Archive for the ‘Cancer’ Category

Breast Cancer Reconstruction

January 30th, 2010 admin

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American women. In 2009, approximately 194,280 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 62,280 with carcinoma in situ. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 79,500 women underwent breast reconstruction surgery post-mastectomy in 2008. Approximately 70% of these women had their breast(s) reconstructed with expander/implant(s), whereas the other 30% had autologous breast(s) reconstructed by one of the various flap procedures.

Expander/implant procedures are relatively safe and simpler to perform, and take approximately two hours of operative time per breast. During the first surgery, often done at the same time as the mastectomy, an expander is inserted underneath the pectoralis (chest) muscle. Patients usually stay overnight in the hospital for strong pain medications (narcotics) given in the intravenous line. The next day or the following day, when the pain can be controlled with pain medications by mouth, then the patient may go home. Over the next few months, the expander is inflated gradually in the plastic/reconstructive surgeon’s office. Eventually, when the desired size is achieved, the patient returns to the operating room to have the expander(s) removed and replaced with implant(s). Complications in breast reconstruction are approximately three-fold higher than in breast augmentation (implant done for cosmetic purpose). Reconstruction patients, especially those undergoing radiation therapy, experience numerous problems, with capsular contracture being the most common. In 2008, more than 14,000 procedures were performed in reconstruction patients to remove the original implants. Even in successful cases, implants do need to be replaced (by surgery) periodically.

In contrast to implants, autologous breast(s) reconstructed by one of the various flap procedures are meant to last “forever”. Flap procedures generally require lengthy, more complex and costly operations, 4-5 day hospital stays, and 4-6 weeks of outpatient rehabilitation. The patient’s own tissue from the donor site (abdomen, back or buttock) is brought in to fill the void left by the mastectomy, above the pectoralis chest muscle. The choices are: 1) free TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous) flaps from the abdomen, 2) pedicled TRAM, 3) free DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flaps from the abdomen, 4) pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps (from the back), and 5) free gluteal flaps (from the buttock). “Free” flaps mean that the flap blood vessels have to be re-connected with blood vessels in the chest using microsurgical techniques, and the plastic/reconstructive surgeon needs to have this special training. “Pedicled” means that the flap tissue retains its original blood supply, and no microsurgical reconnection is needed. The patient then has one or more permanent large scar(s) at the donor site(s) and depending on the type of procedure performed, some experience physical impairment.

The decision for reconstruction is complex, and highly individualized. The patient should be well informed and think carefully about her priorities. Sometimes, the patient may be better served by dealing with the cancer first, and delaying the reconstruction surgery until all cancer treatments are finished. Other times, it may be most efficacious to combine mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in one operation.

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Breast Pain Problems

January 30th, 2010 admin

One myth of breast cancer is that is does not hurt. Most of the time breast pain comes from non-cancer causes, such as hormonal changes. With IBC there is pain involved more so than other types of breast cancer.

Breast problems in women include a variety of benign and malignant disorders. Breast pain, nipple discharge and a solid mass are the most common breast problems about which every woman must be aware.

Breast pain is very common – perhaps all women have it at some time. It is common to have painful, heavy, swollen breasts before a menstrual cycle. Both breasts get affected at the same time and one may feel some kind of discomfort in the armpit or upper arm. In some women, the pain is so severe that they might have to have to wear a bra at night. The problem usually starts in the 20s and 30s, and ends by menopause.

Breast tenderness occurs due to the many changes which your breasts undergo during your pregnancy. Your breasts begin to grow and change in preparation to feeding your baby. Your breasts are growing and the breast skin is stretching (which may cause stretch marks and sagginess). During your first pregnancy your breasts may grow up to two cup sizes. You may feel itching all over your breasts and a great sensitivity in your nipples.

Daily massage can help ease the breast pain by increasing the circulation to your breasts. Here is how you do it. Place your hands on your breasts with your fingers spread and your nipples in your palms. Squeeze and release your fingers as you massage the circumstances of your breasts.

A nursing mother should wear a supportive maternity bra. Bras support the breast and make women feel comfortable. To other women instead of feeling pain in her breast, they complain of abdominal pain which is due to the contractions of the uterus. These pains come on when the baby starts to suckle. Suckling can thus help to reduce uterus back to its normal size, known as involution.

Chinese Herbal Therapy In a study done at Penn State University, a daily dose of garlic was shown to minimize the incidence of breast cancer in mice injected with the carcinogen. In fact, breast cancer affected 90 percent of the rats fed a normal (non-garlic) diet, while only 35 percent of the mice who ate garlic for 2 weeks before and after the injection contracted the disease.

No one knows exactly what causes breast cancer, but we do know that certain risk factors – things that increase a person’s chance of getting a disease – are linked to breast cancer. Risk factors change depending on the type of cancer. There are a number of risk factors, both controllable and uncontrollable, which may increase the chances of developing breast cancer.

Cancer of the breast can also represent itself as a metastatic disease meaning that it can spread to other areas in the body. The common places it spreads to are the bones, the liver, the lungs and the brain. Rapid unexpected weight loss can be another symptom of this type of cancer, as well as chills bone and joint pain.

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Self Breast Exam

January 30th, 2010 admin

Early education on self-breast exam and early screening is extremely important in achieving good outcomes. Self-exam and physician examination will detect cancer at a rate between 70 – 80%. Adding screening mammography (mammograms) will increase detection to 96 – 98%. It has been shown that early detection through clinical exam and mammography can reduce breast carcinoma mortality by 20 to 30%. Today’s gold standard for screening (mammograms) will still miss between 10 and 15% of neoplasm.

There are now very strict protocols both for testing and interpreting. Perhaps due to these guidelines, thermography (as with all digital technology) has exploded in its technique and capabilities. Thermal cameras detect heat emitted from the body and display it as a picture on a computer monitor. These images are unique to the person and remain stable over time. It is because of these characteristics that thermal imaging is a valuable and effective screening tool.

A diagnostic mammogram is performed to evaluate any abnormality found during a breast exam. Mammograms may sometimes cause discomfort because the breasts must be compressed until the skin is taut. Mammograms can detect breast calcifications made of minute amounts of calcium that cannot be detected by self or clinical exams. Generally, a radiologist can make a prediction on the likelihood of a lesion is malignant based on a screening mammograms.

Diet is an import factor in reducing a person’s risk of breast cancer. We should be choosy about the food we eat especially fats. Studies show that there are certain types of fats that seem to raise the level of estrogen thus increasing the risk of breast cancer. Monounsaturated fats may seem to reduce the risk while polyunsaturated fats may increase the risk according to a Swedish study. Olive oil, canola oil and omega 3 fatty acids that are mostly found in sardines, salmon and herring are rich in monounsaturated fats.

Even with all the information about breast cancer awareness, self-exams and breast cancer statistics available, many women still choose to put off having a mammography and even doing self-exams. They give a variety of excuses including, “no time”, “no family history” or “lack of convenience” with having to travel to a hospital for a mammography. Fortunately hospitals are beginning to combat these excuses by incorporating a mobile mammography unit into the services that they offer to the community.

Self-breast exam is the easiest test and everyone can do it regularly in the privacy of her own room. However, no matter how easy and manageable this test is for everyone, many women do not prefer to perform the test. The fear of finding out the presence of a lump is the most glaring reason for not practicing this essential breast cancer test. Women should understand that not all lumps are cancerous. Finding a lump in your breast doesn’t necessarily mean that you have breast cancer.

It is recommended that a breast self-exam, or BSE, be routinely done every month. This will greatly increase the likelihood of detecting breast cancer in its early stages. A monthly breast self-exam is even recommended by the American Cancer Society for all women ages 19 and above. This procedure is fairly easy to do and most women without any disability can perform the test in the privacy of their own room or in the bathroom.

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Types of Cancer in Dogs

January 30th, 2010 admin

Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common types of cancers seen. It is also referred to as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In dogs, many different species develop Lymphosarcoma. Like any other cancer, this one can “metastasize”, which means it can spread and affect other organs and tissues.
Most dogs get a type of Lymphosarcoma that originates the lymph nodes and usually the nodes under the jaw get swollen. Sometimes this is the only symptom your dog will have. But the jaw is not the only place where this disease can begin. Some forms of Lymphosarcoma begin in the bone marrow, the chest, abdomen, or even the skin.
RENAL LYMPHOSARCOMA
When the disease attacks the kidney first, the illness is called Renal Lymphosarcoma. The symptoms include drinking a lot of fluids and urinating a lot. Also vomiting can appear and also loss of appetite. The pet can even get depressed.
MEDIASTINAL LYMPHOSARCOMA
The Mediastinum is the tissue near the heart and lungs. The cancer creates a tumor there and the pet has hard time breathing and the lung accumulate fluid.
BONE MARROW LYMPHOSARCOMA: LEUKEMIA
When the cancer has started or reaches the bone marrow, then it is called Leukemia. The cancer affects the blood. The bone marrow’s role is to create red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that destroy infection and platelets that help blood to clot. The cancer causes these types of cells to drop in numbers and it causes: infections, anemia and bleeding disorders.
DIAGNOSIS
The vets do a tissue biopsy to determine the disease. Is the microscopic analysis of the tissue reveals that the disease is present, a detailed exam follows. This exam will show if the disease has spread in other body areas. The vets call this “STAGING”.
The diagnostic Procedures used to “STAGE” include:
- Different blood tests
- Cytology – analyzing cells in the large lymph nodes and taking a look at them under the microscope.
- X-Rays
- Ultrasound
- Bone Marrow Analysis
Staging helps the doctors figuring out the best way of treatment.
TREATMENT
More than 90 perfect of the dogs that get chemotherapy go into remission. This is not a cure but just a stage when quality of life is assured. A dog will normally have a stage of remission of about eight to ten months. Also, the dogs don’t get as many side effects as humans do. Less than 5% of the dogs get side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness and lethargy.
The dogs don’t lose their hair after chemo, like people do. Only a few breeds get these side effects: Poodles and Old English Sheepdogs). Usually even they only lose their whiskers.
CANCER DIETS
When a dog undergoes a cancer treatment, it must have a good diet with lots of vitamins.

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Types of Breast Lumps

January 30th, 2010 admin

Performing a self check takes but a few minutes but could save your life, as you perform the self check you are searching for any changes to the shape and size of your breast and also feeling for any lumps as these are often the first clear indication of breast cancer developing.

The free hand must be kept on the top of the breast region, just where the bulge begins. Then the hand is to be moved gradually in a clockwise manner, feeling the breast carefully at each point for lumps or any other kind of deformities. When one circle is completed, the hand must be taken a little inside the breast and the circular sweep must be done again. In this way, the circle must be progressively decreased until the hand reaches the nipple area.

The fear of finding out the presence of a lump is the most glaring reason for not practicing this essential breast cancer test. Women should understand that not all lumps are cancerous. Finding a lump in your breast doesn’t necessarily mean that you have breast cancer. This will necessitate further laboratory tests to confirm the presence of any cancerous cells. Even if the lump is cancerous, early detection will provide you higher chances of surviving the disease.

If you perform self-breast exam, eventually you’ll find a lump. Is it a lump, or just normal “lumpiness,” many little benign lumps in both breasts? Breast lumps that suddenly occur need to be checked. Usually the smaller the lump, the better. The size of the lump may determine prognosis.

All lumps that you find may not be an indicator of breast cancer. But find it out, it may be also. In general lumps in your breast do not mean cancer in most of the cases. But make it sure through checking by a medical professional. There are two types of lumps or tumours, one is benign and the other is malignant.

Many women have a bunch of lumps in their breasts and it’s quite normal; it doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer or any other form of disease. Doctors call it “cyclical”, which means the lumpiness is merely a result of fluctuations in your hormones (estrogen and progesterone) – they react and respond to hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle. If you practice BSE regularly, you’ll find that the breast lump feels different and stands out from all the other breast tissue surrounding it.

Breast-feeding and pregnancy: Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers a woman’s total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy. Women who began having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

A lump in the breast or the swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm can mean the onset of breast cancer. But please note at this stage that 9 out of 10 lumps in the breast are usually benign which means they are harmless, and in most cases they turn out to be cysts.

When silicone gel-filled implants rupture, some women may notice decreased breast size, hard knots, uneven appearance of the breasts, pain or tenderness, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, or changes in sensation. Other women may unknowingly experience a rupture without any symptoms (silent rupture). Silicone gel may escape from the scar tissue capsule around the implant, migrate away from the breast, cause lumps, called granulomas, to form in the breast, chest wall, armpit, arm, or abdomen.

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Shop Shack – Cheap Wholesale Shopping Fights Cancer!

January 30th, 2010 admin

Cancer survivor, Patricia Lee, founder of Athletes Kickin Cancer (athleteskickincancer.com), created Shop Shack (shopshack.org) to benefit cancer survivors. AKC (Athletes Kickin Cancer) provides scholarships to students who either survived cancer or financially rely on someone who survived cancer. Everybody should be aware of the financial strain cancer can put on an individual lucky enough to survive the vicious disease.

AKC helps survivors get back on their feet by providing for a college education for persons affected by this terrible disease. AKC is wholey supported by donations and ShopShack.org, a non-for-profit shopping website that donates 100% of it’s profits to Athletes Kickin Cancer.

Shop Shack gives everyone the opportunity to help survivors of cancer get back on their feet just by shopping for virtually anything, and save money with their cheap wholesale prices just for helping out! If that’s not incentive enough, individuals or businesses may write-off purchases of items they were going to buy anyway, because they’re supporting this non-for-profit cancer benefit! Everyone should visit shopshack.org and check out the awesome deals and support this very worthy cause.

This article is being submitted by Mark Rogers of eprofitpros.com, who is marketing this company free of charge to help boost the cause and hopefully gain referrals for the many hours spent to get the word out. Please visit ShopShack.org, athleteskickincancer.com, and eprofitpros.com to learn more about the parties promoting this cause.

If you or a family member are a cancer survivor and are planning on attending college, I encourage you to pass on this information and / or apply for a scholarship. EVERYONE should pass on the information in this article to get it out to the peoples in need of these services. And I ask, who can not benefit from saving money on everyday shopping and the knowledge that you are putting someone who has had a very tough time in a much better situation?

 

-Mark Rogers

Profit Consultant

e-Profit-PRO$

consulting@eprofitpros.com

www.eprofitpros.com

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