at the body surface where it lines the skin and various organs such as the mouth, nose and other body cavities. It is also found at the lining of the respiratory, reproductive and urinary tracts. All blood vessels are also lined with epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue is divided into different types.

The first type of epithelial tissue is the covering and lining epithelium. It forms the epidermis of the skin and the outer covering of some internal organs as well as the inner lining of blood vessels, ducts and body cavities. It is arranged by layers and cell shapes. The layers are: simple epithelium, stratified epithelium and pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The cell shapes are: Squamous, cuboidal, columnar and transitional.

Simple squamous epithelium: It consists of a single layer of flat cells that resembles a tiled floor. It is located in the lining of the blood vessels, lining of body cavities and part of the kidney tubules. Its functions are protection and absorption.

Simple cuboidal epithelium: The cuboidal shape of the cells in this tissue is obvious when the tissue is sectioned and viewed from the side. It is located in the secretory portion and ducts of some glands and part of the kidney tubules. Its functions are secretion and protection.

Recently I have been struggling to balance my life. I am very busy and am working three jobs simultaneously. I love all three and chose each one, but working three jobs and trying to do my best in each one is certainly taking it's toll. There is no direct link between stress and cancer, but there are indications that stress can increase the chances of getting certain kinds of cancer and can affect the prognosis of someone with cancer.

In an effort to live a more balanced life and to be as healthy as possible, I have to look at the effects of stress on my life. Will stress "give" me cancer? Probably not. Will it lead to other unhealthy life habits that could contribute to a higher possibility of getting cancer? Probably. Stress can lead to other unhealthy habits that definitely cause cancer. Habits such as smoking, drinking, not exercising and eating too much can all develop because of stress and have all been shown to cause or contribute to cancer.

The money that I earn from these jobs will do me no good if I am sick or just too busy to enjoy myself. I am posing this question to myself and everybody else: What do you value more: your money or your life?

Many of us do not like to think about the possibility of getting cancer. We are supportive of others who have cancer and fight along with them for improved research and better treatment, but rarely think about getting cancer ourselves. Or, if we think about the possibility, we are paralyzed with fear. Thinking about it and gathering information could be a liberating experience, though.

My risk for breast cancer is fairly high: I am female, started menstruating before the age of twelve, have family members who have had the disease, I have a high BMI (body mass index) and I am over 30 with no children. (For more on the risk factors for breast cancer, go to the American Cancer Society website.) Knowing these risk factors, I can do something. I can lose weight, exercise and be vigilant about breast exams, both self exams and at my annual doctor's visit.

I can also research the different treatment options available. Knowing which way you would like to go can save a lot of time and can also alleviate a lot of stress at a time when it would be difficult to make decisions. Knowing that I would probably want to mix conventional methods with some alternative healing methods can help me if i ever have to deal with a cancer diagnosis. Knowing other risk factors for cancer, such as stress and high fat diets, also gives me incentive to change my lifestyle. Reading the blogs on this site has also given me a lot of ideas and helpful tips. Knowing that I am somewhat prepared and definitely informed helps put my mind at ease. Do you think that going over your risk factors and preparing a plan of action is worth it?

I am a Licensed Practical Nurse with five years' experience in this profession. I believe it is essential to go back to the basics in all things in order to really understand them. I am fascinated by how our bodies work and I hope I can get my readers to share my fascination. I hope we all learn new things and marvel again at the things we already know. This feature -- which includes a closing section on how disease affects the topic in question -- will run on The Cancer Blog on Wednesdays, and The Cardio Blog and The Diabetes Blog on Thursdays. [The contents in this post are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.]

We start with the cell, because so much of what happens to us when we get sick, and how we get healthy again, can be explained by what happens on a cellular level. The cell is extremely complex and I will only touch on the basics in these posts, but at least we can have a rudimentary understanding.

We have discussed cell membranes (May 23), as well as cell organelles (May 30). On June 6, we discussed the cellular transport mechanisms and on June 13 the cell nucleus. We discussed cell division on June 20 and today we end the series on the cell with a very short look at protein synthesis.

Although cells synthesize many chemicals to maintain homeostasis, they are mainly devoted to synthesizing large numbers of proteins. Proteins are used as enzymes and as structural materials in the cells. Many proteins are retained in the cell for intracellular use. Some proteins are used to assemble cellular structures such as the plasma membrane, the cytoskeleton and other organelles. There are many specialized human proteins that are exported and function in cellular activities. For example, protein makes up the hormone insulin, the ligaments and tendons of joints, the hair, skin, and nails of the body.

I often ask patients about their experiences with chronic diseases or devastating diagnoses. I recently had a conversation with one of them about her cancer diagnosis. We talked about her family's and friends' reactions when she told them and what they said that made her feel better or worse.

It seems that people who say things like: "Look on the bright side," or "There is a lesson in this," are no good to any patient. People who say that do not understand the enormity of the situation or do not stop and think how this might make the patient feel. When newly diagnosed cancer patients are not feeling optimistic or like they are learning something from the experience, words like these only add another negative feeling: guilt.

The patient that I talked to,as well as some of my friends, say there are things that helped. People who said: "This sucks. You do not deserve this," or "I will do...," and came up with a concrete plan for support, helped a lot. People who just listened and let the cancer patient rage and be sad and go through all the emotions they had, without judgment , helped the most.

Sometimes not saying anything and just being there is the best. What things that people said made you feel better?

I am a Licensed Practical Nurse with five years' experience in this profession. I believe it is essential to go back to the basics in all things in order to really understand them. I am fascinated by how our bodies work and I hope I can get my readers to share my fascination. I hope we all learn new things and marvel again at the things we already know. This feature -- which includes a closing section on how disease affects the topic in question -- will run on The Cancer Blog on Wednesdays, and The Cardio Blog and The Diabetes Blog on Thursdays. [The contents in this post are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.]

We start with the cell, because so much of what happens to us when we get sick, and how we get healthy again, can be explained by what happens on a cellular level. The cell is extremely complex and I will only touch on the basics in these posts, but at least we can have a rudimentary understanding.

We have discussed cell membranes (May 23), as well as cell organelles (May 30). On June 6, we discussed the cellular transport mechanisms and on June 13 the cell nucleus. As we near the end of this series on the cell, we get to one of the most interesting parts: cell division.

One of the features of a cell is it's ability to reproduce independently. In somatic cell division, a cell undergoes a nuclear division called mitosis. Reproductive cell division is the mechanism that produces gametes. This process consists of a two step division called meiosis.

In this post we will look at the process of mitosis. Each of us began life as one cell, a fertilized egg. Each of us now consists of billions of cells produced by the process of mitosis. In mitosis one cell with the diploid number of chromosomes (46, except in chromosomal abnormalities) divides into two identical daughter cells, each with the diploid number of chromosomes. Mitosis is a continuous process compromised of a series of events. This series of events are divided into different stages called: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis. Prior to these events interphase occurs, which is divided into 3 phases of its own.

Britain is trying to get it's citizens to quit smoking and is taking extreme measures to accomplish that. Recent reports state that in addition to a total ban on smoking in public places, smokers will not be allowed to adopt children under the age of five and will be refused surgery.

My first reaction was a hearty nod in agreement. Yes, it is proven that smoking can damage young lungs. By keeping young children out of homes where they will be exposed to tobacco, England will see a decline in asthma and allergies. It is also proven that smokers have a longer recovery time after surgery than non-smokers. Smokers are also susceptible to more infections after surgery, so waiting until someone has quit, before performing an operation, will save health care dollars.

Then I remembered the movie Demolition Man. It is a Sylvester Stallone movie about a cop who is cryogenically frozen, only to be woken up in 2032. Everything is very peaceful and lovely and the citizens are all happy. Or are they? The government tells them what to eat .Salt is bad. The government tells them how to procreate. Sex is bad. The government tells them what they can say. Swearing is bad. The government tells them what they can do with their own bodies. Smoking is bad. Oh, no, wait. That last one is the British government in 2007...

On May 10, I made a comment in my post about prostate cancer, about my dad's decision to not have testing done to find out if he has prostate cancer. It is hard for me to write about his decision, because I work in the health care field and I believe in modern medicine. I also believe, though, in the right of patients to make their own decisions, even if it is not a popular decision.

My father is 73. He has worked hard his whole life and has survived and overcome many difficulties. He has always been a fighter, and he has won many "battles." I just assumed that this would be another battle that he would meet head on. His decision to not even have further testing shocked me. He has his reasons, though. He feels that he has lived a full and satisfying life. He says that he does not want to go through a bunch of tests and possibly invasive procedures that might tell him something he already knows: He will die one day. He feels no symptoms and has decided that he will use measures against pain, should it come to that.

There are a lot of arguments here. A lot of things that could be said about quality of life and about survival rates. But he has made his decision. I found out that it is much easier for me to be supportive of someone when they make a decision that you yourself would have made. It is very hard to be supportive of a controversial decision. That is my job, though. My job as a nurse and as a daughter.

While we celebrate Father's day with gifts and cards that tell our dads how much they mean to us, they can do something for us. They can schedule their annual check ups and look at their lifestyles to make sure that they will be there for us next year.

Men tend to go to their doctors far less than women. They also tend to not schedule their annual tests as regularly as women. Tests like prostate exams are often skipped, because guys tend to think that they will go to the doctor if something is wrong. Prostate cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages and that's why yearly exams are so important.

Other tests like blood pressure tests, colonoscopies, blood and urine tests, as well as just seeing his doctor on a regular basis can save our fathers' lives. That is why, this father's day, amid the ties and tools and barbecues, we can take the time to remind our dads that there is something they can give us: The time to spend even more days like these with them. Will you have a conversation with your dad today about his gift to his family?

I am a Licensed Practical Nurse with five years' experience in this profession. I believe it is essential to go back to the basics in all things in order to really understand them. I am fascinated by how our bodies work and I hope I can get my readers to share my fascination. I hope we all learn new things and marvel again at the things we already know. This feature -- which includes a closing section on how disease affects the topic in question -- will run on The Cancer Blog on Wednesdays, and The Cardio Blog and The Diabetes Blog on Thursdays. [The contents in this post are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.]

We start with the cell, because so much of what happens to us when we get sick, and how we get healthy again, can be explained by what happens on a cellular level. The cell is extremely complex and I will only touch on the basics in these posts, but at least we can have a rudimentary understanding.

We have discussed cell membranes (May 23), as well as cell organelles (May 30). On June 6, we discussed the cellular transport mechanisms. Today we will look briefly at the cell nucleus. As with the other parts of the cell, this can be a short discussion or a series of articles in and of themselves. I have decided to stay very basic and not discuss each component separately.

With the exception of mature red blood cells, human cells have a nucleus and some, like skeletal muscle cells, have more than one. The nucleus is composed of three main parts, the nuclear envelope, the nucleolus and the chromatin.

The nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane (nuclear envelope) that have lipid bilayers like the plasma membrane. The outer membrane of the nuclear envelope is continuous with the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It controls the movement of substances between the nucleus and the cytoplasm through nuclear pores -- channels that perforate the nuclear envelope. Small molecules can diffuse through the nuclear pores, but larger molecules, like ribonucleic acid (RNA), need to use active transport facilitated by carrier proteins. The other structural element of the nucleus is the cellular lamina, a mesh-work that adds support, much like the cytoskeleton supports the cell as a whole.

In my Form and Function feature, I talked about the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cells. New research is focusing on the mitochondrial function and how that can help point the way to new treatments.

Mitochondria dysfunction when cancer is present, and until recently it was believed to be the result of the cancer. Dr. Michelakis, a professor in the University of Alberta Department of Medicine, researched whether the function could be restored. He found that the function of mitochondria could be restored by DCA, which restores a critical enzyme.

He found that when the mitochondrial function is restored, it resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth. Read more about this amazing discovery at the University of Alberta website. I am always so excited when I read about new discoveries and the research being done to try to cure cancer. I believe it can be done. It is just so sad though, when you read about this discovery and in the same article read about the fact that this researcher will have problems to secure funding, because DCA can not be patented. Wow, I hope the world is not really that brutal. I hope that he will get funding, because this is a promising development in the fight against cancer, and because it could cure cancer or at least give us new treatments. I hope.

I was at a Star Trek convention today (yes, I am a Trekkie) and while I had lots of fun with all the exhibits and activities, one ceremony stands out in my mind. The Klingon club had a ceremony giving rank increases out to members and such. At the end of the ceremony, they unveiled a flag for a new squadron -- in the name of one of their members that passed away last year from breast cancer.

The members of this club spoke lovingly about her and were very proud of all the work they put into the flag. To some people it may seem strange that they chose this way to remember her, but I think that it is wonderful that her friends will always have her memory honored in this way. Obviously this was something that was important in her life and something that she enjoyed doing. Remembering the people lost to cancer in a way that honors their lives is a great comfort to those left behind.

People have different ways to deal with their grief. Some get involved in fund raising to find a cure. Others get active in education and teaching people how to prevent the cancer that stole their loved one. Some people make sure to tell the life story of their friend or family member, so that they will never be forgotten. Others have a newly formed Klingon squadron that will march proudly in the name of a fallen comrade. How do you remember and honor your loved one?