Human Hormones

Prostate cancer gone for good…

The fight against cancer took another heartening turn recently. The research that caused a major fuss happened because of a treatment plan that took place for two men in the Mayo clinic, one of the most famous medical institutions in America. At this clinic two men were treated for prostate cancer, using a new and experimental drug. The results were astonishing; with both men reporting that they felt better much quicker than is usually expected after treatment.

Prostate cancer is the most common disease in American men. The possibility of having prostate cancer increases with age too. This means that one in four American males have prostate cancer, or the beginnings of it. While it is a terrible disease and one that can cause death, more men are likely to die with prostate cancer than from it. In fact, while thirty per cent of men can contract prostate cancer, only three per cent will die from it.

Prostate cancer starts slowly generally speaking, and then stays in the prostate gland until it becomes a problem for the male who is carrying it. However, some prostate cancers turn aggressive quickly, and unless treatment is in pace to alleviate the symptoms, can cause immediate and devastating suffering for the man who has developed it. The treatments that are available to the male who is suffering from prostate cancer include the removal of the prostate itself.

The two men at the Mayo clinic are quickly becoming part of history, however. The drug is called ipilimumab. The drug has been directly linked, after this study, to destroying a large number of cancerous cells. For both these men the diagnosis was not initially good, with the tumours developing so aggressively that they were moving past the prostate and into the abdominal area.

The drug worked so well it allowed an operation to take place, due to the sheer devastation it wreaked upon the cancerous cells.

The work is so inspiring because the doctors involved at the Mayo clinic expressed absolute amazement at the effect the drug had on the cancerous cells. One doctor asked for some tests to be done on the patients, and actually believed he was looking at the data from a completely different patient.

The whole incident has lead some medical professionals to talk of ‘the Holy Grail’ of cancer treatments. Whether it is or not, the effect of the drug for the two patients is proof enough that the science of medicine is one step closer to ridding the human race of the killer that is cancer. If the research continues, and more tests reveal that the men remain healthy, the end result will be that the drug actually removed the cancer form the bodies of the men, but to a degree that has never been witnessed before.

Further evidence has come to light that social interaction between females can have a massively positive effect. There has been recent news that has stated that women who spend a lot of time with other women tend to do a lot better as regards their stress levels and general emotional well being.

This is not exactly rocket science. Most people know that spending time with their friends makes them feel better. However, a more recent study has found more evidence that suggests that the link between social interaction between women and elevated moods is now stronger than ever before.

A study conducted between Penn and University of California research teams involved female baboons. These are actually quite affectionate creatures as it is, but the study showed that the close social interaction between females in a group did a lot more than just make each other happy, it actually promoted a longer life expectancy in their offspring.

There are direct fitness benefits then when female baboons interact. This is because, the study states, that interaction between female baboons causes a reduction in the levels of the hormone group called glucocorticoids. This particular group of hormones causes attacks on the immune system. When baboons meet up and socialise, the hormone is reduced, and therefore the immune system is strengthened.

The research teams found that the lower levels of this particular group of hormones allowed the female baboons to suffer from less stress than they would normally do. In other words, in potentially stressful situations, they didn’t suffer as much as they would have done in the past.

The leaders of the research groups said with considerable conviction that they have also seen a correlation in humans, particularly women. This all adds up to the general conclusions that being with your female friends means that you have a stronger immune system, and are therefore naturally healthier.