Cancer Treatment Today

by Christiana Care

Basic Facts about Cancer

Cancer is a disease in which the body cells grow uncontrollably because their normal regulatory mechanisms have been damaged. There are literally hundreds of different types and subtypes of cancer however the majority form solid tumours in specific areas of the body. The most common cancers are skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer and prostate cancer. Unfortunately the disease is very proficient at spreading through the blood and the lymphatic system and so in advanced cancer cases it is not uncommon to see secondary tumours in far off areas of the body.

The Genetics of Cancer

One of the most important breakthroughs in cancer research came in the late 1970s when scientists discovered that all types of cancer begin with the genetic material within normal body cells becoming damaged. Every cell contains genetic information in the form of more than 90,000 pairs of genes which work together to control the activities of the cell. A cell can become cancerous when specific genes, such as those that control division, become damaged beyond repair. How and why genes become damaged is still a hot topic for research however it would seem that faulty genes are either inherited or they are caused by carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), for example sunlight and cigarette smoke.

Our body cells are continually exposed to carcinogens however in the majority of cases cancer doesn’t develop. There are a number of reasons why this is so, for example:

· Cells can normally repair their own damaged genes so that they continue to function properly. · More than one gene has to be damaged in order for cancer to develop.
· The body’s immune system can normally kill any cancer cells before they get the chance to multiply and form a tumour.

The Causes of Cancer

Although most cancers appear to be caused by several factors, including genetic/inherited ones, a main environmental cause can often be identified for a particular cancer i.e. smoking cigarettes is commonly associated with lung cancer.

Approximately 35% of stomach cancer and prostate cancer cases are related to diets of unhealthy foods with little or no fresh fruit and vegetables. 30% of lung, breast, colon, cervical and throat cancers are related to tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. 10% of skin cancer cases are related to the sun and UV rays. 7% of lymphoma, leukaemia, bone cancer and liver cancer cases are related to viruses such as Epstein Barr, HIV, Hepatitis C etc. Pesticides and chemicals, or occupational factors figure into 4% or mouth, throat, stomach and lymphoma cancer cases. Approx 3% of stomach, colon and liver cancer have been linked to excessive consumption of alchohol.

Aging and Cancer

Cancer is most common among older people, largely because their cells have had more time to accumulate genetic damage, but also because the body’s defences against cancer, particularly the cells and proteins of the immune system, gradually become less efficient with age. In addition a cancer that began earlier in life may not be diagnosed until old age because it can take years for some types of cancer, most noticeably prostate cancer, to grow large enough to produce noticeable symptoms.

Because life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last 50 years it means that cancer is now one of the most common causes of death in the developed world, second only to coronary heart disease.

Cancer treatment today

For over 2000 years, doctors have attempted to cure cancer by surgically removing visible tumours. For some localised cancers radiotherapy is very effective and this treatment is often combined with surgery with the aim of achieving a cure. Treatment with anti-cancer drugs, known as chemotherapy, may be used instead of or in combination with surgery to destroy cancers that have unfortunately already spread around the body.

New therapies for the treatment of cancer that are currently being assessed include inactivating the damaged genes so that they no longer send messages to the cell, and boosting the body’s natural immune system so that it has the ability to destroy any cancerous cells. These therapies are still in the experimental phase however both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of the UK, i.e. Cancer Research, are working towards making them viable treatment options for future generation.

Article Source: http://www.depositarticles.com

Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many successful websites including CancerAbout, a Cancer Resource site and a Mesothelioma Lawyer Resource site.

Old footage I just found…. this is for you Taylor. Still Praying 4 your miracle! @taylorfilorimo

Memory & Cancer


Image by GEEKSTATS
People with a history of cancer have a 40% greater likelihood of experiencing memory problems that interfere with daily functioning, compared with those who have not.

Cellceutix’s Kevetrin(TM) Slows Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Growth by 94%; Protocol Towards Clinical Trials Nearing End
BEVERLY, MA–(Marketwire – 06/20/11) – Cellceutix Corporation (OTCQB: CTIX) (Pinksheets: CTIX – News ) today reported that its anti-cancer compound, Kevetrin, has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in the treatment of a pancreatic carcinoma cell line in a xenograft tumor model. After three weeks of studies, results testing Kevetrin against Pancreatic Carcinoma Cell line MIA-PaCa-2 showed …
Read more on Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance

Egypt’s ex-leader may have cancer
Ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak may have cancer, his defence lawyer says, two months ahead of the former leader’s trial for allegedly ordering the killing of anti-government protesters.Mubarak, who was pushed out of power…
Read more on The New Zealand Herald

‘Stealth’ nanoparticles target cancer
SAN DIEGO, June 20 (UPI) — Nanoparticles disguised as red blood cells will evade the body’s immune system and deliver cancer-fighting drugs straight to a tumor, U.S. researchers say.
Read more on UPI

Question by theaterflicka: Where can I donate my hair to cancer patients?
I want to cut my hair to shoulder length and give it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer (or alopecia in general) patients. But the length I want to cut off isn’t long enough for Locks of Love’s requirements. Does anybody know of any other charities that accept hair?

Best answer:

Answer by Dominicana
go 2 any hospital they can help u with that

Give your answer to this question below!

by zled81

Urinary Bladder Cancer Treatment solved only in Aastha Health Care Hospital, Mumbai, Mulund, india

What is bladder?

A bladder is a muscular hollow organ that stores urine. It is located in the pelvic region. Urine from both the kidneys passes through ureter and reaches the bladder. When the bladder gets filled up to a certain level, the nerves send signal to the brain and we may feel the urge to urinate.

What is Bladder cancer?

Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. Cancer merely indicates towards a condition in which the cells start multiplying in an abnormal way. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant: Bladder cancer refers to any of several types of malignant growths of the urinary bladder. The process of invading and spreading to other organs is called metastasis. Bladder cancers are most likely to spread to neighboring organs and lymph nodes prior to spreading through the blood stream to the lungs, liver, bones, or other organs. Bladder cancer affects 3 times as many men as women.

Types of bladder cancers :

Urolithiasis is the medical term used to describe stones occurring in the urinary tract. Other frequently used terms are urinary tract stone disease and nephrolithiasis. Doctors also use terms that describe the location of the stone in the urinary tract. For example, a ureteral stone (or ureterolithiasis)

is a kidney stone found in the ureter. To keep things simple, however, the term “kidney stones” is used throughout this fact sheet.

Types of stones include :

The wall of the bladder is lined with cells called transitional cells and squamous cells. More than 90 percent of bladder cancers begin in the transitional cells. This type of bladder cancer is called transitional cell carcinoma. About 8 percent of bladder cancer patients have squamous cell carcinomas. All squamous cell carcinomas are invasive. This means that they gradually spread to deeper layers of the bladder wall if they are not treated. By the time these cancers are detected, they have usually already invaded the bladder wall. Many transitional cell carcinomas are not invasive. This means that they go no deeper than the transitional, or urothelial, layer.

Bladder cancers are classified or staged based on their aggressiveness and the degree that they are different from the surrounding bladder tissue. There are several different ways to stage tumors. Recently, the TNM staging system has become common. This staging system contains several sub stages, but it basically categorizes tumors using the following scale:

Stage 0 – This is a Non-invasive tumor limited to the bladder lining. Cancer that is only in cells in the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer. The doctor might call it carcinoma in situ. This type of bladder cancer often comes back after treatment. If this happens, the disease most often recurs as another superficial cancer in the bladder.

Stage I — Tumor extends through the lining, but does not extend into the muscle layer. Cancer that begins as a superficial tumor may grow through the lining and into the muscular wall of the bladder. This is known as invasive cancer. Invasive cancer may extend through the bladder wall. It may grow into a nearby organ such as the uterus or vagina (in women) or the prostate gland (in men). It also may invade the wall of the abdomen.

Stage II – In this, the tumor invades the muscle layer of the bladder.

Stage III — Tumor extends past the muscle layer into tissue surrounding the bladder.

Stage IV – In this, cancer has spread to regional lymph nodes or to distant sites (metastatic disease). When bladder cancer spreads outside the bladder, cancer cells are often found in nearby lymph nodes. If the cancer has reached these nodes, cancer cells may have spread to other lymph nodes or other organs, such as the lungs, liver, or bones.

When cancer spreads (metastasizes) from its original place to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the primary tumor. For example, if bladder cancer spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are actually bladder cancer cells. The disease is metastatic bladder cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as bladder cancer, not as lung cancer.

What are the causes?

There is no particular cause that has been found out. But Studies have found the following risk factors for bladder cancer:

Age- The chance of getting bladder cancer goes up as people get older. People under 40 rarely get this disease.

Tobacco- The use of tobacco is a major risk factor. Cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely than nonsmokers to get bladder cancer. Pipe and cigar smokers are also at increased risk.

Occupation- Some workers have a higher risk of getting bladder cancer because of carcinogens in the workplace. Workers in the rubber, chemical, and leather industries are at risk. So are hairdressers, machinists, metal workers, printers, painters, textile workers, and truck drivers.

Infections-Being infected with certain parasites increases the risk of bladder cancer. These parasites are common in tropical areas.

Medications- cyclophosphamide or arsenic are used to treat cancer and some other conditions. They raise the risk of bladder cancer.

Approximately 20% of bladder cancers occur in patients without predisposing risk factors. Bladder cancer is not currently believed to be heritable (i.e., does not “run in families” as a consequence of a specific genetic abnormality).

What are the Symptoms?

The symptoms described below are not sure signs of bladder cancer. Infections, benign tumours, bladder stones, or other problems also can cause these symptoms. So incase of these symptoms, one must consult an urologist or correct diagnosis. Moreover most of the symptoms listed below can be associated with bladder cancer, but they can also be associated with non-cancerous conditions. Nevertheless, medical evaluation is critical.

* Blood in the urine
* increased Urinary frequency or Urinary incontinence
* Painful urination
* Urinary urgency

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are Bone pain or tenderness, abdominal pain, Anaemia, Weight loss, Lethargy (tiredness).

Disadvantages of the surgery

Bladder cancer surgery may affect a person’s sexual function. Because the surgeon removes the uterus and ovaries in a radical cystectomy, women are not able to get pregnant. Also, menopause occurs at once. If the surgeon removes part of the vagina during a radical cystectomy, sexual intercourse may be difficult. In the past, nearly all men were impotent after radical cystectomy, but improvements in surgery have made it possible for some men to avoid this problem. Men who have had their prostate gland and seminal vesicles removed no longer produce semen, so they have dry orgasms. Men who wish to father children may consider sperm banking before surgery or sperm retrieval later on.

For more information on Urinary Bladder Cancer Treatment, kindly visit :
http://www.aasthahealthcare.com/Bladder-Cancer-Treatment.htm

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Find More Cancer Articles

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by Christiana Care

Question by Verden: What is the treatment for mouth cancer from doing chew?
Today I went to the Doctor’s office and was told I have mouth cancer and they have to remove the cancer in the side of my mouth and jaw.

What is the surgery? Will this affect my appearance? He said the cancer goes from the meet from my jaw to my neck up to my throat.

Best answer:

Answer by Daniella
Sodium Bicarbonate cancer therapy, a natural therapy to treat cancer, by Dr Simoncini, oncologist – Rome. Oropharynx cancer and stomach cancer.

http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/therapy-simoncini-2.html

http://www.torontocancersurvivors.info

http://www.gerson.org (Gerson Therapy)
Cancer Cure: Dying to Have Known (Gerson Therapy) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Xq2TUhFnw
http://www.hippocratesinst.org (Hippocrates Health Institute)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNNgF7T23uI

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

by ragz1138

Question by Matt98: What has the Medical community progress in cancer treatment in the past 10 to 15 years?
Is it true most types of cancer have a 50% survivor rate now?

Best answer:

Answer by JLI
You asked the very same question yesterday. My answer is the same:

Some of them have a much better prognosis than that. For instance here: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/childhoodcancer/survival/ you can see how the prognosis have improved with various types of childhood cancer. And here are some more survival statistics, also from the UK: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/survival/latestrates/

If you are not satisfied with the answers you get in the medicine section of Y|A, you might like to try the cancer section : http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/dir/index;_ylt=AqQvJv87ELoz2U.HiiRQ08YgBgx.;_ylv=3?sid=396545116

Add your own answer in the comments!

by Jeffrey Simms Photography

Affordable Cost Anal Cancer Surgery in India at cancer centers of Mumbai

Anal cancer is a rare malignancy that starts in the anus — the opening at the end of the rectum.

The American Cancer Society estimates that just 5,070 new cases of anal cancer occurred last year in the U.S. and just 680 people in the U.S. died from the disease.

By way of contrast, more than 40,700 new cases of rectal cancer were projected.

About half of all anal cancers are diagnosed before the malignancy has spread beyond the primary site, while about a third are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes only and 10% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to distant organs.

When it is found early, anal cancer is highly treatable.

According to the American Cancer Society, the overall five-year survival rate following diagnosis of anal cancer is 60% for men and 71% for women.

When the cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stage, five-year survival is 82%. If it has spread to surrounding lymph nodes, five-year survival drops to 60%. And when it has spread to distant organs, about one in five patients lives for five years or more.

Who Gets Anal Cancer?

Most anal cancers are diagnosed in people who are between 50 and 80. Before age 50, anal cancer is more common in men, but after age 50 it is slightly more common in women, says Debbie Saslow, PhD, director of breast and gynecological cancer at the American Cancer Society.

Anal infection with human papillomavirus ( HPV) is a major risk factor for the cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, 85% of anal cancers are associated with persistent infection with the sexually transmitted virus.

Although an HPV vaccine is now in use for the prevention of cervical cancer, it is not being given to prevent anal cancer.

According to both the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute, other risk factors for anal cancer include being over 50 years old, having many sexual partners, having receptive anal intercourse, having a weakened immune system, frequent anal redness and soreness, and being a smoker.

Some tumors that develop in the anus are noncancerous. Others start off as benign but develop into cancer over time.

What Are the Symptoms of Anal Cancer?

In some cases, there are no symptoms associated with anal cancer, but in about half of patients bleeding occurs and is often the first sign of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

Because anal itching can also be a symptom of the cancer, many people initially attribute their bleeding and itching to hemorrhoids.

Other signs and symptoms of anal cancer can include:

Pain or pressure in the anal area

Unusual discharges from the anus

Lump near the anus

Change in bowel habits

How Is Anal Cancer Diagnosed?

Anal cancer can be detected during a routine digital rectal exam or during a minor procedure, such as removal of what is believed to be a hemorrhoid.

The cancer may also be found with more invasive procedures such as an anoscopy, proctoscopy, or endorectal ultrasound.

If cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be done and will be examined by a pathologist.

How Is Anal Cancer Treated?

Standard treatments for anal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

According to the American Cancer Society, treatment usually involves two or more of these treatment strategies.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy is the most widely used approach to initial treatment.

Approximately 135,000 new cases of colorectal cancer occur in the United States each year, resulting in approximately 55,000 deaths per year. Two thirds of these cases occur in the colon and one third in the rectum. The incidence and epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, and screening recommendations are common to both colon cancer and rectal cancer. These areas are addressed together.

Adenocarcinomas (98%) comprise most rectal cancers and are the focus of this discussion. Other rare rectal cancers, including carcinoid (0.1%), lymphoma (1.3%), and sarcoma (0.3%), are not discussed. Squamous cell carcinomas may develop in the transition area from rectum to anal verge and are considered anal carcinomas. Very rare cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum have been reported.

Causes

The etiology of colorectal cancer is unknown, but colorectal cancer appears to be multifactorial in origin and includes environmental factors and a genetic component. Diet may have an etiologic role, especially diet with high fat content.

Approximately 75% of colorectal cancers are sporadic and develop in people with no specific risk factors. The remaining 25% of cases occur in people with significant risk factors. Most (15-20%) colorectal cancers develop in people with either a positive family history or a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. The remaining cases occur in people with certain genetic predispositions, such as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, 4-7%) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP, 1%) or in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, 1%).

Diet

A high-fat, low-fiber diet is implicated in the development of colorectal cancer. Specifically, people who ingest a diet high in unsaturated animal fats and highly saturated vegetable oils (eg, corn, safflower) have a higher incidence of colorectal cancer. The mechanism by which these substances are related to the development of colorectal cancer is unknown.

Saturated fats from dairy products do not have the same effect, nor do oils containing oleic acid (eg, olive, coconut, fish oils). Omega-3 monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-6 monounsaturated fatty acids also appear to be less carcinogenic than unsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. In fact, recent epidemiologic data suggest that high fish consumption may provide a protective effect against development of colorectal cancer.

Long-term diets high in red meat or processed meats appear to increase the risk of distal colon and rectal cancers.

The ingestion of a high-fiber diet may be protective against colorectal cancer. Fiber causes the formation of a soft, bulky stool that dilutes out carcinogens; it also decreases colonic transit time, allowing less time for harmful substances to contact the mucosa. The decreased incidence of colorectal cancer in African individuals is attributed to their high-fiber, low–animal-fat diet. This favorable statistic is reversed when African people adopt a western diet.

Increased dietary intake of calcium appears to have a protective effect on colorectal mucosa by binding with bile acids and fatty acids. The resulting calcium salts may have antiproliferative effects, decreasing crypt cell production in the mucosa.

Other dietary components, such as selenium, carotenoids, and vitamins A, C, and E, may have protective effects by scavenging free-oxygen radicals in the colon. For further details on the unbelievable cost Anal Cancer surgery in India feel free to visit us at www.indiacancersurgerysite.com  or mail your queries at info@indiacancersurgerysite.com or talk to us international callers, at  +91 9579034639

by publik16

Question by DancerGal: How often do women die from cervical cancer?
I am 11 years old, my mom got cervical cancer she found out yesturday. I am absoloutly heart broken and so is she. I was wondering how often do women die from it and is it possible for the sugery to go wrong or something?

Best answer:

Answer by meanevilcarrot
Hi there, I’m so sorry to hear about your mom.

I am going through radiation for cervical cancer now. I have/had stage IIA. Cervical cancer is very curable because the cervix can be removed. Do you know what stage she is? It is also a very slow growing cancer.

The surgery is very common so it’s unlikley she will have any problems. I had both a LEEP and then a radical hysterectomy and was absolutely fine. Your mom will have a team of doctors and nurses taking good care of her.

Take care

What do you think? Answer below!

Cancer survivor Rachel Peck speaks at University of Maryland Speech


Image by Andrew Aliferis
Cancer survivor Rachel Peck stands at the podium telling her personal story of being sick in America.

Fraser Health Authority denies Mission women got breast cancer at work
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Abilene Mom Battling Cancer Gets Help From The Community
People are teaming up to show their support for an Abilene mom who has been battling cancer for more than four years.
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