What Is Cancer,weight loss,Skin Care,hair loss,lung cancer

Early Detection Of Any Disease Is The Key So What Are The First Symptoms Of Lung Cancer?

2012-02-18T17:45:00.003-08:00

Much research work has been dedicated to find out the first symptoms of lung cancer. Cancer is that painful disease that needs no introduction and cancer of the lung is one of its most common forms. It is said that early detection of cancer is the key to its prevention.
Extensive research works conducted at Mesothelioma research clinics have uncovered some symptoms of lung cancer closely linked with the disease.

Lung Cancer Symptoms

People addicted to tobacco and those who are constantly exposed to the ill effects of asbestos are more susceptible to lung cancer. Ignorance about the symptoms of lung cancer may lead to a full-fledged blown up case.

Be on alert if you are having cough most of the time. This is one of the first symptoms. A related symptom may be a change in the nature of coughing. Other symptoms may be- being short of breath and coughing up bloodstained sputum. Mesothelioma research has established that aches while breathing, loss of appetite, fatigue and loss of weight can also be the first symptoms of the cancer of the lung.

These are considered to be the primary symptoms of lung cancer. There are secondary symptoms too.

Sudden development of a hoarse voice is one of the secondary lung cancer symptoms. Difficulty in swallowing is considered as another symptom of cancer of the lung.

Swelling of the face due to blockage of main blood vessel and swelling of neck due to enlarged lymph nodes may be other symptoms as well.

Treat pain in the right rib region and shortness of breath due to accumulation of fluid as warning signals of cancer of the lung. When you notice any of them, visit your physician for a thorough check-up.

Let's combat the deadly lung cancer together.

Source
About the Author
Jon Butt publishes www.the-mesothelioma-guide.com With the web being packed with mis-information www.the-mesothelioma-guide.com is a leading free resource of Mesothelioma support, advice and legal help along with alternative remedies, natural supplements and more. Helping both you and your loved ones

What are lung cancer symptoms and signs?

2012-01-20T01:48:00.003-08:00

Symptoms of lung cancer are varied depending upon where and how widespread the tumor is. Warning signs of lung cancer are not always present or easy to identify. A person with lung cancer may have the following kinds of symptoms:
No symptoms: In up to 25% of people who get lung cancer, the cancer is first discovered on a routine chest X-ray or CT scan as a solitary small mass sometimes called a coin lesion, since on a two-dimensional X-ray or CT scan, the round tumor looks like a coin. These patients with small, single masses often report no symptoms at the time the cancer is discovered.

Symptoms related to the cancer:

The growth of the cancer and invasion of lung tissues and surrounding tissue may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). If the cancer has invaded nerves, for example, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm (called Pancoast's syndrome) or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). If a large airway is obstructed, collapse of a portion of the lung may occur and cause infections (abscesses, pneumonia) in the obstructed area.

Symptoms related to metastasis:

Lung cancer that has spread to the bones may produce excruciating pain at the sites of bone involvement. Cancer that has spread to the brain may cause a number of neurologic symptoms that may include blurred vision, headaches, seizures, or symptoms of stroke such as weakness or loss of sensation in parts of the body.

Paraneoplastic symptoms:

Lung cancers frequently are accompanied by symptoms that result from production of hormone-like substances by the tumor cells. These paraneoplastic syndromes occur most commonly with SCLC but may be seen with any tumor type. A common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with SCLC is the production of a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by the cancer cells, leading to oversecretion of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome). The most frequent paraneoplastic syndrome seen with NSCLC is the production of a substance similar to parathyroid hormone, resulting in elevated levels of calcium in the bloodstream.

Nonspecific symptoms:

Nonspecific symptoms seen with many cancers, including lung cancers, include weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. Psychological symptoms such as depression and mood changes are also common.

When should one consult a doctor?

One should consult a health-care provider if he or she develops the symptoms associated with lung cancer, in particular, if they have a new persistent cough or worsening of an existing chronic cough
,blood in the sputum,persistent bronchitis or repeated respiratory infections
,chest pain
,unexplained weight loss and/or fatigue
,breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath or wheezing.

BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

2011-03-21T18:49:00.002-07:00

The three major treatments of breast cancer are surgery, radiation, and drug therapy. No one treatment fits every patient, and combination therapy is usually required. The choice is determined by many factors, including the age of the patient, menopausal status, the kind of cancer (ductal verses lobular), its stage, and whether or not the tumor contains hormone-receptors.

Breast cancer treatments are defined as local or systemic:

Local Treatment . Surgery and radiation are considered local therapies because they directly treat the tumor, breast, lymph nodes, or other specific regions. Surgery is usually the standard initial treatment.

Systemic Treatment . Drug treatment is called systemic therapy, because it affects the whole body. Drugs may include either chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Drug therapy may be used as primary therapy for patients for whom surgery or radiation therapy is not appropriate, neoadjuvant therapy (before surgery or radiation) to shrink tumors to a size that can be treated with local therapy, or as adjuvant therapy (following surgery or radiation) to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. For metastatic cancer, drugs are used not to cure but to improve quality of life and prolong survival.

Any or all of these therapies may be used separately or, most often, in different combinations. For example, radiation alone or with chemotherapy or hormone therapy may be beneficial before surgery, if the tumor is large. Surgery followed by radiation and hormone therapy is usually recommended for women with early-stage, hormone-sensitive cancer. There are numerous clinical trials investigating new treatments and treatment combinations. Patients, especially those with advanced stages of cancer, may wish to consider enrolling in a clinical trial.

Cancer Stage and Treatment Options

Treatment strategies depend in part on the stage of the cancer.

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ). Stage 0 breast cancer is considered non-invasive (‘in situ"), meaning that the cancer is still confined within breast ducts or lobules and has not yet spread to surrounding tissues. Stage 0 cancer is classified as either:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). These are cancer cells in the lining of a duct that have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). These are cancer cells in the lobules of the breast. LCIS rarely develops into invasive breast cancer, but having it in one breast increases the risk of developing cancer in the other breast.

Treatment options for DCIS include:

Breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy (followed by hormone therapy for women with hormone-sensitive cancer). Many doctors recommend this approach.

Total mastectomy (followed by hormone therapy for women with hormone-sensitive cancer)

Breast-conserving surgery without radiation therapy

Treatment options for LCIS include:

Regular exams and mammograms to monitor any potential changes (observation treatment)

Hormone therapy to prevent development of breast cancer (for women with hormone-sensitive cancer)

Mastectomy of both breasts was previously used as treatment, but is now rarely recommended

Stage I and II (Early-Stage Invasive). In stage I cancer, cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast, and the tumor is no more than 2 cm (about 3/4 of an inch) across.

Stage II cancer is classified as either stage IIA or stage IIb.

In stage IIA cancer the tumor is either:

No more than 2 centimeters and has spread to the underarm lymph nodes (axillary lymph nodes)

Between 2 - 5 centimeters and has not spread to the underarm lymph nodes

In stage IIB cancer the tumor is either:

Larger than 2 centimeters and less than 5 centimeters and has spread to 1 - 3 axillary lymph nodes

Larger than 5 centimeters but has now spread to lymph nodes

Treatment options for stage I and stage II breast cancer may include:

Breast-conserving surgery (such as lumpectomy) followed by radiation therapy

Modified radical mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction

Post-surgical therapy (adjuvant therapy), including radiation of lymph nodes, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) given along with or following adjuvant chemotherapy for women with HER2-positive cancer

Stage III (Locally Advanced). Stage III breast cancer is classified into several sub-categories: Stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and stage IIIC (operable or inoperable).

In stage IIIA breast cancer, the tumor is either of the following:

Not more than 5 centimeters and has spread to 4 - 9 axillary lymph nodes

Larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to 1 - 9 axillary nodes or to internal mammary nodes.

Treatment options for stage IIIA breast cancer are the same as those for stages I and II.

In stage IIIB breast cancer, the tumor has spread to either of the following:

Tissues near the breast (including the skin or chest wall)

Lymph nodes within the breast or under the arm

Stage IIIB treatment options may include:

Chemotherapy, and possibly hormone therapy (sometimes in combination with chemotherapy)

Chemotherapy followed by surgery (breast-conserving surgery or total mastectomy) with lymph node dissection followed by radiation therapy and possibly more chemotherapy or hormone therapy

Clinical trials

Stage IIIC breast cancer is classified as either operable or inoperable.

In operable stage IIIC, the cancer may be found in:

10 or more of the underarm lymph nodes

Lymph nodes beneath the collarbone and near the neck on the same side of the body as the affected breast

Lymph nodes within the breast as well as underarm lymph nodes

Treatment options for operable stage III breast cancer are the same as those for stage I and II breast cancers.

In inoperable stage III breast cancer, the cancer has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone and near the neck on the same side of the body as the affected breast. Treatment options are the same as those for stage IIIB.

Stage IV (Advanced Cancer). In stage IV, the cancer has spread (metastasized) from the breast to other parts of the body. In about 75% of cases, the cancer has spread to the bone. The cancer at this stage is considered to be chronic and incurable, and the usefulness of treatments is limited. The goals of treatment for stage IV cancer are to stabilize the disease and slow its progression, as well as to reduce pain and discomfort.

Treatment options for stage IV cancer include:

Surgery or radiation for any localized tumors in the breast.

Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or both. Targeted therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin) or lapatinib (Tykerb) should be considered for women with HER2-positive cancer.

Cancer that has spread to the brain may require radiation and high-dose steroids.

Cancer that has spread to the bone may be helped by radiation or bisphosphonate drugs. Such treatments can relieve pain and help prevent bone fractures.

Clinical trials of new drugs or drug combinations, or experimental treatments such as high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.

Post-Treatment Care

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends follow-up care for patients who have been treated for breast cancer:

Visit your doctor every 3 - 6 months for the first 3 years after your first cancer treatment, every 6 - 12 months during the fourth and fifth year, and once a year thereafter.

Have a mammogram 1 year after the mammogram that diagnosed your cancer (but no earlier than 6 months after radiation therapy), and every 6 - 12 months thereafter.

Perform a breast self-exam every month (however, this is no substitute for a mammogram).

See your gynecologist regularly (women taking tamoxifen should be sure to report any vaginal bleeding).

A year after diagnosis, you can either continue to see your oncologist or transfer your care to your primary care physician.

If you are on hormone therapy, discuss with your oncologist how often to schedule follow-up visits for re-evaluation of your treatment.

ASCO does not recommend the use of laboratory blood tests (complete blood counts, carcinoembryonic antigen) or imaging tests (bone scans, chest x-rays, liver ultrasound, FDG-PET scan, CT scan) for routine breast cancer follow-up.

Genetic counseling may be helpful if you have:

Ashkenazi Jewish heritage

Personal or family history of ovarian cancer

Personal or family history of cancer in both breasts

Any first-degree female relative (mother, sister, daughter) diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50

Two or more first-degree or second-degree (grandparent, aunt, uncle) diagnosed with breast cancer

History of breast cancer in a male relative

Pregnancy after Breast Cancer Treatment . There are no definite recommendations on how long a woman should wait to become pregnant after breast cancer treatment. Because of the connection between estrogen levels and breast cancer cell growth, some doctors recommend delaying pregnancy until 2 years after treatment in order to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and improve odds for survival. However, other studies indicate that conceiving 6 months after treatment does not negatively affect survival. Discuss with your doctor your risk for recurrence, and when it may be safe to attempt pregnancy.

Recurrent Breast Cancer

Recurrent breast cancer is considered to be an advanced cancer. In such cases, the disease has come back in spite of the initial treatment. Most recurrences appear within the first 2 - 3 years after treatment, but breast cancer can recur many years later. Treatment options are based on the stage at which the cancer reappears, whether or not the tumor is hormone responsive, and the age of the patient. Between 10 - 20% of recurring cancers are local. Most recurrent cancers are metastatic. All patients with recurring cancer are candidates for clinical trials.

Because most breast cancer recurrences are discovered by patients in between doctor visits, it is important to notify your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms. These symptoms may be signs of breast cancer recurrence:

New lumps in the breast

Bone pain

Chest pain

Abdominal pain

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Persistent headaches or coughing

Rash on breast

Nipple discharge

BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS

2011-03-21T18:43:00.001-07:00

Breast Examination by a Health Professional. Women ages 20 - 49 should have a physical examination by a health professional every 1 - 2 years. Those over age 50 should be examined annually.

Self-Examinations. Women have been encouraged to perform a self-examination each month, but some studies have reported no difference in mortality rates between women who do self-examination and those who do not. This does not mean women should stop attempting self-examinations, but they should not replace the annual examination done by a health professional.

Monthly Self-Examination

1. Pick a time of the month that is easy to remember and perform self-examination at that time each month. The breast has normal patterns of thickness and lumpiness that change within a monthly period, and a consistently scheduled examination will help differentiate between what is normal from abnormal. Many doctors recommend “breast awareness” rather than formal monthly self-examinations.

2. Stand in front of a mirror. Breasts should be basically the same size (one may be slightly larger than the other). Check for changes or redness in the nipple area. Look for changes in the appearance of the skin. With hands on the hips, push the pelvis forward and pull the shoulders back and observe the breasts for irregularities. Repeat the observation with hands behind the head. Move each arm and shoulder forward.

3. Lie down on the back with a rolled towel under one shoulder. Apply lotion or bath oil over the breast area. Using the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th finger pads (not tips) held together, make dime-sized circles. Press lightly first to feel the breast area, then press harder using a circular motion.

Using this motion, start from the collarbone and move downward to underneath the breast. Shift the fingers slightly over, slightly overlapping the previously checked region, and work upward back to the collarbone. Repeat this up-and-down examination until the entire breast area has been examined. Be sure to cover the entire area from the collarbone to the bottom of the breast area and from the middle of the chest to the armpits. Move the towel under the other shoulder and repeat the procedure.

Examine the nipple area, by gently lifting and squeezing it and checking for discharge.

4. Repeat step 3 in an upright position. (The shower is the best place for this, using plenty of soap.)

Note: A lump can be any size or shape and can move around or remain fixed. Of special concern are specific or unusual lumps that appear to be different from the normal varying thicknesses in the breast.

Monthly breast self-exams should always include: visual inspection (with and without a mirror) to note any changes in contour or texture, and manual inspection in standing and reclining positions to note any unusual lumps or thicknesses.

Current Recommendations for Screening. Mammograms are very effective low-radiation screening methods for breast cancer. There is, however, debate on when women should begin to have mammograms and how frequently they should have them.

Most major professional groups, including The American Cancer Society and The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommend that women have a mammogram every 1 – 2 years starting at age 40.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force made the following recommendations in November 2009:

The USPSTF recommended against routine screening mammography in women ages 40 to 49 years and stated that the decision to screen women in this age group should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms into account.

The USPSTF recommended screening mammography be performed for women ages 50 to 74 years every other year.

Given the confusion and recommendations, women, (particularly those in their 40s), should discuss the risks and benefits of mammography with their doctors, and then base their decisions on family history, general health, and personal values.

Since mammographies in younger women produce a relatively high rate of false-positive results (when the test falsely indicates breast cancer), there is a risk of radiation exposure and potentially unnecessary biopsies or surgeries. However, mammograms can help catch tumors while they are in their earliest and most treatable stages. The most deadly types of breast cancer tend to occur in women in their 40s.

After a woman reaches age 50, her risk for developing breast cancer increases. (Women over age 65 account for most new cases of breast cancer.) Women with risk factors for breast cancer, including a close family member with the disease, should consider having annual mammograms starting 10 years earlier than the age at which the relative was diagnosed.

Other Imaging Techniques

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound techniques can detect very small tumors (less than half an inch). However, they are expensive and time-consuming procedures, and ultrasound may yield more false-positive results. Nevertheless, some doctors believe they are important in identifying small tumors missed on mammography in women who are receiving lumpectomy or breast-conserving surgeries. Such findings allow surgeons to remove the optimal amount of abnormal tissue. Ultrasound may be particularly helpful for women with dense breast tissue who show signs of breast cancer.

In 2007, the American Cancer Society recommended that high-risk women have an MRI of their breast with their annual mammogram, including those who have:

A BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation

A first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, even if they have yet to be tested themselves

A lifetime risk of breast cancer that has been scored at 20 - 25% or greater based on various risk assessment tools that evaluate family history and other factors

Had radiation to the chest between ages 10 - 30

Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or may have one of these genetic syndromes based on a history in a first-degree relative

For women who have had cancer diagnosed in one breast, MRIs can also be very helpful for detecting hidden tumors in the other breast. An important study reported that MRI scans of women who were diagnosed with cancer in one breast detected over 90% of cancers in the other breast that had been previously missed by mammography or clinical breast exam. Currently, few women who are diagnosed with cancer in one breast are offered an MRI of the other breast. Some doctors advocate MRIs for all women newly diagnosed with breast cancer; others oppose this view. MRI scans may be most useful for younger women with breast cancer who have dense breast tissue that may obscure tumors from mammography readings. MRIs are less likely to be helpful for older women with early tumors in one breast and clear mammography readings in the other.

It is very important that women have MRIs at qualified centers that perform many of these procedures each year. MRI is a complicated procedure and requires special equipment and experienced radiologists. MRI facilities should also be able to offer biopsies when suspicious findings are detected.

Scintimammography. In scintimammography, a radioactive chemical is injected into the circulatory system, which is then selectively taken up by the tumor and revealed on mammograms. This method is used for women who have had abnormal mammograms or for women who have dense breast tissue. It is not used for regular screening or as an alternative to mammography.

Biopsy

A definitive diagnosis of breast cancer can be made only by a biopsy (a microscopic examination of a tissue sample of the suspicious area).

When a lump can be felt and is suspicious for cancer on mammography, an excisional biopsy may be recommended. This biopsy is a surgical procedure for removing the suspicious tissue and typically requires general anesthetic.

A core biopsy involves a small incision and the insertion of a spring-loaded hollow needle that removes several samples. The patient needs only local anesthetic.

A wire localization biopsy may be performed if mammography detects abnormalities, but there is no lump. With this procedure, using mammography as a guide, the doctor inserts a small wire hook through a hollow needle and into the suspicious tissue. The needle is withdrawn, and the hook is used by the surgeon to locate and remove the lesion. The patient may receive local or general anesthetic.

A vacuum-assisted device may be used for some biopsies. This uses a single probe through which a vacuum is used to draw out tissue. It allows several samples to be taken without having to remove and re-insert the probe.

Final analysis of the breast tissue may take several days.

Sentinel Node Biopsy

The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node that cancer cells are likely to spread to from the primary tumor (the original site of the cancer). Sentinel node biopsy is a procedure that examines the sentinel node to determine if cancer has spread.

Sentinel node biopsy involves:

The procedure uses an injection of a tiny amount of a tracer, either a radioactively-labeled substance (radioisotope) or a blue dye, into the tumor site.

The tracer or dye then flows through the lymphatic system into the sentinel node. This is the first lymph node to which any cancer would spread.

The sentinel lymph node and possibly one or two others are then removed.

If they do not show any signs of cancer, it is highly likely that the remaining lymph nodes will be cancer free, making further surgery unnecessary.

Patients who have a sentinel node biopsy tend to have better arm function and a shorter hospital stay than those who have an axillary node biopsy. The American Society of Clinical Oncology's guidelines recommend sentinel node biopsy instead of axillary lymph node dissection for women with early stage breast cancer who do not have nodes that can be felt during a physical exam.

Axillary Lymphadenectomy

If the sentinel node biopsy finds evidence that cancer has spread, the next diagnostic step is to find out how far it has spread. To do this, the doctor performs a procedure called an axillary lymphadenectomy , which partially or completely removes the lymph nodes in the armpit beside the affected breast (called axillary lymph nodes). It may require a hospital stay of 1 - 2 days.

Once the lymph nodes are removed, they are analyzed to determine whether subsequent treatment needs to be more or less aggressive:

If no cancer is found in the lymph nodes, the condition is referred to as node negative breast cancer. The chances are good that the cancer has not spread and is still local.

If cancer cells are present in the lymph nodes, the cancer is called node positive . Their presence increases the possibility that the cancer has spread microscopically to other areas of the body. In such cases, however, it is still not known if the cancer has metastasized beyond the lymph nodes or, if so, to what extent. The doctor may perform further tests to see if the cancer has spread to the bone (bone scan), lungs (x-ray or CT scan) or brain (MRI or CT scan).

Side effects of the procedure may include increased risk for infection and pain, swelling in the arm from fluid build-up, and impaired sensation and restricted movement in the affected arm.

BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS

2011-03-21T18:23:00.001-07:00

Early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt

Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple -- for example, you may have redness, dimpling, or puckering that looks like the skin of an orange

Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody, clear to yellow, green, and look like pus

Men get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include breast lump and breast pain and tenderness.

Symptoms of advanced breast cancer may include:

Bone pain

Breast pain or discomfort

Skin ulcers

Swelling of one arm (next to breast with cancer)

Weight loss

In-Depth Symptoms :

Breast cancers in their early stages are usually painless. Often the first symptom is the discovery of a hard lump. Fifty percent of such masses are found in the upper outer quarter of the breast. The lump may make the affected breast appear elevated or asymmetric. The nipple may be retracted or scaly. Sometimes the skin of the breast is dimpled like the skin of an orange. In some cases there is a bloody or clear discharge from the nipple.

Many cancers, however, produce no symptoms and cannot be felt on examination. With an increase in the use of mammogram screening programs during the last several decades, more breast cancers are being discovered before there are any symptoms.

BREAST CANCER CAUSES

2011-03-21T18:17:00.001-07:00

Over the course of a lifetime, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Risk factors you cannot change include:

Age and gender -- Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. The majority of advanced breast cancer cases are found in women over age 50. Women are 100 times more likely to get breast cancer than men.

Family history of breast cancer -- You may also have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have a close relative who has had breast, uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer. About 20 - 30% of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.

Genes -- Some people have genes that make them more prone to developing breast cancer. The most common gene defects are found in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes normally produce proteins that protect you from cancer. But if a parent passes you a defective gene, you have an increased risk for breast cancer. Women with one of these defects have up to an 80% chance of getting breast cancer sometime during their life.

Menstrual cycle -- Women who get their periods early (before age 12) or went through menopause late (after age 55) have an increased risk for breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

Alcohol use -- Drinking more than 1 - 2 glasses of alcohol a day may increase your risk for breast cancer.

Childbirth -- Women who have never had children or who had them only after age 30 have an increased risk for breast cancer. Being pregnant more than once or becoming pregnant at an early age reduces your risk of breast cancer.

DES -- Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage may have an increased risk of breast cancer after age 40. This drug was given to the women in the 1940s - 1960s.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) -- You have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have received hormone replacement therapy for several years or more. Many women take HRT to reduce the symptoms of menopause.

Obesity -- Obesity has been linked to breast cancer, although this link is controversial. The theory is that obese women produce more estrogen, which can fuel the development of breast cancer.

Radiation -- If you received radiation therapy as a child or young adult to treat cancer of the chest area, you have a significantly higher risk for developing breast cancer. The younger you started such radiation and the higher the dose, the higher your risk -- especially if the radiation was given when a female was developing breasts.

Breast implants, using antiperspirants, and wearing underwire bras do not raise your risk for breast cancer. There is no evidence of a direct link between breast cancer and pesticides.

Leukemia - Home Treatment

2011-03-21T18:11:00.002-07:00

During treatment for any stage of leukemia, there are things you can do at home to help manage the side effects of leukemia or its treatment. Home treatment may be all that is needed to manage the following common problems.
If your doctor has given you instructions or medicines to treat these symptoms, be sure to use them. Eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep and exercise may help you feel better.

Home treatment for nausea or vomiting includes watching for and treating early signs of dehydration, such as having a dry mouth, sticky saliva, and reduced urine output with dark yellow urine, and feeling lightheaded when you stand up. Your doctor also may prescribe medicines to control nausea and vomiting. For more information on how to deal with these side effects, see:

Home treatment for diarrhea includes resting your stomach and being alert for signs of dehydration. It is important to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. Check with your doctor before using any over-the-counter drugs for diarrhea.

Home treatment for constipation includes gentle exercise along with drinking enough fluids and eating a diet that is high in fiber. Check with your doctor before using a laxative. Ask your doctor whether there are any foods that you should avoid while you are receiving chemotherapy. Many people are told not to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and to eat only well-cooked meat. Bacteria on fresh fruits and vegetables are not always washed off easily. Bacteria that live inside meats are not always killed unless the meat is cooked well. When your immune system is weakened by leukemia treatment, you are more likely than other people to get sick from these bacteria.

Home treatment for fatigue includes making sure you get extra rest while you are receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Let your symptoms guide you. You may be able to keep your usual routine and just get some extra sleep. Fatigue is often worse at the end of treatment or just after treatment is completed.

Home treatment for sleep problems includes establishing a sleep routine that will let you get the rest you need.

Eating well during treatment for leukemia includes making sure you get the nutrition you need to prevent weight loss and conserve your strength. You may find it helpful to talk with a registered dietitian (RD) to make sure you're eating a balanced diet during your treatment.

Dealing with your emotions

If you have recently been diagnosed with leukemia, you may have many different emotions. Most people feel some denial, anger, and grief. Some people may feel depressed or "blue." Other people may have fewer emotions. There is no "normal" or "right" way to react. There are many steps you can take to help with your emotional reaction to leukemia. Some people find that talking with family and friends helps. Other people find that spending time alone is what they need.
If your reaction is interfering with your ability to make decisions about your health, it is important to talk to your doctor. Your cancer treatment center may offer psychological or financial services. You may also contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society to help you find a support group. Talking with other people who may have had similar feelings can be very helpful.

There are other emotional issues you may face:

The diagnosis of leukemia and the need for treatment can be very stressful. You may be able to reduce your stress by expressing your feelings to others. Learning relaxation techniques may also help you reduce your stress.

Your feelings about your body may change. Adapting to your changed body image may involve talking openly about your concerns with your partner and discussing your feelings with your doctor. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to groups that can offer additional support and information.

Hair loss. This is emotionally distressing for some people. Not all cancer drugs cause hair loss, and some people have only mild thinning that is noticeable only to them. Ask your doctor whether you should expect hair loss with the drugs you will receive.

If leukemia or its treatment causes pain, there are many ways to relieve it. If your doctor has given you instructions or medicines for pain, be sure to use them. Home treatment for pain, such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, or an alternative therapy, such as biofeedback, may improve your physical and mental well-being. Be sure to discuss any home treatment with your doctor.

Leukemia Prevention

2011-03-21T18:07:00.003-07:00

There is no known way to prevent most types of leukemia. Most people with leukemia do not have known risk factors. A risk factor is anything that raises your chances of getting a disease.
Some types of leukemia may be prevented by avoiding high doses of radiation, exposure to the chemical benzene, smoking and other tobacco use, or certain types of chemotherapy used to treat other types of cancer.

Leukemia - Cause

2011-03-21T18:03:00.001-07:00

Experts do not yet know what causes leukemia.

A risk factor is anything that raises your chance of getting a disease. Risk factors for some types of leukemia include:

Smoking and tobacco use.

Being exposed to large amounts of radiation.

Being exposed to certain chemicals in the workplace.

Past chemotherapy or radiation for another cancer. (This is rare, and not all chemotherapies raise your leukemia risk.)

Most people who get leukemia do not have any risk factors.

Most types of leukemia do not seem to run in families. But in some cases chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) does.1 There are also certain genetic conditions, like Down syndrome, that can make acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) more likely.

Leukemia - Symptoms

2011-03-21T18:00:00.007-07:00

Symptoms of leukemia depend on how much the cancer has grown and may include:

Fevers and night sweats.
Frequent or unusual infections.
Weakness and fatigue.
Headaches.
Bruising of the skin and bleeding from the gums or rectum.
Bone pain.
Joint pain.
Swelling in the belly or pain on the left side of the belly or in the left shoulder from a swollen spleen.
Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin.
Decreased appetite and weight loss because you feel full and don't want to eat.

The chronic forms of leukemia often cause no symptoms until much later in the disease.

Reducing Breast Cancer Risk

2011-03-21T17:55:00.002-07:00

Reducing Breast Cancer Risk

CANCER-You can REDUCE the risk

2011-03-21T17:46:00.002-07:00

What is Lung Cancer?

2010-04-21T20:37:00.001-07:00

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women and men both in the United States and throughout the world. Lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
In the United States in 2009, 159,390 people were projected to die from lung cancer, which is more than the number of deaths from colon and rectal, breast, and prostate cancer combined. Only about 2% of those diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to other areas of the body are alive five years after the diagnosis, although the survival rates for lung cancers diagnosed at the earliest stage are higher, with approximately 49% surviving for five years or longer.
Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation that causes them to grow and multiply without control. The cells form a mass or tumor that differs from the surrounding tissues from which it arises. Tumors are dangerous because they take oxygen, nutrients, and space from healthy cells and because they invade and destroy or reduce the ability of normal tissues to function.
Most lung tumors are malignant. This means that they invade and destroy the healthy tissues around them and can spread throughout the body.
The tumors can spread to nearby lymph nodes or through the bloodstream to other organs. This process is called metastasis.
When lung cancer metastasizes, the tumor in the lung is called the primary tumor, and the tumors in other parts of the body are called secondary tumors or metastatic tumors.
Some tumors in the lung are metastatic from cancers elsewhere in the body. The lungs are a common site for metastasis. If this is the case, the cancer is not considered to be lung cancer. For example, if prostate cancer spreads via the bloodstream to the lungs, it is metastatic prostate cancer (a secondary cancer) in the lung and is not called lung cancer.
Lung cancers usually are divided into two main groups that account for about 95% of all cases.
The division into groups is based on the type of cells that make up the cancer.
The two main types of lung cancer are characterized by the cell size of the tumor when viewed under the microscope. They are called small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC includes several subtypes of tumors.
SCLCs are less common, but they grow more quickly and are more likely to metastasize than NSCLCs. Often, SCLCs have already spread to other parts of the body when the cancer is diagnosed.
About 5% of lung cancers are of rare cell types, including carcinoid tumor, lymphoma, and others.
The specific types of primary lung cancers are as follows:
Adenocarcinoma (an NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, making up 30%-40% of all cases. A subtype of adenocarcinoma is called bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma, which creates a pneumonia-like appearance on chest X-rays.
Squamous cell carcinoma (an NSCLC) is the second most common type of lung cancer, making up about 30% of all cases.
Large cell cancer (another NSCLC) makes up 10% of all cases.
SCLC makes up 20% of all cases.
Carcinoid tumors account for 1% of all cases.

What is Leukemia?

2010-04-21T20:23:00.001-07:00

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood or blood cells. There are several types of leukemia and these are classified by how quickly they progress and what cell they affect. In order to understand how leukemia affects the cells, it is helpful to first understand what normal blood cells do.

White blood cells (also called leukocytes) are the body's infection fighting cells.
Red blood cells (also called erythrocytes) give blood its red color, but more importantly, carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and return carbon dioxide to the lungs as waste.
Platelets (also called thrombocytes) help the body form blood clots to control bleeding.
In addition to these three cell types, the blood also contains fluid called plasma.
All of these products are formed in the bone marrow, a spongy area located in the center of bones. Larger bones have more bone marrow, and therefore produce more cells. The larger bones include the femur (top part of the leg or thigh), the hip bones, and parts of the rib cage. The bone marrow contains a small percentage of cells that are in development and are not yet mature. These cells are called blasts. Once the cell has matured, it moves out of the bone marrow and into the circulating blood. The body has mechanisms to know when more cells are needed and has the ability to produce them in an orderly fashion.

In the case of leukemia, one blood cell goes awry (in the majority of cases this cell is a white blood cell) and the body produces large numbers of this cell. When looked at under a microscope, these abnormally produced cells look different then the healthy cells and do not function properly. The body continues to produce these abnormal, non-functional cells, leaving little space for healthy cells. This imbalance of healthy and unhealthy cells is what causes the symptoms of leukemia.

What is breast cancer?

2010-04-21T16:48:00.001-07:00

Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast. The breast tissue covers an area larger than just the breast. It extends up to the collarbone and from the armpit across to the breastbone in the centre of the chest. The breasts sit on the chest muscles that cover the ribs.
Each breast is made of glands, ducts (thin tubes) and fatty tissue. Lobules are groups of glands that can produce milk. Milk flows from the lobules through a network of ducts to the nipple. The nipple is in the centre of a darker area of skin called the areola. Fatty tissue fills the spaces between the lobules and ducts and protects them.
A woman’s breasts may feel different at different times of her menstrual cycle, sometimes becoming lumpy just before her period. Breast tissue also changes with age. Breast tissue in younger women is mostly made of glands and milk ducts, but older women’s breasts are made up mostly of fatty tissue.

The breasts also contain lymph vessels and lymph nodes, which are part of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system helps fight infections. Lymph vessels move lymph fluid to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes trap bacteria, cancer cells and other harmful substances. There are groups of lymph nodes near the breast under the arm, near the collarbone and in the chest behind the breastbone.
Cancer cells may start within the ducts (this is called ductal carcinoma) or in the lobules (lobular carcinoma). Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer.

What is cancer?

2010-04-21T16:17:00.002-07:00

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Cancer is a disease of these cells.

Cells in different parts of the body may look and work differently but most reproduce themselves in the same way. Cells are constantly becoming old and dying, and new cells are produced to replace them. Normally, cells divide in an orderly and controlled manner. If for some reason the process gets out of control, the cells carry on dividing, developing into a lump which is called a tumour.
Tumours can be either benign or malignant. Cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour. Doctors can tell if a tumour is benign or malignant by examining a small sample of cells under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.
In a benign tumour the cells do not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However, if they continue to grow at the original site, they may cause a problem by pressing on the surrounding organs.
A malignant tumour consists of cancer cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area. If the tumour is left untreated, it may spread into and destroy surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the original (primary) cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is part of the immune system - the body's natural defence against infection and disease. It is a complex system made up of organs, such as bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen, and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes (or glands) throughout the body are connected by a network of tiny lymphatic ducts.
When the cancer cells reach a new area they may go on dividing and form a new tumour. This is known as a secondary cancer or metastasis.
It is important to realise that cancer is not a single disease with a single type of treatment. There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and treatment.