Cancer Blog

I have been finished with chemotherapy for ovarian cancer for nine months. I survived the many side effects during chemotherapy. I experienced alopecia, nausea, bone pain, weakness, and fatigue along with altered blood counts. My doctor and nurses were able to prescribe a variety of medications to get through the most severe side effects. As my treatments came to an end, so did most of my side effects.

Now, nine months later, I am still experiencing fatigue and arthralgia (bone and joint pain). I have tried hard to resume normal life again, however, my lack of energy holds me back. I have cut back on some of my outside activities so that I can handle my full time teaching job. But,some days are still very difficult and painful to handle. I am so very thankful that I am in remission and can do most things that I used to. However, it is still difficult to manage normal life again. I have two teen age daughters, so life just keeps on going, whether I am able to keep up or not.

My oncologist says that some people can take up to a year to get their energy back again, and some people never get back to one hundred percent. Exercise is often helpful to get energy back. I have recently begun walking on a treadmill three times a week to try to build up my stamina again.

Even though side effects can hinder our quality of life, the chemotherapy drugs are a necessary component for survival. I would much rather have joint pain and fatigue than the death sentence of cancer. in the big picture of life, things are great and I hope my remission lasts for years. I need to look ahead at the things that I can do, and not behind me at the things I used to be able to do. After all, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Your Mesothelioma case is important to you. You have been robbed of years of your life because of someone’s negligence. The question is what are you going to do about it? Mesothelioma is a serious disease. Mesothelioma is caused from exposure to asbestos materials. Often times, Mesothelioma takes decades for this disease to come to the surface. When it is noticed, Mesothelioma is often in its last stages, beyond medical treatment. What does this mean to you, the injured? What does it mean for your family as well? Mesothelioma is also reason to look into litigation.

There are many websites out there that will tell you about Mesothelioma, its causes and its treatments. What about the suffering that it causes? What about the years it takes off someone’s life? This is where Mesothelioma laws come into play. Every state has very stringent laws regarding asbestos material. Although it has been banned from use for many years, it is often found and people are exposed to it in older buildings. Most of the time it is not known to be there but, every state also has laws regarding proper care of asbestos material and precautions regarding its removal in order to prevent Mesothelioma. That is because of how serious a disease Mesothelioma is.

If you are one of the people who have been exposed to asbestos and are now dealing with Mesothelioma, you should know that you may have a lawsuit claim. Now, perhaps you feel it is no ones fault. Or, perhaps it was so long ago that you just don’t want to dig it back up. The bottom line is this. If you were exposed to asbestos and it leads to Mesothelioma, you may have a case to help with your care, your family’s care, and even your medical bills. Mesothelioma is quite serious and someone should have to help with all of this, right?

To begin your search for information on Mesothelioma laws in your state, you can look on websites like www.thesmartattorneys.com . You can also look to that site for more information on finding a Mesothelioma lawyers. Your Mesothelioma attorneys will help you decide if and when you should pursue a Mesothelioma case. Find out what the laws in your area are regarding Mesothelioma. Find out if you have a Mesothelioma case.

The medical environment has changed completely with the introduction of the internet and the proliferation of web sites offering free medical and healthcare information.

In today’s world, more and more patients are using the internet to search for information about their diseases and for the latest treatment options. In fact, according to a recent Harris Interactive survey, more than 100 million adults in the U.S. are using the internet to search for health information.

Gone are the days when patients passively accepted the treatment offered by their doctors. Today, patients are partners in the decision making about their health.

So, the obvious question is – How reliable is the medical information you find on these free medical web sites?

By the way, the fact that there are incredible free medical and healthcare information web sites on the internet doesn’t necessarily make it easy to find good information.

For example, if you just enter the term Breast Cancer into Google a total of 130 million sites come up. Obviously, no one is going to look at all those sites –in fact, most people rarely look beyond the sites listed on the front page or two.

As wonderful as the internet is as a resource, you must remember that there is a potential downside as well. In the healthcare market, just like in any other market, there are commercial entities trying to sell you a product. Some products may be legitimate but some may be scam cures just trying to take advantage of a cancer patient’s desperation.

And, since the internet is largely unregulated, there is little regulation of the marketing messages.

So here are five tips as you try to determine if the medical information web site you’re visiting is reliable or not:

1. What Is The Ending Of The Website Name?

There are a number of sources of medical information on the internet which tend to be more reliable and trustworthy. These sources are more likely to be universities, hospitals, government agencies, and major public health and health advocacy organizations such as a national cancer society.

The ending of the web site can give you a clue as to the source. For example, the ending:

.gov means that the source is a government agency; .edu means that the source is a university or another educational institution; .com means that the source is run privately and very well may be a commercial enterprise); .org means that the source is a non-profit organization.

2. Who Is Responsible For The Site And What Is The Mission Of The Site?

Look to see if there is any information on who is responsible for the site and what the mission of the site is. On many web sites you’ll see a link, either at the top or bottom of the page, which says something like “About US” or “Who We Are”.

Click on the link and see what information you find.

3. Is The Medical Information Presented On The Site Scientific Or Anecdotal?

If medical information is presented on the web site then you should ask yourself is the information scientific or not. To be considered reliable, medical advances must be proven in scientific studies in which many patients are involved. Anecdotal studies of one patient’s response to a treatment are not considered to be reliable despite the fact that the stories may be extremely compelling. So, check out the web site. Are the medical facts presented as the results of documented studies or are anecdotal, undocumented stories of patients presented.

Also, check to see if references are presented if the results of studies are discussed. Are the studies from respected medical journals?

4. Who Are The Authors Of The Medical Information On The Site?

Check to see who the authors are. What are the credentials of the authors? If necessary, you can even search using the author’s names to see how well known they are in their fields.

5. How Up To Date Is The Medical Information?

Medicine is a rapidly changing field and you’ll want to make sure that the health information at the site you’re searching is updated frequently. If the information isn’t updated regularly, they you may not learn about the latest developments.

The internet provides wonderful opportunities for patients to find the latest and best healthcare information. Using these tips can help you make sure the information you find is reliable and trustworthy.

Mesothelioma is a cancerous affliction. It is primarily of three types, pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. Like every form of malignant cancer, the overall cost of its treatment may be huge. A person may be required to spend thousands of dollars each month. The cost of treatment of the disease depends upon many factors, i.e., age, side effects of the treatment, the effects of the treatment on the overall health and the chances of survival, as well as the stage and gravity of affliction and the organs over which it has spread. Then a variety of treatments are required to attack the malady.

Radiation therapy is used to attack the tumors with high-powered radiation, which is produced by certain radiation emitting materials or machines. Surgery is used to remove the afflicted organ or its part and chemotherapy is used to kill the cancer cells by injecting medicines intravenously into the afflicted areas. Sometimes, a combination of two or more therapies becomes necessary to cope with the disease. There are other treatment procedures, including thoracentesis and paracentesis, which take out the fluid from the chest and the abdomen.

The important point to note, however, is that individuals often contract the disease due to the willful negligence of an employer, who often knows full well the impact of continuous exposure of asbestos dust and flakes on the worker’s health, yet does not issue the necessary warning before offering employment or take adequate preventive measures; as such, employers are often liable for stringent punishment. So the responsibility of bearing the cost of treatment in addition to the punitive damages and the loss of wages lies squarely with the employer. The best course for a patient should be to consult a lawyer immediately after being diagnosed as suffering from mesothelioma. As a specialist and an experienced lawyer, the attorney has a fairly good idea of the cost of treatment, as he may have already dealt with many similar cases. These costs therefore can be recovered easily from the employer.

Cancer of the prostate is typically a slow progressing cancer and symptoms often do not arise for many years. If the cancer is caught at an early stage, there might be no noticeable symptoms. Some men, however, will experience symptoms that could indicate the presence of prostate cancer. These might include:

• A need for frequent urination, particularly at night

• Difficulty starting urination

• Weak or interrupted urine flow

• Pain or a burning sensation during urination

• Difficulty in obtaining an erection

• Pain during ejaculation

• Blood in the urine or in semen

• Recurring pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

Sometimes the first symptoms will be lower back, hip or pelvic pain caused by cancer which has already spread.

It is important to be aware that the symptoms of both benign enlargement of the prostate gland (i.e. non-cancerous) and malignant tumours (cancer) are similar and might include any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty starting urination

• Frequent urination, particularly at night

• Pain during urination

• Blood in the urine

Also, men over 50 years of age often have an enlarged prostate gland due to the non-cancerous condition of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or hypertrophy.

Therefore if you notice any of the above symptoms it is important that you see your doctor and have them investigated. But note that most enlargements of the prostate are not due to cancer and can regularly be dealt with quite effectively.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PROSTATE CANCER

Prostate cancer can often be discovered at an early stage by testing the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Prostate cancer can also be detected early by your doctor performing a digital rectal examination (DRE). Since the prostate gland is situated close to the rectum, a doctor can physically detect if there are any cancerous signs in your prostate.

Unfortunately the PSA and DRE tests are not totally accurate and conclusive. This can lead to anxiety and confusion, or even to a false sense of security. So important things to consider are your age, your general health and your lifestyle. If you are young and develop prostate cancer, if not caught early enough, it could shorten your life. If however you are older or in poor health, then prostate cancer might never become a serious problem due to its slow-growing nature.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men commence having the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) annually from the age of 50. Those at higher risk, such as African Americans and those with close relatives who developed prostate cancer at an early age are recommended to commence testing at 45.

The prognosis for prostate cancer sufferers has improved dramatically in recent years. In the past twenty years the overall survival rate for all stages of prostate cancer has increased from 67% to 97%. Thus more men are living significantly longer after diagnosis. In all likelihood this is due to early detection programs, increased public awareness, particularly of prostate cancer symptoms, and the adoption of healthier lifestyles.

In the biological make up of human species, the reproductive system is one major factor that differentiates men from women. The women’s reproductive system is the harbor of human life. The womb, specifically, is where a potential human life is nestled. The women’s unique body serves as the breeding ground for the next generations of human race. Thus, the well-being of a woman’s reproductive system is crucial not only for women themselves, but for the human race as a whole. Aside from instances of inability to conceive a child, diseases like cancer of the uterus and cancer of the cervix are major threats to women’s overall health care condition.

The cervix is an important part of women’s reproductive system. It is the bridge that connects the vagina to the uterus. Its primary role is being the passageway of the blood coming from the uterus and going out of the vagina (menstruation). Also, the cervix is responsible for the production of mucus that aids the travel of sperm cells from vagina to the uterus. But most importantly, the cervix keeps the fetus inside the womb as the cervical canal closes during pregnancy.

Cancer of the cervix happens when a tumor grows in it. Tumor is a mass of tissues. It is the amalgamation of the unnecessary cells produced in the cervix. Tumor in the cervix can either be benign or malignant. A benign tumor is one that are not cancerous. Benign tumors are not life threatening and can be removed easily without the probability of growing back again. Examples of benign growths that can happen in the cervix are polyps, cysts, and genital warts. Malignant tumor, on the other hand, is the kind that is considered a cancer. Malignant tumors are a great threat to life and can grow back after removal. Malignant tumor is characterized by cells that can travel and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. When these cancer cells invade other body parts, they form new tumor and pose equally great harm as that of their threat to the cervix.

It still remains unexplainable why some women develop cancer of the cervix while others do not. Cervical cancer’s main cause still remains a missing piece of the puzzle. What are known by medical experts are things or elements that can increase the probability of women developing this kind of cancer–risk factors. Prolonged use of birth control pills, several childbirths, and cigarette smoking are the most prevalent risk factors. Having multiple sex partners and having a partner who had many sexual partners are also high risk factors. A deteriorated immune system is another very high risk factor for developing cancer of the cervix. Infections from human papillomaviruses and infection of sexually transmitted diseases or HIV are the most prevalent factors that can deteriorate the immune system and increase the chances of having a cancer of the cervix.

Women suspected to have cancer of the cervix show symptoms like painful sexual intercourse, abnormal bleeding of the vagina, and painful pelvic area. Symptoms that are more indicative of a potential cervical cancer are experienced in between normal menstrual period bleeding, douching or post-intercourse bleeding, and post-menopause bleeding. An early diagnosis is the best way to identify whether the existence of any of these symptoms is already at a cancer stage or not. Colposcopy and biopsy are the modes of diagnosis for suspected cervical cancer cases.

The staging of cervical cancer proves to be a very complex matter. Five stages (stage 0, stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and stage 4) are identified levels of cervical cancer. The appropriate treatment for a particular patients depends on what stage the case falls into. The treatment options being administered to most cases are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, or a combination of all these three methods. In surgery, total hysterectomy (cervix and the uterus removal) is done. Radical hysterectomy (removal of uterus, cervix, and other parts of the vagina) is administered to women with grave cases. Lymph nodes around the area of the tumor may also be removed to prevent the spread of cancer cells. In chemotherapy, cancer-killing drugs are entered into the bloodstream for faster treatment and prevention of further spread. Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays to hinder the growth of cancer cells. It can be internally (insertion of small radioactive implants) or externally (use of machines outside the body) applied.

Mesothelioma Pleural or Pleural Mesothelioma is generally a severe form of cancer that affects the membrane lining in the thoracic cavity. There are a few benign cases as well. The inhaling of asbestos dust either during the mining or manufacturing or handling of the material or from the systems and applications in which it is used is believed to be cause of this sickness.

The latency period, that is, the time taken for the symptoms to manifest, is anywhere from twenty to forty years. The time lag may even extend to fifty years. Because of this, most patients diagnosed with this disease are in the age group of sixties or seventies. Some may not even remember their exposure to asbestos. By the time the warning signs are noticed and correctly diagnosed, the disease may be in an advanced stage where treatment could be non-effectual.

Unfortunately, mesothelioma pleural doesn’t have any distinctive symptoms that prima facie identify the disease. The usual indications are dyspnea (shortness of breath), persistent coughing, disphagia (difficulty in swallowing), and tightness in chest accompanied by chest pain. Some patients may develop swelling of the neck, face and arms. This may indicate that the mesothelioma has spread. There could also be wheezing, hoarseness, fever and sweating, fatigue, sensory loss and nausea. At the advanced stage there may be hymoptysis (coughing up of blood).

The symptoms are mainly caused by effusion, which in this case means fluid collection in the thoracic area. Also, the delicate membrane covering the lungs may thicken and thus reduce expansion and contraction. In certain cases no perceptible signs may show till the cancer has spread beyond control.

Out of the symptoms of mesothelioma pleural the major ones are shortness of breath (90%) and weight loss (29%). About 84% of patients have pleural effusions (fluid collection).

Being diagnosed with lymphoma will be incredibly stressful and when treatment starts it may be that you are at the hospital five days a week for up to eight weeks at a time. Obviously this is going to put immense pressure on both you and your family and so the times in between treatment courses should be enjoyed as much as possible so that your lymphoma doesn’t completely take over your life.

You may want to book your dream vacation or visit all the places you have always wanted to see. Life is short at the best of times and being diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease means that your life may be shorter than normal, thus you should try to fit in as many fun times as you can while you can.

You don’t have to travel around the world to have fun – a day in the park or a trip to the wildlife sanctuary can also be a lot of fun, especially when you take your family, and spending time with your loved ones will often give you the extra strength you need to fight your disease. As you continue with your treatment you may find that you get tired more quickly but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to have fun. Playing board games with friends and family can create a lot of laughter and this in itself will help to lift your spirits.

Maybe you could take up a new hobby that gets you out of the house a few times a week and allows you to make new friends that don’t know about your lymphoma. Just feeling and acting normal will help you to forget about your condition for a couple of hours and you may also meet people who give you a new perspective on life so that some of your stress becomes easier to cope with. Do something you have always wanted to do – learn to sail, ice skate or dance; whatever makes you happy. At the end of the day it is your life and you should do whatever you want to do, even if it is out of character or a little bit silly!

Try new foods and visit new restaurants or alternatively learn to cook exquisite meals for you and your family. If cooking isn’t for you then find your own passion and go with it. It doesn’t matter if you embarrass yourself or if you find you’re not a natural – who cares, just have fun with it. Your lymphoma is going to be an important part of your life, as is your treatment, however your state of mind and your happiness are also very important factors and they may help in your recovery.

Do whatever you need to do to stay positive and if this means having copious amounts of fun then so be it. Everybody has something that they find enjoyable however highly energetic activities should be restricted to once or twice a week – after all you don’t want to have to convalesce in bed for weeks on end because you went mad and decided to climb your favorite mountain in two days flat! Just be sensible and if all else fails, have fun.

Leukemia is the blood cancer form and originates in a malfunctioning bone marrow that tends to produce abnormal red and white cells in an increased rate. The most important four types of Leukemia are the acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia and the acute and chronic lymphocytic Leukemia. The name of the condition stands for the cell type involved.

The acute type of leukemia develops with an increased production of abnormal white cells making the body unable to fight infections; red blood cells and platelets are insufficient and the organism suffers from bruising, bleedings and anemia. Chronic forms of Leukemia are not as aggressive as they give the normal cells time to regenerate.

About 25000 new equal cases of acute and chronic Leukemia appear every ear. Most cases appear in adults and persons over 60 years but the acute lymphocytic Leukemia has an increased rate in children. Annually, about 10000 cases in adults are diagnosed as acute myelogenic Leukemia, 8000 are chronic lymphocytic Leukemia, 500 are chronic myelogenous forms and about 3500 are acute forms of lymphocytic Leukemia. The rest of the cases are unclassified blood cancer types.

All types of Leukemia are most commonly encountered in men than in women. Men subjects cover about 56% of all Leukemia new cases in a year. Americans with European descent seem to be more affected by cancer than those with African origins; about 131000 new cases of cancer are detected in African Americans every year but most of them are not related to blood cancers.

Americans with Indian or Hispanic origins are far more affected by Leukemia than African Americans and about 50% of the cases are encountered in male subjects. Elderly persons are most highly affected inside all populations. Minority groups like Caucasians are more affected by Leukemia forms than other ethnic groups like Chinese, Japanese and Koreans. European descent children show increased rate of susceptibility compared to African American children.

Most of the new occurred cases of cancer in children below 15 are of Leukemia. About 2500 new cases of acute forms of lymphocytic leukemia are identified in the USA annually and it tends to be the most encountered form of cancer in children. High percents of the cases occur in children aged 3-4 and less in infants or 19 years old patients. In the last 25 years the chance of cure in specialized centers has increased due to new therapy methods.

People over 40 and older persons are more touched by acute myelogenous Leukemia and the secondary Leukemia type found in adults is chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Mind Saving Tips When Cancer is the Diagnosis

This scares me to death and a CANCER diagnosis or even the “word” scares nearly every one of us. While this article is not meant do diminish the dangers of this disease by any stretch, this is also to encourage those who either find themselves facing the cancer diagnosis or simply knowing someone who does, and finding the need to be better informed.

The facts about Cancer are that in early years, it was much more fatal than it is today in 2005. The fact is that Cancer has shown it can be cured, and this is happening every day, and the chances for cure are very closely related to the detection stage…The earlier it is detected, the better the chance of cure.

Before proceeding with the article however, the reader should be aware that the term or word “Cancer” is really a catch all for many different diseases or forms of the disease, and depending upon the organ of the body effected, the cause and cure can vary significantly.

We’d like to discuss all of these, but volumes have been written by experts, and to only summarize those writings would take years to put in one place.

But now the good news.. Cancer is nowhere near as fatal as it once was, nor is it an automatic death sentence.

We’d like to make this a meaningful article by emphasizing just a couple of key points: There is a highly linked cause and effect between some causes and some Cancer forms. The most obvious is Smoking and Lung Cancer. This could be followed by the introduction of other foreign subjects into a person’s lungs. Things such as asbestos particles. The point is that by trending toward a more healthy life style the risks of contracting certain cancers can be reduced.

The other key point is that there are really TWO treatment paths: One in general is the conventional medical treatments of chemo, radiation, and surgery. Dear Reader, this is big business with major financial interests, and many who say that those interests in fact take precedence over cure results.

The other treatment path is unconventional or Alternative Treatments. This can begin with maintaining an alkaline pH of the body. Many, many, many alternative treatments are indeed “quackery” and also motivated by money.. but there are also alternative treatments which have cure track records. Are these coincidental? Some researchers claim direct cause-effect relationships, and many of these alternatives offer far fewer side effects than “cut-burn- poison” conventional approaches.

Each person with a serious interest in the subject should be certain to study BOTH approaches, and the time to do so is before the medical crisis begins. Fortunately, research on both approaches is now widely available due to the Internet, and this should be taken advantage of.