Monday, January 7, 2008

Cancer Information - Preparing for the Worst

By Ajeet Khurana

According to the 2007 report of the World Health Organization, the next thirty years will witness a significant global rise, in the number of deaths due to non-communicable diseases, especially cancer. This prediction is mainly due to the ageing of the population of the world.

However, even without that bit of news, we are aware of cancer being a major killer. But we do know that a cancer, when detected in its earliest stages, is generally curable. Hence, it is advisable to make sure that we are privy to various kinds of cancer information.

To begin with, it helps if you know about the different common types of cancer. Among the most common are bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer.

Leukemia is another common type, where the cancer forms in the tissues where blood is formed, such as in the bone marrow. This then leads to the production of a large number of blood cells, and these large numbers of blood cells then enter the blood stream.

If you have a suspicious looking mole, you really should have it checked, as you do not want to risk it's being cancerous. It may be nothing, but you really should not sit on it worrying that it might be melanoma. The word "melanoma" comes from "melanocytes". Melanocytes are the cells in which melanin pigment is formed. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in these cells.

NHL (Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma) is yet another common form of cancer. This refers to a the growth of a large group of cancers that affect the immunity system. The symptoms of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are those of fever and weight loss, a sure sign that the immunity system has been affected. This is a cancer that can affect any age group, and its treatment is completely dependent on the stage of detection of the cancer.

Of course, these are only a few of the many kinds of cancers that afflict people all over the world. There are cancers that can be easily treated, and those that cannot. On the Internet, there are various sites that are devoted to providing cancer information. So you have the official sites, websites created by cancer specialists, and sites created and maintained by people who have either battled cancer or know people who have.

So, at least if you are looking for basic information, there are a large number of authoritative websites that provide cancer information. Prepare yourself with all the cancer information that you can, so that you will be better placed to deal with the countless problems that a cancer brings in its wake.

The author Ajeet Khurana recommends Cancer Information, Zinc Vitamins, and Skin Vitamins.

Cancer Information - When Knowledge Counts!

By John Wellington

If you are looking for first hand information on cancer, your search ends here with the internet. There are several sites that offer information on breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer as well as different other types of cancer, including information on its signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis. The American Cancer Society at cancer.org has loads of cancer resources and links of interest that can guide you to other cancer information resources. In addition you will be able to find comprehensive guides about different types of cancer, treatment options, various cancer drugs, and learn how to get involved in groups promoting cancer awareness and education. You also have an option to make donations by purchasing books and other resources containing cancer information from the website too.

To find out more about ongoing research and current cancer information you can check the National Institute of Health’s cancer research group, a good source that is located online at cancer.gov. This is an excellent site where one can find cancer statistics, such as the occurrence of various forms of cancer, plus information regarding ongoing clinical trials, results of previous research, how clinical trials are performed, and how to locate a clinical trial to take part in. You can also find an extensive online dictionary on this site with description for various cancer terms and treatments, as well as an in depth section on medications used in cancer treatments plus links to more cancer drug information. Other interesting sites worth trying out are oncolink.com sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, cancersociety.com, and the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service at cis.nci.nih.gov.

If you would like to learn about cancer information from more personal sources, for instance from people who have cancer, then you can either join a local cancer support group or an online chat forum. Views and experiences of people can be found posted on their own personal websites, and you can interact with these people via email too. Who knows, you may just have something in common, and this could be a great way to find out more about your situation and what to expect. You can even check with your primary care physician or gynecologist for information on various types of female concerns, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and cervical, cancers. For those looking for cancer information on a specific type, you can do a search on that alone that will enable you to focus on your results considerably. Hopefully, you or your loved ones will never hear the diagnosis of cancer, but if you do, there are tons of useful information and resources that are easily available. Knowledge is power, get it, and use it.

John Wellington provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for health, wellness and other related issues.

Finding Valuable Cancer Information

By Morgan Hamilton

Cancer, as everything else, has been largely discussed on the Internet. There are many sites dedicated to cancer diseases, to people suffering from cancers, to their friends and families. The Internet is a good source of valuable cancer information, but there is more to it than that. It is a means to integrate the suffering into a network of virtual friends and supporters, which doesn’t let them feel isolated and alone.

The Internet helps friends and families of deceased people to realize that they are not alone with their pain, and that many people are going through the same terrible plot. One of the best traits of cancer information sites is that they unite people and help them overcome their grief.

There are a variety of forums and online discussions meant to bring people together. Cancer is a topic of great interest for many people. Anyone can read and respond to, there are options for instant messages with fellow cancer patients, cancer survivors, and cancer supporters.

One useful site for friends and family members of ill patients is Cancer and Careers.com’s “What You Can Do as a Friend”. It props you up with information about what your behavior in front of the ill friend should be. You shouldn’t talk about certain things, neither be too optimistic, nor be too negative in your expectations.

Your main duty as a friend should be supportive and encouraging. This cancer information is very helpful at the beginning. Another essential book for friends may be Facing Cancer Together: How to Help Your Friend or Loved One by Pamela N. Brown. It can help a lot in guiding your attitude towards your ill friend.

Valuable cancer information can be found at cancernews.com. There is a large list of directories meant to give orientation to people for any local cancer support groups. Most of them can also be found at the Cancer Information Network. There are many organizations supporting cancer hotlines— one of them is The National Cancer Institute, their site being reached at cancer.gov, others are Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization (Their site is: y-me.org/hotline), the RA Bloch Cancer Foundation Cancer Hotline (1-800-433-0464), and the Lung Cancer Alliance Toll-free Hotline (1-800-298-2436).

There are also a lot of specific information sites about different types of cancers: see Mesothelioma-net ( a site, designed to offer cancer information on the specific types of mesothelioma, its treatment, and coping strategies and so on). Another site which presents you a list of all cancers is The Cancer Information Network (at cancerlinksusa.com); and, of course, The American Cancer Society (cancer.org). The latter one gives you information on everything from prevention and early detection strategies, as well as treatment and cancer information by type. There are great statistics and investigations included, which offer you information from the past 100 years.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning health and research. Learn more at Cancer Information

Mesothelioma Cancer Information

By Tony Thompson

Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor of the pleura or peritoneum. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. Asbestos is Usually used as a fire resistant and heat resistant insulating material. You can get three types of asbestos white which Is very common, blue and brown which is the most dangerous. Asbestos is now controlled by stringent regulations.

Mesothelioma causes pain and breathlessness. If you have the tumor of the pleura, this is the membrane surrounding The lungs, other symptoms which may occur are chest pain, cough and difficulty breathing more so if the pleura effusion Develops the outer and inner layers of the pleura can become thickened. Excess fluid will fill the gap between them when This happens it means that the lungs can not expand, making you have shortness of breath.

If you have the tumor in the peritioneum it can cause a obstruction of the intestines or a enlarged abdomen. .Mesothelioma can Be diagnosed by a chest x ray and also a biopsy. This is where a small amount of cells or tissue are taken from the body To be looked at under the microscope. If Mesothelioma is diagnosed and the cancerous tumor is small enough, surgery Can be fairly successful if not and the tumor is large there is not any successful treatment, although sometimes radiotherapy May be offered to help ease the symptoms. Mesothelioma of the peritoneum cannot be operated on and there is no other form of treatment and will usually lead to death with in one or two years.

Mesothelioma can develop even after dealing with asbestos for just a short time. The usual gap between a person working with asbestos and being diagnosed can be up to twenty or thirty years. Mesothelioma is contracted by people who work With blue and brown asbestos.

http://www.understand-cancer.com/

For more information on Mesothelioma cancer click here


Colon Cancer Information

By Tony Thompson

Colon cancer is more commonly known as bowel cancer, this is where there is a malignant growth in the colon. Early symptoms of colon cancer can include a change in bowel movements either constipation or diahoerria , pain in the lower abdomen, blood mixed in with the faeces. These symptoms are fairly mundane, so often go un-noticed causing the tumor to grow undetected, inperticulally as people still find it hard to discuss there bowel movements with anybody especially there Doctor. Occasionally there are no symptoms until the tumor has got so large that it causes a blockage in the intestine or Could possibly even perforate the intestine. Some forms of colon cancer can be genetic/hereditary however in some cases of colon cancer the precise reason people Contract the disease is unknown. Diet may be cause of colon cancer, eating a lot of meat, too much fatty foods and not enough fiber, fruit and vegetables all add up to a un-healthy diet so increasing the risk of colon cancer.

The tests carried out to diagnose colon cancer include a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy. A sigmoidoscopy is when a camera is inserted into the anus to examine the rectum and the sigmoid colon. A colonoscopy is when a flexible fibre-optic camera Called a colonscope is put into the body via the anus and fed along the colon. Instruments may be fed down the colonscope So this is how a biopsy would be performed. Colon cancer can often occur with other diseases of the colon, for example ulcerative colitis.

The chance of a cure for colon cancer depends on whether you get a early enough diagnosis. Surgery is the best chance of Survival and sometimes radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be offered, but there would be no guarenties of a very long term future. The surgical procedure involves a general anesthetic and the diseased part of the colon is removed plus a bit extra on both sides to make sure they have it all. The amount of colon that has to be removed varies from person to person but the Majority of people will end up with a colostomy. This is where a small inscision is made in the stomach and the healthy colon Is pulled through it and secured this is called a stoma. The stoma makes it possible for the person to still have there bowels opened by means of a colostomy bag which is attached to the stoma usually by a adhesive. These bags are disposable and Keep all smells etc in [until you change them when the bowel has worked]. The colostomy is sometimes only temporary depending on how much bowel was removed. If it is to be only temporary it could be there for up to six months just to allow the colon to heal without faeces being past through it. If the colostomy is to be permanent than the anus may be sewn up whilst the person is in theatre having there diseased colon removed and the stoma made.

Colon cancer is still a large killer but mostly because people do not get it diagnosed early enough. The survival rate is much better when diagnoses are made early as treatment can begin and may not end up being so evasive. It is a shame to die from embarrassment is it not.

For more information on colon cancer click here


Prostate Cancer Information

By Alex Fir

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, apart from skin cancer. After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among men.

In this year, around 234,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the US. In 2006, approximately 27,300 men will die from prostate cancer in the US alone. One in every 8 Canadian men will develop the disease, and one in 3 will die from it.

Every man is at risk for prostate cancer. Black men have about a 60% higher incidence rate of prostate cancer than white men, and almost a two-fold higher mortality rate than white men.

Men most at risk include:

- Men over age 40
- North American and European origin
- Diets with a high fat intake
- History of the disease in the family.

The disease takes a long time to develop, and can be easily treated, if detected in its early stages. Prostate cancer can take up to eight to ten years to spread and become life threatening.

There are no specific prostate cancer symptoms, but some potential signs include:

- Frequent, difficult and painful urination
- Blood or pus in the urine
- Pain the in the lower back, pelvic area, or upper thighs
- Painful ejaculation

When speaking about medical options, doctors typically offer patients two choices: radiation therapy or surgery to remove prostate gland.

Studies show that that adding the following to your diet can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer:

- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Tomato juice
- Selenium
- Garlic

Here are 5 foods that can help prevent prostate cancer:

1. Black, pinto, small red and kidney beans.
2. Tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit.
3. Sweet potatoes, carrots and cantaloupe.
4. Broccoli, kale and cauliflower.
5. Soy milk.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Prostate Cancer Information. To read latest prostate cancer news visit his site right now.


Breast Cancer Information

By Jitesh Arora

There is lot of information about breast cancer on the internet and books. I have gathered here all the important information regarding breast cancer including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Breast cancer is one of the most common cause of death in women but men are rarely affected by this disease. This cancer forms in tissue ducts and milk making glands of the breast.

First of all lets have a look on the main symptoms and signs of breast cancer

early breast cancer have practically no symptoms it can only be conformed by the palpation of breast lump by self examination of breast ;

lump can be present slightly above the collar bone or it can be also in the armpit if you are suspecting a breast lump do consult your physician;

discharge from the breast;

changes in the nipple;

changes in the breast skin;

early detection of breast cancer improves the survival rate.

Risk factors

irreversible risk factors

if u are a woman you are in the risk of breast cancer;

risk of breast cancer also increases with the age of a person;

hereditary inclination that is presence of breast cancer genes or family history of breast cancer;

there is a risk of developing breast cancer in women starting menstruating in early age.

reversible risk factors

hormone therapy;

oral contraceptives;

hormone therapy started after menopause;

alcohol intake;

obesity;

less physical activity.

Tests for the diagnosis of the breast cancer

mammography;
medical resonance imaging;
breast biopsy.

Treatment

Surgical treatment includes mastectomy or lumpectomy followed by breast reconstruction;

adjuvant therapy includes radiotherapy,chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

for more information on breast cancer and another types of cancer log on to http://jitu-doctor123.blogspot.com/2007/10/breast-cancer.html