It Is With Our Deepest Sorrow To Announce The Death Of Our Beloved Scientist Johan Van Dongen

 

The late microsurgeon and scientist, Johan van Dongen

With deep sorrow, the family of Dutch scientist and microsurgeon Johan van Dongen, together with the writers of the renowned health blog Secrets of HIV and Ebola Facts Journal, announce the passing of a beloved husband, father, colleague, and friend whose life left an unforgettable mark on all who knew him.

 

After more than two years of courageously battling cancer, Professor van Dongen passed away on June 20th at the Hospice in Mechelen. His departure has brought immense grief to his family, close friends, and the global community that valued his work and integrity.

 

We have lost a remarkable man, one whose unwavering love for humanity made him a fearless voice in a scientific world often clouded by corruption and silence. He lived by the truth, suffered for the truth, and ultimately held onto the truth until his final breath.

 

For this, he will forever be remembered by the friends, readers, and supporters who cherished his research and admired his courage. Though he is no longer with us, his place will never remain empty. 

We will continue the mission he began: to provide honest, evidence-based health information in honor of his memory and legacy. His wish for us to carry on this important work will guide us until the day we, too, find eternal rest.

 

To our readers around the world, we extend heartfelt gratitude for your support, which has helped make this blog a unique and respected platform. Below is the full biography of the man whose vision helped shape it.

 

Professor Johan van Dongen was born on May 15, 1946, in the southern part of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on one of the coldest days of that season. He grew up in a hardworking family; his father earned a living as a salesman dealing in second-hand clothing.

 

Gifted with skill and determination from a young age, Johan was appointed chief of a poultry and butchery shop at just seventeen, a position he held for four years. His exceptional abilities impressed his employer, who encouraged him to pursue a career in surgery, a suggestion that would shape the rest of his life.

 

In 1969, at the age of 23, Johan became a laboratory animal keeper in the Department of General Surgery at Dijkzigt Hospital in Rotterdam, part of Erasmus University. His background in butchery and his deep understanding of animal anatomy made him an invaluable asset to the department.

 

From 1969 to 1976, he pursued formal studies in laboratory animal keeping and animal technology at the University of Leiden, graduating in 1973. Simultaneously, from 1972 to 1976, he studied experimental microsurgery at Erasmus University Rotterdam, completing his training in May 1976.

 

Professor van Dongen later served as a lecturer at Maastricht University, where he contributed to the training of future scientists and medical professionals.

 

After his retirement, he continued to inspire others, and it was during this period that he helped conceive the idea for the health blog that would become his lasting digital legacy. Professor Johan van Dongen was 75 years old.

THE MAN WITH A FACE TUMOR - HE WAS REJECTED IN AFRICA AND HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED IN ITALY

Kambou before and after the first surgical operation. His Italian surgeon planned for another surgery.

He has a sad story, which is often familiar in Africa when plagued by poverty, handicap, or being born with a defect. He is an Ivorian called Kambou Sie, with a nickname, 'Prosper.' 

As a normal boy, at the age of 11, Kambou had a rare form of facial cancer that severely disfigured his face. The cancer tumor rapidly spread and literally engulfed his face, devastating his features. 


The poor father couldn't afford the medical cost, and the mother, devastated by the condition of her son, at some point, decides to abandon him to his destiny. 


"When the disease got worse, everyone left me. My father was the only one looking at me," the young man said. In his first years of life, Kambou, therefore, found himself only with his father, with an enormous physical and aesthetic ailment. 

The tumor advanced, and his face was completely disfigured. The cheeks grew abnormally, as well as the gums, and the ability to open the eyes was severely impaired. Almost his entire face had been covered by the growth of the tumor.

He could barely breathe as a result of the gigantic size of the tumor, which was treated with ointments. He was shunned by the community and considered the fruit of a divine curse.

At the age of 17, Kambou Prosper Sie found a modicum of hope. The father contacted the Liliane Foundation through a nun, a charity specializing in the care of disabled children in developing countries.

And, in turn, an association, known as 'Una voce per Padre Pio,' meaning the 'Voice of Father Pio,' which provides social and medical assistance in the Ivory Coast, made a video appeal for help, and he found one.

That paved the way for Kambou to travel to Naples, Italy, to undergo a surgical operation, removing a certain number of tumors to reduce the size of the tumor. Doctors made it clear that the tumor was a very rare, deadly form of cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma. 

The diagnosis was made at Pascale Hospital in Naples, where tissue samples were removed from Kambou's face to establish the cause of the disease for appropriate treatment. 

The hematologist Ferdinando Frigeri said that the young man's tumor was growing more slowly than many people with a similar disease. He received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and stem cell replacement therapy to reduce the tumor. 

Last summer, the boy also dared to show the progress of his treatment on TV, with a face that is gradually recovering, albeit with difficulty and slowly, given the rare disease against which he fights and his traits.

Kambou instantly became a celebrity, and his condition invited him to the Vatican City to see Pope Francis. After the successful surgery, Kambou went back to his native country, and when the people saw him, they couldn't believe how his condition had improved.

According to Vincenzo, "After the first therapies, Prosper lost seven kilos due to the side effects, but he has strength and will to live on because he knows that this cure is the only hope for his healing." 

He hopes to hug his mother again, Prosper. Now, the boy is in the room of Hematology, the division directed by Antonello Pinto al Pascale. Eat a puff pastry. He feels a bit Neapolitan, and Pascale's doctors have almost adopted him.


The man who was considered to be cursed and shunned by the community became a center of admiration, as he was hugged by the people who had previously lost interest in him. Plans are underway for him to have his second surgery.

The original story in Italian appeared on Fanpage. It newspaper

A PLATE OF CANCER FIGHTING FOOD

Certain foods that help to fight cancer

Article originally published in Health Mind Bodies.

With today’s way of life, people are more likely to suffer from obesity and be exposed to various diseases or contract some forms of cancer. On the other hand, modern-day medicine has evolved such that people can rely on the latest drugs or devices to treat cancer.

When it comes to treating cancer, prevention and detection are probably the best ways to nip it in its bud. Thus, we should always go for regular health screenings to detect cancer in its early stages and isolate it early. 

On the other hand, we also try to prevent or delay contracting cancer as far as possible by consuming healthy foods, which we have compiled a list of for you. (Do not replace this list with your regular health checkup.)

1.    Cauliflower

Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a compound that has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. Sulforaphane is released when cauliflower is broken down, so focus on chewing it before swallowing. This compound seeks and destroys certain cancer cells without harming the healthy cells.

There are plenty of recipes available online on how you can add cauliflower to your meals. Cauliflower and broccoli have similar effects, so add broccoli to your list of foods too.

2.    Carrots

Even though carrots are mainly thought to be good for one’s eyesight, researches from the last ten years suggest that they are also good against some types of cancer, one of which is prostate cancer.

A study was done on mice that were fed an increased carrot intake, and the study showed that carrots could stop the growth of prostate cancer. Carrot has many other health benefits too; there is no reason not to eat them!

3.    Avocados

Not many people are fans of this fruit, but avocados as a food are so beneficial, they are almost a must-have item in your kitchen. Avocados have an abundance of nutrients, mostly antioxidants, which have been proven to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer.

Avocados also have a high amount of healthy monounsaturated fat. This is a high-fat fruit, which is definitely interesting, considering how most of the other fruits are very low in fat or even fat-free, and avocados can actually help you lose weight and not the reverse.

As a food, they are very versatile. You can make guacamole out of it, add slices to a sandwich, or mix it with other fruits to create a juice or smoothie.

4.    Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the best natural cancer fighters against many types of cancer. Colon and bladder cancer are among the top two cancers that can be treated or even prevented when eating broccoli. Find it in whichever form you can, be it fresh, frozen, or pre-cooked, it will still retain most of its nutritional value!

The high fibre levels in broccoli can also help with your digestion, so broccoli is a vegetable that is beneficial for your health to eat often.

5.    Tomatoes

Tomatoes are healthy and tasty at the same time. Cooked tomatoes help your body release more lycopene, a specific phytochemical that provides cancer-fighting benefits. 

Tomatoes also provide you with lots of antioxidants for your body, and are known to be useful in treating or preventing prostate cancer.

There are many ways to eat tomatoes; they can be eaten raw or cooked with dishes, or blended to make juice as well.

THE EVIL SIDE OF CANCER

Cancer is a threat to both men and women.

When Jill Ireland was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in 1990, after a six-year battle with the disease, I felt the impact in a very hard way, since her husband, Charles Bronson, was one of my favorite film stars.

In an article captioned "Why Me?", Charles Bronson shows his grief, anguish, and sadness after his lovely wife succumbed to the disease. 

I felt exactly like the great film star, mourning the death of his wife, without a slight knowledge that one day, cancer would crawl into my family.

Late this year, the one I love most was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the tumor was removed. I am aware of Akua's gorgeousness and beauty. 

Her long, black, silky, beautiful hair and her attractive, wonderful smile. Day by day, I saw what the disease did to her, robbing her of beauty, joy, hair, and attractiveness and rendering her powerless.

However, in every situation, I will always love you, Akua. I will always be around to support you. My faith is to see you healthy and beautiful once again after this terrible ordeal. How I wish I could fight cancer physically. 

I really hate cancer. Please leave people alone and go back to wherever you came from.

CIGARETTE SMOKING: A FASHION FOR TEENAGERS?

31 May: No Tobacco Day


Thousands of people today, including teenagers, are heavy smokers due to various reasons such as nervousness, pressure, frustration, and stress. 


Smoking has claimed and continues to claim thousands of lives yearly, that it become an urgent issue to the World Health Organization (WHO) to institute a "No Tobacco Day" on May 31, 1987, to discourage and eradicate cigarette smoking.

Despite the warning on cigarette boxes, smokers choose to satisfy their desire unconcerned. The cigarette has been known to contain eighteen different poisons. 

The two most destructive are tar, a carcinogenic or cancer-producing substance, and nicotine. Some of these attack the delicate membranes of the windpipes, and those that find themselves in the bloodstream interfere with its normal circulation.

It's now like a fashion to see teenagers between the ages of 10 and 15 holding cigarettes at hideouts or in public places. It's like a competition. When you ask any teenager the reason for smoking, they smile away. 

Those capable of giving you an answer say, "They called you a baby when you didn't join the group". Tobacco smoking is said to cause many ailments as emphysema, tuberculosis, night sweats, chest pains, wheezing, loss of weight, cancer, and complications in pregnancy.

Since the campaign against smoking began, the WHO has introduced many measures to prevent smoking in buses, airplanes, trains, restaurants, and other public places. But many see this campaign against smoking as a bother or nuisance. 

They only realize the mistakes they had made when a disease is diagnosed. Cigarette smoking is not an expensive luxury but a slow, silent murderer.

A person who gives up smoking does something worthwhile for their health. But many smokers have a real battle to conquer when it comes to stopping the habit. Here are a few recommended steps to refrain from smoking. 

Staying away from other smokers as much as possible will reduce the temptation to smoke and strengthen your resolve not to start again. 

Instead of smoking, a heavy smoker should rather become a vigorous campaigner against the use of tobacco in any form. This may change the attitude of friends toward smoking.

Taking plenty of exercise, including deep breathing and long walks in the open air daily, will clean the lungs and improve one's sense of well-being. 

Eating regularly and not attempting to lose weight will gradually break the tobacco habit. A smoker who wants to quit must avoid highly seasoned foods, alcohol, tea, and coffee. These can easily influence one to crave smoking.

Drinking enough water, at least ten glasses a day, helps to reduce the craving for tobacco. Many may not believe this, but try and see that prayer is the answer to many problems. The power of Jesus is stronger than the hurricane. It is the same power that can change your life.

If you can try all or of these recommendations, you will see yourself as a different person. After your bitter experience in the dark, there is a bright light waiting for you at the end of the tunnel.