Directory Of Cancer

Anal cancer among the gay and bisexual men

2008-09-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

Gay and bisexual men, especially those with HIV, are at significantly higher risk for anal cancer than the general population.

Statistics show that the rate for anal cancer in gay and bisexual men (without HIV) is about the same as the rates of cervical cancer in women before pap smears became routine. Routine pap smears have decreased the incidence of cervical cancer from 30-40 per 100,000 women to approximately 8 per 100,000.

The incidence of anal cancer among gay and bisexual men who are long-term HIV survivors has increased greatly. This is probably due in part to the fact that men are now surviving longer with recent effective HIV treatments, and are thus experiencing rising rates of other, previously uncommon cancers.

Anal cancer and cervical cancer are caused by the same viruses-"high risk" varieties of the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many different strains of HPV-most of which cause harmless warts in various places on the body (e.g., feet, hands, genitals). A few high risk strains of HPV can lead to anal cancer or cervical cancer if not caught and treated early. Most often, though, infection even with those "high risk" strains of HPV doesn't result in cancer.
Men become infected with anal HPV through receptive anal intercourse. One study estimates that approximately 95 percent of gay men with HIV and 65 percent of gay men without HIV have HPV in their anal canals or the surrounding skin.

Recommendations for gay and bisexual men

Recommendations for routine testing of gay and bisexual men are as yet uncertain, as this is an area of ongoing and active research, and no standards have yet been adopted.
What is an anal pap test and how are lesions and warts treated?
Warts are mostly caused by "low risk" strains of HPV that do not lead to cancer. However, they often need to be treated. Treatment usually consists of freezing them with liquid nitrogen, or the use of surgery or cautery.

Anal cancer is caused by "high risk" strains of HPV that can only be detected with an anal Pap test. In this procedure, a health care provider passes a swab into the rectum and collects cells. These cells are then put on a slide that is examined by an experienced pathologist in a lab under a microscope.

It takes many years for pre-cancerous anal lesions to develop into cancer. If the cells show changes of the kind that could lead to cancer, the patient should undergo a thorough rectal exam by an experienced proctologist. If the problem is caught early, before a cancer develops, it can easily be treated in a doctor's office.

Treatment for these anal lesions varies from simple in-office procedures, such as freezing the cells or applying a topical cream, to surgery or biopsy, if the lesions are widespread. Treatment is very effective in removing lesions, but they may come back in the same or other areas, so it is important to continue to have regular screenings. Persons with advanced tumors will often need other treatment.

Article from :
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/glbT/analcancer.htm

Anal Cancer Sign & Symptoms

2008-09-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Although rare, anal cancer is becoming more prevalent in the United States and many other developing countries. The condition develops in the tissues of the anus, which is a short tube that connects the lower part of the large intestine, known as the rectum, to the outside of the body. The anus allows the controlled disposal of body waste during bowel movements.

Like cervix cancer, the principal cause of anal cancer is human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that causes changes in the skin. Anal HPV infection is most commonly acquired through anal intercourse, but it can also be acquired from other genital areas that are infected, particularly from the vulva in women, or from the penis in men. Fingers, toys, etc., can probably lead to anal HPV infection as well. Research suggests that sexually active individuals, both men and women, may be at risk for HPV. The good news is that only a fraction of people with anal HPV infection will develop a lasting case of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) -- a precursor to anal cancer -- and even fewer will develop anal cancer.

Other risk factors for anal cancer include:

Men and women with a history of anal intercourse
Men and women with a history of perianal warts, which are found outside the anus
Women with a history of vulvar warts, which are found outside the female genitals
Men and women who are chronically immunocompromised, such as those taking
immunosuppressive medications, and those who are HIV positive, or have received organ transplants

Additional risk factors include being over 50 years of age, having many sexual partners and smoking, which increases a person's chance of developing HPV.

Patients with invasive anal cancer experience a wide variety of symptoms, but at the earliest stage of cancer, patients often have no symptoms. The most common symptoms include:
Pain or tenderness in the area around the anus, which can be constant or occur only with bowel movements or receptive sex
Bleeding with bowel movements or following sex that is different from normal
Lump or hard area on the outside of the anal area that appears to be increasing in size
Itching or discharge from the anus
Pain and/or a sense of fullness and constant need to go to the bathroom, which may occur as tumors grow and begin to invade the sphincter muscle

If you are at risk of anal cancer and/or are experiencing symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor and be examined promptly. If cancer is detected, an early diagnosis will help improve outcomes and smaller tumors can be treated more effectively with fewer side effects.

Article from :

http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/cancer/

cr/conditions/anal/signs.html

Homosexuality and Anal Cancer

2008-09-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

In June of 2004, the journal Nursing Clinics of North America reported the following regarding homosexuality and anal cancer:
“ One of the more pressing issues for gay men is anal carcinoma. Several recent studies have indicated the rate of anal dysplasia to be increasing in men with and without HIV. Ninety percent of men with HIV have the human papiloma virus (HPV), while 65% of men without HIV have HPV. HVP type 16 is the most troublesome for developing cancer and is found in a significant portion of gay men.
Another risk factor for developing anal cancer is the use of recreational drugs anally...Inserting "crystal meth" or ecstasy in the rectum can lead to higher rates of anal dylpasia.[1]
”

In 1997, Concerned Women of America reported the following regarding homosexuality and anal cancer:
“ Homosexual men's practice of anal sex has left many of them victims of anal cancer. One article in the New England Journal of Medicine commented, "Our study lends strong support to the hypothesis that homosexual behavior in men increases the risk of anal cancer: 21 of the 57 men with anal cancer (37 percent) reported that they were homosexual or bisexual, in contrast to only one of 64 controls." The Journal of the American Medical Association also published similar findings: "Epidemiological studies have shown that risk factors for anal cancer include homosexuality, history of receptive anal intercourse, presence of anal condylomata, and smoking." And the International Journal of Cancer stated, "Being single and having practiced anal intercourse appears to be associated with anal cancer and case reports have suggested a recent increase in the number of cases of anal cancer." Other studies have yielded the same conclusions.[2]

Article from:
http://www.conservapedia.com/Homosexuality_and_Anal_Cancer

The Dangers of Anal Cancer

2008-09-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

Rectal cancer symptoms can start very innocently. Sometimes it starts out as itching around the anus, much like the itching one gets with hemorrhoids. Later, it becomes painful with bleeding. Eventually the lesion opens, with foul drainage. This is the point when most people feel it is time to see a doctor. Unfortunately by then it may be too late; anal cancer has taken hold and the person's life hangs in the balance.

Do Anal Paps Help Detect Anal Cancer Earlier?

This scenario is all too common in men infected with HIV. While the symptoms are subtle at first, eventually anal cancer can be a killer if not diagnosed and treated. Here are some important facts about anal cancer.

More article .............

Article from :
http://aids.about.com/od/otherconditions/a/analca.htm

Anal Cancer

2008-09-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

Anal cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the anus.

The anus is the end of the large intestine, below the rectum, through which stool (solid waste) leaves the body. The anus is formed partly from the outer, skin layers of the body and partly from the intestine. Two ring-like muscles, called sphincter muscles, open and close the anal opening to let stool pass out of the body. The anal canal, the part of the anus between the rectum and the anal opening, is about 1½ inches long, more ..............

Article from:
http://www.medic8.com/cancer/anal-cancer.htm

Brain Tumor Symptoms

2008-09-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?
The following are the most common symptoms of a brain tumor. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms vary depending on the size and location of tumor. Many symptoms are related to an increase in pressure in or around the brain. There is no spare space in the skull for anything except the delicate tissues of the brain and its fluid. Any tumor, extra tissue, or fluid can cause pressure on the brain and result in increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which may result from one or more of the ventricles that drain cerebral spinal fluid (CSF, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord) becoming blocked and causing the fluid to be trapped in the brain. This increased ICP may cause the following:

headache
vomiting (usually in the morning)
nausea
personality changes
irritability
drowsiness
depression
decreased cardiac and respiratory function and, eventually, coma if not treated

Symptoms of brain tumors in the cerebrum (front of brain) may include:

increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
seizures
visual changes
slurred speech
paralysis or weakness on half of the body or face
drowsiness and/or confusion
personality changes

Symptoms of brain tumors in the brainstem (middle of brain) may include:

increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
seizures
endocrine problems (diabetes and/or hormone regulation)
visual changes or double vision
headaches
paralysis of nerves/muscles of the face, or half of the body
respiratory changes

Symptoms of brain tumors in the cerebellum (back of brain) may include:

increased intracranial pressure (ICP)
vomiting (usually occurs in the morning without nausea)
headache
uncoordinated muscle movements
problems walking (ataxia)

The symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Article from :

http://www.uabhealth.org/14041/

Brain Tumor Causes

2008-09-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

What causes brain tumors?
The majority of brain tumors have abnormalities of genes involved in cell cycle control, causing uncontrolled cell growth. These abnormalities are caused by alterations directly in the genes, or by chromosome rearrangements which change the function of a gene.

Patients with certain genetic conditions (i.e., neurofibromatosis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, Li-Frameni syndrome, and retinoblastoma) also have an increased risk to develop tumors of the central nervous system. There have also been some reports of people in the same family developing brain tumors who do not have any of these genetic syndromes.

Research has been investigating parents of children with brain tumors and their past exposure to certain chemicals. Some chemicals may change the structure of a gene that protects the body from diseases and cancer. Workers in oil refining, rubber manufacturing, and chemists have a higher incidence of certain types of tumors. Which, if any, chemical toxin is related to this increase in tumors is unknown at this time.

Patients who have received radiation therapy to the head as part of prior treatment for other malignancies are also at an increased risk for new brain tumors.

Article From:
http://www.uabhealth.org/14040/

Brain Tumor Diagnostic Tests

2008-09-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

neurological examination - your physician tests reflexes, muscle strength, eye and mouth movement, coordination, and alertness.

computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

x-ray - a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

bone scan - pictures or x-rays taken of the bone after a dye has been injected that is absorbed by bone tissue. These are used to detect tumors and bone abnormalities.

arteriogram (Also called an angiogram.) - an x-ray of the arteries and veins to detect blockage or narrowing of the vessels.

myelogram - a procedure that uses dye injected into the spinal canal to make the structure clearly visible on x-rays.

spinal tap (Also called a lumbar puncture.) - a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. The pressure in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord.

Article from :
http://www.uabhealth.org/14042/

Types Of Brain Tumor

2008-09-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

Ependymomas
INTRODUCTION: Although ependymomas are the third most common type of brain tumor in children (following astrocytoma and medulloblastoma), they are relatively rare, with approximately 200 cases diagnosed in the US each year in children and adults less than 25 years of age. Ependymomas account for 6-12% of brain tumors in children less than 18 years of age, but 30% of brain tumors in children less than 3 years of age 1. The average age at diagnosis is 4-6 years 2-4. The underlying cause and basic biology of these tumors is not fully understood, and the optimal staging and treatment of ependymomas in children requires more study.
High-Grade Gliomas

Brain Stem Gliomas in Childhood
Brain stem tumors are perhaps the most dreaded cancers in pediatric oncology, owing to their historically poor prognosis, yet they remain an area of intense research. Brain stem tumors account for about 10 to 15% of childhood brain tumors. Peak incidence for these tumors occurs around age 6 to 9 years. The term brain stem glioma is often used interchangeably with brain stem tumor. More precisely, glioma encompasses tumor pathology types such as ganglioglioma, pilocytic astrocytoma, fibrillary astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma multiforme

High-Grade Gliomas
Normal brain is made up of several cell types including neurons, the main functional cell of the brain, and glia, which play a supportive role to the neurons. Glia are further subdivided into different types, each type with a different function, including oligodendrocytes which cover the axons of neurons with sheathes of myelin, and astrocytes which serve many functions including taking up excess neurotransmitters and creating the blood-brain barrier. Gliomas are tumors of glial cells, particularly astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. About 2/3 of all childhood brain tumors are gliomas.

Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is the most common primary central nervous system tumor which arises in childhood. Its management represents both the progress and limitations involved in patient care over the last 20 years. Medulloblastomas arise in the fourth ventricle, between the brain stem and the cerebellum. Common symptoms are unsteadiness, headaches, and vomiting due to hydrocephalus (from blockage of cerebrospinal fluid flow). Diagnosis is usually within one to three months of the onset of symptoms, as this is a fast-growing tumor. Occasionally due to bleeding within the tumor, a patient will be in a coma or severe distress at diagnosis. While there has been significant improvement in survival for children with this disease, much progress needs to be made.

Find more this article at :
http://www.childhoodbraintumor.org/index.php/
brain-tumor-types-and-imaging.html

Treatment for primary bone cancer

2008-09-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

Most people with primary bone cancer will need a combination of different treatments. The treatments that are used are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Surgery is a very important part of treatment and is used to remove the tumour in the bone. If surgery is not possible then radiotherapy, which is particularly effective in Ewing's sarcoma, may be used instead.

Chemotherapy is an important treatment for most people with osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. It is often given before surgery and may shrink large tumours enough to avoid amputation (removal of the limb). More chemotherapy is given after the surgery.

When radiotherapy is used to treat Ewing's sarcoma, it is most often given after or instead of surgery. Although radiotherapy is used less often to treat osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, it is still helpful in certain situations.

How treatment is planned
In most hospitals a team of specialists will discuss with you the treatment that they feel is best for your situation. This multidisciplinary team (MDT) will include a surgeon who specialises in bone cancers, a medical oncologist (chemotherapy specialist), a clinical oncologist (who specialises in radiotherapy as well as chemotherapy) and may include a number of other healthcare professionals such as a:
- nurse specialist
- dietitian
- physiotherapist
- occupational therapist
- psychologist or counsellor.

Together the doctors will be able to advise you on the best course of action and plan of treatment, taking into account a number of factors. These include your age, general health, the type and size of the tumour, and whether it has begun to spread.

If two treatments are equally effective for your type and stage of cancer, your doctors may offer you a choice of treatments. Sometimes people find it very hard to make a decision in this situation. If you are asked to make a choice, make sure that you have enough information about the different treatment options, what is involved and the side effects you might have, so that you can decide what is the right treatment for you.

Remember to ask questions about any aspects that you do not understand or feel worried about. You may find it helpful to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each option with your cancer specialist, nurse specialist or with our support service nurses.

If you have any questions about your treatment, don't be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse. It often helps to make a list of questions and to take a close friend or relative with you.

Second opinion
Even though a number of cancer specialists work together as a team and they use national treatment guidelines to decide on the most suitable treatment, you may want to have another medical opinion. Either your specialist, or your GP, may be willing to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion, if you feel it will be helpful. The second opinion may cause a delay in the start of your treatment, so you and your doctor need to be confident that it will give you useful information.

If you do go for a second opinion, it may be helpful to take a friend or relative with you, and have a list of questions ready, so that you can make sure your concerns are covered during the discussion.

Giving your consent
Before you have any treatment, your doctor will explain the aims of the treatment to you. They will usually ask you to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form you should have been given full information about:
- the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
- the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
- any other possible treatments that may be available
- any significant risks or side effects of the treatment.

If you do not understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it is not unusual for people to need repeated explanations.

It is often a good idea to have a friend or relative with you when the treatment is explained, to help you remember the discussion more fully. You may also find it useful to write down a list of questions before you go to your appointment.

Patients often feel that the hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it is important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.

You can always ask for more time to decide about the treatment if you feel that you can’t make a decision when it is first explained to you.

You are also free to choose not to have the treatment. The staff can explain what may happen if you do not have it. It is essential to tell a doctor, or the nurse in charge, so that they can record your decision in your medical notes. You do not have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it can be helpful to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.

Benefits and disadvantages
Many people are frightened at the idea of having cancer treatments, particularly because of the side effects that can occur. Some people ask what would happen if they did not have any treatment.

Although many of the treatments can cause side effects, these can usually be controlled with medicines.

Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation.

In people with early-stage bone cancer, surgery is often done with the aim of curing the cancer. Occasionally, additional treatments are also given to reduce the risk of it coming back.

If the cancer is at a more advanced stage the treatment may only be able to control it, leading to an improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life. However, for some people in this situation the treatment will have no effect upon the cancer and they will get the side effects without any of the benefit.

Treatment decisions
If you have been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether to accept the treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to decide whether to go ahead with treatment.

Making decisions about treatment in these circumstances is always difficult, and you may need to discuss in detail with your doctor whether you wish to have treatment. If you choose not to, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to control any symptoms.

Article From :
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Bone/
Treatment/Treatment

Causes of primary bone cancer

2008-09-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

The exact causes of primary bone cancer are unknown. Research is continually being carried out to try to find the causes. As many bone cancers occur in teenagers and young people, it is thought that they may be related in some way to changes that occur when bones are growing.

People who have had previous high doses of radiotherapy to an area that includes bones, have a slightly increased risk of developing cancer of that bone. This is still a very small risk and most people who have radiotherapy will never develop a primary bone cancer.

People who have a type of long-term disease of the bone, known as Paget’s disease, have an increased risk of developing an osteosarcoma.

If a person has had a benign (non-cancerous) bone tumour known as a osteochondroma or a chondroma, they will have a slightly increased risk of developing a chondrosarcoma.

Most bone cancers are not caused by an inherited faulty gene, but some people with genetic conditions have an increased risk of developing bone cancer. People who have an inherited condition known as Li-Fraumeni syndrome have an increased risk of osteosarcoma and some other types of cancer. Children who have a rare type of eye cancer known as retinoblastoma, that is caused by an inherited faulty gene, have an increased risk of osteosarcoma. Another rare genetic condition called hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) can also increase the risk of developing chondrosarcoma.

It is sometimes thought that an injury or knock to a bone can cause cancer to develop, but there is very little evidence to suggest that an injury will cause bone cancer. An injury may draw attention to a bone cancer that is already there.

Article From :
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Bone/
Causesdiagnosis/Causes

Types of primary bone cancer

2008-09-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Primary bone cancer is a very rare type of cancer and fewer than 500 people are diagnosed with it in the UK each year. There are several different types of primary bone cancer and all of them are rare. If your cancer is not one of those described below, our nurses can give you information about it.

Osteosarcoma (also called osteogenic sarcoma)
This is the commonest type of primary bone cancer. In the UK, nearly a third of all primary bone cancers are osteosarcomas – approximately 150 people are diagnosed each year. Although it can occur at any age, osteosarcoma is most commonly found in teenagers and young adults, and is slightly more common in males. Any bone in the body can be affected but the most common sites are the upper arms (humerus), or the legs, particularly the lower thigh (femur) and the upper shin bone (tibia).

Ewing's sarcoma
Ewing's sarcoma is named after the surgeon who first described it. Again, this type of bone cancer is more common in young people than adults. Any bone can be affected, but the pelvis, thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia) are the most common places for it to occur. Like osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma is slightly more common in males than females. It is also possible to get a Ewing’s sarcoma in the soft tissues of the body. This is known as extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma.

Chondrosarcoma
This is a cancer that starts in cartilage cells although it can also grow within a bone or on its surface. It is most commonly found in middle-aged adults. Chondrosarcoma is usually a slow-growing tumour. The most common sites are the pelvis, shoulder blade (scapula), ribs and the upper part of the arms (humerus) and legs (femur).

Spindle cell sarcoma
There are four types of spindle cell sarcoma: malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and undifferentiated sarcoma of the bone.

- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma This is a very rare type of bone cancer that occurs in middle-aged adults. It is usually found in the arms or legs, especially around the knee joint.
- Fibrosarcoma This type of bone cancer, which again is very rare, is also most often found in adults, particularly during middle age. The most common site is the thigh bone (femur).
- Leiomyosarcoma Leiomyosarcoma of the bone is very rare. It can occur in people of any age, but is extremely rare in people under 20 years of age. It occurs slightly more often in men than women, and is more common in the long bones of the body, such as the thigh bone (femur), shin bones (tibia) and bone of the upper arm (humerus).
- Undifferentiated sarcoma of the bone These tumours are made up of primitive cells and it isn’t possible to tell what type of normal bone cell they develop from.

Chordoma
This is an extremely rare cancer which starts in the bones of the spine, either in the sacrum (the bottom of the spine) or the neck. Chordomas are more common in men, and can occur at any age, although they are more common in people in their 40s and 50s. They tend to be slow-growing tumours.

Angiosarcoma
This is a rare type of primary bone cancer that occurs more commonly in men. It can occur in people of any age, but is very rare in people under 20 years of age. Angiosarcomas can affect any bone in the skeleton. They can affect more than one bone at the same time, or develop in more than one place in a single bone.

Article from :
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Bone/General
/Typesofprimarybonecancer

2008-09-12T03:27:00.000-07:00

Primary bone cancer is different from secondary or metastatic bone cancer. In secondary or metastatic bone cancer, the cancer originates in a different place but spreads (metastasizes) to the bones. For example, someone with prostate cancer may develop bone lesions from the prostate cancer. But, even though the cancer has spread to the bone, it's still prostate cancer.
Metastatic bone cancer is much more common than is primary bone cancer. Additionally, primary bone cancer doesn't refer to cancer that begins in the bone marrow — the soft inner core of your bones that makes your blood cells. Bone marrow cancers include diseases such as multiple myeloma and acute and chronic leukemias.
In general, no one knows for certain what causes most primary bone cancers. Adults with Paget's disease of bone, which involves abnormal development of new bone cells, may be at increased risk of osteosarcoma.

In a few cases, bone cancers may have a hereditary component, such as in:
Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This condition is characterized by an increased risk of many different cancers, including osteosarcoma, breast cancer, brain cancer and others.
Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. This condition causes short stature, skeletal problems and rashes, and increases risk of bone cancer.
Hereditary retinoblastoma. Children with this rare cancer of the eye have an increased risk of osteosarcoma.
Multiple exostoses. Children with this inherited condition that causes cartilage bumps to form on your bones have an increased risk of chondrosarcoma.
The association with radiation Radiation is occasionally associated with bone cancer. Exposure to radiation from a diagnostic X-ray won't harm you. But heavy doses of radiation, such as radiation therapy given for other cancers, can increase your risk of developing bone cancer, especially if you receive the therapy at a young age.
Still, radiation therapy is becoming more and more sophisticated, which may lead to fewer of such side effects. For example, doctors today are better able to regulate doses of radiation and more precisely target the tumor being treated.

What are the side effects of treatment for bone cancer?

2008-09-12T03:26:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, there are risks and side effects with each of the treatments for bone cancer. The main risks associated with surgery include infection, recurrence of the cancer, and injury to the surrounding tissues. In order to remove the entire cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence, some surrounding normal tissue must also be removed. Depending on the location of the cancer, this may require the removal of portions of bone, muscle, nerves, or blood vessels. This could cause weakness, loss of sensation, and the risk of fracture or fracture of the remaining bone. You could be referred to a rehabilitation specialist for physical and occupational therapy after surgery to try to improve your strength and function.
Chemotherapy uses very powerful medication to try to kill cancer cells. Unfortunately, some normal cells are also killed in the process. The medications are designed to kill rapidly dividing or growing cells. The normal cells that are affected often include hair, blood-forming cells, and cells lining the digestive system. Side effects include nausea and vomiting, loss of hair, infection, and fatigue. Fortunately, these side effects usually resolve after the chemotherapy is over. Good nutrition is important for your body to fight the cancer. You may be referred to nutrition specialist to help with this, especially if you experience nausea and loss of appetite.
The main side effects from radiation therapy include fatigue, loss of appetite, and damage to the surrounding skin and soft tissues. Prior radiation therapy can also increase the risk of wound problems from surgery in the same area.

What does the future hold for patients with bone cancer?
There has been much recent advancement in the understanding and treatment of bone cancer. These have led to more focused radiation therapy to reduce the risk to surrounding tissues, better combinations of chemotherapy with less risk and side effects, and improved treatment options, including limb-salvaging surgery, that decrease the need for amputation.
There is currently much work being conducted in each of these areas as well as investigations into the causes of cancer. It is hoped that a better understanding of the specific causes of cancer will lead to gene-therapy techniques to target specific cancer cells with limited risk to other normal cells.

Article from :
http://www.medicinenet.com/bone_cancer/page5.htm

What are the symptoms of bone cancer?

2008-09-12T03:23:00.000-07:00

The most common symptom of bone tumors is pain. In most cases, the symptoms become gradually more severe with time. Initially, the pain may only be present either at night or with activity. Depending on the growth of the tumor, those affected may have symptoms for weeks, months, or years before seeking medical advice. In some cases, a mass or lump may be felt either on the bone or in the tissues surrounding the bone. This is most common with MFH or fibrosarcoma but can occur with other bone tumors. The bones can become weakened by the tumor and lead to a fracture after little or no trauma or just from standing on the affected bone. Fever, chills, night sweats, and weight loss can occur but are less common. These symptoms are more common after spread of the tumor to other tissues in the body.

How is bone cancer diagnosed?
The first thing your doctor will do is to take a complete medical history. This will give your doctor clues as to your diagnosis. Some types of cancer are more common in people if they have close family members that have had that type of cancer. A description of your symptoms can help your doctor identify the possibility of bone cancer from other possible causes. Next, a complete physical examination can help find the cause of your symptoms. This may include testing your muscle strength, sensation to touch, and reflexes. Certain blood tests can be ordered that can help to identify a possible cancer.

Next, your doctor will likely order some imaging studies. Plain x-rays are often ordered first. In some cases, if the cancer is identified very early it may not show up on plain x-rays. The appearance of a tumor on the x-ray can help determine the type of cancer and whether or not it is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are more likely to have a smooth border while malignant tumors are more likely to have a ragged border. This is because the benign tumors typically grow more slowly and the bone has time to try to surround the tumor with normal bone. Malignant tumors are more likely to grow more quickly, not giving the normal bone a chance to surround the tumor.

A CT scan (CAT scan or computed tomography) is a more advanced test that can give a cross sectional picture of your bones. This test gives very good detail of your bones and is better able to identify a possible tumor. It also gives additional information on the size and location of the tumor.

An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is another advanced test that can also provide cross sectional imaging of your body. The MRI provides better detail of the soft tissues including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels than a CT scan. This test can give better detail on whether or not the bone tumor has broken through the bone and involved the surrounding soft tissues.

A bone scan is a test that identifies areas of rapidly growing or remodeling bone. The bone scan is often taken of the entire body. This test may be ordered to see if there are any other areas of bone involvement throughout the body.

If a tumor is identified, your doctor will use all of the information from the history and physical examination along with the laboratory and imaging studies to put together a list of possible causes (differential diagnosis).

Your doctor may then obtain a biopsy sample of the tumor. This involves taking a small sample of the tumor that can be examined in the laboratory to determine what kind of tumor it is. The biopsy can be obtained either through a small needle (needle biopsy) or through a small incision (incisional biopsy).

Article from :
http://www.medicinenet.com/bone_cancer/page3.htm

What is bone cancer?

2008-09-12T03:20:00.000-07:00

Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. More than 2,000 people are diagnosed in the United States each year with a bone tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic spread from another tumor.

There are many different types of bone cancer. The most common bone tumors include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and chordoma.

- Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone cancer. It most commonly affects males between 10 and 25 years old, but can less commonly affect older adults. It often occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs at areas of rapid growth around the knees and shoulders of children. This type of cancer is often very aggressive with risk of spread to the lungs. The five-year survival rate is about 65%.
- Ewing's sarcoma is the most aggressive bone tumor and affects younger people between 4-15 years of age. It is more common in males and is very rare in people over 30 years old. It most commonly occurs in the middle of the long bones of the arms and legs. The three-year survival rate is about 65%, but this rate is much lower if there has been spread to the lungs or other tissues of the body.
- Chondrosarcoma is the second most common bone tumor and accounts for about 25% of all malignant bone tumors. These tumors arise from the cartilage cells and can either be very aggressive or relatively slow-growing. Unlike many other bone tumors, chondrosarcoma is most common in people over 40 years old. It is slightly more common in males and can potentially spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. Chondrosracoma most commonly affects the bones of the pelvis and hips. The five-year survival for the aggressive form is about 30%, but the survival rate for slow-growing tumors is 90%.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) affects the soft tissues including muscle, ligaments, tendons, and fat. It is the most common soft-tissue malignancy in later adult life, usually occurring in people 50-60 years of age. It most commonly affects the extremities and is about twice as common in males as females. MFH also has a wide range of severity. The overall five-year survival rate is about 35%-60%.
- Fibrosarcoma is much more rare than the other bone tumors. It is most common in people 35-55 years of age. It most commonly affects the soft tissues of the leg behind the knee. It is slightly more common in males than females.
- Chordoma is a very rare tumor with an average survival of about six years after diagnosis. It occurs in adults over 30 years of age and is about twice as common in males as females. It most commonly affects either the lower or upper end of the spinal column.

In addition to bone cancer, there are various types of benign bone tumors. These include osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, osteochondroma, enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma, and giant cell tumor (which has the potential to become malignant). As with other types of benign tumors, these are not cancerous.

There are two other relatively common types of cancer than develop in the bones: lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Lymphoma, a cancer arising from the cells of the immune system, usually begins in the lymph nodes but can begin in the bone. Multiple myeloma begins in the bones, but it is not usually considered a bone tumor because it is a tumor of the bone marrow cells and not of the bone cells.

Article from:
http://www.medicinenet.com/bone_cancer/page2.htm

Leukemia

2008-09-12T03:19:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow, the spongy center of the bones that makes blood cells. In leukemia, abnormal white blood cells divide out of control and crowd out the normal cells in the bloodstream. The abnormal white blood cells are not mature, and therefore cannot carry out their infection-fighting function in the blood. These cells crowd out healthy white blood cells, as well as the red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body and the platelets which cause the blood to clot.
What are the different types of childhood leukemia?
The most common type of leukemia in children is acute lymphocytic (or lymphoblastic) leukemia or ALL, which is further characterized as pre-B, B, or T-cell ALL. Childhood acute myeloid leukemia or AML is less common. "Acute" means that the diseases progress rapidly. The chronic forms of these leukemias, CLL and CML respectively, are seen almost solely in adults. In general, acute leukemias are most prevalent in children and are therefore often referred to as "childhood leukemias".
ALL: acute lymphocytic leukemia (pre-B, B, or T-cell). ALL NCI PDQ
AML: acute myeloid leukemia AML NCI PDQ
About 5% of childhood leukemias are distinct types of chronic myeloid leukemias. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML, NCI PDQ) occurs primarily in children aged 2 or under. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL, NCI PDQ) is a distinct subtype of AML. A good starting point for research into these and other less common childhood leukemias is on the cancer.gov myeloid leukemias page.
Types of white blood cells
White blood cells - the blood cells that grow out of control in leukemia - are the cells that fight infection. Blood contains three types of cells:
red blood cells (RBCs, or erythrocytes): these cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body and give the blood its red color
platelets (thrombocytes): these cells cause your blood to clot when you bleed
white blood cells (WBCs, or leukocytes): these cells defend your body from infections
All blood cells originate in the bone marrow. In fact, they all develop from one special type of cell, called a stem cell.
White blood cells come in several types, including:
granulocytes: fight bacteria by surrounding them and "eating" them.
monocytes: fight germs, but aren't as specific as granulocytes.
B-lymphocytes: these cells attach antibodies on germs (or anything they don't think belongs) with antibodies, which in turn signal other WBCs to get the tagged germ.
T-lymphocytes: these cells signal orders to other WBCs to come to a germ, and they make those other WBCs stay at the battle sight.
In acute lymphocytic leukemias, the B- or T-lymphocytes are growing out of control. In acute myelogenous leukemias, the granulocytes are growing out of control.
lymphocytic (ALL): uncontrolled growth of B- or T-lymphocytes
myelogenous (AML) (granulocytic): uncontrolled growth of granulocytes
In all of the leukemias, immature white cells crowd out the good cells. Since they crowd out the red blood cells, a person with leukemia is anemic, without enough red blood cells to carry the necessary oxygen or energy to the body. That's why fatigue is a sign of leukemia. The leukemia cells also crowd out the platelets, so if a person with leukemia is cut, the bleeding does not stop as readily. They also bruise easier. Since the blasts are immature, non-functioning infection fighting cells, a person with leukemia is easily susceptible to infection.
If you are interested in more information on blood cells, follow the links below for in-depth, technical information.
University of Virginia's site on blood cells - a good tutorial from the University of Virginia.
University of Washington REAL classification of leukemia cells, flow cytometry panels, diagnosis of acute leukemia, tdt, descriptions of many diagnostic tests used in leukemia treatment. From the University of Washington, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematopathology Laboratory.
Leukemia at Tulane University Medical Center. Photos of blood slides. Good information on the different types of blood cells on the hematopathology main page.
Treatment for childhood leukemias
ALL. The primary treatment for newly diagnosed ALL is combination chemotherapy. Radiation and bone marrow transplantation may be used in some cases. Treatment begins with an intense treatment called "induction" with a combination of several chemotherapy drugs, usually cytosine arabinoside, vincristine, prednisone, L-asparaginase, and daunorubicin. The goal of induction is to kill most of the leukemia cells; most patients do not have any leukemic cells in the bone marrow at the end of induction. (At least, not detectable in a light-microscopical examination of stained bone marrow smear.) The next phase is called "consolidation" in which a different combination of drugs is administered, usually methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, cytosine arabinoside, mercaptopurine, and prednisone. "Maintenance" follows, in which the chemotherapy is lessened to a few of the drugs administered less frequently. Maintenance is generally well tolerated by the patient. Often a period of maintenance is followed by another cycle of induction-consolidation, called "re-intensification". Total therapy lasts from two to three years. Detailed information on this web site:
ALL clinical trials page and ALL main page on this ped-onc site
AML. In general, newly diagnosed AML is initially treated more aggressively than is ALL. Intensive chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation is becoming the first treatment chosen, especially when a suitable donor is available. After the intensive chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplant, children with AML do not go on maintenance; studies have shown that AML children in remission have had as much chemotherapy as their bodies can tolerate, and additional maintenance chemotherapy does not benefit them.
Chronic myeloid leukemias. As in AML, intensive chemotherapy and/or BMT are generally employed. Currently (2005), imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is being studied in clinical trials. Chronic leukemias have three clinical phases: chronic, accelerated, and blast crisis. Prognosis depends on the clinical phase of the disease.
Relapsed leukemia. Relapse, or recurrence of leukemia, can occur anytime during therapy or after completion of treatment. Generally, it is more difficult to cure a child after relapse of the leukemia; relapse during or soon after the completion of treatment is considered less favorable than relapse a year or several years after treatment. Treatment depends on the site of relapse, whether it is in the bone marrow, central nervous system, testes, or other locations. Aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment, often followed bone marrow transplantation, are used to treat relapse of childhood leukemia.
New Treatments
What's on the horizon for leukemia treatment? The following organization talks about new treatments:
Research updates from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
The big news (early 2000s) for the treatment of CML (and maybe Ph+ ALL) is STI-571. Brian Druker (Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland) is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society doctor prominent in this research.
STI-571, now called Gleevec or imatinib mesylate
Gleevec web site
In 2004, ara G entered the treatment plans for T-cell ALL. Clofarabine (2005) shows promise for refractory (relapsed) ALL. More information in an essay on your author's private web site:
from sea to ara c
Statistics
Leukemia accounts for approximately 35% of all childhood cancers
Approximately 1 in 1000 children will be diagnosed with leukemia by the age of 19
It is more common in children under the age of 10
The five year survival rate for children diagnosed with leukemia and subsequently treated is approximately 70%
2500 cases of leukemia are diagnosed per year in the US

Article from :
http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/diseases/leuk.html

Lymphomas

2008-09-12T03:16:00.000-07:00

Lymphomas are malignant cell infiltrations of the lymphatic system. The lymph system includes the nodes with which of us are familiar, located in the neck, armpit, and groin. These nodes are only part of the lymph system, as they are connected to each other and to the spleen, thymus, and parts of the tonsils, stomach, and small intestine by a network of vessels. The vessels carry a colorless, watery fluid called lymph, and contains lymphocytes. Once a malignancy begins in one part of the lymph system, it often spreads throughout the rest of the system before it is detected. Lymphomas share similar symptoms such as painless swelling of the lymph nodes, fever and fatigue.
Lymphomas, close cousins to the leukemias, are divided into many sub-groups according to cell types. Broadly, they are classified as either non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's. Of these two types, non-Hodgkin's (NHL) is the more common in children. About 15 types of NHL have been identified, although three of these types are the main ones which occur in children (see below). NHL in children occurs more frequently between the ages of ten and twenty than under ten. Hodgkins cases in children are rare under five years of age; in children under age 10, it is more common in boys than girls. Currently, Hodgkin's lymphoma is more curable than non-Hodgkin's.
NHL (Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma)

Recommended cancer.gov link: NCI PDQ
The three types of NHL that occur most often in children are:
lymphoblastic: Predominantly T-cell origin, sometimes hard to distinguish from leukemia; 30% of childhood NHLs.
small noncleaved cell lymphoma (Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's): B-cell origin, cALLa; 40-50% of childhood NHLs.
large cell lymphoma A heterogeneous group B lineage and T lineage, some are like both T and B; 20-25% of childhood NHLs.
Descriptions of NHL are given at other web sites, especially:
Mike's Lymphoma Resource Pages.
Cancer.gov site
The author of "Mike's" pages has done excellent jobs in describing lymphomas, including details on cell classification, diagnosis, the lymph system, and statistics. Both pages focus largely on adult rather than childhood concerns, but the descriptions do cover the full age range of the disease.
Statistics for NHL
6% of childhood cancers,
1.0-1.5 per 100,000 children will be diagnosed with NHL
more common in ages 10-20
very unusual in children less than 3
frequent malignancy in children with AIDS
60% with NHL will be cured
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Recommended cancer.gov link: NCI PDQ
Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the presence of large, binucleated cells called "Reed-Sternberg cells." The normal counterpart of these cells is not known - they are of either a B or a T lineage. Hodgkin's disease usually presents with enlarged lymph nodes. Hodgkin's has a cure rate of 75%.
Descriptions of Hodgkin's are given at other web sites, especially:
Mike's Lymphoma Resource Pages.
Cancer.gov site
Treatment for Lymphomas
The treatment for all types of lymphoma depends on type, stage, and grade of disease. The types are listed in the descriptions and the embedded links. The stages and grades are outlined below.
Stages:
I cancer site, no bone marrow involvement
II two sites, both either above or below the diaphragm; no bone marrow involvement
III sites above and below the diaphragm; no bone marrow involvement
IV bone marrow is effected or the cancer cells have spread outside the lymphatic system
B fever, weight loss or night sweats
A absence of fever, weight loss or night sweats
E disease has spread to organs outside the lymph system
Grades:
high: usually found in B-cell and T-cell types
intermediate: usually found in B-cell and T-cell types
low: predominantly found in B-cell types
Lymphomas are usually treated by a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and/or bone marrow transplants. The cure rate varies greatly depending on the type of lymphoma and the progression of the disease.
Clinical trial information:
NCI clinical trial search form. This link takes you to a form to fill out and submit for the particular type of cancer you are researching.

Article from:
http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/diseases/lymph.html

Basic biomedical research forges new treatments for leukemia and

2008-09-12T03:11:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequently asked questions of someone who conducts biomedical research is, "How does this basic information lead to treatments or cures for human diseases?"
There are no simple answers, but two thoughts came to me recently. Often a basic researcher will discover a new gene in a particular human cell. One of the ways a new gene is studied is to study its expression in normal cells. Then, scientists look at a number of cancers to determine if the new gene is expressed in any of them.
Imagine a new gene discovered in a normal brain. In screening normal tissue from humans (usually we use cell lines), or mice, we might discover that this gene is also present in the bone marrow.

This unexpected distribution of a gene in brain and bone marrow would lead investigators to screen several types of leukemia, as leukemias are tumors of the blood forming cells and generally arise in the bone marrow.
Continuing the scenario, we now find that this new gene was expressed in one type of leukemia (leukemias are broadly divided by the cell of origin, i.e., myeloid, lymphoid), and that only certain types of lymphoid (lymphocyte) leukemias express the gene. We would now study how the expression of the new gene correlated with our current classification of lymphoid leukemias.
Let's say, for example, it was found in many, but not all, of the lymphocytic leukemias that we currently classify as "chronic lymphocytic leukemia." Next, we would look at the case histories of those who had this diagnosis, and who did or did not express the gene. Often, what is found is that the expression of the new gene correlates with outcome: either expression of the new gene signifies a worse or better prognosis. Immediately, if this true, it becomes a "new" diagnostic test that doctors can use to predict the course for patients.
Why is this important? In the most practical sense, it helps doctors decide if more or less vigorous treatment is warranted. All treatments for leukemia, for example, are hazardous. If we knew that certain patients were at a much lower risk for treatment failure, we could use fewer drugs, less often, or some different method. This would allow us to tailor our treatment to the severity of disease -- knowing the circumstances upfront rather than at the end of treatment.
Countless examples of this approach are currently in use: estrogen receptor density in breast cancer; oncogenes in types of leukemia; prostate genes in prostate cancer, etc.
However, an even more important direction is possible -- discovery of a new treatment. An excellent contemporary example is the Her- 2/neu receptor in breast cancer. It was disovered that this gene was over-expressed in certain breast tumors. Later it became a prognostic (predictive) test for breast cancer. About five years ago, tests for the Her-2/neu receptor were being used to help determine the course of therapy. Now, in a recently approved drug, an antibody directed against the Her2/neu receptor is being used to treat certain breast cancers.
Preliminary results suggest that this will be an important addition to the current "cocktail" approach to the treatment of this dread disease.

Dr. J. Donald Capra is the president and scientific director of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Article from :
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_19990818/ai_n10130044

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

2008-09-12T03:08:00.000-07:00

IntroductionChronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the white blood cells and bone marrow. The bone marrow is the spongy inner part of bones where blood cells are produced. White blood cells arise from the marrow and circulate in the blood. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by uncontrolled growth of blood cells.Many cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are detected by routine blood tests in persons with no symptoms, however, patients may have enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver and spleen, fatigue, bone pain, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, weight loss, flank pain, and generalized itching. Abnormal bruising, which is a more well known symptom of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, often does not appear until late in the illness.Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly than acute leukemia. In leukemia, non-functioning cells accumulate in the marrow and blood but chronic leukemia enables the body to make greater numbers of more mature functional cells. The word "lymphocytic" in the term "chronic lymphocytic leukemia" refers to one of the three types of white blood cells involved in this disease.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affects a type of lymphocyte called the B lymphocytes and causes suppression of the immune system, failure of the bone marrow, and infiltration of malignant cells into organs. Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia starts in the bone marrow, it can spread to the blood, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system (CNS), and other organs. It does not usually form a solid mass or tumor.The MediFocus Guidebook on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia contains information that is vital to anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition.You will learn about the causes, risk factors, common signs and symptoms, medical tests that are used to establish the diagnosis, and standard treatments. You will also learn about the latest clinical advances in the management of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia as well as about the newest treatment options that are available.The MediFocus Guidebook on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia will also inform you about important new, exciting research in the area of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. You will also learn about the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers that are at the leading edge in conducting clinical research about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.Information about clinical trials, quality of life issues, a list of questions to ask your doctor, and a useful directory of organizations and support groups that can help patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia complete this valuable Guidebook.You won't find this combination of information anywhere else. It is easily accessible right here. We invite you to preview the MediFocus Guidebook on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia so that you can decide if this comprehensive, trustworthy information may help you or someone you care about who has been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Article from :
http://www.cll-leukemia-info.com/guide_detail.asp?gid=HM004&a
=a&assoc=Google&keyword=chroniclymphocyticleukemia&gclid
=CNSEuaiB1pUCFQdWegodxXWoWg

The control of hematopoiesis and leukemia: from basic biology to the clinic

2008-09-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Abstract
Hematopoiesis gives rise to blood cells of different lineages throughout normal life. Abnormalities in this developmental program lead to blood cell diseases including leukemia. The establishment of a cell culture system for the clonal development of hematopoietic cells made it possible to discover proteins that regulate cell viability, multiplication and differentiation of different hematopoietic cell lineages, and the molecular basis of normal and abnormal blood cell development. These regulators include cytokines now called colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) and interleukins (ILs). There is a network of cytokine interactions, which has positive regulators such as CSFs and ILs and negative regulators such as transforming growth factor beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). This multigene cytokine network provides flexibility depending on which part of the network is activated and allows amplification of response to a particular stimulus. Malignancy can be suppressed in certain types of leukemic cells by inducing differentiation with cytokines that regulate normal hematopoiesis or with other compounds that use alternative differentiation pathways. This created the basis for the clinical use of differentiation therapy. The suppression of malignancy by inducing differentiation can bypass genetic abnormalities that give rise to malignancy. Different CSFs and ILs suppress programmed cell death (apoptosis) and induce cell multiplication and differentiation, and these processes of development are separately regulated. The same cytokines suppress apoptosis in normal and leukemic cells, including apoptosis induced by irradiation and cytotoxic cancer chemotherapeutic compounds. An excess of cytokines can increase leukemic cell resistance to cytotoxic therapy. The tumor suppressor gene wild-type p53 induces apoptosis that can also be suppressed by cytokines. The oncogene mutant p53 suppresses apoptosis. Hematopoietic cytokines such as granulocyte CSF are now used clinically to correct defects in hematopoiesis, including repair of chemotherapy-associated suppression of normal hematopoiesis in cancer patients, stimulation of normal granulocyte development in patients with infantile congenital agranulocytosis, and increase of hematopoietic precursors for blood cell transplantation. Treatments that decrease the level of apoptosis-suppressing cytokines and downregulate expression of mutant p53 and other apoptosis suppressing genes in cancer cells could improve cytotoxic cancer therapy. The basic studies on hematopoiesis and leukemia have thus provided new approaches to therapy.

L Sachs
Article from : http://www.pnas.org/content/93/10/4742.abstract

Advances in the Treatment of Hodkin's Disease: ASH 2001

2008-09-12T02:58:00.000-07:00

The results of several key clinical trials on the management of Hodgkin’s disease were presented at ASH. Notably, investigators from Germany presented data on a dose-intensive BEACOPP supported with Neupogen®, producing a two-year freedom from progression of 91% in newly diagnosed patients with stage II-IV Hodgkin’s disease. Investigators from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and the EORTC both reported, more ...............

Non-Hodkin's Lymphoma

2008-09-12T02:54:00.000-07:00

18 Oct 2002

Advances in Treatment for Aggressive DiseaseBreaking News from ESMO,
Nice.Thursday 17th October saw a symposium on treatment of Non Hodkin's Lymphoma which has not responded to initial treatment or which has relapsed soon into treatment.

This interesting day focused on the difficult problem of relapsed lymphomas. Generally speaking, approximately 40 percent of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are cured by chemotherapy. Of the others, a proportion will not respond to initial treatment (refractory disease) and the rest will relapse.

Treatment of these groups has previously been difficult. The workshop focused on the use of two relatively new drugs, if osfamide and MabThera (rituximab). These treatments can be used to reduce the amount of lymphomatous tumour cells to a minimum so that autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) - sometimes referred to as bone marrow transplant (BMT) or autologous stem cell transplant ASCT can then take place. It is known that up to 30% of people who relapse may still be cured with 2nd line (salvage) chemotherapy followed by ASCT.

In the ideal situation, the treatment must be effective (ie the lymphoma cells must be sensitive to the chemotherapy) with minimal toxicity to other organs and must not be toxic to the cells which are harvested for the bone marrow transplant (stem cells).

The first speaker was Dr Craig Moskowitz from the Lymphoma Service of the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre, in the United States. He looked at a combination of ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (called ICE) followed by ASCT.He first reviewed the current evidence which impaired a standard chemotherapy with DHAP versus high dose therapy (HDT) and ASCT. A response occurred approximately twice as frequently (55%) in the bone marrow transplant group (Parma study).

Dr Craig Moskowitz then presented the data from an ongoing trial which he is involved with, which is treated 430 patients so far. These patients received ICE and if a good response occurred, they received radiotherapy to the involved sites (or total body irradiation if they were less than 60 years old). 72% of patients responded (85% of relapsed patients, 57% of refractory patients).

He concluded that ICE for relapsed disease was markedly better than previously available treatments such as DHAP or CHOP. Most importantly, only 3% of patients stopped treatment with ICE because of toxicity. Two-thirds of these patients developed reversible confusion which disappeared when treatment was ceased.More news to follow later today.

Article from :
http://www.virtualcancercentre.com/news.asp?artid=3135

Hodgkins Disease

2008-09-12T02:51:00.000-07:00

Hodgkins disease is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic tissue. Lymphatic tissue includes the lymph nodes and other organs that are part of the lymphatic system, which produces blood and protects against germs.

Lymph nodes are small organs that make and store white blood cells, which fight infection. Lymph vessels, which resemble blood vessels, connect the lymph nodes and carry a fluid containing white blood cells. Other parts of the lymphatic system include the spleen, the thymus, and the bone marrow. Hodgkins disease can start almost anywhere. Hodgkins disease causes the lymphatic tissue to become enlarged and press on other organs. The cancer can spread through the lymphatic vessels, and if Hodgkins disease gets into the blood vessels it can spread to almost any other place in the body. In recent years, a lot of progress has been made the treatment of Hodgkins disease. About 90% of patients are cured with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Hodgkins Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis

The first Hodgkins disease symptom is usually a painless swelling in the neck, armpits or groin. Other symptoms of Hodgkin's disease may include night sweats or unexplained fever, weight loss and tiredness, cough or breathlessness, persistent itch all over the body. If you or your child have any of the listed symptoms, you must have them checked by your doctor. But remember they are common to many conditions other than Hodgkin's disease and most people with these symptoms will not have Hodgkin's disease.Usually you begin by seeing your family doctor (general practitioner) who will examine you and arrange for you to have any further tests or X-rays that may be necessary to determine if you have Hodkin's disease. Your GP will need to refer you to hospital for these tests and for specialist advice and treatment. A definite diagnosis is made by removing an enlarged lymph node or part of it and examining the cells under a microscope. This is known as a biopsy. It is a very small operation and is commonly done under general anaesthetic.

Article from :
http://www.healthdangers.com/injuries/leukemia/hodgkins-disease.htm

Hodgkin's Disease

2008-09-12T02:48:00.000-07:00

Hodgkin's disease is a form of cancer involving the lymphatic system. In 1994, there were an estimated 7,900 new cases (4,400 men and 3,500 women) and 1,550 deaths (900 men and 650 women) (Ries et al., 1994). From 1973 to 1991, mortality rates from Hodgkin's disease declined more than 50 percent, largely because of more effective therapy (mortality rates for 1987-91 were 0.7/100,000 men and 0.4/100,000 women). In the United States, Hodgkin's disease is relatively rare in children. However, two incidence peaks occur, between the ages of 15 and 34 and after age 45, which suggest different etiologies in these two age groups (MacMahon, 1957).
The patterns of this disease differ from one country to another. In developing countries, for example, childhood Hodgkin's disease is far more common than the adult manifestation (Correa and O'Conor, 1971), indicating the importance of environmental factors in the cause of this disease. Italy, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States experienced the highest incidence rates in the world for this relatively rare cancer (Parkin et al., 1992). The world standardized rate for U.S. white males was 3.4/100,000. The rate for U.S. black males was nearly half that for white males. For both races, rates for females were lower than those for males. In general, developed countries, particularly Scandinavian countries and the United States, have the highest incidence of Hodgkin's disease among 15- to 34-year-olds. There is a notable and unexplained exception in Japan, where only the older age group (greater than 45) is affected.
There are several histopathologic subtypes of the disease that not only hold great prognostic importance but also suggest different causality. Childhood Hodgkin's disease in developing countries is usually of the mixed cellularity or lymphocyte depletion histopathologic subtype associated with a higher frequency of Reed-Sternberg cells. This important morphologic feature of Hodgkin's disease generally correlates with poor prognosis. The nodular sclerosis form of Hodgkin's disease is seen most frequently in young women in developed countries and is usually associated with a good prognosis, though a subclass designated lymphocyte-depleted nodular sclerosis has a poorer prognosis than other nodular sclerosis cases (Axtell et al., 1972). Current information suggests that many cases of lymphocyte- predominant Hodgkin's disease are B-cell tumors and may be a different entity from other forms of Hodgkin's disease (Wright, 1989). In general, the prognosis is better in those cases with greater numbers of lymphocytes and fewer Reed-Sternberg cells. Stage of disease is another important factor determining prog nosis; patients with stage I and stage II Hodgkin's disease, the more limited forms, are more likely to be cured by therapy than those with more advanced stage III and stage IV disease.
Infection
In the early descriptions of Hodgkin's disease, clinicians noted the frequent appearance of fever and enlarged cervical lymph nodes, which suggested an infectious etiology for this disease. Subsequent reports noted the appearance of clusters of Hodgkin's disease (Vianna et al., 1971; Grufferman, 1982), and several studies have suggested that siblings of patients with Hodgkin's disease are at higher risk of developing this malignancy (Grufferman, 1982). There is considerable disagreement, however, as to whether these clusters are biologically meaningful or an artifact of reporting of coincidental occurrences (National Conference on Clustering of Health Events, 1990). Additional reports suggesting an infectious etiology include geographic patterns (Cole et al., 1968), noting a higher mortality rate in the Northern United States than in the South for young adult Hodgkin's disease. This pattern was not apparent for Hodgkin's disease in the older population, again indicating different etiologies for these two age groups. A number of investigators have noted parallels to other illnesses known or suspected of having an infectious etiology. Polio, for example, which affects younger people in developing countries more often than in developed countries, parallels the incidence pattern of Hodgkin's disease in developing versus developed countries. In addition, multiple sclerosis, where the risk of disease is related to place of birth, has also been noted to have a geographic pattern similar to that of Hodgkin's disease (Newell, 1970).
The two viruses that have been linked most specifically to Hodgkin's disease are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the more recently discovered human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6). Of particular interest is the association between Hodgkin's disease and infectious mononucleosis, a disease known to be caused by EBV and, rarely, other herpes viruses, including HHV-6. Several studies have shown that young adults developing infectious mononucleosis have a significantly higher risk of developing Hodgkin's disease within five years of their infectious mononucleosis (Grufferman, 1982). Whether this is a direct result of the infection with EBV or whether it is a result of the depressed immunity known to accompany infectious mononucleosis (Lantorp et al., 1972; Mangi et al., 1974) is unknown, but it is apparent that five years after the occurrence of infectious mononucleosis, the risk of developing Hodgkin's disease returns to normal.
Infection with EBV at an early age is rarely accompanied by significant clinical signs or symptoms but, as with most herpes viruses, the first infection at a later age produces a much more severe clinical illness. Therefore, infectious mononucleosis is largely a disease of individuals in upper socioeconomic groups who escape early infection; it is also of interest that, in the United States, Hodgkin's disease in the younger age groups is largely a disease of upper socioeconomic status (Gutensohn, 1982). Laboratory data first linking EBV (then called herpes-type virus) to the mixed cellularity and lymphocyte depletion forms of Hodgkin's disease was first reported in 1970 in the United States (Levine et al., 1970, 1971) and was partly confirmed in Sweden (Johanssen et al., 1970), where a different histologic classification was used. Although an etiologic role for EBV was suspected because of the relationship of antibody titers to stage of disease and to histologic subtype in patients before therapy (Levine et al., 1971), more convincing data were developed with a prospective serologic study (Mueller et al., 1989) and the detection of EBV in the Reed-Sternberg cells of biopsies taken from patients with Hodgkin's disease (Weiss et al., 1989). The relationship between EBV and Hodgkin's disease has been clarified even further by recent reports detecting EBV in the lymph node biopsies of children and older adults (but less frequently in young adults) (Jarrett et al., 1992) and the identification of EBV tumor-associated gene products in Hodgkin's disease tumor cells (Pallesen et al., 1991). Because infectious mononucleosis is known to have more than one causative agent, it is possible that Hodgkin's disease also can result from more than one infectious agent. Evidence for a role for HHV-6 was described (Clark et al., 1990; Torelli et al., 1991), but longitudinal studies suggest that the antibody titers to HHV-6 reflect a response to therapy, unlike EBV, and therefore an etiologic role is less likely (Levine et al., 1992; Levine et al., in press [b]).
Occupation
The strongest occupational link to Hodgkin's disease was first noted by Acheson, who reported an increased incidence in woodworkers (1967). Support for this finding occurred in a series of studies summarized by Grufferman (1982). Phenoxyacetic herbicides have been associated with Hodgkin's disease in one study (Hardell et al., 1981), but this report is unconfirmed, and the significance of this association has been questioned (Hoar et al., 1986).
Other Factors
Genetic susceptibility does not appear to be of major importance in Hodgkin's disease (Fraumeni and Li, 1969). The evidence for a genetic predisposition to Hodgkin's disease is primarily limited to the association with ataxia telangiectasia (AT), a genetically determined abnormality of the immune system, but because other lymphomas are even more prominent in AT patients (Spector et al., 1982), the association is probably the result of the immunosuppressed state and not of a specific genetic predisposition to Hodgkin's disease. Certain genetic markers have been associated with Hodgkin's disease (Forbes and Morris, 1970), and familial occurrences, though rare, have been described (Grufferman, 1982; Chakravarti, 1986). It has been estimated that most of these cases are the result of genetic susceptibility (Chakravarti, 1986; Levine, in press [b]). Other reported associations, such as tonsillectomy and amphetamine usage, have not been confirmed as contributing to the etiology of Hodgkin's disease (Grufferman, 1982; Mueller et al., 1987).

Paul H. Levine, M.D.*
Article from : http://www.healthgoods.com/Education/Health_Information/
Cancer_Rates_and_Risks/hodgkin_Disease.htm

Colon Cancer, Adenocarcinoma

2008-09-12T02:38:00.000-07:00

Background
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. Risk factors include age, a diet rich in fat and cholesterol, inflammatory bowel disease (especially ulcerative colitis), and genetic predisposition, including hereditary polyposis and nonpolyposis syndromes.

If detected early, colorectal cancer is curable by surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy can prolong survival in disease that has reached the lymph nodes. Both systemic and locoregional chemotherapy (eg, intrahepatic intraarterial chemotherapy for liver metastases) have a role in patients with metastatic colon cancer. Radiotherapy is used in cases of rectal cancer to reduce the risk of local recurrence.

Long-term survival correlates with stage of disease in colorectal cancer. Progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of colorectal cancer predisposition and progression. Efforts are underway to develop better screening strategies, chemopreventive approaches, and novel therapies to improve patient survival rates and to minimize toxicity. Despite all efforts, colorectal cancer remains the third leading cause of death from cancer in the United States.
Recent advances have included the development of orally available forms of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and the demonstration that anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy with bevacizumab prolongs survival in advanced colorectal cancer when combined with irinotecan, 5-FU, and leucovorin.

Pathophysiology
The vast majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas, which arise from preexisting adenomatous polyps that develop in the normal colonic mucosa. This adenoma-carcinoma sequence is a well-characterized clinical and histopathologic series of events with which discrete molecular genetic alterations have been associated.

Pioneering work by Bert Vogelstein and colleagues over the last 20 years has identified a number of critically important genetic alterations that contribute, through their multiplicity over many years, to the eventual development of colorectal cancer. The earliest event appears to involve the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene, which is mutated in individuals affected by familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The protein encoded by the APC gene targets the degradation of beta-catenin, a protein component of a transcriptional complex that activates growth-promoting oncogenes, such as cyclin D1 or c-myc. APC mutations are very common in sporadic colorectal cancer, and beta-catenin mutations have also been identified.
DNA methylation changes are a relatively early event and have been detected at the polyp stage. Colorectal cancers and polyps have an imbalance in genomic DNA methylation, with global hypomethylation and regional hypermethylation. Hypomethylation can lead to oncogene activation, whereas hypermethylation can lead to silencing of tumor suppressor genes. ras gene mutations are observed commonly in larger polyps but not smaller polyps, suggesting a role for this oncogene in polyp growth.

Chromosome arm 18q deletions are a later event associated with cancer development. These deletions likely involve the targets DPC4 (a gene deleted in pancreatic cancer and involved in the transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta growth-inhibitory signaling pathway) and DCC (a gene frequently deleted in colon cancer). Chromosome arm 17p losses and tumor suppressor p53 mutations are common late events in colon cancer. Bcl2 overexpression leading to inhibition of cell death signaling has been observed as a relatively early event in colorectal cancer development. 18q deletions detected in Dukes stage B colon cancers have been associated with an increased risk of recurrence following surgery, and studies are in progress to determine whether patients with 18q deletions might benefit from more aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy.

Another predisposing condition is hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, in which affected individuals inherit a mutation in one of several genes involved in DNA mismatch repair, including MSH2, MLH1, and PMS2. ras gene mutations have been detected in the stool of patients with colorectal cancer and may in the future be useful in early diagnosis.
Although the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as sulindac, have been shown to affect the number of polyps, this has not translated to a clinical impact on cancer prevention.

Frequency

United States
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 104,950 new cases of colon cancer and 40,340 new cases of rectal cancer will be reported in 2005 in the United States. Combined, the 2 cancer types will cause about 56,290 deaths.

International
According to the World Health Organization's April 2003 report on global cancer rates more than 940,000 new cases of colorectal cancer and nearly 500,000 deaths are reported worldwide each year.

Mortality/Morbidity
The overall 5-year survival rate from colon cancer is approximately 60%, and nearly 60,000 people die of the disease each year in the United States. The 5-year survival rate is different for each stage (see Staging); the staging classification for colon cancer can predict prognosis well. For Dukes stage A tumors involving only the mucosa, the 5-year survival rate exceeds 90%, whereas for metastatic colon cancer, the 5-year survival rate is about 5%. For Dukes stage B colon cancers, the 5-year survival rate is greater than 70% and can be greater than 80% if the tumor does not penetrate the muscularis mucosa. Once the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes (ie, Dukes stage C), the 5-year survival rate usually is less than 60%.
Race

Recent data demonstrate a decrease in incidence rates of colorectal carcinoma in whites since the mid 1980s, particularly for the distal colon and rectum. Proximal colon carcinoma rates in blacks are considerably higher than in whites and continue to increase, whereas rates in whites show signs of decline.

Sex
The frequency of colon cancer is essentially the same among men and women.

Age
Age is a well-known risk factor for colon cancer, and risk begins to rise in people older than 40 years. Age is a risk factor because a number of rare genetic alterations are believed to occur within the somatic cells of the colonic epithelium over years, ultimately leading to the development of colon cancer in older individuals. Individuals affected by one of the well-known familial predispositions to colon cancer are much more likely to develop cancer at a young age. For example, individuals with familial adenomatous polyposis have a 100% chance of developing colon cancer unless their colon is removed surgically, usually when they are aged 20-30 years.

History
Colon cancer often is found by screening and may be completely asymptomatic. Approximately 50% of patients present with abdominal pain, 35% with altered bowel habits, 30% with occult bleeding, and 15% with intestinal obstruction. Right-sided colon cancers tend to be larger and more likely to bleed, whereas left-sided tumors tend to be smaller and more likely to be obstructing. Obtain a family history of colon cancer, familial polyposis, or ulcerative colitis. Consider the possibility of cancer of the colon in patients with a fever of unknown origin and in patients with polymyositis.

Physical
The physical examination findings may be completely normal, especially in early stage colorectal cancer, or general or specific findings due to progression of the disease may be present. These may include weight loss, cachexia, abdominal discomfort or tenderness, liver mass, abdominal distention, ascites, rectal mass, rectal bleeding, or occult blood on rectal examination.

Causes
A number of risk factors have been associated with colon cancer. Colonic polyps, which occur with increasing age, represent a risk for colon cancer development. A study considering the clinical evidence for the adenoma-carcinoma sequence recently concluded that adenomas probably are precursors of carcinomas, but the ultimate effect of removing polyps on reducing cancer incidence in the population remains unknown.

Genetics is a very important risk factor for development of colorectal cancer. Familial polyposis, in which patients inherit a mutant copy of the APC tumor suppressor gene, is rare but confers very high risk. Familial nonpolyposis colon cancer, which accounts for 1-5% of colon cancers, develops because of inherited mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes.
Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for gastrointestinal cancer, including colon cancer. Increasing age and a lower intake of total folate have been associated with mutations of the Ki-ras oncogene, which are found commonly in colorectal cancer. Diet, and in particular fat content of diet, has been associated with increased risk of colon cancer. Animal studies have found that dietary beef induces and dietary rye bran prevents formation of intestinal polyps. Several studies have suggested that red meat and processed meats, through the action of heme, predispose to colon cancer by enhancing formation of N-nitrosocompounds, which result in DNA damage. One study suggested that obesity, rather than fat intake per se, predisposed to colon cancers induced in animals by exposure to the carcinogen azoxymethane.

The evidence is weak that soy food or isoflavones in the diet protect a person from colon cancer. Exercise is believed to reduce the risk of colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer may be decreased among women who recently used postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Women who are postmenopausal and who have never used hormone replacement therapy have a higher risk of colon, but not rectal, cancer than do women who are premenopausal and of the same age, sociocultural class, and dietary habits. Apparently, no association exists between frequency of bowel movement or laxative use and risk of colon cancer. Some data associate calcium intake and risk of colon cancer. A statistically significant association exists between Helicobacter exposure and colonic polyps.

Tobacco smoking is associated with a higher risk of colon cancer, which appears to be mediated by induction of 5-lipoxygenase–associated angiogenic pathways.

Author: Wafik S El-Deiry, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Hematology/Oncology; Co-Program Leader, Radiation Biology Program, Abramson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania School of MedicineWafik S El-Deiry is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and American Society of Gene TherapyEditors: Philip Schulman, MD, Chief, Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP, Consulting Staff, Department of Medicine, Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems; John S Macdonald, MD, Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College; Chief, Division of Medical Oncology, St Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center; Medical Director, Saint Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center

Colon Cancer Causes

2008-09-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

adenomatous polyps—clusters of abnormal cells in the glands covering the inner wall of the colon. Over time, these abnormal growths enlarge and ultimately degenerate to become adenocarcinomas.

People with any of several conditions known as adenomatous polyposis syndromes have a greater-than-normal risk of colorectal cancer.

- In these conditions, numerous adenomatous polyps develop in the colon, ultimately leading to colon cancer.
- The cancer usually occurs before age 40 years.
- Adenomatous polyposis syndromes tend to run in families. Such cases are referred to as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Celecoxib (Celebrex) has been FDA approved for FAP. After 6 months, celecoxib reduced the mean number of rectal and colon polyps by 28% compared to placebo (sugar pill) 5%.

Another group of colon cancer syndromes, termed hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndromes, also run in families. In these syndromes, colon cancer develops without the precursor polyps.

- HNPCC syndromes are associated with a genetic abnormality. This abnormality has been identified, and a test is available. People at risk can be identified through genetic screening.
- Once identified as carriers of the abnormal gene, these people require counseling and regular screening to detect precancerous and cancerous tumors.
- HNPCC syndromes are sometimes linked to tumors in other parts of the body.

Also at high risk for developing colon cancers are people with any of the following:

- Ulcerative colitis or Crohn colitis (Crohn disease)
- Breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer now or in the past
- A family history of colon cancer

The risk of colon cancer increases 2-3 times for people with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with colon cancer. The risk increases more if you have more than one affected family member, especially if the cancer was diagnosed at a young age. Other factors that may affect your risk of developing a colon cancer:

- Diet: Whether diet plays a role in developing colon cancer remains under debate. The belief that a high-fiber, low-fat diet could help prevent colon cancer has been questioned. Studies do indicate that exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent colon cancer.
- Obesity: Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for colon cancer.
- Smoking: Cigarette smoking has been definitely linked to a higher risk for colon cancer.
- Drug effects: Recent studies have suggested that estrogen replacement therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin may reduce colorectal cancer risk.

Article from : http://www.emedicinehealth.com/colon_cancer/page2_em.htm

Colon Cancer Overview

2008-09-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

The human colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long. It extends from the end of your small bowel to your anus, twisting and turning through your abdomen (belly). The colon has 3 main functions.

- To digest and absorb nutrients from food
- To concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluid (and electrolytes) from it
- To store and control evacuation of fecal material

The right side of your colon plays a major role in absorbing water and electrolytes, while the left side is responsible for storage and evacuation of stool.

Cancer is the transformation of normal cells. The transformed cells grow and multiply abnormally.

- Left untreated, these cancers grow and eventually spread through the colon wall to involve the adjacent lymph nodes and organs. Ultimately, they spread to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, brain, and bones.
- Cancers are dangerous because of their unbridled growth. They overwhelm healthy cells, tissues, and organs by taking their oxygen, nutrients, and space.
Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas—tumors that develop from the glands lining the colon's inner wall.
- These tumors are sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, reflecting the fact that the rectum, the end portion of the colon, can also be affected.

In the United States, 1 in 17 people will develop colorectal cancer.

- According to reports from the National Cancer Institute, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in US men.
- Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in US women of Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry, and the third most common cancer in white and African American women.
- The overall incidence of colorectal cancer increased until 1985 and then began decreasing at an average rate of 1.6% per year.
- Deaths from colorectal cancer rank third after lung and prostate cancer for men and third after lung and breast cancer for women.

Article From : http://www.emedicinehealth.com/colon_cancer/article_em.htm

General Information About Colon Cancer

2008-09-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

The colon is part of the body’s digestive system. The digestive system removes and processes nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water) from foods and helps pass waste material out of the body. The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines. The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the large bowel or colon. The last 6 inches are the rectum and the anal canal. The anal canal ends at the anus (the opening of the large intestine to the outside of the body).
more .............

What tests can be done to detect colon cancer?

2008-09-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

When colon cancer is suspected, either a lower GI series (barium enema x-ray) or colonoscopy is performed to confirm the diagnosis and to localize the tumor.

A barium enema involves taking x-rays of the colon and the rectum after the patient is given an enema with a white, chalky liquid containing barium. The barium outlines the large intestines on the x-rays. Tumors and other abnormalities appear as dark shadows on the x-rays. For more information, please read the Lower Gastrointestinal Series (Barium Enema) article.

Colonoscopy is a procedure whereby a doctor inserts a long, flexible viewing tube into the rectum for the purpose of inspecting the inside of the entire colon. Colonoscopy is generally considered more accurate than barium enema x-rays, especially in detecting small polyps. If colon polyps are found, they are usually removed through the colonoscope and sent to the pathologist. The pathologist examines the polyps under the microscope to check for cancer. While the majority of the polyps removed through the colonoscopes are benign, many are precancerous. Removal of precancerous polyps prevents the future development of colon cancer from these polyps. For more information, please read the Colonoscopy article.

If cancerous growths are found during colonoscopy, small tissue samples (biopsies) can be obtained and examined under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis. If colon cancer is confirmed by a biopsy, staging examinations are performed to determine whether the cancer has already spread to other organs. Since colorectal cancer tends to spread to the lungs and the liver, staging tests usually include chest x-rays, ultrasonography, or a CAT scan of the lungs, liver, and abdomen.

Sometimes, the doctor may obtain a blood test for CEA (carcinoembyonic antigen). CEA is a substance produced by some cancer cells. It is sometimes found in high levels in patients with colorectal cancer, especially when the disease has spread.

Article From : http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/page4.htm

What is cancer of the colon and rectum?

2008-09-11T19:51:00.001-07:00

The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can be easily removed during colonoscopy and are not life-threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant (cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine are believed to have developed from polyps. Cancer of the colon and rectum (also referred to as colorectal cancer) can invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body (such as liver and lung) where new tumors form. The spread of colon cancer to distant organs is called metastasis of the colon cancer. Once metastasis has occurred in colorectal cancer, a complete cure of the cancer is unlikely.

Globally, cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world. It is common in the Western world and is rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing.

Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD

Medical Reviewing Editor: Jay Marks, MD

Article From : http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/article.htm

What is cancer?

2008-09-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

is a group of more than 100 different diseases. They affect the body's basic unit, the cell. Cancer occurs when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Like all other organs of the body, the colon and rectum are made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps keep us healthy.
If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms. This mass of extra tissue, called a growth or tumor, can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Most important, cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells can invade and damage tissues and organs near the tumor. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is how cancer spreads from the original (primary) tumor to form new tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
When cancer spreads 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 colon cancer spreads to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are colon cancer cells. The disease is metastatic colon cancer (it is not liver cancer).

Preventing Colon Cancer?

2008-09-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the third most common cancer diagnosed among Americans of both sexes. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 105,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 40,000 cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2005. The good news is that both the incidence of the disease and the death rate from them are declining, thanks to both improved treatments and earlier diagnosis.

One thing you can do to help reduce your risk is to cut back on or avoid eating red or processed meats. Although we have known for some time that high consumption of red meat raises the risk of colon cancer, results of a recent study showed that this is particularly true if you're also overweight and inactive, both of which are major risks for this disease. The study, which included nearly 149,000 adults between the ages of 50 and 74 who were followed for 10 years, was published in the Jan. 12, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The results showed that people who ate the most red meat were 30 to 40 percent more likely to develop colon cancer than people who ate the least red meat; those who ate the most processed meats (including bacon, sausage, hot dogs, ham, and cold cuts) were 50 percent more likely to develop colon cancer and 20 percent more likely to develop rectal cancer than those who ate the least.

The researchers defined "high" amounts as three or more ounces of red meat per day for men and two or more ounces per day for women; high consumption of processed meats was one ounce eaten five to six days a week for men and two to three days per week for women. Those who ate red meat only a couple of times a week were in the lowest consumption group. In addition to red meat consumption, obesity and inactivity, other risk factors for colon cancer include a family history of the disease, a high-fat diet, high alcohol consumption, and smoking (smokers are 30 to 40 percent more likely than nonsmokers to die of colorectal cancer).

Beginning at age 50 (earlier, if you have a family history) everyone should be screened for colon cancer. The ACS recommends getting a stool blood test every year plus having a flexible sigmoidoscopy performed every five years. Other options include getting a double contrast barium enema every 5 to 10 years, or a colonoscopy every 10 years. You should discuss what is appropriate for you with your doctor.
In addition, I recommend eating plenty of fiber-rich foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as taking low dose aspirin - one baby aspirin a day (81 milligrams).

Andrew Weil, M.D.
Article From : http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA354691

Forget The Cure For Cancer, Heart Disease, Alzheimer, Or Diabetes. Unless...

2008-09-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

By John S. Boyd, Ph.D.

If you want a cure for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer, or diabetes, don't count on the academia, the National Institute of Health (NIH), or the biotech/pharmaceutical industry. With all the money they have spent on researching these diseases, they have very little to show for it.In 1971, during the State of the Union address, President Nixon declared the war on cancer proposing "an intensive campaign to find a cure for cancer." Since 1971, Americans spent, through taxes, donations, and private R&D, about $200 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars. This money produced 1.56 million papers on cancer. Yet, today we are no closer to a cure than we were in 1971. Why?Consider what Dr. Almog said in his paper: Drug Industry in "depression" (Almog, D. Drug industry in "depression". Med Sci Monit. 2005 Jan;11(1):SR1-4, I would urge you to read his paper, it's an eye opener on relationship between academic research and commercial drug discovery): "When the basic science/biology of disease is not available, no new drugs come to market." With the billion of dollars spent by the NIH on basic science, and the millions of papers published on the topic, the question is, "Why isn’t the basic science/biology of disease available? Individual discoveries in the biology of human disease are cornerstone in new treatments. However, in drug discovery, these basic science/biology discoveries are seemingly unrelated dots. To connect the dots you need a theory. The Blind Men and the Elephant is a famous story about six blind men encountering an elephant for the first time. Each man, seizing on the single feature of the animal, which he appeared to have touched first, and being incapable of seeing it whole, loudly maintained his limited opinion on the nature of the beast. The elephant was considered a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan or a rope, depending on whether the blind men had first grasped the creature’s side, tusk, trunk, knee, ear or tail. The story epitomizes the problem of the reductionist approach in biology. A recent book Microcompetition with Foreign DNA and the Origin of Chronic Disease, by Hanan Polansky [11], presents an alternative. The book identifies the disruption that causes atherosclerosis, cancer, obesity, osteoarthritis, type II diabetes, alopecia, type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, lupus, thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, graft versus host disease, and other chronic diseases, and describes the sequence of events that leads from the disruption to the molecular, cellular, and clinical effects."What are the implications of the NIH failure? A decline in the number of new drugs introduced by pharmaceutical companies. Consider what professor Taylor says in his paper: Fewer new drugs from the pharmaceutical industry (Taylor D. Fewer new drugs from the pharmaceutical industry. BMJ. 2003 Feb 22;326(7386):408-9): "In 2002 spending on medicines exceeded $400bn (£248bn; 377bn) worldwide. Optimists in the pharmaceutical industry believe that the global market for their products will go on expanding by around 10% a year, with the United States continuing to lead towards higher per capita outlays. Expenditure on research by the pharmaceutical industry is also increasing worldwide. It is now over $45bn a year---twice the sum recorded at the start of the 1990s---and projected to rise to $55bn by 2005-6. Concerns are growing, however, about the productivity of research being funded by the major pharmaceutical companies. ... Empirical evidence indicates a crisis in productivity in pharmaceutical research. The number of medicines introduced worldwide that contain new active ingredients dropped from an average of over 60 a year in the late 1980s to 52 in 1991 and only 31 in 2001. The overall number of new active substances undergoing regulatory review is still falling."On the one hand, the expenditure on research is increasing. On the other, the number of new drugs is decreasing. The professionals call this situation the productivity crisis in drug discovery.The NIH failed to produce the so much needed biology of chronic disease because it is caught in the reductionist mentality. Dr. Hanan Polansky offers an alternative. If we want a cure for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer, or diabetes, we need to seriously consider his alternative.John S. Boyd, Ph.D.The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease, and causeofcancer.org, Rochester, NYWe are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that specializes in researching the biology of chronic disease. By "the biology of chronic disease" we mean the original disruption that causes the disease, and the sequence of events that lead from the original disruption to the development of clinical symptoms. We specialize in researching this biology. We hope that once the biology is clear, pharmaceutical and biotech companies will be able to formulate drugs that reverse the effects of the disruption, and therefore cure the disease, or even block the original disruption, and therefore prevent the disease from developing in healthy individuals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_S._Boyd

Vitamin E and heart disease

2008-09-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

A review is presented of studies on the effects of vitamin E on heart disease, studies encompassing basic science, animal studies, epidemiological and observational studies, and four intervention trials. The in vitro, cellular, and animal studies, which are impressive both in quantity and quality, leave no doubt that vitamin E, the most important fat-soluble antioxidant, protects animals against a variety of types of oxidative stress. The hypothesis that links vitamin E to the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) postulates that the oxidation of unsaturated lipids in the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle initiates a complex sequence of events that leads to the development of atherosclerotic plaque. This hypothesis is supported by numerous studies in vitro, in animals, and in humans. There is some evidence that the ex vivo oxidizability of a subject’s LDL is predictive of future heart events. This background in basic science and observational studies, coupled with the safety of vitamin E, led to the initiation of clinical intervention trials. The three trials that have been reported in detail are, on balance, supportive of the proposal that supplemental vitamin E can reduce the risk for heart disease, and the fourth trial, which has just been reported, showed small, but not statistically significant, benefits. Subgroup analyses of cohorts from the older three trials, as well as evidence from smaller trials, indicate that vitamin E provides protection against a number of medical conditions, including some that are indicative of atherosclerosis (such as intermittent claudication). Vitamin E supplementation also produces an improvement in the immune system and protection against diseases other than cardiovascular disease (such as prostate cancer). Vitamin E at the supplemental levels being used in the current trials, 100 to 800 IU/d, is safe, and there is little likelihood that increased risk will be found for those taking supplements. About one half of American cardiologists take supplemental vitamin E, about the same number as take aspirin. In fact, one study suggests that aspirin plus vitamin E is more effective than aspirin alone. There are a substantial number of trials involving vitamin E that are in progress. However, it is possible, or even likely, that each condition for which vitamin E provides benefit will have a unique dose-effect curve. Furthermore, different antioxidants appear to act synergistically, so supplementation with vitamin E might be more effective if combined with other micronutrients. It will be extremely difficult to do trials that adequately probe the dose-effect curve for vitamin E for each condition that it might affect, or to do studies of all the possible combinations of other micronutrients that might act with vitamin E to improve its effectiveness. Therefore, the scientific community must recognize that there never will be a time when the science is “complete.” At some point, the weight of the scientific evidence must be judged adequate; although some may regard it as early to that judgement now, clearly we are very close. In view of the very low risk of reasonable supplementation with vitamin E, and the difficulty in obtaining more than about 30 IU/day from a balanced diet, some supplementation appears prudent now.
Author Keywords: Vitamin E; Tocopherol; Heart disease; Atherosclerosis; Oxidative stress; Free radical; Human; Rabbit; Review; Intervention trial; LDL oxidation; Myocardial infarction; Stroke
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CSA, coronary spastic angina; DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; IMT, arterial wall intima media thickness; IU, International Units; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MDA, malonaldehyde (malondialdehyde); MI, myocardial infarction; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid(s); TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TIA, transient ischemic attack; α-TE, α-tocopherol equivalents

Article from :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=
B6T38-3YC0DD1J&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=
d&view=c&_version=1&urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=
925cf14c4b25804558ad13e9a60036ab

The introduction of heart surgery is welcome but basic public health still leaves a lot to be desired

2008-09-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Editor, I refer to the piece in your newspaper in which congratulations to the Minister of Health from the Guyana Consumers Association was carried as a news items (Aug. 9, 2008) (editor’s note: it was based on their press release). I do not believe that the SN is wanting of news, but the editor might have seen that the political innuendoes in the congratulations would be seen as cynical by the readership.
The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA), stated that Dr. Leslie Ramsammy’s “work in HIV/AIDS and immunization programmes have been recognized both in the Caribbean and abroad. The minister has quietly built hospitals throughout the country and has introduced procedures such as open-heart surgery, kidney transplant and dialysis. There is now a cancer clinic and a medical laboratory serving the public.” Before, I am accused by the political buddy system of being an enemy of the Minister, let me state that I do believe that he has done reasonably well at the helm of the Ministry of Health, but it will bode him well to be more cautionary in his public pronouncements. The GCA ought to know that the Minister of Health is foremost a servant of the people of Guyana and it is his duty to serve with integrity. Among other duties, he is accountable to the people in ensuring that there is an effective immunization programme in the country. This is a very basic managerial responsibility. The fact is that across the health spectrum, we still do not have an effective immunization programme. Under Dr Ramsammy’s term, HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence have not reduced. In fact, HIV/AIDS is one of the most under-diagnosed conditions in Guyana. So what, if there is now a cancer clinic and a medical laboratory? It is a shame and disgrace that this basic public health infrastructure is only now coming into existence. Assuming that these are both highly operational facilities, how many people outside of Georgetown have access to them?
The GCA should be concerned about health disparities in terms of geographical access. And, which hospital has Dr. Ramsammy built? The GCA have forgotten than all public institutions in Guyana including hospitals have been built from taxpayers money. Yes, indeed, open-heart surgery, kidney transplant, and dialysis have recently been introduced in Guyana. These are routine procedures in most countries of the world. In Guyana, overseas-based physicians are flown in to conduct these procedures. I would recommend that the government invest in a comprehensive medical training programme for specialists.
If the GCA examines the indicators for heart and kidney disease in Guyana under Ramsammy’s tenure as Minister of Health, they will see a dismal failure. It is rather ironic that a health system that cannot afford its women something as simple as a pap smear is bragging about a heart surgery and a kidney transplant performed by imported physicians. This is the same health system in which infant mortality rates are high and women continue to die of childbirth. For cancer, the situation is even worse. Let us not believe the snippets put out by the Minister in the newspapers that our health system is great. We have not even discussed the other aspects of public health - filth, urine, and garbage in the streets and major roads of Guyana. What about the public health aspects of the crime epidemic that has spiralled out of control?
Sensational innuendoes such as kidney transplants in the newspapers and TV stations that portray progress in public health are not going to help the sad realities of life for the vast majority of Guyanese who are burdened with chronic diseases and other conditions.
Like the GCA, I too took great pride in learning that Dr. Ramsammy became the 61st President of the World Health Assembly of the WHO. However, the dynamics of the WHO rules and procedures governing the election need some clarification. First, the Committee of Nominations takes into consideration an equitable geographical distribution in proposing nominations for the President and five Vice-Presidents. Technically, it is more like a geographical rotating scheme. For example, the 60th President of the World Health Assembly was Ms. Halton from Australia; Prof. Garrido of Mozambique was the 59th President; Ms. Salgo of Spain the 58th President; Mr. Khan of Pakistan the 57th President, and so on. The President usually occupies the seat for one year. A representative from Guyana and the English speaking Caribbean assuming the Presidency of the Assembly has been long overdue. I am glad that the Guyana representative got it. It could have been any representative from Guyana credentialled by an authority such as the Head of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, or Minister of Health. Usually, country representatives to the World Health Assembly are people with technical skills in a discipline of public health, not government ministers or politicians. There should be a culture in Guyana where highly qualified technical people (not political operatives) be given opportunities to attend international meetings where they can sharpen their skills and network with their counterparts so that they can return with innovative ideas to meet the challenges of the country. Yours faithfully,Dr Somdat Mahabir

Article from :
http://www.stabroeknews.com/letters/
the-introduction-of-heart-surgery-is-welcome-but-basic-public-health
-still-leaves-a-lot-to-be-desired/

BASIC FACTS ABOUT DRUGS:TOBACCO

2008-09-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It is estimated that directly or indirectly, tobacco causes more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, a figure that represents nearly 20 percent of all U.S. deaths. These deaths have been attributed to a number of conditions defined as tobacco-related, including heart disease (115,000 deaths), cancer (136,000), chronic pulmonary disease (60,000), and stroke (27,000). According to a study published by the British medical journal Lancet, the rate of tobacco-related mortality throughout the entire developed world also averages about 20 percent of all deaths.
.............more

Prostate Biopsy Procedures

2008-09-11T06:30:00.001-07:00

When you suspect some prostate related disorders, you will definitely go to a specialist doctor to confirm whether there is a cancerous growth or not. Mostly after some initial diagnostic procedures, the doctor will suggest you get a prostate biopsy procedure. What is a prostate biopsy procedure? It is one of the diagnostic tools to determine the occurrence of cancer in the prostate glands.

It is nothing but extracting small sample of tissues from prostate gland to verify the presence of cancerous cells. Generally the detection of prostate cancer at the early stages is difficult as there will not be any visible symptoms. The two initial procedures adopted for the diagnosis are Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE) and Prostate Specific Antigen tests (PSA). These may not show up with confirmation the occurrence of cancer growth. An accurate determination can be achieved only through biopsy procedures.

There are three types of procedures, depending up on the procedures adopted in the biopsy. All are intended to determine the potential risk of cancer in prostate glands. These are trans-perineal, transurethral and trans-rectal.

Trans-rectal Prostate Biopsy Procedure

The trans-rectal procedure is performed after giving anesthesia to the patient. This procedure is done with the help of trans-rectal ultrasound monitor. This equipment helps the doctor to view the prostate regions very minutely and hence helps to guide the biopsy gun for extracting the sample tissues from the appropriate location. The biopsy gun is a sterile spring loaded needle which can extract the tissues within micro seconds. There can be little bleeding which will be visible in urine. In this process, the patient will have only very less pain as well.

Transurethral Prostate Biopsy procedure

The transurethral procedure is generally carried out under local anesthesia given to numb the surrounding area of prostate and urethra. This procedure is performed by the insertion of a cystoscope slowly into the urethra and the doctor uses the cytoscope to direct the cutting loop device (attached to the cytoscope) to properly extract the sample tissues from prostate.
Trans-perineal Prostate Biopsy Procedure

When the first two procedures fail in extracting the sample tissues, this method procedure is employed. This is a risky procedure and many complications can occur associated with it. The trans-perineal prostate biopsy procedure is performed by making incision on the perinea and can cause high pains and bleeding. This procedure will be done mostly under full anesthesia.
The prostate biopsy procedures have already matured and as of now the risks due to these procedures are very minimal. Some people claim that procedures can damage the prostate glands; in fact there are no other ways to detect the presence of cancerous growth in the prostate glands.

All biopsy procedures will result in slight bleeding through urine, ejaculates and the rectum. Some experience tenderness and irritations at the incision area. But all these will go off within few days. In case of Trans-perineal prostate biopsy procedure, it will take about a month to get completely recuperated.

Find top world-renowned surgeons who specialized in
new cancer treatment and rectal prostate exams. Find Help Today!!!

Also learn facts before your visit please visit http://prostatereview.info/

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Richards

Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy

2008-09-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

Prostate cancer hormone therapy is also known as androgen suppression therapy and its purpose is to remove or block hormones from the body that might cause the growth of existing cancer cells.

Hormones are chemical substances produced by glands in the body. These hormones enter the bloodstream and affect other bodily tissues. The purpose of this type of therapy is twofold: 1. Delay the cancer's progression and 2. Maximize the quality of life. It is not a cure for prostate cancer, however.

Prostate cancer is known to grow when exposed to a group of male hormones called androgens; testosterone is a major contributor. Hormone therapy is used to try and temporarily or permanently stop the production of testosterone and can be administered either by mouth or injection.

Hormone therapy may include the use of other hormones such as estrogen to counteract the effect of testosterone, anti-androgen agents to lower testosterone levels or block its affect on body tissues, or a combination of hormones in an attempt to reduce the production of testosterone in the testicles and the adrenal glands located on the kidneys.
Hormone therapy may also include surgical removal of the testicles (orchiectomy) where testosterone is produced. This will in turn prevent the male hormone from further stimulating the growth of the cancer cells.

This type of treatment is best used when the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. If the patient does not respond well to the first treatments, the physician may recommend other types of hormone therapy before recommending chemotherapy
Prostate cancer hormone therapy can be used at different stages but is often used following surgery for the best results. This type of therapy can also be used for those who, for whatever reasons, do not want any other type of treatment.

Bernie Alexander is a well known author and frequent contributor to various online article communities.

Visit http://prostate-cancer-hormone-therapy.blogspot.com
to learn more about prostate cancer and cutting edge treatment.

Want free traffic to your websites. Visit http://rsstutor.greenwednesday.com
to find out how.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernie_Alexander

Prostate Cancer and Sex

2008-09-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

From my short- time experience and from what I have heard already from other sufferers – this is one of those topics that men most want to know about- but few medics are specific about. All too often, the individual reality remains hidden behind terms and statistics like 30% impotence- but what does that mean exactly to the individual?

“Impotence” can be a very general term - to some it means an inability to sire children – yet to others it means the ability to have an erection and satisfy a partner. What does it really mean on a Saturday night when you are alone with a partner, you’ve had a nice meal, the mood is right- and you wish to indulge in some sexual activity?

In discussing this issue honestly and openly, it is necessary for me to ask you to first take the element of “love” right out of the equation. I’m primarily talking about sex and not love or lovemaking. We will put it in back later, but first in raw terms it is necessary to discuss the most basic drive (and function) in all males- the ability to have an erection and please or satisfy a partner.

Having an erection or being able to have one, is at the base of everything we hold dear as being the men that we are. Little wonder, problems with being able to achieve that, can strike at the very core of our sense of wellbeing and confidence.

Physically, each prostate case is different, and how the individual is affected long term entirely depends what is removed by whichever procedure. Given that there are two main “tubes” on either side of the prostate that supply the penis with the “wherewithal” to function properly, in most surgery’s one or even both tubes may have to be removed depending on the spread. Nowadays Surgeons are very careful to try to save as much as possible- but it’s not always possible. If a man’s cancer is on one side of the prostate, as it usually is, it’s almost a certainty that he will lose one of the two tubes. In such a case, his capability may be affected (although not necessarily) if prior to the procedure he had no difficulties in achieving full, firm erections etc. If on the other hand he was experiencing difficulties before one tube was removed, it is highly likely that his capabilities will be even further reduced.

From what I have been able to find out so far- most men with one tube intact may be able to function satisfactorily with or without assistance from such modern day marvels as Viagra or Cialus. This is a fantastic thing because it is not so long ago that there were fewer medical alternatives available, but now many men and their partners are benefiting from these recent medical advances.

If a man loses both “tubes” in radical surgeries, there is another alternative that is still viable in many cases . He can inject himself - (usually alprostadil) into the base of his penis. This is perhaps, not as radical as it sounds and I have two friends who, due to other medical conditions, have happily relied on these injections for several years and have reported few difficulties. They also stress it is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. These options have opened up the way over recent years for men to still indulge in ordinary sexual activity. If a guy is still experiencing difficulties- further adjustments with medications may help correct any imbalances.
One of the reasons why Brachytherapy is enjoying such a positive reputation, is because the procedure leaves the tubes intact, (although atrophied) which in turn, reportedly leaves men functioning better afterwards. In time, emissions will dry up and in cases of surgery where there has been removal, ejaculation will simply end up in the bladder. There will be the sense of cumming as well as an orgasm, but nothing will come out.

Again, all cases are individual and no information here can be relied upon as gospel – but there is cause for optimism because from what I have been told and from what I have been able to find out- in most cases a reasonable form of sex life has been possible post procedure or surgery.
One man I know had his prostate removed thirty years ago and he reports to have had a very active sex life up until very recently (he’s now 85). Although following the procedure he has been unable to produce any ejaculate, he said that he always believed his orgasms were even more intense and no less satisfying.

I mentioned in the beginning of this article that I was mainly speaking of only the ability to perform penetration with a weapon that functioned, but it would be remiss of me not to mention the special assistance that can be provided by a loving understanding partner within the confines of a relationship. While I’m not going to address that issue here simply because my research so far has been limited in that area, it is worth noting that in most cases a satisfying sex life encompasses much more than just penetration- and even though a man may be robbed of some aspect of his sexuality- the door is still open to explore and enjoy many other techniques of sensuality. It is seldom a case of coming to the end of the world!

Certainly, in these times, impotence is not the big bogeyman that it once was and in future times I look forward to exploring this topic more and posting information. If you have some experience in this area and would like to share it with me under a blanket of anonymity to share it with others, please feel free to contact me via the “contact me box” and your experience could be invaluable in assisting other men.

Dan Jarrett - one man's journey battling prostate cancer includes a diary, resources and blog. We look at things in layman's terms and discuss matters such as sex openly covering things that the medics don't tell you.

http://www.dansprostate.com

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Jarrett

Frequent Sex May Reduce Prostate-Cancer

2008-09-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

Frequent sexual activity may reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer, according to a study in the April 7 Journal of the American Medical Association.

The cancer risk in men who reported more than 20 monthly ejaculations was 33 percent less than that of other men, the Harvard University study showed. Elevated testosterone has been tied to both a high sex drive and prostate cancer, which had led scientists to propose a link between cancer and sexual activity.

More research may help determine how sex might be protecting some men from prostate cancer, the investigators said. The results shouldn't be used to encourage intensified sexual activity, defined as ejaculation from intercourse, masturbation or during sleep, they said.

``Men worry that by being very active, they may put themselves at increased risk,'' said Michael F. Leitzmann, the lead researcher now at the National Cancer Institute. ``Looking at the data in a little bit more detail, our findings suggest that ejaculation may even be associated with a slight decrease in prostate cancer risk.''

Researchers surveyed almost 30,000 health professionals, 1,449 of whom developed prostate cancer, and found an active sex life wasn't linked to a higher cancer risk in most men.
There are several ways in which frequent ejaculations may protect against prostate cancer, the researchers said. The activity may flush out a buildup of toxins in the prostate, lessen development of tiny crystals linked to some cancers, and improve the immune system's response to cancer, Leitzmann said.

How It May Work
Ejaculation also may release psychological tension, quieting central nervous system activity that may contribute to prostate- cell division and cancer growth, the researchers said.

The scientists downplayed results showing frequent ejaculation appeared to reduce cancer risk because only 7 percent of men fell into the group reporting the most activity and just 59 of them developed prostate cancer, Leitzmann said in a telephone interview.

Almost all the previous research showed sexual activity increased cancer risk, he said. Those studies may have been biased because researchers asked patients to recall activities that occurred years earlier, before they were diagnosed with cancer and received treatment, which may interfere with sexual activity, he said.

``What we can say is that this hormonal hypothesis needs to be re-evaluated,'' said Leitzmann, who led the study when he was a post-doctoral student at Harvard. ``It would be good for future research to focus on different biological mechanisms.''

Article from :
http://www.sensualism.com/sex/prostate.html

Have you got Prostate Symptoms?

2008-09-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

What is the prostate gland?
Men have prostate glands, women don't.
The prostate gland sits under the bladder, and is coloured red in this diagram. The tube through which urine passes out is called the urethra, and travels right through the middle of the prostate gland.
The job of the prostate gland is to secrete a fluid, called prostatic fluid. When you ejaculate, the prostatic fluid is released, and mingles with the sperm. This fluid contains nourishment and protection for the sperm.

How common are symptoms?
As you get older, your prostate gland grows larger in size. This process is called benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. As a result of this enlargement, your bladder has to work harder to force urine past the large prostate gland.
A quarter of all men, aged 40 - 60, will suffer from some symptoms of BPH.By the time they are 70, 70% will have symptoms.By the time they are 80, 80% will have symptoms.
In the UK, 78,000 new cases of BPH are diagnosed every year.

What are the symptoms?
Most men notice they pass a reduced stream of urine as they get older. However, some men may also notice that they take some time to get going, and the stream may stop and start. They may dribble after finishing and are often left with a feeling that their bladder is not completely empty. They may need to go to urinate very frequently, and may need to get up several times in the night.
Some sufferers become reluctant to go out of the home, because of needing to go to the toilet so often. They become tired through lack of sleep, and feel in constant discomfort
Very occasionally, they become unable to pass urine at all. The bladder becomes very swollen, full, and uncomfortable.

What about cancer?
Cancer of the prostate is surprisingly common in elderly men. If you manage to live until the age of 80, for example, it is highly likely you will have a small nodule of cancer in your prostate gland. It may also surprise you to know that most men with prostate cancer never have any trouble from their cancer, and never even know they have it.
However, cancer of the prostate can spread and cause serious problems, so younger men are advised to have any cancerous nodule removed.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer. The symptoms are very similar. Here are some ways of deciding whether you have prostate cancer or BPH
Your doctor may examine you rectally, by inserting a finger into your anal canal. It is possible to feel the prostate gland in this way. Your doctor will feel for any suspiscious nodules.
You may have a biopsy done. Under anaesthetic, the doctor takes a small sample of your prostate gland, and this is examined under a microsocope for signs of cancer cells.
A blood test (called a PSA test) may be done. Unfortunately, this test is not very accurate. Men with very low PSA levels in their blood are unlikely to have cancer of the prostate. Men with very high levels are likely to have cancer of the prostate. The problem with the test is that you are unlikely to get a definite answer, and the test may need repeating several times.
If you have serious symptoms of BPH, your doctor may advise you to have your prostate gland removed. Any cancer nodule will be removed during the operation. Unfortunately, the operation can cause health problems, and should only be performed if really necessary.

Article from :
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ruth.livingstone/little/prost2.htm

Prostate Cancer Early Detection

2008-09-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Prostate Cancer Early Detection guidelines do not address the treatment of prostate cancer. It is the majority opinion of the
Prostate Cancer Early Detection panel members that there is a growing population of men currently being diagnosed with
prostate cancer who can, and should, be monitored for their disease as presented in the Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines.
The guidelines for a baseline PSA and lowering the PSA thresholds for biopsy were recommended by most panel members, but
a consensus was not reached.

The guidelines are continuously in a state of evolution and the panel will incorporate changes based on new evidence and
expert opinion and provide a rating of consensus with respect to each recommendation.

Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

2008-09-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

External beam radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) involves a series of daily treatments to accurately deliver radiation to the prostate. There are several ways to deliver external beam radiation.

Before treatment, you will have a scan to allow the radiation oncologist to target the radiation on the cancer. Usually several radiation beams are combined to shape, or “conform”, the radiation to the prostate cancer. This technique is called three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or 3D-CRT. Tailoring each of the radiation beams to accurately focus on the tumor allows doctors to target the prostate cancer while keeping radiation away from nearby organs such as the bladder or rectum.

Some doctors use a type of 3D-CRT called intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT. IMRT allows doctors to change the intensity of the radiation within each of the radiation beams. In some cases, this lets doctors increase the radiation to the prostate while reducing radiation to nearby normal tissues.

In a few clinics in the country, proton beam therapy is used to treat prostate cancer. Proton therapy is a form of external beam radiation that uses protons rather than X-rays to treat cancer cells. Proton therapy is precise like IMRT only it uses a different kind of radiation.

.............more

Sex may help prevent prostate cancer

2008-09-11T06:06:00.000-07:00

Not too many studies these days conclude that a little sex is good, and even more sex is better.

But in one of the first major attempts to gauge the cancer risk of male sexual activity, researchers at the prestigious National Cancer Institute discovered to their great surprise that a lot of orgasms do a guy no harm -- and may even do him some good.

It matters not if they happen during sexual intercourse with a man or a woman, or if they occur spontaneously during sleep. Even masturbation, scientifically speaking, is good for you.
"As epidemiology studies go, this is about as good as it gets," said John Witte, a genetic epidemiologist at UCSF, who was not one of the study's authors but was familiar with the results. "In this day and age, when most of the health warnings are negative -- 'don't do this, don't do that' -- this is kind of a fun one. So ejaculation is something people don't have to feel bad about."
The study, which appears in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association, is by far the most ambitious attempt yet to clear away some of the confusion surrounding male sexual function and one of mankind's deadliest cancers.
This year, an estimated 230,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and nearly 30,000 will die, making it second only to lung cancer on the list of the leading causes of male cancer deaths.
The research was done as part of the well-regarded Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a comprehensive look at the health and habits of nearly 52, 000 predominantly white middle-aged men, launched in 1986. Experts said they had no reason to suspect the results would have been substantially different if a broader population mix were included.
The prostate study includes results for 29,342 men. The health professionals filled out detailed survey forms every two years from 1992 to 2000, estimating how many ejaculations they had had per month on average during their 20s, their 40s and the past year. Sexual climaxes during intercourse and masturbation, as well as nocturnal emissions, all counted the same.
Nearly all the previous studies suggested a link between sexual activity and elevated risk of prostate cancer, possibly because of high testosterone levels or exposure to infectious agents among men engaging in frequent sex. A small study in Australia last year suggested the opposite might be true, but those results were largely dismissed.
The new study is the first careful attempt to track a large group of men for a number of years, using statistical tools to take into account differences in diet, exercise and other disease factors that might influence prostate cancer rates. All the men were cancer-free when the study began.
The questionnaires were used to divide the men into categories of sexual activity, ranging from those estimating an average four to seven orgasms a month to those reporting at least 21 per month. Only a handful of men admitted to having fewer than one orgasm a week -- not enough to make up their own category. So those few unfortunates were lumped in with the four-to-seven orgasms a month group.
Results were striking: Men having the most orgasms reduced their prostate cancer risk by a full third compared with those men reporting the fewest orgasms. The same pattern held true for those who landed in between the extremes, including an 11 percent reduced cancer risk for those estimating eight to 12 monthly ejaculations and a 14 percent decrease for those in the 13- to-20 ejaculation group.
In their formal account of their findings, the authors seemed to play down the apparent protective effects of male orgasm, in part because there is no agreement as to what might account for the protection.
"The really good news," said Dr. Michael Leitzmann, an investigator at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., and one of the study's lead authors, is "that a high frequency of ejaculations does not increase your risk" of contracting a potentially fatal cancer as you age.
One possible explanation, said Leitzmann and other scientists, may be that the prostate accumulates carcinogens, which are perhaps cleared out during the male sex act. The walnut-size prostate gland produces fluids that are contained in semen.
Australian epidemiologist Graham Giles at the nonprofit Cancer Council in Melbourne said one of the big remaining questions was the effect of frequent orgasms during one's teenage years. Like early childbirth in women, a lot of orgasms early in a man's life span may be "like running an engine," he said, prompting youthful cells in the critical region to "fully develop into a whole lot of nice prostate cells."
But the epidemiologists said they had no intention of launching a new pro- masturbation public-health campaign aimed at teenage boys. No need for that, they said.

Article from :
Carl T. Hall, Chronicle Science Writer

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

2008-09-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

All men are at risk for developing prostate cancer. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of this disease. About 80 percent of men who reach age 80 have prostate cancer. Besides being male, there are other factors, such as age, race, and family history that may contribute to the risk. These include:
Age. The greatest risk factor for prostate cancer is age. This risk increases significantly after the age of 50 in white men who have no family history of the disease and after the age of 40 in black men and men who have a close relative with prostate cancer. About two-thirds of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men age 65 and older.
Family history: Men whose relatives have had prostate cancer are considered to be at high risk. Having a father or brother with the disease more than doubles your risk for prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Having a brother with prostate cancer appears to increase your risk more than having an affected father does. That risk is even higher when there are multiple family members affected. Screening for prostate cancer should be started at age 40 in these men.
Studies have identified several inherited genes that appear to increase prostate cancer risk. Testing for these genes is not yet available. Experts estimate that the hereditary form of prostate cancer accounts for just 5-10% of all cases.
Race: Prostate cancer occurs about 60% more often in African American men than in white American men and when diagnosed is more likely to be advanced. However, Japanese and African males living in their native countries have a low incidence of prostate cancer. Rates for these groups increase sharply when they immigrate to the U.S. African Americans are the second group of men for whom prostate cancer testing should begin at age 40.
Some experts theorize that this suggests an environmental connection, possibly related to high-fat diets, less exposure to the sun, exposure to heavy metals such as cadmium, infectious agents, or smoking. To date, the reasons for these racial differences are not understood.
Diet: Research also suggests high dietary fat may be a contributing factor prostate cancer. The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are dietary staples, compared to countries where the basic diet consists of rice, soybean products, and vegetables.
Eating a diet high in the antioxidant lycopene (found in high levels in some fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit, and watermelon) may lower your risk of developing prostate cancer according to several studies.
Read more about eating healthy foods, especially as related to cancer prevention.
What Are Other Possible Risk Factors?
Sedentary lifestyle: You may be able to reduce your risk for prostate cancer by getting regular exercise and maintaining your optimal weight.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Urological Institute.

Edited by Paul O'Neill, MD on December 01, 2006
'Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2006

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

2008-09-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

The treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on whether the tumor has spread. For tumors that are still inside the prostate, radiation therapy (using x-rays that kill the cancer cells) and a surgery called radical prostatectomy are common treatment options. "Watchful waiting" is also a treatment option. In this approach, no treatment is given until the tumor gets bigger. Watchful waiting may be the best choice for an older man who has a higher risk of dying from something other than his prostate cancer.

Generally, tumors that have grown beyond the edge of the prostate can't be cured with either radiation or surgery. They can be treated with hormones that slow the cancer's growth.

Things You Should Know About Lung Cancer

2008-09-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

Our lung is one of the focal "motors" of our body. Yet, regularly it is not given due interest and concern, and it rest in the background when it comes to issue of the hearth or reason.

The highest meeting of our lung is to exchange the gases between the air we breathe and our blood. It is through our lung that carbon dioxide is emptied from our body and oxygen is transported to our blood vessels. It is not usually known that the two sides of our lung are not like to one another. The right lung has three lobes, whereas the left lung has two lobes, and an additional portion which is called the lingula which is like the interior lobe.

Lung menaced is the chief brand of canker causing overthrow among men and women of the world. It is only since the 1930s that bags of lung disease started to intensify. This is primarily due to tobacco consumption, and the, much doubtful pollution and smoke around the earth. 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Recently, governments and states around the sphere have raised the rate of tobacco dramatically, having some significant make on societies in callous down on tobacco smoking.

Some people mistakenly suppose that channel and cigar smoking do not have such an unsafe produce on the lungs as cigarettes. Cigar and pipe smokers are at 5% upper jeopardy to die of lung evil than non-smokers. This ratio is 25% for people smoking cigarettes.

Passive smokers, i.e., smokers who do not smoke themselves but visit in an environment where others smoke, and inhale smoke, are at 24% higher venture of developing menace (only 1% excluding than a cigarette smoker.)

Other peril factors in developing menace are asbestos fibres, radon gas, household predispositions (genetic), and other lung diseases, along with air pollution.

Lung cancers are categorized into two types. Small unit and non-small cabal lung blight. This distinction is based on the appearance of the cells under microscopic examination and the appearance of growth cells. The two types of cancers mushroom and grow in different behavior, therefore the distinction.

Small faction lumped is the most aggressive and promptly rising class of cancers, and it makes up 20% of allied cancers. It tends to grow first in the better breathing tubes and grows very firm dispersal around a large quarter. In its essential playhouse, it is more aware to chemotherapy, but it regularly bears worse prospects. This typeface of disease is generally related with smoking.

On the other hand, for non-small cell lung tumor, the diagnosis is deprived. Patients treated with chemotherapy live generally only three months longer than those who do not get action. This styled is divided into auxiliary two types, one first from the larger breathing tubes but spreading around slower. This means that the size of these tumors varies when diagnosed. 50-60% of non-small cell evil starts rising around the gas-exchanging external of the lung. This formed is most everyday for smokers, and along these there are female non-smokers who are mainly affected.

Our lung is a very precision organ, it is often the landing place for metastasis (when blight cells rupture away from the primary tumor) of blight originating from other parts of the body. In this task, we name it by the originating part of the body, for example breast menace.

Cancer is a sly disease. Women can polish ovary tumor from the originating stomach cancer. It strikes the simplest, the best sportsman, the firmest vegetarian, anybody lacking mercy. If it takes your lungs, it takes your breath. Do not give it a hazard.

Author: Jon Simms

Smoking Can Cause Lung Cancer

2008-09-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

The lungs are organs found in the chest nook. When air enters through our nose or swagger, it passes on through the trachea, then into the bronchi and into the lungs. The lungs impart the oxygen that the blood carries to the support of the body. It is very important to take nurture of our lungs so our body has the oxygen it wishes to event suitably. Lung plagued occurs when the cells inside the lungs malfunction due to certain factors. According to statistics, smoking causes 87% of the lung disease. This disease is one of the main causes of killing in America. There are more cases of lung canker than all the other types of scourge put together. The more you smoke, the more you are level to lung disease. The disease could be vetoed if the qualities quits smoking before it is too tardy. It could also clearly go undetected pending it is in the higher stages. What is the general indications that you have lung pest? First, coughing caused by the irritation of the lining of the lungs and blocked air passages, chest smarting, pneumonia, bronchitis, stress deficit and loss of hunger and weakness are the symptoms of this deadly disease. If the malady gets poorer, it can also source headaches and nuisance in the bones. Smokers are not the only ones flat to lung sarcoma. The passive smokers, the People who gulp smoke from other people's cigarettes, are also level to contract it, even if then don't smoke themselves. Particles arrival from asbestos and other industrial carcinogens also causes of sarcoma. Nevertheless there are more people who acquire it through smoking than for any other wits. There are two types of cancers. The first is the small booth plague. The small unit menaced is the lettering of blight that spreads certainly during the first podium of the disease. Chemotherapy treated it with potholed fallout. The non-small faction canker is the most universal. Almost 75% of the cases of lung tumor decrease in this grouping. It is separated into four types, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma and bronchoaveolar carcinoma. This could de treated with surgery, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. It is hard to leave smoking, especially if you are a bind smoker. Knowing the injurious property of smoking to the body is necessary to help you to determine to leave smoking. If you don't want to get lung cancer in the upcoming, then you better quit smoking now.

Author: Jon Simms

The Causes of Black Lung

2008-09-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Black lung disease is an occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of coal extract dust. Black lung disease is also called silicosis, coal people' pneumoconiosis, or black lung. Discover the signs, symptoms, behavior & prevention of black lung disease. Black lung disease is a brand of pneumoconiosis, a prepare caused by inhaling certain forms of dust into the lungs. Specifically, black the inhalation caused lung disease of coal dust, which tends to transform the lungs black instead of their regular pink color. It occurs only among people in coal mines, or those in other work situations that affect high exposure to coal dust. A constant occupational lung disease contracted by the prolonged breathing of coal extract dust. The silica and carbon in the coal dust grounds black lung disease. About one of every 20 miners studied in the US has X-ray evince of black lung disease, a form of pneumoconiosis. In its early stages, called unadorned pneumoconiosis, the disease does not stop the miner from effective or carrying on most normal activities. In some miners, the disease never becomes more plain. In other miners, the disease progresses from simple to complicated pneumoconiosis, a prepare also called progressive enormous fibrosis. Pneumoconiosis is not reversible. There is no certain medicine. Causes Some patients upgrade emphysema (a disease in which the tiny air sacs in the lungs become broken, chief to tininess of breath, and respiratory and sympathy collapse) as a complication of black lung disease. Others progress a brutal enter of black lung disease called progressive colossal fibrosis, in which wound continues in the better parts of the lungs even after exposure to the dust has ended. Disease of the lungs caused by an accumulation of dust, especially from coal, asbestos, or silica. Inhaling particles make the lungs regularly fibrous and the victim has difficulty breathing. Over many time the order causes acute disability. After the emphysema strikes mutely in black lung disease, there comes scarring of the lungs and nodule formation in the lung tissues. The symptoms and breathing purpose test result in patients with black lung disease are regularly much poorer than the chest X-ray picture would show. There is, unfortinately, no certain dealing for black lung disease. Symptoms The chief symptom of the disease is smallness of breath, which gradually gets worse as the disease progresses. In ruthless luggage, the unwearied may widen cor pulmonale, an enlargement and strain of the right plane of the mind caused by returning lung disease. This may eventually produce right-sided heart failure. Simple black lung usually does not start symptoms. However, many people with this disease cough and simply become petite of breath because they also have an airway disease, such as bronchitis or emphysema, and these are more probable to occur in smokers. The dangerous stages of progressive enormous fibrosis, on the other hand, cause coughing and often disabling shortness of breath. Treatment Unfortunately, there's no detailed conduct for black lung disease. People whose lung impairment has reached the moment that they would help from supplemental oxygen, or mega oxygen at home, would sure meet oxygen. Other than that, there's unfortunately no exact medicine that reverses the injure that's been done to the lungs. The hurt that's done could be thought of as a mutilate, and just as you might have a wound on your arm that doesn't go away or doesn't cure, scars, or fibrosis inside the lungs don't go away either.

Author: Jon Simms

Chronic Leukemia

2008-09-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is a dangerous form of cancer, and it affects thousands of people every year. It affects the white blood cells. The body loses control of the quantity and quality of blood cells, and it becomes very vulnerable because the white blood cells are supposed to protect our organism against infections. There are two main types of leukemia - acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is more dangerous because it spreads much faster, but chronic leukemia can be tricky because it has almost no symptoms.The first organ that is affected by chronic leukemia is the bone marrow. The bone marrow is a tissue that can be found on some of the main bones in the body and that has the role of producing blood cells (red blood cells and white blood cells). White blood cells are the guardians of the body. They can be found anywhere in the blood and they attack and neutralize any type of bacteria that enters the body and that can be harmful.When a patient has chronic leukemia, the white blood cells from his blood are deffective and they are continuously created. A normal person should have less then 10000 white blood cells white a person with leukemia can have more than 100000, but although there are so many the protection against infections is decreased because most of the cells are malfunctioning.A particularity of chronic leukemia is that patients who have it also have a lower number of red blood cells.The causes of all types of leukemia are unknown, doctors cannot determine why some people have this illness and other don't. Though, scientists discovered some factors that increase the risks of becoming ill of leukemia. Among these factors radiations play an important role, many that were exposed to radiations were soon diagnosed with leukemia. Also, a malfunction in the genes can cause the blood cells to transform, so it can have a genetic cause. The causes and risk factors are still being researched.The bad thing about chronic leukemia is that it usually shows no symptoms that can give he patient an idea about his condition. It's often discovered during routine lab tests. Some of those suffering from chronic leukemia reported having a general state of weakness and fatigue. As the disease advances blood can start to come out of the nose or of the gums for no reason, and because the organism is weakened and its defense is lowered, leukemia patients can be vruised very easy, and they are often infected with foreign microorganism.Chronic leukemia treatment depends on each patient. After the diagnose a series of tests are made to determine which therapy the patient responds to. Chemotherapy is used in most situations. The number of people that are cured of chronic leukemia is increasing as time passes, but a there is a notable number of victims too.New drugs and cures keep being researched by doctors and scientists and the survival rate is rising, so maybe in the near future chronic leukemia will be musc easier to treat.For more resources on different leukemia related issues like leukemia symptoms, leukemia causes and many more visit
http://www.leukemia-guide.com .

Author: Groshan Fabiola

Mesothelioma News

2008-09-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

Information about Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a Very Dangerous Cancer Caused By Asbestos Exposure
There are different types of mesothelioma and if you show any symptoms you need to see a doctor immediately.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer of the abdomen that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos, an industrial product used frequently in the early 20th century. Asbestos was commonly used for its resistance to fire and heat in things such as ovens and brake shoes for cars. It was also mixed with cement to increase the heat resistance of the cement. Asbestos is a fibrous material that can also be woven into cloth. The problem with Asbestos arises when it becomes old and brittle. When something containing asbestos is broken or brushed against, asbestos fibers are released into the air. Asbestos fibers can be thinner than one thousandth of a strand of human hair and invisible to the naked eye. Because they weigh so little they can be kept in the air for days, and when finally settled, the slightest breeze can put them back into the air.

Once asbestos enters the lungs it is absorbed into the mesothelium, a protective layer in your abdomen that protects your internal organs. Some of the common areas that mesothelioma can develop are the pleura, the pericardium, and the peritoneum, all linings of internal organs in the chest. There are several symptoms of mesothelioma however it can be confused with several other diseases so it may not be properly diagnosed until the disease has progressed significantly. Some symptoms of mesothelioma include wheezing, fatigue, and shortness of breath, swelling, and chest pain. Some of the symptoms of severe mesothelioma include low blood sugar, jaundice, blood clots, weight loss and severe internal bleeding.
Treatment of mesothelioma has largely proved unsuccessful and typically after a diagnosis the patient has less than a year to live. Radiation therapy can be used to restrict the growth of the cancer; however, because mesothelioma is usually located across a large portion of the chest, it’s impossible to focus the radiation on the cancer. The amount of radiation required to kill the mesothelioma in the chest would be fatal to the patient. There are chemotherapy procedures available as well; however, they only slow the growth of the cancer and are unable to eliminate it. There are surgical procedures available that do help slow the cancer however they are fairly major surgeries. The most common surgery is a pleurectomy, a procedure where the lining of the chest is removed. Because the lining of the chest is where the majority of the cancer grows, it helps prolong the patient’s life. It is possible to stop the disease however if caught early enough. Some survivors continue to live 20 years or more after their mesothelioma developed.
Beginning in the 1970’s, the use of asbestos has been heavily regulated in the United States and is rarely used. In the European Union, Japan and Australia it entirely banned. Asbestos litigation has been estimated to have a total cost of $250 billion dollars with over 600,000 claimants. Because mesothelioma sometimes takes 20 to 50 years to develop, the number of cases is expect to rise in the near future even though the exposure rate of asbestos is significantly lower now that in the past. So if you are diagnosed with this dangerous disease you should also talk to a mesothelioma attorney and see if they can offer you some advice and assistance.

Article from :
http://www.usmwf.org/resources/
mesothelioma_is_a_very_dangerous.htm

Cancer Isn't Dangerous Again

2008-09-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Cancer hasn’t been so dangerous again. The cancer’s sufferer in Indonesia can have a spark of life longer with the invention of Keladi Tikus (Typhonium Flagelliforme/Rodent Tuber) as dill which can stop and treat several cancer diseases and others. It looks like taro with max height 25-30 cm, just live in underbrush which is unexposed. According to Drs. Patoppoi Pasau — the 1st who found this plant in Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia — this plant can be find in great quantities in Indonesia.

Patoppoi’s wife – who ailed breast cancer in 3rd level, after consumed the herb of that plant, got descent of chemotherapy’s effect. Her hair stopped to fall out, didn’t be damaged, the queasy eased, and passionate in food became normally. Even 3 months after consumed, after took checkup, the result of cancer is negative. It’s turned adrift the doctors in Jakarta. Now, Center Care Malaysia has packed it into pills and tea powders, combined with other plants with certain dosis, depend on disease you suffer.

Uniquely, a dop addict who has lungs cancer surprisingly after tested with the medicine turn out to take drug’s poison outside from blood stream and made the dipsomania out. But, don’t ever try to use drugs again, because it can cause resistance. Into the bargain, the cancer’s sufferer who often feels in pain till yowl, can use it.

According to Center Care Malaysia’s data, it has cured breast cancer, lungs, large intestine, liver, prostate, kidney, cervix, red lane, bone, brain, spleen, leukemia, gall, pancreas, and hepatitis.

For more details, please contact:

Cancer Care Indonesia
Jl. Kayu Putih 4 No.5 Jakarta
Telp (021) 4894745

Interesting Facts About Acute Leukemia

2008-09-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is also known as blood cancer. However, this term is a misnomer because rather than causing cancer in the blood, the cancer is caused in the bone marrow and it affects the white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting infections, bacteria and viruses that enter our body. Once the white blood cells are affected, our body gets weakened and is exposed to infections.
There are several types of leukemia and the treatment varies depending on the type. However, the two main types of leukemia are acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Chronic leukemia is considered to be milder; in other words not all the white blood cells are defective and the progress of the disease is much slower than acute leukemia.
Acute leukemia advances rapidly and all the white blood cells are not normal. However, in some cases it is easier to treat than chronic leukemia.
In the United States, each year thousands of people are diagnosed with acute leukemia. However, it has been seen that a large number of children, mostly around 4 years old, are afflicted more frequently by acute leukemia. The good news is that more and more cases are being cured and there is constant research for new medication and treatment methods.
The cause of acute leukemia is unknown. The only thing that one can say for certain is that some people are at a higher risk of getting the disease than others. People who are exposed to radiations or certain chemicals have the highest chance of contracting the disease. In addition, there is the hereditary factor. It has been seen that children receive the defective gene from their mother and this gene may lead to acute leukemia.
People who have leukemia tend to bruise easily or bleed easily from the nose and gums. In addition to weak immune system, there is a general feeling of fatigue and unexplained weight loss. The disease by itself does not have any specific symptoms.
About Author: Pauline Go is an online leading expert in medical industry. She also offers top quality medical tips like :
How To Spot Fake Doctor Note, Facts About Leukemia

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go

Chronic Leukemia Surgery - Manage it in India

2008-09-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

The availability of high quality resources and most experienced cancer surgeons in India makes chronic leukaemia surgery now possible in India at low risk and at very less cost. The cancer research centers in India are inventing various new surgical techniques for the treatment of cancer. New techniques invented by the cancer research center of India are according to the requirement of the cancer patients so that the cancer operation becomes risk free. The medical treatment centers for cancer surgery in India provide treatment to abroad patients at very less price as compared to the cost of abroad cancer surgery hospitals of abroad. Different cancer treatment centers for cancer surgery in India are at Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Cancer surgeries in India have produced very good success rates of cure of cancer, with cancer surgery in India, the cancer can be cured completely at very low risk as the treatment is provided to patients from most experienced cancer surgeons of India. The advancement of surgical techniques reduces the recovery time after the surgery; patients can start doing their daily routine work within fifteen days after cancer surgery in India. Because of low cost of cancer treatment and availability of experienced surgeons in India, Indian cancer treatment centers becoming more popular in abroad countries, many abroad patients gets attracted to India for low cost cancer treatment in India.
Leukemia literally means 'many white cells in the blood'. The white cells are part of the body's immune system, and there are several sub-groups of white cells that have different sorts of roles in recognizing and dealing with 'invaders' such as bacteria and viruses as well as other types of foreign protein. All of the blood cells originate in the bone marrow and leukaemia which is also known as blood cancer is a disease where the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal white cells. This means that the normal marrow is pushed into smaller and smaller areas. This results in fewer normal cells being produced and gives rise to some of the symptoms. It is possible to have chronic leukemia for months or even years without knowing it. The symptoms are varied, but many people notice different symptoms like tiredness, bruising easily (often without having had any blow or fall), repeated infections, enlarged lymph glands, weight loss, night sweats, fever. These are most common symptoms appear when patient suffers from chronic leukemia. The surgical procedure of chronic leukemia surgery is very complex and it requires an experienced cancer surgeon for the treatment. There are many types of leukemia, each of which is classified according to the exact cell type affected by the disease. Chronic leukemia is a slowly progressive form of leukemia and tends to involve more mature cell types. It may not need treatment immediately, but if treatment is required it is usually chemotherapy, given in the form of tablets. The cause of leukemia is not known. Older people with early stage CLL have a normal life expectancy. Treatment in the form of chemotherapy will be required for those who are unwell or who have many enlarged lymph glands, or who become significantly anaemic. Chemotherapy is usually given in the form of tablets. Other chemotherapy drugs such as fludarabine may be used in late stage disease.
Medical tourism provides very good assistance to abroad patients in provision of best cancer treatment to patients. The ultimate aim of medical tourism in India is the provision of good treatment facilities to abroad patients for which they are coming India. Medical treatment centers for chronic leukemia surgery in India are at Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Nagpur and Bangalore. Medical tourism in India provides different low cost packages to abroad patients for their treatment in India. Low cost of cancer treatment and availability of most experienced cancer surgeons in India are the other reasons because of which Indian cancer surgery hospitals are becoming center of attraction now day's. Many abroad patients are getting attracted to India for low cost chronic leukemia surgery cancer treatment in India.
For further details of low cost chronic leukemia surgery in India visit - http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ravi_Jeswani

Chronic Leukemia - A Less Dangerous Cancer, But Harder To Treat

2008-09-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is a dangerous form of cancer, and it affects thousands of people every year. It affects the white blood cells. The body loses control of the quantity and quality of blood cells, and it becomes very vulnerable because the white blood cells are supposed to protect our organism against infections. There are two main types of leukemia - acute leukemia and chronic leukemia. Acute leukemia is more dangerous because it spreads much faster, but chronic leukemia can be tricky because it has almost no symptoms.
The first organ that is affected by chronic leukemia is the bone marrow. The bone marrow is a tissue that can be found on some of the main bones in the body and that has the role of producing blood cells (red blood cells and white blood cells). White blood cells are the guardians of the body. They can be found anywhere in the blood and they attack and neutralize any type of bacteria that enters the body and that can be harmful.
When a patient has chronic leukemia, the white blood cells from his blood are deffective and they are continuously created. A normal person should have less then 10000 white blood cells white a person with leukemia can have more than 100000, but although there are so many the protection against infections is decreased because most of the cells are malfunctioning. A particularity of chronic leukemia is that patients who have it also have a lower number of red blood cells.
The causes of all types of leukemia are unknown, doctors cannot determine why some people have this illness and other don't. Though, scientists discovered some factors that increase the risks of becoming ill of leukemia. Among these factors radiations play an important role, many that were exposed to radiations were soon diagnosed with leukemia. Also, a malfunction in the genes can cause the blood cells to transform, so it can have a genetic cause. The causes and risk factors are still being researched.
The bad thing about chronic leukemia is that it usually shows no symptoms that can give he patient an idea about his condition. It's often discovered during routine lab tests. Some of those suffering from chronic leukemia reported having a general state of weakness and fatigue. As the disease advances blood can start to come out of the nose or of the gums for no reason, and because the organism is weakened and its defense is lowered, leukemia patients can be vruised very easy, and they are often infected with foreign microorganism.
Chronic leukemia treatment depends on each patient. After the diagnose a series of tests are made to determine which therapy the patient responds to. Chemotherapy is used in most situations. The number of people that are cured of chronic leukemia is increasing as time passes, but a there is a notable number of victims too.
New drugs and cures keep being researched by doctors and scientists and the survival rate is rising, so maybe in the near future chronic leukemia will be musc easier to treat.

For more resources on different leukemia related issues like
leukemia symptoms, leukemia causes and many more visit
http://www.leukemia-guide.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

NEW KIND OF BREAST CANCER- an early warning!

2008-09-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

New kind of Breast Cancer - DO NOT DELETE Please forward to all of the women in your lives . Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, friends, etc. In November, a rare kind of breast cancer was found. A lady developed a rash on her breast, similar to that of young mothers who are nursing. Because her mammogram had been clear, the doctor treated her with antibiotics for infections. After 2 rounds, it continued to get worse, so her doctor sent her for another mammogram. This time it showed a mass. A biopsy found a fast growing malignancy. Chemo was started in order to shrink the growth; then a mastectomy was performed; then a full round of Chemo; then radiation. After about 9 months of intense treatment, she was given a clean bill of health. She had one year of living each day to its fullest. Then the cancer returned to the liver area. She took 4 treatments and decided that she wanted quality of life, not the after effects of Chemo.. She had 5 great months and she planned each detail of the final days. After a few days of needing morphine, she died. She left this message to be delivered to women everywhere: Women, PLEASE be alert to anything that is not normal, and be persistent in getting help as soon as possible. Paget's Disease: This is a rare form of breast cancer, and is on the outside of the breast, on the nipple and aureole. It appeared as a rash, which later became a lesion with a crusty outer edge.. I would not have ever suspected it to be breast cancer but it was. My nipple never seemed any different to me, but the rash bothered me, so I went to the doctor for that. Sometimes, it itched and was sore, but other than that it didn't bother me. It was just ugly and a nuisance, and could not be cleared up with all the creams prescribed by my doctor and dermatologist for the dermatitis on my eyes just prior to this outbreak. They seemed a little concerned but did not warn me it could be cancerous. Now, I suspect not many women out there know a lesion or rash on the nipple or aureole can be breastcancer. (Mine started out as a single red pimple on the aureole. One of the biGgest problems with Paget's disease of the nipple is that the symptoms appear to be harmless. It is frequently thought to be a skin inflammation or infection, leading to unfortunate delays in detection and care.) What are the symptoms? 1. A persistent redness, oozing, and crusting of your nipple causing it to itch and burn (As I stated, mine did not itch or burn much, and had no oozing I was aware of, but it did have a crust along the outer edge on one side.) 2. A sore on your nipple that will not heal. (Mine was on the aureole area with a whitish thick looking area in center of nipple).3. Usually only one nipple is effected.. How is it diagnosed? Your doctor will do a physical exam and would suggest having a mammogram of both breasts, done immediately. Even though the redness, oozing and crusting closely resemble dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), your doctor should suspect cancer if the sore is only on one breast. Your doctor should order a biopsy of your sore to confirm what is going on. This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of your relatives and friends as possible; it could save someone's life.My breast cancer has spread and metastasized to my bones after receiving mega doses of chemotherapy, 28 treatments of radiation and taking Tamaxofin. If this had been diagnosed as breast cancer in the beginning, perhaps it would not have spread... TO ALL READERS:This is sad as women are not aware of Paget's disease. If, by passing this around on the e-mail, we can make others aware of it and its potential danger, we are helping women everywhere. Please, if you can, take a moment to forward this message to as many people as possible, especially to your family and friends. It only takes a moment, yet the results could save a life

Article by :
Christine wrote
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2347471856&topic=7599

What Is Skin Cancer? Techniques To Fight With Skin Cancer

2008-09-10T05:08:00.001-07:00

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer existing in the world. A lot of research and studies have been conducted for discovering and inventing the remedies for this serious disease. It is a type of harmful, malignant growth affecting the skin of about one million people in a year in U.S.A. There are several causes such as severe sun burns, long term exposure to Ultra violet rays and a lot of others.Ultraviolet light can even damage the dermis, the layer that gives your skin its shape, texture, strength, and elasticity. Sunlight breaks down the thick, strong tissue structure of the dermis, rendering it weak, thin, and less elastic and making it appear wrinkled and saggy.

Ice cold whole milk is great for cooling a painful sunburn. Begin treating a sunburned face by cooling burned and irritated skin with whole milk. Pour cold whole milk into a shallow bowl, and apply it to the sunburn by generously dabbing it on with cotton balls.If you don’t mind the mess, dip your hands into the bowl and apply the milk liberally as you would water. Your face will begin to feel immediately cooler and much less painful.Pancreatin is a mix of many different enzymes, and those involved in the digestion of proteins are also used to help eliminate cancers that occur. Cancer is often a disease of protein metabolism because the pancreatin enzyme cancer defense mechanism can be overwhelmed by consuming protein rich foods at inappropriate times or in excessive amounts. The body needs a time span each day approaching twelve hours or more without protein consumption for its pancreatin cancer defense mechanism to work optimally.While early detection and treatment of skin cancer can improve patient outcomes,4 convincing data regarding the benefit of mass screening programs are lacking.5 In addition, the ability to identify potentially malignant lesions varies with physician training.6 Thus, except for very high-risk persons with a history of skin cancer or atypical mole syndrome, for whom periodic screening is universally recommended, there is considerable debate about who should be screened, who should perform the screening and how often screening should be performed.Moisturising will return moisture levels to your skin but will not prevent peeling. If sunburn is severe enough, your skin will peel regardless, as the skin cells have died and your body naturally replaces them. Available sunburn remedies may alleviate your discomfort but cannot reverse the physical effects of sun damage.You should never rely on home remedies or products like after-sun care creams to keep your skin healthy, supple and smooth. Protection from the sun is the only method that will prevent premature ageing, discolouration and wrinkles.Go for an exfoliation once a fortnight either at a professional salon, or at home. It helps remove dead cells and revitalize the skin through blood circulation. Oatmeal combined with mashed apple is an excellent home scrub.Virgin coconut oil or butter is a good home remedy for skin care. It makes a good moisturizer and provides a good protective larger that locks in natural moisture as it has good solidifying property. You need to place the coconut butter in small lip palm or eye cream jars. You can also put it in a small sterilized jar.

By: Corwin Brown
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Read Home Remedies. Also Read about Male Sexual Enhancement and Low Libido and Breast Enlargement Enhancement Pills

Skin Cancer And Your Plastic Surgeon

2008-09-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 500,000 new cases are reported each year-and the incidence is rising faster than any other type of cancer. While skin cancers can be found on any part of the body, about 80 percent appear on the face, head, or neck, where they can be disfiguring as well as dangerous.

About Skin Cancer

2008-09-10T04:53:00.000-07:00

Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer. It is estimated that over 1 million new cases occur annually. The annual rates of all forms of skin cancer are increasing each year, representing a growing public concern. It has also been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.

Cancer Forming Chemical Found in Baby Food

2008-09-10T04:43:00.000-07:00

The alarm was raised yesterday after experts at the European Food Safety Authority confirmed the discovery of semicarbazide, which can damage DNA, in a range of products, including baby food.
Experts in Brussels and London believe that the risks are small, but so little is known about semicarbazide or its threat to human health that many consumers may decide to boycott some products. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said last night that if parents wished to play safe they should make their babies’ and infants’ food themselves, but it did not go so far as to advise against buying bottled foods

Raw Food Treatment For Cancer

2008-09-10T04:42:00.001-07:00

There are many very healthy foods which contain significant levels of vitamin k. Vitamin k is needed by the body for blood clotting, however, too much vitamin k can contribute to the creation of blood clots in some situations. No more than 25% to 30% of a person's diet should consist of foods high in vitamin K, which include:Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, cucumber peel (i.e. the skin), endive, green scallion, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, turnip green, and watercress. Garlic should be avoided for other reasons and onions should be eaten in moderation.

Enzyme New Potential Target In Treating Blood Cancer

2008-09-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

A discovery by a research team with the Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg
University in Sweden may lead to new treatments for blood cancer and other
diseases. By stopping the production of a specific enzyme, ICMT, researchers
were able to alleviate disease symptoms in mice with blood cancer.

In many forms of cancer, the growth of tumors and their ability to spread are
stimulated by a mutated gene that codes for a so-called RAS protein. This has
led to intensive research into how to block the activity of these proteins.
“RAS proteins exist in all cells, anchored to the inside of the cell membrane,
where they regulate cell growth and cell division. The enzyme we are studying
helps RAS proteins get anchored to the cell membrane. By blocking this enzyme,
we were able to inhibit the binding of RAS proteins to cell membranes and greatly
improve the disease symptoms in mice with blood cancer,” says Associate
Professor Martin Bergö, who directs research at the Wallberg? Laboratory at
the Sahlgrenska Academy.
The research team has developed a genetically modified mouse that produces a
mutated and constantly active RAS protein in its bone marrow, where new blood
cells are generated. These mice develop a form of leukemia that is similar to a
number of forms of blood cancer in humans. The pathogenic bone marrow cells
divide uncontrollably, and the normal control of cell growth cannot turn them off.
In these mice, the production of the enzyme called ICMT can also be stopped.
“When we inhibited the production of the enzyme, the development of blood
cancer declined, and the uncontrolled growth of bone marrow cells was blocked.
Another discovery was that normal bone marrow cells were not significantly
affected by the ICMT enzyme. The means that future drugs for inhibiting ICMT
could specifically target the pathogenic cells and leave normal cells intact.
A drub that blocks this enzyme could be an effective future cancer treatment,
” says Martin Bergö.
The research team also demonstrated that mice with an aggressive form of
lung cancer lived longer and developed considerably smaller tumors when the
ICMT enzyme was blocked. But even though the study strongly indicates that
ICMT can be an effective target for cancer treatment, the findings now need
to be corroborated by other mice with blood cancer and lung cancer, and drugs
to inhibit the enzyme need to be produced and tested.

Journal reference:
Wahlstrom et al. Inactivating Icmt ameliorates K-RAS-induced
myeloproliferative disease. Blood, 2008; 112 (4): 1357 DOI:
10.1182/blood-2007-06-094060

Fight for blood cancer drug goes to high court

2008-09-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

A life-prolonging drug available to cancer patients in Europe, America and elsewhere in England is being withheld from a Sussex man because his health authority has misunderstood medical test data, the high court heard yesterday.

Young adults with a blood cancer

2008-09-10T04:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Young adults with a blood cancer - part of Leukaemia Research's
website designed especially to give teenagers and young adults with blood
cancer, their friends and their family up-to-date information about their
disease and the effects it can have.

Enzyme new potential target in treating blood cancer

2008-09-10T04:22:00.000-07:00

A discovery by a research team with the Sahlgrenska Academy at
Gothenburg University in Sweden may lead to new treatments for
blood cancer and other diseases. By stopping the production of a
specific enzyme, ICMT, researchers were able to alleviate disease
symptoms in mice with blood cancer. In many forms of cancer,
the growth of tumors and their ability to spread are stimulated by a
mutated gene that codes for a so-called RAS protein. This has led to
intensive research into how to block the activity of these proteins.
"RAS proteins exist in all cells, anchored to the inside of the cell
membrane, where they regulate cell growth and cell division.
The enzyme we are studying helps RAS proteins get anchored to
the cell membrane. By blocking this enzyme, we were able to inhibit
the binding of RAS proteins to cell membranes and greatly improve
the disease symptoms in mice with blood cancer," says Associate
Professor Martin Bergö, who directs research at the Wallberg?
Laboratory at the Sahlgrenska Academy.The research team has
developed a genetically modified mouse that produces a mutated
and constantly active RAS protein in its bone marrow, where new
blood cells are generated. These mice develop a form of leukemia
that is similar to a number of forms of blood cancer in humans.
The pathogenic bone marrow cells divide uncontrollably, and the
normal control of cell growth cannot turn them off. In these mice,
the production of the enzyme called ICMT can also be stopped.
"When we inhibited the production of the enzyme, the development
of blood cancer declined, and the uncontrolled growth of bone marrow
cells was blocked. Another discovery was that normal bone marrow
cells were not significantly affected by the ICMT enzyme.
The means that future drugs for inhibiting ICMT could specifically
target the pathogenic cells and leave normal cells intact.
A drub that blocks this enzyme could be an effective future cancer
treatment," says Martin Bergö.The research team also demonstrated
that mice with an aggressive form of lung cancer lived longer and
developed considerably smaller tumors when the ICMT enzyme
was blocked. But even though the study strongly indicates that ICMT
can be an effective target for cancer treatment, the findings now
need to be corroborated by other mice with blood cancer and lung
cancer, and drugs to inhibit the enzyme need to be produced and
tested.Journal: Blood Title of article: Inactivating Icmt ameliorates
K-RAS-induced myeloproliferative disease

Authors: Annika M. Wahlstrom, Briony A. Cutts, Meng Liu, Annika Lindskog,
Christin Karlsson, Anna-Karin M. Sjogren, Karin M.E. Andersson,
Stephen G. Young, and Martin O. BergöFor more information please contact:
Associate Professor Martin Bergö, phone: +46 (0)31-342 78 58;
cell phone: +46 (0)733-12 22 24; e-mail: martin.bergo@wlab.gu.se.
Weitere Informationen: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi
/content/abstract/112/4/1357 abstract

Chronic leukaemia or blood cancer

2008-09-10T04:12:00.000-07:00

What is chronic leukaemia?Leukaemia literally means ‘many white cells in the blood'.
The white cells are part of the body’s immune system, and there are several sub-groups
of white cells that have different sorts of roles in recognising and dealing with ‘invaders’
such as bacteria and viruses as well as other types of foreign protein. All of the blood cells originate in the bone marrow and leukaemia (blood cancer) is a disease where the
bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal white cells. This means that the
normal marrow is pushed into smaller and smaller areas. This results in fewer normal
cells being produced and gives rise to some of the symptoms.There are many types of leukaemia, each of which is classified according to the exact cell type affected by the disease.Chronic leukaemia is a slowly progressive form of leukaemia and tends to involve
more mature cell types. It may not need treatment immediately, but if treatment is
required it is usually chemotherapy, given in the form of tablets.The cause of
leukaemia is not known.What are the symptoms of chronic leukaemia?It is
possible to have chronic leukaemia for months or even years without knowing it.
The symptoms are varied, but many people notice:
tiredness (due to anaemia)
bruising easily (often without having had any blow or fall)
repeated infections
enlarged lymph glands
weight loss
night sweats
fever. What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
(CLL) is the commonest type of leukaemia with 3000 to 4000 new cases diagnosed
each year in the UK. It is a form of chronic leukaemia characterised by an increased
number of lymphocytes, which make up one of the main sub-groups of white
cells in the blood. Despite their increased numbers these lymphocytes lack the
normal ability of responding to infection by the production of antibodies, so
compromising the immune system of the affected person.CLL is rarely found in
people under the age of 40 - the peak age is 65. It is twice as common in men than
in women. There are no obvious causes known for CLL.What are the symptoms of
chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?In addition to the symptoms mentioned above
which are common to all forms of leukaemia, specific signs of the disease are:
painless enlargement of the lymph glands especially in the neck, armpits and groin.
lymph glands in deeper parts of the body may need special scans for diagnosis.
sometimes an enlarged spleen (located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen)
may cause discomfort or pain.How is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia diagnosed?
Often the condition is diagnosed by chance when blood tests are being performed
for other reasons.Although a blood test may give doctors the diagnosis, a bone
marrow test is usually done to confirm the diagnosis. Special tests are performed
on these samples to help classify the leukaemia as this will influence the kind of
treatment required.Scans and X-rays may also be performed in order to help doctors
decide on the best treatment.How is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated?
Treatment is not always required and the patient may just be followed up as an
outpatient on a regular basis, sometimes for many years, with no need for further action.
Older people with early stage CLL have a normal life expectancy. Treatment in the
form of chemotherapy will be required for those who are unwell or who have many
enlarged lymph glands, or who become significantly anaemic.Chemotherapy is usually
given in the form of tablets (usually a medicine called chlorambucil (Leukeran)).
Other chemotherapy drugs such as fludarabine (Fludara) (may be used in late stage
disease. General bone marrow production of blood cells can occur in more advanced
CLL (bone marrow failure) in which steroid treatment with prednisolone (eg Deltacortril)
usually allows the bone marrow to recover. Milder degrees of bone marrow failure might adequately be controlled by periodic blood transfusion.X-ray treatment (radiotherapy)
can be given locally, to swollen lymph nodes, or in small repeated doses to the whole body. Infections are more common in people with CLL and need to be diagnosed early and
treated vigorously. Sometimes the spleen, which is also part of the body’s immune
system swells up so much in CLL that it gives rise to pain, or it causes a type of
anaemia to develop in which the red cells of the blood (oxygen-carrying cells) become
fragile, leading to further anaemia. These problems may justify the surgical removal
of the spleen.Bone marrow transplantation may be considered for those patients who
are less than 45 years of age and who have an aggressive form of the disease.

Written by Dr Rachel Green, consultant haematologist

Can Any "Alternative" Cancer Treatment

2008-09-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

The term "immune system"—as recognized by scientists—refers to the enormously
complex interaction of many types of cells (T-cells, B-cells, N-K cells, helper cells,
suppressor cells, macrophages, etc.), cell products (many lymphokines, cytokines
and cytotoxins), other substances (chemicals, hormones), and physical agents
(X-rays, ultraviolet light). At this time there is no single, valid measure of an
individual's "immunocompetence." What we do have is various tests related
to the body's ability to react to the foreign proteins found in viruses, bacteria,
foods, and other sources. These tests include,
....... more

by,
Saul Green, Ph.D.Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Alternative therapy, cancer-fighting foods

2008-09-10T03:17:00.000-07:00

There is a plethora of alternative treatments people are trying.
MYB takes a look at some of them, but please consult your physician
before you embark on any activity or treatment.
>>REIKI: This is based on the belief that when a patient's spirit is
healed with energy channelled through a practitioner, it in turn heals
the physical body.

>>MUSIC THERAPY: It can play many roles in treating cancer.
For example, it helps distract and relax the patient and improve
his or her spiritual, emotional and physical well-being.

>>HYPNOSIS: A qualified hypnotist can help put the patient
in a deeply relaxed state that can help reduce discomfort and anxiety.

>>MEDITATION AND PRAYER: Meditation is a relaxation
technique that allows you to focus your energy. This, say proponents,
helps to relax the mind and body. For patients who believe in a higher
spiritual power, prayer can provide strength, comfort and inspiration
throughout the cancer experience.

>>VISUALISATION: A patient is asked to think of an inner picture that
represents the fight against cancer. Some people undergoing chemotherapy
use images of rockets blasting away their cancer cells or of knights in
armour battling these cells.

>>EXERCISE: Activity can lessen pain and strengthen weak muscles.
Advocates say it restores balance and decreases depression and fatigue.

>>TAIJI: This is an ancient Chinese martial art based on Taoism.
The exercises and poses are designed to balance flows of energy.
The American Cancer Society reports that taiji may be used to relieve the tension, stress, muscle wasting and fatigue associated with cancer.

- National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society
------

Cancer-fighting foods
Research activity is buzzing in the area of nutrition. Several studies show that
specific nutrients prevent the growth of cancer.
One example is a substance called Indole-3-carbinol, found in cruciferous
vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. It has been found to stop the growth
of prostate and breast cancers.
Another is the Coriolus versicolor mushroom. Several studies document the
immune boosting effects of this mushroom.
In Japan, this mushroom is currently used as a cancer treatment, in conjunction
with surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation for certain cancers. This combination
has been found to improve survival rates.

Article From :
http://www.asiaone.com/Health/Alternative%2BMedicine/New%2BAge/Story/A1Story20070817-22293.html

Alternative Cancer Treatment

2008-09-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

At ITL Cancer Clinic we use alternative and complementary cancer medicines to treat cancer aggressively with few or no side effects. The core alternative cancer treatments at ITL are state of the art immune therapies to train the patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy tumor tissue. Our team of M.D., and Ph.D. scientists offer the most advanced immune treatments for cancer.

Alternative Cancer Therapies

2008-09-10T03:12:00.000-07:00

There are many alternative cancer therapies available. The following descriptions encompass those which are most widely sought. There are additional therapies which we are adding on a second page that are not used as widely to treat cancer.

These listings do not imply an endorsement on the part of The Cancer Cure Foundation. They are included because of their popularity and are for informational purposes only.
more ..........

Leukemia

2008-09-10T02:44:00.000-07:00

Leukemia is a form of cancer that starts in the bone marrow where
all your blood is made. The bone marrow is a spongy material
inside your bones where blood cells are produced and mature.
Different types of blood cells are made in healthy bone marrow

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

2008-09-10T02:35:00.000-07:00

What are some of the treatment options for
prostate cancer?
The treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on whether the
tumor has spread. For tumors that are still inside the prostate, radiation
therapy (using x-rays that kill the cancer cells) and a surgery called radical
prostatectomy are common treatment options. "Watchful waiting" is also a
treatment option. In this approach, no treatment is given until the tumor
gets bigger. Watchful waiting may be the best choice for an older man who
has a higher risk of dying from something other than his prostate cancer.
Generally, tumors that have grown beyond the edge of the prostate can't be
cured with either radiation or surgery. They can be treated with hormones
that slow the cancer's growth.

What is radical prostatectomy?
Radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove the whole prostate gland and
the nearby lymph nodes. Most men who have this surgery are under general
anesthesia (puts you into a sleep-like state). After the prostate gland is
taken out, a catheter (a narrow rubber tube) is put through the penis into
the bladder to carry urine out of the body until the area heals.

What are the risks and benefits of radical
prostatectomy?
If you're in good health, the short-term risks of this surgery are low.
The hospital stay is usually 2 to 3 days, with the catheter left in place
for 2 to 3 weeks. You're usually able to go back to work in about 1 month.
You shouldn't have severe pain with this surgery. Most men regain bladder
control a few weeks to several months after the surgery.The main advantage
of surgery is that it offers the most certain treatment. That is, if all of the
cancer is removed during surgery, you are probably cured. Also, the surgery
provides your doctor with accurate information about how advanced your
cancer is, since the nearby lymph nodes are taken out along with the tumor.
Surgery does have risks and complications. You could lose a lot of blood during
this surgery. Before the surgery, you might want to save about 2 units of your
own blood in case you need a transfusion. The main risks of this surgery are
incontinence (lack of bladder control) and impotence (loss of the ability to get
or keep an erection long enough to have sex). Fortunately, only a very low
percentage of men have severe incontinence after radical prostatectomy.
Up to 35% of men have a little accidental leakage of urine during heavy lifting,
coughing or laughing.The chance of impotence decreases if the surgeon is able
to avoid cutting the nerves. This may not be possible if the tumor is large.
Your age and degree of sexual function before the surgery are also important
factors. If you're under 50 years old when you have this surgery, you're likely
to regain sexual function. If you're older than 70, you're more likely to lose
sexual function. Remember, even if the nerves are cut, feeling in your penis
and orgasm remain normal. Only the ability to get a rigid penis for sexual
intercourse is lost. However, there are medicines and devices that can help
make the penis rigid.

What is radiation therapy? What are its risks
and benefits?
There are 2 types of radiation therapy. In one type, called external beam
radiation therapy, radiation is given from a machine like an x-ray machine.
In another type, radioactive pellets (called "seeds") are injected into the
prostate gland. This is sometimes called seed therapy or brachytherapy
(say: "break-ee-ther-uh-pee"). Both types work about the same in curing
prostate cancer.The machine therapy is usually given 5 days a week over
7 weeks, which you might find time-consuming. However, you don't need
any anesthesia. The side effects are milder than the side effects that can
come with seed therapy. However, seed therapy can be done with just one
hospital visit. For seed therapy, you have to have anesthesia for a few minutes,
but you should be able to go home right after the treatment. In seed therapy,
higher doses of radiation can be put right on the cancer. You may feel more
discomfort after this treatment.About one half of patients become impotent
within 2 years of having radiation therapy. Many men feel very tired at the
end of the treatment period. About 15% to 30% of men who have radiation
therapy have urinary burning, urinary bleeding, frequent urination, rectal
bleeding, rectal discomfort or diarrhea during or shortly after the treatment.
Serious complications are rare. However, a degree of uncertainty goes along
with radiation treatment. Since the prostate gland and the lymph nodes are
not taken out, your doctor can't tell the exact size of the tumor. The cancer
could come back many years after radiation treatment.At 10 years after
treatment, cure rates are about the same for radiation therapy and radical
prostatectomy. There are no surgical risks for men who have radiation
therapy. There's no risk of bleeding. You don't have to stay in the hospital.
You'll recover faster. Daily activities can usually go on during the treatment.
Incontinence is extremely rare afterward. However, surgery may give you
a better chance of cure over the long term.

What are the risks and benefits of watchful
waiting?
Many prostate cancers are small and grow slowly. Because many men with a
slow-growing tumor have the same life expectancy as men who don't even have
prostate cancer, it may not be necessary to treat very small, very slow-growing
prostate tumors. Also, some men feel that the side effects of treatment outweigh
the benefits. In watchful waiting, you get no treatment, but you see your
doctor often. If there's no sign the cancer is growing, you continue to get no
treatment. Hormone therapy can be started if the cancer starts to grow.
It can be hard to tell if a small tumor is going to grow slowly or quickly.
Your doctor will get clues about the way your tumor will grow by checking
your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, examining the biopsy tissue and
giving you a rectal exam. The choice of watchful waiting is up to you.

What is the purpose of hormone therapy?
The purpose of hormone therapy is to lower the level of the male hormones,
called androgens, which are produced mostly in the testicles. This is because
androgens, such as testosterone, help the prostate tumor grow. Monthly
shots can be given or the testicles can be surgically removed. Once the
testosterone is out of your body, the prostate cancer usually shrinks.
Hormone treatments are most often used in patients with cancer that
has already spread beyond the prostate gland.While prostate cancer
usually responds to 1 or 2 years of hormone therapy, after some time
most tumors start to grow again. Once this happens, the treatment
goal is to control symptoms. No treatment can cure prostate cancer
after hormone therapy stops helping.

What happens after prostate cancer treatment?
You should get PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests every 6
months for 5 years, and then once every year. A rise in PSA levels
usually means that the cancer has come back. A digital rectal
examination should be done once a year.

Article from :
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common
/cancer/treatment/264.html

Prostate Cancer

2008-09-10T02:30:00.000-07:00

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be scary. It can lead you to fear, panic and hurried decisions. You may feel that you need to make a quick decision and begin treatment right away. But, most prostate cancer is slow growing, so there's usually no need to rush.
Give yourself time to gather information. Learn about all treatment options that are available to you. Talk to or read about others who've been in a similar situation. And consider seeking opinions from doctors in specialties such as urology, oncology and radiotherapy. Keep in mind, some doctors are more inclined to recommend a treatment in the specialty that they're most familiar with. Gathering several specialists' opinions may give you a better understanding of your treatment options.
Before reaching a definitive treatment decision, it's important that you understand the pros and cons of the various options and how they relate to your specific situation. The information in this guide is designed to help you understand the details to consider.
In this guide, you'll watch a Mayo Clinic urologist answer frequently asked questions about the treatments available for prostate cancer. You'll also see and hear from four men, each of whom chose a different treatment option.
It will take about an hour or more to go through this guide. Although it's not essential to do it all in one sitting, it's important to review it before making a treatment decision. That way you may be more fully informed and know what to expect.
When you're involved in making decisions about your treatment, you're more likely to feel better about it, you'll have a better sense of control and less anxiety, and you'll feel more able to cope and more able to talk about your disease and its effects with your loved ones.
The information presented here is designed specifically for men with early-stage prostate cancer, not advanced prostate cancer. See the "Related links" section of this guide for information about advanced prostate cancer.

Article From :
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer/PC99999

Prostate Cancer: The Basics

2008-09-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

The prostate is a small gland that only men have. It is normally about the size of a walnut. The prostate is located underneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. Because the prostate is close to the rectum, it can be felt by a doctor during a digital rectal exam (the part of a physical where the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into a man's anus).
...............more

Article From :
http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=16&s=57&ss=608&id=8039

Treatment for locally-advanced prostate cancer

2008-09-10T02:25:00.000-07:00

The treatment options for locally-advanced prostate cancer include radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, watchful waiting (observation) and surgery.
.................more

Article From :
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Prostate/
Treatmentforlocally-advancedprostatecancer/Overview

Understanding Diagnosis: Prostate Cancer

2008-09-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

The diagnosis of Prostate cancer is made by an ultrasound guided needle biopsy of the prostate. If one does not actively search for the cancer before symptoms begin (screen) then the vast majority of cancers detected at the time of diagnoses are incurable. Screening is the process by which one seeks to find cancer at an early potentially curable stage before symptoms have commenced, ...................... more

Article From : http://www.prostate.com.au/3+understanding+diagnosis/

Genetic Susceptibility to Prostate Cancer

2008-09-10T02:20:00.000-07:00

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether directly observed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) promoter diploid haplotype, either alone or in conjunction with androgen receptor (AR) genotype, is associated with prostate cancer risk. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within the US population-based Cardiovascular Health Study cohort. Incident prostate cancers were identified by linkage to cancer registry records for the years 1989-2000. We genotyped 193 cases and 391 controls for the PSA -252 G/A and -158 G/A SNPs and the AR CAG microsatellite, and developed methods to directly determine proximal PSA promoter haplotypes. Exact logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and significance levels. RESULTS: No significant associations were observed between PSA diplotype and prostate cancer overall. Short (< 20) AR CAG repeat lengths were associated with modest increases in the risk of prostate cancer (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.97-2.19; p = 0.071) that were significant for advanced disease (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.02-3.26; p = 0.044). Men who possessed two copies of the PSA*2 (-252G/-158G) haplotype and short AR CAG repeat lengths had a 4-fold (95% CI, 1.05-20.75; exact p = 0.040) increased risk of prostate cancer, and a 7-fold (95% CI, 1.25-39.78; exact p = 0.026) increased risk of advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence that the PSA*2*2 diplotype in combination with short AR CAG alleles increases a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. These findings support an etiologic role in prostate cancer of genetic interactions between polymorphisms that increase AR transactivation strength and those that alter the regulatory regions of target genes such as PSA that are responsive to androgen stimulation.

Article From : Sieh W, Edwards KL, Fitzpatrick AL,
Srinouanprachanh SL, Farin FM, Monks SA, Kronmal RA, Eaton DL.
Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357720, Seattle, WA, 98195-7720, USA. wsieh@u.washington.edu

Primary Liver Cancer

2008-09-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

Primary liver cancer is usually hepatocellular carcinoma. The first manifestations of liver cancer are usually nonspecific, delaying the diagnosis. Prognosis is usually poor, ........... more

Tuning nanoshells to kill cancer cells

2008-09-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

By taking advantage of nanoshells' optical properties, researchers from Rice University, Houston, US, have developed a method to simultaneously image and kill cancer cells.
Nanoshells consist of a dielectric silica core covered with a thin shell of gold. By altering the relative dimensions of the core radius and shell thickness, they can be tuned to scatter and absorb light at wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the infrared. This ability led a team of Rice University bioengineers, headed by Rebekah Drezek, to wonder whether nanoshells could be used to both diagnose and treat cancer.
'We don't want to simply find the cancerous cells,' explains Drezek. 'We would like to locate the cells, be able to make a rational choice about whether they need to be destroyed and, if so, proceed immediately to treatment.'
The researchers' basic idea was to use the nanoshells' ability to scatter light as a means to identify cancer cells and then use their ability to absorb light to destroy the cells, by heating them.
To demonstrate the practical feasibility of this idea, the researchers developed nanoshells that consisted of 120nm-diameter silica particles surrounded by a 10nm-thick gold shell. They then showed that nanoshells with these specific dimensions are able to scatter and absorb light in the near infra-red (NIR), which is the wavelength of light that is most efficient at passing through bodily tissue. Finally, they attached an antibody that specifically targets a protein that is over-expressed on the surface of breast cancer cells.
Incubating these nanoshells with breast cancer cells in vitro, the researchers discovered the nanoshells would naturally surround the cancer cells, causing them to light up so they could be detected using a microscope sensitive to scattered light. They then irradiated the nanoshells with a NIR laser for seven minutes, after which they stained the breast cancer cells for viability and found that the vast majority had been killed.
Dresek and her team are currently testing the nanoshells in animals. They have already successfully demonstrated the separate imaging and therapy aspects of the nanoshells, and are now evaluating their combined ability to diagnose and treat cancer in mice.

Jon Evans
Article from : http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News
2005/May/12May2005Tuningnanoshellstokillcancercells.asp

Small Cell Lung Cancer

2008-09-09T07:43:00.001-07:00

"This is the worst news I could give you..." said the doctor to Leslie Bauer after doing a cat scan in the emergency room. "You have a 3.5 centimeter brain tumor ."

Many people are aware of breast cancer and have heard generaly about lung cancer. But few know of Small Cell Lung Cancer which is incurable and kills thousands yearly. Fewer yet know that this cancer will usually move through the blood stream to the brain where it will form cancer brain tumors.
Lung cancer causes more cancer-related deaths in the world than any other cancer. In the United States. Lung cancer claims more lives every year than colon cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer combined..
If you catch SCLC early before it spreads to other organs you have a much better chance of longer survival. If you catch it after it travels to other parts of the body, such as the brain where it will create brain tumors, you currently have little or no chance for survival. Your doctors will talk in general terms, such as "quality of life," but unless you ask them point blank they will avoid talking about your survival chances. Many oncologist will avoid giving you a direct prognosis until it is too late.
Leslie, on the right, had huge headaches for months. The doctors just gave her antibiotics, thinking that it was a sinus infection. They totally missed TWO big cancers, one was a brain tumor and the other a tumor in her lung. She was a smoker who earlier had pneumonia, a sign that should have alerted the doctors. Once the tumors were discovered she went through chemo and through whole brain radiation which totally destroyed her quality of life.
Our goal is to reduce the incidents of small cell cancer by educating potential at-risk populations, by funding specific research that will target this terrible killing terrorist within and to help individuals with small cell cancer. And it is our hope that we can help kill cancer.

Article from : http://www.killcancer.com/

Breast Cancer Treatment Approach

2008-09-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

When patients come to the Siteman Cancer Center for treatment of breast cancer, they are seen by a team of experts – medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons and a health psychologist – all of whom come to the examining room. They receive a follow-up letter from these specialists summarizing treatment recommendations.

Article from : http://www.siteman.wustl.edu/internal.aspx?id=676

Symptoms & Diagnosis; Breast Cancer

2008-09-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer symptoms vary widely — from lumps to swelling to skin changes — and many breast cancers have no obvious symptoms at all. Symptoms that are similar to those of breast cancer may be the result of non-cancerous conditions like infection or a cyst, .....more

Fungus and nanotechnology kill cancer

2008-09-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

Accidental fungus leads to promising cancer drug By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor - Sun Jun 29, 3:29 PM PDTProvided by: Reuters60% of users found this article helpful.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A drug developed using nanotechnology and a fungus that contaminated a lab experiment may be broadly effective against a range of cancers, U.S. researchers reported on Sunday.
The drug, called lodamin, was improved in one of the last experiments overseen by Dr. Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher who died in January. Folkman pioneered the idea of angiogenesis therapy -- starving tumors by preventing them from growing blood supplies.
Lodamin is an angiogenesis inhibitor that Folkman's team has been working to perfect for 20 years. Writing in the journal Nature Biotechnology, his colleagues say they developed a formulation that works as a pill, without side-effects.
They have licensed it to SynDevRx, Inc, a privately held Cambridge, Massachusetts biotechnology company that has recruited several prominent cancer experts to its board.
Tests in mice showed it worked against a range of tumors, including breast cancer, neuroblastoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumors known as glioblastomas and uterine tumors.
It helped stop so-called primary tumors and also prevented their spread, Ofra Benny of Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School and colleagues reported.
"Using the oral route of administration, it first reaches the liver, making it especially efficient in preventing the development of liver metastasis in mice," they wrote in their report. "Liver metastasis is very common in many tumor types and is often associated with a poor prognosis and survival rate," they added.
'ALMOST CLEAN' LIVERS
"When I looked at the livers of the mice, the treated group was almost clean," Benny said in a statement. "In the control group you couldn't recognize the livers -- they were a mass of tumors."
The drug was known experimentally as TNP-470, and was originally isolated from a fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus fresenius.
Harvards's Donald Ingber discovered the fungus by accident while trying to grow endothelial cells -- the cells that line blood vessels. The mold affected the cells in a way known to prevent the growth of tiny blood vessels known as capillaries.
Ingber and Folkman developed TNP-470 with the help of Takeda Chemical Industries in Japan in 1990.
But the drug affected the brain, causing depression, dizziness and other side-effects. It also did not stay in the body long and required constant infusions. The lab dropped it.
Efforts to improve it did not work well. Then Benny and colleagues tried nanotechnology, attaching two "pom-pom"-shaped polymers to TNP-470, protecting it from stomach acid.
In mice, the altered drug, now named lodamin, went straight to tumor cells and helped suppress melanoma and lung cancer, with no apparent side effects, Benny said.
All untreated mice had fluid in the abdominal cavity, and enlarged livers covered with tumors. Mice treated with lodamin had normal-looking livers and spleens, the researchers said.
Twenty days after being injected with cancer cells, four out of seven untreated mice had died, while all treated mice were still alive, Benny's team reported.
"I had never expected such a strong effect on these aggressive tumor models," she said. The researchers believe lodamin may also be useful in other diseases marked by abnormal blood vessel growth, such as age-related macular degeneration.
(Editing by Todd Eastham)

Article from : http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topic/708286

Breast Cancer Information and Resources

2008-09-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

The breast is a collection of glands and fatty tissue that lies between the skin and the chest wall. The glands inside the breast produce milk after a woman has a baby. Each gland is also called a lobule, and many lobules make up a lobe. There are 15 to 20 lobes in each breast, .......... more

Kill Cancer Cell

2008-09-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

Cancer is characterized by proliferation of abnormal cells which multiply out of control, destroying healthy tissue and endangering life. This unchecked "cancerous" growth spreads throughout the body, interfering with the ability of cells, organs, and other structures to perform their normal functions, .....more

Common Cold Virus May Kill Breast Cancer Cells

2008-09-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

University of Newcastle, Australia researcher Kathryn Skelding, funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Viralytics Ltd, has been working on a new treatment which only affects cancer cells -- this would be an improvement on conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which also impact on normal body cells.

"In theory, the virus is able to selectively target and destroy many different types of cancer cells, including breast cancers, whilst leaving normal cells unaffected," she said.
Debilitating symptoms associated with conventional treatments (such as nausea, vomiting and hair loss) could also be avoided by using the Coxsackie virus.
"If this research is successful we could have something that produces side effects as harmless as a mild, common cold-like infection yet it could successfully treat breast cancer," Ms Skelding said.
Latest research to be revealed at Canberra briefing
The Skelding project, and other ground-breaking research, will be discussed at the NBCF Annual Breakfast Briefing, a series of national events to communicate with the Foundation's corporate and general public supporters.
In Canberra, the breakfast briefing will be held on Thursday March 22 at Parliament house.
University of Wollongong's Professor Don Iverson will report on the progress of breast cancer research in Australia. His presentation will highlight achievements, and the way ahead for breast cancer research in order to have the greatest impact on the disease.
The NBCF has thrown its weight behind a National Action Plan for Breast Cancer Research and Funding, developing sustainable research collaborations, which could halve the time it will take to answer the big questions in breast cancer.
National Breast Cancer Foundation CEO Ms Sue Murray said NBCF funds are directed to the best research in Australia, unlimited by state boundaries.
"The NBCF is committed to funding the Australian research that will have the biggest impact on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. This research will be translated into benefits for all Australians, regardless of which State the research is conducted in." Ms Murray said.
About breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer diagnosed in women in Australia. It is estimated that almost 13,300 Australian women will be diagnosed this year. It is the leading cause of cancer death in females, accounting for 2600 deaths in 2004 (last available national figures). With continued support and funding from peak organisations like NBCF, improvements in research mean survival rates are on the rise.
About NBCF
NBCF is Australia's only independent, not-for-profit community organisation supporting and promoting high quality research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer. Since it was established in 1994, it has funded over 158 research projects, totalling $27.4 million, resulting in significant discoveries.

Article from : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070228123346.htm

Omega-3 Offers Hope For New Anti-breast Cancer Drugs

2008-09-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

Omega-3, the fatty acid found in oily fish, could be combined with a commonly used anesthetic to develop drugs to treat breast cancer, according to research published today in the journal Breast Cancer Research. Compounds of Omega-3 fatty acids and propofol reduce the ability of breast cancer cells to develop into malignant tumours, inhibiting cancer cell migration by 50% and significantly reducing their metastatic activity. These new compounds could be developed into a new family of anti-cancer drugs.

Dr Rafat Siddiqui, from the Methodist Research Institute and Indiana University in Indianapolis, and his colleagues studied the effect of two Omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), combined with propofol on a breast cancer cell line in vitro. Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA have a minimal effect on cancer cells when applied alone. Propofol is a potent anti-oxidant known to inhibit cancer cell migration by only 5-10%.
The results of the study show that propofol and DHA or EPA have a much more significant effect on cancer cells when used in combination, as conjugates, than when used alone. The conjugates inhibit cancer cell adhesion by 15% and 30% respectively, reduce cell migration by 50% and increase apoptosis by 40%.
"These results suggest that the novel propofol-DHA and propofol-EPA conjugates reported here may be useful for the treatment of breast cancer" conclude Siddiqui and colleagues.
Malignant cancer cells are highly invasive cells that have lost the ability to sense cues from their environment. As a result, they start dividing abnormally, migrate and accumulate into malignant tumours, in a process called metastasis, which is potentially life-threatening. The aim of anti-cancer drugs is therefore to prevent the cells from dividing abnormally and from spreading, to kill the cells, or to cause the cells to kill themselves.
Fatty acids are often attached to drugs, because they facilitate the absorption of the drugs by the cells. Siddiqui and colleagues explain that DHA and EPA might have had this effect on propofol. They add "It is possible that these conjugates provide a mechanism whereby propofol can be retained in cell membranes for a longer duration and therefore enhance its anticancer effects".
Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in oily fish such as tuna, salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel, are already known to have many positive health benefits. They are commonly recommended for maintaining a healthy heart, as they are known to reduce cholesterol levels and thought to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that Omega-3 may also protect against arthritis, lupus, and asthma and help people with biopolar disorder.

Article from : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/06/050608064249.htm

ANTI-CANCER LIFESTYLE

2008-09-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

An anti-cancer lifestyle is not a rigid set of rules to follow, but a safe space to be filled with your favorite ways of nourishing health and discouraging cancer. Since cancer thrives in a too-ordered situation, relax and let chaos give a hand now and then in the execution of your plan. I include all the following elements in my anti-cancer lifestyle. Were I to be diagnosed with cancer, I would continue to do these things in addition to any other remedies I might choose.
• Stay in touch with my own daily and seasonal rhythms.• Sleep in total darkness or moonlight; get into the sun daily.• Eat one meal at the same time each day.• Have emotional outlets.• Choose friends who support me and my truth.• Have artistic outlets.• Receive lots of appreciation and approval (a.k.a. love).• Exercise one hour three times a week.• Get a massage once a month or more.• Do my yoga practice once a week or more.• Have sexual outlets.• Take a quiet time of beingness daily.• Make full use of all sources of joy available to me.• Eat a Mediterranean-style diet of mostly organically grown foods including daily use of cabbage family plants, raw and cooked greens, whole grains, beans, sunflower seeds, soy products, olive oil, garlic, seasonal fresh fruit, seaweed, yogurt and cheese, herbal infusions, herbal vinegars, and antioxidant seasonings. Plus, at least four times a month, seafood, nuts, mushrooms, dried fruit, and eggs; and, less than four times a month, meat, alcohol, white sugar, and coffee.• And I avoid: Vitamin/mineral supplements, chlorine, nitrates, tobacco, prescription hormones, TV, white flour, processed foods, and non-organic animal products.
Excerpt from
Breast Cancer? Breast Health the Wise Woman Way by Susun S. Weed

Article from : http://www.breasthealthcancerprevention.com/Anti_cancer_lifestyle.htm

Breast Cancer Statistic

2008-09-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
In 2004 (the most recent year numbers are available),
186,772 women and 1,815 men were diagnosed with breast cancer*†
40,954 women and 362 men died from breast cancer*†
†Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence and Mortality. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2007.
*Note: Incidence counts cover approximately 98% of the U.S. population and death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population. Use caution in comparing incidence and death counts.
Top 10 Causes of Death for Women in the United States‡
The graph below shows how breast cancer compares to other common causes of death in women of all ages.

‡Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Mortality – All COD, Public-Use With State, Total U.S. (1969–2004), National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch, released April 2007. Underlying mortality data provided by NCHS (www.cdc.gov/nchs).
Page last reviewed: December 10, 2007Page last updated: December 10, 2007Content source: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Article from : http://www.cdc.gov/Cancer/Breast/statistics/

Genetics and Breast Cancer Risk

2008-09-09T07:01:00.000-07:00

To date, most inherited cases of breast cancer have been associated with two genes: BRCA1, which stands for BReast CAncer gene one, and BRCA2, or BReast CAncer gene two. Get more information about genetic abnormities and breast cancer.
The function of these genes is to keep breast cells growing normally and to prevent any cancer cell growth. But when these genes contain abnormalities, or mutations, they are associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Abnormal BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes may account for up to 10% of all breast cancers.
Women diagnosed with breast cancer who have an abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene often have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or both. But it's also important to remember that most women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
Identifying BRCA1 and BRCA2 has led to new techniques for lowering, detecting, and treating breast cancer, and lowering the risk for the disease. For women who wish to be tested, we can now establish whether the two genes are normal or not.
But there's still a lot more to learn about these genes. And other genes probably also play a role in the development of breast cancer, for women both with and without a family history of the disease.
The medical experts for Breast Cancer and Genetics are:
Rachael Brandt, M.S., C.G.C., genetic counselor, Main Line Health Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P., breast cancer genetics specialist, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, NJ
Marisa C. Weiss, M.D., breast radiation oncologist, Lankenau Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
These experts are members of the breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board, which includes more than 60 medical experts in breast cancer-related fields.

Article from : http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/genetic/

Hormone therapy: Cancer treatment for certain hormone-sensitive cancers

2008-09-09T01:32:00.000-07:00

The term "hormone therapy" might make you think of women taking estrogen to reduce their symptoms of menopause or men taking testosterone to slow the effects of aging. But hormone therapy for cancer — also called endocrine therapy — is something completely different. Hormone therapy for cancer alters the hormones in your body to help control or cure cancer.

Alternative Theraphy for Cancer

2008-09-09T00:59:00.000-07:00

The goal of The Alternative Therapy Program is to provide treatment options for people with cancer. Our aim is to answer the complex questions about treatment alternatives. What therapy might be best? What approach might offer the best chances for survival and quality of life?We feel it is important to understand all options from conventional cancer treatment to alternative treatment to new and innovative forms of treatment in order for people to make truly informed decisions about treatment. We believe people with cancer have very fundamental rights -- the right to know and the right to choose,..............more

About primary liver cancer

2008-09-09T00:47:00.000-07:00

This section tells you about primary liver cancer. This is cancer that started in the liver, not cancer that has spread to the liver. If you have a cancer that has spread to the liver, you need to look in the section for the type of cancer you were originally diagnosed with, fine more .......

What is liver cancer

2008-09-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is a cancer arising from the liver. It is also known as primary liver cancer or hepatoma.

The liver is made up of different cell types (for example, bile ducts, blood vessels, and fat-storing cells). However, liver cells (hepatocytes) make up 80% of the liver tissue. Thus, the majority of primary liver cancers (over 90 to 95%) arises from liver cells and is called hepatocellular cancer or carcinoma.

CANCER RESEARCH IN CHINA

2008-09-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

A collection of commentary articles that highlight the very best of recent cancer research in China
Also see Cell Research's cancer research in China special issue

British Journal Of Cancer

2008-09-09T00:37:00.000-07:00

BJC publishes high quality original papers and reviews that make a significant contribution to increasing understanding of the causes of cancer and to improving the treatment and survival of patients.

Brain Cancer

2008-09-09T00:29:00.000-07:00

Brain cancer is a general term used to describe many types of that start in the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system, or CNS). Tumors in different areas of the CNS may be treated differently. Most brain tumors come from cancers that started somewhere else in the body and metastasized, or spread, to the brain. Primary brain tumors are tumors that begin in the brain, and may start in any of the different types of tissues or cells within the brain or spinal cord, ..... more .....

Liver Cancer

2008-09-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer of the liver.

Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 80 - 90% of all liver cancers. This type of cancer occurs more often in men than women, usually in people 50 to 60 years old. The disease is more common in parts of Africa and Asia than in North or South America and Europe, .....more

Skin Cancer

2008-09-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. If left unchecked, these cancer cells can spread from the skin into other tissues and organs.

There are different types of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common. Melanoma is less common, but more dangerous.