Mesothelioma Cancer: Understanding It
Posted on: July 20th, 2008People who have mesothelioma are usually treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery. (See: mesothelioma lawyer)
These are typically used in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation after a surgical procedure. If the cancer is detected before it has spread to other parts of the body, surgery is usually an option.
Chemotherapy is a treatment that attacks mesothelioma by killing the afflicted cells. The drawback of using chemotherapy to fight mesothelioma is that it kills healthy cells along with affected cells, and the side effects people encounter with chemotherapy is often debilitating. There are new chemotherapy drugs available that show much more promise than the older drugs that didn’t have much of a positive effect.
To keep mesothelioma from spreading, radiation may be used. It’s most often used after surgery, though in some instances, it is employed as a stand-alone treatment in order to relieve pain. Rarely does radiation give patients anything other than short-term relief from their symptoms.
Mesothelioma Symptoms Are Difficult To Diagnose
Posted on: June 24th, 2008There are 3 main forms of mesothelioma cancer; pleural, peritoneal, and pericardium. Where does the name mesothelioma come from ? It is named so because of the fact that this deadly cancer attacks the lining of most of our organs, the mesothelium.
Mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pains. Sounds like lung cancer, heart failure, or bronchitis, right ? It is these symptoms that make it quite difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma.
If you were exposed to asbestos in the construction industry about 30 years ago and you are experiencing these symptoms then it is likely that you have developed this deadly disease. It is mostly men who are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Skin Cancer Risks - Light-colored Skin and Too Much Sun
Posted on: June 14th, 2008Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. Each year, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than with all other types of cancers combined. But not all skin cancers are alike. Here’s a guide to the three most common types.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
By far the most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Each year, at least 800,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with this type of skin cancer. Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma is rarely serious. It spreads slowly, and it is curable in about 95 percent of all cases. It’s important to detect it early, though, for the best treatment results.
Basal Cell Skin Cancer is found most often in light-skinned people, and overexposure to the sun is an important risk factor for this type of cancer. Other risk factors include exposure to arsenic or radiation or complications affecting scars, burns, or tattoos.
Doctor can treat basal cell carcinoma in a variety of ways depending on where it is on the body and how deep it’s spread. Some superficial basal cell carcinomas are treated with topical chemotherapy - medicines that are applied to the skin to kill the cancer cells. Others are treated by cryosurgery, which involves freezing the cancer with liquid nitrogen to destroy it. Still others are treated by minor surgical procedures, many of which can be performed right in the dermatologist’s office. Basal cell carcinomas that are located on the face, lips, or scalp and those that have come back after treatment may be treated with laser surgery.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. About 200,000 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. Like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma is usually curable.
Squamous cell carcinoma is most often found in light-skinned people, especially those who have had much exposure to the sun. It usually develops in areas exposed to the sun, but it can also develop in scars or skin ulcers at any location on the body.
One group of people at especially high risk for squamous cell carcinoma is organ transplant recipients. People who have had organ transplants have to take medicines that suppress their immune systems so that their bodies won’t reject the transplanted organ. These medicines increase susceptibility to squamous cell carcinoma.
Doctors treat squamous cell carcinomas in a variety of different ways. Superficial cancers on the skin’s surface may be treated with topical drugs or cryosurgery (freezing with liquid nitrogen). Deeper or more extensive cancers may be treated surgically. Large squamous cell carcinomas, or those located in difficult-to-treat areas such as the eyelids, nose, or ears, are sometimes treated with radiation therapy.
Melanoma
Over 60,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma in the U.S. alone. This type of cancer, which affects the melanocytes (cells in the skin that produce the dark pigment melanin) is a more serious matter than basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma because it can spread rapidly. And if it spreads, it can be fatal. Melanomas that are detected early are more than 90 percent curable. But melanomas that are detected late may be deadly.
Having light-colored skin and being exposed to the sun arerisk factors for melanoma. Both long-term overexposure to the sun and occasional severe sunburns are believed to increase melanoma risk. Melanoma sometimes runs in families, and some cases have a genetic component. Suppression of the immune system by drugs or disease increases the risk of melanoma.
When patients are diagnosed with early-stage melanoma (melanoma that has not spread to other parts of their bodies), the highest priority in melanoma treatment is to remove all of the melanoma cells. This usually means surgery to remove both the melanoma and an area of the surrounding skin, to make sure that all of the cancer is gone. In most instances, if the melanoma was detected soon enough, this type of surgery will cure it.
If melanoma has spread to other parts of the body it is more than likely not possible to cure the disease. Instead, patients receive various kinds of palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve their quality of life. This may involve surgery, but the surgery will not cure the widespread disease. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy may also be used to help control symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms Of Skin Cancer
Posted on: June 6th, 2008Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and yet is the most preventable of all cancers. It can hit anyone and builds upon childhood. More than half of all the sun exposure someone has in their lifetime is typically done before 20 years of age.
Therefore, it is so significant to learn the signs of skin cancer early and start excellent sun protection habits early in life. Sunscreen of 15 spf or higher should be used at all times, generous reapplications of the sunscreen is important, wearing a hat and sunglasses can help, but avoiding the sun from 10 am to 4 pm is best.
Skin cancer can grow slow-paced or rapidly, so premature detection is key. A family history can indicate if someone is more prone to the most serious form of skin cancer called Melanoma. This form can be life threatening if not treated early. Non-melanoma skin cancer is less dangerous but still can be avoided. Someone can also get skin cancer if they are exposed to coal tar, pitch, creosote, or arsenic compounds and radium. Existing moles should be closely watched for changes in size and color. New growths that are darkly pigmented, have a bump or nodule, have oozing, bleeding or scaling should be looked at immediately by a doctor.
Sun Damage And Skin Cancer Avoidance
Posted on: June 4th, 2008While the baby oil beach days may have felt amazing and your neighbor states that it’s a good idea to visit the tanning booth before going on vacation in Maui, sun damage is no joke. Unprotected sun exposure leads to lines and wrinkles, age spots, dryness, skin discoloration and possibly even cancer. Over time, the UV rays from the sun destroy our skin’s elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin will begin to sag, stretch and lose elasticity. The next thing you know, you’re barely 40 and getting face lifts, collagen injections and wrinkle treatments to heal your damaged skin. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true when it comes to sensible skin solutions.
Sun damage isn’t just manifested in sunburns or blisters. There are other effects that are more subtle but just as dangerous in the long run. For instance, deep wrinkles, dryness, freckles, mottled pigmentation and skin transparency are a few symptoms of sun damage. A yellow discoloration, known as “sallowness”, Telagiectasias, known as the dilation of small blood vessels beneath the skin, or Elastosis, known as the damaging of the elastic tissue that causes lines and wrinkles are telltale signs that skin solutions should be sought. Worst case scenario, pre-cancerous lesions appear as a result of the skin’s diminished immune function, which may also lead to full-blown cancer.
Though breast cancer and lung cancer get all the media publicity, skin cancer caused by sun damage is the most predominant. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Ninety-five percent of all skin cancers are the basal cell and squamous cell types. Luckily, they are less serious and are very treatable if detected early. Seventy-five percent of all skin cancer deaths are a result of melanoma, which occurs when abnormal pigment cells (melanocytes) grow uncontrollably. What may start as skin cancer can spread to other organs and manifest itself as all sorts of cancerous mutations.
Researchers indicate that 80% of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is acquired before 18 years of age. Therefore, it’s extremely important that parents teach sun damage prevention tactics early-on. Kids should wear hats, tight-knit clothing and sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and have limited exposure from noon to 3pm. As a parent, you needn’t be the “Sun Damage Nazi,” but rather, just be aware of the potential dangers and play it safe.
What should you do?
To minimize the risk of sun damage you should formulate a summer skincare plan in sunny weather for both you and your children. Its a good idea to get yourself familiar with an introduction to sun protection and skin care techniques in general.
Is It True That Black Males At Increased Risk In Suffering From Prostate Cancer
Posted on: May 22nd, 2008Next to lung cancer, prostate cancer facts is the most common version of disease info desired by men. Current advances in intensifying awareness of the disease has gone a long way in aiding to reduce the percentage of mortality rates for those diagnosed as suffering from the disease. Termed screening, it identifies certain age groups and divisions of the people who might be prone to the disease for a collection of reasons.
Prostrate cancer is relatively uncomplicated to heal as long as it is diagnosed in its initial stages. The overall cross sections of the community who have to thinking thinking of having their prostrate tested are men in their mid fifties upwards. In its initial stages, prostrate cancer is very difficult if not impossible to identify. It is only when it begins to spread with the prostrate do the first signs begin to show. The further the cancer extends the proportion of survival rates begin to slide downwards hence the need for early prostate cancer treatment.
That is why the value of early screening and early findings cannot be emphasized enough in the battle against prostrate cancer. This is the explanation why government health agencies began to aggressively encourage early screening for all males the over age of fifty in general. And specifically those who possess a genetic history of prostrate cancer patients in the family. The first glaring set of statistics on the issue displayed that males of African American descent are 250% more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from prostrate cancer than Caucasians.
Nobody in medical investigation has been able to come with a definite answer as to why this should be that justification. There is a fairly strong consensus that one of the major influential factors may be the standard diet of the Afro-American male. However this factor has proved to be quite complex to determine. One case in support of this standpoint is that males of Asian descent are much at a noticeably lower proportion figure than even Caucasians, most likely due to their specific diet, hence the need for a unique diet for prostate cancer for the Afro male. Obesity is regarded as being on of the major reasons of prostrate cancer, as a result of the high proportions of fats prominent in a heavy male’s blood stream, which is considered to be a major reason of prostrate cancer.
Place all these points together, then an overweight afro American falls into the highest hazard category as being identified as a prostrate cancer patient. Individuals in this category should start to attend regular screenings from their mid forties frontward.
Cancer In The Breast And Radiation
Posted on: May 17th, 2008A vital aspect for any female affected by breast cancer followed by surgery is what she will feel about herself and her appearance afterwards. One option open to women is that of reconstruction. It’s been estimated that nearly thirty percent of these women will choose to do so, and of this number, almost 75 percent will have artificial implants. The remaining women will go with their own body’s tissues which might be removed from the belly area, back or buttocks to form the breast. At occasions, the reconstruction can be a process of both tissue rebuilding combined with implants.
Breast Cancer Treatment,
The choice of breast reconstruction might involve women who’ve undergone a lumpectomy as another means to balance the look of their breasts. A few of the many factors to consider regarding this type of surgery are:
* It’s a more painful surgery that means a longer recovery time. For some cases in which major radiation and chemotherapy are required the doctors might recommend delaying until treatment has completed. It may be best since afterwards the patient’s weight and shape will have stabilized and the needs for reconstruction will be much clearer.
* It is a more complicated surgery that requires 2 operations and so will mean scheduling additional operating theater time, which may mean delays.
* If reconstruction is performed before treatment, radiation might possibly harden the transplanted muscle and fat making it feel less natural.
Breast surgery,
Though reconstruction presents some challenges, these issues may be mitigated by the fact that a woman can be looking forward to a more normal breast size and shape.
It’d also be helpful to talk to women who have undergone a similar procedure to discern completely what’s to be expected - if there is some doubt it is also reasonable to leave the rebuilding for another time.
No two women are exactly alike in this matter. Their lifestyle, expectations, personality, financial circumstances and occupation all affect what each person decides. So in order to come to the decision it will be beneficial to talk over these options with all the medical personnel involved in your treatment and surgery.
What Role Do Genetics Play in Breast Cancer?
In identifying the causes of breast cancer it’s been discovered that genetics can play an important role as to whether or not someone is vulnerable to the disease.
To date the two genes that are the indicators are BRCA1 and BRCA2, referring to the Breast Cancer Gene 1 and 2. People have 2 copies of these genes in the majority of the cells of their body. As long as one of these genes in the pair function normally the cells in the breast will maintain their job of guarding.
These genes, made of DNA, keep breast tissue healthy by producing a protein that prevents abnormal cell growth. If both of these genes are then damaged or become damaged, the pattern is set to allow abnormal growths to start rapidly and start to invade healthy tissue.
Two main causes of these abnormal genes are:
It may be damaged, as an example, through harmful influences such as environmental toxins, stress or hormonal problems, poor diet.
It might be inherited where one parent has passed on a mutated gene and the other hasn’t.
In many breast cancer cases a damaged gene is not the main cause. In fact, it might only account for ten percent of all cases.
A few signs to watch for that may point to the likelihood of the inherited abnormal gene include:
There’s breast and ovarian cancer in the family - even more so if found in one person.
A man in the family has had breast cancer as well.
Women in the family have had cancer in both breasts.
There are close blood relatives on either side of the family that had breast cancer before 50.
It is important to be aware that if the abnormal gene does exist in a family member that it is possible for the risk to diminish for the descendents as long as each marriage includes someone who does not pass on an abnormal gene. Also, though there is an increased risk for persons with an abnormal gene it doesn’t mean that one will get cancer. Other factors may weigh in, such as other genes that can work to protect the body, environment, and lifestyle.
If a woman takes a test for abnormal genes or not, it is important to remember that women who develop cancer often don’t have a family history of it. All information, although worthwhile, does not mean a certainty and should only serve to make everyone aware of the requirement to keep acting aggressively against this terrible disease.
breast feeding
Start Eating Fruits High In Fiber & Create A Barrier Against Prostate Cancer
Posted on: May 14th, 2008It is a proven point that persons who eat fruits high in fibers will live well lives. The benefits of high fiber fruits as a component of a everyday prostate cancer nutrition are proven, especially to the digestive system. And a well “oiled” digestive system is greatly beneficial to the accurate functioning of the prostrate gland. Why should that be?
The prostrate gland is a small organ in our body that has to bear a demanding workload all through our lives. It is tough in many ways and delicate in others. If our system starts to malfunction, even a little, the prostrate gland will be affected before others. If our digestive system starts to clog up due to our failure to digest some of the more toxic foods we expose our digestive systems to, therefore the prostrate gland will suffer. It might even suffer enough so that a change in its DNA will generate a reaction leading to the creation of cancerous cells within. Read more on cancer of prostate here.
A habitual intake of high fiber fruits will prevent this system block and will be a common positivein keeping our systems running efficiently. In general terms, people who propagate produce must pass on a marketing message to in order to sell what they have grown. What better message can you pass on than the beneficial benefits as well as the nourishing benefits of your crops? That is why you will continuously see the advertisements of such fruits as apricots, strawberries, apples, kiwi, papaya, grape fruit, cantaloupe and avocadoes extolling their advantages, either on the television, in the fliers and at the stalls.
All of the fruits that possess high fibers have the benefit of being very yummy and this helps a lot in prostate cancer alternative treatments. Build a habit of having garden fresh fruits around the house, and try to stop basing your diet around junk foods and fast foods. These foods are toxic to your system, they are difficult to digest and will make you big, sluggish and unlikable. Garden fresh fruits, on the other hand, keep the system functioning like a Swiss watch. You will look and feel terrific and be much improved inside an out by basing your diet around juicy high fiber fruits.







