Cancer Society

Personal Health Cancer With Built in Quandary Author: Karl Dorads

Cancer presents the patients with the most challenging times their life. They have to face the prospect of losing their life and at the same time, they have to take decisions regarding the treatment. Cancer has various stages. People who have cancerous cells before it starts spreading are faced with issues of personal health cancer with built in quandary. There may be multiple options to choose from and some of them may involve some sacrifices to personal health. Let us take the case of breast cancer in women to find out how a typical sequence of events plays out.

In breast cancer, there is a specific type of cancer called D.C.I.S. or Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. Majority of these cases are non-invasive. However some have the potential to become invasive in the future. A large number of such cases are being recorded as the screening process has improved which has resulted in an increase in the health cancer checkups. A number of women who are healthy get their breast X-ray so that any cancerous cells may be detected early. This situation presents a quandary for the doctors who now have to advise the women on the possible treatment options. The doctor has to first find out whether the cancer may actually turn out to be invasive by biopsying it. In this case, there are a number of possible treatment options and each of them has their own unique price to pay. This is what makes the situation of personal health cancer with built in quandary so difficult for the doctors. If there was default treatment option which does not come with any side effects, then the doctors are only happy to treat the cancer.

The patients also find themselves in a difficult situation. They have to take a decision regarding the type of treatment they want. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the best option is to go for mastectomy. This involves the removal of the breast with the cancerous cells so that they do not spread. This is a difficult option for some women and their family members. When D.C.I.S. is found in women, the choice becomes extremely difficult as there is only a slight chance the cancer will become invasive. The patient has to do extensive research and consult some other physicians to find out their opinions. The patient eventually has to come to a decision with full knowledge of the side effects. One advantage the patient has in this situation is absence of emergency. She can take her time and come to a decision after carefully weighing all the factors and outcomes to take decision regarding personal health care with built in quandary.

This situation can exist in all other types of cancer as well. The basic factor in personal health cancer with built in quandary is that the patient has to decide between personal health and other side effects when looking at treatment options. This can be largely mitigated only through careful analysis and study of the various factors. The eventual aim should be personal health as the health outcomes issues in cancer is the most important.

Know more about Mesothelioma through Mesothelioma Support Groups Author: Jeff Milton

Mesothelioma is a disease of rare type of cancer that affects cancerous cells in the sac of lining chest. abdominal cavity or around the heart. These areas are given medical terms called the pleura, the peritoneum and the pericardium and the lining around these organs is called the mesothelium. There are many mesothelioma treatment support groups around the world are working for the relief of patients suffering from the disease. They offer an important way to coordinate and discuss treatment options, physician references and ways to manage with the rigors of the treatment, to the millions of people suffering from mesothelioma.

These mesothelioma support groups help million mesothelioma patients and their families to obtain efficient information in different parts of the world. The support groups work with the needs of the patients in mind and attempt to educate the people about the different type of treatments available for mesothelioma disease, which is a rare cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure.

Many people in the World including US have been interested to join various support groups in their efforts to raise awareness of mesothelioma disease and its latest treatments. There are many interesting programs conducted by these support groups. These programs basically used to promote the contribution from people spread across the globe. They focus on providing improved therapeutic options, as well as economic aid to the people.

Nowadays many countries have mesothelioma support group to help, listen, advice and provide information on necessary treatments to people with mesothelioma. They also provide essential treatment to the mesothelioma patients. These mesothelioma support groups also work with physicians and scientists to obtain the latest research information on mesothelioma treatments.

Mesothelioma support groups at New Mesothelioma Treatments provide detail information on mesothelioma cancer disease in order to keep mesothelioma patients aware about this dangerous disease.

How Do I Avoid Pancreatic Cancer Author: Karl Dorads

Cancer is a condition which most people dread. There are certain types of cancer which respond very well to modern chemotherapy and have excellent chances of recovery. Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is not one of those cancers which is amenable to treatment. In most cases, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer comes very late, when the disease has already progressed and involved the surrounding organs. This makes prevention a very important part of keeping oneself healthy. This article discuses the answer to the question how can I avoid pancreatic cancer.

To understand how can I avoid pancreatic cancer, the first step is to understand the risk factors for this condition. There are many factors that are associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The most important links start with smoking. It has been observed that smoking cigarettes is a very important risk factor which contributes to increased risk of pancreatic cancer. You will want to kick the smoking habit to ensure protection not just against pancreatic but also lung and oral cancers. Being obese or overweight also contributes to an increased susceptibility to cancer of the pancreas. You should maintain the ideal weight for your age and height by embarking on a regular fitness program and sticking to a healthy diet. Diet may also play an importatn part as pancreatic cancer can be associated with diets which are rich in fats and meat.

Other factors which influence the answer to the question how can I avoid pancreatic cancer come from the family history. You have to check if your family has a positive history of pancreatic cancer. This might be among first or second degree relatives. There is also an influence of conditions like chronic pancreatitis. If you have a history of repeated attacks of inflammation of your pancreas, this increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer to a great extent. Some families have a predisposition to chronic pancreatitis and this factor must be looked into in detail. One risk factor for pancreatitis itself and indirectly affeting the risk of deveoping pancreatic cancer is alcohol intake. There is clinical evidence to prove that alcohol induced pancreatitis is positively correlated with a higher risk of developing pacreatic cancer.Alcohol intake is also associted with liver cirhosis which has been implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer. Family history of genetic syndromes that can increase cancer risk, including a BRCA2 gene mutation, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Lynch syndrome and familial atypical mole-malignant melanoma (FAMMM).

Age is another factor in the puzzling answer to what can I do to avoid pancreatic cancer. The older you are , the higher are your chances of developing the condition. But this is usually the case above to age of 70 years. The African – American population also has a higher chance of developing pancreatic cancer. The solution to this is to go in for regular check – ups to detect any abnormal cellular activity if you have any of the risk factors mentioned. This could be an annual health check up with special emphasis on cancer detection. Pancreatic cancer is also an risk in case you are diabetic, so you must consult you doctor about risk factors in your family that could combine with your diabetic condition to develop pancreatic cancer. There is also evidence pointing to the long term exposure to chemicals like gasoline and its related compounds which increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Some insecticides have also been implicated in this.

Melanoma Skin Cancer: Find Melanoma Where The Sun Don’t Shine Author: Diane Palmer

Melanoma skin cancer does not just form where you get the most sun. Many people think that they only need to check the areas of their skin that are regularly exposed to the sun.

While this is good practice, don’t ignore the rest of your body. My brother found his melanoma growth on his upper thigh, and he has never worn shorts in his life. He always kept check on his arms, legs, face etc, but when a cut that wouldn’t heal showed up on his inner thigh, he didn’t think it could possibly be melanoma skin cancer, because he had never got any sun there.

So, when you are giving your body the “once over” check… don’t ignore the skin that is always covered, and check places like your underarms, thighs, etc, and get someone to check the backs of your legs and your back and neck, and scalp.

We all have moles, or birth marks, or scars, that make us unique, it doesn’t mean it is cancer, what you are looking for is changes. Most moles stay the same shape, but if they start getting larger, form weird edges, or bleed, itch or scab up, then it doesn’t hurt to get it checked out. This goes for any cut that does not heal, or forms a scab that keeps falling off, which is what my brother had. He did not have one mole on his body.

Melanoma skin cancer, has a very high rate of cure if caught early. You need to get familiar with your body, so that you can let your doctor know. It is up to you to find these changes, so don’t forget to look past your arms and back and face..

A guide to best anxiety drugs! Author: harry

Many treatments for anxiety drugs are available in the market but not all treatments are effective and no one method can fit all. Therefore to know which treatment is good for your health, you should consult your doctor. He will tell you the best anxiety drug after examining your condition thoroughly. Lets discuss some of the best anxiety drug which can cure anxiety successfully.

Benzodiazepines- These drugs are effective in treating panic attacks and phobia behavior. Some of the drugs belonging to this class include alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and lonazepam (Klonopin). These are also known as fast acting anxiety medications. However according to the experiences of different people, the withdrawal symptoms are bound to attack once you stop using the medication. These are also accompanied with other side effects like confusion and memory problems in elders.

Anti depressants- Among anti depressants, Tricyclic antidepressant, imipramine (Tofranil) is considered to be the best treatment for anxiety. Some of the other cyclic drugs include Anafranil (clomipramine), Norpramin (desipramine) and Pamelor (nortryptyline). The disadvantage of Tricyclic drugs is that they sometimes produce cardiac effects like heart palpitations and dizziness accompanied with sedation and weight gain. This class of drugs is slower than benzodiazepines and is often prescribed with benzodiazepines only during initial stages of anxiety disorder.

The second Tricyclic drug that is effective in treating anxiety is MAOI. They are meant to be highly effective in treating social phobia and panic disorder. But these also pose ill effects onto your health. Doctors advised people taking MOAI to take restricted diet because they contain tyramine which is generally present in certain foods. You can also employ SSRI drugs which includes Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil (paroxetine)

Azapirones- The drug under azipirones is buspirone which is sold under the brand name of BuSpar. This drug can be used to treat different types of anxiety disorders. Buspirones are also slower in acting than benzodiazepines. So if you want your anxiety to get removed quickly then going for benzodiazepines is the best option.

These are some of the best anxiety drugs which can prove helpful in treating your anxiety disorder. But before taking any drug, consult your doctor and know about the side effects and positive effects of each method so that you can employ one suiting your body and circumstances in life. Further the dosage of each drug should be carefully known from the doctor to avoid any adverse effects.

The Lowdown on Skin Cancer Author: Tisha Kulak Tolar

Skin is our largest organ and one that is not immune to developing cancerous cells. Skin cancer develops when damaged cells start growing and dividing uncontrollably in the skin. This form of cancer is the most prevalent with more than one million cases in the United States diagnosed each year. Here we will cover some of the commonly asked questions about skin cancer.

What Are The Different Forms of Skin Cancer?

There are different types of skin cancer with three forms accounting for almost all of the diagnosed cases. They are:

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)- Accounting for nearly 80% of skin cancer, BCC develops in the basal cells which are located in the lowest layer of the epidermis. It is commonly found on areas of the body regularly exposed to the sun such as your face, head and upper body. Signs of BCC include skin that appears as a sore that repeatedly heals and re-opens, a slightly elevated pink growth, patch of irritated skin that is red in color and/or shiny translucent skin. This type of cancer does not commonly spread but should be treated to protect surrounding tissue.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)- Found in the uppermost layers of the epidermis, SCC cancer affects squamous cells. Long term exposure to the sun can result in this form of cancer in middle to elderly aged individuals. The skin may appear to have an inflamed base with a crusty or scaly area over the base. While this cancer is most commonly found on areas of the body exposed to the sun, it can be found anywhere. Early detection and treatment can prevent this form of cancer from spreading.

Melanoma- The most dangerous and lethal form of skin cancer, this form accounts for only 4% of diagnosed cases. Melanoma readily spreads to other areas of your body such as your lymph system or other internal organs. Most commonly found in moles either pre-existing or new, melanoma has a 95% cure rate if caught in time for treatment. It is important that you are aware of any moles on your body and what they look like so you can spot changes in existing moles or the appearance of new moles. Undetected and untreated, melanoma becomes very difficult to treat and can result in death.

Who Gets Skin Cancer?

To be quite honest, anyone can get skin cancer. There are however certain individuals who are at a higher risk than others. The following factors play a role in the likelihood of developing skin cancer:

Individuals who are fair-skinned or burn easily.
People who use tanning devices.
Genetics or family history of the disease.
Certain occupational exposures, i.e. coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic or radium.
Excessive exposure to UV radiation.

Exposure to the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer which makes protecting your skin from sun exposure vitally important.

Can You Prevent Skin Cancer?

Yes, you can take precautions that lower your risk of developing skin cancer. Take all effort to reduce your exposure to sun and other controllable risk factors. This includes wearing SPF 15 or higher sunscreen everyday in addition to sunglasses and brimmed hats to shield your face from the sun. If at all possible avoid exposing your skin to sunlight during the peak of the day (10am-4pm) and give up tanning beds as they can also damage your skin.

For more information on skin cancer you can visit the American Cancer Society or National Cancer Institute.

A New Way of Killing Cancer Cell Found by British Researchers Author: Eban Potter

In the latest Journal of Clinical Investigation, British researchers released their new research result that antibody can kill cancer cell directly without human immune system, which would help to develop a new treatment for cancer.

Antibody can be used in cancer treatment. The basic principle is, combining with antibody, it will be easier for human immune system to identify cancer cells and then kill them.

University of Southampton declared in its press communique on July 21, a joint research team with University of Manchester found some antibodies could kill cancer cell directly bypassing human immune system. While those antibodies combining with cancer cells, the lysosome in cancer cell will burst and release toxic substance, which will kill cancer cell finally.

The researchers said that, the result would be helpful to develop an effective way of killing cancer cell, to treat those incurable cancers within traditional chemotherapy.

Several months ago, a research made by University College London indicated that, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could carry a kind of protein, named tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing trail, to find accurately and kill several kinds of cancer cell, including lung cancer, SCC, breast cancer and carcinoma of cervix. During this process, normal cells will not be influenced. The experiment had been carried out on laboratory mice, and the researchers expected to try out on human bodies in 2 or 3 years.

Although new progress has being made, we still have a long way to fight against cancer. It is popular in the youth that wearing silicone wristbands with messages like live strong, be brave and Never give up to encourage those people suffering cancer and convey the best wishes to them. Also, custom silicone wristbands are used by some charity organizations to raise money for charitable causes. To associate with people as many as possible, we could do more for cancer patients and call people all around world to fight cancer together.

Choline Author: Karl Dorads

There is a lot of excitement over the discovery of potential links between choline an essential nutrient and breast cancer. Recent studies have raised hopes that an adequate intake of choline on a daily basis can reduce breast cancer risk by as much as 24%. This article will look at choline and how it actually makes a difference.

There have been a lot of articles in the press lately regarding the benefits of choline for women in terms of breast cancer prevention. The nutrient choline has been linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk in initial clinical trials and seems to be a promising candidate in the battle against breast cancer. Let us go through the link between choline & breast cancer.

Choline is not a part of the Vitamin B family right now, but it has a chemical structure which is very similar to others in the family and is usually mentioned with them in most manuals of biochemistry. The mechanism by which choline produces its effects in the body is not fully known and research on this is still in its nascent stage. This chemical entity interacts with folate and methionine in the body to produce most of its actions. Choline can be produced in the body and is available through dietary sources as well. The interest in the link between choline & breast cancer is because choline serves various functions in the human body. For example it is an important component of cell membranes, it plays a role in protecting the livers from accumulating fat and has an important role as the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The human body can produce small amounts of choline, but it must be a part of the diet to maintain health. In the human body, choline is found in molecules called phospholipids. The most common phospholipid which choline associates with is lecithin. These phospholipids of which choline are components of the cell membranes as mentioned before.

Several studies link an adequate intake of choline to a reduction in breast cancer risk. In 2003, a Harvard University study indicated that subjects who consumed more eggs which are one of the richest source of choline , vegetable fat, and fiber than the average girl during adolescence had a smaller risk of developing breast cancer as adults. Eating one egg per day was associated with an 18 percent reduction in risk . A recent study has again shown that choline is associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, according to a study supported by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. This study only adds to the growing body of evidence from research that links egg consumption to a decreased risk of breast cancer. This study has provided solid evidence linking choline & breast cancer. As of now just ten percent of Americans currently meet the recommended intake for choline.

According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended choline intake is 550 milligrams per day for men and breastfeeding women, 425 milligrams per day for women, and 450 milligrams per day for pregnant women. One egg contains 125.5 milligrams of choline, or roughly a quarter the recommended daily supply. This makes eggs an excellent source of choline, a valuable nutrient. Choline is found exclusively in the egg’s yolk. Other good food sources of choline include liver, wheat germ and cauliflower.

Mesothelioma Treatments-What are your options? Author: Bello kamorudeen

There are several options available for the treatment of mesothelioma. The most recommended forms of treatment are: a} Surgery b} Chemotherapy c} Radiotherapy. There are however other less popular, less commonly used forms of treatments, these include gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and others.

Some of these other forms of treatment are still in the stage of experimental and clinical trials usage.

The cancer is usually treated by the use of combination therapies involving the use of more than one type of therapy. Most times, surgery is used to remove as much of the tumor as possible and this is followed with chemotherapy and or radiotherapy to kill the remaining cancer cells. This particular combination of surgery and chemotherapy with radiotherapy is one of the commonest forms of therapy adopted for treatment.

Alternative therapies are also sometimes used in combination with the traditional treatment options. Many victims seek to add alternative therapies like TENS therapy, acupuncture, or massage to their treatment.

When you or your loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will have work with your doctor to choose the best treatment plan for you. To make the right choice, you have to know all the options available to you. Having a good knowledge of your chosen treatment option often helps you{the victim} and your family cope and cooperate better with the treatment.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is notoriously resistant to most forms of treatment. Most of the presently available forms of treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy only offer palliative relief and not a cure.

Many scientific studies and clinical trials have tried find a cure for mesothelioma, but all have failed to come up with a cure. Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer, attracting the necessary funding for the research to find a cure has been difficult, but recently as result increased public awareness about the disease, more people and specific interest groups are beginning to show more interest in supporting research for mesothelioma cure. Once good funding is available for research, the hope for a cure will become a tangible reality in the not too distant future.

Treatment Options

1-Surgery

There are three main types of surgical treatments for mesothelioma: a}diagnostic surgery b}curative surgery c}palliative surgery. Some types of surgeries fall into more than one category.

Thorancentesis{removal of fluid from the pleural space}which may be a diagnostic procedure may also be used as a form of palliative treatment to provide symptomatic relief.

Curative surgery is aimed at removing if possible all cancerous cells from the body. Curative surgery is only recommended for the early stages of the cancer, that is stage 1 and stage 2.Unfortunately however mesothelioma is not usually diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage that is stage 3 and stage 4, when curative surgery is no longer relevant.

2-Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an effective treatment option but it has a lot of side effects. Chemotherapy involves the use of anticancer drugs which are usually given intravenously. Examples of such drugs are Alimta and Cisplatin. Anti cancer drugs target and kill cancer cells by inhibiting their rapid and haphazard multiplication and division. These drugs are however not specific in their mode of action and they end up killing some normally dividing healthy cells causing most of their unpleasant side effects associated with use of anti cancer drugs. Newer chemotherapy drugs are generally more effective than the older drugs. A new form of chemotherapy called heated chemotherapy which involves the perfusion of heated chemotherapy drugs into the peritoneum following surgery is used for the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.

3-Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy or radiation therapy is the use of high energy rays to kill the cancer cells. This form of therapy is usually used in combination with surgery. Radiotherapy may also be used as a sole therapy to relieve pain and some other symptoms associated with mesothelioma. Radiotherapy generally gives short term symptomatic relief. There are two types of radiotherapy therapies:

a-External beam radiation which is the commoner type in which radiation beam is directed unto the affected area of the body from an external source.

b-Brachytherapy or internal radiotherapy; This is a newer type of radiotherapy in which tiny radioactive rods are implanted into the tumor area of the body to provide a strong concentrated dose of radiation to the tumor while doing very little damage to the surrounding normal healthy tissues.

4-Photodynamic Therapy

This is a form of highly specialized and specific form of treatment that uses light energy to kill cancer cells, it is used to treat skin cancers, some types of lung cancers, and pleural mesothelioma. This form of treatment is however not suitable for patients with metastasized cancers, it is most effective in patients with localized form of mesothelioma. Photodynamic therapy involves giving the patient an intravenous solution of a medication that makes the cancer cells highly sensitive to a particular kind of light. One to two days after their treatment, the patient is exposed to light, and the cancer cells that have absorbed the medications are killed.

Breast Cancer Diet Tips Author: Kirsten Whittaker

It’s true, women who survive breast cancer and load up on nutritious fruits and veggies as part of a breast cancer diet (a whole lot more than the current U.S. dietary guidelines) might just slash their risk of a tumor recurring by nearly one third. This according to a just released U.S. study to appear in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The researchers took another look at data from almost 3,000 breast cancer patients (average age 53) who were part of research that focused on diet and preventing breast cancer recurrence.

Half the participants were told to double their fruit and veggie intake to 10 servings per day, eat more fiber and lower their daily fat intake to levels under the government recommendations, a type of healthy eating that’s been shown to lower the risks of developing breast cancer in the first place.

The other group was merely given information about the U.S. food guidelines.

An important distinction of this latest study was that it found the reduced risk of tumor recurrence came only for women who didn’t have hot flashes (a common side effect) after their cancer treatment. Women who did cope with hot flashes after treatment were found to have lower estrogen levels.

“Women with early stage breast cancer who have hot flashes have better survival and lower recurrence rates than women who don’t,” said Ellen Gold of the University of California Davis, who was a leader of the research. Earlier work supports the theory regarding hot flashes and rates of tumor returns.

Researchers noted that vegetables and fruits act on suppressing estrogen (suspected in driving the most common form of breast cancer). They point to individual levels of the hormone as a possible explanation for inconsistent study results regarding fruits and veggies and reduction in recurrence of breast cancer tumors – some studies said they helped, others showed they didn’t. It may be that differing estrogen levels in the individual that offers another clue to this discrepancy.

The team found that only 16% of subjects, without hot flashes, who had doubled up on the fruits and veggies had their tumors return after a seven year period.

Of those given only diet advice and information on guidelines, the tumors returned in 23% of the subjects. Women who had been through menopause lowered their risk by a whopping 47%.

The amount or fruits or vegetables you need to eat per day is well over what the U.S. recommended daily allowance of 2 cups of fruits or 2½ cups of veggies. You’ll want to choose a variety of these healthy options, and look for foods grown as close to home as possible.

Be sure that when you bring these good-for-you treats home, you wash them well (with warm, soapy water), rinse and dry them carefully to remove pesticides, herbicides or mold.

Breast cancer is the most common condition, affecting women in both North America and Europe, and it is the second leading cause of death, after lung cancer, of American women.

Your lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is estimated to be 1 in 8, but thanks to today’s treatment and detection options, your chance of dying from breast cancer is much lower at 1 in 28.

Now, with this research revealing useful breast cancer diet tips, even these numbers can be improved with the addition of a whole lot of good-for-you fruits and tasty veggies!