Archive for the ‘Cancer’ Category

Prostate Cancer Surgery

Posted by Canadian health care on November 27th, 2009

The most popular prostate cancer surgery is robotic keyhole surgery, also called a laparoscopic surgery. This surgery has been performed on thousands of men. It has become popular because it is minimally invasive – not requiring large incisions and uses the da Vinci robotics system. Doctors use robotic arms and special instruments while performing the surgery. In fact, keyhole surgery uses a small incision and that’s why it’s called a keyhole surgery. There are other types of keyhole surgeries on other parts of the body as well.

It has become the prostate cancer surgery of choice for many because of the smaller incision meaning a day less in the hospital and a shorter recovery time.

Now a new study involving 9000 men with prostate cancer show there are risks that hadn’t been addressed before. Some with traditional prostate surgery and some with robotic keyhole surgery.

The men who had the robotic keyhole surgery rather than the traditional surgery were more likely to report complications in the first 30 days after their surgery. In addition, later after about 18 months or so they reported more urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. This comes as a surprise to many. However, anyone considering this surgery must get all the facts.

If you are considering the surgery, make sure to discuss all the risks and complications with your prostate cancer doctor and surgeon before you have this surgery. Make sure to ask your doctor about this study also.

One has to be careful that this surgery isn’t hyped up from advertisements and from others who aren’t aware of all the risks. Make sure to also to ask your doctor or surgeon; whoever is performing your surgery, how many of these surgeries they have done. Ask how many of their patients had increased incontinence and/or impotence or erectile dysfunction following the surgery in the first 30 days and even 18 months later. Maybe some patients or the doctor didn’t recognize the new health problems were directly related to the keyhole surgery.

Alternatives to the risks of robotic keyhole surgery to remove a cancerous prostate are radiation treatment or therapy or watchful waiting. Radiation therapy comes with its own problems. Many choose watchful waiting and live long lives free of problems caused by surgery. Survival rates are good. Get two or three opinions if you’ve been diagnosed. You may get different opinions from different doctors.

Generally, prostate cancer is slow growing but you need to check with your doctor and find out exactly what type you have and if it’s slow or fast-growing. Find out everything you can about prostate cancer and traditional and alternative treatment options before making any decisions.

Astrocytoma

Posted by admin on November 19th, 2009

An astrocytoma is a form of brain tumor or cancer, which originates in a type of brain cells known as astrocytes. These cells have a characteristic star shape, which led to their name (in Latin, the word astro refers to star). Some astrocytomas grow at a slow rate, or do not noticeably grow for a period of time. They are thought to make up approximately 75% of patients’ neuroepithelial tumors.

There are four grades for this tumor, according to the system used by the World Health Organization (WHO) – there are also other systems for those who prefer using them. From grade 1 to 4 in order, they are: pilocytic, diffuse (or low-grade), anaplastic, and glioblastoma multiforme. The rankings are in order of least aggressiveness, for instance, pilocytic is considered the least aggressive, while glioblastoma multiforme (the grade 4 classification) is considered as the most aggressive form.

An astrocytoma can lead to different symptoms in any given case. Although this is not professional medical advice and these symptoms do not necessarily indicate such a tumor, nor does a lack of them preclude the possibility, some of the potential symptoms are mentioned here. Personality and mental status changes are possible. Eyesight issues, double vision, and headaches also fall into one range of symptoms. Additionally, general drowsiness and lethargy can occur.

One of the diagnostic methods that may be used in some cases is the computed tomography scan (known as the CT scan or CAT scan for short). A biopsy may be taken, at times when the tumor’s removal is attempted during surgery, and sometimes simply as its own event.

Ovarian Cancer Stages

Posted by Canadian health care on October 27th, 2009

Ovarian cancer is deemed to be the most deadly gynaecological cancer and is the fifth leading cause of cancer related deaths is the United States. Claiming close to some 15,000 lives each year, it is one form of cancer difficult to recognize because it displays no symptoms till it has advanced to a very high level. Ovarian cancer stages are dependent on the size and spread of the tumor inside the body. The further treatment of ovarian cancer is dependent on which stage it has progressed to. To classify stages, doctors take help of a simple rating system from 1 to 4. Stage I is the lowest on scale whereas Stage IV is close to being fatal and is the highest on the scale. Other than that, there are also borderline tumors.

A borderline tumor consists of low grade cancerous cells which have just started growing and multiplying. These have not yet affected the ovary in any way by growing into or damaging the ovarian tissue around them. This is not considered to be a bonafide ovarian cancer stage but is still treated as one with surgery. Stage I of the disease means that it has spread to the ovaries. This may be limited to one ovary or could be present in both ovaries. A further form of stage I shows up if the cancer has spread to the surface of the ovary or found inside of the abdomen during surgery. For stage I of ovarian cancer, surgery is the most effective way to dealing with it and preventing any sort of recurrence.

Ovarian cancer stage II usually means that the cancerous cells have spread from the ovary to the fallopian tube and/or uterus. A further form of stage II occurs when the cancer moves on to the pelvic region and cancerous tissue is seen in the rectum and bladder of the body as well. After which we come to stage III, where the cancer has definitely spread from the ovary to the abdominal region and can also be seen in the lymph nodes around the womb, crotch region and the upper part of the abdomen. The growths start becoming larger in size, measuring close to 2 cm and above, present in the lining of the abdominal cavity and causing many abdominal problems. These two stages usually call for chemotherapy to supplement the surgery done to remove as much cancer as possible from the body.

At the top is the ovarian cancer stage IV. This is the last stage of growth and often fatal for the patient. Survival rates at this point of treatment are pretty low and life expectancy after recovery is not very high. The treatment itself for this stage can be quite risky, especially for elderly women. At this stage, the cancer has spread from the ovaries and the abdomen to other parts of the body like the liver and lungs. After reaching here, radiation therapy is the best treatment available for the patients but is very dangerous for the elderly. A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation is used at this point, often enough effectively.

Lung Cancer Facts

Posted by Canadian health care on October 20th, 2009

Many elements impact lung cancer survival rates. Lung cancer, the phase it is at once diagnosed, and the general status of the affected person altogether represent a function in determines lung cancer survival rate. Generally in term of statistic, lung cancer survival is generally could survive up to a five year, which is the percent of affected people with cancer who live at the least five years after their cancer is diagnosed.

Have you heard of people spending Five-hundred-thousand dollars of prior medical treatments and yet had not cured lung cancer? Although some verbalized that chemo treatment was reported to be 90-95% successful in the initial stage of diagnosis for survival rates, but the amount of cell been destroyed of normal healthy immune system and been exposed to toxic carcinogens yet to be disclosed accurately.

Too many people put blind faith in their doctors, and they are ending up dying as a result. We need to learn to take responsibility for our own health, and not allow the medical community to force us to go along with their money-making schemes. Life is precious, and should never be sacrificed so others can profit blindly. I am not saying not to be treated by doctor but you have your right to benefit your healthy immune system as well.

Have you ever heard of apricot seed which contain natural B17 (laetrile), other enzymes, vitamins and beneficial minerals?

B17 vitamin will definitely attack a cancer cell, if it is present in your body.

Many top scientists claim that when consumed, the B17 would make it 100% impossible to develop cancer. More details are describe over here at Survival Rate.

Prevention of Colon Cancer

Posted by admin on October 13th, 2009

A human body is made-up of many organs. An organ system is a group of related organs working together to provide a common function. There are a number of organ systems in a human body such as the skeleton system, the nervous system, the muscular system etc. One of the most important organ systems of our body is the digestive system. The colon is an integral part of the digestive system. The digestive system processes nutrients like, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and water from the food and helps to release waste material out from the body. If you are well into your 50’s and you neglect to get proper health care and nutrition, and do not have regular scheduled colonoscopies than you seriously increase your risk of developing colon cancer.

There are a number of precautionary measures that ensure a healthy lifestyle. We should adopt these measures regardless of our age so we can protect ourselves from colon cancer and other deadly diseases. In order to maintain a healthy digestive tract you need to have a healthy and a well balanced diet. Through a quick and simple research you can determine the right amount of calories that is recommended for people with your particular height, weight and size, and also the healthiest way of taking those calories. We should make sure we have an intake of green vegetables like spinach and broccoli, along with the right amount of protein, fiber and calcium. We need to determine which foods contain which vitamin, mineral, and nutrient that are body needs, consume the right amount along with a good multi-vitamin.

Another important safety measure is to have regular flushes of your digestive tract which includes the colon. There are a number of cleansing and detoxifying methods used to clean our digestive system. Many people use different supplements, specific herbs (herbal colon cleansing) or even fasting to cleanse their system. One simple and natural way of flushing your system, removing the toxins and boosting our energy levels is by having water.

Water is probably the best way to cleanse your digestive system and the rest of your body. In order to cleanse our bodies efficiently, we need to drink at least 8 6-ounce glasses of alkaline ionized water every day. Alkaline ionized water is water that has gone through a water ionizer. A water ionizer can be attached to your kitchen tap and provide you with a simple and economical way of getting pure, healthy alkaline ionized water. Unlike tap or bottled water, alkaline ionized water has antioxidants which provide numerous benefits for our body. Antioxidants help in the flushing process and also help oxygen reach our organs and the entire cellular system faster. This gives the body more energy and makes our bodily functions run more efficiently. Antioxidants are also known to play a role in slowing the aging process and preventing heart diseases and strokes. Alkaline ionized water is known to help with other types of cancers, fungal and skin diseases, arthritis, heartburn, high blood pressure, headaches and relief from cancer treatments.

By having alkaline ionized water we ensure an endless supply of anti oxidants to our body.

By adding a few table spoons of salt in some warm alkaline ionized water, we can produce a crude enema. If you have a large glass of salted alkaline ionized water after skipping a meal just before, the body will flush many dangerous toxins out. Statistics show that in 2007 the death toll from colon cancer was 52,000 in the U.S. alone. Every year hundreds of thousands of people die from colon cancer throughout the world. These simple and easy tips can help us reduce the risks of developing colon cancer and other serious diseases.

Testicular cancer

Posted by Health articles on September 22nd, 2009

Statistics show that a large 90 present of the patients suffering from testicular cancer end up with a painless mass or lump in the testicle which most people do not even realize. On the contrary, some patients might realize or sense the feeling of pain and ache in the lower abdomen region. Men suffering from such a swelling, in other words enlargement is also a symptom seem in men suffering from testicular cancer. This is a chronic condition that cannot be over looked.

Some patients suffering from this testicular cancer has absolutely no symptoms in the early phase of this disease. When patients go to their doctors during routine checkups such as physical examinations, biopsy, ultra sound or diagnosis for infertility.

These are a few symptoms found in patients today.

- A mass or lump found in either of the testicles of a man

- Enlargement or swelling of the testicle

- Collection of fluids in the scrotum

- A mild ache or pain in the lower side of the abdomen, in the back, or in the groin

- A heavy feeling in scrotum.

- Getting pain or feeling discomfort in the testicle or scrotum.

- Softness or swilling in the breasts.

Risk factor: who among men today suffer or develop testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer information
Testicular cancer is not very common today. There is very little increase of the number in cases. The number of people dying due to cancer of the testicular has become less since the year 1960 as the treatments have improved. A risk factor in men is when there are chances of the disease developing. Young men today have a high chance of being victims today. Men ranging between the age of 20 and 34 are most affected by this testicular cancer. Among men, those of who have a family history of this cancer have a really high chance of getting it due to genetic reasons. Other men who are uncircumcised have a higher than normally average risk of developing this disease. White men are more likely to also get this disease as compared to the blacks. Other men who are likely to be targets are the Asian men, Hispanic, American Indian who develop this disease at a much higher rate. Testicular cancers, which occur in young men today, are hence at a high risk, regular checkups are a must.

Mesothelioma

Posted by admin on September 11th, 2009

Mesothelioma is a very tricky disease. It is a type of lung cancer and, as is common with lung cancer, symptoms of the disease can take many years to develop.

Mesothelioma is caused from exposure to asbestos. The disease usually lies undetected for up to 30 years after it first develops. Once symptoms are present the disease has already progressed to the late stage when treatment is very difficult. There is little treatment that can be effective in the later stages of mesothelioma.

Detecting the Disease

Symptoms of mesothelioma can vary from person to person, which adds to the difficulty in detecting the disease. Symptoms also vary depending on the type of mesothelioma. It can be pleural, peritoneal or pericardial. Another issue with detecting the disease is that the symptoms can often be confused with common illnesses like the flu, bronchitis and heart disease.

The best chance of detecting the disease is a careful review of the history of the patient. Discovering previous exposure to asbestos can be the main thing to trigger testing for mesothelioma and finally the detection of the disease. Testing that is currently used is quite expensive. Many times doctors will avoid testing unless they have a specific reason to suspect mesothelioma.

There is research being done to help develop tests for the earlier detection of the disease. These tests would hopefully be able to diagnose the disease early enough for treatment to be effective.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

The most common symptoms of mesothelioma include:

- coughing

- shortness of breath

- chest pain

- weight loss that is unexplained

- sleeping problems

These symptoms can easily be misdiagnosed. Many of them are common symptoms of bronchial illness or even heart disease. During the time that a doctor is investing these possible illnesses, the cancer is given time to grow further. This is a costly mistake. Doctors often do not immediately think that it could be mesothelioma unless they know a patient’s history of asbestos exposure.

Treatment

There are three common courses of treatment. The treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgery is the most common option since it allows for removal of the infected area. Lining in the chest and abdomen, part of the lungs or part of the diaphragm may be removed during surgery. Radiation may be used to kill cancer cells that cannot be removed through surgery. Chemotherapy can also be used to kill off cancer cells. No treatment is completely effective since lung cancer be difficult to treat in general as it spreads very quickly in the later stages throughout the body.

Conclusion

Mesothelioma is a very deadly cancer. It is difficult to detect during early stages when cancer is best treated. It is also expensive to diagnose since tests can be costly. Many doctors will look for other illnesses before ever checking for mesothelioma. This is why if you have been exposed to asbestos and are exhibiting symptoms of mesothelioma then you need to inform your doctor about your asbestos exposure. This is the best chance you have of catching the disease and starting treatment that could save your life.

Skin Cancer Cure

Posted by admin on July 23rd, 2009

The Lowdown on Skin Cancer

Skin is our largest organ and one that is not immune to developing cancerous cells. Skin cancer develops when damaged cells start growing and dividing uncontrollably in the skin. This form of cancer is the most prevalent with more than one million cases in the United States diagnosed each year. Here we will cover some of the commonly asked questions about skin cancer.

What Are The Different Forms of Skin Cancer?

There are different types of skin cancer with three forms accounting for almost all of the diagnosed cases. They are:

•Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)- Accounting for nearly 80% of skin cancer, BCC develops in the basal cells which are located in the lowest layer of the epidermis. It is commonly found on areas of the body regularly exposed to the sun such as your face, head and upper body. Signs of BCC include skin that appears as a sore that repeatedly heals and re-opens, a slightly elevated pink growth, patch of irritated skin that is red in color and/or shiny translucent skin. This type of cancer does not commonly spread but should be treated to protect surrounding tissue.

•Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)- Found in the uppermost layers of the epidermis, SCC cancer affects squamous cells. Long term exposure to the sun can result in this form of cancer in middle to elderly aged individuals. The skin may appear to have an inflamed base with a crusty or scaly area over the base. While this cancer is most commonly found on areas of the body exposed to the sun, it can be found anywhere. Early detection and treatment can prevent this form of cancer from spreading.

•Melanoma- The most dangerous and lethal form of skin cancer, this form accounts for only 4% of diagnosed cases. Melanoma readily spreads to other areas of your body such as your lymph system or other internal organs. Most commonly found in moles either pre-existing or new, melanoma has a 95% cure rate if caught in time for treatment. It is important that you are aware of any moles on your body and what they look like so you can spot changes in existing moles or the appearance of new moles. Undetected and untreated, melanoma becomes very difficult to treat and can result in death.

Who Gets Skin Cancer?

To be quite honest, anyone can get skin cancer. There are however certain individuals who are at a higher risk than others. The following factors play a role in the likelihood of developing skin cancer:

•Individuals who are fair-skinned or burn easily.
•People who use tanning devices.
•Genetics or family history of the disease.
•Certain occupational exposures, i.e. coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic or radium.
•Excessive exposure to UV radiation.

Exposure to the sun is the leading cause of skin cancer which makes protecting your skin from sun exposure vitally important.

Can You Prevent Skin Cancer?

Yes, you can take precautions that lower your risk of developing skin cancer. Take all effort to reduce your exposure to sun and other controllable risk factors. This includes wearing SPF 15 or higher sunscreen everyday in addition to sunglasses and brimmed hats to shield your face from the sun. If at all possible avoid exposing your skin to sunlight during the peak of the day (10am-4pm) and give up tanning beds as they can also damage your skin.

For more information on skin cancer you can visit the American Cancer Society or National Cancer Institute.

Melanoma Skin Cancer

Posted by Health articles on July 20th, 2009

Melanoma skin cancer does not just form where you get the most sun. Many people think that they only need to check the areas of their skin that are regularly exposed to the sun.

While this is good practice, don’t ignore the rest of your body. My brother found his melanoma growth on his upper thigh, and he has never worn shorts in his life. He always kept check on his arms, legs, face etc, but when a cut that wouldn’t heal showed up on his inner thigh, he didn’t think it could possibly be melanoma skin cancer, because he had never got any sun there.

So, when you are giving your body the “once over” check… don’t ignore the skin that is always covered, and check places like your underarms, thighs, etc, and get someone to check the backs of your legs and your back and neck, and scalp.
Comprehensive Cancer Information
We all have moles, or birth marks, or scars, that make us unique, it doesn’t mean it is cancer, what you are looking for is changes. Most moles stay the same shape, but if they start getting larger, form weird edges, or bleed, itch or scab up, then it doesn’t hurt to get it checked out. This goes for any cut that does not heal, or forms a scab that keeps falling off, which is what my brother had. He did not have one mole on his body.
American Cancer Society
Melanoma skin cancer, has a very high rate of cure if caught early. You need to get familiar with your body, so that you can let your doctor know. It is up to you to find these changes, so don’t forget to look past your arms and back and face..

Homeopathic Cancer Treatments

Posted by Health articles on June 30th, 2009

There are thousands of possible treatment options for people who have cancer and homeopathic cancer treatments is one them. So, far it is the number one most researched disease around the globe. No choice that is capable of destroying cancer cells, no matter what the side effects. Normally, most cancer treatments simply destroy cancer because they are killing cells in your body, and cancer just happens to be one of the cell types that it targets. But the thing is you’re doing as much damage to your body as you are to the cancer cells, it’s just that the cancer is smaller than the rest of your body, so there’s a chance it will die before you do.
Canadian cancer society
Cancer is one of the biggest threat of people around the globe and even more dangerous than terrorism. The 3 causes of death are heart problems, stroke, and cancer. These three can be avoided through simple regular diet and exercise. But the thing is we’re not quite educated to deal with this thing and most people are caught by surprise. While taking care of yourself definitely can’t hurt when it comes to keeping cancer at bay, it often just isn’t enough Just keeping cancer away is hard enough – try fighting it off after it has already plagued your body is not easy.

The One Minute Cure is one of the best homeopathic cancer treatments it oxygenates your body, which has been shown to destroy cancer cells, tumors, viruses and bacteria scattered around your system. This unique product is a completely natural carrier for oxygen that destroys unwanted cells while keeping your body in tact. I do not have Cancer, but there are people out there who experience tremendous breakthrough using this product and remember and its documented. Did the One Minute Cure work for them? Read more in my blog and don’t forget to watch the 5minutes video presentation to find out! And you will discover that this is one of the best homeopathic cancer treatments.
Book results for cancer
Cancer is a very stinging disease. You’re not playing with your life, and no medical advice should be taken for granted that’s not under the supervision of a professional doctor. Don’t stop any prescription for your cancer treatment unless advised by your doctor, and inform him of any homeopathic cancer treatments that you are using in addition to your medical treatment. Once your body has start to recuperate, you may stop the treatment once your doctor gives you the go-signal, but you’ll want to continue the One Minute Cure for all diseases for health purposes.