According to an article recently published
in the journal Nanomedicine, a laboratory
study at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, showed that 40% of
human skin cancer tumors disappeared using a compound based on green tea.
The compound, called epigallocatechin
gallate, is an extract from green tea
leaves. In the laboratory study, 40% of tumors disappeared after a month of
treatment, while an additional 30% of tumors shrank.
Previous attempts to take advantage
of the anti-cancer properties of green tea were based on IV drips, which didn’t
deliver a high enough concentration of the extract to the actual tumors. In the
Strathclyde study, a targeted delivery system was created, which piggybacked
the extract with proteins that contained iron molecules. Apparently, this was
the magic bullet.
Although clinical trials on humans
may be several years in the offing, Dr. Christine Dufes, a senior lecturer at
the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, and research
leader, had this to say, "This research could open doors to new treatments
for what is still one of the biggest killer diseases in many countries. With
the targeted delivery system, it's taken straight to the tumours without any
effect on normal tissue. When we used our method, the green tea extract reduced
the size of many of the tumours every day, in some cases removing them
altogether. These are very encouraging results, which we hope could pave the
way for new and effective cancer treatments.”
Here in Atlanta, skin cancer is fairly common. We get plenty of sun and people love to be out in it. Although there are various treatments for skin cancer, the best "treatment" is to avoid it in the first place through the use of high SPF creams and even cosmetics. Come into my plastic surgery office in Atlanta and get some of the best sunscreen available on the market. You'll enjoy excellent protection and, hopefully, avoid not just skin cancer but the aging effects of too much sun exposure as well!
To your health and wellness,
