Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer - How Does it Work?
0 comments Posted by www.moviemast.blogspot.com at 9:47 PMThere are three main treatments for ovarian cancer, once a diagnosis is made. These are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. In some cases it will be recommended to have two or even all three of these treatments. When chemotherapy is recommended, it is usually given after the surgery in 6 doses spaced 3 weeks apart. This is called "first line" because it is the first time chemo is administered.
The chemotherapy drugs are injected intravenously, often by way of a port which your oncologist will place in your chest or arm. Sometimes intraperitoneal chemo is used which injects the drugs directly into the abdomen.
The standard initial therapy suggested by doctors uses a combination of a platinum-based drug such as carboplatin or cisplatin along with a taxane such as paclitaxel or docetaxel.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells that are left in your body after surgery, but they also damage normal cells, as the drugs do not differentiate between normal and diseased. The simple explanation is that they work by destroying rapidly-dividing cells which is a description of cancer cells. Unfortunately, other cells in the body also fall under this category and are also damaged in the process. The hair follicles are an example, which is why most patients experience hair loss. It is only a temporary condition though and the hair will begin to grow back almost immediately after the chemo is stopped, although in some cases it will look different at first. Other healthy cells that are damaged include red and white blood cells, platelets (which are needed for clotting), and cells that line the gastrointestinal tract. This can often cause the nausea which is so common with the treatment.
Because the chemo drugs can damage the bone marrow that normally produce cells, patients can experience low blood cell counts and often must take yet another medication to encourage the bone marrow to begin producing cells again. The combination of all of these drugs sometimes causes people to have mild forgetfulness and memory loss often referred to as "chemo brain." This should go away once treatments end.
Labels: Ovarian Cervical Uterine Cancer
Mesothelioma is most common in white males who are over fifty years old and have worked as asbestos miners, shipbuilders, railroad workers, automotive construction or repair, workers in the heating or construction industries, and certain types of factory work such as insulation manufacturing.
Mesothelioma is an incredibly rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma is regarded as having a long latentinterval from exposure to death. Malignant mesothelioma is a very dangerous disease a cancer of the membranes that surrounds various types of vital organs.
Once inhaled, asbestos particles imbed themselves in the pulmonary tissue causing lung problems and even a cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma cancer usually starts from long term exposure to asbestos. It usually takes between twenty and forty years after first exposure to become cancerous although adverse health effects such as a diseases known as Asbestosis can display itself much earlier.
Pleural Mesothelioma is cancer of the Pleura, a sac that lines the lungs. Ultimately, the cancer known as Mesothelioma forms as a result of the damage caused by the asbestos material. Any cancer related illness is naturally a frightening one to have to deal with but this one is almost always incurable.
Asbestos is used in building-construction materials, textiles, missile and jet parts, tar compounds, paints and in friction products such as brake linings. It has been used it for insulation, fireproofing, gardening, strengthening cements and plastics, and for sound absorption while the automotive industry uses asbestos in gaskets, brake linings, and other friction points such as clutch pads.
But while asbestos has been useful in a wide range of applications, its use is not without major risk. Asbestos has been known to be dangerous and even fatal for quite some time. Asbestos has been established as the primary cause of mesothelioma, a type of cancer found rarely in the general population. Asbestos exposure is more prevalent in certain industries (particularly those that involve heavy production) and include mining,construction,and shipyard, etc.
Asbestos also has been found as a contaminant in lawn and garden products. Scientists believe that asbestos material reach the peritoneal membrane either by being swallowed or migrating from the pleura. Eventually, the cancer known as Mesothelioma forms as a result of the damage caused by the asbestos fibers. Often fast progressing mesthelioma is an energy driven process and is almost always incurable.
Labels: Lung Mesothelioma Asbestos
In the bone marrow are produced the leukemia cells which are abnormal and immature.These cells are classified in two types:lymphoid leukemia cells and myeloid leukemia cells.The abnormal, immature cells called leukemia cells are produced by blood-forming tissue and these are named after the lymphoid or myeloid cells.
It is better to know about the normal blood cells and about the form of these.So,in the bone marrow,which is the soft material in the center of most bones, are formed the blood cells.The immature blood cells called stem cells and blasts are produced by the marrow.
These blood cells become mature,they can be formed into one of three types of mature blood cells like:red blood that carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the body,white blood cells that fight infection and disease,platelets that help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form.
One of two types of stem cells are created by mature blood cells like lymphoid stem cells or myeloid stem cells.As they grow they become lymphoid blasts, they transform in lymphocytes and then passes into white blood cells.In the same way myeloid cells grow,passes into myeloid blasts, then myelocytes and finally they become either white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets.
Abnormal cells are produced in the bone marrow and they can be either abnormal lymphoid cells or myeloid cells;appears only at people with leukemia.Lymphocytic leukemia is formed by the abnormal lymphoid cells and the myeloid leukemia is created by the abnormal myeloid cells.The types of leukemia based on the leukemia cells are four and they are the following:chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML),acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Too many stem cells develops into either abnormal lymphoblasts or lynphocytes conduct to the appearance of lymphoid leukemia cells.Unfortunatelly lymphoblastic and lymphocytic are not abble to fight infection because of the number of lymphocytes arrises in the blood and bone marrow,there is less space for healty white blood cells,red blood cells and platelets, which can cause infection anemia and easy bleeding.
At people with leukemia there are three types of lymphocytes they became abnormal:B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection,T lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make the antibodies that help fight infection and natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses.It is important for as to know the classification of these cells and their role.
Labels: Leukemia Lymphoma Cancer
Mesothelioma cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer today, with a mortality rate so high that eight out of ten of those diagnosed pass away within a year of their diagnosis. Today, asbestos is banned in at least 60 countries, so the cancer is most often found in those who worked with asbestos mainly from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Asbestos is the name for the group of six different fibrous minerals, which occur naturally in the environment. It does not dissolve in water nor evaporate, and they have no detectable odor and taste.
It has a tendency to separate in to microscopic size particles that will remain in the air, and easily inhaled. Most people develop the cancer on a job where they inhaled asbestos particle, or have been exposed to dust fibre.
Once asbestos is inhaled, it comes through the respiratory passage. These fibre lodge themselves in the mesothelial cell around the lungs. It can cause direct damage to the lungs traveling to the end of their small passage reaching pleural are surrounding the lungs.
There are many different names of Mesothelioma cancer such as pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial because of the different location of the cancer on the body's internal organ.
Being positive from Mesothelioma cancer need much attention. In common cases, the patient or victim is diagnosed and it was too late to do anything, to save one's life.
A worker must take necessary precautions when dealing with asbestos fibers to minimize some health problems.
Tips to Prevent Mesothelioma cancer:
-Always wear a protected suit before doing your job. Asbestos particles need not to be able to enter inside your suit.
-Bring extra clothes after work. Change your clothes before going home to avoid the possibilities of inhaling it together with your loved ones.
-Always wear a high-quality dust mask inside the facility.
Mesothelioma cancer is particularly difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to become evident until the final stages of the disease. A very important characteristic of asbestos cancer is the long delay, or latency period, between exposure and the beginning of the disease.
Metastatic Colon Cancer - A Few Plain Truths
0 comments Posted by www.moviemast.blogspot.com at 12:27 AMIt is estimated that over 100,000 Americans discover that they have colon cancer annually. Many of these cases include those who have been diagnosed with cancer that has metastasized (metastatic colon cancer). Most of us already know that at this stage, treatment may become more complicated and difficult. Some cases though still have some hope for a few years' survival.
Once colon or colorectal cancer has metastasized, it is no longer restricted to the tissues of the colon. It has already moved beyond to other organs of the body. The lymphatic system may be affected first. The cancer cells can then be transported through this same system to other organ cells in the lungs and liver. Other organs may ultimately be affected too.
Those who have been diagnosed metastasized cancer should still consider undergoing treatment. Proper treatment can improve one's chances of extended survival compared to those who do not undergo treatment. Most patients treated for metastatic colon cancer have a 20% to 30% chance of surviving for five more years after diagnosis. Those who do not have cancer cells that have spread to the lungs or liver, have an even higher rate of survival.
Preventing Cancer
It is unfortunate that many people have very mild or no symptoms at the initial stages of cancer during which treatment is most effective. A number of people therefore do not find out about their condition until it is at an advanced stage. The best way to save yourself from the possibility of developing this kind of cancer is to simply prevent it. Although it can strike anybody, you can take precautions against it.
The first aspect that you should check is your lifestyle. There are some lifestyle habits and preferences that could increase a person's chance of developing colon cancer. This includes smoking, eating a lot of fatty foods, not eating enough fibrous and nutrient rich foods and being overweight - all are considered cancer risk factors.
You can also help prevent the advancement to metastatic colon cancer by regularly scheduling yourself for screening. You should always consider this if you have any of the above-mentioned risk factors. Regular screening is also usually advisable for people over 50 years old.
What to Look For
Aside from modifying your lifestyle and regular screening, you can help ensure proper and prompt treatment by watching out for the signs and symptoms of possible colon cancer.
Clear colon cancer symptoms often appear only when the disease is at an advanced stage. There may be some clues though in the initial stages that may tell you that a visit to the doctor should already be scheduled. Consider asking for a doctor's opinion if you have increasingly irregular bowel movements, blood in the stools, and abdominal pains. You can have some other digestive problem but it is better to be sure.
If the cancer cells have metastasized, you could experience a variety of symptoms that will depend on the area that is affected. If the metastatic colon cancer cells move to the lungs, a patient will have evident breathing problems. At this point, stomach bloating and various bodily pains may also emerge.
Labels: Colon Rectal Cancer