Posts Tagged ‘Cancer’

What Are the Real Cancer Facts?

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Cancer has a terrifying reputation. It has not obtained this reputation by accident. It is a disease that has not yet fully given way to the skills and intelligence of medical scientists. Also, as if the pain caused by the disease is not enough, the treatment for cancer, too, inflicts heavy suffering on the body.

Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled and abnormal cell division. As cancer cells travel through the body by way of the blood stream or the lymphatic system, they spread and destroy tissue. The runaway growth of cells is caused by mutations to the DNA in the cells which makes the cells unable to control cell division. This mutation can be either acquired or inherited. The mortality rate in cancer depends on the type of cancer and where it develops.

Among cancers, lung cancer is the biggest killer, causing up to 3 million deaths every year around the world. It affects the above-50 age group population most. It is one of the most common types of cancers that occur in the Western countries. The main risk factor for lung cancer is smoking. Cigarette smoke, especially, contains several carcinogens. Eighty percent of all lung cancers are caused by smoking. Researchers are beginning to recognize second hand smoke as being a cause of this cancer.

Another carcinogen that could cause lung cancer is asbestos. Malignant cells develop in the pleura in mesothelioma cancer. Diagnosis is difficult with mesothelioma cancer. One reason is that the symptoms of mesothelioma cancer occur only 30-50 years after the exposure to asbestos. Second, the symptoms of asbestos cancer, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, are similar to those of many other medical conditions.

The report of mesothelioma cancer has increased in the last twenty years. Still it is considered a relatively rare form of lung cancer, because the incidence rate is only 1 per 1,000,000 people. By contrast, the incidence of lung cancer is 1,000 per 1,000,000.

Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy are common treatments for asbestos cancer. However, the conventional treatment methods have not been very successful in the case of asbestos cancer, yielding only a short survival rate of 6-12 months after the presentation.

Again, surgery does not have much effect on small-cell lung cancer. Radiofrequency ablation is a treatment for mesothelioma cancer that has recently become more popular. This technique is especially effective in destroying the cancerous cells inside the tumors. These cells are ‘cooked’ by inserting a small heat probe into the tumor. This technique is also non-toxic and causes very little pain for the patient.

New techniques of treatment are being developed, such as molecular targeted therapies, for lung cancer. Better and more effective therapies can be expected as scientists and researchers coax out more secrets from the human cells.

Next, read about cancer assistance. There are many charities that support victims of cancer and help find assistance for cancer victims.


Drug to Reduce Lung Cancer Tumours in Development

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The sad truth is that these days, cancer has become more and more common. We all know of family members or friends that have battled this terrible disease. One of the most serious forms of cancer is lung cancer, which can spread quickly and fiercely. Scientists and doctors are constantly trying to develop new drugs that will combat cancer or slow down its progress. Recently, scientists at the Imperial College London identified a drug that might be able to help reduce the tumours that form when you have advanced lung cancer.

This drug, which is hoping to reach the clinical research trial stage next year, apparently wiped out small cell cancer tumours in half of the mice tested with the medication. One of the most positive outcomes of the research is that the drug blocked the cells capability to resist chemotherapy, a very positive development in these studies.

Lung cancer is a serious illness and the small cell version of this cancer can prove fatal. This advanced cancer makes up only 20% of all cases and diagnosis never leads to a good prognosis, with only 3% of patients surviving more than five years. The Imperial College London hopes that their proven studies will lead to the production of the drug which will result in the testing of the medicine on lung cancer patients.

Chemotherapy is an option for this form of intense lung cancer, but many times the cancer grows back just as fast as it shrinks. Cancer cells can also become resistant to chemotherapy due to a hormone called FGF-2. The new drug that has been developed (known as PD173074) blocks the growth hormone and prevents it from attaching itself to the tumour cells. Scientists and doctors are hoping that this treatment will eventually be available in pill form, helping lung cancer patients with their disease.

The drug was initially developed for different reasons but now further research has shown that this medication could have more than one function for people with lung cancer. However, development is far from complete and researchers are hoping to advance swiftly in the next year when it will be taken to clinical trials.

Recent studies for the drug that will treat lung cancer show that there is constant research being done in this field and hopefully these investigations will not stop. The already impressive results so far means that even more effort will go into the development of this drug in the future.

Lauren Potgieter wrote this article for Clinical Professionals and their clinical research


Asbestos Mesothelioma Treatment – How Treatment is Conducted For Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer

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There are different types of treatment for mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure. The different therapies include: conventional therapies, experimental, and holistic therapies.

The first thing to do when diagnosed with mesothelioma is to find the physician that is best for you. You will need help in researching and deciding which treatment is best for you and a physician will know the answers you are seeking.

Not only should the physician know about the disease but they should also be able to guide you and help you to decide the best treatment option. It can also be helpful to look at informational and educational resources to help you better understand the condition.

It is important at this point to figure out what stage of the disease you are in. The process of finding this out is called “staging”. A physician can base a decision as to the best treatment option on the stage and general health the patient is in. “Staging” can tell the physician if the cancer has spread, and if it has, to where in the body it has spread.

Chemotherapy is among one of the most widely used treatments of mesothelioma. Chemotherapy consists of using very strong medications to kill the cancer. The downfall is that chemotherapy can also harm healthy cells in the body. For example, you will notice that most patients undergoing chemotherapy lose their hair. Chemotherapy usually affects the healthy cells that grow quickly, hair being one of these cells. Another common side effect is nausea. Chemotherapy can be administered at a doctor’s office or hospital depending on the facility.

Radiation is another widely used and conventional type of treatment for mesothelioma caused by asbestos. In many cases, radiation is used with chemotherapy. Radiation is used to attack cancerous tissue and keep it from spreading. It can be administered as a pill or injection and depending on the type of radiation it can be implanted into the body as a seed, capsule, or wire.

These are forms of internal radiation. There are also types of external radiation which are provided by a machine that has a source of a radioactive substance that can be accelerated in the body from the outside. Radiation like chemotherapy also has side effects such as exhaustion and nausea. Radiation is usually an outpatient procedure.

Surgery is another conventional form of therapy for mesothelioma. Surgery can be preformed to remove sources of cancer. Surgery is usually accompanied by chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are just the conventional methods of treatment and there are certainly many more options to choose from when considering therapy for mesothelioma caused by asbestos.

To learn more about the Facts of Mesothelioma Cancer including the various Mesothelioma Treatment Options, visit http://www.mesotheliomafaqsite.com where we provide all of this and much more!


Diagnosing Lung Cancer For Successful Treatments

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Prior to treatment of any medical condition, there must first be a diagnosis and in the instance of lung cancer, there are numerous tools available to assist in diagnosis of the condition. Once a diagnosis has been completed, the stage of the lung cancer must then be determined in order to effectively choose a treatment option – this is known as “staging.”

It is usually the case that a patient discovers an abnormality as a result of a routine x-ray check-up or as a consequence of symptoms appearing which cause them to seek medical advice. Typical symptoms include a persistent cough or the production of blood when coughing, but it is important to remember that there are other causes aside from lung cancer which may produce these symptoms.

To confirm what an abnormality is, your medical team will call on some or all of the following diagnostic techniques:

CT Scan – CT stands for “Computed Tomography” and uses x-rays to provide a detailed picture of your anatomy. There is no surgery involved and the procedure is completely free of pain.

PET Scan – PET stands for “Positive Emission Tomography” and is another non-invasive diagnostic tool which provides a detailed representation of the abnormality and an indication as to whether it is malignant or not. Cancer tumors use a lot of energy, in medical terms they demonstrate high rates of metabolic activity and this requires a lot of nutrition in the form of sugars. By injecting into the patient a glucose solution which is laced with a mildly radioactive marker, the PET Scan is able to highlight where the glucose solution is being concentrated – this provides an outline of the extent of the abnormality and as the lungs are mostly air (which has no metabolism), it provides a precise location of the tumor. You should be aware that a positive result from a PET Scan is not conclusive evidence of cancer because other conditions can create high metabolic activity which will show up on the PET Scan, for instance, inflammation of the lung tissues.

Bronchoscopy – tissue samples or swabs of the major airways can be taken by inserting a flexible tube containing optical fibers and a camera. The tube is inserted either through the nose or mouth and can be mildly discomforting for patients but requires no surgery. The tissue samples collected can then be analyzed in the pathology lab to confirm or rule out cancer.

Needle Biopsy – by using a CT scan to target the general area of the abnormality, a surgeon can insert a needle into the affected area of the lung and remove a tissue sample. Again, the sample can be tested to confirm or discount the presence of cancer in the patient.

Surgical Biopsy – if the abnormality is small or located in an inaccessible part of the lungs then a needle biopsy may not be appropriate and surgery may be required. The surgeon makes two small incisions and using specialist instruments is able to remove a portion of the lung containing the affected tissue. The sample is then analyzed to confirm the diagnosis.

Find the right doctor for lung cancer treatments or mitral valve repair. Early diagnosis can lead to successful results.


Lung Cancer Treatments

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Lung cancer claims millions of lives each year. It is one of most common causes of death among all diseases. There is no cure for the ailment; however, treatments are available, which can extend your life for five years or even longer, depending on the cancer’s severity. At the first hint of lung cancer, you should consult your doctor, immediately. The earlier you receive treatment, the bigger your chances of surviving.

Medical Procedures

The best treatments are found in the hospital. Doctors have a number of remedies, with each concerning a particular stage of the cancer. Early stages can be treated through surgery. The surgeon will extract the cancer tissue from the affected lung and foster healing after. Chemotherapy is given, if surgery is rendered useless to stop cancer. Chemicals are shot into the affected areas, which eat away at the cancer cells. Radiotherapy is also an option, as radiation is used to obliterate cancer tissue. It is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy, in effect, raising a patient’s chance of survival. Yet another option is pneumonectomy, which entails to the removal of the entire lung. The procedure is undertaken if cancer tissue has overwhelmed much of the area.

Natural Medicine and Lung Cancer

Aside from going under the knife, there is another form of treatment for this cancer – natural medicine. They, of course, aren’t as effective as surgery and chemotherapy; however, they are said to halt the spread of cancer cells, even kill them off when taken at specific doses. Vinegar and food rich in fructose can help stop and prevent cancer. Eating much of these substances would certainly help, especially for chain smokers. Other natural forms of treatment are acetic, amino, and citric acids. Include them in your diet, to help prevent the development of cancer cells in your lungs.

Haste doesn’t Make Waste

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous diseases. Medical researchers continually devote much of their work, until an effective cure is found. Until such is discovered, you have to do your best to avoid the disease. If you’ve already contracted this cancer, go to the hospital and have your lungs treated. Your haste might spell the difference for the operation’s success.

Greg J Thompson is an expert in this field. If you want great treatments for lung cancer articles or some good, reliable pancreatic cancer symptom information then visit his site now.


Lung Cancer Chemotherapy

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Lung cancer is mostly treated by surgery but it is possible only sometimes, which is operable at the time of diagnosis. This treatment includes the removal of a cancerous tumor or entire lobe of the lung. In this type of cancer there is a possibility of reappearance of cancer after surgery. In order to avoid reappearance, chemotherapy is a very successful treatment nowadays.

Chemotherapy is the treatment that uses drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells. It also reduces the pain and other problems caused due to lung cancer. Chemotherapy drugs are given via injecting in vein through catheter and thin tube or as pill and thus chemo drugs reach in all parts of the body. Chemotherapy treatment depends on the type of cancer, stage of cancer and current health of the patient. Sometimes additional adjuvant chemotherapy is required along with the surgery.

There are many types of lung cancer drugs used like gemcitabine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, carboplatin vinorelbine, cisplatin, etc. and all these may be used individually or in combination as per the need. The sessions of chemotherapy depend on the type of lung cancer and it may last for several days or may be for some weeks with rest period.

Chemotherapy treatment could available in hospital, clinic or may be at home. But the way to give this treatment totally depends on the drugs that are given to the patient and the health of patient. Chemotherapy helps to reduce the size of tumor or helps to avoid it from spreading. Your doctor performs some tests to decide, whether the combination chemotherapy is useful for you or not.

Chemotherapy may produce some unpleasant side effects such as nausea, omitting, weight loss, hair loss, menopause, mouth sores, etc. and most of the side effects are temporary and can be cured by using other medicine during chemotherapy. Chemotherapy also kills healthy cells along with damaged cells and so side effects occur. The side effects depend on the type of drug, amount taken and the duration of the treatment.

Chemotherapy could damage the blood producing cells of bone marrow, which affect on the blood cell count. This is very serious matter and it may increase the risk of infection, fatigue and shortness of breath, bleeding and discoloration after minor cuts and injuries.

You can also read more about the Lung cancer chemotherapy and visit website echemotherapy.com for detailed information on chemotherapy types and side effects.