Inflammatory Breast Cancer

indicator of breast cancer risk

2010-01-07T00:17:00.000-08:00

Mammographic density as an indicator of breast cancer risk.

The mammogram depicts the constituent tissues of the normal breast, and is taken to show the features of pathology. This technique is now widely used for the early diagnosis of breast cancer by screening of the normal population. The tissues making up the mammographic image can essentially be viewed as those with the radiographic characteristics of water and those of fat.

In addition, some pathologies demonstrate calcification, which is always due to an abnormal process, although many of these processes are benign, and of no consequence to the woman. Since the 1970s, starting with observations made by Wolfe, there has been interest in why some women have a greater proportion of dense tissue proposed four than others.

In 1976, Wolfe categories for separating women with different amounts of dense tissue and proposed that there was a relationship between the densest mammographic pattern and cancer risk.this hypothesis was debated in the literature for two decades, and was largely not believed by radiologists. In the past few years, greater credence has been given to this hypothesis, and it is now recognised that the densest mammographic patterns express a four to six times increased risk of breast cancer when compared with the least dense.

How does screening work?

2009-12-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

How does screening work?

As neither the causal pathways for breast cancer nor the means of preventing it are known, the only intervention possible at the moment in healthy women to improve mortality from breast cancer is screening.Trials of chemopreventive agents have produced
conflicting results. While the American NSABP study has demonstrated a 50% reduction in breast cancer incidence in women taking tamoxifen
compared with placebo, these results have not been Further follow- reproduced in the UK or in Italy.Up is required to assess the effect on long-term incidence and mortality.

Although treatment, notably chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, has improved, prognosis still deteriorates rapidly with increasing tumour burden.Screening can advance the diagnosis so that the cancer is treated at an earlier stage with more chance of success. This is reflected in the earlier stage of tumours detected in the study group in the Swedish The progression of the disease is Two-County Trial.The lead time is the interval The longer the lead time for a given case, the better one would expect the prognosis to be.

If the cancer is not detected until it becomes clinically detectable,the lead time is zero. The lead time for an individual case is unobservable, but the distribution of lead times is dependent on the distribution of the time spent in the pre-clinical detectable phase (sojourntime).

The sojourn time is also unobservable, but may be estimated using the method of Walter and Day. This method will also provide an estimate of the sensitivity of the screen, and this may be used
to estimate the optimum screening regime and the potential gains in terms of mortality. For example,if the sojourn time is long, the maximum possible lead time is correspondingly long. If the sojourn
time is short, however, the potential benefit from screening is smaller and screening must take place

Screening modalities

2009-12-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

Screening modalities

There are three basic potential mass screening tools:

mammography, physical examination by trained staff and breast self-examination (BSE). Mammographyhas been shown to be effective in reducing breast cancer mortality. The Swedish Two County used single mediolateral oblique view Trial mammography alone and achieved a mortality reduction of 32% in women aged 40ñ74. The sensitivity was 91ñ100% for women aged over 50 and 83% for women in the 40ñ49 age group. This maybe due to denser breast tissue in younger women,and sensitivity could possibly be improved by using two-view mammography. The main reason for using a single view in this case was the perceived need in the 1970s to minimise radiation dose.As has already been discussed, with modern mammography techniques this risk is now insignificant.A has study of one- versus two-view mammography shown that by adding a second (craniocaudal)view,the sensitivity of screening during the prevalence round of a population screening programme was increased from 83% to 89% and 14 additional cancers were detected out of a total of 217. The recall rate was also reduced by the addition of a second view, from 8.8% to 6.6%. In conclusion,mammography, particularly with two views, is effective, acceptable and sensitive as a primary screening method.

The effectiveness of clinical examination alone has not been tested, although some trials have used it in conjunction with mammography. In Edinburgh between 1979 and 1981, 45130 women were entered into a randomised controlled trial in which At approximately half were invited to screening.the prevalence round, the study group were offered two-view mammography and clinical examination.Subsequent screens involved clinical examination alone in years 2, 4 and 6, and one-view mammog-raphy plus clinical examination in years 3, 5 and 7.

Although the compliance at the initial screen was poor (61%), and fell at subsequent screens, there did not appear to be any difference in the acceptance of clinical examination and mammography.An analysis has shown the sensitivity of mammography to be 63% and that of clinical examination to The Edinburgh data lack statistical be 40%.power, however, and there is no conclusive evidence to show that clinical examination is effective in reducing mortality. Similar analyses on the HIP data result in sensitivities of 39% and 47% respectively for mammography and clinical examination.

BSE is very difficult to assess, as the only intervention possible is education, and failure to practise seems to be a major disadvantage to the use of BSE as a sole screening method. The sensitivity of BSE is very difficult to measure, but it is assumed that frequent BSE will enable a woman to detect a cancer earlier than less frequent visits for a professional clinical examination. There is some evidence that BSE may lead to a reduction in tumour size at
There is no evidence that BSE diagnosis.contributes to a reduction in mortality, but women should not be discouraged from practising it, as it may contribute to an earlier diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a relatively new technology that has been shown to have high sensitivity for detecting abnormalities in the 18ñ23 In general, the population at greatest risk breast. Of breast cancer is that of women over the age of 50.In this group, X-ray mammography has been shown to be a relatively cheap, quick and effective modality for breast screening. It is therefore not appropriate to consider MRI as a mass screening tool in the same way. It is more expensive, resources interms of machines and expertise are scarce at present, and scans and their

analyses can be time consuming. However, MRI may have a particular application in screening younger women (aged less than 50) who are at high risk of developing breast cancer. In these
younger, premenopausal women,the breast can be mammographically dense and mammograms are often difficult to interpret.

There is a recognised need to screen women at high familial risk of breast cancer, since the disease may develop at an earlier age than in the general population, but there are concerns
about repeated radiation exposure. With the advent of genetic testing,groups of women at high risk will be identified, for whom X-ray mammography does not provide a satisfactory method of screening for breast cancer.MRI avoids radiation exposure while providing
high sensitivity in detecting breast cancer, even in the mammographically dense breast. Its role in screening is currently under evaluation. Two studies to assess the effectiveness of annual MRI scans compared with annual mammography in the high-genetic-risk group have recently reported from The sensitivity of Canada and the Netherlands.MRI versus mammography in the Canadian and Dutch studies are 79% versus 32%, and 79.5% versus 33.3% respectively. A similar MRC-funded study (MARIBS) was recently published in the UK.

Another group who are considered at high risk of breast cancer are women who have been previously exposed to supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy for MRI is currently Hodgkinís disease at a young age. recommended for breast screening in this group for young women (aged 25ñ29) and those aged 30ñ50 who have dense breasts. No screening is recommended for women aged 25 or under; women aged 30ñ50 with predominantly fatty breasts should have annual two-view mammography; women over the age of 50 will have 3-yearly mammography as normal in the NHSBSP.

screening for breast cancer

2009-12-11T22:09:00.000-08:00

An introduction to screening for breast cancer

Although mortality from breast cancer has fallen over the last decade, it is still the leading cause of death from cancer among women in the UK. In 2000,over 40000 cases were diagnosed and there were 1ñ4 The aetiology of the disease nearly 13000 deaths.
is not fully understood, although the risk is known to be associated with reproductive and family
history. Screening for breast cancer has been shown to advance the diagnosis of the disease, which can lead to more successful treatment and therefore reduced mortality. This chapter details the evidence upon which breast screening has been introduced on a national scale, with particular reference to the UK.

The natural history of breast cancer is well The disease is believed to usually documented.
have a pre-invasive stage where the carcinoma cells are confined to the duct system within the breast. This may then become invasive and begin to invade the surrounding tissue, and thereafter possibly spread to the lymph nodes or other secondary sites within the body. Breast tumours may disseminate at different stages in their natural history. In some women, and for some types of tumour, this could take years, while in others metastatic spread may take only weeks, depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer. Ideally, screening should detect tumours
while they are still small and before any metastases In order for screening to be effec-have developed.tive, the disease must have a recognisable early stage. In the case of breast cancer, this is the preclin-ical detectable phase where a tumour can be seen on a mammogram but before it becomes palpable (about 1cm in diameter). Tumours in this phase are more likely to be non-invasive or, if already invasive, less likely to have local regional or distant spread.

For screening to be beneficial, treating breast cancer at this earlier stage must also improve the prognosis compared with more advanced cancers. It is not,however, sufficient to compare the survival of women with screen-detected cancers with the survival of those who present symptomatically without removing the effect of various biases.As screening will advance the date of diagnosis,the survival time will automatically be longer even if there is no effect on the actual date of death. Also,less aggressive, slowly growing cancers will spend
more time in the preclinical detectable phase than will rapidly growing cancers, which are more likely to present symptomatically. Screening will therefore detect proportionally more of the slow growing, or non-invasive, cancers, which in turn have a better prognosis. This is known as length bias. There is also the problem of selection bias in which those who attend for screening are more likely to be health-conscious individuals than those who refuse, and would probably have a better prognosis anyway. These biases can be removed by comparing mortal-
ity in a population that was offered screening witht hat in a population that was not offered screening,in the context of a randomised controlled trial.

The suitability of any screening test depends on its accuracy.

It must be able both to detect the majority of women who have breast cancer (high sensitivity) and therefore give few false-negative results, and to eliminate the majority of women who do not have the disease (high specificity), thereby minimising the number of false-positive results. Sensitivity is defined as the proportion of all those with breast cancer present who test positive; specificity is defined as the proportion of all those without the disease who test negative. Ideally, both sensitivity and specificity would be 100%, but there is an inevitable compro-mise as no test is perfect and the two are inversely related to one another. Different screening modalities
will be discussed in more detail later.

For public health, the acceptability of a screening test by the general population is of paramount
importance. The acceptability will be reflected by the rate of compliance with invitation to screening.Levels of between 80% and 90% have been seen in A level of 70% compliance has been Sweden.shown to be effective in reducing breast cancer Latest figures mortality in the target population. show that an acceptance rate of 75.3% has been although there are achieved in the UK as a whole, regional differences and specific groups where more work is needed. Women from minority ethnic groups and women with learning disabilities have
particular needs. A major research project is now underway to look at the information needs of
women from a diverse range of social and cultural backgrounds. Another important consideration in a screening test is that it should do no harm, either physical or
psychological. The potential physical hazards from screening by mammography are the risk from ionis-ing radiation (X-rays) and unnecessary surgical procedures resulting from overdiagnosis of tumours that may never have become invasive in the lifetime of the patient. The radiation risk from mammogra-phy has been very much reduced in recent years.

Due to technical advances, the maximum dose is now about 2.2mGy (compared with 2ñ3cGy in the There is no evidence that this level of past). radiation induces breast cancer, but from the excess breast cancer incidence seen in women exposed to higher doses, it has been inferred that modern mammography may induce one breast cancer in a population of two million women above the age of 50, after a latent period of 10 years. When compared
with the expected natural breast cancer incidence of 1400 cases per million women per year at age 50 and 2000 cases per million women per year at age 65, the risk is considered to be insignificant compared with the potential benefits.

High-quality screening techniques and highly trained technical and radiological staff should
minimise the risk of overdiagnosis. Ideally, the recall rate should be as low as possible. It is also
important that adequate assessment and treatment facilities exist to ensure that women are seen as quickly as possible. In addition, there is a range of non-invasive investigative techniques stopping short of open biopsy that should be employed to reduce the risk of unnecessary surgery. These include ultra-sound, spot views, micromagnification, fine needle aspiration and needle core biopsy. These techniques have greatly reduced the benign biopsy rate.

Screening for breast cancer was introduced in the UK following the recommendations of the Forrest The NHS Breast Report published in 1986. Screening Programme (NHSBSP) initially offered single mediolateral oblique-view mammography to women aged 50ñ64 with an interval of 3 years. Following further research, the programme has been expanded to invite women up to the age of 69 and to offer two-view mammography at all screens.

Screening must be repeated at regular intervals to ensure its effectiveness, as the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and the growth rate of the disease is variable. There has to be a compro-mise taking into account the cost and practicality of screening too frequently while aiming to let as few cancers as possible escape detection by screening. In the UK, the interval was initially set to 3 years, which reflected the 33-month interval in the
Swedish Two-County Trial, with a recommendation for more research into the screening interval.

The Nottingham Prognosticannual screening.

Index (NPI) was used to compare predicted mortal-ity in the two groups. No significant improvement in predicted mortality was seen in the annual screening group. The screening interval in the NHSBSP therefore remains unchanged at 3 years.

Prostate Cancer

2009-11-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

Rates of prostate cancer vary widely across the world. It is least common in South and East Asia, more common in Europe, though the rates vary widely between countries, and most common in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is least common among Asian men and most common among black men with figures for European men in between. However, these high rates may be affected by increasing rates of detection. Although prostate cancer can sometimes strike younger men, the risk of getting it increases with age and more than seventy percent of men diagnosed with the disease are over the age of sixty five.

Prostate cancer can occur in men only; the prostate is exculsively of the male reproductive tract. Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate of the male reproductive system, this happens when cells in the prostate begin to grow out of control and can then invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Large collections of this out of control tissue are called tumors. The tumor usually grows slowly and remains confined to the gland for many years. During this time, the tumor produces little or no symptoms or outward signs (abnormalities on physical examination). As the cancer advances, however, it can spread beyond the prostate into the surrounding tissues (local spread). Moreover, the cancer also can metastasize (spread even farther) throughout other areas of the body, such as the bones, lungs, and liver. Symptoms and signs, therefore, are more often associated with advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, erectile dysfunction and other symptoms.

The cause of prostate cancer has not been identified but the cancer is thought to be related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BHP). The risk factors of prostate cancer include advancing age, heredity, hormonal influences, and such enviromental toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The best way to try and prevent prostate cancer is to modify the risk factors for the disease that you have control over. You may want to try to eat a low fat diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Certain foods, vitamins and minerals have been suggested to decrease your chances of getting prostate cancer, however doctors are still studying more data before any particular food or supplement can be endorsed for preventing the disease. Currently, there are studies looking at selenium, lycopen, vitamin A and other retinoids, vitamin D, vitamin E, and soy for prostate cancer prevention.

Since prostate cancer is a disease of older men, many will die of other causes before the disease can spread or cause symptoms. Deciding on treatment can be daunting not only because there are far better options for treatment today that they were ten years ago but also because not enough relaiable data are available on which to base the decisions. Prostate cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, occasionally chemotherapy, or some combination of these.

Most men who have the risk factors do not get the disease, on the other hand men who do get the disease often have no known risk factors, except for growing older. If you think that you may be at risk, you should consult your doctor immediately so that you may be given suggestions on ways of reducing your risk and can plan scheduled check-ups.

Thyroid Cancer

2009-11-19T12:31:00.000-08:00

Death due to thyroid cancer is uncommon, because of the fact that thyroid cancer is usually an indolent disease, which tends to remain confined to the thyroid gland for many years. Thyroid cancer is fairly common, it accounts for about one percent of all cancers. This type of cancer usually responds well to treatment and many patients can be cured.

Thyroid cancer is a cancer of the thyroid glands, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid makes and stores hormones that help regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. The thyroid uses and needs iodine to make several of its hormones. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop.

There are four major types of thyroid cancer :

Papillary Tumors

These tumors develop in cells that produce thyroid hormones containing iodine. These cancer cells grow very slowly forming many tiny, mushroom-shaped patterns in the tumor. These tumors can be treated by doctors successfully even when the cells have spread to the nearby lymph nodes. This type of tumor accounts for about sixty percent of all thyroid cancers.

Follicular Thyroid Tumors

These tumors also develop in cells that produce iodine-containing hormones, and have a thin layer of tissue around them, called a capsule. Many follicular tumors are curable but can be difficult to control if the tumor invades blood vessels or grows through the capsule into the nearby structures of the neck.

Medullary Tumors

These tumors affect thyroid cells that produce a hormone that does not contain iodine. These tumors grow slowly but are harder to control than papillary and follicular tumors. The cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

Anaplastic Tumors

These tumors are the fastest growing thyroid tumors. The cancer cells, which are extremely abnormal, spread rapidly to other parts of the body.

The most often symptom of this disease is a nodule in the thyroid region of the neck, but only five percent of these nodules are malignant. Sometimes the first sign is an enlarged lymph node. Other symptoms include hoarseness or difficulty speaking in a normal voice, swollen lymph nodes especially in the neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and pain in the throat or neck. However, an infection, a benign goiter, or another problem also could cause these symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible to be diagnosed and treated properly.

Surgery is the most common form of treatment for thyroid cancer that has not spread to distant parts of the body. A part or the entire thyroid and any other affected tissue, such as the lymph nodes is usually removed with this procedure. This procedure however may not be recommended when a patient is found to have thyroid cancer that has spread. Treatment usually includes some form of systematic therapy, a treatment that can kill or slow the growth of the cancer cells throughout the body, such as chemotherapy, radioactive iodine therapy, and/or hormone therapy.

Types of Skin Cancer

2009-11-16T06:19:00.001-08:00

Types of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is an increasingly common condition, and is partly credited to increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Increased exposure is mainly due to the recent popularity of sun tanning or sun bathing. Lighter-skinned individuals are more vulnerable to this disease.

There are many types of skin cancer, but the most common types are:

Basal Cell Carcinoma ( BCC )

These are the most common types of skin cancer ; it can cause disfiguring and is very destructive. There is greater risk for individuals who have a family history of the disease and those with cumulative exposure to UV light through sunlight, or in the past has been exposed to chemicals especially arsenic. Most basal cell carcinoma can be removed surgically by dermasurgeons. A common method of surgery is electrodessication and curretage (ED&C) where the tumor is scraped out with a curette and cauterizing the base and the margins and the wound is left to heal by itself. The cure rate and cosmetic result for this treatment is excellent especially with concave areas. Other treatment for these types of skin cancer includes topical chemotherapy, x-ray, cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy, or topical immune enhancement drugs such as imiquimod. This type of skin cancer is rarely life-threatening but if left untreated can cause disfiguring, bleeding, and produce local destruction in some parts such as the eye, ear, nose and lip.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ( SCC )

These types of skin cancer are a malignant tumor of the epithelium that shows squamous cell differentiation. It is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs including the skin, the mouth, esophagus, lungs and cervix. Squamous cell carcinoma is usually developed in the epithelial layer of the skin and sometimes various mucous membranes of the body. These types of cancer can be seen the skin, lips, inside the mouth, throat and esophagus, and is characterized by red scaly skin that becomes an open sore. Smoking is a significant risk factor of this disease. Other risk factors include sun exposure, radiation therapy, exposure to carcinogens, chronic skin irritation or inflammation, genetics diseases, and presence of premalignant lesions. To diagnose this disease, a biopsy is done where a sample is taken and examined under a microscope, and if found to be cancerous, surgery is done to remove it.

Melanoma

These types of skin cancer are the most lethal form of skin cancer. Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes predominantly occur in the skin but can also be found elsewhere, especially in the eye. The large majority of melanomas originate in the skin. As with most forms of cancer, early detection of the disease gives a patient a much better chance of survival. It has been found in studies that exposure to ultraviolet radiation is one of the major contributors to the development of melanoma. Other factors are mutations in or total loss of tumor suppressor genes. Use of sunbeds (with deeply penetrating UVA rays) has been linked to the development of skin cancers, including melanoma. A family history of melanoma greatly increases a person's risk. Any mole that is irregular in color or shape should be examined by a doctor to determine if it is a malignant melanoma, the most serious and life-threatening form of skin cancer. The diagnosis of melanoma requires experience, as early stages may look identical to harmless moles or not have any color at all. Treatment of this type of skin cancer includes surgery, medication or chemotherapy, radiation and other therapies.

All of these types of skin cancer are the most common and should not be taken lightly. When there is doubt of having the signs or symptoms of cancer, seeing the doctor is advised for proper diagnosis and treatment if ever confirmed, this will give the patient greater chance of survival.

Skin Cancer

2009-11-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

Skin cancer is the most common of human cancer. It is estimated that over a million new cases occur annually. The skin is the largest organ of the human body, serving in both a protective layer and aesthetic capacity. Skin cancer refers to several types of malignancies that can occur, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and malignant melanoma. Although the first two types of skin malignancies are usually more treatable and are often described together as nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC), melanoma is classified as a separate type of cancer with typically more aggressive behavior and prognosis.

Types of Skin Cancer

Basal cell skin cancer grows slowly. It usually occurs on areas of the skin that have been in the sun, and it is most common on the face. Basal cell cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body.

Squamous cell skin cancer also occurs on parts of the skin that have been in the sun, but it also may be in places that are not in the sun. Squamous cell cancer sometimes spreads to lymph nodes and organs inside the body.

Minor surface skin can cancers care readily treatable by simple surgery, but if the cancer is allowed to grow, it can penetrate through the layers of skin and affect the lymphatic system. It may also spread to other parts of the body (metastasize). Skin cancers which are aggressive, recurrent or located upon ‘high risk sites’ of the body such as the central face, scalp, ears, or genitalia, may require more advanced surgical approaches such as Moh’s micrographic surgery to attain high cure rates.

Signs and Symptoms

There are various symptoms for different skin cancer. These includes sores or changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcers in the skin or, discoloring in parts of the skin, and changes in existing moles.

Basal cell carcinoma usually looks like a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or shoulders. Sometimes small blood vessels can be seen within the tumor. Crusting and bleeding in the center of the tumour frequently develops. It is often mistaken for a sore that does not heal.

Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly a red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. Ulceration and bleeding may occur. When SCC is not treated, it may develop into a large mass.
Most malignant melanomas are brown to black looking lesions. Signs that might indicate a malignant melanoma include change in size, shape, color or elevation of a mole. The appearance of a new mole during adulthood, or new pain, itching, ulceration or bleeding of an existing mole should be checked.

Skin cancer is usually not painful but can sometimes be. Checking your skin for new gorwths or other changes is advisable, but always remember that changes in the skin are not a sure sign of skin cancer. Still you have to let your doctor examine any changes to your skin right away for proper diagnosis and treatment of skin problems.

Liver Cancer

2009-11-12T01:05:00.000-08:00

Hepatocellular carcinoma commonly known as liver cancer is a deadly cancer. It will kill almost all patients who have it within a year. The World Health Organization estimated approximately four hundred thirty thousand new cases of liver cancer worldwide and a similar number of patients died as a result of the disease. Most common areas of the world with high rate of people being affected by the disease are the sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

The liver is the largest organ in the body, which is found behind the ribs on the right side of the abdomen and it has two parts: the right lobe and the smaller left lobe. It has many important functions that keep a person healthy; it removes harmful materials from the blood, it makes enzymes and bile that help us digest food, and it also converts food into substances needed for life and growth. The liver gets its supply of blood from two vessels, the hepatic portal vein where most blood comes from, and the rest comes from the hepatic artery.

Hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver, which can be benign or malignant (cancerous). Tumors of the liver occur when there is an inaccuracy in the normal regulation of growth of any cells in the liver, including the liver cells themselves (hepatocyte), the bile duct, or the blood vessels within the liver.

Initial symptoms of liver cancer are unpredictable. In countries where this disease is very common, generally the cancer is discovered at a very advanced stage of the disease because of several reasons; one of them being the areas where there is high frequency of the disease are usually developing countries and access to healthcare is limited, another is screening examinations for patients at risk for developing the cancer are not available in these areas. To add up to these, patients from these regions actually have more aggressive liver cancer diseases therefore reaching the advanced stage more rapidly. Symptoms of this disease include pain in the upper abdomen on the right side (the pain may extend to the back and shoulder), swollen abdomen (bloating), weight loss, loss of appetite and feelings of fullness, weakness or feeling very tired, nausea and vomiting, yellow skin and eyes, dark urine from jaundice, and fever.

The best way to prevent liver cancer is avoiding the risk factors that are linked with it. Keeping away from the excessive use of alcohol and quitting smoking can reduce the risk of liver cancer. Preventing and treating HBV and HCV infections is also important. In other parts of the world, changing the way that foods are stored and processed can decrease the risk of aflatoxin exposure. Proper treatment of water can reduce the risk of arsenic in drinking water. Right treatment of inherited diseases associated with cirrhosis and liver cancer can reduce the risk of developing either of the disease. Although the risk of liver cancer can never be diminished to zero, it can be significantly reduced by avoiding known risk factors.

Testicular Cancer

2009-11-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

Testicular cancer is most common among males aged fifteen to forty years old, and it has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers. In about ninety percent who have testicular cancer, essentially one hundred percent if it has not spread. Even in a few cases where it has spread widely, chemotherapy offers a cure rate of at least fifty percent.

Testicular cancer also sometimes called germ cell tumor, is a cancer that develops in a testicle (a part of the male reproductive system). Most testicular cancers are first found out by men themselves when they encounter a tumor when doing a testicular self-examination or by accident. The testicles are smooth, oval-shaped, and rather firm. For men who examine themselves regularly is familiar with the way their testicles feel and any changes in them should be reported to the doctor without delay.

The precise cause of this disease is still unknown. Any man can develop testicular cancer but the disease accounts for only one percent of all cancers in men in the United States. In most other types of cancer in men, most affect older men (or children), but this cancer most often occurs in young post-adolescent men. This disease not contagious and no one can “catch” testicular cancer from another person. Research has shown that the risk is higher than average for boys born with their testicle in the lower abdomen rather than in the scrotum. If not corrected in early childhood, boys with this condition (called undescended testicles or cryptorchidism) has higher cancer risk. Other risk factors include congenital abnormalities, history of testicular cancer of the patient and in the family.

Warning Signs and Symptoms:

* A lump in either testicle
* Any enlargement of a testicle
* A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
* A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the groin
* A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
* Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
* Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts

These symptoms are not sure signs of cancer, and they can be caused by other conditions; however it is always important to see a doctor if any of these symptoms lasts as long as two weeks. If illnesses and diseases, particularly cancer is diagnosed early, the better chance for recovery.
The three basic types of treatment for the disease are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Surgery.

This treatment involves removing the testicle through incision in the groin which is called radical inguinal orchiectomy. Men may be concerned of the surgery affecting their ability to have sexual intercourse or make them sterile, however a man having one healthy testicle can still have a normal erection and produce sperm, therefore an operation to remove one testicle does not make a man impotent and seldom interferes with fertility.
Radiation Therapy. This treatment involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is a local therapy which means it affects cancer cells only in the treated area.

Chemotherapy.

This treatment uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. When this type of treatment is given to a cancer patient, it is usually given as adjuvant therapy (after surgery) to destroy cancerous cells that may remain in the body.
It is natural to have many different and sometimes confusing emotions when a man learns that he has testicular cancer. Patients are usually better able to handle these feelings if they talk about their illness and share their feelings to family members and friends. Life can change for them and for people who care about them.

Ovarian Cancer

2009-11-05T22:52:00.000-08:00

As women get older, their risk of having ovarian cancer increases. The diagnosis of ovarian cancer brings with it many questions that needs clear understandable answers. Knowing and having more information about this disease can make it easier for women and their families to handle the challenges they face. Cancer researchers continue to study and learn more about ovarian cancer.

The ovaries are a pair of organs in the female reproductive system. They are located in a woman’s pelvis, one on each side of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a baby grows). Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond and they can often be felt by a doctor during bi-manual portion of a pelvic examination. The ovaries have to main functions: production of eggs and production of female hormones (chemicals that control the way certain cells or organs functions). Every month during menstrual cycle, an egg is released from one ovary in a process called ovulation. The ovaries are also the main source of female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones influence the development of a woman’s breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

A malignant tumor (mass of cells that form due to abnormal uncontrollable production of cells in the body) that begins in the ovaries is called ovarian cancer. There are numerous types of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer that begins on the surface of the ovary (epithelial carcinoma) is the most common type. Ovarian cancer that begins in the egg-producing cells (germ cell tumors) and cancer that begins in the supportive tissue surrounding the ovaries (stromal tumors) are rare. In a process called shedding, ovarian cancer cells can break away from the ovary and spread to other tissues and organs; when it sheds, it tends to seed (form new tumors) on the peritoneum (the large membrane that lines the abdomen) and on the diaphragm (the thin muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen). Fluid may gather in the abdomen, this condition is known as ascites. It may make a woman feel bloated, or her abdomen may look swollen. Ovarian cancer cells can also enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system the tissues and organs that produce and store cells that fight infection and disease). Once in the bloodstream or lymphatic system, the cancer cells can travel and form new tumors in other parts of the body.

The risk for developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors. The more children a woman has, the lower her risk of ovarian cancer. Early age at first pregnancy, older ages of final pregnancy, and the use of some oral contraceptive pills have also been shown to have a protective effect. Ovarian cancer is reduced in women after tubal ligation. Risk factors for getting ovarian cancer includes age, the older a woman becomes, the highert the chances of getting it; family history, particulary family members affected at an early age; other factors that have been investigated, such as talc use, asbestos exposure, high dietary fat content, and childhood mumps infection, are controversial and have not been definitively proven.

Early stages of this cancer usually do not cause any symptoms, and even when it does produce symptoms, they are often very non-specific and don’t point towards diagnosis of ovarian cancer. When the tumor grows in size it produces a variety of problems that includes abdominal swelling or abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding between periods or after menopause, bloating, gas, indigestion or cramps, pelvic pain loss of appetite, feeling full after a small meal, or feeling full very easily, changes in bowel or bladder habits, and weight loss or weight gain. These symptoms are non-specific and could present a variety of different conditions; however checking with your doctor is advisable if you develop any of these problems.

Treatment of the disease depends on a number of factors including the stage of the disease and the general health of the patient. Surgery is the usual initial treatment for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that surgery performed by a specialist in gynecologic oncology usually result in a higher rate of cure. Other treatment includes chemotherapy and radiationa therapy.

The National Cancer Institute is supporting and conducting research on the causes and prevention of ovarian cancer. Cancer support groups provide an environment where cancer patients can talk about living with cancer with others who may be having similar experiences. This helps patients in coping up with the emotional aspects of their disease.

Oral Cancer

2009-11-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

Oral cavity or the mouth includes many parts: the lips; the lining inside the lips and the cheeks (buccal mucosa); the teeth, the bottom (floor) of the mouth under the tongue; the bony top of the mouth (hard plate); the gums; and the small area behind the wisdom teeth. The oropharynx includes the back one-third of the tongue, the soft palate, the tonsils, and the back of the throat. Salivary glands throughout the oral cavity produces saliva that keeps the mouth moist and helps in digest foods.

Oral cancer is any cancerous tissue growth located in the mouth. It may begin as a primary lesion that originates in any of the oral tissues, by metastasis (spread of cancer) from a distant site of origin, or by extension from nearby anatomic structure such as nasal cavity or the maxillary sinus. Oral cancers may initiate in any of the tissues of the mouth, and may be vary according to their histological type. The most common oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which originates in the tissues that line the mouth and the lips. Oral or mouth cancer most commonly involves the tissue of the lips or the tongue, but may also occur in the floor of the mouth, cheek lining, gingiva (gums), or palate. Squamous cell carcinoma is malignant and tends to spread rapidly.

Symptoms of the disease include: Patches inside your mouth or on your lips that are white, a mixture of red and white, or red: white patches (leukoplakia) are the most common. White patches sometimes become malignant; mixed red and white patches (erythroleukoplakia) are more likely than white patches to become malignant; red patches (erythroplakia) are brightly colored, smooth areas that often become malignant; a sore on your lip or in your mouth that won't heal; bleeding in your mouth; loose teeth; difficulty or pain when swallowing; difficulty wearing dentures; a lump in your neck; earache

It is very important to find or diagnose oral cancer as early as possible because treatment works best before the disease has spread. The National cancer Institute (NCI) encourages individuals to take part in the early detection of the disease by doing self-examination monthly. This means looking into the mirror and checking for any symptoms of the disease. Regular dental checkups that includes and examination of the entire mouth are also plays an important role in the detection of oral cancer or precancerous conditions. People should be responsible enough to be active in the early diagnosis and prevention of this disease.

When a person id diagnosed with oral cancer, or any cancer for that matter, they should feel free to ask doctors about their chance of recovery and other important information regarding their condition. Although doctors may not for sure say what will happen, the patient will be guided and advised accordingly to help cope with all the worries and concerns an oral cancer patient can have.

Lung Cancer

2009-10-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

Lung cancer is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide, causing up to three million deaths annually. Only one in ten patients diagnosed with this disease will survive the next five years. Although this was an illness that previously affected predominantly men, lung cancer rate for women has been increasing in the last few years because of the rising ratio of female to male smokers. In many developing countries, public education about the dangers of cigarette smoking and effective cessation programs has contributed to the slowly falling rate of incidence of lung cancer. Nevertheless, lung cancer still remains to be the most common form of cancer in men worldwide and the fifth most common form of cancer in women.

What are the signs of lung cancer ?

Lung cancer like all other cancers, results from abnormality in the body’s basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body maintains a system checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when needed. Interruption in the balance of this system causes an uncontrolled division of cells that eventually forms a mass known as a tumor. Any of the tissues in the lung can become cancer, but most commonly, lung cancer comes from the lining of the bronchi. Since this disease tends to spread very early in its course, it is very life-threatening and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Although it can spread to any organ in the body, the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone, are the most common lung cancer metastases.

Recent research point to the factor with the greatest impact on risk of lung cancer is long-term exposure to inhaled carcinogens. Most common of which is exposure to tobacco smoke. The occurrence of lung cancer is strongly linked with cigarette smoking, with about 90% of the disease arising as a result of tobacco used. The numbers of cigarettes smoke over time increases the risk of lung cancer. Among those who smoke two or more packs of cigarettes per day, one in seven will die of lung cancer. Passive smoking or inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers sharing or working quarters, is also an established risk factor for the development of the disease. Non-smokers who reside with a smoker have 24% increase risk for developing lung cancer compared with non-smokers. In the U.S. an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths that occur each year are attributed to passive smoking. Exposure to asbestos fiber, silicate fibers that can persist for a lifetime in lung tissue following exposure to asbestos, also increases the risk of the disease. Radon gas is also a known cause of the disease with an estimated 12% of lung cancer deaths. Familial predisposition or genetic susceptibility is also one cause of lung cancer, studies have shown that the disease is more likely to occur I n both smoking and non-smoking relatives of those who have had lung cancer than in the general population. The presence of certain lung diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a slightly increased risk for development of lung cancer. Air pollution from vehicles, industry, and power plants, can raise the likelihood of developing the disease in exposed individuals.

What are the signs of lung cancer?
The early stages of the disease may not have any symptoms, but as the tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms that includes:

* cough (especially one that doesn't go away or gets worse in character)
* chest pain
* shortness of breath
* coughing up blood or bloody phlegm
* new onset hoarseness or wheezing
* recurrent problems with pneumonia or bronchitis
* weight loss
* loss of appetite
* fatigue
* bone pain
* dizziness or double vision
* numbness or tingling in your arms or legs
* turning yellow (jaundice)

Treatment of lung cancer can involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy as well as newer experimental methods, but prevention of the development of the disease through smoking cessation is most important.

American Cancer Society

2009-10-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering through research, education, advocacy, and service. This organization has over two million volunteers nationwide and is one of the oldest and largest voluntary health agencies in the United States. Its headquarters is based in Atlanta, Georgia and they have state divisions and more than three thousand four hundred local offices.

The American Cancer Society’s international mission concentrates on capacity building in developing cancer societies and on collaborations with other cancer-related organizations throughout the world in carrying shared strategic directions.

The American Cancer Society fights cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. The research programs of the ACS are aimed in determining the causes of cancer and to support efforts to prevent and cure the disease. It is the largest source of private, nonprofit cancer research funds in the United States, second only to the federal government in total dollars spent. The research program focuses primarily on peer-reviewed projects initiated by beginning investigators working in leading medical and scientific institutions across the country.

Educational efforts of the ACS include tobacco control, relationship between diet and physical activity and cancer, sun safety, and comprehensive school health education. The society offers programs to help educate the public about cancer risks, early detection methods, and prevention. Knowing the facts about cancer can save lives. What you eat and drink, how you live, where you work, all these factors can affect the risk for cancer and primary cancer prevention means taking the necessary precautions to prevent the occurrence of cancer. The society’s advocacy efforts work in concert with research, education and service initiatives to strengthen the nation’s law, regulations, and programs in a way that will increase federal funding for cancer research, help more people benefit from advances in prevention, early detection and treatment, make it easier for patients to navigate the health care system, and improve the quality of life of cancer patients, survivors, and their families. Because cancer takes a toll on the person diagnosed as well as family and friends, the society offers support and service programs to try to lessen the impact. These programs cover wide range of needs, from connecting patients with other survivors to providing a place to stay when treatment facilities are far from home.

The American Cancer Society, Inc. is governed by two national groups with distinctive roles: the National Assembly and the National Board of directors. The voting members of both are volunteers from medical and lay communities. The society takes its mission seriously and therefore works to protect resources entrusted to it by the public. An appropriately structured system of organizational governance ensures proper checks and balances of the input of appropriate experts in decision-making and strategic oversight of comprehensive nationwide operations.

Pancreatic Cancer

2009-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Pancreatic Cancer

In the United States, cancer of the pancreas is diagnosed in more than twenty nine thousand people every year, with more than sixty thousand in Europe. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths. Living with a serious disease such as pancreatic cancer is not easy, some people may find coping with the emotional and practical aspects of their disease very difficult. People living with pancreatic cancer may worry about the future.

They may worry about caring for themselves or their families, keeping their jobs, or continuing daily activities. Concerns about treatments and managing side effects, hospital stays, and medical bills are also common. Other patients join support groups where family members get together to share what they have learned about coping with their disease and the effects of treatment. Knowing and learning more about what you’re up against always eases the burden and helps prepare patients not only practically but physically and emotionally as well.

Pancreatic cancer, also called cancer of the pancreas is represented by the growth of a malignant tumor within the pancreatic gland. About seventy percent of pancreatic cancers occur in the head of the pancreas, and most of these begin in the ducts that carry the enzymes. Although the exact cause of pancreatic cancer is not known, smoking is a major risk factor. Research shows that cigarette smokers develop cancers of the pancreas three times more often than non-smokers.

Pancreatic cancer has been called a "silent" disease because early pancreatic cancer usually does not cause symptoms. If the tumor blocks the common bile duct and bile cannot pass into the digestive system, the skin and whites of the eyes may become yellow, and the urine may become darker. This condition is called jaundice. As the cancer grows and spreads, pain often develops in the upper abdomen and sometimes spreads to the back. The pain may become worse after the person eats or lies down. Cancer of the pancreas can also cause nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and weakness.

Treatment of the cancer depends on factors such as the type, size, and extent of the tumor as well as the patient’s age and general health. Treatment of the disease is curable only when it is found in the earliest stages before it has spread, or it is difficult to cure. However, it can be treated, symptoms can be relieved, and the quality of the patient’s life can be improved.

Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Biological therapy is also being studied by researchers to see whether it can be helpful in treating the disease.

Colon Cancer

2009-10-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

Globally, colorectal cancer also called colon cancer or bowel cancer is the third leading cause of cancer. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world; it is common in the Western world and rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where people have adopted the western diets has an increasing incidence of colon cancer.

The colon also known as the large bowel is the longest portion of the large intestine. The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tract, which is a tube that is about five to six feet in length; the first five feet make up the colon which then connects to about six inches of rectum, and finally ends with the anus. About three to eight hours after eating, by the time the food reaches the colon, the nutrients have been absorbed and the remainder is liquid waste product. The colon functions as a converter, changing this liquid waste into stool. The stool can spend anywhere from ten hours to several days in the colon before being expelled through the anus. It has been advised but not proven, that the longer the stool stays in the colon, the higher the risk of colon cancer.

Colon cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colon cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. These mushroom-like growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. This process can take years which allow time for early detection with screening tests.

Symptoms

Symptoms of colon cancer are numerous and non-specific. They include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, red or dark blood in stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating. Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (spastic colon), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, and peptic ulcer disease can have symptoms that mimic colorectal cancer. Most often, these symptoms are not due to cancer, other problems can cause the same symptoms, so checking with your doctor should be done immediately to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

The risk of colon cancer rises substantially after the age of fifty, but every year there are numerous cases reported in younger people. Individuals with a personal or family history of colon cancer, polyps, or inherited colon cancer syndromes (i.e., FAP and HNPCC), as well as patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, are all at higher risk and may require screening at an earlier age than the general population. A person with one first degree relative (parent, sibling or child) with colon cancer is two to three times as likely to develop the cancer as someone who does not have an affected relative.

The treatment depends on the staging of the cancer. When colon cancer is caught at early stages (with little spread) it can be curable. However when it is detected at later stages (when distant metastases are present) it is less likely to be curable. Surgery remains the primary treatment while chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be recommended depending on the individual patient's staging and other medical factors.

Cervical Cancer

2009-10-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix. All over the globe it is the second most common cancer in women. Scientists are studying cervical cancer to find out more about how it develops and they are looking at better ways to detect and treat it.

Cervical cancer sets in when cells in the cervix begin to grow uncontrollably forming a mass of extra tissue called tumor. Malignant tumors are cancer cells, and can invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from a malignant tumor and enter the lymphatic system or the bloodstream. This is how cervical cancer spread to other parts of the body such as nearby lymph nodes, the rectum, the bladder, the bones of the spine, and the lungs. Spreading of the cancer is a process.

Cancer of the cervix is different from cancer that begins in other parts of the uterus and requires different treatment. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that form the surface of the cervix. The second most common form is adenocarcinoma which comes from cells that make up glands in the cervix.

Cancer of the cervix may present vaginal bleeding but symptoms may be absent until the cancer is in advanced stages, which has made cervical cancer the focus of intense screening efforts utilizing the Pap smear. Most scientific studies have found that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is responsible for ninety percent of the cases of cervical cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that is incredibly common in the population. HPV is the virus that causes genital warts, but having genital warts doesn't necessarily mean getting cervical cancer.

There are different subtypes, or strains, of HPV and only certain subtypes are likely to cause cervical cancer, and the subtypes that cause warts are unlikely to cause cervical cancer. However, almost all cancers of the cervix haveevidence of HPV virus in them, so infection is a major risk factor for developing it. Because infection with a sexually transmitted disease is a risk factor for cervical cancer, any risk factors for developing sexually transmitted diseases are also risk factors for developing cervical cancer. Another important risk factor is smoking; smokers are at least twice as likely as non-smokers to develop cervix tumors.

Symptoms of the disease may not appear during the early stages of the cancer that is why it is important to have screening Pap tests. When the tumor grows in size, it produces a variety of symptoms including abnormal bleeding (including bleeding after sexual intercourse, in between periods, heavier/longer lasting menstrual bleeding, or bleeding after menopause), abnormal vaginal discharge (may be foul smelling), pelvic or back pain, pain on urination, blood in the stool or urine. Although having these symptoms may not mean that you have cervical cancer, it is always best to consult with your doctor once you experience any of these problems. If cervical cancer is detected early, it can be treated without impairing fertility.

Cancer Foods

2009-10-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Cancer foods are foods that can cause cancer. Mutagenics are substances which can eventually cause cancer if it’s absorption from prepared food is not prevented. By heating whatever food, hundreds of different mutagenic substances begin. The more protein the food contains, the more mutagenics start off due to cooking. The activity of antioxidants is very limited and not even large amounts of all the antioxidants combined can neutralize a substantial part of these mutagenics.

The only way to effectively prevent cancer is to prevent the absorption of mutagenic substances from prepared food. Consume as little prepared food, especially proteinous prepared food, and consume as much fruits and some fresh raw animal food regularly, like sashimi or fresh raw egg yolk.

Consuming cancer foods, like prepared meats increases the risk of contracting cancer, because of their relatively high amount of mutagenic substances. Vegetarians get cancer too, but a little less than those people who eat more of meats. Prepared vegetables contain less mutagenic substances than prepared meat. Two out of three scientific investigations show that consuming prepared Soya beans instead of prepared meat causes less cancer. Generally, eating vegetables is less cancerous than consuming other prepared foods. However, all prepared food including vegetables, contain mutagenic substances.

Cancer foods that increase the risk of cancer most are prepared foods containing high quantities of protein like meat and fish, fats and cholesterol like eggs; or iodide like found in sea fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Foods that have been intensively heated, smoked or salted, also pose an increased risk to having cancer.

All prepared foods contain non-HCA damaged protein, which partly decompose in the blood generating free radicals. All prepared foods therefore, will eventually cause cancer if you live long enough. Modifying your diet to reduce fat intake and increase fiber intake plus antioxidants and other key nutrients can help reduce the risk of getting cancer. Healthy food selection at the grocery store is the basic step towards an effective diet..

Some top ten anti-cancer foods include strawberries, oranges, tea, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, whole wheat, cabbage, and beans. These foods carry protective phytochemicals, which are “plant chemicals” that may reduce heart disease and cancer risk.

Here are some healthful nutritional tips :

Eat less total and saturated fat

Check the Nutrition Facts labels on food products to select foods with only three grams of total fat or less. It seems that the saturated animal fats are highly cancer cell promoter. Reducing intake of red meat, which is a cancer food may be helpful too.

Eat more fruits and vegetables

Protective fiber, antioxidants Vitamin C and beta-carotene and hundreds of phytochemicals naturally found in fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer risk. Fiber binds to cancer-causing substances in the intestinal tract and remove them as waste products. The antioxidant vitamins neutralize damaging free radicals, substances produced by the chemical processes that go on in our bodies every day. Allicin in garlic, genistein in soybeans, and flavonoids in apples, are just a few of the cancer-protective plant substances (phytochemicals).

Avoiding intake of cancer foods and promoting more antioxidants and anti-cancer foods are an active step towards reducing and preventing the risk of cancer altogether.

Brain Cancer

2009-10-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

The term brain cancer although often used by the general public is actually not the term often used by the medical community. Primary brain tumor is the term used by the medical community for tumors arising form the brain. In children, most brain tumors are primary tumors. In adults however, most tumors in the brain have spread from the lung, breast, or other parts of the body. When this happens, the disease is not brain cancer. The tumor in the brain is a secondary tumor and it is named after the organ or tissue fromch it began.

A brain tumor is any intracranial tumor created by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division, normally either found in the brain itself, in the cranial nerves, in the brain envelopes, skull, pituitary and pineal gland, or from cancers primarily located in other organs. Although they can affect any part of the brain, primary brain tumors in children are generally located in the posterior cranial fossil; and in adults, in the anterior two-thirds of the cerebral hemispheres.

The most common brain tumors or brain cancers are gliomas, which start in the glial (supportive) tissue. Several types of gliomas include astrocytomas, ependymomas, and oligodendrogliomas.

The development of certain types of primary brain tumors or brain cancers has been linked to exposure to radiation, especially if exposure took place in childhood. It is generally believed that higher radiation doses increase the risk of eventually developing a brain cancer. Radiation-induced brain tumors can take anywhere from ten to thirty years to form. The exposure to vinyl chloride and/or ionizing radiation are the only known risk factors; other than these there are no known environmental factors that can be associated with brain tumors. The so-called tumor suppressor genes mutations and deletions are incriminated in some forms of brain tumors. Inherited diseases such as Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 2, and multiple endocrine neoplasia of a patient pose a high risk to having brain tumor.

Symptoms of brain tumor and brain cancer are caused by the damage to the vital tissue and by pressure on the brain as the tumor grows within the limited space in the skull. If a brain tumor grows very slowly, its symptoms may appear so gradually that they are sometimes overlooked for a long time. The most frequent symptoms of brain tumors or brain cancer include headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, seizures, memory loss, weakness, visual changes, problems with speech and language, personality changes, and thought processing problems. These symptoms may be caused by brain tumors or by other problems. If a person is experiencing such symptoms, consulting a doctor right away is strongly advised.

A person diagnosed with brain cancer or brain tumor will undergo treatments that include surgery (surgical resection), which is recommended for the majority of brain tumors. It is rare in primary brain tumor to be cured without a surgical resection. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Bone Cancer

2009-10-06T01:01:00.000-07:00

Cancer of the bone or bone cancer is a general term used when cancer cells are seen in the bone.
Cancer that begins in the bone is called primary bone cancer. It is found most often in the arms and legs but it can occur in any bone in the body. Children and young people are more likely than adults to have bone cancers.

Primary bone cancers are called sarcomas. There are several different types of sarcoma and each type begins in a different kind of bone tissue. The most common sarcomas are osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma.
In young people, the most common type of bone cancer is osteosarcoma, usually occurring between the ages of ten and twenty-five. More often, males are affected than females. Osteosarcoma frequently starts in the ends of the bones; where new bone tissue forms as a young person grows, usually affecting the long bones of the arms and legs. Ewing’s sarcoma usually affects teenagers, and is mostly found in people between ten and twenty-five years old. This cancer forms in the middle part (shaft) of large bones and most often affects the hip bones and long bones in the thigh and upper arm, but can also occur in the ribs. Chondrosarcoma is a type of tumor that forms in the cartilage (rubbery tissue around the joints) and are found mainly in adults. Other types of bone cancer include fibrosarcoma (malignant giant cell tumor) and chordoma. These are rare cancers and most often affects people over thirty.

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. However, symptoms may vary depending on the location and size of the cancer. Sometimes firm, slightly tender lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. Sometimes bone cancer interferes with normal movements and can also weaken or cause bones to break. Tumors that occur in or near joints may cause swelling and tenderness in the affected area. Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, weight loss, and anemia. It is important to check with a doctor when you experience these symptoms, but these symptoms can also be caused by other less serious conditions.

Treatment for some bone tumors may involve surgery, such as limb amputation. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective in some tumors (such as Ewing's sarcoma) but less so in others (such as chondrosarcoma). After treatment has been done for bone cancer, it is very important that regular follow-up or check-ups are done with your doctor, to be sure that cancer has not come back and treat it promptly if it does. Check-ups may be physical exam, x-rays, scans, blood tests, and other laboratory tests.

People who have been diagnosed of bone cancer may have many physical, emotional, practical worries. They may worry that removal of a limb or other surgery will affect not only how they look but how other people would feel about them. Patients can be helped to overcome all these through special support groups for youngsters with cancer and their families. The American Cancer Society, for example, is a nonprofit organization that has many services for patients and their familes.

Bladder Cancer

2009-10-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

The bladder plays a very important role in the totality of our health. It functions as a reservoir for urine in our bodies. When the kidneys filter waste from the blood, urine is produced that enters into the bladder through two tubes called ureters, the bladder then allows the storage of urine for a period of time before being released in urination through another tube called urethra. The bladder can be thought of as a muscular balloon; a flattened structure when there is no urine (immediately after a person urinates) but can be filled up to a liter with urine. Normally when the bladder is filled with urine of about half a liter, we feel the urge to urinate. The muscular structure of the bladder also helps other pelvic muscles to push the urine out when released. The bladder is located in the lower abdomen deep in the pelvis, just above the pubic symphysis.

Bladder cancer refers to any of several types of malignant growth of the urinary bladder. It is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply without control in the bladder. The greatest risk factor for bladder cancer is genetic predisposition (a genetic effect that influences the phenotype of an organism but which can be modified by the environmental conditions); it can also be linked with smoking and occupational exposure to aniline-based dyes (such as textile factory), as well as with petrol and other chemicals.

What are the treatments for bladder cancer?

The most common warning sign of bladder cancer is the presence of blood in the urine, the color can be faintly rusty to deep red depending on the amount of blood present. Other symptoms include pain during urination, frequent urination, or feeling the need to urinate without results. However, these signs and symptoms are not specific to bladder cancer, but may also be caused by non-cancerous conditions such as prostate infections and cystitis. When symptoms do occur, see the doctor right away as any illness should be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

The treatment of bladder cancer depends on how deep the tumor invades into the bladder wall.

Superficial Bladder Cancer Treatment

This is when the cancer has not invaded into the muscle at all and can be “shaved off” using an electrocautery device attached to a cystoscope. As superficial bladder cancer has high incidence of recurrence, the aim of treatment changes to prevent these recurrences and to prevent progression into an invasive stage. Immunotherapy, in the form of BCG instillation, is also used in the treatment and prevention of the recurrence of superficial tumors. Instillation of chemotherapy into the bladder can also be used to treat this disease.

Muscle Invading Bladder Cancer Treatment
Tumors that infiltrate the bladder require more radical surgery where part or the entire bladder is removed in a surgical removal procedure called cystectomy wherein the urinary stream is diverted. In some cases, skilled surgeons can create a substitute bladder ( neobladder ) from a segment of intestinal tissue, but the procedure vastly depends upon patient preference, renal function, and the site of the disease.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and eight most common cancer in women. Over fifty thousand cases are diagnosed every year in the United States, with over twelve thousand deaths.

Kidney Cancer

2009-10-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Kidney cancer occurs in approximately thirty one thousand Americans per year and most patients diagnosed are between the ages of fifty and seventy. It affects men about twice as often as women. At present, the causes of kidney cancer are not well understood and can seldom be explained why one person gets the disease and another doesn’t. Many factors are linked with the increased probability of kidney cancer; one major risk factor is cigarette smoking. Smokers are twice likely to get the disease more than non-smokers.

Renal cell carcinoma, also known as gurnistical tumor, is the most common form of kidney cancer arising from the renal tubule, and the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. The most common warning sign or symptom of this disease is blood in the urine. In some cases, the person can actually see the blood. It may be there one day and not the next. A urine test done as a part of regular checkup called urinalysis may also find traces of blood in the urine. Another symptom is lump or mass that can be felt in the kidney area. The tumor may cause a dull ache or pain in the back side. Symptoms may develop abruptly. However, as with other cancer types, kidney cancer can cause a general feeling of poor health. Weight loss, fever, feeling very tired, and loss of appetite can be some more symptoms felt by someone with the disease. Though most often, these symptoms do not mean cancer. Other conditions may be causing the symptom that is why consulting a doctor is best advised when one experiences any of these problems.

To diagnose a kidney cancer, the patient’s personal and family medical history is taken and a thorough physical examination is conducted. The doctor usually orders blood and urine tests and may do one or more of these exams:

IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram) is a test that lets the doctor see the kidneys, ureters, and bladder on x-rays. The x-rays are taken after an injection of dye that shows up on the x-ray film.

CT or CAT Scan is another x-ray procedure that gives detailed pictures of cross-sections of the body. The pictures are created by a computer.
Ultrasound is a test that sends high-frequency sound waves, which cannot be heard by humans, into the kidney. The pattern of echoes produced by these waves creates a picture called a sonogram. Healthy tissues, cysts, and tumors produce different echoes.
Arteriogram is a series of x-rays of blood vessels. Dye is injected into a large blood vessel through a narrow tube called a catheter. X-rays show the dye as it moves through the network of smaller blood vessels around and in the kidney.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses a very strong magnet linked to a computer to create pictures of cross-sections of the kidney.
Nephrotomogram is a series of x-rays of cross-sections of the kidney. The x-rays are taken from several angles before and after injection of a dye that outlines the kidney.
When a person is diagnosed with kidney cancer, it is important to know the extent, or stage of the disease because it can spread to the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Staging procedures may include special x-rays and tests to check these organs.

If the disease is only in the kidneys, which is about forty percent of cases, it can be cured roughly ninety percent of the time with surgery. But if it has spread outside of the kidneys, often into the lymph nodes or the main vein of the kidney, then it must be treated with chemotherapy and other treatments.

Breast cancer

2009-09-23T02:58:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply without control or order to form a tumor.
One of the most disease in hating woman clan is disease cancer breast.
We know cancer breast disease have eating many victim in the world. Researchers studied over 3,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer from June 2005 through February 2007 reported in Los Angeles or Detroit.
Most breast cancers occur in women, but they can also develop in men. And ... I shocked .... man can hit this cancer tooo !!! How it;s happen ?? Scientists estimate that more than 2,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2007. Now bigger possible again which is in experiencing of this cancer breast disease.

What is breast cancer ???

Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast become abnormal and multiply without control or order to form a tumor.The most common form of breast cancer begins in cells lining the ducts that carry milk to the nipple (ductal cancer). Other forms of breast cancer begin in the glands that produce milk (lobular cancer) or in other parts of the breast.As the cancer progresses, signs and symptoms can include a lump or thickening in or near the breast; a change in the size or shape of the breast; nipple discharge, tenderness, or retraction (turning inward); and skin irritation, dimpling, or scaliness.Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain and may exhibit no noticeable symptoms.

What raises a woman's chance of getting breast cancer?

There are several factors that may affect your risk of developing breast cancer.
• Getting older.
• Not having children, or having your first child later in life.
• Beginning menopause at a late age.
• Having a personal history of breast cancer or certain benign breast diseases, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia.
• Having close family relatives who have had breast cancer.
• Having a genetic condition, such certain mutations in your BRCA1 BRCA2 genes.
• Having been treated with radiatio therapy to the breast or chest.
• Being overweight, particularly after menopause.
• Using hormone replacement thera for a long time.
• Using oral contraceptives.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Being physically inactive.

Most cases of breast cancer are not inherited.These cancers are associated with genetic changes that occur only in breast cancer cells (somatic mutations) and occur during a person's lifetime.

Inflammatory and invasive breast cancers

2009-09-14T01:32:00.001-07:00

Difference inflammatory breast cancer and invasive breast cancer

Inflammatory & invasive breast cancers are given these names because of the symptoms they present.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is marked by some or all of these symptoms: the nipple may be flat or inverted, sudden onset (perhaps over a few days/weeks) of swelling of one breast, nipple discharge, pain or itching, redness that may look like the breast is infected, or thick-feeling areas of the breast. The symptoms and appearance of IBC can sometimes cause a doctor to misdiagnose a patient with just an infection, and some feel mammograms can be inconclusive due to breast density at the time of the swelling. Inflammatory breast cancer is one of the most aggressive and debilitating cancers researchers have ever encountered. Although there are only 2 stages of inflammatory breast cancer they are very strong and rapid spreading.

Invasive breast cancer is graded in stages of 1-5, and at its higher stages has the traits of invading other parts of the body.This means the cancer has spread outside of the membranes of the breast ducts where it usually starts (Stage 0). It DOESN'T necessarily mean that it's spread throughout the WHOLE body. Most likely it has spread to the surrounding tissue of the breast.

Pink Breast Cancer Bracelets

2009-09-13T00:55:00.000-07:00

Where can i find the pink breast cancer bracelets ?
That question is often heard in our ear.
Because by participating support to having or free from cancer breast
You can even custom order your own group of pink breast cancer wristbands for a local fundraising effort, everyday wearing or for breast cancer walks.
Here are some of the most popular breast cancer support phrases, and the organizations that carry them:

"Sharing the Promise" Susan G. Komen Foundation
"Researching the Cure" Breast Cancer Campaign
"Be Strong - MLE " Melissa Etheridge edition, the Pink Bracelet Fund
Spread Beauty, Spread Hope
"Breast Cancer Awareness"

Do you show your support for breast cancer awareness and research
by wearing a pink bracelet?
If not, could you? You can buy 36 of them for less than 4 dollars at any Walmart or Target, among many other places, and a portion of the proceeds goes to a great cause.
if you wish to support it, that one of them you need to buy cancer bracelets.
You buy all breast cancer items at the breast cancer site.
The pink Band of Support bracelets are good quality and beside the name of the site they have Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Friends on them. Currently they are 10 for $10 or 100 for $100 (fund raising)The site also has a button you can click every day to help fund mammograms for those who don't have insurance.

One way to demonstrate your devotion for the cause is to
wear a breast cancer bracelet.
It shows everyone that you care and that you are a participant in the war to find a cure. Now you are thinking about whether or not
the bracelet will be an odd shade of pink, match your clothes, look appropriate for the office and be a pleasure to wear. Vanity can creep in,
but your choices for a breast cancer bracelet are almost unlimited.

Well, you are correct in your thinking that most of the breast cancer bracelets are pink,
but they are not just an odd shade of pink.Their color varies and can be intertwine with other beads to create a beautiful piece of jewelry that will compliment your wardrobe.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is The silent killer

2009-09-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

One again guys .. Inflamatory breast cancer have disturbed my mind.why?
after me read email from one of the friend. Because i don't know sign till this disease can just come to whom.

Do you want to be email which have come to me and have spread that ??

this one of the same email have accepting in snopes.com
which contents its :

Hi Dear freinds ... this is so important for for all women I beg you to read it !! it's so very important !! Forgive any crossposting if you've sees this,but it's that important.

**PLEASE DO NOT DELETE,** TAKE THE TIME TO WACTH THIS VIDEO,IT MAY JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Then please forward this to your wives, girlfreinds, mothers, sister, every women you know! If we don't share it,some people may never hear about this until it is to late. It's one of the most aggresive forms of it including physicians. I've no idea how common or rare it is but something to absolutly be aware of !3 of 4 cancer groups/help lines had never heard of it,including the susan Koman center (but do now and will add it )

THE SILENT KILLER !!
The silent killer - IBC - Inflammatory Breast Cancer. No lump needed for detection and won't show up on mammograms and suggested an MRI with certain signs. (in video)(Ruthiema as 'you' suggest too)

PLEASE,click the attached link (or paste in browser)
http://ww3.komotv.com/global/video/popup/popplayer.asp?ClipID1=785456&

I am totally shocked myself to hear of this and completely unaware of it as well,yet some sings are obvious yet often considered 'bug bites' or just a 'hotspot' inverted nipples,persistent itching and more.

if you interest to know please,To learn more about IBC ( Inflammatory Breast Cancer )and hear from Dr. Cristofanilli tune into the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation Internet Radio Show, "IBC Fact and Fallacies", Wednesday, August 26th at 7 pm PDT. Visit www.ERASEibc.com .During the show call 1-888-572-0141 and share your thoughts, comments, stories or questions.

The event to support breast cancer research

2009-09-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

We often hear myth like this "Breast cancer always comes in the form of a lump "
and its reality is a lump may indicate breast cancer (or one of many benign
breast conditions), but women should also be on the alert for other kinds
of changes that may be signs of cancer.These include swelling; skin irritation or dimpling; breast or nipple pain; nipple retraction (turning inward); redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin; or a discharge other than breast milk.Breast cancer can also spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause swelling there before a tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.
On the other hand, a mammogram may pick up breast cancer that has no outward
symptoms at all.

“Inflammatory breast cancer is associated with signs and symptoms that
are not the same as the classic breast cancer symptoms that women learn
about,” said Dr. Kari Wisinski, medical oncologist at the University of
Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center's Breast Center.

Women with a rare type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer
(IBC) rarely have a breast lump.

Btw.. to support breast cancer research and honor those who have fought
the disease, is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 19.'09.The event performing
by three Molalla area friends whitch Third Annual Mo Town Walkers for the
Cure.Last year, the walk doubled in size, drawing 188 participants
ranging from children in strollers to senior citizens. The event raised
more than $2,500 for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation.

There is no cost to participate in the walk and no need to sign up ahead
of time. Simply show up at Heckard Field ready to walk at 8 am Walkers are
asked to wear pink.he 3.3 mile walk starts at the Molalla High School
football field and ends at BJ's Coffee, located in the Safeway parking
lot. A shuttle bus donated by First Student will provide transportation
back to the football field for walk participants.

For more information on the walk, call Carol Maloy at 503-703-4125, Doris
Lais at 503-829-8595 or Annette James at 503-780-4640.

“We all have friends and family who have been affected by cancer,” James
said.“We just wanted a group of people to get together and support those
we know.” God Bless you james ....

Ever heard of inflammatory breast cancer ?

2009-09-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

Cancer breast problem anyway possible we will fear hearing it ... why ?
one of the disease which dangerous most this disease cancer breast attack to womankind though there is also in attack to male clan small but its amount.

Ever heard of inflammatory breast cancer ?
Most people haven't. Inflammatory breast cancer, called IBC, is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, and one of the most dangerous due to the fact that it does not show up on a mammogram.
Symptoms It usually starts with something that looks like a bug bite,
Other symptoms include a rapid increase in breast size, inverted nipples, redness, persistent itching, or skin that is hot to the touch.

Doctors may not recognize the symptoms right The cancer is often mistaken for other problems, like spider bites, an allergic reaction, or mastitis , which is a breast infection that is usually treated with antibiotics . Antibiotics do not help inflammatory breast cancer.Sometime, use antibiotic can alter appearance symptom, which can cause You and Your doctor to think that them have some influencing.Diagnosing IBC can be difficult because ill defined cancer at mammograms or ultrasound.Generally, the only way to definitively diagnose inflammatory breast cancer is through a biopsy.In this procedure, a small portion of your breast tissue is removed and examined under a microscope for cancerous cells.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) because considered to be bosom cancer continuation form and expand swiftly to entire/all body, aggresive medication usually recipe. Typically, Inflammatory breast cancer chemotherapy involves for treatment, surgery, therapy radiation and again chemotherapy possibly. Usually, treatment to entangle IBC kemoterapi, surgery, possible kemoterapi again and radiasi therapy. However, of time the at cancer the of progression the and doctor your on depending vary can receive you treatment the diagnosed. But, medication which You accept can vary depend on cancer growth and doctor at time of diagnosed. Normally women menopausal to prescribed Although, recommended be also may treatment hormonal. Though usually recipe for the woman of menopause, hormone therapy also is possible suggested. Can chemotherapy of place in or alongside done be This. This matter can be beside or in the place of from chemotherapy.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

2009-09-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

I don't want to scare you but this is potentially a very dangerous situation.It sounded terrible,
is it something I should be concerned about Inflammatory Breast Cancer ?
There are about 2,268,000 women age 18 and older in Missouri. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 3,730 new cases of breast cancer among Missouri women in 2007.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer accounts for 1% to 5% of all breast cancers. In other words about 40 to 200 women in Missouri could develop Inflammatory Breast Cancer each year.Remember, men can also develop breast cancer.However, Inflammatory Breast Cancer in men is rare.

Following are some things you should know about Inflammatory Breast Cancer :

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is not caused by an infection; it is not contagious. It occurs when the lymph vessels in the breast become blocked by breast cancer cells. This blockage may cause the breast to become red, swollen, and warm.

Other symptoms may include: Pain in the breast. Skin changes in the breast area – skin may develop pink, red or purple areas; it may appear ridged, pitted and thick like the skin of an orange. A bruise on the breast that doesn't go away, Sudden swelling of the breast, Itching of the breast, Nipple discharge or retraction (the nipple turns inward)

Inflammatory Breast Cancer can be difficult to detect. There is no lump or tumor as there is with other more common forms of breast cancer. Treatment usually begins within days of diagnosis. Inflammatory Breast Cancer like other forms of breast cancer are usually treated with multiple approaches including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Inflammatory Breast Cancer is considered an advanced form of cancer. Nevertheless, progress is being made in treatment and survival rates are improving.

Referensi Inflammatory Breast Cancer from :
http://www.cancer.org | http://missourifamilies.org/

Breast Cancer Prevention

2009-09-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

Although certain risk factors like genetics, age, race, and reproductive history can't be changed, there are several lifestyle changes you can do to lower your risk of breast cancer.

Diet to reduce breast cancer risk :

diets rich in vegetables and fruits.

diets low in fats, and red and overcooked meats

reasonable intake of anti-oxidants such as vitamins E and C

regular exercise and weight reduction, Walking briskly for a couple of hours every week can lower your risk of breast cancer. The more hours per week you spend walking, the more significantly you lower your risk and avoiding cigarettes.

Cut back on alcohol. According to Natural Health, just 2 drinks of alcohol a day can increase your risks of breast cancer significantly.

Eat well.Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Include these great cancer fighting foods in your diet: Almonds, Beans,
Broccoli, Soybeans, Spinach, Salmon, Flaxseed, Garlic, Green Tea, Olive Oil.

Vitamin D. Studies are beginning to show that vitamin D may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Get some sun, however avoid excessive sun exposure,A safe way is to get your vitamin D from supplements.

Evidence that these measures reduce the chances of developing breast cancer is largely based on epidemiological data.Epidemiological evidence is derived from comparing two large populations with similar characteristics that have different diets or levels of exercise. Epidemiological evidence can only be suggestive, not conclusive.In fact, concrete proof that diet and exercise actually reduce the risk of developing breast cancer will be difficult to attain.

When firm scientific data is lacking and is unlikely to be available for the foreseeable future, the doctor has to weigh the risks of his/her recommendations against the potential benefits.Long-term risk and benefit considerations are especially important in advising young, healthy women about preventing a disease that they may or may not develop.

In the case of diets low in fat and overcooked meats, diets high in vegetables and fruits, avoiding smoking, and regular exercise, there is enough known benefit and very little known risk, which makes it easy for doctors to recommend them to their patients.

Doctors are also comfortable with recommending one multivitamin a day. However, there is no clinical evidence that taking mega-doses of vitamins are of any benefit.Mega-doses of certain vitamins can have adverse side effects.

Understanding Breast Cancer

2009-09-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Although the precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, we know what the main risk factors are.Still, most women considered at high risk for breast cancer do not get it, while many who do have no known risk factors. Among the most significant factors are advancing age and a family history of breast cancer. Risk increases slightly for a woman who has had a benign breast lump and increases significantly for a woman who has previously had cancer of the breast or the ovaries.

Most cases of breast cancer are not inherited.These cancers are associated with genetic changes that occur only in breast cancer cells (somatic mutations) and occur during a person's lifetime.In hereditary breast cancer, the way that cancer risk is inherited depends on the gene involved.For example, mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to increase a person's chance of developing cancer.In other cases, the inheritance of breast cancer risk is unclear.It is important to note that people inherit an increased risk of cancer, not the disease itself.Not all people who inherit mutations in these genes will develop cancer.

Generally, women over 50 are more likely to get breast cancer than younger women, and African-American women are more likely than Caucasians to get breast cancer before menopause.A link between breast cancer and hormones is gradually becoming clearer. Researchers think that the greater a woman's exposure to the hormone estrogen, the more susceptible she is to breast cancer.Estrogen tells cells to divide; the more the cells divide, the more likely they are to be abnormal in some way, possibly becoming cancerous.

We have to check what is there this is disease symptom in body.Its way if finding bosom bump or other change in Your bosom possible there is fear of bosom cancer - and understood so. But if do not as safe as you. If you there is bump at your breast.The odds are in your favor.Most breast lumps — as many as four out of five that are biopsied — are noncancerous (benign).But it's still important to have the breast lump evaluated by a doctor to be certain you don't have cancer.Early detection gives you the best chance for successful treatment.

Link Exchange

2009-09-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

" List Link Corner My Friend "

Globe of Blogs Free web directory All Direct Links Sloppy Links Internet Directory Global Index Directory Submit url Skoobe Link Directory lii.org | Eduology General Web Directory