Archive for February, 2008

Battling Bone Cancer

Myeloma is a type of cancer in which abnormal cells destroy normal tissue. This results in extremely fragile bones and intense pain.

This condition, which is also known as Kahler’s disease, is common in adults between the ages of 50 and 70. More men than women suffer from the dis¬ease.

There are many kinds of myeloma. But the tumor is often grayish red and appears in the ribs, pelvic bones, and the bones of the skull.

“The main symptom is bone pain, which seems to worsen at night. Back pain is often present. Bone fractures may occur. Abnormal bleeding, difficulty in urination, anemia, a tired feeling, painful swelling on the ribs, and susceptibility to infections are all possible symptoms,” according to Marion Morra & Eve Potts in “Choices: Realistic Alternatives in Cancer Treatment.”

“Since the bone marrow is producing fewer oxygen-carrying red blood cells and disease-fighting white blood cells, myeloma patients are often anemic and susceptible to infections such as pneumonia. As the plasma cells act against the bone tissue, calcium is released sometimes in amounts exceeding the kidney’s capacity to dispose of it. The patient may become weak, nauseated, and disoriented,” they added.

To diagnose myeloma, the doctor may require x-ray studies to reveal destroyed bone parts. Blood and urine tests can detect abnormal proteins that indicate the presence of the disease.

Treatment of multiple myeloma depends on the extent of the disease. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used to relieve symptoms and repair bone damage. Exercise and adequate fluid intake are important to prevent immobilization and calcium imbalance. Back braces may help keep the patient active.

“Radiation therapy may be used on specific parts of the back and neck to relieve pain and help repair bone damage. The tumor cells usually decrease in number at a rapid rate during the first few months of treatment, and the patient may go into remission. When a complete remission occurs, there is a complete return to a state of normal good health. The symptoms disappear, the physical findings become normal, and abnormal cells are no longer found in the bone marrow and blood,” Morra and Potts said.

Sometimes the remission is only partial, and one or more signs of myeloma may not disappear completely. Examination of the blood, urine, and bone marrow at regular intervals allows the doctor to follow the course of the disease and to select the proper treatment,” they concluded.

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About the author: Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Early Breast Cancer Detection

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, and one of the most common types of cancer in general. It is estimated that one in seven women that live to age 90 will develop breast cancer. It is especially prevalent in some families, making the statistics a bit skewed. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your chances of developing the disease are much greater. It’s therefore a good idea to stay especially vigilant for breast cancer detection.

breast cancer detection is difficult initially since the symptoms don’t often manifest themselves until the cancer is already in its later stages of growth, and may have already metastasized to other more vital areas of the body. That is why it is so important for women to regularly get checked. Mammograms may be unpleasant, but late stage breast cancer detection is worse.

The most clear and common breast cancer detection is of course a lump in your breast. It is important to keep in mind that not all lumps are cancerous. Most women will develop numerous lumps in their breasts throughout their lives; they are especially common during periods of rapid hormonal changes such as puberty, and menstruation. Some women will have more lumps than others.

A more severe breast cancer detection will be pain in your breasts. A cancer that has grown large enough to impinge on nerves will be a noticeable lump in a self check or mammogram, so hopefully you’ll catch anything before it gets to the point of causing pain. If one or both of your breasts are in pain, again its important to keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have breast cancer. During puberty and periods of hormone fluxes, tenderness of the breasts is common. Also pregnancy, and some medications can cause pain or tenderness in your breasts.

Even though in most cases you find breast cancer detection in women over 40, women in their teens and twenties are occasionally diagnosed as well. Most people don’t know that about one percent of the cases are in men. Starting from puberty, it is a good idea to start checking yourself for lumps. Remember, during this period you’re likely to find a lot of lumps that are harmless. With some experience and some consultation with your doctor, you’ll soon get an idea of the kinds of lumps that are normal, and the kinds of lumps that may be breast cancer symptoms.

About the author: Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on Internet Marketing for years. For more information on Breast Cancer Detection, visit his site at Breast Cancer Detection
Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com

Your History of Cancer is Important

Prevention is the best cure. Perhaps you have heard of that before and thought to yourself “if only all those sick people would have taken better care of themselves, they would not have to suffer from cancer now.” If you are puffing on a cigarette or sun bathing as you think that, know that you are doing what people have done for centuries.

Humans, by nature, prefer to put off getting more education or creating healthier habits until they are already suffering the negative effects of their actions. Hospitals are now full of people who decided they were “immune” or that other things were “more important” than their health. The first matter you should take into concern is your family history with cancer.

Cancer springs from cell mutations so heredity is the biggest risk factor in your vulnerability. If you are unfamiliar with your family’s medical history, it is time to take an interest and familiarize yourself with what unpleasant demons may be lurking in your genes. Awareness will allow you to prepare adequately and prevent possible tragedy later on. If your parents are still alive, they are the best source initially.

I recommend you do a web search for a pedigree chart you can print off and fill in the blanks. A good pedigree chart will allow you to trace your heritage back four or five generations, covering more than the last one hundred years of your family history. There will be spots to note full names, maiden names, wedding dates, birth dates, death dates, and some important places. Retracing your family history can bring immense satisfaction in addition to informing you of any possible health risks.

Other family members may be necessary to help you complete the chart. If there have been no cases of cancer in your family for the last four or five generations, you should feel confident that your heredity is not a risk factor in coming down with cancer. Some of the resources available for those who do not have family resources to tap in to are family history web sites. One of the most popular such sites is Ancestry dot com, which offers extensive access to all of the world’s genealogical documents they can get a hold of.

The site is not free to use but is the most popular and definitely one of the most thorough. Some libraries offer free access to the site, so it may be worth a call to the libraries near your home. Do not forget the college libraries near you, they may have access that your local public library does not.

As you research your family’s history, pay attention to any deaths due to “natural causes” because it may be that your ancestor suffered from some kind of cancer that was never detected. Hopefully there are enough diaries or journals as well as newspapers and census records to help you rebuild your family tree strong enough to see how much hereditary risk you may be running with cancer.

About the author: Terry Fitzroy is a professional writer specializing in Colonoscopy and Genetic Tests To learn more about Colon Cancer visit MyriadTests.com
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

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