Thursday, April 29, 2010
Treatment
Treatment for stomach cancer may be surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. You'll probably obtain more than one type of treatment. For example, chemotherapy may be provided before or after surgery. It's often provided at the same time as radiation therapy.
Surgery
The kind of surgery for stomach cancer depends mainly on where the cancer is located. The surgeon may remove the entire stomach or only the part that has the cancer.
Many people who have stomach surgery believe tired or weak for a while. Health care team will observe for signs of bleeding, infection, or other problems that may require treatment.
The surgery can also reason constipation or diarrhea. These symptoms generally can be controlled with diet changes and medicine.
Chemotherapy
The majority of the people with stomach cancer get chemotherapy. Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill cancer cells.
It may be provided before or after surgery. After surgery, radiation therapy may be provided along with chemotherapy.
The drugs that treat stomach cancer are regularly given through a vein (intravenous). You'll probably get a combination of drugs.
You may obtain chemotherapy in an outpatient part of the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home. Some people require staying in the hospital during treatment.
The side effects depend mostly on which drugs are given and how much. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells, but the drugs can also harm normal cells that separate rapidly:
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy (also named as radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the region of the body that is treated. Radiation therapy is generally given with chemotherapy to treat stomach cancer.
The radiation appears from a large machine outside the body. You'll go to a hospital or consulting room for treatment. Treatments are generally 5 days a week for several weeks.
Side effects depend mainly on the dose and form of radiation. External radiation therapy to the chest and abdomen may cause a painful throat, pain similar to heartburn, or pain in the stomach or the intestine. You may contain nausea and diarrhea. Health care team can give medicines to prevent or manage these problems.
It's general for the skin in the treated area to become red, dry, tender, and itchy.
You're likely to become very tired during radiation therapy, particularly in the later weeks of treatment. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to try to stay active, unless it directs to pain or other problems.
Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be distressing, doctor can usually treat or manage them. Also, side effects usually exit away after treatment ends.
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
Treatment for stomach cancer may be surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. You'll probably obtain more than one type of treatment. For example, chemotherapy may be provided before or after surgery. It's often provided at the same time as radiation therapy.
Surgery
The kind of surgery for stomach cancer depends mainly on where the cancer is located. The surgeon may remove the entire stomach or only the part that has the cancer.
- Partial (subtotal) gastrectomy for tumors at the lower part of the stomach: The surgeon takes away the lower region of the stomach with the cancer. The surgeon connects the remaining part of the stomach to the intestine. Nearby lymph nodes and further tissues may also be removed.
- Total gastrectomy for tumors at the upper part of the stomach: The surgeon removes the whole stomach, nearby lymph nodes, parts of the esophagus and small intestine, and other tissues near the tumor. Occasionally the spleen also may be removed. The surgeon then joins the esophagus directly to the small intestine.
Many people who have stomach surgery believe tired or weak for a while. Health care team will observe for signs of bleeding, infection, or other problems that may require treatment.
The surgery can also reason constipation or diarrhea. These symptoms generally can be controlled with diet changes and medicine.
Chemotherapy
The majority of the people with stomach cancer get chemotherapy. Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill cancer cells.
It may be provided before or after surgery. After surgery, radiation therapy may be provided along with chemotherapy.
The drugs that treat stomach cancer are regularly given through a vein (intravenous). You'll probably get a combination of drugs.
You may obtain chemotherapy in an outpatient part of the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home. Some people require staying in the hospital during treatment.
The side effects depend mostly on which drugs are given and how much. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells, but the drugs can also harm normal cells that separate rapidly:
- Blood cells: When drugs lower the levels of healthy blood cells, you're more expected to get infections, bruise or bleed simply, and feel very weak and tired. Health care team will verify for low levels of blood cells. If levels are low, health care team may stop the chemotherapy for a while or reduce the dose of the drug. There are also medicines that can help body to generate new blood cells.
- Cells in hair roots: Chemotherapy may cause hair loss and if you lose hair, it will grow back after treatment, but the color and texture may be varied.
- Cells that line the digestive tract: Chemotherapy can cause a diarrhea, poor appetite, mouth and lip sores and nausea and vomiting. Health care team can give medicines and advise other ways to help with these problems. They generally go away when treatment ends.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy (also named as radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the region of the body that is treated. Radiation therapy is generally given with chemotherapy to treat stomach cancer.
The radiation appears from a large machine outside the body. You'll go to a hospital or consulting room for treatment. Treatments are generally 5 days a week for several weeks.
Side effects depend mainly on the dose and form of radiation. External radiation therapy to the chest and abdomen may cause a painful throat, pain similar to heartburn, or pain in the stomach or the intestine. You may contain nausea and diarrhea. Health care team can give medicines to prevent or manage these problems.
It's general for the skin in the treated area to become red, dry, tender, and itchy.
You're likely to become very tired during radiation therapy, particularly in the later weeks of treatment. Resting is important, but doctors usually advise patients to try to stay active, unless it directs to pain or other problems.
Although the side effects of radiation therapy can be distressing, doctor can usually treat or manage them. Also, side effects usually exit away after treatment ends.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Kidney cancer is also called as Renal Cell Carcinoma. It is more general in men than women, commonly affecting men older than 55.
Why the cells become cancerous is not identified. A history of smoking greatly increases the risk for developing the kidney cancer.
Some people may also have inherited an increased risk to increase renal cell carcinoma, and a family history of kidney cancer increases the risk.
People with von Hippel-Lindau disease, a hereditary disease that affects the capillaries of the brain, usually also develop renal cell carcinoma.
Kidney disorders that need dialysis for treatment also increase the risk for developing renal cell carcinoma.
The primary symptom is usually blood in the urine. Sometimes both kidneys are concerned. The cancer metastasizes (spreads) without difficulty, most often to the lungs and other organs, and about one-third of patients have metastasis at the time of diagnosis.
Symptoms:
Surgical removal of all or part of the kidney (nephrectomy) is suggested. This may comprise removal of the bladder or surrounding tissues or lymph nodes.
Radiation therapy is not commonly used for treatment of renal cell carcinoma because it is generally not successful. Hormone treatments may reduce the growth of the tumor in various cases.
Medications such as alpha-interferon and interleukin have been successful in reducing the growth of some renal cell carcinomas, counting some with metastasis. Chemotherapy may be used in some cases, but cure is suspect unless all the cancer can be removed with surgery.
Prevention:
Reduce or quitting smoking is an important factor of reducing the risk of getting kidney cancer. Follow the health care provider's recommendations in the treatment of kidney disorders, particularly those that may require dialysis.
Why the cells become cancerous is not identified. A history of smoking greatly increases the risk for developing the kidney cancer.
Some people may also have inherited an increased risk to increase renal cell carcinoma, and a family history of kidney cancer increases the risk.
People with von Hippel-Lindau disease, a hereditary disease that affects the capillaries of the brain, usually also develop renal cell carcinoma.
Kidney disorders that need dialysis for treatment also increase the risk for developing renal cell carcinoma.
The primary symptom is usually blood in the urine. Sometimes both kidneys are concerned. The cancer metastasizes (spreads) without difficulty, most often to the lungs and other organs, and about one-third of patients have metastasis at the time of diagnosis.
Symptoms:
- Blood in the urine
- Abnormal urine color ( rusty, dark or brown)
- Back pain
- Flank pain
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss, more than 5% of body weight
- Emaciated, lean, malnourished appearance
- Swelling or bulge of the abdomen
- Growth of one testicle
- Vision abnormalities
- Paleness
- Cold intolerance
- Excessive hair grown (females)
- Constipation
Surgical removal of all or part of the kidney (nephrectomy) is suggested. This may comprise removal of the bladder or surrounding tissues or lymph nodes.
Radiation therapy is not commonly used for treatment of renal cell carcinoma because it is generally not successful. Hormone treatments may reduce the growth of the tumor in various cases.
Medications such as alpha-interferon and interleukin have been successful in reducing the growth of some renal cell carcinomas, counting some with metastasis. Chemotherapy may be used in some cases, but cure is suspect unless all the cancer can be removed with surgery.
Prevention:
Reduce or quitting smoking is an important factor of reducing the risk of getting kidney cancer. Follow the health care provider's recommendations in the treatment of kidney disorders, particularly those that may require dialysis.
Monday, April 26, 2010
The best way to prevent skin cancer is to defend your skin from the sun.
Protect your skin from the sun today to help avoid skin cancer later in life. Most skin cancer appears after age 50, but spoil from the sun can start during childhood.
Staying out of the sun and by sunscreen can also help prevent:
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the major cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also arrive from tanning booths or sunlamps.
Anyone can get skin cancer. The risk is main for people with:
You are at higher risk for the most unsafe kind of skin cancer if you have:
- 1. Stay in the shade as much as probable between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
2. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.
3. Cover up with lengthy sleeves and a hat.
Protect your skin from the sun today to help avoid skin cancer later in life. Most skin cancer appears after age 50, but spoil from the sun can start during childhood.
Staying out of the sun and by sunscreen can also help prevent:
- 1. Wrinkles
2. Blotchy or spotty skin
3. Other damage caused by the sun
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the major cause of skin cancer. UV radiation can also arrive from tanning booths or sunlamps.
Anyone can get skin cancer. The risk is main for people with:
- 1. White or light-colored skin with freckles
2. Blond or red hair.
3. Blue or green eyes
You are at higher risk for the most unsafe kind of skin cancer if you have:
- 1. Unusual moles
2. Large number of moles
Labels: Health care tips
