Cancer Blogs

Grammys 2011: Aretha Franklin's cancer rumored can't keep her from appearing

2011-02-18T05:06:00.000-08:00

The legendary Aretha Franklin hasn't disclosed the ailment that forced her to undergo surgery, though many reports say that she is suffering from pancreatic cancer. Despite her serious illness, however, Franklin recorded a message for the 2011 Grammy Awards Ceremony, where several divas honored her with a medley. You can't keep a true diva down.

Looking much thinner than when we last saw her, Franklin appeared on camera to thank fans and fellow artists for supporting her through her troublesome health problems. Franklin was done up in true superstar fashion - dressed up and red-carpet ready even though she was in her own home.

She seemed energetic and healthy as she thanked fans for their prayers, good wishes, and get-well-soon cards, but she remains mum about her illness. "There are a lot of people who will talk about anything, as long as there is somebody listening," she tells JET Magazine. "But I am not one of those people. That's not Aretha."

More power to her. We wish her only the best.

Steve Jobs receiving treatment cancer hospital

2011-02-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

It has been confirmed today that Steve Jobs is receiving treatment for cancer in the Stanford Cancer Center in Palo Alto, California. RadarOnine reported today that it’s the same Clinic where Hollywood Actor the Late Patrick Swayze was undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer in April 2009.

There has been no formal confirmation of what type of cancer Jobs is being treated for or if he is being treated at all for cancer from the Apple spokes team. Jobs was not forthcoming about the reason he took a medical leave of absence.

Photographs of the 55-year-old Apple CEO were taken on Febuary the 8th outside the clinic and are reported to be published by the The National Enquirer tomorrow morning.

In one photo, Jobs was getting out of his car a day after a full day of work at the company’s Cupertino campus. The photos show Mr Jobs looking painfully frail and weak, with his jeans and dark top hanging loosely on his 6ft 2in, thin body.

Jobs has previously withheld information on his health, such as when he was treated for a form of pancreatic cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009, something that worries Apple investors who feel the company’s future rests in his visionary leadership.

The Daily Mail spoke to Dr Jerome Spunberg, a certified Oncologist, who said: “Mr Jobs is most likely getting outpatient chemotherapy at Stanford because the cancer has recurred.”

Another consultant, Dr. Gabe Mirkin, a physician with over fourty years experience, said: “He is terminal. What you are seeing is extreme muscle wasting from calorie depravation, most likely caused by cancer. He has no muscle left in his buttocks, which is the last place to go. He definitely appears to be in the terminal stages of his life from these photos. I would be surprised if he weighed more than 130lb.”

The National Enquirer, who initially reported the news today (to be published tomorrow), talked to critical-care physician Dr. Samuel Jacobson, who said, “Judging from the photos, he is close to terminal. I would say he has six weeks.” That said, given the reliability of The National Enquirer, waiting for further news before jumping to conclusions is advised.

We’ve done a little digging into Dr. Samuel Jacobson. Jacobson appears to be a Florida based pulmonologist (breathing doctor) – not Oncologist. Which would naturally make you wonder just how qualified he is to diagnose someone via a photo, especially outside of his speciality.

We sincerely hope he’s wrong and wish Jobs all the best.

World Cancer Day : It is Possible To Beat Cancer

2011-02-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

On February 4, 2011, UICC and its partner organizations to conduct campaigns worldwide to raise awareness about a disease that causes millions of deaths each year, many could have been avoided.
Now more than ever the need for a coordinated fight against cancer, and we believe that the World Cancer Day to do their part by providing a platform for even greater post your cancer.
We have pinned great hopes: 2011 promises to be an important year for the UN summit failed to law on infectious diseases (NCDs) will be held in September.
If you wish to support our efforts, you will find all the information you need on this site: learn, learn to eliminate personal risk factors, sign our statement and pass the word. It can save a life.
In February, the Saudi Cancer conducted a series of events in different places in Riyadh.
The objective of the Saudi Society isbEncourage communities to take serious steps to shrink the tumor and its spread,Provide information on education and awareness of cancer prevention methods and Promoting a culture of early cancer detection leads to healing of God Dates and venues of activities:
February 2 to 4: Riad Gallery Mall
February 5: Center King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research
February 7: Medical City King Soud
February 8: Kind Abdulaziz City National Guard Department of Health
February 9th-11: Granada Mall
February 12: Type Fahd Medical City
February 12: Military Hospital in Riyadh

Andy Whitfield Spartacus "Attacking Cancer" As A True Champion "

2011-02-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

Spartacus: Blood and Sand creator Steven. S. Andy Whitfield DeKnight want fans know, the actor actively fight against the disease.
"Andy is obviously very deprived of his status and what he goes through with his family," said Tuesday DeKnight to discuss the prequel Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. "It's been a while but the last I've heard is that the attacker was a true champion. I have faith that most will pull through with flying colors. "
The 36-year-old Whitfield has been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which forced him to abandon the Starz series in September. Liam McIntyre was recently announced as the replacement of Whitfield as the holder of gladiators.
Liam McIntyre replaces Andy Whitfield is Spartacus
"We all just pray for him," Manu Bennett, who plays Crixus gladiator guy said. "When the cancer has moved to her is a major struggle for him. I can not tell you how deeply saddened, he has been for us all to know that our friend, our colleague, our inspiration is such a challenge . There will be a longer period before we know what the outcome will be with Andy now. All the questions suggest that it is in very high spirits and it was the fight against this thing with as much force that fought [with] on the show. "
Meanwhile, Spartacus, The gods of the arena will open the first of six episodes on Friday at 10/9c. The series focuses on Batiatus (John Hannah) before ludus becomes a competitor in the tournament of gladiators and Cris before becoming a champion.
Catch up on the latest news today
Production begins in the spring of the second season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
"The juice I'll give you is that it is extra sweet," DeKnight said. "Season 2 seems to be one hell of a ride. We are now halfway through the rain [it] to. Obviously, we are deeply saddened that Andy could not continue with us. It was a big part of success of the series. We wish him the best and a speedy recovery. "
As for replacing Whitfield said DeKnight they did "an exhaustive search to find someone who does not replace Andy, but stepping into the role of Spartacus. We are very pleased that we have been Liam unable to find that we felt really embodied what we were looking in nature waits impatiently. "

Risk and Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

2011-01-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

From now you may be familiar with the statistic that says 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer. Many people misinterpret this to mean that, on any given day, they and the women they know have a 1-in-8 risk of developing the disease. That’s simply not true.

In reality, about 1 in 8 women in the United States — 12%, or about 12 out of every 100 — can expect to develop breast cancer over the course of an entire lifetime. In the U.S., an average lifetime is about 80 years. So, it’s more accurate to say that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. who reach the age of 80 can expect to develop breast cancer. In each decade of life, the risk of getting breast cancer is actually lower than 12% for most women.

People tend to have very different ways of viewing risk. For you, a 1-in-8 lifetime risk may seem like a high likelihood of getting breast cancer. Or you may turn this around and reason that there is a 7-in-8, or 87.5%, chance you will never get breast cancer, even if you live to age 80. How you view risk often depends on your individual situation — for example, whether you or many women you know have had breast cancer, or you have reason to believe you are at higher-than-normal risk for the disease — and your usual way of looking at the world.

Even though studies have found that women have a 12% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, your individual risk may be higher or lower than that. Individual risk is affected by many different factors, such as family history, reproductive history, lifestyle, environment, and others.

This section is designed to help you better understand breast cancer risk and some of the factors that can increase risk.

Apple chief Steve Jobs had cancer

2011-01-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is one of the personalities of the best known in recent times. Very few people know, however, suffering from cancer.

Steve was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. Called to neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas is a rare cancer of the pancreas, which is required for employment is a tumor removed from his pancreas. This process is called a pancreaticoduodenectomy (or "Whipple procedure"), and revealed that the tumor had been removed. He does not need chemo or radiotherapy.

At the end of 2008, Bloomberg mistakenly published Steve Jobs obituary, in which the date and cause of death in white. Although this was quickly rectified, this is fueled by the intense speculation about his health. Then, in January 2009, Jobs has taken six months of work "is a health problem." While continuing to indirectly prohibit the problems of cancer, we know that underwent replacement surgery of the liver in April 2009, Memphis, TN.

Normally pay for the replacement requires patients to be on a waiting list until a donor was found. But private jet Jobs' for him to get two waiting lists at the same time, and chose Memphis. More than 6,000 liver transplants done annually in the United States, but the region 11 of the United Network Organ Sharing, which includes Memphis, has a relatively short waiting time.

A liver transplant operation is a long process. It can last between 5-6 hours over 10 hours in case of complications. Transplant requires a large incision in the abdomen (abdomen). The liver is removed by cutting a series of ligaments that hold it in place, and more channels, arteries and veins.

While the new liver was recently acquired from a deceased donor blood in the liver was replaced by a very cold liquid. A new liver is placed in the empty cavity and the liver is intended to cut ligaments, ducts and blood vessels. You can prevent the rejection of foreign patients often take immunosuppressive drugs for life.

Followed by a long recovery from surgery, but the survival rate is quite high. More than 5 years survival rate is over 90 percent are good services.

If Steve Jobs, the recovery was magnificent. It said it has fully recovered from the procedure. Medical experts say that if Jobs did this procedure, which means that even if the cancer had spread to the liver, no other metastases. This is because most hospitals do not perform liver transplants on you if their cancer had already spread beyond the liver.

Apple is perhaps one of the best known and loved today. It was directed by Steve Jobs innovation and smart business sense. It's sad that someone like Jobs has had to go through this at the age of 50 soon. But, perhaps even as bad as cancer can produce good results, probably in the form of an addendum to the use of research to discover better treatments for liver cancer.

Cancer Patients From The Humiliating Fate Rodgers In His Defense

2011-01-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers quart (Notes) has been under fire this weekend when a local news station showed a clip of him brushing against a cancer patient desperate for his autograph. But even that criticism was reinforced, an unlikely source defended by Rodgers: the same woman, it ignores, Jan Cavanaugh.

Before you rush to condemn, to watch the video that started the storm:

This led to a series of self-righteous handshakes in the media, particularly NBC's Mike Florio, who wrote that Rodgers Cavanaugh is treated as a "beggar leprosy" and suggested that a quarterback was a bad person to ignore a request to autograph.

[Related: stars "Glee" starlet apologizes after autograph snub]

Cavanaugh heard comments like this and responded to the local ABC WBAY. From an article on the website of the station:

The film has been criticized, but the only people in January is essential for today are those that create the chat.

"I am very unhappy people make so much out, because this is really such, is not a big deal. It's up to players to decide who they want to give you an autograph, and it is their prerogative."

Just a week before, Rodgers autographed pink jersey bearing the number 12 in January, as the team left for Philadelphia. A few years ago, now the star quarterback signed a few things for her, too.

No wonder that a woman fighting cancer with a positive outlook has a solid perspective of things.

Florio over the world are right in saying that the NFL players owe their fame and wealth for the fans, and the result will accommodate if possible. But the fact that Aaron Rodgers has signed every autograph for every person that there is no reasonable claim.

[Related: Aaron Rodgers resulting images sideline during the playoffs to win]

Do not think Rodgers is based on this single incident. Are you perfect every second of every day? Do you want people to form opinions about you on how you live every second of your life? Maybe he was arguing with his girlfriend. Maybe he ate bad sushi. Maybe he missed the flight. There are many reasons why he might have brushed Cavanaugh, who are all more plausible that "he does not care to cancer patients."

When I read about this incident, I immediately thought of a tangent to the Make-A-Wish "segment that aired on" SportsCenter "earlier this year. You know when Rodgers goes beyond to ensure that a patient's heart transplant 13 years had the time of his life to Packers training camp. It is strange that nobody rip Rodgers noted that the clip this week.

[Related: McDonald's employees shot to help the NFL star]

ESPN segment does not mean that Rodgers is a good guy. But it is much more than an indication of his character as a fraction of a second incident at the airport.

Should I Ask Doctor about I Have Breast Cancer or Not?

2011-01-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

If you have received a positive or possible diagnosis of breast cancer, there are a number of questions that you can ask your doctor. The answers you receive to these questions should give you a better understanding of your specific diagnosis and the corresponding treatment. It is usually helpful to write your questions down before you meet with your health-care provider. This gives you the opportunity to ask all your questions in an organized fashion.

Each question is followed by a brief explanation as to why that particular question is important. We will not attempt to answer these questions in detail here because each individual case is just that, individual. This outline is designed to provide a framework to help you and your family make certain that most of the important questions in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have been addressed. As cancer treatments are constantly evolving, specific recommendations and treatments might change and you should always confer with your treatment team regarding any questions.

Is the doctor sure I have breast cancer?

Certain types of cancer are relatively easy to identify by standard microscopic evaluation of the tissue. This is generally true for the most common types of breast cancer.

However, as the search for earlier and rarer forms of breast cancer progresses, it can be difficult to be certain that a particular group of cells is malignant (cancerous). At the same time, benign conditions may have cells which are somewhat distorted in appearance or pattern of growth (known as atypical cells or atypical hyperplasia). For this reason, it is important that the pathologist reading the slides of your breast biopsy be experienced in breast pathology. Most good pathology groups have multiple pathologists review questionable or troublesome slides. In more difficult cases, the slides will often be sent to recognized specialists with considerable expertise in breast pathology.

Breast Cancer Info

2011-01-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Risks that you cannot change include

Age - the chance of getting breast cancer rises as a woman gets older
Genes - there are two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, that greatly increase the risk. Women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer may wish to be tested.
Personal factors - beginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55

Other risks include being overweight, using hormone replacement therapy, taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children or having your first child after age 35 or having dense breasts.

Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. Breast self-exam and mammography can help find breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Treatment may consist of radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Men can have breast cancer, too, but the number of cases is small.

Cancer Review: What is Cancer? What Causes Cancer?

2010-12-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. There are over 100 different types of cancer, and each is classified by the type of cell that is initially affected.

Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors (except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate limited growth are generally considered to be benign.

More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things occur:

a cancerous cell manages to move throughout the body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying healthy tissue in a process called invasion
that cell manages to divide and grow, making new blood vessels to feed itself in a process called angiogenesis.

When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is said to have metastasized. This process itself is called metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very difficult to treat.

In 2007, cancer claimed the lives of about 7.6 million people in the world. Physicians and researchers who specialize in the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer are called oncologists.

What causes cancer?

Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control.

Genes - the DNA type

Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to repair damaged DNA.

Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide. Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable cell growth.

Carcinogens

Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer. Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays, the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens, free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and affect their ability to function normally.

Genes - the family type

Cancer can be the result of a genetic predisposition that is inherited from family members. It is possible to be born with certain genetic mutations or a fault in a gene that makes one statistically more likely to develop cancer later in life.

Other medical factors

As we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer. Several viruses have also been linked to cancer such as: human papillomavirus (a cause of cervical cancer), hepatitis B and C (causes of liver cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (a cause of some childhood cancers). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - and anything else that suppresses or weakens the immune system - inhibits the body's ability to fight infections and increases the chance of developing cancer.

What are the symptoms of cancer?

Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is. Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin - a lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations. Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin. Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.

Other cancers have symptoms that are less physically apparent. Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions. Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size. Bladder or prostate cancers cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.

As cancer cells use the body's energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss. However, these symptoms are common in several other maladies as well. For example, coughing and hoarseness can point to lung or throat cancer as well as several other conditions.

When cancer spreads, or metastasizes, additional symptoms can present themselves in the newly affected area. Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes are common and likely to be present early. If cancer spreads to the brain, patients may experience vertigo, headaches, or seizures. Spreading to the lungs may cause coughing and shortness of breath. In addition, the liver may become enlarged and cause jaundice and bones can become painful, brittle, and break easily. Symptoms of metastasis ultimately depend on the location to which the cancer has spread.

How is cancer classified?

There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.

Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.

Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common prefixes include:

Adeno- = gland
Chondro- = cartilage
Erythro- = red blood cell
Hemangio- = blood vessels
Hepato- = liver
Lipo- = fat
Lympho- = white blood cell
Melano- = pigment cell
Myelo- = bone marrow
Myo- = muscle
Osteo- = bone
Uro- = bladder
Retino- = eye
Neuro- = brain

How is cancer diagnosed and staged?

Early detection of cancer can greatly improve the odds of successful treatment and survival. Physicians use information from symptoms and several other procedures to diagnose cancer. Imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, and ultrasound scans are used regularly in order to detect where a tumor is located and what organs may be affected by it. Doctors may also conduct an endoscopy, which is a procedure that uses a thin tube with a camera and light at one end, to look for abnormalities inside the body.

Extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. Other types of molecular diagnostic tests are frequently employed as well. Physicians will analyze your body's sugars, fats, proteins, and DNA at the molecular level. For example, cancerous prostate cells release a higher level of a chemical called PSA (prostate-specific antigen) into the bloodstream that can be detected by a blood test. Molecular diagnostics, biopsies, and imaging techniques are all used together to diagnose cancer.

After a diagnosis is made, doctors find out how far the cancer has spread and determine the stage of the cancer. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognoses. The most common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T (1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumor, N (0-3) indicates the degree to which the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and M (0-1) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs may be staged as (T1, N0, M0), for example.

TNM descriptions then lead to a simpler categorization of stages, from 0 to 4, where lower numbers indicate that the cancer has spread less. While most Stage 1 tumors are curable, most Stage 4 tumors are inoperable or untreatable.

How is cancer treated?

Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.

Surgery

Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells. Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord compression.

Radiation

Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy, destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, but technologies have improved so that beams can be more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer cells (including those associated with leukemia and lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has spread or metastasized because the medicines travel throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal between doses. However, there are still common side effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Combination therapies often include multiple types of chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other treatment options.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies are relatively young, but researchers have had success with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells will often attack the tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.

Hormone therapy

Several cancers have been linked to some types of hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be treated with the hormone cortisone.

Gene therapy

The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer: damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene. Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet resulted in any successful treatments.

How can cancer be prevented?

Cancers that are closely linked to certain behaviors are the easiest to prevent. For example, choosing not to smoke tobacco or drink alcohol significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer - most notably lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer. Even if you are a current tobacco user, quitting can still greatly reduce your chances of getting cancer.

Skin cancer can be prevented by staying in the shade, protecting yourself with a hat and shirt when in the sun, and using sunscreen. Diet is also an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Certain vaccinations have been associated with the prevention of some cancers. For example, many women receive a vaccination for the human papillomavirus because of the virus's relationship with cervical cancer. Hepatitis B vaccines prevent the hepatitis B virus, which can cause liver cancer.

Some cancer prevention is based on systematic screening in order to detect small irregularities or tumors as early as possible even if there are no clear symptoms present. Breast self-examination, mammograms, testicular self-examination, and Pap smears are common screening methods for various cancers.