Lung cancer formation

January 20, 2018

Lung cancer formation: Types of lung cancer

Lung cancer formation. When a member of the family is affected, the whole family is too and a collective support is necessary

It is believed that lung cancer formation starts right in the lungs and then spreads to other parts of the body. This disease starts in the walls of the lungs airways scientifically known as bronchi or bronchioles or in the air sacs known as alveoli. Once present, the lung cancer stages advances to other body parts. A patient can identify lung cancer from certain symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, bloody mucus and wheezing. This disease can be treated using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. With the help of experts from AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, we will be discussing these progressively. In the meantime, we have over 20 types of lung cancers with the two major ones being non-small cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer formation: Non-small cell lung cancer

Adenocarcinoma is the most common kind of non-small cell lung cancer with up to 40% cases. It affects mostly smokers or those who had quitted smoking. It also top the list of among non-smokers. Women are more vulnerable to this cancer than men. It can spread rapidly to the lymph nodes, bones, or other organs like the liver.

Squamous cell carcinoma. This often starts in the lung’s largest branches, also known as central bronchi. It accounts for about 30% of all lung cancer cases with men being more vulnerable besides smokers. It may form a cavity within the tumor and can cause the patient to cough up some blood. Squamous cell carcinoma can also spread to the lymph nodes, bones, and other organs such as the liver.

Large-cell carcinomas are a group of cancers with large cells that tend to start along the lungs’ outer edges. They’re fewer than adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, making up 10%-15% of lung cancers. This type of tumor can grow faster and often spreads to nearby lymph nodes and distant parts of the body.

Lung cancer formation: Small cell lung cancer

This is the most destructive form of lung cancer. It begins from the lungs’ large, central bronchi. It affects mostly the smokers and spreads rapidly to other parts of the body like the liver, brain and bones even before showing symptoms. Secondhand tobacco smoke is also a cause. People who live with someone who smokes are 20% to 30% more likely to get lung cancer than those who live in a smoke-free home.

Finally, some other chemicals are risky too. Like for instance, people who work with asbestos or are exposed to uranium dust or the radioactive gas radon are more likely to get lung cancer, especially if they are smoking cigarette. Lung tissue that was scarred by a disease or infection like tuberculosis or scleroderma, becomes at risk for tumors in that tissue. Hypothetically, some researchers think that diet may also influence your risk. But that’s not clear yet.

Lung cancer formation: Types of lung cancer

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Regional recurrence cure

January 20, 2018

Regional recurrence cure: Breast cancer diagnosis

Regional recurrence cure for a more comfortable life

Like with other treatments of other types of cancer, in most cases, the regional recurrence cure may involve the use of surgery, radiation therapy and drug treatments. For a better understanding of a regional breast cancer recurrence treatment procedures, let’s discuss each briefly.

Surgery. When the cancer cells has been identified, surgery is the best for this treatment. The surgeon operates the patient to remove the tumor. In the process, he/she may also remove the lymph nodes under arm if they’re still present.

Radiation therapy. Occasionally radiation therapy may be used after surgery. However, where surgery isn’t the suitable procedure, radiation therapy may be used as the main treatment for a regional breast cancer recurrence.

Drug treatments. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy and may be recommended as the main treatment or may follow surgery or radiation.

Regional recurrence cure: Metastatic breast cancer

This disease has a variety of treatment options. The ideal option will depend on the stage of the cancer. A series of treatment options may be applied where the patient fails to respond positively. It is important to appreciate that the main objective of treatment here is not to cure the disease. This is a life prolonging treatment as it only relieves the patient from symptoms caused by cancer. The focus here is to help the patient live as comfortable and for as long as possible. Treatments may include:

Hormone therapy. For those patients whose cancer is hormone receptor positive, hormone therapy will be essential. This treatment approach has minimal side effects in relation to chemotherapy. This makes it to be the first treatment used for metastatic breast cancer.

Chemotherapy. Where the patient cancer is hormone receptor negative or if hormone therapy is no longer working, chemotherapy may be recommended.

Targeted therapy. If your cancer cells have certain characteristics that make them vulnerable to targeted therapy, this medication may be recommended.

Bone-building drugs. This becomes applicable where the cancer has spread to the bones. It helps in reducing the risk of broken bones and also reduces bone pain.

Other treatments. Radiation therapy and surgery may be used in certain situations to control signs and symptoms of advanced breast cancer.

Regional recurrence cure: Alternative medicine

As we look into this, it is important to note that this is not a replacement of the mainstream breast cancer treatment. In fact alternative medicine treatments doesn’t cure breast cancer. Nevertheless, complementary and alternative medicine therapies are essential in helping patients cope with side effects of treatment when combined with the doctor’s care. Like for instance, most cancer patients are distressed which brings about sadness and worries. In such condition, sleep and feeding or even concentration becomes difficult. This is where the complementary and alternative treatments come in. according to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, the following alternative treatments can be very helpful:

Yoga
Relaxation exercises
Music therapy
Meditation
Exercise
Dance or movement therapy
Art therapy

At AWAREmed health center, this is what we do best. If you are struggling with such pain, we would like to help you the best way we can. Give us a call today and let us be part of your healing success.

Regional recurrence cure: Breast cancer diagnosis

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Recurrent breast tumor

January 20, 2018

Recurrent breast tumor diagnosis: The remnants of cancer cells

Recurrent breast tumor. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor which is a collection of cancer cells arising from the cells of the breast.

Recurrent breast tumor diagnosis is essential in addressing the underlying problem. Therefore from the mammogram, physical exam or just by way of signs and symptoms and investigations findings, if the doctor suspects that you may having some traces of recurrent breast he or she may recommend further additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. Some of the tests and procedures may include:

Imaging tests. The kind of imaging test the patient will undergo will depend on the individual situation. Nonetheless, the Imaging tests may include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan, X-ray, bone scan or positron emission tomography (PET) scan. It must however be noted that not every patient needs every test. The doctor will determine which tests are most helpful in your particular situation.

Removing a sample of tissue for lab testing (biopsy). The doctor may recommend a biopsy procedure to collect suspicious cells for testing. Working in a laboratory, a pathologist examines the cells and determines the types of cells involved. A pathologist will then determine if the cancer is a recurrence of cancer or a new type of cancer. Tests also show whether the cancer is sensitive to hormone treatment or targeted therapy.

Recurrent breast tumor diagnosis: Treatment

Every patient has their unique treatment plan and this will depend on a number of factors. Like for instance, the extent of the disease, its hormone receptor status, the type of treatment you received for your first breast cancer and your overall health. Besides these, the doctor will also considers the patients goals and preferences for treatment.

Recurrent breast tumor diagnosis: Treating a local recurrence

Treatment for a local recurrence typically starts with an operation and may include radiation if the patient haven’t had it before. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy may also be recommended as well.

Surgery. When the recurrent breast cancer is confined to the breast, treatment will involves removing any remaining breast tissue. However, if the first cancer was treated with lumpectomy, the doctor may recommend a mastectomy to remove the remaining breast tissue like lobules, ducts, fatty tissue, skin and nipple.

If your first breast cancer was treated with mastectomy and the cancer comes back in the chest wall, you may have surgery to remove the new cancer along with a margin of normal tissue. A local recurrence may be accompanied by hidden cancer in nearby lymph nodes. Therefore, the surgeon may remove some or all of the nearby lymph nodes if they weren’t removed during your initial treatment.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. If you didn’t have radiation therapy for your first breast cancer, your doctor may recommend it now. But if you had radiation after a lumpectomy, radiation to treat the recurrence isn’t usually recommended because of the risk of side effects.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy after surgery to reduce your risk of another cancer recurrence.

Hormone therapy. Medications that block the growth-promoting effects of the hormones estrogen and progesterone may be recommended if your cancer is hormone receptor positive.

Recurrent breast tumor diagnosis: The remnants of cancer cells

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Recurrent breast cancer

January 19, 2018

Recurrent breast cancer: The remnants of cancer cells

Recurrent breast cancer and as the name suggest, is that type of breast cancer that reappears after the initial treatment

Recurrent breast cancer, and as the name suggest, is that type of breast cancer that reappears after the initial treatment. It is true that, the initial treatment is aimed at eliminating all cancer cells, nonetheless, a few may evade treatment and survived. These undetected cancer cells then multiplies which eventually becomes recurrent breast cancer. They may occur months or years after your initial treatment. The cancer may come back in the same place as the original cancer (local recurrence), or it may spread to other areas of your body (distant recurrence). It is not an easy experience to go through this especially after the treacherous dealings with the initial diagnosis. Speaking to doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President and founder of AWAREmed health and wellness resource center, when this happens, all is not lost. With good treatment, all the local, regional or distant recurrent breast cancer can be eliminated. But if complete treatment is not possible, the disease can be put in check for a longer period of time.

Signs and symptoms of recurrent breast cancer vary depending on where the cancer comes back. Like for instance:

Recurrent breast cancer: Local recurrence

Under this, the reappearance of cancer takes place in the same area where the original cancer was. For those who undergone lumpectomy, the cancer could recur in the remaining breast tissue. Yet for those who undergone mastectomy, the cancer could recur in the tissue that lines the chest wall or in the skin. Signs and symptoms of local recurrence within the same breast include:

A new lump in your breast or irregular area of firmness
Changes in the skin of the breast
Skin inflammation or area of redness
Nipple discharge

Signs and symptoms of local recurrence on the chest wall after a mastectomy include:

One or more painless nodules on or under the skin of your chest wall
A new area of thickening along or near the mastectomy scar

Recurrent breast cancer: Regional recurrence

This happens when the cancer reappears in the nearby lymph nodes. You could look for the following as signs and symptoms; a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes located:

Under the arm
Next to the collarbone
In the neck
In the groove above your collarbone

Recurrent breast cancer: Distant recurrence

This recurrence happens when the cancer has traveled or spread to distant parts of the body, most commonly the bones, liver and lungs. The possible signs and symptoms include:

Weight loss
Severe headaches
Seizures
Persistent cough
Persistent and worsening pain, such as chest or bone pain
Loss of appetite
Difficulty breathing

Finally, with all these frustrations, when is the right time to see a doctor? Immediately after completing breast cancer treatment, there will be sessions of scheduled follow-up exams. It is during this time that your doctor checks for any signs of cancer recurrence. And on your part, you must be very observant and report any strange feelings however negligible.

Recurrent breast cancer: The remnants of cancer cells

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Pagets disease treatment

January 19, 2018

Pagets disease treatment: The genesis treating breast cancer

Pagets disease treatment is necessary beacause, the mere mention of the disease cancer is enough to send shock waves

If you have Paget’s disease of the breast, surgery is the most likely treatment approach you will need. And in addressing Pagets disease treatment, the type of surgery will depends on the condition of the skin around your nipple and how advanced the underlying cancer is. Such surgical options include:

Simple mastectomy. This is a procedure which involves the removing of the entire breast excluding the lymph nodes in the armpit (axillary lymph nodes). This procedure is essential in cases where there is an underlying breast cancer which has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Lumpectomy. Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) involves removing only the affected portion of the breast. Under this procedure, the surgeon removes the nipple and areola along with a wedge- or cone-shaped section of the breast. The surgeon focuses on removing as little breast tissue as possible, while ensuring that the tissue removed includes an outer margin free of cancer cells so that only healthy cells remain.

Lumpectomy to treat Paget’s disease of the breast requires follow-up radiation therapy. Lumpectomy wouldn’t be recommended if you can’t have radiation therapy for some reason. Most women have nipple reconstruction after their treatment.

Pagets disease treatment: Adjuvant therapy

Upon the completion of the operation, the surgeon may recommend an additional treatment (adjuvant therapy) with anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy), radiation therapy or hormone therapy to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer. The patient’s specific treatment will depend on the stage of the cancer and whether the tumor tests positive for certain characteristics, such as having estrogen or progesterone receptors.

Pagets disease treatment: Coping and support

The mere mention of the disease cancer is enough to send shock waves. But one is eventually diagnosed with breast cancer, the pressure may be unbearable bot to the direct and indirect victims. Adjusting to this piece of news is not easy. At this point, you will need to have some tailored ways of coping with the diagnosis. You may try several things until you find what works well for you. The following can be helpful:

Get to know all the information about your new condition. Schedule an appointment with your doctor and ask all the questions you have. Ask even if you think a given question may not be relevant. Questions about your breast cancer, the type, stage and hormone receptor status. This kind of knowledge will make you feel confident to face the treatment well.

Talk with other breast cancer survivors. People who had been in this before can be very helpful in encouragement and support.

Find someone to talk with. Do not feel pity for yourself, instead find a friend or family member who is a good listener or talk to or a clergy member or counselor.

Keep your friends and family close. Your friends and family can provide a crucial support network for you during your cancer treatment.

Take care of yourself. Love life and keep doing the things you like. Sleep well, feed on healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, make time for gentle exercise on days you feel up to it, and find time for things you enjoy, such as reading or listening to music. And finally, keep consulting with the experts. You can call AWAREmed health and wellness resource center for more professional help.

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