Cancer Treatment Forums for people affected by Cancer

cancer treatment centers of America

Andi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:57:27 +0000

Nobody wants to wake up only to discover that they have cancer. However, if this is the case, it is important to seek out the very best treatment available to you. One of the best things to do once you have been diagnosed with cancer is to do your research not only about your specific type of cancer but about different cancer treatment centers of America. This way, you can find the help you need to get better. Such centers can offer you a great deal of physical and emotional help. The following are just some of the things you can gain from cancer treatment centers of America.

A treatment center that focuses on cancer is one that is sure to have the world’s best doctors. After all, this is a chance for such experts to really immerse themselves in their field. If you find the right cancer treatment centers of America for your type of cancer, you can find doctors who may can fully explain all of your treatment options. Here, too, you may find researchers working on cures and alternative types of medicine that could ease your pain, help you live a full life, and could even provide you with a cure. Thus, it is important to take the time to research cancer treatment centers of America so that you can receive the best possible care out there.

Another reason to research such centers is that it offers you the opportunity to meet likeminded individuals. At cancer treatment centers of America, you will not only find doctors specializing in cancer but you will find support groups and mental health professionals to help you deal with this life-changing diagnosis. Hearing that you have a life-threatening illness can really shake a person. To cope, you may need to talk to people who have gone through or are going through the same situation. Mental health professionals can help you regain or rebuild your hope, self esteem, and your relationships to friends and family members.

Thus, seeking out cancer treatment centers of America is a way to keep both your mind and your body as healthy as possible. If you talk with professionals who specialize in your specific type of cancer, you can learn all about the different treatment options that are available to you. Similarly, you can take the time to really process what this illness means and how to keep moving forward after such intense news.

cancer treatment centers of America

Cancer Treatment Options

Andi — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:51:49 +0000

There are a variety of cancer treatment options. There are also several factors which determine what type of treatments may be effective. The type of cancer and stage of the disease are two of the most critical elements that affect treatment options. This article provides an overview of some of the most common cancer treatment options currently available.

Chemotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that involves taking very strong drugs to fight cancer. It can be administered in pill form, as a liquid, through injections, or intraveneously (into your veins). Patients may receive chemo treatments at home, at a hospital, or at a clinic. The frequency and length of treatments is dependent on how the body reacts to the medicine, the type of chemotherapy being used, and also the type of cancer that’s being treated.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy waves or particles to get rid of or damage cancer cells within the body. Radiation is one of the most common cancer treatment options. The American Cancer Society reports that close to fifty percent of those with cancer will receive radiation as at least a part of their treatment plan. Radiation is a local treatment focused on the part of the body affected by the cancer rather than exposing the entire body to the treatment the way that chemo does.

Surgery is another one of the many cancer treatment options sometimes used to fight cancer. Curative surgery is frequently performed when it’s believed that a tumor is isolated enough that the majority of it can be removed. Debulking surgery also involves the removal of a tumor though the entire tumor is unable to be removed in this type of surgery. Chemo or radiation are typically used to further treat what’s left of the tumor following the debulking surgery. Palliative surgery is performed in an effort to make a cancer affected invidividual more comfortable . It may be used to help control pain for those with advanced cancer.

Targeted therapy is one of the newest cancer treatment options which focuses on keeping cancer cells from growing and spreading. A group of drugs and other substances are used to achieve this while doing minimum damage to normal cells. This is an area of cancer research receiving a lot of attention.

Immunotherapy is a treatment that involves the stimulation of the immune system to fight cancer smarter or more intensely. This is sometimes achieved by boosting the immune system with synthetic immune system proteins. This therapy is most commonly used to complement other types of treatments and in the treatment of early stage cancers.

Additional cancer treatment options include photodynamic, antiangiogenesis, gene, and alternative and complimentary therapies. Bone marrow and peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation are additional treatments oncologists may consider for specific types of cancer. Research continues to offer those affected by cancer options and hope.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

Andi — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:07:25 +0000

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Prostate cancer affects more men in America than any other cancer. It grows so slowly that often it is discovered too late. That is the best reason for all men over the age of 40 to get yearly prostate checks.

The treatments for prostate cancer vary and are determined on an individual basis depending on things like age, the stage of the cancer, and lifestyle factors. Some of the treatment options you and your doctor may choose are discussed here.

Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment known as interstitial, which means that the radiation is applied from inside the tissue. This type of radiation therapy can carry larger amounts of radiation to a concentrated area within the prostate gland.

Radiation
External radiation treatments have been proven very effective and have been used longer than brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. The purpose of external radiation therapy (often called EBRT) is to administer a specific area with as much radiation as possible without affecting any nearby organs. The reason radiation is such a common treatment for prostate cancer is that the high-energy waves that are applied cause damage to the DNA of the cancer cells.

Hormone Treatment
Prostate cancer is often treated with hormone therapy. The male hormone testosterone is what causes the growth of the prostate gland and other sex organ. This growth continues even after men have passed the age of puberty. Testosterone does not know the difference between healthy cells and cancerous cells, thus it can contribute to the growth of prostate cancer. In this kind of treatment, the testosterone is removed so that it can no longer help the growth of the cancerous cells.

Prostate Surgery
This is one of the oldest prostate cancer treatments and involves removing the prostate gland. It is used most often when it has been determined that the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.

Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a new prostate cancer treatment in which controlled freezing and then thawing are used to destroy the cancerous area. This process destroys the cancer cells through dehydration. Cryotherapy is used mostly on cancer that has proven to be resistant to radiation.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is usually used for prostate cancer that is well advanced and has metastasized to other areas. Chemotherapy is generally not prescribed unless other treatments like surgery or cryotherapy have been tried and have failed. Chemotherapy is effective because it can damage cells badly enough to make them die, however, the damage that it causes is not limited to the cancerous cells.

A website called the Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide and WebMD are good sources of more detailed information about prostate cancer and its treatments.

Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy

Andi — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:00:09 +0000

Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy

Coping with cancer in a loved one can be a difficult and trying event. Fortunately modern medicine has been able to provide those who are diagnosed with this devastating illness several cancer treatment options. The following article will discuss one of most popular cancer treatments: chemotherapy.

Chemo or Chemotherapy is a viable option for those who at best may be able to cure, or at least control their cancer. Chemotherapy cancer treatment can be a combination of particular treatment methods or just one method alone.

Cancer is essentially radical, out of control cell growth in the body. Cancer cells can show up anywhere, and divide and multiply very rapidly often creating harmful tumors. Chemotherapy drugs work by slowing and undoing radical cell growth in the body. The main goal of chemotherapy treatment is to kill as many radical cancer cells as possible.

Cancer treatment methods via chemotherapy include surgery to physically remove cancer, drugs and pills, and/or x-ray therapy. Drugs may be administered at home if in pill form, but usually chemotherapy drugs are taken intravenously through the veins with an IV. This means the patient will have to receive their chemotherapy treatment from a health care professional like a nurse for instance.

In addition to chemotherapy drugs being very powerful in a good way, this cancer treatment also affects all the cells in your body (not just cancer cells) and a person receiving chemo can experience adverse side effects. Common side effects from chemotherapy are:

-feeling weak and tired
-hair loss
-dry skin with sores
-stomach sickness with vomiting and diarrhea

Fortunately many of the side effects associated with chemotherapy can be prevented and treated easily. Drugs may be prescribed to help ease stomach discomfort and lessen vomiting. Also, special drugs called growth factors may be given to help rebuild bone marrow, the cause for feeling weak or tired.

Often times many people are able to continue their normal lives and even work while taking chemotherapy, while others may need to be hospitalized for all or some of the time they are receiving treatment. Every one reacts differently to chemotherapy cancer treatment. Recovering from cancer treatment can be challenging, but support from loved ones and friends can make a world of difference.

Health Check 7: Skin Cancer Most Common Type – WSAW

"skin cancer" - Google News — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:47:40 +0000

4ni.co.uk

Health Check 7: Skin Cancer Most Common Type
WSAW, WI

This 7th of May, we focus on skin cancer. This time of year area residents understandably want to get outside and spend time in the sun. But if that's the case, you should apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 every two hours. "In addition to sunscreen, …
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center Offers Free Skin Tests Next Week Hunterdon County Democrat
Skin-cancer screening set for NAC Canada.com
Does Your Sunscreen Really Have You Covered? Market Wire (press release)
all 13 news articles

Prevent breast cancer, get skin cancer? – RealSelf.com

"skin cancer" - Google News — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:34:11 +0000

RealSelf.com

Prevent breast cancer, get skin cancer?
RealSelf.com, WA

Unfortunately, says the ASDS, the recommendation to boost sun exposure may cause more harm than good (eg increase the risk of skin cancer). ASDS President Robert A. Weiss, MD lists the following ways to increase your vitamin D 1. ...

genvec Reports First Quarter 2009 Financial Results – PR Newswire (press release)

"Esophageal Cancer" - Google News — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:27:01 +0000

genvec Reports First Quarter 2009 Financial Results
PR Newswire (press release), NY

tnferade has also been and is currently being evaluated for its potential use in the treatment of several other cancers, including esophageal cancer, rectal cancer, and head and neck cancer. genvec also uses its proprietary adenovector technology to ...

Austin doctors offering free skin cancer screenings this weekend – CBS 42

"skin cancer" - Google News — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:19:40 +0000

Austin doctors offering free skin cancer screenings this weekend
CBS 42, TX

When detected early and treated properly, even melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer is curable. That's why Austin doctors are offering up their free time to help save a life. Saturday, May 9, dermatologists will be doing free screenings for …
Cancer screenings May 26 Vallejo Times-Herald
all 2 news articles

Armstrong not banking on Giro – RTE.ie

"Testicular Cancer" - Google News — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:55:24 +0000

Armstrong not banking on Giro
RTE.ie, Ireland

Armstrong has set himself modest targets, with his focus on the Tour de France, the event he dominated from 1999 to 2005 after his recovery from testicular cancer. 'I'd love to win a stage,' he added. 'I don't know if I can or I'm fit enough but I'd ...

Mozobil™ Increases Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvests … – Cancer Consultants

"Hodgkin's lymphoma" - Google News — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:33:17 +0000

Mozobil™ Increases Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvests ...
Cancer Consultants, ID

Mozobil was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in December of 2008 for use with Neupogen for mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma. A Phase II study suggested that ...