What You Need To Know About Brain Cancer
Malignant brain tumors occur in about 4.5 people per 100,000 population, they may occur at any age but brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in patients younger than age 35. In adults, incidence is generally highest between ages 40 to 60.
There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary brain cancer starts in the brain. Metastatic brain cancer starts somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain. The most common tumor types in adults are gliomas and meningiomas. In children, incidence is generally highest before age 1 and again between ages 2 and 12. The most common types of brain tumour in children are astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas and brain stem gliomas.
CAUSES OF BRAIN CANCER
What causes brain cancer is not exactly known but there has recently been a great deal of speculation on the role of cell phone radiation in the development of brain cancer. In fact, while studies generally have shown no link between cell phones and brain cancer, there is some conflicting scientific evidence that may be worth additional study, according to the FDA.
More accepted risk factors for brain cancer include; exposure to vinyl chloride and individuals with risk factors such as having a job in an oil refinery, as a chemist, embalmer, or rubber industry worker show higher rates of brain cancer. Other risk factors such as smoking, radiation exposure, and viral infection (HIV) have been suggested but not proven to cause brain cancer. Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN CANCER
Onset of symptoms is usually insidious and brain tumors are often misdiagnosed. Brain Cancers cause central nervous system changes by invading and destroying tissues and by secondary effects such as pressure on the brain. Symptoms vary but in general, brain cancer symptoms include: Abnormal pulse and breathing rates, deep, dull headaches that recur often and persist without relief for long periods of time, difficulty walking or speaking, dizziness, eyesight problems including double vision, seizures, vomiting and at the late stages of the disorder dramatic changes in blood pressure may occur. Although headaches are often a symptom of brain cancer, it is important to remember that most headaches are due to less serious conditions such as migraine or tension, not cancer.
DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN CANCERS
In most cases a definitive diagnosis is made by a tissue biopsy. Other diagnostic tools include; patient history, a neurologic assessment, skull x-rays, a brain scan, CT scan, MRI, a lumbar puncture and cerebral angiography. Meningiomas, arising from the covering around the brain or spinal cord, account for about 20% of brain cancers and are generally more benign.
TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMORS
How to treat brain tumors depends on the age of the patient, the stage of the disease, the type and location of the tumor, and whether the cancer is a primary tumor or brain metastases. Brain cancer and brain tumors are somewhat unique because of the blood
brain barrier, which severely restricts the types of substances in the bloodstream that are allowed by the body into the brain and makes drug treatment extremely difficult. Because of this more and more research is being undertaken in delivering medication by means of nanoparticles, amongst the properties of nanoparticles that make them ideal candidates for recognizing and treating brain cancer, their ability to deliver a wide variety of payloads across the blood-brain barrier is perhaps the most important.
Brain cancers location and ability to spread quickly makes treatment with surgery or radiation like fighting an enemy hiding out among minefields and caves, and explains why the term brain cancer is all too often associated with the word inoperable.
Brain cancer survival statistics for the deadliest of tumors such as gliomas have not improved significantly over the past two decades and the clinical armamentarium is, to a large extent, still dependent on surgery and radiation therapy, treatments known to leave survivors with devastating cognitive deficits. Gamma knife surgery is a radiosurgery technique used to treat people with brain cancer and other neurological disorders
The most deadly form of brain cancer may be treatable with a vaccine that uses proteins. Unlike measles or mumps vaccines, which are meant to prevent disease, the brain cancer vaccine turns on the patient’s own immune system so it will help kill the tumor. When the vaccine is injected, it stimulates the immune system to kill off brain cancer cells and prevent the regrowth of tumors that have already been treated.
PROGNOSIS
The chances of surviving for a person with a brain tumor: Prognosis greatly depends on all of the following: type of tumor extent of the disease size and location of the tumor presence or absence of metastasis the tumor’s response to therapy, age, overall health, and medical history, tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, the most common form of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma, is also the most aggressive and lethal but teratomas and other germ cell tumors although they have the capacity to grow very large may have a more favorable prognosis.
Dick Aronson has a background of over 35 years in various facets of the Healthcare industry. He now runs a number of informative health sites; Go to Health Innovations , Go to Cancer Information Online and Go to Brain Cancer Site
Do You Need Advice on Mesothelioma?
Brian’s courageous battle with mesothelioma came to an end on the 24th December 2001; he passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones. 95, asbestos cancer Mesothelioma: Indications of a Mesothelioma cancer include a build-up of fluid between the pleura covering of the chest wall and the diaphragm.
Mesothelioma, being a deadly form of cancer, ruins the prospects of victims and their families. This varies depending on the concentration of the asbestos dust and fibres in the area but it has been recorded that those who have only been exposed for a couple of months have a chance of obtaining pericardial mesothelioma. About 90% of malignant mesothelioma is asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma affects men most due to the high exposure of asbestos in industrial typed jobs. Mesothelioma can be caused even due to an exposure to Asbestos for 1-2 months but it is most commonly found in those who had prolonged or persistent exposure. A bill called the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (FAIR Act of 2005) introduced on March 17, 2005, seeks to create set amounts of compensation for mesothelioma victims, which would depend on their symptoms.
Pleural Mesothelioma is considered as the most common type of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma law firms are large enough to have huge resources and years of experience. Using this argument experienced mesothelioma lawyers win claims for their clients, basically pleading the invariable loss of health and active life associated with the rare cancer.
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which the malignant cells are found in the sac that lines the chest or abdomen. Many people have resilient genes that seem to fend off diseases such as mesothelioma. Some mesothelioma treatment costs may be covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
Another problem with these symptoms is that they are similar to those of pneumonia (shortness of breath), and this tends to lead to the wrong treatment being administered to an individual afflicted with pericardial mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor occurring in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, often associated with exposure to asbestos dust. Rarely, mesothelioma occurs in other mesothelial tissue, such as on the heart or on the reproductive organs.
In this case the surgery aims to extenuate the symptoms, such as ascites, Chemotherapy is the method in which drugs are used to treat mesothelioma. Treatments for mesothelioma range from surgery to radiation to chemotherapy. Do you experience Mesothelioma symptoms?
Now, in the 21st century (some 50 years later - the latency period of pericardial mesothelioma), these young men who are now over 60 years of age are beginning to exhibit the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. This is why mesothelioma is so hard to diagnose in its early stages because it shows no symptoms and the few symptoms that it does show such as wheezing and shortness of breath are typical of far more common diseases such as pneumonia. No one should become complacent, or take comfort in the knowledge that thirty eight years have passed without incidence of mesothelioma in Whittenoom, for it is a known fact that many years may pass between inhalation of asbestos dust and its deadly legacy of mesothelioma.
Or you can even use general law terms like the following: DUI, structured settlement, insurance, mesothelioma, asbestos, liability, libel, and slander. When not treated immediately or when the Mesothelioma patient doesn’t respond well to medication, the cancer may advance to the fourth stage. Mesothelioma is a disease gathering much news in recent months and look for new treatment options as well as law suits to be filed in the coming months and years.
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs
For more information and resource links on mesothelioma visit: Mesothelioma Lawyer
Do You Suffer From Mesothelioma?
The cause of pericardial mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos dust and fibres. Now, in the 21st century (some 50 years later - the latency period of pericardial mesothelioma), these young men who are now over 60 years of age are beginning to exhibit the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. As with all cancers, early detection is the best defence against mesothelioma.
For instance, in several cases it was found that people now being diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos thirty to forty years ago, or even before that. It is believed that many people, who are afflicted by mesothelioma, are not even aware of it. Another risk of developing mesothelioma is using products that contain asbestos.
Today, mesothelioma victims and their relatives struggle to cope with the disease. Mesothelioma can also occur from non-occupational exposure, as evidenced by manifestation of the disease in women whose exposure came from washing the clothing of men who worked with asbestos. Malignant mesothelioma is graded upon the extent they have spread.
Peritoneal mesothelioma does not always respond to traditional mesothelioma treatment ways. Before 1980 there were no laws protecting the workers from Asbestos exposure in the workplace, however, once it was seen that people working in an environment of Asbestos exposure were being diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma 30-50 years after their exposure, laws began to change. The people who had a widespread exposure to Asbestos were at an increased risk of developing Mesothelioma.
This long latency period is one main reason why the number of people suffering from Mesothelioma is increasing everyday, in spite of preventive measures taken by the government as well as individuals. There are a number of treatment options available to mesothelioma patients. Don’t Lose Hope Most people who have worked with asbestos in the past do not begin to show symptoms of Mesothelioma until thirty to forty years later.
In addition to the national forums, there are many online support and chat forums that educate people about mesothelioma and share the experiences of others who are afflicted with the disease. Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, is the most common, accounting for about 75 percent of all malignant mesothelioma. Other more serious health ailments caused by asbestos exposure include pleural effusion, pleural plaques, pleural calcification, and Mesothelioma (a highly malignant disease).
In most cases, it takes many years for people to show signs of Mesothelioma Cancer in the body. Abdominal symptoms and the systemic effects of cancer can cause severe weight loss in people with peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma victims and other asbestos-related diseases are entitled to recover damages from the asbestos manufacturing companies.
Treatment of pleural mesothelioma is limited and as yet there is no proper cure. Pleural mesothelioma targets the lining of the lung, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal cavity, and pericardial mesothelioma targets the lining around the heart. The symptoms of the pericardial mesothelioma are persistent coughing, palpitations, and shortness of breath and chest pain.
Over the past few years treatments have improved for treating mesothelioma, but further clinical trials are needed to continue mesothelioma treatment methods. A stage I, or localized, malignant mesothelioma is one that has not spread beyond the area it originated in. Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma can easily be mistaken for allergies or a common cold.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the work place in the last 50 years, you may be at risk for developing mesothelioma. The most common type is epithelial mesothelioma.
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs
For more information and resource links on mesothelioma visit: Mesothelioma Lawyer
Is Mesothelioma Of Great Concern To You?
The two places in which mesothelioma can develop are the lungs and the abdomen, but it is most commonly found in the lungs. None of these treatments seem to be highly effective in curing patients, but like other types of cancer, research is being done to try and find a treatment that will successfully heal Mesothelioma patients. If you have been affected by this disease your quality of life may have, or will in the future suffer by having being infected with Mesothelioma.
Should I consider Mesothelioma Litigation? If you have mesothelioma, the employer or organization that put you into contact with asbestos is at fault and you deserve compensation. You can also browse the Internet for mesothelioma-related information, mesothelioma pictures, more information on asbestos, etc.
The classic histopathology of the mesothelioma is a biphasic tumor with both an epithelioid and sarcomatoid or spindle cell component. What is really unique about this new mesothelioma treatment study is the fact that this is the first trial to investigate the use of chemotherapy before surgery and radiation. Usually, patients with pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial malignant mesothelioma are treated with radiation or chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the disease, the patient’s age, and his/her overall health.
Pharmaceutical companies are conducting trials to come up with the right combination of drugs that can produce better results for treating pericardial mesothelioma. Radiation therapy, as applied to malignant mesothelioma uses the same basic technology as other forms of medical radiation insofar as the technique employs high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Even acute symptoms of mesothelioma may be mistakenly associated with other diseases.
Find a mesothelioma lawyer today. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos without sufficient protection. Malignant mesothelioma is graded upon the extent they have spread.
In 1968, there were 153 deaths caused by mesothelioma but in 2003, statistics shows 1874 deaths. The necessity for the evolution of alternative ways to treat patients suffering from mesothelioma arises because of the complex nature of different types of cancers, and because patients respond differently to various types of medical care. Even today, there are around 3,000 cases of mesothelioma being diagnosed in the United States every year.
One rare cancer that affects the lungs is Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer, which is inflicted by exposure to asbestos most frequently used in industrial and residential places till the late seventies. What Jobs Are Associated With Mesothelioma: Asbestos was used in a lot of occupations.
While no blood tests confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, there are certain blood abnormalities that suggest the presence of a cancer. Just a couple of months of exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma 30 years later. It is also known that the major cause for pleural mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
You see the only way to contract Pleural Mesothelioma is by being exposed to Asbestos. Although there is no current cure, pleural mesothelioma can be treated in a number of ways including: chemotherapy (and other drug-type therapy), radiation, intra-operative photodynamic therapy, and surgery. As the time passes and the disease grows older, the symptoms of all the three types of Mesothelioma pleural, peritoneal and pericardial start appearing in more vigorous form.
Should we expect mesothelioma lung cancer increases not only from asbestos exposure after another 20 - 30 years? A well specialized lawyer who deals with mesothelioma cases can help you maximize your compensation. However, in general mesothelioma has a latency period of 35-40 years from the time of exposure to asbestos to the actual development of symptoms.
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs
For more information and resource links on mesothelioma visit: Mesothelioma Lawyer
What Is Mesothelioma All About?
Pericardial mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma which attacks the pericardium surrounding the heart is extremely rare. In addition to these conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments, there are also various experimental treatments currently under investigation which offer new hope. Your lawyer will need to know the extent of damage and the stage of your cancer, so it is advisable to provide a medical report from your doctor to enable your lawyer to put together a solid mesothelioma lawsuit and get as much compensation as possible for you and your loved ones.
Diagnosis and Treatment If you know that you’ve been exposed to asbestos at the workplace or elsewhere, while it’s not advisable to panic, it is smart to be on the lookout for symptoms of mesothelioma so that it can be diagnosed as soon as possible. Let us begin by asking this simple question - what is mesothelioma. For pleural mesothelioma, either a full lung or the muscle below the lungs that help with breathing (the diaphragm) may be removed.
However, the options for relief and treatment of people with peritoneal mesothelioma have improved tremendously with ongoing research, especially if the cancer is diagnosed early and treated vigorously. Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims If you’ve been one of the increasing number of victims suffering from a heartbreaking mesothelioma problem or other asbestos-related illness, you have the right to be compensated for your horrifying experience. Control programs are very important to be carried out in workplaces where there are hazardous minerals like asbestos that can affect workers with severe pathologies such as malignant mesothelioma cancer, malignant lung cancer, asbestos related disease or asbestosis, among others.
Since mesothelioma usually has a latency period of 20-50 years where the illness is not apparent, most people with this cancer did not know about it until it was too late. Mesothelioma lawsuit records: Keep copies of all the documents that you hand over to your lawyer relating to your lawsuit. It is a proven fact, as 70% to 80% of the case histories of patient’s state that asbestos exposure in factories or industries leads to mesothelioma.
A medical team, including an oncologist, experienced in the particulars of mesothelioma can best determine what treatment options are must for each individual cancer victim. In around 80% of cases people who develop mesothelioma have worked in environments where they have been exposed to asbestos particles. In his book about mesothelioma, Kraus sets out how he beat the odds.
The 2 common types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen organs). The latency period (amount of time the disease takes to start taking effect) of mesothelioma is 30 - 50 years which is one of the reasons it is so difficult to cure because it is very difficult to tackle in its early stages. The physical and psychological strain of malignant mesothelioma can be severe, and western medical treatments meant to heal often cause unexpected and irritating side effects.
Followed by the Pleural Mesothelioma is the numbers of the Peritoneal Mesothelioma and then the rare type Pericardial Mesothelioma comes into the picture. It is important for anyone that is diagnosed with mesothelioma to seek legal assistance from an experienced mesothelioma lawyer without delay. This type of mesothelioma creates a tumor on the pleura - the sac which lines the chest cavity protecting the human lungs.
In Stage II Mesothelioma, surgery can still be executed although some lymph nodes may have already been infected by the malignant Mesothelioma cancer cells. Pericardial mesothelioma has a number of symptoms but these only start to take effect in the cancer’s latest stages when it is almost fully matured and developed.
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs
For more information and resource links on mesothelioma visit: Mesothelioma Lawyer
What You Should Know About Mesothelioma
It is important to stress that once you start experiencing the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma (shortness of breath, chest pains, coughing up blood, and palpitations) you should immediately seek specialized help.
The traditional treatments for mesothelioma include surgery if the tumor has spread out and is beyond radiation-curable radiation therapy (external and internal radiation), and chemotherapy, which includes using a pill or needle to insert anti-carcinogen drugs into the body. This treatment is generally used along with other treatments to strengthen the mesothelioma patient’s immune system.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of carcinoma of the membrane that lines numerous cavities of the body, including the lungs, abdomen and heart, and has been associated with exposure to asbestos dust. When exposed to asbestos, people can suffer from various diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plagues, etc. So much so, that an entire breed of lawyer has been born that specializes in, you guessed it, mesothelioma cases.
Because asbestos is so strongly linked to mesothelioma, regulations have been created to set limits on the amount of exposure to asbestos a worker can have in a workplace. In the past 20 years mesothelioma cases have shot up. Some of the procedures commonly used for the diagnosis of the peritoneal mesothelioma include peritoneoscopy, thoracoscopy, and biopsy.
Since Mesothelioma is primarily a personal injury occurring from the work place, those injured should be able to take action against irresponsible businesses that exposed its employees to this cancer-causing material. Learning about the stage of mesothelioma is a critical factor that helps physicians to decide the treatment plan.
In treating Mesothelioma, the anti-cancer drugs are usually given to the patient through intravenous injection (within the vein). Three different types of mesothelioma cancer attack these three different regions. Epithelial mesothelioma is most common.
But at present, there are various Mesothelioma law firms which are established in many countries of the world especially in those places where there is high percentage of mesothelioma, a cancer which is the result of high exposure to asbestos. A great deal of research is afoot to discover better management procedures for pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma patients seek immense psychological and social support through such treatment forums.
Even short term asbestos exposure will cause mesothelioma generally; the probability of developing this form of cancer is directly related to the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. When fibres are inhaled they become lodged in the alveoli of the lungs and over a period of time these fibres make tissue and cells abnormal and cause mesothelioma cancer. An asbestos attorney can be consulted for further litigation if the person is adversely affected by mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a serious malignant tumor that affects the torso of the human body. The mesothelioma prognosis is determined through physical examination and the results of a number of medical tests designed to evaluate the rare asbestos cancer. This exam will test a tissue sample for the presence of malignant and/or pleural mesothelioma.
Usually, a biopsy of the tumor is required to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma, however, sometimes only an effusion sample is needed. Once a mesothelioma prognosis is finally determined, then treating this aggressive and rare cancer can begin. If sufficient fibers are inhaled, this can lead to another type lung cancer called mesothelioma.
Individuals with a history of extended asbestos exposure are at the highest risk for developing malignant mesothelioma.
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an internet marketing advisor and co founder of Free Affiliate Programs
For more information and resource links on mesothelioma visit: Mesothelioma Lawyer
Liver Cancer - Incidence, Symptoms, Causation, Treatment and Prognosis
Liver cancer also known as primary or metastatic hepatic carcinoma is a fairly rare form of cancer in the western world (1% of all cancers) but much more common in Africa and parts of Asia (10% to 50% of all cancers).It is much more prevalent in men and incidence increases with age. Liver cancer is rapidly fatal, usually within 6 months from gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic failure or metastasis.
TYPES OF LIVE CANCER
Most primary liver tumors are known as hepatomas (hepatocellular carcinoma and primary lower cell carcinoma). Some primary liver cancers originate in the bile duct and these are known as cholangiomas.Some rare liver cancers include Kupffer cell sarcoma and hepatoblastomas (which occur almost exclusively in children and are usually respectable and curable). Metastatic liver cancer is 20 times more common than primary liver cancer and after cirrhosis this is the leading form of liver related death.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Liver cancer does not normally cause symptoms until it is in an advanced stage.
Clinical effects of advanced liver cancers include:
1. A mass in the right upper side.
2. Tender, nodular liver on palpation
3. Severe pain in the epigastrium or upper right side
4. Weight loss, anorexia, weakness, fever
5. Occasional jaundice or ascites (fluid in the abdomen)
CAUSATION
The exact cause of liver cancer is unknown in adults but in children it may be a genetic disease. Adult liver carcinomas may result from environmental exposure to carcinogens such as mold, contrast media (no longer in use), androgens and oral estrogens, the hepatitis B virus or by damage to the liver due to cirrhosis caused by too much prolonged imbibing of alcohol.
DIAGNOSIS
Liver cancer is difficult to diagnose in the presence of cirrhosis, but several tests can help identify it: The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans) and an elevated blood level of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, electrolyte studies may indicate increased sodium retention, a liver biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis.
TREATMENT
Treatments for primary liver cancer depend on the extent (stage) of the disease, age, overall health, feelings and personal preferences. Surgery is the most effective treatment for primary liver cancer, but this is not always possible due to the size or position of the tumor. Radiofrequency ablation is an option for people with small, unresectable hepatocellular tumors and for some types of metastatic liver cancers. During this procedure, the hepatic artery (the artery from which liver cancers derive their blood supply) is blocked, and chemotherapy drugs are injected between the blockage and the liver. Cryoablation may be an option for people with inoperable primary and metastatic liver cancers. Removing the whole liver and replacing it with a liver from another person is another possible form of treatment for primary liver cancer.
Even when treatments fail to provide much improvement in the liver cancer itself, pain and other signs and symptoms caused by liver cancer can be aggressively treated to improve quality of life. In general, the treatments available for children are the same as for adults, and the best approach depends on the stage and type of cancer as well as the child’s age and overall health.
PROGNOSIS
Prognosis is poor when cancer is advanced, but for small tumors that are confined to the liver, ablative therapies are palliative and surgical resection or liver transplantation is sometimes curative.
Dick Aronson has a background of over 35 years in various facets of the Healthcare industry. He set up and ran clinical trials in more than 20 countries and he has also founded a number of private health related businesses. Dick runs a number of health related sites which can be found at
Go to Health Innovations Online
Stomach Cancer, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis
Stomach cancer is common throughout the world and affects all races, it is more common in men than women, and has its peak age range between 40 and 60 years old. Stomach cancer mortality is higher in Japan and Chile, presumably because of the different diets in those countries where they are less dependent on red meat.
Over the last 25 years the incidence of stomach cancer in the western world has decreased by 50% and the resulting death rate is less than a third of what it used to be but in less developed countries it is still a major cause of death, probably because in these countries by the time the disease is diagnosed (usually by means of a Barium meal) the stomach cancer is at a very advanced stage.
TYPES OF STOMACH CANCER
There are several different types of stomach cancer, some of which are very rare. The most common types of stomach cancer start in the glandular cells of the stomach lining (adenocarcinomas), this is where stomach acid and digestive enzymes are made, and where most stomach cancers start. When the stomach cancer becomes more advanced, it can travel through the bloodstream and spread to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones. Stomach cancers that start in the lymphatic tissue (lymphoma), in the stomach muscular tissue (sarcoma) or in the tissues that support the organs of the digestive system (gastrointestinal stromal tumors) are less common and are treated in different ways.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Early clues to stomach cancer are chronic dyspepsia and epigastric discomfort, followed in later stages by weight loss, anorexia, a feeling of fullness after eating, anemia and fatigue. Blood in the stools may also be present and if the Cancer is in the Cardia (top) vomiting may occur.
CAUSATION
The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown although the presence of the Helicopter pylori bacterium seems to be a major factor. Predisposing factors include environmental influences such as smoking and high alcohol intake. Because stomach cancer is more common amongst those with a family history and with people with type A blood, genetic factors are also implicated. Dietary factors, particularly methods of food preservation such as pickling, smoking or salting also have an influence on the prevalence of stomach cancer.
DIAGNOSIS
Stomach cancer is diagnosed through an examination that may include an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series; endoscopy or gastroscopy where a thin flexible tube is passed down the throat so the doctor can see into the stomach, esophagus and upper part of the bowel Barium meals and Barium swallows. Because stomach cancer can spread to the liver, the pancreas, and other organs near the stomach as well as to the lungs, the doctor may order a CT scan, a PET scan, an endoscopic ultrasound exam, or other tests to check these areas.
Stomach cancer can spread (metastasize) to the esophagus or the small intestine, and can extend through the stomach wall to nearby lymph nodes and organs. Metastasis occurs in 80-90% of individuals with stomach cancer, with a five year survival rate of 75% in those diagnosed in early stages and less than 30% of those diagnosed in late stages.
TREATMENT
Although stomach cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, in many cases surgery is the treatment of choice. Even in patients whose disease is not considered surgically curable, resection offers a palliative effect and improves potential benefits from chemotherapy.
The nature and extent of the cancer determines what kind of surgery is most appropriate. Common surgical procedures include, partial and total removal of the stomach.
Antiemetics can control nausea, which increases as the cancer advances. In the more advanced stages, sedatives and tranquilizers may be necessary to control anxiety. Narcotics are commonly necessary to control sever and unremitting pain.
In some cases of advanced stomach cancer, a laser beam directed through an endoscope can vaporize most of the tumor and relieve obstruction without an operation.
PROGNOSIS
Stomach cancer is curable if detected early, but most people do not seek medical help until the disease is quite advanced, possibly because symptoms occur late and are often vague and non-specific. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidant vitamins (such as A and C) appears to lower the risk of stomach cancer. The rate of stomach cancer is about doubled in smokers so the cessation of smoking is essential.
In the United States and most of the Western world, the 5-year survival rate ranges from 5% to 15%. In Japan, where stomach cancer often is diagnosed early, the 5 year survival rate is about 50%. Five year survival rates for more advanced stomach cancers range from, around 20% for those with regional disease to almost nil for those with distant metastases.
Treatment for metastatic stomach cancer can relieve symptoms and sometimes prolong survival, but long remissions are not common. The survival of inoperable stomach cancer is usually only a few months if untreated. With chemotherapy the average survival is about 12 months. If cancer is found before it has spread, the five-year relative survival rate is about 61%.
Dick Aronson has a background of over 35 years in various facets of the Healthcare industry. He set up and ran clinical trials in more than 20 countries and he has also founded a number of small private health related businesses. Dick now runs a number of informative health websites Go to Health Innovations Online and Go to Cancer Information Online
Mesothelioma is a Deadly Cancer
Mesothelioma is considered to be the most deadly type of cancer that cannot be cured easily and the person who suffers from Mesothelioma do not survive for a long time as the lining of the internal organs like the heart, the lungs and the stomach is affected. This cancer is mainly caused by the exposure to asbestos or materials that contain asbestos. This cancer cannot be detected at an early stage as the symptoms of the disease can be seen only in the developed or the last stage. It is a malignant cancer that is the result of inhaling particles of damaged asbestos in the air which start damaging the lining of the internal organs.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The symptoms of Mesothelioma can be detected after 20 to 50 years of exposure. If the lining of the heart or the lungs is damaged then the most common problem that develops is breathing problem. This is due to the accumulation of fluid in the chest, which is known as Pleural Mesothelioma. The symptoms are totally different if the stomach lining is affected. The patient often complains of stomach ache, loses his appetite and other problems develop like problem in the bowel, frequent fever, anemia and other problems. Most of the people take these symptoms lightly and by the time they go to the doctor it is too late. After the disease is detected in most patients survive between 6 to 12 months.
Treatment for Mesothelioma
An effective treatment of this disease depends on several factors like, in which stage the cancer has been detected, what is the age of the patient, how much the cancerous cells have circulated and the general health condition of the patient, that is whether he is suffering from some other disease or not. It has been observed that chemotherapy is the only treatment available for these patients. It uses medicines, chemicals or drugs in a systematic manner to eradicate the cancerous cells. The medicine is either injected directly in the body or administered in pill forms.
In few cases the medicine is directly injected in chest. This is called intrapleural chemotherapy. If the lining of the stomach is affected then the medicine is inserted into the abdomen which is called intra peritoneal chemotherapy. The direct insertion is done to retard the formation of the cancerous cells. Patients are advised before the surgery and after the surgery to minimize the development of the cancerous cell.
The patient has to bear the pain of chemotherapy treatment to be cured and gain longevity or has to meet his end within 6-12 months. Now it is in the hands of the patient whether he will go for chemotherapy and have full faith of recovery.
April Kerr often writes for website Asbestos Removal and Advice and has details of how to remove asbestos floor tiles and asbestos attic insulation.
Kids Who Whip Cancer Face Heart Risks
It seems unfair, but it has recently been proven - children who survive cancer in early childhood go on to be at a hugely increased risk of heart disease. A 20-year study by the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study has recently been completed, and it has found that those who survived child cancer were up to 10 times more likely to have atherosclerosis, 6 times more likely to have heart failure, and 5 times more likely to have a heart attack than those who had a cancer-free childhood.
The study compared childhood cancer survivors, from as wide a variety of cancers as Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, brain tumors, kidney tumors, and lymphoma. It looked at the cancer survivors and their siblings, and found that, after 20 years, 2% of the cancer survivors had atherosclerosis, which was 10 times greater than their siblings, 4% of the survivors had congestive heart failure, which was 6 times the average in their siblings, and 5% of the survivors had a heart attack at some point, which was more than 5 times the number their siblings had. They were also found to have 6 times the number of cases of pericardial disease than their siblings, and 5 times the number of cases of valvular disease.
Even if the cancer survivors lead a healthier lifestyle, the increased risk still exists. They are said to be developing the sorts of disease that doctors normally only put on the radar for patients in their 40s and 50s. This means that cancer survivors need to be particularly aware of these risks, and let their doctors know their full medical history and the results of these findings, in order to help prevent any adverse effects from these heart diseases.
The reason that cancer survivors were fund to beat such a hugely increased risk of heart disease was because of the radiation and chemotherapy drugs used to treat the cancers. Radiation therapy kills off cancerous cells, and ‘largely’ leaves healthy tissue alone - but we all know that radiation can have varied and serious effects, and radiation therapy is no exception. One piece of good news with this though, is that as radiation therapy has been refined, it is now more targeted to the tumor and less likely to have adverse effects on the heart (unless, of course, the tumor is in close proximity to the heart).
Chemotherapy drugs are also touted as a cause of this increased risk of heart cancer in child cancer survivors. They have been found to damage the tissue of the heart - but unfortunately, as with radiation therapy, the techniques and drugs used today are largely the same as they were back in the 1970s, when the participants in this study were receiving their treatment.
The message of this article is not just doom and gloom for people who have already survived a great deal in their lives. It is important for these cancer survivors to realize that the impact of their childhood disease on their adult health can be reduced with regular checkups. Let your physician know that you are concerned about your heart health, and find out what tests you can regularly and safely undergo to screen you for early heart disease. You don’t necessarily need to see an oncologist for the rest of your life - just keep your GP informed. Maintain your healthy diet and lifestyle, and keep in constant contact with the medical profession - they have saved you before, they can do it again!
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