Posts Tagged ‘Cancer Cells’

Learn About the Stages of Ovarian Cancer Part I

Comments: 0December 22nd, 2011 by admin



In previous articles, we touched on various aspects of ovarian cancer such as symptoms, treatments (both alternative and conventional), and risks. But what are the stages of ovarian cancer?

The stages for ovarian cancer number 5, with stages I, II and III subdivided. Any discussion on stages must start with stage 0.

Stage 0 quite simply is the earliest stage that the cancerous cells have been detected at. The cancer is just forming and has not spread.

In stage I, the cancer is confined to either one or both ovaries and has not yet spread to other organs. This stage is divided into IA, IB, and IC.

In stage IA, the cancer is present inside one ovary. No cancer cells are present on the outside surface of the ovary or in the abdomen or pelvis. This is considered to be the earliest form of stage I cancer.

In stage IB, the cancer is present in both ovaries but there are still no cancer cells on the outer surfaces of the ovaries and none in the abdomen or pelvis.

Stage IC, is the most advanced form of stage I ovarian cancer. Cancer is present in either one or both of the ovaries. In addition, cancer cells may also be present on the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries. Cancer cells may have also been found in tissue samples from the abdomen.

In stage II, the cancer is present in either one or both ovaries but has also spread to other organs in the pelvis. These organs may include the bladder, rectum, uterus, Fallopian tubes or the sigmoid colon. This stage is again divided into IIA, IIB and IIC.

In stage IIA, the cancer has spread to the uterus or Fallopian tubes but cancerous cells are not yet present in the abdomen. Cancer is also in either one or both ovaries at this stage.

In the next division, stage IIB, the cancer has now spread to other pelvic organs such as the rectum or colon as well as uterus and is in the ovaries.

In stage IIC, the cancer has spread to the organs as noted above in IIB but may also be present in the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries

Stage IIA: With this stage, cancer is present in one or both of the ovaries and has spread into the uterus and/or Fallopian tubes. However, cancer cells are not present in the abdomen.

Stage IIB: With this stage, cancer is present in one or both of the ovaries and has spread to other pelvic organs, as the bladder, colon, rectum, or uterus.

Stage IIC: With this stage, cancer is present in one or both of the ovaries and has spread to either the uterus, Fallopian tubes, bladder, sigmoid colon, or rectum. In addition, cancer cells may also be present on the outer surfaces of one or both ovaries; the outer wall of a cystic ovarian tumor may have ruptured; or cancer cells may have been found in tissue samples from the abdomen.

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Looking For the Best Treatment Options For Prostate Cancer?

Comments: 0October 16th, 2010 by admin



Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect men. Just like Breast Cancer is a gender specific cancer affecting women, prostrate is limited to men. However, it is not limited in terms of the number of affected people it has as of now. Statistics show that one man out of every six in the United States is affected by Prostate Cancer. The beginnings of this cancer in men bring with it a variety of problems. Men suffer from various kinds of urination problems. There is excessive urination at night, and sometimes the urine is accompanied with blood. There is also pain during urination. Even sexual performance gets affected and there are problems during ejaculation.

While the detection of the cancer with the help of the symptoms during the initial stages is very useful, delay can cause a lot of problem. If the tumour is allowed to spread in the body for a long time, men can suffer from permanent bone pain in the pelvic area and the spine. The entire lymphatic system too gets damaged and can have severe effects. Therefore, the first and the foremost thing to be kept in mind for prostate cancer is to combat it as early as possible.

Treatments, irrespective of whatever kind they are, will obviously be more effective in the initial stages for the simple fact that the situation is still under control and has not worsened. However beyond that, treatments too at times can fail.

One of the most common treatments of Prostate Cancer is that of Androgen Deprivation, also known as ADT. Therapy under this is done with surgical castration. With the help of this treatment, the body stops producing testosterone. This helps a lot as testosterone gets converted to DHT, which is a cancer stimulant. And since there is reduced testosterone, there is reduction in the spread of the cancer too to its further stages.

Another famous treatment is that of Cryotherapy. This technique is based on the principle of killing cancer cells in the affected areas. There have initially been a lot of debates over the effectiveness of this technique. However it has come back to limelight in the recent times. But then there are risks involved too. With the use of this therapy, life saving chances can be good, but at the cost of sexual dysfunction, and some other complications.

Radical Prostatectomy is another popular treatment. This one is based on the removal of the root cause of the problem itself. Yes, this treatment removes the prostrate gland itself. However, it needs skilled surgeons and professionals. If this treatment is carried out in an improper manner, it can lead to impotence. Therefore, while the chances of ending the cancer with this treatment are high, the risks involved too are very high.

Certain other therapies and treatments such as those of the Radiation are also growing in popularity. The best kind of treatment that suits you will depend on the severity of your case, for which you need to consult a doctor.

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Oncogenes and Breast Cancer

Comments: 0May 1st, 2010 by admin



Proto-oncogenes are normal genes involved in making cells differentiate and divide. When these genes are mutated, they are then called oncogenes. Proto-oncogenes involved in breast cancer are mostly those that cause more cell division by making the cell cycle go faster and accelerate. They are involved in pushing cell division harder, stronger and faster.

One of the proto-oncogenes is related to the epidermal growth factor receptor. This receptor plays a vital role at certain times of the life cycle, such as puberty, when big changes are going on with body growth, wherein a protein known as epidermal growth factor functions to promote cell growth. This protein binds to an epidermal growth factor receptor and signals the cell to grow. When the proto-oncogene for the receptor is over expressed, it doesn’t wait for the epidermal growth factor receptor to tell it to grow. Instead, cells begin to grow independently, just like getting stuck in the “ON” position.

Another type of epidermal growth factor receptor is a subtype, the epidermal growth factor receptor 2. This receptor is more commonly known as Her-2/neu oncogene. The type of genetic alteration that Her-2/neu has in breast cancer is known as amplification. Instead of having only one copy during cell division, the cell makes numerous copies of this gene, about ten to sixty times more. Either the gene over expression or the extra protein can be measured in a woman’s cancer by examining the cancer tissue that has been resected. Since Her-2/neu oncogene encodes a growth factor receptor, it functions in signaling the cells to grow faster and faster, although it is not involved in cancer invasiveness. About 70 to 80 percent breast precancers have over expression of Her-2/neu oncogene. The cancer cells are still contained within the breast duct, but they have been programmed to grow much faster because of the over expression of such oncogene. Although Her-2/neu oncogene was first identified in breast cancer, research is also being done to see if it is also involved in other cancer types such as lung, pancreas and ovary cancer.

For breast cancer to have an invasive nature, it needs more than one genetic alteration. So long as there’s only over expression of Her-2/neu oncogene, the cancer will remain confined within the breast duct. If it requires other forms of genetic alterations, one that causes cancer cells to move out of the ductal region or make new blood vessels (angiogenesis), then it can spread. If the cancer patient has these invasive cancer alterations and one of the accelerated cancer growths, then it is worse. People with both of these genetic alterations have a worse prognosis than with only one type of alteration alone. Cancer not only requires excessive cancer cell proliferation, it also has to invade, grow new blood vessels and spread from the breast area.

One of the fascinating things that have happened in recent years is that there is now an antibody to counteract the Her-2/neu receptor, which can be given intravenously to breast cancer patients. It has quite a unique mechanism of action. It attaches only to cells with too much Her-2/neu receptor, not the normal ones, so that while it antagonizes Her-2/neu cells, it leaves the other cells unaffected. Unlike chemotherapy, with which case most dividing cells are destroyed, it is a targeted therapy. So far, this treatment has been used only in metastatic breast cancer, but it has implications for disease that hasn’t spread yet.

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Research Shows Acai Effective in Leukemia Treatment

Comments: 0September 25th, 2009 by admin



The University of Florida is the only group in the United States to perform any kind of study on the remarkable acai fruit and the benefits that it holds. It seems like the acai berry is more than just a fad — it does improve one’s health considerably and you can almost instantly feel the effect of its antioxidants on your body.Researchers at the University of Florida made a breakthrough discovery: they have found that acai berries contain properties that can destroy cancer cells, specifically leukemia cells. It is misleading to claim that acai berries can actually cure leukemia, but because of the findings of the study, it is believed that acai berries and products that contain them provide strong health and wellness benefits for people in the long run.First-time drinkers of acai juices have felt the extreme change in their well-being almost immediately. Acai juice has been known to decrease inflammation, improve digestive issues and skin problems, help with sexual dysfunction, and even improve sleep. This may be due to the several vitamins and nutrients that are found in the berries. Acai berries contain high levels of antioxidants, and are rich in Omega fatty acids, enzymes, protein, dietary fiber, and vitamin A, B1 and E. It is highly recommended to take acai in juice form. Acai berry juice has a high concentration of pure, fresh acai extracts so you feel more energetic and healthy.Before trying out acai, learn more about this miracle berry from www.truthaboutacai.com, your most complete source for everything acai.

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What Is Acute Myelogenous Leukemia?

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



AML, (acute myelogenous leukemia), is an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It is the most common type of leukemia. AML is also known by the following names-acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. Blood cells are malformed and useless. The cells can accumulate in parts of the body.

Acute myelogenous leukemia statistics

o Rare in people under 40 years old

o More common in men than in women

o Average age is 65 years old

o 5-year survival rate

o under 65 years old-33%

o over 65 years old-4%

o 2007 it is predicted there will be 13,000 cases (majority will be adults)

The symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia include abnormal blood counts, a general run-down, unwell feeling that never gets better, reoccurring infections, swollen lymph nodes, and bone/ joint pain. Symptoms are acute (comes on suddenly, and accelerates quickly) instead of chronic (mild symptoms that gradually worsen over years).

When the malformed cells collect around parts of the body, it can cause skin, lung, central nervous system, kidney, and even testicle problems. Initially, acute myelogenous leukemia may mimic other conditions. Blood tests identify the possibility of AML. The final diagnosis is usually made after a bone marrow test and sometimes by a spinal tap, also known as a lumbar (lower spine) puncture (LP).

There are several types treatments available, one or more will be used to treat a dignosis of AML.

Chemotherapy-strong drugs taken orally or intravenously that kills the cancer cells. Occasionally it’s injected directly into the spine. It is a systemic treatment because it travels throughout the whole body.

Radiation-high energy rays like X-rays kill the cancer cells

Bone marrow transplants-unhealthy cancer producing bone marrow is destroyed and replaced with matching bone marrow.

Immunotherapy-stimulates the immune system to destroy cancer cells or boosts natural defenses. It can be a made naturally or artificially.

Risk factors for AML

o Previous chemotherapy or radiation treatments

o Exposure to radiation and chemicals like benzene

o Genetic disorders like Downs Syndrome

o Smoking

o Blood disorders like myelodysplasia

People with risk factors should watch more closely for symptoms of AML because early treatment increases survival rate.

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5 Common Ways to Treat Cancer

Comments: 0January 20th, 2009 by admin



About 60% of humans in the world develop cancer in their life. Some of the cancer cells can grow and metastasize until upset normal bodily functions. It becomes one of the most frequent causes of human death.

Different types of cancer might induce varies of death rate. Usually, lung and pancreatic cancer are the worst! These two kinds of cancer will cause the death within a year. However, not all cancers are untreatable.

There are 5 common ways to treat cancer. Often, the objective of treatment is to cure the cancer. In other cases, the goal is to control the cancer disease or to reduce the symptoms. Because treatment for cancer can also damage healthy cells and tissues, it often causes side effects.

5 Common Ways to Treat Cancer

1) Surgery

Surgery is one of the cancer treatment methods that remove cancer by operation. This is the most common way to treat cancer. It is very rare that the cancer will spread the disease during the surgery. The cancer does not cause disease to be spread by exposing to the air.

Side effects:
a) Terrible pain
b) Tired and weak

2) Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses a radiation ray to kill cancer cells in a infected area. It can be done externally by a machine that aims the radiation at the targeted area. I can also be done internally by using needles, seeds, wires, and so on. The advantage of this treatment method is painless. Some people afraid that the external radiotherapy will cause the body become radioactive. In fact, there is no such thing happen. However, a patient treated with internal radiation may need to stay in the hospital and quarantine from others until the permanent implant goes down to a safe level.

Side effects:
a) Feel very tired in the later weeks of treatment
b) Radiotherapy kills most of the white blood cells that protecting the body against infection.
c) Hair loss in treated area
d) Skin become red, dry, tender, and itchy

3) Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a method that uses the drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. However, the healthy cells can also be harmed. The doctor may use one drug or a combination of drugs to fully control the cancer cells from spreading. The body will start to produce the normal cell after the chemotherapy is over.

Side effects:
a) Hair loss
b) Temporary fatigue
c) Poor appetite, nausea and vomiting

4) Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is a method that treats certain cancers with forbidding certain hormone from growth. This may include the use of drugs to stop the production of some hormones. Some hormone therapies even have to remove the hormone producing organ to stop the body from secreting the hormone anymore according to cancer research. For example, sometimes, we have to remove the ovary to treat the breast cancer. In some of the cases, the side effects of hormone therapy may be temporary or permanent.

Side effect:
a) Tired
b) Have fluid retention
c) Weight gain
d) Bone loss in premenopausal women

5) Biological therapy

Biological therapy is a method that uses our body immune system to fight the disease or to reduce the side effects of cancer treatment, directly or indirectly. This is the most suggested way to treat the cancer.

Side effects:
a) Cause flu-like symptoms
b) Bleed or bruise easily

The treatment of cancer may be only a method or a combination of methods. The best option is depending to the type and location of the cancer diseases. If the disease has spread to other parts of body, the combination methods might be used. Other factors are depending to the patients’ age, general health and so on. Patients may worry whether the side effects of treatment will become worse than the disease or not. Thus, patients and doctors will discuss the treatment options regarding the benefits of the treatment method and the risks of side effects.

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