Cervical Cancer Treatment Options
Posted on | December 27, 2011 | No Comments
Cervical cancer treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. A doctor specialising in the treatment of cervical cancer will suggest the best course for treatment for a patient depending on a number of factors such as the patient’s state of general health, what type of cervical cancer afflicts her and the stage of the disease when the diagnosis was rendered. These treatment options are given in detail below and classified according to what will work on a specific stage of cervical cancer:
- Early stage. The patient has more cervical cancer treatment options in the early stage of diagnosis for this disease. Surgery is often the main course of action for cervical cancer treatment in its early form when the cancer is only contained within the cervix. Another alternative cervical cancer treatment plan that the patient can avail of is radiotherapy. Doctors may decide to give this after the patient undergoes surgery if they have sufficient cause to believe that there may still be some cancer cells left behind that are in danger of multiplying. This will safeguard the patient against the possibility that the cancer will recur. For larger tumours in the cervix measuring over 4 centimetres, radiotherapy can be combined with chemotherapy in a process known as chemoradiation. Chemotherapy may also be used prior to the surgery to shrink the tumour and thus make it easier for the doctors to remove it. Read more
Procedures in Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Posted on | December 22, 2011 | No Comments
Whatever diseases the patient may be suffering from, they will always ask the following questions:
- Am I correctly being diagnosed?
- Am I availing of the best diagnostic methods?
- Is the process taking too long?
- Am I receiving enough support?
- Is the medical team overseeing my diagnosis competent enough?
The above anxieties and fears are no different from the ones that patients undergoing mesothelioma diagnosis feel. Since mesothelioma is a type of cancer which is a deadly disease, a patient receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis may experience drastic and life-altering changes to their way of life that only a serious illness can do. Many patients are in shock and denial, and all too often the most common reaction after a mesothelioma diagnosis is to seek a second opinion.
Latest on Breast Cancer Research: Starch Intake Influences the Recurrence of Breast Cancer
Posted on | December 19, 2011 | No Comments
Breast cancer research is continuously being done in order to stop one of the most prevalent killers among women today, breast cancer. Breast cancer research may involve aspects of the disease such as:
- treatment plans or options
- manufacturing new drugs or improving existing ones
- finding the link between lifestyle factors and the risk of improving the disease
The subject of this article belongs to the third aspect, since starch intake is part of the diet that the patient consumes. At the 2011 Breast Cancer Symposium held during December 6 to 10 in San Antonio, Texas, medical experts involved in breast cancer research have linked an increased intake in starch to a greater risk for the recurrence of breast cancer in patients who were already diagnosed and have been in remission. Read more
Pancreatic Cancer Stages: The TNM Classification
Posted on | December 12, 2011 | No Comments
The main significance for knowing about pancreatic cancer stages is that it is used by doctors to determine the extent in which the pancreatic cancer has spread. Once the doctor determines this, he or she will then decide on the appropriate course of treatment for the patient. In some cases, the doctor may not be able to tell the exact stage of the cancer until after the patient undergoes surgery. Pancreatic cancer stages are determined through tests and scans. There are two methods used in determining pancreatic cancer stages.
TNM Stages
The acronym ‘TNM’ stands for Tumour, Node, Metastasis. This system describes the size of a primary tumour, detect whether there are lymph nodes which contains cancer cells and whether the cancer has metastasised or spread to other parts of the body. Below are the five stages of tumour size based on the current TNM classification: Read more
Prostate Cancer Survival Rates Worldwide
Posted on | December 6, 2011 | No Comments
With the advent of modern technology, you would think that the prostate cancer survival rate of those afflicted with this disease worldwide will be higher. However, the standard of living and access to medical care for those who are suffering from this disease is not the same across different countries and territories. Thus, the prostate cancer survival rates for sufferers worldwide will show varying trends by region. To generalize, prostate cancer is relatively not common in South and East Asia, quite common in the United Kingdom while it is more common in America.
If we are to speak of worldwide statistics, prostate cancer is the ninth most common form of cancer. In the United States however where there are many men diagnosed annually, it is the second most common type of cancer next to lung cancer. It is also the second leading cause of cancer related deaths among American men, with 10% of all deaths related to cancer being attributed to prostate cancer.
The Importance of Breast Cancer Awareness
Posted on | December 1, 2011 | No Comments
Breast cancer is a deadly and debilitating disease killing thousands of women all over the world each year. These women, their friends, associates and families are very much aware of the effects that breast cancer can have on one’s life. However, October is a special month dedicated especially to promote breast cancer awareness worldwide. During this time, events are held to serve as fundraisers and many products are launched for the benefit of breast cancer research.
One of the most common activities held for the rest of the year and most especially during October are breast cancer awareness campaigns which urge all women and even men, who are not exempt from contracting breast cancer, to do breast cancer check-ups every month to check for unusual lumps or changes in the nipple, breasts and surrounding areas. Heightened breast cancer awareness in the general contributes a lot to saving lives every year. A patient who is diagnosed with the disease earlier has a much improved prognosis for it. These breast cancer awareness campaigns teach women the right procedure and the right time to do these breast checks.
Recent Developments in Mesothelioma Research
Posted on | November 25, 2011 | No Comments
In recent years, there have been considerable progress in the field of mesothelioma research made by medical researchers and professionals specialising in the treatment of mesothelioma. The same can also be said of clinical trials that are part of mesothelioma research. There is still a lot of ground to be covered though because there is still no known method for the early detection of mesothelioma. However, advances in technology have certainly helped physicians diagnose mesothelioma cases better and devise more effective treatment plans for patients. People who have had knowingly been exposed to asbestos should undergo the following tests in order to detect the presence of mesothelioma cancer cells:
- Chest x-ray. This will detect if there are any abnormalities within the chest.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This will help to determine if an abnormality spotted in the chest is already mesothelioma or just a non-malignant tumour.
- Computer Tomography (CT) scans. These show detailed images of the chest which will help determine any chest abnormalities. Read more
What is Cervical Cancer?
Posted on | November 21, 2011 | No Comments
In order for the layman to understand what is cervical cancer, we must first give a background of the cervix and its functions. The cervix refers to the lower part of the uterus or the womb. The body or upper part of the uterus houses the baby when a woman gets pregnant. The cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina or birth canal. It is further subdivided into two parts:
- Endocervix – The part of the cervix which is closest to the body of the uterus. The cells lining this part are called glandular cells.
- Exocervix or ectocervix – The part of the cervix next to the vagina. The cells covering this part of the cervix are called squamous cells. Read more
What is Pancreatic Cancer?
Posted on | November 17, 2011 | No Comments
In order to better understand what is pancreatic cancer, its nature and characteristics, it is important for us to know about the pancreas first. The pancreas is an organ measuring six inches which is located behind the stomach, in the back of the abdomen. It has a spongy texture and is shaped quite a bit like a fish. The pancreas contains exocrine and endocrine glands which are responsible for creating pancreatic juices, hormones and insulin. Pancreatic juices or enzymes that are produced by the exocrine glands are released into the intestines through a series of ducts which help to digest fat, proteins and carbohydrates. More than 95% of the pancreas is made up of exocrine glands and ducts.
So what is pancreatic cancer and how does it develop? Just like all other types of cancer which are characterised by an uncontrollable growth of cells, pancreatic cancer also occurs when uncontrolled cell growth starts in the pancreas. Instead of developing into healthy and normal pancreas tissues, these abnormal cells rapidly and uncontrollably divide, forming lumps or masses of cancerous tissue which are known as tumours. These tumours then interfere with the normal functioning of the pancreas.
Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Risks
Posted on | November 14, 2011 | No Comments
Statistics mentioned in http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/type/pancreatic-cancer/about/pancreatic-cancer-risks-and-causes show that pancreatic cancer ranks 11th among the most common types of cancer in the UK, with 8 out of 10 or 80% of all cases being diagnosed in people aged 60 and above. Pancreatic cancer is not commonly diagnosed for people aged 40 and below. There are about 8,000 individuals in the UK being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year. The exact pancreatic cancer causes are not known, but there are certain risk factors that can contribute to pancreatic cancer causes. These are :
- Smoking. This is a known factor in increasing an individual’s risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer. Cigarettes, cigars pipes and chewing all contribute to increasing a person’s pancreatic cancer risk. This is because cigarette smoke has the chemical nitrosamines which is carcinogenic. Nitrosamines are also found in some foods and drinks. One in five or 20% of all cases of pancreatic cancer may be linked to this habit. Research has also shown that exposure to secondhand smoke also increases a person’s pancreatic cancer risk. Read more
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