Living in the net » cancer

Study Finds Cellphones possibly carcinogenic

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:55:20 +0000

A branch of WHO mentioned Tuesday that there is normally a “possible” link between cellphones and cancer, but health specialists say the danger may well be little and additional investigation is required to draw a definitive conclusion.

Though a globe health institution review concluded mobile mobile phones could possibly lead to cancer, some are questioning why, if their actually is recognized as a link, there not been a considerable throughout the world boost in mind cancers.

According to Cancer Research U.K., the only health danger firmly related to cellphones can be a increased chance of vehicle accidents. The group recommends youngsters below 16 only use cellphones for important calls since their brains and anxious solutions are even now developing.

Also, a latest U.S. nationwide Institutes of health analyze discovered that cellphone use can rate up mind activity, however it is not known whether or not which has any unsafe health effects.

So what can you do to protect yourself? Well, reading the manual is a good start, as they usually tell you how close to your head you can safely hold your phone.

Study finds the benefits of Tai Chi to Heart-Failure Patients

PDF down: Chronic Disease, Primary Prevention of (Guideline)

admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:29:59 +0000

Any disease that lasts for three months or more has been defined as a chronic disease by the US National Centre for Health Statistics, which poses the question whether breast cancer can be considered a chronic disease, and whether support systems are available for its victims.

This Guideline Scope and Target Population:

This guideline, Primary Prevention of Chronic Disease, outlines the existing evidence for the effectiveness of strategies and programs designed to help adults successfully make essential changes to achieve healthier lifestyles (increased physical activity, improved nutrition, decreased tobacco use and exposure, decreased hazardous and harmful drinking/alcohol use). It also outlines how these programs might be integrated into preventive services in health care systems, which traditionally have focused on early detection of disease or treatment of risk factors rather than preventing the onset of risk factors.

Nearly all individuals would derive measurable benefits from healthier lifestyles; even small improvements across a large portion of the population would have a greater impact than focusing on a small portion of the population that is at the upper end of the risk distribution. Therefore, the target population for this guideline includes all adults (age 18 and older) in the community, irrespective of their utilization of the health care system. Although this guideline focuses on adults, adolescents and children may benefit from many of the components or recommendations in this guideline.

Chronic Disease, Primary Prevention of (Guideline) (PDF 985K)

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FDA Approves Everolimus for Rare Type of Pancreatic Cancer

admin — Sat, 07 May 2011 11:29:15 +0000

Novartis AG’s cancer drug Afinitor has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a rare type of pancreatic cancer that has few treatment options.

Neuroendocrine tumors found in the pancreas are slow-growing and rare. The FDA says fewer than 1,000 new cases are reported in the U.S. each year.

In clinical studies, patients given Afinitor had no progression of their tumors for a median of 11 months, while those on placebo had no progression only for 4.6 months. The drug appeared to benefit even people who had no success with other treatments.

“Patients with this cancer have few effective treatment options,” says Richard Pazdur, MD, of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a news release. “Afinitor has demonstrated the ability to slow the growth and spread of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.”

Ultrasound images – what does cancer tumor look like?

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:47:52 +0000

1. Q: What does a cancer tumor look like on an ultrasound?

A: My impression, from having sneaked looks at my ultrasounds when I had to transport them to the surgeon, is that the tumor area was whitish, looking like a child’s scribble. Dark would have been a better sign as that could have indicated a cyst (fluid-filled).

SP, biopsies confirm cancer when ultrasounds can’t resolve the question. Many suspicious findings can be resolved with ultrasound. They go to biopsy only if the ultrasound doesn’t rule out malignancy.

Isa, dark is a good sign and if the dark area is very round and smooth, that’s a good sign. Try not to worry. You’ll know soon enough … best of luck to you.

2. Q: What Does Ovarian Cancer Look Like on an Ultrasound

A: What does ovarian cancer look like on an ultrasound is not an easy question to answer. There are different ultrasound scoring systems which can predict whether there is a malignancy or not. Ovarian cancer cannot be diagnosed with certainty by ultrasound. What does ovarian cancer look like on an ultrasound can at best identify characteristics that make it more likely to be malignant or benign. There are many benign pelvic conditions that can appear on ultrasound and are mistaken for cancer. These include benign ovarian cysts, hemorrhagic ovarian cysts, endometriosis, dermoid cysts, ovarian fibroids, uterine fibroids,swollen, fluid-filled faloppian tubes, pelvic abscesses and adhesions. If you have a large cyst and are in your menopausal years or you have a cyst that shows signs that it may contain cancer cells, your doctor will recommend that surgery to have it removed and looked at in the pathology lab. If the specialist cannot be sure whether an abnormality on ultrasound is cancer or not they may ask you to have a CT scan or an MRI scan to observe the ovaries more clearly. Sometimes though, it is not possible to diagnose ovarian cancer for certain without an operation. In such cases surgical exploration of the pelvis and a subsequent pathological examination of the specimen will help ascertain the presence of cancer.

3. Q: How can you tell from an ultrasound image if you have kidney stones or caner?
My husband went for an ultrasound scan a month ago and the technician said he had a blocked kidney. It looked dark on the image. She said he had probably had it sometime and that it was “proabably” stones that were causing the blockage. Of course I’m worried it might be cancer (he went becuase he had micoscopic amounts of blood in his urine). He has his follow up in 6 weeks time so maybe that’s a sign that it’s not an urgent problem? He is a cigar smoker (4 a day) and is 60

A: i wouldn’t worry about it. Blood in urine is a very common symptom of kidney stones. The fact that your husband’s Md didn’t want to do a biopsy is a good thing. Just wait it out.

Research of ultrasound imaging in the assessment of dynamic patella tracking

mole or melanoma (skin cancer)

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 05:01:59 +0000

Moles are benign tumors that come from melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells in the skin that make the pigment, melanin. We don’t really understand why some melanocytes are altered and develop into moles, although it seems to be linked to genetics and sun exposure.

Melanoma ABCD Defined

Melanoma ABCD Defined

Melanoma is the most deadly of all skin cancers. An estimated 46,000 Americans will develop melanoma every year, and 7,700 Americans will die from melanoma every year.

How do I know if my mole is melanoma?

l. It is important to regularly inspect the moles on your body, looking for any warning signs that they might be cancerous:

1.A harmless mole is usually round, and for the most part symmetric. If your mole is asymmetric it may need to be looked at by your doctor, and could be melanoma.

2.A harmless mole is usually all one color. Most regular moles are either all black or all brown in color. If your mole is several different shades of black, brown, and or red it may need to be looked at by your doctor, and could be melanoma.

3.A harmless mole usually has smooth even edges. If your mole has jagged or rough edges it may need to be looked at by your doctor, and could be melanoma.

4.A harmless mole usually remains a constant size. If your mole appears to be growing in size or if another mole develops beside a pre-existing mole it may need to be looked at by your doctor, and could be
melanoma.

5.A harmless mole is usually about the size of a pencil eraser or smaller. If your mole is larger in size, it may need to be looked at by your doctor, and could be melanoma.

Videos for mole or melanoma

How to Examine Moles for Melanoma
3 min – 12 Aug 2009
5min.com

When to Test Moles for Melanoma
48 sec – 26 Aug 2009
5min.com

A natural food may help prevent esophageal cancer

admin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 02:03:31 +0000

Strawberries are an easy to grow fruit crop that will reward the home gardener with ample harvests for many years. A new study shows that eating freeze-dried strawberries may help prevent esophageal cancer.

“Strawberries may be an alternative or work together with other chemopreventive drugs for the prevention of esophageal cancer,” said lead researcher Tong Chen, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, division of medical oncology, department of internal medicine at the Ohio State University.

Study findings were presented at the ongoing 102nd annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Orlando, Florida, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on Wednesday.

More News:

Strawberries Show Promise in Fighting Cancer, Study Shows

Wall Street Journal - Jennifer Corbett Dooren

Strawberries have the potential to prevent esophageal cancer, according to a preliminary study released Wednesday. Researchers, led by Ohio State University, were able to show that freeze-dried strawberries slowed the growth …

Strawberries as cancer treatment? We’ll see.

Los Angeles Times - Marissa Cevallos

A new study (very small) from Ohio State University found some evidence (preliminary) that eating freeze-dried strawberries could slow the growth of precancerous lesions. By Marissa Cevallos, HealthKey Freeze-dried strawberries as a potent …

Can Eating Strawberries Prevent Cancer?

TIME - Alice Park ‎

Certain foods are high in antioxidants, which mop up the free radicals that contribute to cancer. But in studies it’s been a challenge to tease apart the effects of diet alone on cancer risk, …

Can strawberries stop esophageal cancer?

CBS News - David W Freeman

Preliminary research from China suggests that freeze-dried strawberries may help prevent esophageal cancer, a malignancy that kills about 15000 Americans a year. The research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer …

FDA approves vandetanib for form of thyroid cancer

admin — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:35:26 +0000

Federal health regulators said Wednesday they have approved a new drug from AstraZeneca to treat a rare form of thyroid cancer that can be fatal when it spreads to other parts of the body. The drug, vandetanib, helped stall the disease’s progression for an average of six months, the Food and Drug Administration says.

thyroid_gland

Thyroid cancer may require surgery. Common surgeries include thyroidectomy, lobectomy, and tracheostomy.

Radioactive Iodine-131 is used in patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer for ablation of residual thyroid tissue after surgery and for the treatment of thyroid cancer. Patients with medullary, anaplastic, and most Hurthle cell cancers do not benefit from this therapy.

External irradiation may be used when the cancer is unresectable, when it recurs after resection, or to relieve pain from bone metastasis.

Sorafenib and sunitinib, approved for other indications show promise for thyroid cancer and are being used for some patients who do not qualify for clinical trials.[14] Numerous agents are in phase II clinical trials and XL184 has started a phase III trial.

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines. As a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease medicines, AstraZeneca generated global revenues of US $32.8 billion in 2009. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) won U.S. approval to sell a new treatment for advanced cases of a thyroid cancer that strikes about 2,000 Americans a year.

The FDA approved the drug based on a 331-patient study that showed patients on the drug typically lived six months longer without seeing their disease progress than patients taking a placebo.

Side effects include diarrhea, rash and nausea. Vandetanib also can affect electrical activity of the heart and cause irregular heartbeats that can lead to death. It has been approved under restrictions which require doctors and patients to be informed of the risks.

Drug of Ipilimumab approved for battle against melanoma

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:33:05 +0000

A new drug (Ipilimumab, sold as Yervoy by Bristol-Myers Squibb) shown to prolong the lives of melanoma patients and tested in a clinical trial at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center has been approved for use by federal officials.

Ipilimumab is an antibody that activates the body’s immune system to fight melanoma by inhibiting the CTLA-4 molecule. It is being tested in phase III clinical trials by itself and in combination with vaccines, other immunotherapies such as interleukin-2, and chemotherapies such as dacarbazine. Overall response rates range from 13% with ipilimumab plus vaccine in patients with stage IV disease to 17% and 22% with ipilimumab plus dacarbazine or interleukin-2, respectively, in patients with metastatic disease. Responses have been long-lasting, and among those experiencing more severe side effects, even higher response rates have been seen — up to 36%. This makes ipilimumab one of the more promising upcoming drugs for the treatment of melanoma patients with few other options.

Q: Ipilimumab for Stage III Melanoma?
Since ipilimumab is FDA approved for Stage IV Melanoma, does that mean that it can be prescribed for Stage III “off-label?” Or does it not work this way?

A:
It might but, you should be having this conversation with your oncologist about whether he/she might try this treatment during a Stage 3 melanoma or whether conventional treatments are needed.

Yes, there are Oncologists and trials using ipi for stage III patients. good place to learn more is www.melanoma.org

Questions about skin cancer

admin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:05:19 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Cancer and Melanoma:

How does skin cancer start out looking like?
Lately I have had little bumps not huge but like almost skin scab looking things (not scabs though). And I am in the sun doing activities a lot and I was wondering if it almost seems like it can or be a possibility of skin cancer? I’m not sure.
Answer: I think that whatever you have, you should consult the dermatologist right away. I used to work in a medical show and we featured this young guy who initially had skin cancer. Now, half of his face is gone just because he thought that what he had was a new mole. It started just like a simple dot–really like a mole– but it started growing and becoming a wound. The thing is, cancer–not just skin cancer– manifests in several ways. That same guy first thought he had skin cancer but actually, the doctors found out later that it was muscle cancer.

What are the chances of getting skin cancer from sunbed ?
What are the actual chances of getting skin cancer ? people say it can increase your chances by 75%, but if it’s only like a 2% of getting it to start with, it’s going to be unlikely. I use sunbeds, obviously i get concerned about skin cancer because i don’t want to die anytime soon, but i hate looking pale. So what are the chances ? How many people who use sunbeds actually fall unlucky. Thanks.
Answer: Rays from a sunbed are 10 times more harmful than the sun. What is the point of being tanned and dead!
Not only that, it will ruin your skin and end up looking like leather. There are some great fake products around these days try those.

What are the first signs of skin cancer?
I can get sunburned pretty easily. I’ve already gotten sunburned pretty bad more then once. My mother’s worried I’ll get skin cancer, so I would like to know what are signs of skin cancer.
Answer: Extremely dark freckles, dark or pale patches on your skin void of any colour. If you have an area that concerns you please speak with your doctor as they are trained to recognize precancerous skin.

How long before you can detect skin cancer?
Recently, I got sunburned really bad on my back and shoulders. I have a couple new flat freckles. How and when can you tell you have skin cancer? And, can you develop skin cancer without seeing anything noticeable?
Answer: There is usually some change in the skin – a mole or even a red area which a friend of mine has just had diagnosed as skin cancer and is using a chemo cream instead of surgery. Any suspicious spots should be reported to a doctor for checking.

How can I keep my skin safe from skin cancer?
I have read some extremely heart-breaking stories about teens who have gotten skin cancer before. After hearing that, I want to keep my skin safe as possible!
Answer: Always wear sunscreen and never stay out in the sun for too long, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is stronger than in the morning and late afternoon. Also cancer can happen to anyone who has had bad sunburn, so be very careful.

Stages I-IV of Prostate Cancer

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 01:43:07 +0000

Video: How Prostate Cancer Develops.

How Prostate Cancer Develops

The stage (extent) of a cancer is one of the most important factors in choosing treatment options and predicting a patient’s outlook. If your prostate biopsy confirms that you have cancer, more tests may be done to find out how far it has spread within the prostate, to nearby tissues, or to other parts of the body. This process is called staging.

(The following is from the CancerNet Dictionary at the National Cancer Institute.)

Stage I prostate cancer: Cancer that is only in the prostate gland, cannot be felt during a digital rectal examination, is not visible by imaging, and causes no symptoms. It is usually found accidentally or because a blood test showed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Cancer cells may be found in only one area of the prostate or they may be found in many areas of the prostate. Similar to stage A in the Whitmore-Jewett staging system.

Stage II prostate cancer: Cancer that may be found by a needle biopsy done because a blood test showed elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA); or cancer which may be felt in the prostate gland during a digital rectal examination, even though the cancer cells are found only in the prostate gland. Similar to stage B in the Whitmore-Jewett staging system.

Stage III prostate cancer: Cancer cells have spread outside the covering (capsule) of the prostate gland to tissues around the prostate but not to the lymph nodes. The glands that produce semen (the seminal vesicles) may have cancer cells in them. Similar to stage C in the Whitmore-Jewett staging system.

Stage IV prostate cancer: Cancer cells have spread (metastasized) to lymph nodes (near or far from the prostate gland) or to organs and tissues far away from the prostate such as the bone, liver, or lungs. Similar to stage D in the Whitmore-Jewett staging system.

Accurately identifying the prostate cancer stage is extremely important. Prostate cancer stage helps determine the optimal treatment, as well as prognosis. For this reason, it’s worth going through extensive testing to get the correct prostate cancer stage.