Symptoms of cancer

Even if one could be a healthy person, he or she still wants to be on the lookout for numerous symptoms of cancer if they want to detect it within the initial stages itself. This could boost an individual's chances of beating the disease while not any permanent harm to alternative organs of the body or with minimum harm. Ignoring the symptoms might haunt that person later in the form of further pain and discomfort while lowering chances of recovery. Here are some of the symptoms that ought to not be ignored.

Totally different varieties of cancers

The symptoms of cancer will depend on the type of cancer that the person has contracted. There are completely different sorts of cancers that would attack an individual's body in the form of tumors or even attack the body silently without any visible lumps. Blood cancer or leukemia is one example where no tumors would be found. Similarly, prostate cancer could begin affecting native organs however may also unfold to alternative organs aloof from the prostate like the lungs, liver, etc. There also are different sorts of cancer like lung, colon, stomach, pancreas, etc that have an effect on the mentioned organs. Often symptoms are confused with alternative diseases and this may lead the doctor to a wrong treatment until it might have progressed into the next stage. A number of the symptoms of cancer are mentioned below.

Symptoms of cancer

If a serious smoker or perhaps a non-smoker starts coughing up blood then this might be a symbol of lung or neck cancer. Within the case of breast cancer, a lump might be noticed by the patient, which might increase in size quite rapidly. There might also be a discharge from a single nipple. Prostate cancer would possibly walk in unnoticed or patients might conjointly notice frequent urination or painful urination. Blood gift in urine might indicate cancer of the bladder or kidneys. In case blood is gift in the stool of the patient then it could indicate cancer of the rectum or of the intestines. Repeated sores in the mouth could indicate oral cancer while repeated itching, warts or moles could be indicative of skin cancer. Patients want to go to their doctor when they notice any changes in their body or in their daily routines. There are several ways through which a doctor might check a patient to confirm if the symptoms of cancer are indeed present in the patient.

Methods of checking a patient to substantiate symptoms of cancer

Doctors may use numerous testing methods to substantiate if the patient is indeed plagued by cancer. In case of visible tumors, a biopsy would indicate if the tumor is indeed malignant or benign. Blood tests, Pap smear tests, stool and urine tests are a number of the other tests to test for specific proteins or alternative agents which may indicate cancer. A doctor might conduct an endoscopy or colonoscopy to check for tumors inside a patient's stomach, colon or intestine. An MRI scan might additionally show tumors or abnormalities during a patient and help the doctor find the precise position of the cancer.

There are several symptoms of cancer that manifest themselves however might end up getting confused with alternative diseases. Any modification in routine ought to immediately be reported to a competent doctor and the mandatory tests ought to be conducted to either get relief or to catch the cancer within the nascent stage itself.

KIDNEY CANCER

potentially curative treatment of renal cell carcinoma

KIDNEY CANCER.

The presence of kidney cancer is rarely discovered. When you have reached a serious stage that was in stage four then it is successful in effect. This situation may be due to kidney cancer are not 'stand out' as breast cancer is often a crowd to cause any individual who is not so ignore the disease.

Consultant Clinical Oncologist Wijaya International Medical Centre, Datuk Dr Mohd Ibrahim A Wahid said, although the cancer does not appear grander in the eyes of the public, but it still needs to take note. Serious stages of kidney cancer known as renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

EARLY SIGNS OF EXPERIENCE RCC
* Urinary bleeding (hematuria)
* Pain in the ribs
* Back pain
* There is a lump on the rib cage and abdomen
* Loss of appetite
* Weight loss
* Fever
* Excessive fatigue
* Increased blood pressure

However, in Malaysia is still low rate of people with RCC. 85 percent of reported cases are mostly found in men aged 60 to 70 years.

An estimated 100,000 patients died of RCC diagnosed worldwide each year. Surgery is the most common treatment. Typically, the surgeon will remove the entire kidney along with the adrenal gland and kidney tissue in sekeling. It aims to prevent the cancer returned to attack but he can not guarantee the effectiveness of the process because 33 percent of patients will suffer from the cancer returned.

Surgery is only performed on stage kidney cancer patients one to three only. For the suffering RCC, it needed another form of treatment because the cancer cells have spread to other organs. What is needed is a way to curb the spread of cancer cells and slow the growth of cancer cells from spreading.

The Chinese community is suffering more. Is not clear exactly causes it happened. Those who have unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, high blood pressure and smoking are the most vulnerable groups for RCC.

But now there is a new form of treatment for patients with RCC using a Torisel (temsirolimus), but it has side effects such as rashes, fatigue, sore mouth, nausea, swelling of body, poor appetite, increased pressure of sugar and high cholesterol.

FACTS ABOUT KIDNEY CANCER

* Kidney (renal) are two organs which have a reddish brown beans are located above the waist, one on each side of the spine.

* The main function of the kidneys is to filter blood and produce urine to cleanse the body of wastes.

* Cancer cells that are abnormally produced in the body of a person and a group of cancerous cells called tumors. If not treated it can grow and spread to other parts of the body.

* Until 2005, the selection of treatment for RCC is very limited and only involves surgery for early stage cancer of one to three.

* An estimated two percent to three percent of reported cancer involving the RCC.

* Women who received radiation therapy for uterine examination may have a slightly increased risk of kidney cancer.

* Patients who are undergoing kidney dialysis and those with a family history of RCC in a higher risk of suffering from RCC.

* Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) disease, the individual who has inherited a much higher risk of RCC, and tumors in other organs.

* The use of Torisel (Temsirolimus) is a treatment once a week to enable a drug used to enter the bloodstream directly.

renal-cell-carcinoma  known as renal cell cancer

 Papillary Renal (kidney) Carcinoma (cancer)

BREAST CANCER

 

 

 

 

Breast cancer (malignant breast neoplasm) is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas.

Prognosis and survival rate varies greatly depending on cancer type and staging. Computerized models are available to predict survival. With best treatment and dependent on staging, 10-year disease-free survival varies from 98% to 10%. Treatment includes surgery, drugs (hormonal therapy and chemotherapy), and radiation.

Worldwide, breast cancer comprises 10.4% of all cancer incidence among women, making it the most common type of non-skin cancer in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths). Breast cancer is about 100 times more common in women than in men, although males tend to have poorer outcomes due to delays in diagnosis.

Some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones such as estrogen and/or progesterone which makes it possible to treat them by blocking the effects of these hormones in the target tissues. These have better prognosis and require less aggressive treatment than hormone negative cancers.

Breast cancers without hormone receptors, or which have spread to the lymph nodes in the armpits, or which express certain genetic characteristics, are higher-risk, and are treated more aggressively. One standard regimen, popular in the U.S., is cyclophosphamide plus doxorubicin (Adriamycin), known as CA; these drugs damage DNA in the cancer, but also in fast-growing normal cells where they cause serious side effects. Sometimes a taxane drug, such as docetaxel, is added, and the regime is then known as CAT; taxane attacks the microtubules in cancer cells. An equivalent treatment, popular in Europe, is cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF). Monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), are used for cancer cells that have HER2/neu overexpressed. Radiation is usually added to the surgical bed to control cancer cells that were missed by the surgery, which usually extends survival, although radiation exposure to the heart may cause damage and heart failure in the following years.

For more information you can check at the follow url http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer

BRAIN CANCER

Brain cancer symptoms: Do I have a brain cancer?

Brain cancer symptoms vary from patient to patient, and most of these symptoms can also be found in people who do NOT have brain cancers. Therefore, the only sure way to tell if you have a brain cancer or not is to see your doctor and get a brain scan. We did a survey of over 400 brain cancer patients to learn what symptoms they had that caused them to seek medical care. 

The symptoms

Headaches

 

Headaches: This was the most common symptom, with 46% of the patients reporting having headaches. They described the headaches in many different ways, with no one pattern being a sure sign of brain cancer. Many - perhaps most - people get headaches at some point in their life, so this is not a definite sign of brain cancers. You should mention it to your doctors if the headaches are: different from those you ever had before, are accompanied by nausea / vomiting, are made worse by bending over or straining when going to the bathroom. 

Seizures

Seizures: This was the second most common symptom reported, with 33% of the patients reporting a seizure before the diagnosis was made. Seizures can also be caused by other things, like epilepsy, high fevers, stroke, trauma, and other disorders. This is a symptom that should never be ignored, whatever the cause. In a person who never had a seizure before, it usually indicates something serious and you must get a brain scan. 

A seizure is a sudden, involuntary change in behavior, muscle control, consciousness, and/or sensation. Symptoms of a seizure can range from sudden, violent shaking and total loss of consciousness to muscle twitching or slight shaking of a limb. Staring into space, altered vision, and difficulty in speaking are some of the other behaviors that a person may exhibit while having a seizure. Approximately 10% of the U.S. population will experience a single seizure in their lifetime. 

Nausea and Vomiting: As with headaches, these are non-specific symptoms - which means that most people who have nausea and vomiting do NOT have a brain cancer. Twenty-two percent of the people in our survey reported that they had nausea and /or vomiting as a symptom. 

Nausea and / or vomiting is more likely to point towards a brain cancer if it is accompanied by the other symptoms mentioned here. 

Vision or hearing problems: Twenty-five percent reported vision problems. This one is easy - if you notice any problem with your hearing or vision, it must be checked out. I commonly hear that the eye doctor is the first one to make the diagnosis - because when they look in your eyes, they can sometimes see signs of increased intracranial pressure. This must be investigated. 

Problems with weakness of the arms, legs or face muscles, and strange sensations in your head or hands. Twenty-five percent reported weakness of the arms and/or legs. Sixteen percent reported strange feelings in the head, and 9% reported strange feelings in the hands. This may result in an altered gait, dropping objects, falling, or an asymmetric facial expression. These could also be symptoms of a stroke. Sudden onset of these symptoms is an emergency - you should go to the emergency room. If you notice a gradual change over time, you must report it to your doctor. 

Behavioral and cognitive problems: Many reported behavioral and cognitive changes, such as: problems with recent memory, inability to concentrate or finding the right words, acting out - no patience or tolerance, and loss of inhibitions - saying or doing things that are not appropriate for the situation. 

IF you think something is wrong, go see your doctor. Explain that you are worried it is a brain cancer. Keep in mind that brain cancers are relatively rare compared to most other disorders, so the primary care doctor is not usually going to be thinking it is a brain cancer. They first think of more common causes of the symptoms. Sixty-four percent of the time, the doctor thought it was NOT a brain cancer when respondents first went to the doctor. More than half of the people reported that they had the symptoms for more than a month before the correct diagnosis of brain cancer was made. With the malignant brain cancers, a delay of a month in starting treatment can make a major impact on the outcome. 

Get more info at https://www.virtualtrials.com/brain-cancer-symptoms.cfm?gclid=CKKe_eqr7akCFUka6wod5mHEXw

BLADDER CANCER

Bladder: Urothelial carcinomas

(Bladder carcinoma)

Bladder cancer is any malignancy of the urinary bladder. Each year, more than 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease, which cause about 11,000 deaths. Men outnumber women three to one and the incidence is higher among whites than other races.

Certain environmental factors seem to increase the risk of bladder cancer. Included are cigarette smoking and exposure to naphthaline, benzidine, aniline dyes and chemicals used in rubber and leather processing. Research has also implicated cyclamates, a type of artificial sweetner but these have been banned in the United States.

Blood in the urine or hematuria is the most common warning sign. There may also be burning or pain during urination. Advanced bladder cancer may cause fatigue, weight loss and abdominal, pelvic or back pain.

Diagnostic Studies and Procedures

A urinalysis can detect even invisible blood in urine. If malignancy is suspected, imaging such as ultrasound, CT scans or MRI or an intravenous pyelogram (IVP, a special X-ray of the urinary tract) can usually locate the tumor.

A cystoscope, a flexible vieving tube with magnifying devices, allows a doctor to inspect the urethra and bladder and collect tissue samples. If cancer is confirmed, additional tests will be performed to determine its extent.

Medical Treatments

If diagnosed early, bladder cancer is highly curable. Superficial tumors are treated with a procedure called transurethral electroresection, in which an instrument similar to a cystoscope is passed through the urethra to the bladder and an electrical current or laser beam destroys the cancer. Anticancer drugs may also be instilled directly into the bladder weekly for about six weeks.

Because bladder cancer often recurs, follow-up visits are recommended every two ot three months during the first two years and then every four months thereafter.

 

About 12 percent of patients with superficial bladder cancer eventually develop more invasive cancers that require surgery. The operation may be followed by radiation or chemotheraphy.

In the most advanced cases, the bladder must be removed and a new exit for urine created through the lower abdomen. Most commonly, a pouch to collect urine is created from a segment of the small intestine. Then an opening or stoma is made in the abdominal wall and this allows the urine to flow to an external collection bag, which has to be emptied periodically. Sometimes, the ureters, tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder will be attached to a segment of the lower colon, thus allowing urine to pass from the kidneys into the rectum instead.

Alternative Therapies

To improve their quality of life, some cancer patients adopt the following alternative approaches:

Nutrition Therapy.  Although diet cannot cure cancer, some researchers believe it is important in preventing it. For example, a low intake of vitamin A is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. To increase vitamin A in your diet, eat more yellow or orange fruits and vegetables plus broccoli and dark green leafy vegetables.

Yoga and Meditation. These and other relaxation therapies, such as massage and visualization can help patients cope with cancer pain and the side effects of treatments. There is also some evidence that visualization may bolster the body’s ability to fight cancer.

Self-Treatment

If you smoke, quit immediately. Also minimize exposure to possible cancer-causing agents. Use protective equipment if your job requires exposure to harmful chemicals (see box below).

JOB RELATED RISKS

Occupations linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer include:

Asbestos handdlers	Metal workers
Chemical workers	Petroleum workers
Hairdressers and manicurists	Printers
Leather tanners	Rubber workers
Machinists	Textile workers
Truck drivers

Some studies have linked heavy consumption of coffee (more than four cups a day) with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Chemical caffeine removers have also been linked to the disease. If you drink caffeine-free coffee, try to find water decaffeinated brands to avoid this possible risk.

Recents results of two long-term studies did not find a link between hair dyes and bladder cancer – a fear raised by earlier research. Still, some experts advise using semipermanent, light-colored dyes that wash out in a few weeks.

If treatment results in a urinary stoma, consider joining a support group of fellow patients. Such groups offer emotional support and helpful advice.

Other Causes of Bladder Symptoms

An enlarged prostate, cystitis, a bladder infection or obstruction, urethritis and bladder stones all can cause symptoms similar to those of bladder cancer.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR

~ What can I do to reduce my risk of bladder cancer?

~ Will I maintain normal urinary function after treatment for bladder cancer?

SKIN CANCER

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

(Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas)

Skin cancer is by far the most prevalent malignancy in the United States, with more than 800,000 cases a year. The two most common forms are basal cell carninoma, which arises in the lowest part of the epidermis or surface layer of the skin and squamous cells carcinoma, which originates in the cells that make up the skins outer surface. Both types are readily curable if detected early and treated properly.

These two cancers are heralded by growths or skin sores that do not heal. A basal cell cancer is typically an irregular shape. It may appear as a flat  spot or a firm lump that is scaly and crusty or smooth and shiny. A squamous cell cancer also appears as a scaly or crusty patch that may bleed occasionally.

Squamous cell cancers develop most often on the rim of the ear, the mouth and scalps of bald men. People with fair skin, red hair and blue eyes are most vulnarable to both cancer types.

Excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays is the most common cause of skin cancer. Occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic and radium also increase the risk.

Diagnostic Studies And Procedures

A dermatologist often suspects skin cancer from the appearance of a sore or other lesion but a skin biopsy is essential to make a definitive diagnosis and to determine the type.

These  skin cancers rarely metastasize to distant parts of the body but the squamous cell type may invade nearby organs. Thus, MRI or a CT scan may be ordered if the cancer is near the eyes or other pathway to the brain.

Medical Treatments

Removal is the usual treatment for skin cancer, although radiation is sometimes used when surgery is not possible. Chemotherapy with topical 5-fluorouracil may also be considered.

There are several different surgical methods; the choice depends on the cancer appearance, size, location and type. A small surface cancer can be treated with curettage - the scraping away of the cancerous tissue with a sharp surgical instrument. Bleeding is stopped with electrodesiccation, the use of an electric needle that also cauterizes a zone of normal tissue surrounding the lesion, reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

Dilation Curettage Set

Cryosurgery is the use of liquid nitrogen spray or a device called a cryoprobe to freeze the cancerous tissue and destroy the malignant cells with minimal scarring. Laser surgery can also be used to pinpoint and kill certain types of skin cancer cells

Surgical excision involves removing the growth along with a margin of normal tissue, then closing the wound with stitches or skin clips. A skin graft and plastic surgery may be needed.

In the Mohs procedure, layers of tissue are cut away in an expending circle around the cancer and each layer is examnied microscopically to determine the extent of malignant cells. Successive layers are removed until only normal tissue is found. Plastic surgery may be needed as a follow-up procedure.

Alternative Therapies

Meditation, hypnosis and visualization can be helpful in controlling pain and promoting healing. A diet that includes foods rich in antioxidants - vitamins C, E and A (or beta carotine, its precursor), can help protect against cancer. Vitamin E oil applied to the excised areas may hasten healing and reduce scarring but check with your doctor before applying this (or anything else) to the wound.

Self-Treatment

While self-treatment cannot cure skin cancer, it is the key to prevention and avoiding recurrences, because most skin cancers are related to damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays, you should minimize your exposure. Avoid being outside during the peak sunlight hours from 10am to 2pm. If you must be out then, wear a hat with a wide brim and loose fitting but tightly woven clothing that covers most exposed skin. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 on remaining exposed skin; reapply it often. For a baby, ask your doctor to recommend a safe sunscreen and make sure that she wears a sun hat and protective clothing.

Remember  that sand, snow and water reflect the sun's rays and thus magnify their potential harm to skin. Tanning booths and sun lamps can also give off harmful ultraviolet rays..

Other Causes of Skin Lesions

Moles, warts and other benign skin growths and discolorations sometimes resemble skin cancer. Skin disorders such as psoriasis and dermatitis can be confused with malignant lesions.

SKIN SELF-EXAMINATION

Know the warning signs of skin cancer and examine your skin thoroughly and regularly in a brightly lit room. Examine your body front and back, then the right and left sides with arms raised. Check your forearms, upper underarms and palms carefully. Examine the feet, including the spaces between toes and the soles. Look at the back of the neck and the scalp. Part the hair and lift it for a closer look. Check the lower back and buttocks. See a doctor promptly if you note the appearance of:

> Any new skin growth that does not disappear in four to six weeks.

> Any lesion that grows and turns translucent, brown, black or multicolored.

> Any mole, birthmark or beauty mark that increases in size changes color or texture or develops an irregular outline.

> Any open sore or wound that does not heal for more than four weeks or heals and then recurs.

> Any skin spot or growth that continues to itch, hurt, crust over, form a scab, erode or bleed for several weeks.

Cancer Killer in your Kitchen

By John Susan Saradon.

The powerful healing effects of ginger have been well documented. It's a proven remedy for upset stomach. Reams of studies show that it inhibitsinflamation. And there is substantial evidence that it fights cancer, too.
For instance, a recent University of Michigan study showed that when ginger was added to ovarian cancer cells in the laboratory, it caused the cancer cells to self-destruct (a process known as "apoptosis").

In a separate study at the University of Minnesota, researchers injected colon cancer cells into mice that were bred to have no immune system.
Half of these mice were routinely fed gingerol, the main active component in ginger. The researchers found that the mice that were fed gingerol lived longer, t! heir tumors were smaller, and the cancer did not spread as widely as in the control group.

With all these health benefits, you should be using ginger as often as you can. The best way I've found to get a healthy serving of ginger is to juice it. (The brand of juicer I use is an Omega.)

Two or three days a week, I juice an apple or two, some carrots, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and a big piece of ginger root. The ginger gives the drink a great flavor and a powerful anti-cancer kick. I highly recommend that you try it.

Healthy Habit No. 5: Exercise for Better Health

We already know that physical activity has a bounty of benefits, which makes it so puzzling why so many people just don't do it. According to the CDC, more than 60% of Americans do not get regular exercise.

In case you needed an incentive, here is a review of the advantages of exercise, per the National Cancer Institute:

* Helps control weight
* Maintains healthy bones, muscles, and joints
* Reduces risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes
* Promotes psychological well-being
* Reduces risk of death from heart disease
* Reduces risk of premature death

Studies have also shown a link between exercise and a reduced risk of certain cancers.

Besides its long-term effects, moving your body has immediate benefits, says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. The short-term results of exercise include helping people to think and move better, manage stress, improve mood, and get an energy boost.

The excuses that people often give to not exercise are the precise reasons to exercise, says Bryant. People who say they are too tired or don't have time to workout don't realize that exercise gives people more energy and allows them to be more productive with the rest of their time.