Educating yourself about the general facts on lung cancer is essential to help prevent acquiring the disease. As the number one cause of death among men in America and one of the major causes of death cases throughout the world, health experts are furthering their efforts in trying to unearth general facts on lung cancer, and how this disease can be so deadly.
Among the various type of cancer deaths, this illness is responsible for 29 percent of that. In fact, there are more death cases for this sickness as compared to the data of deaths for prostate, breast, and colon cancers combined. Hence, you can begin protecting yourself now by arming yourself with the general facts on lung cancer before it's too late.
Causes Of Lung Cancer
When people think of lung cancer, they often associate it with cigarette smoking. Indeed, this is one of the leading causes of the disease. But it is not the only factor.
One of the major focus of research for health experts regarding this disease is the genetic factor. Most cancerous cells develop when there is an error in the mutation of DNA cells. That error in itself can be affected by other environmental factors as well, which has led health experts to go back to examining external factors that can contribute to the formation of cancerous cells.
Too much exposure to asbestos has been cited as one crucial environmental factor causing this sickness. Asbestos is a kind of mineral that is made up of bundled up fibers and naturally occurs in the environment. These fibers, when inhaled by a person exposed to them, can be trapped in one's lungs and accumulate until it causes an inflammation on the lungs.
Another crucial factor that could elicit the development of this illness is inhaling secondhand smoke. Although cigarette smoking can increase your chances of acquiring it, those who inhale cigarette smoke are at a higher risk. Secondhand smoke consists of two types of smoke: those that are produced by the burning of the tobacco product and those exhaled by the smoker.
Please pay very close attention to these general facts on lung cancer, so you can avoid the factors that could put you at risk in acquiring the disease.
Symptoms Of Lung Cancer
Since it affects your respiratory system, common symptoms associated with this disease are related to such conditions affecting the respiratory illness.
It is a rare case for this sickness to be diagnosed early, which is why awareness of the general facts on lung cancer is of extreme importance for early diagnosis.
• Prolonged cases of cough. • Uncharacteristic wheezing. • Pain on the back, chest, or shoulder. • Coughing blood or mucus. • Constant shortness of breath. • Swollen neck or face. • Pneumonia or other respiratory infections, etc
Treatment For Lung Cancer
Before a treatment option is to be determined for lung cancer patients, it is important to diagnose its type and stage first. Here are some of the more common types of treatment:
1) Surgery - This method of treatment is best only for patients who are diagnosed early due to the possibility of the cancer cells spreading to other parts of the body despite inability to detect it via scan.
2) Chemotherapy - This treatment is best used for individuals with small cell lung cancer. Oftentimes, this treatment is accompanied by radiotherapy. This treatment is known as chemoradiation.
3) Radiotherapy - This treatment is directed on the patient's head, in order to prevent the cancer cells from spreading to the brain. It is recommended only for individuals with small cell lung cancer and those who had their tumor removed via surgery.
Equipping yourself with general facts on lung cancer is your best weapon against the disease.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee
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Herbal Medicines for Brain Cancer | breast cancer husband
Description
Brain cancer is a tumor or tumors that form on the brain itself. Most brain tumors have spread to the brain from other affected parts of the body (such as the breast or the lung) via the blood-stream. Only a small percentage of brain cancer cases originate in the brain.
In its early stages, brain cancer often produces no symptoms, or it displays symptoms that are mistaken for everyday headaches. As a result, the condition is often quite advanced before it is detected. Brain cancer is a very serious condition that can cause extensive neurological damage or death.
The exact cause of brain cancer is unknown, but heredity is suspected to play a role in its development.
Signs and Symptoms
Brain cancer is usually asymptomatic until the tumor reaches a certain size. At that point, symptoms include:
Persistent headaches
Vomiting
General weakness, or localized weakness in the arms or legs
Loss of coordination
Dizziness
Change in personality
Loss of mental abilities, including memory
Double vision, or loss of vision
Seizures
Conventional Medical Treatment
If you suspect you have a brain tumor, see a physician immediately. A CAT scan or MRI of the head can usually confirm the presence of a tumor and pinpoint its location. If a tumor is found, the physician may take a CAT scan of the chest and abdomen to make sure the cancer has not affected other areas of the body. If the tumor is localized and is situated in an area where removal is possible (on the outer surface of the brain, for example), surgery may be performed. However, some tumors-particularly those located deep within the brain tissue-cannot be operated on. In these cases, radiation and chemotherapy will be used to destroy cancerous cells. (See "Conventional Medical Treatment" in the "Bladder Cancer" entry for more information on radiation and chemotherapy.)
Complementary and Alternative Treatments
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupressure By pressing on certain acupressure points along the body's meridians, a practitioner may be able to reduce cancer-related pain and headaches.
Chinese Herbal Therapy Traditional Chinese Medicine considers any type of tumor formation the result of stagnant blood, so a practitioner may recommend formulas that energize blood flow and strengthen the immune system, such as Ginseng and Astragals Formula. In cases of brain cancer, an herbalist may prescribe the Chinese formula called Three Yellows.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Brain
Brain cancer is a tumor or tumors that form on the brain itself. Most brain tumors have spread to the brain from other affected parts of the body (such as the breast or the lung) via the blood-stream. Only a small percentage of brain cancer cases originate in the brain.
In its early stages, brain cancer often produces no symptoms, or it displays symptoms that are mistaken for everyday headaches. As a result, the condition is often quite advanced before it is detected. Brain cancer is a very serious condition that can cause extensive neurological damage or death.
The exact cause of brain cancer is unknown, but heredity is suspected to play a role in its development.
Signs and Symptoms
Brain cancer is usually asymptomatic until the tumor reaches a certain size. At that point, symptoms include:
Persistent headaches
Vomiting
General weakness, or localized weakness in the arms or legs
Loss of coordination
Dizziness
Change in personality
Loss of mental abilities, including memory
Double vision, or loss of vision
Seizures
Conventional Medical Treatment
If you suspect you have a brain tumor, see a physician immediately. A CAT scan or MRI of the head can usually confirm the presence of a tumor and pinpoint its location. If a tumor is found, the physician may take a CAT scan of the chest and abdomen to make sure the cancer has not affected other areas of the body. If the tumor is localized and is situated in an area where removal is possible (on the outer surface of the brain, for example), surgery may be performed. However, some tumors-particularly those located deep within the brain tissue-cannot be operated on. In these cases, radiation and chemotherapy will be used to destroy cancerous cells. (See "Conventional Medical Treatment" in the "Bladder Cancer" entry for more information on radiation and chemotherapy.)
Complementary and Alternative Treatments
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupressure By pressing on certain acupressure points along the body's meridians, a practitioner may be able to reduce cancer-related pain and headaches.
Chinese Herbal Therapy Traditional Chinese Medicine considers any type of tumor formation the result of stagnant blood, so a practitioner may recommend formulas that energize blood flow and strengthen the immune system, such as Ginseng and Astragals Formula. In cases of brain cancer, an herbalist may prescribe the Chinese formula called Three Yellows.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Brain
Treatment For Anal Cancer | breast cancer husband
The treatment for anal cancer actually depends on several factors -- the location of the cancer, the size of the tumor and the overall health of the patient. Usually the doctors work together with the patient to decide the best possible treatment plan.
There are primarily three types of treatment for anal cancer and they are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Surgery: The type of surgery depends upon the stage of the cancer. Early stage cancer or in situ cancer is treated by removing the cancerous cells along with a small area of the surrounding tissue mass. Thereafter, the patient has to have regular follows ups for screening and subsequent removal of cancerous tissue.
Patients in later stages of cancer first undergo a small surgery wherein a piece of the tissue is removed for biopsy. Thereafter chemotherapy and radiation are given in combination. Patients who have combination therapy invariably are not subjected to treatment through major surgery. However, patients who cannot have chemotherapy and radiation therapy may have to undergo major surgery. Usually this happens when the cancer is still present after the initial treatment or there is a relapse after the treatment is completed. In case the cancer is recurrent, the patient may have to undergo a colostomy where the anus, rectum and part of the colon are removed; and an opening is created in the abdomen so that feces can be collected in a bag. Even lymph nodes are removed in this procedure.
Radiation Therapy: This therapy involves using high energy X-rays to kill the cancer. The most common type of radiation is known as external beam radiation therapy wherein the radiation is given through an external machine. However, at times radiation can be given through implants this type of therapy is known as internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy.
This therapy has side effects which include fatigue, stomach problems, skin reaction, anal irritation, and discomfort when passing feces. Sometimes, scar tissue can form and this can cause problems with bowel movements. However, most of the side effects disappear once the therapy is over.
Chemotherapy: Here drugs are used to kill the cancer cells. The drug is intravenously fed into the blood stream and target only cancer cells. This treatment is highly effective when combined with radiation therapy. The benefit of the combination ensures that lower doses of radiation are used and the chances of destroying the cancerous tissue completely are very high.
Patients who are HIV positive are given low doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy but it depends on how badly the immune system is compromised by the HIV.
Side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, possibility of infection, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. However, these side effects are dependent on the overall health of the patient and usually disappear once the therapy is completed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go
There are primarily three types of treatment for anal cancer and they are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Surgery: The type of surgery depends upon the stage of the cancer. Early stage cancer or in situ cancer is treated by removing the cancerous cells along with a small area of the surrounding tissue mass. Thereafter, the patient has to have regular follows ups for screening and subsequent removal of cancerous tissue.
Patients in later stages of cancer first undergo a small surgery wherein a piece of the tissue is removed for biopsy. Thereafter chemotherapy and radiation are given in combination. Patients who have combination therapy invariably are not subjected to treatment through major surgery. However, patients who cannot have chemotherapy and radiation therapy may have to undergo major surgery. Usually this happens when the cancer is still present after the initial treatment or there is a relapse after the treatment is completed. In case the cancer is recurrent, the patient may have to undergo a colostomy where the anus, rectum and part of the colon are removed; and an opening is created in the abdomen so that feces can be collected in a bag. Even lymph nodes are removed in this procedure.
Radiation Therapy: This therapy involves using high energy X-rays to kill the cancer. The most common type of radiation is known as external beam radiation therapy wherein the radiation is given through an external machine. However, at times radiation can be given through implants this type of therapy is known as internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy.
This therapy has side effects which include fatigue, stomach problems, skin reaction, anal irritation, and discomfort when passing feces. Sometimes, scar tissue can form and this can cause problems with bowel movements. However, most of the side effects disappear once the therapy is over.
Chemotherapy: Here drugs are used to kill the cancer cells. The drug is intravenously fed into the blood stream and target only cancer cells. This treatment is highly effective when combined with radiation therapy. The benefit of the combination ensures that lower doses of radiation are used and the chances of destroying the cancerous tissue completely are very high.
Patients who are HIV positive are given low doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy but it depends on how badly the immune system is compromised by the HIV.
Side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, possibility of infection, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. However, these side effects are dependent on the overall health of the patient and usually disappear once the therapy is completed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go
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