Cancer, in its many different forms and types is a disease most of us fear. The different types of treatments are not easy to go through, physically and mentally and their success rates aren’t always high. Among factors that can affect the treatment’s odds and chances to beat the disease, is the extremely important factor of early detection.

 

No matter what cancer type it is, early detection always increases the odds to beat the disease and clear one’s body from the cancerous cells or remove the tumor. Early detection is sometimes critical while it often leads to the treatments beginning in the early stages of the cancer, when the chances that the cancer has spread are still low and that the tumor hasn’t had a lot of time to grow. If the cancer hasn’t spread, treatment can be targeted in a better way with any kind of treatment available (surgery, chemotherapy or radiation to name a few) and thus raise the chances to expel the cancer from the body.

 

To detect a cancer tumor in or on our body in its early stages, we must be alert to possible cancer symptoms and basically be attentive to our body. We mustn’t ignore abnormalities in our body and dismiss them as “nothing”, as me must look into what’s wrong and make sure it is “nothing”.

 

There are many different cancer symptoms, as there are many different types of cancer. But there are a few symptoms that are universal and most cancers share.

 

One major symptom is of course an abnormal growth or lump that appears anywhere on your body. If the specific part of the body is not supposed to suddenly grow, this may indicate there is a problem. Woman can feel lumps in their breasts that may indicate there is breast cancer; thyroid cancer manifests as a lump under the skin which you can see and feel in the neck area, lymphoma will make your lymph nodes larger than they normally are. In Melanoma, the cancer will appear on your skin as a lump, a brown spot or a mole suddenly changing.

 

Another very frequent cancer symptom is abnormal bleeding. Different types of cancer manifests in unexpected bleeding. Bladder, kidney and prostate cancer can cause blood to appear in the urine, colorectal cancer causes blood to appear in the stool and endometrial and cervical cancer can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding, both during menstrual periods and between them. Lung cancer can cause one to cough up blood or for blood to appear in the sputum and leukemia can cause excessively bleeding. Once one is experiencing unusual bleeding, they should have it checked out.

 

Different types of cancer also cause the universal symptoms of sudden weight loss or weakness and fatigue. Cancer can cause an unplanned drop in your weight for no apparent reason, as it can be accompanied by a loss of appetite, but not necessarily. Most cancers also can cause unexplained weakness and tiredness and one will not understand why.

 

In addition to general cancer symptoms as mentioned, there is always the subjective symptom of sudden unexplained pain in a certain area of the body. One may experience pain in the pelvis area from prostate, cervical and endometrial cancer. Bladder cancer can cause pain during urination, colorectal will cause pain in the stomach as will pancreatic cancer, lung cancer can cause chest pain, thyroid Cancer can cause pain in the neck and throat and your leukemia may cause bone and joint pain.

 

It is important to understand that any of these cancer symptoms mentioned above do not mean that anyone experiencing them necessarily has cancer. These are also symptoms that can be caused by different and other conditions then a cancerous tumor. However, if one of these does appear, it is important not to neglect it and have a doctor examine the problem.

 

For more information and readings about different types of cancer: Cancer Treatments Abroad. For information about different medical treatments, you can visit as us at TicketMed : Medical Tourism.

 

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.

The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. The lobes and lobules are connected by thin tubes called ducts.

Each breast also contains blood vessels and lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry an almost colorless fluid called lymph. The lymph vessels lead to small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes that help the body fight infection and disease. Lymph nodes are found throughout the body. Clusters of lymph nodes are found near the breast in the axilla (under the arm), above the collarbone, and in the chest.

Breast cancer is sometimes detected (found) in women who are pregnant or have just given birth.

In women who are pregnant or who have just given birth, breast cancer occurs most often between the ages of 32 and 38. Breast cancer occurs about once in every 3,000 pregnancies.

It may be difficult to detect (find) breast cancer early in pregnant or nursing women, whose breasts are often tender and swollen.

Women who are pregnant, nursing, or have just given birth usually have tender, swollen breasts. This can make small lumps difficult to detect and may lead to delays in diagnosing breast cancer. Because of these delays, cancers are often found at a later stage in these women.

Breast examination should be part of prenatal and postnatal care.

To detect breast cancer, pregnant and nursing women should examine their breasts themselves. Women should also receive clinical breast examinations during their routine prenatal and postnatal examinations.

Tests that examine the breasts are used to detect (find) and diagnose breast cancer.

If an abnormality is found, one or all of the following tests may be used:

Ultrasound exam: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast. A mammogram can be performed with little risk to the fetus. Mammograms in pregnant women may appear negative even though cancer is present.

 

Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues by a pathologist so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

The stage of the cancer (whether it is in the breast only or has spread to other places in the body).
The size of the tumor.
The type of breast cancer.
The age of the fetus.
Whether there are symptoms.
The patient’s general health.
Stages of Breast Cancer
After breast cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.

The process used to find out if the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Breast Cancer Treatment for more information on the stages used for breast cancer.)

Methods used to stage breast cancer can be changed to make them safer for the fetus.

Standard methods for giving imaging scans can be adjusted so that the fetus is exposed to less radiation. Tests to measure the level of hormones in the blood may also be used in the staging process.

Treatment Option Overview
There are different types of treatment for patients with breast cancer.

Different types of treatment are available for patients with breast cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. Before starting treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment.

Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site. Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team.

Treatment options for pregnant women depend on the stage of the disease and the age of the fetus.
Three types of standard treatment are used:
Surgery

Most pregnant women with breast cancer have surgery to remove the breast. Some of the lymph nodes under the arm are usually taken out and looked at under a microscope to see if they contain cancer cells.

Types of surgery to remove the breast include:

Simple mastectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the whole breast that contains cancer. Some of the lymph nodes under the arm may also be removed for biopsy. This procedure is also called a total mastectomy.

 

Modified radical mastectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the whole breast that has cancer, many of the lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest muscles, and sometimes, part of the chest wall muscles.

 

Breast-conserving surgery, an operation to remove the cancer but not the breast itself, includes the following:

Lumpectomy: A surgical procedure to remove a tumor (lump) and a small amount of normal tissue around it. Most doctors also take out some of the lymph nodes under the arm.
Partial mastectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the part of the breast that contains cancer and some normal tissue around it. Some of the lymph nodes under the arm may also be removed for biopsy. This procedure is also called a segmental mastectomy.

 

Even if the doctor removes all of the cancer that can be seen at the time of surgery, the patient may be given radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy after surgery to try to kill any cancer cells that may be left. Treatment given after surgery to increase the chances of a cure is called adjuvant therapy.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Radiation therapy should not be given to pregnant women with early stage (stage I or II) breast cancer because it can harm the fetus. For women with late stage (stage III or IV) breast cancer, it should not be given during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

Chemotherapy should not be given during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Chemotherapy given after this time does not usually harm the fetus but may cause early labor and low birth weight.

New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. These include the following:
Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. Some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow. If tests show that the cancer cells have places where hormones can attach (receptors), drugs, surgery, or radiation therapy are used to reduce the production of hormones or block them from working.

The effectiveness of hormone therapy, alone or combined with chemotherapy, in treating breast cancer in pregnant women is not yet known.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Ending the pregnancy does not seem to improve the mother’s chance of survival and is not usually a treatment option.

If the cancer must be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which may harm the fetus, ending the pregnancy is sometimes considered. This decision may depend on the stage of cancer, the age of the fetus, and the mother’s chance of survival.

Discover How You Can Treat Infertility Naturally, Without Drugs or Surgery

Head & Neck Cancer: Head and neck cancer occurs due to the spreading of cancer cells in the head and neck area. Generally, the cells grow and divide into multiple cells and they die when they grow old, and new cells take their place. But due to some causes these basic life cycle of the cells gets damage and began to grow rapidly without any controlling limit. These cells form a huge mass of tissue which is called as tumor.

Tumors are of two types they are:
• Benign tumor: These tumors are not life threatening tumors. This cancer can be removed easily by surgery process. They don't reoccur. These tumors grow in single site. They do not spread and invade other tissues around them. The benign tumor cells doesn't contain metastatic characteristics( spreading nature to other parts of the body)
• Malignant tumor: These tumors are cancerous tumors. They spread to other parts of the body. These tumors can be removed but sometimes they grow back. Malignant tumors invade nearby tissues and organs. These tumors contain metastatic characters.
When the cancer cells spreads to the other parts will form a new tumor which has the same characteristic features of the primary tumor. For example, if the head and neck cancer cells spread to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are actually belonging to the head and neck cancer cells. Then this cancer disease is called as metastatic head and neck cancer.

Head and cancer affects the following types:

Oral cavity: Oral cavity contains many parts like lips, tongue, tonsils, lining of the cheeks, salivary glands, hard palate (roof of the mouth), soft palate (back of the mouth), and floor of the mouth, gums and teeth.

Salivary glands: These glands are useful in producing the fluid (saliva) in the throat moist and mouth. These glands are located in the jawbone and in the floor of the month.

Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: The Paranasal sinuses consist of small hollow spaces in the head bones surrounding the nose and the nasal cavity is located in the hollow space inside the nose.

Larynx: It is also called as voice box. It is located just below the neck. Larynx contains vocal chord. There is small tissue called epiglottis in the larynx which helps in preventing the entry of food from entering the air passage.

Lymph nodes in the upper part of neck: Squamous cancer cells are present in the lower part of the neck. These cancer cells contain metastatic characteristics.

Pharynx: it is a hollow tube which is located behind the nose and leads to esophagus. Pharynx consists of three parts.

Hypopharynx: It is the lower part of the pharynx. Neasophayrnx: It is located in the upper part of pharynx. Oropharynx: Oropharynx is the middle part of the pharynx. It is the    base part of the tonsils and tongue.

Causes of head and neck cancers: The main causes for breast cancer are not identified but the risk factors for the breast cancer are identified and here is the list.

Risk factors for breast cancer:

These are the two main risk factors for causing head and neck cancers.

Chewing of tobacco: Tobacco chewing increases the risk factor for causing head and neck cancers. This activity has more adverse effects. Tobacco plays vital role for many cancer related disease. Tobacco smoking also leads to head and neck cancers. In which 87 percent of the cases are related to death cases due to its effect. Head and neck is the leading cancer in both men and women. Smoking also causes pancreatic, stomach, kidney, colon and leukemia cancer.

Alcohol: Taking of alcohols will reduce the performance of body immune system which causes the chances of many cancer diseases.

Other risk factors for head and neck cancers:

Oral cavity: Oral cavity contains many parts like lips, tongue, tonsils, lining of the cheeks, salivary glands, hard palate (roof of the mouth), soft palate (back of the mouth), and floor of the mouth, gums and teeth .due to the exposure to severe sun blistering of this oral cavity the risk factors increases.

Salivary glands: Severe exposure to harmful radiations can increase the risk for head and neck cancers

Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: severe exposure of this Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity to industrial effects can increase the cancer effects.

Larynx: Due to exposure of larynx part to air borne particles will increase the risk factors.

Pharynx: Due to HPV infection of this part there is a chance for increase in risk factors.

Types of head and neck cancers: Hypopharyngeal Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer, Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Oropharyngeal Cancer, Paranasal Sinus and Nasal, Cavity Cancer and Salivary Gland Cancer are the following head and neck cancers.

Symptoms of head and neck cancer:

• Sore throat stays for longer time.
• Hoarseness
• Occurrence of Lump or sore that doesn't heal.
• Pain during swallowing
• Pain in throat
• Ear pain
• Trouble speaking
• Trouble breathing
• Chin swelling
• Pain in the neck
• Paralysis of face muscles.
• Loss of hearing
• headaches

Treatment procedure for head and neck cancers: The treatment procedure of head and neck cancers include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Surgery: Surgery is the main therapy for the curing of head and neck cancer in the early stage. This surgery process is carried by identifying the staging of the head and neck cancer. Surgery is carried to remove the tumor part in the mouth and neck area. During the surgery process the damaged lymph nodes and nearby tissues in the neck are also removed. During some cases, the major portion of other infected organs will be removed for avoiding the spreading of the disease throughout the body. Most of the time, patients will be given radiation therapy along with surgery treatment for complete removal of the tumor.

Radiation therapy: This treatment is based on the extent of the disease. Radiotherapy is a process of removing cancer cells by using high intensity x-rays. These high energy x-rays are aimed at the affected part to destroy the cancer cells.

There are two types of radiotherapy treatments they are.

• External radiations: External radiation process is carried out from outside the body. The powerful x-ray beams are aimed at the effected area from outside the body and destroys the cancer causing cells permanently

• Internal radiations: X-ray beams are passed into the body by making some small incisions in the head and neck area. This treatment gives better results than the external radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is one of the treatments useful in killing head and neck cancer causing cells by the usage of drugs. This treatment process is carried by either pills or through intravascular injections. The anti-cancer drug enters into the bloodstream and travels towards the damaged tissues and destroys the cancer cells.
Chemotherapeutic drugs attack the head and neck cancer cells by stopping their unusual growth. The nature of this head and neck cancer cells were brought to the normal condition by controlling the divisibility of the cells.
The chemotherapy drugs are given in the following form:

In tablet or pill form(head and neck) By taking injection(Intravenous or intramuscular) Injection taking in the (Intrathecal)

This cancer chemotherapy drug can be given at either clinic or at home. The usage of this drug can be daily, weekly or monthly depending on the stage of the cancer and body immune system. Chemotherapy treatment is given by considering the following basis like age, gender, drug toxicity and body weight. The dosage and usability should be carried under proper supervision.

Head and neck cancer occurs due to unusual growth of cancer cells in the head and neck region. This cancer is referred as metastatic cancer for its effects and causes. This cancer can be cured only in the early stage of its occurrence. This cancer has many risk factors.

Cancer affects nearly each and every part of our body. There exist over a hundred different types of cancers. Cells in our body normally grow, divide, and produce more cells to perform specials tasks. When these normal healthy cells grow old or get damaged they die and are replaced by new cells to perform the same duties. But when they react to free radicals the normal cells get imbalanced and eventually an overgrowth of abnormal cells begins which compete with the normal cells and cause cancer. The names of many types of cancers are often associated with the organs it affects. Lung cancer is so called because the cancer is located in the lungs. Cancer is more frequently found in some parts of the body than others due to varied reasons not yet clear to science. Information on cancer can be obtained from various Health Information Centers and help one in detecting the initial signs of the disease.

Researchers and scientists have classified common types of cancer into five broad categories: (1) Central Nervous System Cancers – The brain and the tissues of the spinal cord are primarily affected. (2) Carcinoma – related cancers originate in the skin, and also in tissues that cover organs residing inside the body. The other parts affected by this type of cancer are the stomach, liver, breast, prostate, and the colon. (3) Leukemia – begins in the bone marrow (and other tissues where blood is formed), causing formation of abnormal blood cells that enter the blood stream. (4) Sarcoma – a cancer that starts from connective or supportive tissue cells. Examples include blood vessel, muscle, fat, bone and cartilage. (5) Myeloma and Lymphoma – develop in the cells located in the immune system.

Besides these common types of cancers, it is a fact that cancer can be caused due to infections. Cancer causing viruses such as human papillomavirus are known to cause cervical cancer.

The best way one can fight cancer is to stop it before it starts developing. Risk factors associated with cancer are known to aid cancer development. Studies have shown that avoiding cancer risk factors can help one in living a cancer free life. The list of risk factors is vast and varied including age, gene inheritance, hormones, obesity, specific viruses and bacteria, unhealthy eating habits, alcohol, artificial substances, sunlight, chemicals, radiation. One should not be surprised to see age among the list of common cancer risk factors. Aging is a natural process no one can avoid but leading a healthy lifestyle helps avoid cancer. Statistics show that majority of cancer patients comprise of senior citizens and they suffer mainly from common types of cancers. Those affected, led unhealthy lifestyles. Those with eating habits that are unhealthy, are obese, and are bereft of physical exercise are, as a result, not only prone to cancer but other ailments too such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cholesterol, cold and flu to name but a few.

A healthy lifestyle is also promoted in all forms of natural cancer treatments which are usually free of side effects. Similarly, lung cancer is caused by the carcinogen substances in tobacco. Smokers can quit this habit as they are at a risk of developing lung cancer. Presence of certain chemicals and substances also comprise cancer risk factors including cadmium, benzene, nickel, and asbestos found at various workplaces. Employees exposed to such chemicals and substances in hazardous environments are at a greater risk of developing cancer. Ozone therapy is a safer option among other natural cancer treatments. It works by killing off cancer cells which are anaerobic (thrive in absence of oxygen) in nature, and cannot survive in the presence of pure oxygen. Anti cancer diets are beneficial in prevention of cancer. Even those suffering from cancer can make use of anti cancer diet to improve their health and hopefully stop further spread of the disease. Natural cancer treatments are not a substitute but should be combined with traditional treatments to improve chances of controlling and preventing cancer. All in all – joining support groups, talking to family and friends, social interaction, along with appropriate exercise can together play a vital role in alleviation, prevention, and treatment of this dreadful disease.

Cancer Surgery

 

Cancer Surgery: Physically removing cancer

The prospect of cancer surgery may make you feel anxious. Put your mind at ease by learning more about cancer surgery and how and why it’s used.

 

Cancer surgery

An operation to repair or remove part of your body to diagnose or treat cancer — remains the foundation of cancer treatment. Your doctor may use cancer surgery to achieve any number of goals, from diagnosing your cancer to treating it to relieving the symptoms it causes. Cancer surgery may be your only treatment, or it may be supplemented with other treatments, such as radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy.

 

How is cancer surgery used in treatment ?

Cancer prevention : – If there's reason to believe that you’ll develop cancer in certain tissues or organs, your doctor may recommend removing those tissues or organs before cancer develops.

 

Diagnosis : – Your doctor may use a form of cancer surgery to remove (biopsy) all or part of a tumor — allowing the tumor to be studied under a microscope — to determine whether the growth is cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).

 

Staging : – Cancer surgery helps your doctor define how advanced your cancer is, called its stage. Surgery allows your doctor to evaluate the size of your tumor and determine whether it’s traveled to your lymph nodes.

 

Primary treatment : – For many tumors, cancer surgery is the best chance for a cure, especially if the cancer is localized and hasn’t spread. If there's evidence that your cancer hasn’t spread

 

Debulking : – When it’s not possible to remove all of a cancerous tumor — for example, because doing so may severely harm an organ — your doctor may remove as much as possible (debulking) in order to make chemotherapy or radiation more effective.

 

Relieving symptoms or side effects : – Sometimes surgery is used to improve your quality of life rather than to treat the cancer itself — for example, to relieve pain caused by a tumor that’s pressing on a nerve or bone or to remove a tumor that’s obstructing your intestine.

 

How is cancer surgery traditionally performed ?

Traditionally, the primary purpose of cancer surgery is to cure your cancer by physically removing all of it from your body. The surgeon usually does this by cutting into your body and removing the cancer along with some surrounding tissue to ensure that all of the cancer is removed. Your surgeon may also remove some lymph nodes in the area to determine if the cancer has spread. This helps your doctor assess the chance of your being cured, as well as the need for any further treatment.

 

What other techniques are used in cancer surgery ?

Many other types of surgical methods for treating cancer and precancerous conditions exist, and investigators are always researching new methods…

  

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