Archive for the 'Cancer' Category
February 11th, 2012 by Peter
True to most cases, the treatment of cancer depends on a variety of factors. Once a lung cancer has been staged, the physician and patient can now discuss between themselves treatment options that will be necessary. Patient must be well-informed of the side effects and possible outcome of a certain procedure.
Everything should be cleared beforehand to avoid regret. Other factors that are taken into account also includes the patient’s general health, medical problems that may affect treatment (such as chemotherapy), and tumor characteristics.
The characteristics of a lung tumor helps doctors separate patients into two groups: people with low risk of cancer recurrence and people with high risk of cancer recurrence.
Surgical resection is done with patients whose cancers have not yet spread beyond the lung. This is done through the following options: Thoracotomy – the opening of the chest wall for surgical procedures – and median sternotomy – surgery performed by cutting through the breastbone.
Other approaches include anterior limited thoractomy (ALT), thoractomy performed on the frontal chest using a small incision; anterioraxillary thoracotomy (AAT), thoracotomy performed on the frontal chest near the underarm; and posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) thoracotomy performed on the back/side region of the trunk. ALT, in particular, is less invasive than standard thoractomy – that is, it involves less disturbance of the body by incisions or other intrusive measures. ALT may result in less surgical blood loss, less postoperative drainage, and less postoperative pain than standard thoracotomy.
Lately, other less invasive procedures are being performed for the removal of tumorous tissue. For example, the video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), otherwise known as video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). This procedure uses a video camera to help envision and operate on the lung within the chest cavity. The surgical incisions made during VAT are more minor than those needed for thoracotomy or sternotomy.
However, physicians warn that VAT does not actually allow complete lung examination to identify and remove metastases that are not detected by preoperative chest X-ray. VAT is appropriate for Stage 1 and Stage 2 cancers that require lobectomy (surgical removal of a lung lobule) with lymphadenectomy (removal of one or more lymph nodes) and for peripheral (outer edge) lung tumors that can be removed by wedge resection.
Chemotherapy is the best option together with radiotherapy if the tumor is more aggressive and widespread.
Photodynamic therapy is most suitable for patients having inoperable lung cancer. This begins with the shot of a light-activated drug (e.g., photofrin/polyhaematoporphyrin, lumin). Then during examination of the airways using a flexible scope the lung tumor is illuminated by a laser that transmits light of a specific wavelength. The laser light is used to wipe out the sensitized tumor tissue.
Skin photosensitivity or light sensitivity is the side effect of PDT. The healing potential of PDT is the most exciting aspect of this therapy in lung cancer patients whose tumors are unseen on chest X-rays. The tissue-sparing effects of PDT may be particularly important for individuals with limited lung function.
Electrosurgery is performed using a needle, bulb, or disk electrode. Nd-YAG laser therapy (neodymium-yttrium/argon laser that concentrates high-energy electromagnetic radiation to destroy tissue), cryotherapy (destruction of tissue using extreme cold), and brachytherapy (treatment with ionizing radiation) are extra tumor size-reducing techniques that may be performed during bronchoscopy.
Radiotherapy – better known as radiation therapy – uses high energy radiation in order to kill cancer cells.
Cancer cells more often than not multiply quicker than other bodily tissues; they are affected by radiation which prevents cells splitting up and the formation of DNA.
Unfortunately, bodily tissues that also divide rapidly, such as the hair and skin, are very vulnerable to radiotherapy. The most side effects of this therapy include hair loss and skin disorders, such as skin redness due to blood vessel congestion; puritis, itching; desquamation, sloughing-off of outer skin layers; pain; atrophy, shrinking; increased pigmentation; edema, swelling), as well as fetal damage, increased susceptibility to infection, tachycardia (increased heart rate), changes in taste perception, anorexia (loss of appetite), malaise, nausea, and vomiting.
A good physician will discuss all the options available with their patient, as well as the possible side effects.
December 27th, 2011 by Peter
Lungs are part of the body, responsible for breathing. Lung cancer is caused by abnormal cells that grow into a malignant tumor. The factors that cause lung cancer are many.
Personal and family history of a person are two aspects that may cause lung cancer. Smoking is one of the primary reasons for growth of cancerous cells. History of chain smoking may increase chances of contracting this dreaded disease. It is also possible to be at risk even if not a smoker. Passive smokers are also susceptible to this disease.
Persons above the age of 40 are more liable to be afflicted with cancer. Though it is not a rule and there are enough younger people also who have been afflicted by this disease. People who are exposed to air pollution have to be especially careful and observe for tell tale signs of lung cancer.
Family history of lung cancer increases risks to the disease. It is therefore important to keep updated about the symptoms and causes of the disease. Sometimes the symptoms can be as simple as a cough or fatigue. At times it can be more complicated as a swelling in the throat or difficulty in breathing or swallowing. It is essential to keep tab on personal medical history to help in early detection of the disease.
Lung cancer is a disease that is difficult to detect. Usually it is in the later stages that doctors can actually detect the seriousness of the disease. Treatment for lung cancer is a tedious process. Advanced stages of lung cancer may require a combination of treatments to cure it. Chances of total cure are reduced, if the disease spreads to other parts of the body.
Due to its hereditary factor, children or relatives of lung cancer affected patients should take extra care to get checked regularly and rule out possibility of getting the disease. Regular exercise and a diet with low fat with high fiber content can reduce chances of getting the disease. It would be beneficial to quit smoking and stick to moderate consumption of alcohol.
October 24th, 2011 by Peter
Lung cancer, as you know, is one of the most common forms of cancer. If you have found out that you have small cell lung cancer, then it can be very depressing. Because not only is cancer very deadly, but the small cell lung cancer treatments, are also very dangerous and expensive. There are a lot of ways to strengthen the immune system with natural remedies. The stronger your immune system is, the less drugs and evasive procedures are needed. So how can you strengthen your immune system?
Small cell lung cancer treatments – MGN-3
MGN-3 is an immune system stimulant and it is extremely effective in strengthening the Natural Killer (NK) cells. The Natural Killer cells are one of the first lines of defences against viral and bacterial infections, as well as cancer. The stronger these cells the more effectively they will fight against cancer.
It is proven that people who have low NK cells activity, are more likely to experience cancer and various other diseases. What matters is the activity of NK cells, not the number of these cells. MGN-3 has also shown to increase the level of activity amongst other immune system cells, such as T cells and B cells. It can also increase the production of several cytokines, like tumor necrotic factor-alpha, interferon gamma, nterleukin-12 and Interleukin-2.
Dr. Ghoneum, who is an internationally recognized expert in the field of cancer immune therapy – which is a therapy that uses biological response modifiers or BRM-s, to activate Natural Kill cells in the body and kill cancer cells in the body, stated that MGN-3 proved to be superior to other small cell lung cancer treatments, not only because of its lack of toxicity, but also because it provides a boost to the immune system over a long period. He also said that other BRM-s effectiveness diminished over time, even if the patient was still taking them.
This is just one example of the possible small cell lung cancer treatments. The main thing is to be active and research for various alternative treatments and natural cures, that can help you. If you lose all hope and give up, then you have very little chance to beat cancer. It is also important find a doctor, that you can discuss these kinds of treatments, the patient and the doctor have to work together. There are so many examples of people, who successfully beat cancer, so never give up hope.
August 5th, 2011 by Peter
When the cancer is diagnosed, up to one-fourth of all people with lung cancer may have no symptoms. These cancers typically are identified incidentally when a chest x-ray is made for another reason.
Lung cancer can either spread locally and involve nearby tissues, for example the cavity outside the lungs, layers around the heart, or may travel to distant locations like local lymph glands or the bones, liver, brain or the opposite lung. Other organs where cancer of lung tends to spread are the adrenal glands, which are the glands placed above the kidneys and which generate special hormones.
The most general tumor of the adrenal gland is in fact a benign tumor called an adrenal adenoma. In a good number of patients, these benign tumors never lead to a patient to have any symptoms and do not require to be treated. They are typically found when a patient has a CT (or CAT) scan of the body for an unconnected reason, and are hence sometimes called “incidentalomas”.
The most general malignant tumors located in the adrenal gland are tumors that originate from cancer cells that have metastasized from other areas of the body to the adrenal gland by means of the blood stream. Some different kinds of cancer may spread to the glands of adrenal, most usually melanomas, lung cancers, and breast cancers.
In short, If cancerous cells break away from the original tumor, travel, and develop within other body parts-like the brain, liver, the opposite lung, bone, adrenal glands, or lymph nodes of the chest or collarbone (clavicle) regions-the process is recognized as metastasis.
Symptoms of metastatic lung tumors rely on the location and size. About 30%-40% of people with cancer of lung have a number of symptoms or signs of metastatic disease. Metastatic lung cancer in the glands usually causes no symptoms by the time of diagnosis as well.
June 13th, 2011 by Peter
Prognosis deals with predicting about the way a disease spreads and its possible outcomes. Prognosis includes chances of recovery from the disease too. These are two aspects for prognosis of any disease. When a patient approaches a doctor with symptoms of lung cancer, the patient is advised to go through some tests to confirm detection. After analyzing the test results, doctors are able to ascertain the stage to which cancer has reached. Every stage has a specified course of treatment.
There are many questions that come up during and after the prognosis. The patient would first like to know if the disease is curable. Cancer detected in early stages is usually curable. The third and fourth stage cancers are a major concern. If cancer has grown to other parts of the body it almost is incurable. There is however a chance to increase life expectancy, if detected in early stages. Doctors informs their patient abut the stage cancer has reached and whether it is life threatening. The treatment is a long process with radiation or chemotherapy as part of treatment. Prognosis continues to change at every stage of treatment.
Doctors generally inform their patient about possible complications during course of treatment. They also inform patients about treatment required for such complications. Doctors also communicate the survival chances to the patient if necessary. The severity of the disease and possible time frame for treatment has to be considered by the patient.
Many of lung cancer centers have an in house support groups to help patients cope up with the disease. They also help them by counseling on their individual cases and explaining exact outcome of the disease.
It is advisable to remember that prognosis is just a prediction and can change during the course of treatment. Doctors inform patients about the stage and treatment of the disease to help them deal with it and be prepared for all eventualities.
April 13th, 2011 by Peter
The early symptoms of lung cancer resemble the symptoms of other common illnesses. As such, it can be difficult to diagnose lung cancer until it is too late. Also confounding the problem, at least 25 percent of the people that are diagnosed with lung cancer have no symptoms at all.
Therefore, when you get a physical exam, the doctor typically checks the potential lung cancer symptoms against the patient background and considers the age, occupational exposure, family history and smoking history to determine if the symptoms are actually the result of lung cancer.
For example, an 18 female who does not smoke probably does not have lung cancer, whereas a 60 year male who smoked for 40 years might be suffering from lung cancer.
The first symptom that most people notice is a persistent cough, and it is noted about 80 percent of the time that people have symptoms. Many people refer to this as the smokers cough. Lung cancer affects the cells lining the airways, and the nerve endings in the airways detect any foreign substance and try to dislodge it in an effort to keep the airways clean. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer who never complain of coughing most likely have tumors located in the smaller passageways that do not get as irritated.
The second most common symptom is coughing up blood. When the tumor gets larger, it tends to bleed, resulting in the patient coughing up bloody mucous. If this is noticed, then you should get a physical exam as soon as possible to determine the cause of the discharge.
The third most common symptom is wheezing. This is caused by the airways being blocked by the tumor. Sometimes the wheezing is loud enough to be heard when the patient is breathing, other times the doctor will detect the wheezing when listen to the breathing.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should inform your doctor and have it checked out as soon as possible. The earlier that lung cancer is detected the better chances are that the patient will survive.
February 20th, 2011 by Peter
In the early stages of lung cancer, often, you will have no symptoms. It is as the cancer grows that the symptoms begin to appear. Here’s what you should be looking for when you suspect that you have lung cancer symptoms.
Some of these symptoms may include a cough that gets worse or doesn’t seem to want to go away, breathing problems (including shortness of breath or wheezing), a constant chest pain… especially when you cough, at times you may be coughing up blood.
This is accompanied with a hoarse voice, frequent chest infections (such as pneumonia), or an infection that doesn’t go away, feeling fatigued all of the time (feeling very tired all the time), unexplained weight loss, and a loss of appetite.
Be aware that other health problems may also cause some of these same symptoms. Whatever the case, you need to immediately get checked by your doctor.
These conditions are also symptomatic of many other lung problems, so a person who has any of these symptoms should definitely pursue the cause until one is sure of the problem. When a person goes for an exam, the doctor may ask many questions about the person’s medical history, including questions about the patient’s exposure to hazardous substances.
More often than not, a person having symptoms of lung cancer will be given physical exam. If the patient has a cough that produces a sputum (mucus), the mucus itself might be examined for cancer cells. The doctor will order a chest X-ray or specialized X-ray such as the CT scan, which helps to locate any abnormal spots in the lungs. The doctor may insert a small tube called a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth and down the throat, to look inside the airways and lungs and take a sample, or biopsy, of the tumor. This is just one of several ways in which a doctor may take a biopsy sample.
However, more and more doctors are using a form of CT scan in smokers to spot small lung cancers, which are more likely to be cured as compared to a large large tumor. The technique, called helical low-dose CT scan, is much more sensitive than a regular X-ray and can detect tumors when they are very small, which would otherwise not been on a regular x-ray.
February 1st, 2011 by Peter
Smoking is one of the surest ways of developing lung cancer. Cigarette smoke contains so many carcinogens that it is a wonder it is still being sold legally all across the world. Because of conscious efforts from different groups and organizations all over the world, cigarette consumption has dropped in most first world countries.
Unfortunately, cigarette companies have refocused their attention to developing nations and because of this, smoking is on the rise among the youth in third world countries. More active measures should be taken in order to help the youth curb this harmful and addictive habit.
December 29th, 2010 by Peter
Cancer is a well known disease to almost all of us. Every year many victims are falling prey to this deadly disease. Up to now no such medicine has been discovered that can cure cancer disease. Cancer develops in the form of a tumor and slowly and steadily these cancer cells increase in number. The reason because of which cancer is a deadly disease is that it shows no external symptoms in the victim’s body. It is said that if cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, it can be cured. There are many forms of cancer which affect the lives of thousands of people. One of the forms is lung cancer. Lung cancer is still affecting the lives of thousands of people. There are many different causes of lung cancer. The top most factor of causing lung cancer is smoking. The harmful substances of smoke destroy the lung cells. It is not necessary that a person who does not smoke can’t get lung cancer. If a particular person is regularly exposed to the tobacco smoke, the risk of lung cancer is higher.
There are many other factors too which are responsible for cancer. These include some natural factors too which are not in our control. These things include radon, asbestos, nickel, chromium, tar etc. These things are highly responsible for causing lung cancer and they mostly affect those people who work in the factories of these substances. The other major cause of lung cancer is air pollution. The risk of becoming a victim of lung cancer is higher in those cities which have high percentage of air pollution.
If cancer is diagnosed in an early stage it can be cured using some medication and precautions. There are many medicines available which help in resisting the cancer cells from growing inside the body if diagnosed in an early stage. According to some experts, a good diet is very helpful in protecting the body from the deadly cancer disease. A diet rich in fruits, green vegetables, low fat stuff, grains and preservatives is very helpful in minimizing the risk of lung cancer. Avoiding the use of alcohol is also very helpful in reducing the risk of deadly lung cancer. The other factor which minimizes the risk of cancer is fitness of the body. According to experts, physically fit human beings are less prone to lung cancer. If a person is maintaining a high fitness level, he can avoid lung cancer even after performing cigarette smoking.
There are many vitamins, drugs and other chemical agents available which are helpful in reducing the risk or delaying the growth of cancer and are called as chemoprevention. Many scientists are trying their best to make a medicine using these drugs and vitamins which can be helpful in curing lung cancer. But up to now no such medication has been discovered which can be proved helpful in curing lung cancer completely.
November 27th, 2010 by Peter
In approximately 25% of people with lung cancer, there are no symptoms and the cancer is detected during screening or a routine physical examination. However, in three-quarters of lung cancer patients there are warning symptoms and signs that can alert the patient or their physician.
Most commonly, lung cancer patients experience respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness and a persistent cough. These symptoms are very common among smokers, and are also present in a number of other conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chest infections. A new cough should always be evaluated, as it may be a symptom of lung cancer. Lung cancer may spread to the chest wall, causing chest, shoulder and back pain. If cancer cells erode lung blood vessels, the patient may cough up blood. There may also be other generalized effects that occur with most cancers, such as fever, fatigue, appetite loss and weight loss.
As a lung cancer grows, it increasingly compromises the normal functioning of an affected lung. Secondary complications may occur, such as collection of fluid in the tissue lining the lungs (pleural effusion), lung collapse, airway obstruction, and repeated lung infections. Lung cancer may also spread or metastasize to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, bones, liver and brain. Bone pain and abnormal liver or brain function may result.
The absence of symptoms does not necessarily indicate early disease, and the presence of non-specific chest symptoms can often go unheeded. Both these factors contribute to the fact that only about 15 percent of lung cancer patients are diagnosed in the early stages of disease. The later lung cancer is diagnosed, the less effective treatment options are. Delays in diagnosing lung cancer patients result in an overall survival rate of only 15 percent at five years after diagnosis.
